Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
Completion status
OK
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams
Kind of exhausting with randomness that gets unfunny but mostly redeemed by the overall plot.
Completion status
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Decent enough to get me to read the next one in the series. I would say more but I finished it about a month ago so the memories are fading. Also as usual I read it in 15 minute chunks as I was falling asleep.
Completion status
git commit murder by Michael W Lucas
A mystery novel that takes place at a BSD conference--hilarious premise. OK execution.
Completion status
The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
Ehhh...let's just say I mostly agree with the two or three out of five reviews. At 40% I was reasonably certain I wouldn't finish the book, but I guess I just needed a little break (also motivated to finish a book to mark that goal off of my list).
This book is notably lacking of interesting science concepts. Also, I can't remember anything truly interesting about the ways in which the alternate history deviates from real history.
Completion status
Quantum Incident by Douglas Phillips
Pretty short as it only took me 20 minutes to read, but I guess worth signing up to the mailing list to get for free. It is just a prologue to the Quantum series.
Completion status
The Greatest Generation Speaks by Tom Brokaw
The writings compiled in this book do an excellent job at describing the mostly negative impacts that WWII had on its contributors, certainly making me feel like I have it pretty easy (I do!). It did get pretty repetitive and is not what I would describe as a page turner past about halfway. I closed it up with about 20 pages left to go, not that it was bad but just that I didn't feel that I had anything to gain by reading the last 20 pages (nor the previous 50-100 pages).
Completion status
Achikaps
I found this game on the No Bullshit Games page, which lists games that don't have IAPs or ads. So generally they cost a couple bucks, and I believe this one did.
I really like the mechanics of this game. Little agents move around your system of facilities automatically performing tasks. It reminds me of the World/Kingdom of Keflings which I played nigh on a decade ago. Setting up automated systems like this is one of my favorite game mechanics.
I don't like that the campaign levels are so short. It seems like I could get more enjoyment out of the effort I put into setting everything up. Actually these short levels would be OK for a few tutorial levels, maybe even 10 learning levels. But it keeps going, and with seemingly random new things mixed in. I have passed level 27 in the campaign and it keeps throwing in new concepts that are only used for one or two levels. By now I am maybe four hours into the game and I am tired of learning one-off things.
It would help a lot of the buildings and/or resources were intuitively named. Gumballs are made in a laboratory? How am I supposed to remember that? Maybe it should be called...a gumball factory!
At this point I don't really feel like completing the campaign.
Completion status
Abduction by Rodman Philbrick and Lynn Harnett
Wacky. It's about people being abducted by aliens for mind control purposes, so basically all of the stereotypical stuff with a mild plot wrapped around it. A little cheesier than I expected.
Completion status
1974 Honda CB360
I bought this as my second motorcycle, looking for something a little more casual than the CBR 1000F. It was a bit neglected by the previous owner after he had been rear-ended on it, and then I had some trouble as described in this forum post: