Gio'

Summer of Night – 4 stars

Every sci-fi fan owes Dan Simmons for the Hyperion books, so I was curious to see how he handles horror—and the answer is: mostly well. Comparisons to IT (and The Body/ Stand By Me) are absolutely warranted. The first half is the weakest: Simmons spends too much time meticulously setting the stage, and it starts to feel like it’s getting out of hand. Unlike Stephen King—who often hooks you in the first few pages even if then goes to write very long books—Simmons takes a slow, roundabout approach that doesn’t fully pay off, IMHO. But once the second half kicks in, the pacing improves dramatically. The story picks up, characters act as rationally as horror allows, and it’s just a lot of fun. Solid book overall—it just needed tighter editing.

The story of the grumpy old man with the good hidden heart has been told many times before, so this book doesn't break any new ground. Having said that, the setting is intriguing and characters are likable, the diversity is interesting, but pushed a little too far to sound authentic. The writing is warm and funny and the book goes by quick and easy. A good read, but I don't think it will have a lasting effect.

A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again - 4 stars:

After my third book by David Foster Wallace, I’ve come to a few conclusions:

1. He loves tennis in a way that’s hard to overstate.
2. He seems to deliberately restrain his sense of humor—perhaps because he found it distasteful or not “serious” enough.
3. He uses 100 words where 10 would do.
4. His nonfiction is great; his fiction, more hit or miss.

On the essays:

• “Derivative Sport in Tornado Alley”: Beautiful, honest, and evocative.
• “E Unibus Pluram”: I know it’s a well-known piece, but I almost DNF’d the book because of it. Exhausting, monotone, and seemingly endless. Just when you think it’s over, another tirade begins.
• “Getting Away from Already Being Pretty Much Away from It All”: Fun, well-written, and eye-opening—a glimpse into a part of America I had completely ignored.
• “Greatly Exaggerated”: Didn’t leave much of an impression.
• “David Lynch Keeps His Head”: Deep, original, and thought-provoking. Made me see Lynch in a completely new light.
• “Tennis Player Michael Joyce...”: The true standout. A brilliant dive into the soul of tennis, written with deep knowledge and an open mind.
• “A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again”: The most accessible piece. Finally, some less constrained humor and a lighter tone—a well-deserved breather at the end of a remarkable, if often exhausting, collection.

Childhood’s End: ★★★★½

Childhood’s End is exquisite and has aged remarkably well. The story is both original and deeply thought-provoking, yet told with an impressive lightness of touch. Clarke manages to explore grand, complex ideas without ever feeling heavy-handed. It's a very classy display of narrative control and philosophical depth—a true classic that still feels relevant and engaging today.

I have a huge respect for George Orwell—I'm definitely a fan—but this is minor Orwell. It is not as lively as his other work, and the story is smaller. Of course, the writing is unrivaled in its quality, but if you're not an Orwell completionist like me, I guess you can skip it.