Learn about Kittie Knox and the early history of cycling in the US
5 stars
This thoroughly researched zine paints a fascinating portrait of Kittie Knox, a firebrand and an advocate for change in the early days of cycling. It explores her complicated relationship with the main cycling organization of her time, the League of American Wheelmen (today the League of American Bicyclists). And it describes her legacy, and how many of the issues of her day are still relevant today.
I thought I was getting a queer book about roller derby. Brace for Impact is that, and it's also a memoir of overcoming a lot of challenges from growing up in a difficult family situation, separating from the unsupportive family, and learning to embrace chosen family in its place.
The six-person crew of a derelict spaceship awakens from stasis in the farthest reaches of …
I recently heard there was a new series called Dark Matter coming out and briefly got excited until I realized it has nothing to do with the TV series of the same name from 10 years ago.
But it did prompt me to finally check out the graphic novel the show was based on. It's not bad, but honestly the TV series was more satisfying because it had time to develop the characters. As far as I can tell the Dark Horse comic series was a pitch for the TV pilot. Apparently it was an effective one.
I'm still wishing we could get a new Dark Matter miniseries or novel or something to continue following the Raza or at least tie up the loose ends where the show got cancelled.
A queer rom-com. Funny, sexy, beautiful. I laughed a lot and cried a bit.
If you've read For Her Consideration by the same author, you'll meet some familiar characters. But there's no need to read the books in any particular order. They're independent stories.
Work of political economy, detailing the impact of slavery and colonialism on the history of …
an excellent history lesson
4 stars
Walter Rodney's book is dense but very readable. It's an excellent education for someone who may not have learned much about the history of Africa. It makes a strong case that the problems of development that face the people of Africa were created by foreign imperialism and exploitation, not something fundamentally wrong or backward in Africa.
The African people were doing just fine before Europeans arrived with ships and guns and proceeded to extract African wealth, goods, mineral resources, and people for hundreds of years. In the 20th century the people of Africa managed to educate and organize themselves and push out colonial governments, but there's a lot to recover from and still much work to do.
Some things to be aware of: The book was first published in 1972, so it's somewhat dated. The history is still relevant of course, but I do wonder what more the author would …
Walter Rodney's book is dense but very readable. It's an excellent education for someone who may not have learned much about the history of Africa. It makes a strong case that the problems of development that face the people of Africa were created by foreign imperialism and exploitation, not something fundamentally wrong or backward in Africa.
The African people were doing just fine before Europeans arrived with ships and guns and proceeded to extract African wealth, goods, mineral resources, and people for hundreds of years. In the 20th century the people of Africa managed to educate and organize themselves and push out colonial governments, but there's a lot to recover from and still much work to do.
Some things to be aware of: The book was first published in 1972, so it's somewhat dated. The history is still relevant of course, but I do wonder what more the author would have had to say later if he hadn't been assassinated. Also the book is written from a Marxist perspective, and so throughout the book there is an implication that socialist states are the solution. A whole lot less capitalism would almost certainly be an improvement, but depending on how you feel about the history of socialist states, the enthusiasm for the state might seem excessive. I could not agree with the author's assertion that only capitalist states engage in imperialism.
In summary, it's an excellent history lesson, and I suggest reading with a filter for "written from a Marxist perspective from over 50 years ago."
