User Profile

Michael Gouker Locked account

mgouker@wyrms.de

Joined 1 year, 4 months ago

This link opens in a pop-up window

Michael Gouker's books

Currently Reading

The Dispatcher (2021, Subterranean) 4 stars

Review of 'The Dispatcher' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

John Scalzi has some absolutely incredible novels. He's one of the best sff authors at worldbuilding. His characters have real-life problems, and their pain and suffering helps suspend the disbelief. The Dispatcher is not a great novel, but it is a very good example how this writer can pull a single thread (a weak one to be sure) and see how everything collapses. The principal idea is that when people are murdered, they are resurrected in a safe place. John Scalzi takes this simple thought out for a ride. When it branches to philosophy halfway through the story, the story deliivers hugely.

I love his bigger stories a lot more, but this guy is really talented, and maybe it's in the smaller pieces that it shows most. Well-played!

Review of 'Woke Racism' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

I was disappointed. McWhorter is so intelligent, but he sounds out of touch here. At the same time, his arguments are persuasive, because his command of language frankly scintillates. It was a hard read, but I guess my wokeness is beyond this particular inoculation. Maybe after I see more substantial progress I'll feel differently, but what's wrong with working harder for reform after so many have turned a deaf ear? Motives matter.