3.2⭐ Obviously taking on a very big subject, this guidebook manages to do a fair job. Apparently converted to ebook form, from print, which may explain3.2⭐ Obviously taking on a very big subject, this guidebook manages to do a fair job. Apparently converted to ebook form, from print, which may explain the not infrequent dropped words and other non sequiturs. The maps are not expandable and often hard to read. However it's a recent publication (2023) and all the links I tried, worked. The format is similar to many quides: an introductory section covering the basics in overview form; individual destinations including passages on attractions, accommodation, food and drink and a final section of short essays on Indian history, culture, wildlife, etc. The travelwalas who wrote this made a decent effort to cover a lot of ground and while I would not use it as my sole source for trip planning, I think it's a good introduction to the topic. Of course, being me I have a few quibbles. Like some other guides I've read it downplays the risks and obstacles travelers face, at least in it's introductory section. "...India is, on the whole, a safe country to travel"- until it isn't. In fact the body of the book contains many specific warnings about health and security issues but in an off-handed manner, spread throughout the text. It's fair to say it's philosophy is - Stay in heavily traveled tourist areas, unless you have a guide. Why not just say that off the top? Might depress sales, I suppose. The book is geared to what it calls the "independent" tourist, including the backpacker class and looks down it's nose at "coach" or "package" or "resort" travel, ignoring the fact that for some (seniors, people with disabilities) it can be the safest and most comfortable way to access the country. The large majority of the attractions it describes are temples, palaces, forts,etc from pre-colonial times, with a good sprinkling of museums, galleries and wildlife areas. It's generally discouraging of Indian zoos ( with one exception). What I would have liked to see more of are sites associated with modern India-science and technology for example, or with the independence movement ( there are a handful listed). There's also a fair bit of British slang and jargon, the meaning of which Is not always apparent. Quibbles complete. While it would never be my "bible" for travel in India, I'm glad I read it. However, the most memorable recently read travel advice on the topic came from the Canadian government advisory website- "Always exercise vigilance in the presence of monkeys. " Words to live by. -30-...more
3.5⭐ A nice little short story from the 15,000 hours when Murderbot was still passing as a normal, totally-not-hacked Sec Unit. He has to make a choice 3.5⭐ A nice little short story from the 15,000 hours when Murderbot was still passing as a normal, totally-not-hacked Sec Unit. He has to make a choice whether to save a stupid, annoying human, possibly blow his cover and get memory wiped and/or recycled. We all know what he does....more
3.4⭐ I came late (by 38 years) to the Vorkostigan saga, but I think I can see why it's so popular. It's a shrewd mash up of military (or as Bujold aptl3.4⭐ I came late (by 38 years) to the Vorkostigan saga, but I think I can see why it's so popular. It's a shrewd mash up of military (or as Bujold aptly puts it " militaresque") space opera and romance novel. I have noticed the similarities between these two genres before: both have formulas and tropes they tend to follow; strong heros tend to hook up with strong heroines, or visa versa- even if the strengths are sometimes hidden or underdeveloped; the more interesting of both types venture into social or moral issues. I found all of those characteristics in this book. First off, though, Bujold is a highly competent writer of adventure stories with excellent pacing and good plots (so far). True, her settings and characters all seem kind of familiar but she does interesting things with them (and to be fair, she was in the game early- before the market was saturated with series like this one). I liked this book a little better than " Shards Of Honor", which preceeded it. I found Bujold's dry humor a bit sharper, this outing. Can't get into details due to potential spoilers but she does do a number on patriarchies and militaristic societies throughout her book. She doesn't take herself too seriously though, her series ( so far) is clearly light entertainment. An example of her space opera/romance aggregate I liked was that, after a daring and desperate secret rescue mission ( the dramatic climax), she follows it up with a (semi) royal wedding, with descriptions of the dresses, ceremony, food etc. Classic stuff, and she pulls it off well. I will continue to follow this series, which is some 20 plus novels and shorter works, as far as I can. -30-...more
Yet another military space opera series I've begun; they are a particular guilty pleasure of mine. Bujold can write a decent enough sci-adventure 2.8⭐I
Yet another military space opera series I've begun; they are a particular guilty pleasure of mine. Bujold can write a decent enough sci-adventure tale. Her characters and settings are not especially original and her prose has a whiff of creative writing assignment about it but her pacing is good and the plot keeps you engaged all the way through. The story is about a spacewoman and spaceman from rival planets, who end up marooned on a hostile alien world together and whose fates are henceforth and forever intertwined, -30-...more
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