Review on Internet Archive

Posted on 2016-08-09 by arjaybe


Here’s another example of what a review can look like. This reviewer put a little more thought and effort into it, which I appreciate, of course, but I wouldn’t want anyone to feel that they have to live up to this example were they to do a review of their own. As I’ve said, anything, anywhere would help. Even a one-liner.

Here is one person’s review of Green Comet on its Internet Archive page.


Reviewer: megatotoro – Five Stars – December 29, 2012

Subject: Green Comet from the Eyes of a Non-Native English Speaker

I finished reading Green Comet a few days ago. It has a solid plot resting upon an original idea: comet inhabitants. I say it’s solid because the author leads readers throughout the technical difficulties of such a setting and make it highly credible by means of precise and detailed descriptions. The characters, although fantastic, are also credible and realistic thanks to the advances in science. Now, this is not only a story of science (science-fiction), but also one of the most basic elements in human nature: doing one’s best, risking life, finding (and keeping) real love, and facing extreme danger bravely in spite of our very own fear. The narrative figure does not get in the way: it helps to disclose the characters’ emotions without giving too much information away or forcibly keeping relevant details.

Green Comet makes us imagine the endless possibilities for progress that technology offers and at the same time makes us question our personal attitudes and goals in life thanks to its round, well-developed characters. They are loyal, brave, loving, and hard-working…but also far from perfect: they must fight against their individual fears, doubts, and prejudices to conquer themselves while facing their worst threat as a people.

This novel is deep and quite technical yet enjoyable and able to make you smile and even laugh.

If you want to read a fine piece of writing in which the marvels of precise engineering blend with the subjectivity of human(?) nature, take a look at Green Comet. I am glad I read it.

Thank you, megatotoro. Your words encouraged me when I read them. They can’t help but inspire others.

rjb

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Request for Reviews

Posted on 2016-07-24 by arjaybe

pronoun-green-comet-book-page

A little over a month ago I wrote a post humbly requesting that people write reviews for Green Comet and post them on one or more of the sites where Pronoun has submitted the book. You can see where they submitted it on my Pronoun Green Comet book page. This request was successful. One generous person took the time and made the effort to post a review on Green Comet’s Amazon book store page. You can see the review quoted below. A couple of people also bought a copy of Green Comet, which was a pleasant bonus.

pronoun-green-comet-amazon-page

Here’s the review:

Five Stars

By Jose Saravia Vargas on June 20, 2016

This book is simply captivating from the start. If you like Science Fiction, you should not miss this one: everything is described (even the research of scientists) in great detail, yet not overwhelmingly so that each situation becomes believable and surprising at the same time. You feel that you get to know the characters (those who you like and those who you don’t) and feel the need to keep reading to know what is going to happen to them. I am glad I read it!

My thanks and gratitude go out to Mr Vargas. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. If anyone else is thinking about writing a review, please don’t hesitate. Write it today and post it anywhere you like, whether or not it’s one of the five sites chosen by Pronoun. Every little bit helps, and you never know, your review might be the thing that ignites the fire under Green Comet.

Now, back to work on the third book in the trilogy.

rjb

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Farmers Demand Right to Fix Their Own Dang Tractors

Posted on 2016-07-19 by arjaybe

Last Fall I published an article about iFixit, the activist group trying to make it safe, even possible for people to fix their own stuff. That article referred to a Wired article about the John Deere company trying to make it illegal for farmers to fix their own tractors. Now Modern Farmer has an article about how farmers feel about that.

– This might be hard to believe for non-farmers, but owners of tractors aren’t actually allowed to fix them, thanks to a set of laws designed to protect software intellectual property.

– John Deere, the world’s largest tractor maker, said that the folks who buy tractors don’t own them, not in the way the general public believes “ownership” works. Instead, John Deere said that those who buy tractors are actually purchasing an “implied license for the life of the vehicle to operate the vehicle.”

– Farmers are fed up with being forced to endure long, inefficient repair processes.

Source: Farmers Demand Right to Fix Their Own Dang Tractors – Modern Farmer

I’m tired of people using copyright this way. It’s bad enough that copyright has been extended so far that the original creator’s grandchildren will be dead before it expires. Now it’s being used to curtail competition in business. Could someone please throw a pitcher of ice water on our politicians? We need to break their thrall.

rjb

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