Book #5

5) Asimov's Sept. 2006.

I liked "Postsingular," by Rudy Rucker, as it's the further adventures of the autistic boy, Chu, who saved the world in "Chu and the Nants" (in Asimov's June 2006). Because Chu is autistic and his father, Ond, is Asperger's, there's a certain matter-of-fact and yet freewheelingly cracked out feel to the text that appeals to the geek in me.

I did NOT like "Sunlight or Rock" by John Kessel, even though it's the further adventures of Erno, the main character of "Stories for Men" (in the Oct/Nov issue of 2002). "Stories for Men" was about Erno having a thing for/being under the influence of a guy who called himself Tyler Durden (consciously after the character in "Fight Club") who's a male power instigator/troublemaker/rabblerouser in a female-dominated society. And it was a great story. "Sunlight or Rock" just seems to meander without goal. Maybe there is a point, about questions in the real world not being answered, about how incredibly harsh and cruel life is for him now that he's left the matriarchy, and maybe I'm just too dumb to get it.

"We Are The Cat" (Carl Frederick) was kind of like a long joke. "So there are these three physicists trapped in a cave..."

Um, yeah. I can't really write something for each story, I just don't have time at the moment.

(no subject)

The first of my particular three students graduated, today. He got only one wrong on his test. I'm proud as punch. :) Of course I had the bright lot, but he was a little underconfident and technologically intimidated, so he seemed grateful for the time I took with him - we used every ounce of his allotted time. Tomorrow it's Vic, and she doesn't even want her training time, just wants to barrel right into the test. No confidence problem there. ;)

I'm supposed to call in the morning and see if the AM manager would like me to come in early to help the AM trainer with his problem child - his first guy failed. Only by one question, after I had them rescore the test the right way. It didn't occurre to me until after I made the offer that the AM trainer might take this as a slight on his ability.