Review: A Convenient Solution by Howard Johnson
March 12, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Book Title: A Convenient Solution
Author: Howard Johnson
Niche: Science / Energy
Price: $4.95
Size: 95,000 words (365 pages paperback equivalent)
Discussion of the energy crisis and some practical solutions.
The world is facing an energy crisis. Well, a large part of it. The causes of the crisis are part economics, part supply/demand, and part political. Many myths abound along with quite a bit of greed and chicanery.
Mr. Johnson dives into this morass with a hard-headed attitude that cuts through the “BS” and gets to the basics. In doing so, he debunks some of the myths while realizing that as long as some of the myths are adopted, for whatever reason, into public policy, any solution is going to have to work around them.
The book is basically aimed at the problems as they impact the United States, but I can see where a lot of the content would apply to a number of “developed” nations. The book covers present energy systems, proposed solutions, distribution problems, and tradeoffs. Mr. Johnson finally proposes a number of solutions that are economically and politically possible and would, he claims, make this country energy independent within 10 years.
President Obama must have read this book, because one of several solutions Johnson proposes is a nuclear option — the same thing the President is currently touting.
If you want to be current and knowledgeable about energy for homes, autos, portable toys, etc. this is a book you should have around to educate yourself and as a handy reference for later.
Formats: Adobe Reader (pdf), ePub, Kindle (prc), Microsoft Reader (lit), Mobi (prc)
No DRM
Reviewed by Allan Kalar, Washington state
By it now at AKW Books
Review: The Fighter King
March 4, 2010 | Leave a Comment
Book Title: The Fighter King
Author: John Bowers
Niche: Fiction – Science Fiction / Adventure
Price: $5.95
Size: 139,000 words (424 pages paperback equivalent)
The beginning of the Fighter Queen saga.
Oliver Lincoln III has it good. Born into a rich family (his father manufactures combat fighters), he can pretty much coast through life. In fact, the easy life has made him soft and overweight.
He leads a playboy life with friends on other worlds and enough money to visit whenever he feels like it. In fact, in the opening of the story, we see him “showing off” his marksmanship to a college friend on Sirius, a planet settled by aggressive southern rednecks from Earth who trade in slaves.
So, how was Oliver sucked into the middle of a war on another world, one he’s never previously visited and where he has no friends to bail him out?
The answers and Oliver’s struggles to stay alive, do the right thing, and get back home make an intriguing story of triumph, tragedy, and “growing up”.
This is a “page-turner” from the start. I only get about an hour to myself at night before I turn in, and I’ve “crashed” late several times because I had to read “just a little more”.
The 3rd book released in the series, it’s probably the one that should be read first.
Other books in the series: A Vow to Sophia, and The Fighter Queen. A fourth, Star Marine, is due out in mid to late March.
Rated “R” for sex, language, and violence
Reviewed by Allan Kalar, Washington state
John Bower’s website is http://bornnovelist.wordpress.com/
Buy it now at: AKW Books
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