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May 17, 2026
Sunday Morning Book Thread - 5-17-2026 ["Perfessor" Squirrel]
(HT: Biden's Dog)
Welcome to the prestigious, internationally acclaimed, stately, and illustrious Sunday Morning Book Thread! The place where all readers are welcome, regardless of whatever guilty pleasure we feel like reading. Here is where we can discuss, argue, bicker, quibble, consider, debate, confabulate, converse, and jaw about our latest fancy in reading material. As always, pants are required, unless you are wearing these pants... (goblin status--FOUND!)
So relax, find yourself a warm kitty (or warm puppy--I won't judge) to curl up in your lap, and dive into a new book. What are YOU reading this fine morning?
PIC NOTE
Even authors need a vacation. Here we see perhpas the most famous mystery author of all time relaxing over tea at the British School of Archaeology in Iraq in the 1950s. You have heard of her, even if you've never read one of her books. I had not read any of her stories until fairly recently, though I was familiar with her style through her influence on countless movies and television shows. Truly a Grand Dame of the mystery genre. I have a couple of her books sitting near the top of my TBR pile right now. Once I'm through with my current reading project, I will definitely be picking up those books...
ANALYSIS OF A GENRE: Techno-Thriller
The techno-thriller is a genre that I've only recently started reading, thanks in no small part to recommendations from the Moron Horde.
Strictly speaking, it's a subgenre of science fiction, as it always involves some sort of "phlebotinum" that sounds plausible, but isn't quite within our grasp just yet.
By now, I think I've read enough techno-thrillers to understand the formula--and there IS a formula to them, which isn't a bad thing. If you've watched Jurassic Park or read the novel on which the movie is based, you'll already know the formula, which shows up in a number of movies and television shows in addition to novels.
The techno-thriller involves a Project of some sort, one that's technically very complicated and requires outside assistance to solve certain problems. During the story, the Project starts falling apart, sometimes literally, as things continue to go wrong. Characters die in bizarre ways, underscoring the fact that the people behind the Projet don't really understand the Project. In the end, the entire Project goes haywire, and it's only through the heroic efforts of the protagonists that the entire world isn't destroyed. That's more or less how these stories go. Let's look at the elements in a bit more detail
CHARACTERS
The Project almost always has a Financier, someone providing the financial backing and resources to support the Project. They might be a CEO of a major corporation or work for the government in some capacity. They are the main driver of the plot, as the Project reaches a point where only outside Consultants will be able to solve the mysteries plaguing the Project workers. The Consultant will always have scientific knowledge and skills that are highly relevant to the plot, as well as a traumatic or tragic backstory that's also relevant. If multiple Consultants are hired, at least one of them will be female, if only to provide dramatic sexual tension with the other Consultants. The Project will have assorted Experts involved, but they serve mainly as "red shirts" who are expendable to the demands of the plot once the Project starts going out of control. For some Projects, a Chief of Security will serve as the main enforcer for the Financier or Project Director. EVERYONE has secrets that will be dragged out into the light throughout the story. The Financier is always holding back key information from the Consultant.
SETTING
The story almost always takes place in a remote location. It could be a permanent underground facility or a temporary research base. In both cases, the characters will have access to the top-of-the-line technological gadgets. Note that this will vary depending on when the story is set, which is always during "current year" aligned with the date of publication of the book. The remote location means that the characters are largely cut off from any assistance once they encounter difficulties. Expect the natural environment to play a key role in the plot. Weather will disrupt communications and prevent any assistance from reaching the main base. This can also be used to set up a "countdown" until a key event. The base might have a self-destruct capacity that WILL be used at the end of the story, if only to save the rest of the planet. Or it might have one and the Project has a way to destroy the self-destruct sequence to preserve itself.
PLOT
A research or exploration Project serves as the main element of the plot, the reason why the characters are at that location and why they are engaged in their activities. The nature of the Project varies, but it's usually tied to a scientific or technological breakthrough, one that will revolutionize our understanding of the universe once the Project is completed. Naturally, the Project also poses a grave threat to our existence, which is why the research must be done in secret at a remote location. There may be competing factions, both internally and externally, as those involved with the Project begin to understand the true nature of the Project. Some characters may want to shut down the Project. Others will drive forward towards its completion. This is a dynamic conflict that ebbs and flows throughout the story. The side that wants to shut down the Project is almost always proved to be correct in the end, as the Project is simply too dangerous for us.
THEME
Pride goes before destruction,
a haughty spirit before a fall.
--Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)
If there is one theme above all others for a techno-thriller, it's the proverb above. The Project wouldn't exist if it wasn't for hubris. Pride is at the center of the motivations of most of the main characters, including the protagonists. The reason why the protagonists succeed in stopping the Project is because they, at least, are able to overcome their own pride and recognize the recklessness inherent in continuing the Project. The antagonists, by contrast, are bound and determined to see the Project through to completion, whatever the cost. The lives of their workers are expendable so long as they fulfill their own vision. Their lack of humility in the face of the awesome power they have unleashed is their undoing.
I find the techno-thriller to be an engaging way to pass the time. I also learn things about science and technology. Successful writers of techno-thrillers, like Michael Crichton, will do A LOT of research and show off what they've learned. They also acknowledge the scientists, engineers, and other experts they've consulted while writing the book. In many cases they include a list of recommended reading for anyone interested in learning more about the subject. These can be actual academic papers or technical manuals from respected experts in their field. Good stuff if you are interested in the subject and want to know more. Of course, since science marches on, it's also possible that the recommended reading has been superceded by advancements in science/technology. But that's OK.
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(HT: Sharon (willow's apprentice))
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QUICKIES FROM THE MORON HORDE
Sharon (Willow's Apprentice) sent me the image below, which is also posted on "X." (Click the image to go to the X thread.)
Personally, I'm firmly in the camp of ALWAYS using the Oxford comma when listing a series of items, as that eliminates ambiguity. That comes from my background in technical writing, where we prefer our writing to be as clear and precise as possible. I used to work with a woman who has a background in journalism, so preferred to use the AP style for her writing, which tends to eliminate the last comma when listing a series of items. At the risk of burning down the blog, where do you stand on the issue?
Meanwhile, Doof sent me the following X thread, which explains where the terms "upper-case" and "lower-case" letters comes from. I suppose it makes sense. (Click on the image to go to the X thread.)
Quite a few terms that are used in desktop publishing applications like InDesign owe their origin to old-school printing processes. "Leading," for instance, refers to the spacing between lines within a text and comes from the fact that printers would use strips of actual lead in different thicknesses to set spacing between lines of typeface for a print job.
MORON RECOMMENDATION
Sam Kean's The Disappearing Spoon about the discovery and uses of elements in the periodic table, including the table itself.
Like Kilgoolie in Australia, where real gold was discarded because it came out as an alloy of tellurium. When tellurium was identified they tore up their own town to search the trash and get the gold out of it.
Posted by: gKWVE at May 10, 2026 09:32 AM (iJNux)
Comment: This is one of my favorite nonfiction books. It's quite entertaining, with lots of humorous facts about how the different elements of the periodic table were discovered. I've read it a number of times and have always enjoyed it. It's written for a general audience, so you don't need to know much about chemistry. A high-school chemistry class or a first year university chemistry course will be helpful, but not necessary for enjoying the book. One year I managed to convince a student in my class to read it, as it was available in our campus library.
MORON ANTI-RECOMMENDATION
I read Yesteryear...complete trash. The premise that it was sold on was not what the book was about. I finished it because of my book club. It was a very woke book. After I started reading it, I found out it was classified as "dark humor/satire". It was neither, it was more of a very un funny parody/caricature of tradwives, Christians, conservatives, men, children, mental health, etc. The book jumped around a confusing timeline. It was not well researched as there were several glaring errors. The ending was a hot confusing mess that was not logical.
Highly DO NOT recommend!
I'm now listening/reading Larry Correia's "Magic and Bullets", which is way more enjoyable!
Posted by: lin-duh is offended at May 10, 2026 09:19 AM (VCgbV)
Comment: From time-to-time I like to include ANTI-recommendations. It's useful to know which books to avoid. One of the problems with any book club project is that you run the risk of encountering a book like this, but you feel obligated to read it any way, if only because you are part of the group.
MORE MORON RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE FOUND HERE: AoSHQ - Book Thread Recommendations
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WHAT I'VE BEEN READING RECENTLY
Mount Dragon by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Kids...Don't play with germs.
Mount Dragon is a techno-thriller that conforms to the tropes and expectations you'd find in such a novel, but Preston and Child know what they are doing, so the story flows nicely. Lots of twists and turns as the protagonist figures out what's really going on at a remote research location in New Mexico that's developing a means of curing the flu once and for all by manipulating the genetic code of humanity. Naturally, things don't go smooth.
The Dragonrealm - Shadowsteed by Richard A. Knaak
One of the more unusual characteristics of The Dragonrealm series is that it's not focused entirely on one character. Instead Knaak has assembled an ensemble cast of characters and uses the novels to focus on each of them in turn. Here, we turn to Darkhorse, the Child of the Void, a sentient bit of emptiness that perfers to assume the shape of an ebony stallion. He's been summoned by the King of Talak who wishes to use Darkhorse's powers to remove the dragons from his kingdom once and for all.
For a story that's less than 300 pages long, there's a surprisingly dense plot, far too much to go into here. We learn about Darkhorse's origins, as well as the origins of Shade, which will be explored in more detail in the next book in the series.
The Dragonrealm - The Shrouded Realm by Richard A. Knaak
Thousands of years ago, the race of Vraad sorcerers destroyed their world of Nimth through reckless use of magic. Now they seek to escape their ravaged world and start anew, like magical locusts. They discover a "shrouded realm" overlaying their own reality that appears to be pristine and immaculate compared to the twisted, nightmarish reality they created on their homeworld. Barakis Tezerenee is leading the efforts to transport his clan to the new world. Meanwhile, Dru Zeree has found an alternate path that will be much more promising to the future of the Vraad race, though both plans will lead to tremendous sacrifice. The Dragonrealm is much more than it seems...and has its own agenda for the Vraad sorcerers...
The Dragonrealm - Children of the Drake by Richard A. Knaak
Barakis Tezerenee and Dru Zeree have succeeded in transplanting their race to the new world. Unfortunately, their Vraad sorcery is compatible with the magical forces of their new home, and both struggle with adapting to the Dragonrealm's peculiar nature. They are also plagued by the inhabitants of the Dragonrealm, who don't take kindly to the intruders. We learn the truth behind the Dragonrealm's existence and what it means for humanity and dragons going forward to the present day.
The Ice Limit by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Thomas Paine recommended this book a few years ago and I've only just now read it, though I've read many, many books by Preston and Child in the meantime. A book about moving a large rock shouldn't be this entertaining, but somehow Preston and Child maintain the dramatic tension throughout the story.
Also, there are different layers of preparedness. There is "Boy Scout prepared", "Batman prepared", "Crazy prepared," and "Eli Glinn prepared." Eli Glinn is the leader of the expedition to recover the meteorite and he demonstrates levels of preparedness that are nearly supernatural. He's tasked with moving a rock that's around 10,000 tons, but when they find out it's over twice that mass, he's ready for it, since his engineering company firmly believes in over-engineering to account for nearly any circumstance. They would have succeeded, too, if it wasn't for the fact that the meteorite had its own agenda.
The Dragonrealm - The Crystal Dragon by Richard A. Knaak
The Crystal Dragon is the most enigmatic of all Dragon Kings. He lives on the inhospitable Legar Peninsula, home to the remnants of the armadillo-like Quel race. Now, the wolf raiders from across the seas have entered his domain, looking for something they can use to wage war on the Dragonrealm and rebuild their empire. The Gryphon has followed them back across the oceans as he has a personal score to settle with their leader. Master sorcerer Cabe Bedlam has been "summoned" to the Legar Peninsula to uncover the threats, one of which was spawned by the Crystal Dragon in a misguided attempt to detroy the wolf raiders.
The Dragonrealm - The Dragon Crown by Richard A. Knaak
At the end of Ice Dragon, the heirs of the Dragon Emperor Gold were collected by Cabe Bedlam and the Green Dragon. The goal was to raise them among humans and dragons so that they would serve as a bridge to the future between humans and dragonkind. Now Kyl, the young heir to the Emperor's throne, is going on a goodwill tour among the human and dragon kingdomes before his ascension to the throne. Lurking in the shadows is Duke Toma, who hasn't been seen in decades, but still poses a real threat to all that Cabe and the Green Dragon have worked for.
Riptide by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Pirate treasure! Preston and Child admit they were inspired by Oak Island when writing this story. Centuries ago the pirate Edward Ockham buried treasure valued at nearly $2 billion on a small island off the coast of Maine. Efforts to recover the treasure have been stymied by an elaborate system of traps designed to keep the treasure buried forever. Now, armed with modern technology, a group of treasure seekers attempts to reclaim the loot once and for all, but they, too, will find dark secrets are still in effect behind the scenes to thwart their efforts. A curse?
PREVIOUS SUNDAY MORNING BOOK THREAD - 5-10-2026 (NOTE: Do NOT comment on old threads!)
Tips, suggestions, recommendations, etc., can all be directed to perfessor -dot- squirrel -at- gmail -dot- com.
Disclaimer: The Goonies were not available for comment.
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