Fluke

So, I have been a fan of Christopher Moore since his first book, Practical Demonkeeping, which I read and loved shortly after moving to Boston. I found it in the sci fi section of the main Cambridge branch of the library, which at that time was not being renovated. Somehow, I missed Fluke for a few years. I put it on hold at the library a month ago, after getting back from Dark Odyssey. We had brought Fluke on CD from Porter Square Books, which lets you rent books on CD by the week, but wound up listening to Dating and Sex: The Worst Case Survival Handbook instead. Anyway, after I had found out the book existed, I wanted to listen to it.

Some things I liked about this book:
- Moore didn't reuse characters from previous books in this one.
- Wacky premise, man! But I won't give it away.
- Moore's wit sparkles when it is turned on the scientific community. I particularly love the interactions between the honest-to-gosh researchers and the ones that are in it for the money.
- The story of how the two lesbian scientists got together is hilarious, although admittedly somewhat gross.

I'd recommend it to fans of Moore. I think that those who have not previously experienced him would probably be better served by reading one of his earlier books first - Practical Demonkeeping, Bloodsucking Fiends, or Coyote Blue.

like trying to explain quantum theory to an English major

I've been reading bits and pieces of this book, Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experience in Quantum Reality, which is principally about psychic phenomena. It has a brief chapter on quantum theory, but I'm pretty sure I didn't understand. In particular, the thing about the three boxes* - the book said that when you understand it, it makes your stomach drop. Well then, I'm pretty sure I didn't understand it. While I recognize that this experience may be common to the field, I'm hoping to get suggestions of things I might try to at least refine my grasp of my incomprehension.

In short - can you recommend a book, or books, about quantum theory? The ideal text will be readable, without the help of a professor, to someone who has never taken a physics class in her whole life. (That would be me.) Yes, I was able to get through A Brief History of the Universe if that helps. What I really want is The Cartoon Guide to Quantum Theory or Quantum Theory for Dummies but apparently neither of those books have been written, which I think is shameful.

*There are three boxes. One of them shoots entangled particles in two different directions, into two more boxes. Each of the other two boxes has two lights, one of which is red and the other green, and three settings. When you shoot entangled particles into them, the lights are the same color 55.5% of the time instead of 50% of the time, and apparently that should blow all of our minds. If you don't know what I'm talking about, well, I didn't get it either.

The Briar King by Greg Keyes

I saw this book in the used section of Brookline Booksmith a few days ago, bought it, and read it in a gulp. What makes this fantasy stand out from the herd? Well, for one thing, it's weird. Yes, I know how that sounds. I mean, this book is strange in a creepy but fascinating way. It's hard to figure out where the author is going with everything - almost the only thing we're sure about is that there are a lot of bad guys. Another thing - how many fantasy novels begin with a battle, instead of ending with one? I thought that was neat. I also really liked the battle sequence described at the beginning - it could have nearly been a short story.

The characters seemed to me to be a little predictable - the headstrong princess, the gruff woodsman with a kind heart, the spunky tavern wench, the novice priest with lots of book learning but little worldly experience. To say nothing of the "rogue adventurer" mentioned on the back cover as a main character, who the author didn't even bother to introduce until several HUNDRED pages into the book. Realize you'd written yourself into a corner, there, Keyes? Mercenary Ex Machina?
What I found far more interesting was the world-building and the magic. The magic isn't explained too much in this first volume, but what was explained or even described was extremely creepy. Forget Santeria - you'll never think about saints the same way again after you read THIS one. Yeek! I can't wait to find out more. And the mention of the Croatani (the first time I wrote that, it came out Crostini) in the beginning could have been really annoying, but was mitigated by no other mention of Roanoke in the rest of the book. I'm curious to see where Keyes will go with that. I'm hooked - I'll need to read the next two, at least, and a conclusion to the quartet is planned for 1/08. Four stars. Yum.

My other acquisitions from that store was The Wind Singer. I also saw Darkly Dreaming Dexter, which I had just requested from the library, and Myrren's Gift, but I managed to resist their siren songs. I'm glad I did, since Myrren's Gift turns out to be available via paperbackswap.com, so I'll have it in a few weeks anyway.