User Profile

Strakul

Strakul@wyrms.de

Joined 2 years, 11 months ago

Science fiction and fantasy. Astronomical Data Scientist at STScI/MAST in Baltimore. Opinions are my own. Follow me on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@VirStrakul Longer reviews on my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/

#Astronomy #Books #Gaming #Fantasy #SciFi

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Strakul's books

Currently Reading

2025 Reading Goal

41% complete! Strakul has read 5 of 12 books.

Isaac Asimov: I, Robot (EBook, 2004) 4 stars

The three laws of Robotics: 1) A robot may not injure a human being or, …

A series of short stories in Asimov's Robot universe

4 stars

A classic, with lots of fun robot stories and how they reveal the use and applications of the Three Laws of Robots. This book has a more positive look towards the future both for humanity and its robots. One can hope that we learn from stories like this.

A somewhat longer review is available at my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2025/04/book-review-i-robot-by-isaac-asimov.html

Arthur C. Clarke: Rendezvous with Rama (Paperback, 1990, Spectra) 3 stars

"At first, only a few things are known about the celestial object that astronomers dub …

Exploring an alien spaceship

5 stars

This book is fascinating. It's very much a hallmark of it's time, with a few astronomical inconsistencies now that we know better, but that doesn't detract from it. At it heart, it's about exploring a fascinating space ship from an alien civilization. You, alongside the characters, are left wondering at Rama's purpose, it's inhabitants, and how everything works. The joy of discovery is a central theme for this book. I may not remember the characters or points of the plot years from now, but I will remember Rama.

For a full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2025/02/book-review-rendezvous-with-rama-by.html

Brandon Sanderson: Wind and Truth (2024, Doherty Associates, LLC, Tom) 5 stars

Dalinar Kholin challenged the evil god Odium to a contest of champions with the future …

Journey Before Destination

5 stars

This is the ending of the first arc of The Stormlight Archive and it is quite an impressive book. It's very long, and the plot does suffer a bit in the middle parts, but the setting and characters are well established so I felt drawn to it all the way. Overall, it was a great book and a fitting conclusion to this arc. I really want to know what happens next, but suspect it may be several years before we return to Roshar.

For a full review, check out my blog: strakul.blogspot.com/2024/12/book-review-wind-and-truth-by-brandon.html