PLAYER PIANO by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

 Finished Fr 5/8/26

This is one of my ancient paperbacks that I bought at BOOKS ON BELMONT' on one of my trips to Chicago in the 90's. I have no idea where this shop is, although I'm pretty sure that it's on Belmont. 

The book was released in 1952 and was truly far ahead of its' time.However, Vonnegut's style is totally different from his later (and more famous works) books. This one is a dense style and the newer stuff is much more spare.

The book is overwhelmingly about the horrors of "mechanization" but also about the internal struggles in the married relationship between 'the hero' and his wife.

 From ebsco.com:

""Player Piano" is Kurt Vonnegut's debut novel, classified as dystopian fiction. Set in the fictional city of Ilium after World War III, the narrative depicts a society dominated by an elite class of manager-engineers, while the displaced populace, whose jobs have been automated, struggles for identity and purpose. Central to the story is Paul Proteus, the son of a former Works Manager, who grapples with the pressures of societal advancement and his personal dissatisfaction. The player piano serves as a key symbol of automation, representing the dehumanizing effects of technology that replace human labor. Throughout the novel, Vonnegut explores themes of identity, purpose, and the existential crises faced by those rendered obsolete by progress. As Proteus navigates his internal conflict and the expectations of his wife, he ultimately chooses to embrace human fallibility over the cold efficiency of technology. The narrative culminates in a failed revolution led by Proteus, highlighting his quest for meaning in a world that often equates identity with work. "Player Piano" poignantly critiques the human cost of automation, emphasizing the deep connection between employment and self-worth."

RAGE AND THE REPUBLIC: The Unfinished Story Of The American Revolution by Jonathan Turley

 This was a book that I borrowed on audio from Amazon Prime Music. I get one audio pick per month and I know that I had this for many weeks. 

It's a terrific view of American history as seen through the eyes of Thomas Paine and James Madison. One man believed in 'total freedom' (Paine) and Madison was terrified of 'Mobocracy'- the democracy becomes a mob. 

It was so good that my next audio is also by Turley, 'THE INDISPENSABLE RIGHT: Free Speech In An Age Of Rage". 

From the book's page at Amazon:

 This is a book about revolutions. Most countries are the progeny of revolution. At the birth of this nation, the Founding Fathers faced the quintessential question of self-governance: how do you keep democracy from devolving into violent anarchy or brutal despotism? Drawing on little-known facts from the founding, Jonathan Turley reveals how the United States escaped the cycles of violence and instability that plagued other democratic movements, from ancient Athens to 19th-century France.

As the nation approaches a new era marked by artificial intelligence, robotics, and profound economic shifts, America must again withstand the pressure of radical forces that seek to curtail our natural liberties under the guise of popular reform. In this crisis of faith, many politicians and pundits are questioning the very principles of American democracy, and some law professors are even calling for scrapping the Constitution.

Synthesizing sources from history to philosophy to the arts, Turley offers a hopeful account of how the lessons of the past can guide us through today’s “crisis of faith” in democracy and see us into the future. He notes: “From redcoats to robots, our challenges have changed. Yet, we have remained. Our greatest danger is not forgetting the history detailed in this book, but forgetting who we were in that history.”"

CITY OF ILLUSIONS by Ursula K. LeGuin

 This was one of my ancient paperbacks that I bought at 'BOOKS ON BELMONT' a Chicago bookstore that I don't remember. I finished the novel on Tu 2/9/93. This time I finished on Fr 5/1/26.

It's kind of a cautionary tale about 'global governments'. 'The Aliens' {The Shing} have created small isolated settlements of humans all over the planet. They do this to 'keep us separate and without power', {like redrawing the voting lines within states}.

The hero is left naked and discovered without a clue as to his identity. His eyes are like the eyes of a cat. 

From techietonics.com:

"The story is set on Earth in the future, after a big disaster that has destroyed much of civilization, because of which, knowledge and information are hard to find, and people live separated in small groups. The story builds up slowly, and as it progresses, the plot thickens. It begins with a man named Falk who is found in the woods without remembering who he is. He also has strange eyes that don’t look fully human. Initially, the forest people teach him how to speak and how to survive in their environment. One of these people, Parth, becomes very close to Falk, forming a strong relationship. Their connection is deep, but it’s not a typical romantic relationship. As the story goes on, Falk begins to experience small flashes of memories from his past, especially about a distant mountain. It hints that there is an important, possibly hidden, part of Falk’s history that is waiting to be uncovered.

His journey from the forest to the mysterious city of Es Toch is one of the most interesting parts. He runs into all kinds of groups, such as an old telepathic Listener who lives alone in a cabin, a weirdly charming despot who calls himself the Prince of Kansas, and a nomadic tribe who blind him during a ritual. None of these people feel like filler. They each show a different way humanity has adapted or broken down. The Listener in particular stuck with me. He can’t read thoughts, only emotions, which ends up telling Falk more than words ever could, like he says,  

“I know the compass of your mind, outlandish as it is, whether I will or no. North and south are dim; far back in the east is a lost brightness; to the west there lies darkness, a heavy darkness. I know that darkness.”" 

TEA & TRANQUILLISERS by Diane Harpwood

 This is one of my ancient trade paperbacks that I first finished Su 1/5/14. I read the book during a bad snowstorm. It was a raging blizzard and we had the coldest temperature in 30 years and that day temps didn't rise above seven below zero.

The title seems like it might be a book about a struggle with pain pills, but this isn't the case. It's more about the relationships between men and women before the thrust of the women's movement. The book was released in 1982.

The wife still loves her husband, but she puts up with a lot. "I love Motherhood, but I'd rather be a father". Marriage provides the man with a life long cleaning service and sex on demand. 

It was a fun memoir and I will recommend it to Janny. 

KINDRED by Octavia Butler

 Finished Th 4/23/26 on Kindred through a library loan.

A woman from 1976 is transported back to the eastern shore of Maryland in 1819. The woman is black and experiences all of the social, racial, and economic issues that come with elevating one race over another.

From AI Overview: 

"Kindred by Octavia E. Butler is a powerful, harrowing, and essential masterpiece of historical fiction and sci-fi that transports a modern Black woman to the antebellum South to save her white ancestor. It is highly regarded for its visceral, non-sugarcoated depiction of slavery's brutality, exploring themes of race, power, and survival."

I really loved the book and would read anything by Butler.

an excellent discussion of the novel:

https://kara.reviews/kindred/

DAWN by Octavia Butler

 Finished Su 4/19/26

This was one of my paperbacks that finished in Key West on Th 9/3/98.

I really like Butler's style and reminds me of subjects that Philip K. Dick would develop.

Lilith awakens on a spaceship. She has been 'asleep' for 250 years and Earth has been conquered by an alien race. 

The premise is that this alien culture is 'breeding' Earthings to become 'better'. 

The book is the first in a trilogy and I'm considering buying the set on Amazon.

From a review online:

"Octavia Butler is one of my all-time favorite authors and was a groundbreaking African American science fiction writer known for her exploration of complex social issues, including race, gender, power, and survival. She was one of the first Black women to achieve mainstream success in the genre and became a MacArthur “Genius” Grant recipient. Butler’s work is deeply philosophical, often engaging with questions of identity, autonomy, and the nature of humanity. “Dawn,” published in 1987, is the first book in Butler’s “Lilith’s Brood trilogy” (originally Xenogenesis). The novel was written during a time of rising concerns about nuclear war and environmental devastation, both of which influenced its themes of survival and rebuilding civilization. Butler was also responding to the genre’s traditionally Eurocentric narratives, introducing a unique perspective on human-alien relations that subverts colonialist tropes.

“Dawn” follows Lilith Iyapo, a Black woman who wakes up in captivity aboard an alien spaceship centuries after Earth has been devastated by nuclear war. She learns that the Oankali, an advanced alien species, have rescued the last remnants of humanity, preserving them in suspended animation while studying their biology. The Oankali are genetic traders who wish to merge their DNA with humans to create a hybrid species, offering survival at the cost of genetic autonomy. As Lilith is trained to awaken other humans and prepare them for life on a partially restored Earth, she grapples with moral dilemmas. The Oankali claim their intervention is necessary due to humanity’s self-destructive tendencies, but many of the revived humans resist, perceiving the aliens as captors rather than saviors. Lilith is caught between her desire to ensure humanity’s survival and her growing awareness that the Oankali’s help comes with profound consequences.

Review of the Book:

I think I’ve made it abundantly clear that I love this book and, in my eyes, it is perfect, so it is difficult to say anything negative about this fantastic novel. I love how this book challenges traditional science fiction narratives, not only in the sense that this is one of the first truly inclusive sci-fi books, but it has a certain ambiguity that doesn’t paint one side as better or worse. The Oankali are neither benevolent saviors nor malicious conquerors, but something more ambiguous. With that, the novel forces readers to reconsider the definition of humanity and whether survival is worth the price of transformation.

Additionally, the world-building is another fantastic element of the novel. Butler crafts an intricate alien society with unique biology, behaviors, and motivations. The Oankali’s ability to manipulate genetics raises profound ethical questions, and their interactions with humans feel deeply unsettling yet strangely logical. Butler’s prose is clear and compelling, with a deep psychological insight into Lilith’s struggles. The protagonist is complex, strong-willed, and resourceful, making her a fascinating guide through this alien world. And finally, the novel’s themes of consent, power imbalance, and cultural assimilation remain strikingly relevant, particularly in discussions about colonialism and bioethics.

Overall, “Dawn” is a masterful work of speculative fiction that challenges readers to rethink assumptions about identity, autonomy, and survival. Butler’s storytelling is as unsettling as it is thought-provoking, forcing readers to confront difficult questions about humanity’s future. Its originality and depth make it a must-read for those interested in complex, socially conscious science fiction, an absolute 100/10 in my eyes." 

an excellent link about the novel:

https://www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/Octavia-Butler/Dawn.html

PHANTOM by Jo Nesbo

 Finished the Kindle edition Tu 4/14/26

This was a novel that I got from the library on Kindle.

It was part of the Harry Hole series and it's a stand-alone novel, but it was a little confusing. It's the 9th book in the series. 

Harry is trying to find out who killed the son of an old lover. The reveal is that the kid who Harry thought was innocent was actually the murderer. 

A detailed recap of the book:

https://746books.com/2014/12/03/phantom-jo-nesbo/

From a reviewer at Amazon:  

""Phantom" by Jo Nesbo is an excellent book. I think this, even though I don't particularly like Police Crime novels. But Nesbo's stories are different: rich, engrossing, clever, brutal, full of carefully developed characters, even sentimental and loving at time, and astonishingly literary. The above title to my review is from Page 205 and is spoken by the ghost of the dead Gusto, one of the narrators in the story, a beautiful young man who is murdered. Wrongly accused of the murder, Oleg, the son of Harry Hole's erstwhile lover Rakel is already in prison awaiting prosecution. Harry, Nesbo's main police guy (or ex-police in this story), has returned from a 3 year hiatus in Hong Kong to save Oleg, believing him to be innocent of the murder. Harry has a troubled past (aptly illustrated in the long-running series), operates often as a loose cannon, doesn't really care what anybody thinks, and uses his long-established police and other Oslo connections to work his magic. Harry has long been Oleg's only father-figure. Harry loves the boy and puts his life on the line time and time again in his attempts to save him."