vacation reading

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Did you know that Harry Turtledove wrote juveniles? I just recently discovered them and have made my way through three so far this vacation.
In High Places
Curious Notions
Gunpowder Empire
Very easy reads, minimal objectionable content, I would recommend them. But then, I am very fond of the game of 'what-if'. My only (minor) objection is the way Christianity is treated, but then that is an objection one could have to almost any work of fiction, science or otherwise.

The other book in progress right now is Catholic Matters: Confusion, Controversy, And the Splendor of Truth by Richard John Neuhaus, which I was partly through and brought along to finish. John picked it up and we have been reading it alternately, with each of us trying to garner the attention of the other to listen to sections as we discover them. Very much an excellent book. It is in part a convert story, but even more it is a broad ranging set of reflections on the church today in the USA and the world.

On deck (and also partly read through) is Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace: My Spiritual Journey in Opus Dei by Scott Hahn. I just can't seem to keep up with Dr. Hahn's output. And of course, John is reading the Liturgy of the Hours, and will read parts of it our loud for my edification. I have the Universalis on my Palm, and so we will occasionally compare translations.

Anyhow, time to get on the road for the day.

2 Comments

I've never read Harry Turtledove but he gets recommended to me often - I should try one. Which would you start with of his?

In general, Turtledove treats Christianity with a lot of resepct, like someone who knows it thoroughly. (As he ought to, with a doctorate in Byzantine history.) He himself is a vaguely-practicing Jew, although he doesn't talk much about that. He mentioned it in a short-story introduction. He's one of the few sci-fi writers who treat religion as an integral part of a character and a culture, rather than as a substitute for intelligence. He and Orson Scott Card are the only ones I can think of offhand.

Gunpowder Empire is the only book of his in which I felt like he slighted Christianity, and even there he made a distinction between hardcore and cultural Christianity.

Mimi, I really enjoyed "Agent of Byzantium," a short-story collection in a world where Mohammed became a Christian rather than starting his own religion. "The Guns of the South" is also fun. I'm addicted to the Great War series myself, but that's long and involved.

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This page contains a single entry by alicia published on May 24, 2007 8:17 AM.

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