Christopher Landon: Ice Cold in Alex
Interesting and well developed characters, in genuinely tension inducing situations - even when the matter of "who did it" is not really a mystery. Vivid enough for the place and period - WW2 North Africa to early 1950s Britain - to come to life inside your mind. (***)
Karl Von Clausewitz: On War
I read this first many years ago.
The author then impressed me as being more lucid and broadly learned than many contemporary writers on this and similar areas. He still does. (****)
Loren Lomasky: Person's, Rights, and the Moral Community
Well written, and clear. Many interesting ideas and explications of problems, but his theory itself - on a derivation of rights, seems possessed of unnecessary elements. Worth reading. (***)
J.G.Ballard: The Drowned World
Another (long-time) re-read.
Ballard tends to play one note - but it's a good one - and he plays it VERY well. Some uncontrolled/unforeseen calamity engulfs the world. Protagonist(s) confront general realization of the coldly impersonal nature of the world and how human responses are to a large extent a product of the interaction of those forces with his/there-own biological pre-dispositions - engraved in the structure of each and every one of their cells. And, that the true and only expression of one's authentic self and humanity, lies in how and whether one can/does inwardly accept the truth of these constraints, and expresses that realization, in those (few) opportunities available for actual personal choice.
Intentionally or not his work gives powerful and poetic expression to the Existentialist perspective.
The world of this novel happens to be slowly drowning in the over-heated flood-tides that result from a run-away solar anomaly. But, it could be just about any such occurrence - e.g. A "Wind From Nowhere," or the Japanese invasion of Shanghai (both of which served as the backgrounds of others among his novels). The story-line, character-types, dilemmas, decisions, and general moods are much the same in each story, but the pacing, poetry, intensity, and aggravating authenticity of the characterizations in each instance are gripping enough to make every reading worthwhile. (***)
Didn't receive a posting message from you on this one, so I'm just finding it now as I've arrived to read your more recent, David.
What I've noticed so far about the speeches we are hearing from both candidates is positions in the present that don't necessarily echo those of the past. What should a voter really want? Someone who rethinks positions on the basis of new information? Someone we can count on to still have the same position today that they had five years ago? What role does compromise have in creating a fully-functioning, strong democracy? I hear speeches and more speeches,and they prompt these and other questions.
Posted by: mauve1 | 23 June 2008 at 19:35
Reader: Q&A How can McCain SIMULTANEOUSLY attract both Hillary AND Bob Barr voters? Answer: PALIN Veep!
DA: Interesting! But what of fiscal conservatives?
Sen McCain is really on a tightrope above divergent constituencies, and needs to move with great care on this and other issues not touching directly on his core commitments.
Best
David Aronin
Posted by: Ted | 07 June 2008 at 07:33
lets pray there is still hope for him..because the alternative is death!..sorry..found u in the spam filter again!
Posted by: Angel | 04 June 2008 at 23:38