Books – Nerds on Earth https://nerdsonearth.com The best place on earth for nerds. Fri, 31 Mar 2023 19:52:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://nerdsonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/cropped-nerds_head_thumb2-100x100.png Books – Nerds on Earth https://nerdsonearth.com 32 32 All the podcasts from NerdsonEarth.com, under one umbrella. We create short run podcasts for nerds, covering D&D, Marvel, Starfinder, and more! You vote for your favorite shows and they just might get a second season. Books – Nerds on Earth false episodic Books – Nerds on Earth jason.sansbury@nerdsonearth.com podcast All the podcasts from NerdsonEarth.com, the best place on Earth for nerds. Books – Nerds on Earth https://nerdsonearth.com/wp-content/uploads/powerpress/noe-podcast-logo.png https://nerdsonearth.com/category/books/ Old School Star Wars: A Book List and Reading Order for the Star Wars Legends Books https://nerdsonearth.com/2023/03/star-wars-book-list-reading-order-star-wars-legends-books/ Fri, 31 Mar 2023 19:52:16 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=40575

A clear and simple reading order and book list for the Star Wars Legends series of books.

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I’ve read some of today’s Star Wars novels and I enjoy many of them. But they aren’t really my stories. They aren’t my era or my characters.

So, I’ve decided I’d just re-read the old school Star Wars books again because I love those. This article is nothing more than a simple list of all of those Star Wars novels from back in the day that have been given the “Legends” moniker because Disney removed them from canon. I suspect there are many Star Wars fans like me, so consider this article a public service.

And they aren’t necessarily in order of date published, they are in chronological order of when the stories take place. It’s a simple book list and reading order for Star Wars Legends books. One more note: this list doesn’t include novellas or the young reader books because I had to draw the line somewhere.

The Old Republic EraYears before A New Hope
Dawn of the Jedi: Into the Void by Tim Lebbon-25,793
Lost Tribe of the Sith: The Collected Stories by John Jackson Miller-5,000-2,975
The Old Republic: Revan by Drew Karpyshyn-3,954-3,950
The Old Republic: Deceived by Paul S. Kemp-3,653
Red Harvest by Joe Schreiber-3,645
The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance by Sean Williams-3,643
The Old Republic: Annihilation by Drew Karpyshyn-3,640
Knight Errant by John Jackson Miller-1,032
Darth Bane: Path of Destruction by Drew Karpyshyn-1,003
Darth Bane: Rule of Two by Drew Karpyshyn-1,000
Darth Bane: Dynasty of Evil by Drew Karpyshyn-980
The Prequel EraYears before A New Hope
Darth Plagueis by James Luceno-67-32
Cloak of Deception by James Luceno-32
Maul: Lockdown by Joe Schreiber-32
Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter by Michael Reaves-32
Episode I: The Phantom Menace (movie novelization) by Terry Brooks-32
Rogue Planet by Greg Bear-29
Outbound Flight by Timothy Zahn-27
The Approaching Storm by Alan Dean Foster-22
Episode II: Attack of the Clones (movie novelization) by R. A. Salvatore-22
The Cestus Deception by Steven Barnes-22
Jedi Trial by David Sherman & Dan Cragg-22
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (movie novelization) by Karen Traviss-22
The Clone Wars: Wild Space by Karen Miller-22
Republic Commando: Hard Contact by Karen Traviss1-22
Shatterpoint by Matthew Stover-22
The Clone Wars: No Prisoners by Karen Traviss-22
Republic Commando: Triple Zero by Karen Traviss1-21
The Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth by Karen Miller-21
The Clone Wars Gambit: Siege by Karen Miller-21
Republic Commando: True Colors1 by Karen Traviss-21
Medstar I: Battle Surgeons by Michael Reaves & Steve Perry-20
Medstar II: Jedi Healer by Michael Reaves & Steve Perry-20
Yoda: Dark Rendezvous by Sean Stewart-19
Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno-19
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (movie novelization) by Matthew Stover-19
Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel1 by Karen Traviss-19
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader by James Luceno-19
Imperial Commando: 501st1 by Karen Traviss-19
Kenobi by John Jackson Miller-19
Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight by Michael Reaves-19
Coruscant Nights II: Street of Shadows by Michael Reaves-18
Coruscant Nights III: Patterns of Force by Michael Reaves-18
The Last Jedi by Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff-17
1 – Republic Commando series.
The Original Trilogy EraYears before/after A New Hope
The Han Solo Trilogy: The Paradise Snare by A. C. Crispin-10
The Han Solo Trilogy: The Hutt Gambit by A. C. Crispin-5
Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu by L. Neil Smith-3
Lando Calrissian and the Flamewind of Oseon by L. Neil Smith-3
The Force Unleashed by Sean Williams-3
Death Star by Michael Reaves & Steve Perry-3
Lando Calrissian and the Starcave of ThonBoka by L. Neil Smith-2
Han Solo at Stars’ End by Brian Daley-2
Han Solo’s Revenge by Brian Daley-2
Han Solo and the Lost Legacy by Brian Daley-2
The Han Solo Trilogy: Rebel Dawn by A. C. Crispine-2
The Force Unleashed II by Sean Williams-1
Death Troopers by Joe Schreiber-1
Shadow Games by Michael Reaves and Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff0
Rogue One (movie novelization) by Alexander Freed20
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (movie novelization) by George Lucas
(ghost-written by Alan Dean Foster)
0
Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina by various authors0
Scoundrels by Timothy Zahn0
Allegiance by Timothy Zahn0
Choices of One by Timothy Zahn1
Honor Among Thieves by James S.A. Correy1
Galaxies: The Ruins of Dantooine by Voronica Whitney-Robinson w/ Haden Blackman1
Splinter of the Mind’s Eye by Alan Dean Foster2
Empire and Rebellion: Razor’s Edge by Martha Wells2
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (movie novelization) by Donald F. Glut3
Tales of the Bounty Hunters by various authors3
Shadows of the Empire by Steve Perry3
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (movie novelization) by James Kahn4
Tales from the Empire by various authors4
Tales from Jabba’s Palace by various authors4
The Bounty Hunter Wars: The Mandalorian Armor by K.W. Jeter4
The Bounty Hunter Wars: Slave Ship by K.W. Jeter4
The Bounty Hunter Wars: Hard Merchandise by K.W. Jeter4
2 – Sure, Rogue One isn’t Legends but it’s the Disney created property that hews most closely to the Legends materials, so I’m counting it… because I want to.
The New Republic EraYears after A New Hope
Tales From the New Republic by various authors
The Truce at Bakura by Kathy Tyers4
Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor by Matthew Stover5
X-Wing: Rogue Squadron by Michael Stackpole6
X-Wing: Wedge’s Gamble by Michael Stackpole7
X-Wing: The Krytos Trap by Michael Stackpole7
X-Wing: The Bacta War by Michael Stackpole7
X-Wing: Wraith Squadron by Aaron Allston8
X-Wing: Iron Fist by Aaron Allston8
X-Wing: Solo Command by Aaron Allston8
The Courtship of Princess Leia by Dave Wolverton8
Tatooine Ghost by Troy Denning8
Heir to the Empire3 by Timothy Zahn9
Dark Force Rising3 by Timothy Zahn9
The Last Command3 by Timothy Zahn9
X-Wing: Isard’s Revenge by Michael Stackpole10
The Jedi Academy Trilogy: Jedi Search by Kevin J. Anderson11
The Jedi Academy Trilogy: Dark Apprentice by Kevin J. Anderson11
The Jedi Academy Trilogy: Champions of the Force by Kevin J. Anderson11
I, Jedi by Michael Stackpole11
Children of the Jedi by Barbara Hambly12
Darksaber by Kevin J. Anderson12
X-Wing: Starfighters of Adumar by Aaron Allston13
Planet of Twilight by Barbara Hambly13
The Crystal Star by Vonda McIntyre14
The Black Fleet Crisis: Before the Storm by Michael P. Kube-McDowell16
The Black Fleet Crisis: Shield of Lies by Michael P. Kube-McDowell16
The Black Fleet Crisis: Tyrant’s Test by Michael P. Kube-McDowell16
The New Rebellion by Kristine Kathryn Rusch17
The Corellian Trilogy: Ambush at Corellia by Roger McBride Allen18
The Corellian Trilogy: Assault at Selonia by Roger McBride Allen18
The Corellian Trilogy: Showdown at Centerpoint by Roger McBride Allen18
The Hand of Thrawn: Specter of the Past by Timothy Zahn19
The Hand of Thrawn: Vision of the Future by Timothy Zahn19
Scourge by Jeff Grubb19
Survivor’s Quest by Timothy Zahn22
3 – The Thrawn Trilogy
The New Jedi Order EraYears after A New Hope
Vector Prime4 by R. A. Salvatore25
Dark Tide I: Onslaught4 by Michael Stackpole25
Dark Tide II: Ruin4 by Michael Stackpole25
Agents of Chaos I: Hero’s Trial4 by James Luceno25
Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse4 by James Luceno25
Balance Point4 by Kathy Tyers26
Edge of Victory I: Conquest4 by Greg Keyes26
Edge of Victory II: Rebirth4 by Greg Keyes26
Star by Star4 by Troy Denning27
Dark Journey4 by Elaine Cunningham27
Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream4 by Aaron Allston27
Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand4 by Aaron Allston27
Traitor4 by Matthew Stover27
Destiny’s Way4 by Walter Jon Williams28
Force Heretic I: Remnant4 by Sean Williams and Shane Dix28
Force Heretic II: Refugee4 by Sean Williams and Shane Dix28
Force Heretic III: Reunion4 by Sean Williams and Shane Dix28
The Unifying Force4 by James Luceno29
The Joiner King5 by Troy Denning35
The Unseen Queen5 by Troy Denning36
The Swarm War5 by Troy Denning36
4 – The New Jedi Order Series
5 – The Dark Nest Trilogy
The Legacy EraYears after A New Hope
Betrayal6 by Aaron Allston40
Bloodlines6 by Karen Traviss40
Tempest6 by Troy Denning40
Exile6 by Aaron Allston40
Sacrifice6 by Karen Traviss40
Inferno6 by Troy Denning40
Fury6 by Aaron Allston40
Revelation6 by Karen Traviss41
Invincible6 by Troy Denning41
Crosscurrent by Paul S. Kemp42
Riptide by Paul S. Kemp42
Millennium Falcon by James Luceno43
Outcast7 by Aaron Allston43
Omen7 by Christie Golden43
Abyss7 by Troy Denning43
Backlash7 by Aaron Allston43
Allies7 by Christie Golden44
Vortex7 by Troy Denning44
Conviction7 by Aaron Allston44
Ascension7 by Christie Golden44
Apocalypse7 by Troy Denning44
X-Wing: Mercy Kill by Aaron Allston45
Crucible by Troy Denning45
6 – Legacy of the Force series
7 – The Fate of the Jedi series

I can’t be bothered to do an exact count but this has to be 100+ Star Wars Legends novels. Sure, they aren’t hot off the press anymore, but they follow the OG storylines and characters which hits the sweet spot for a large swath of Star Wars fans.

The New Republic Era is the place to start for many and that would be my recommendation as well. Happy reading and…may the Force be with you.

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3 Military Action Thriller Series You Should Read https://nerdsonearth.com/2022/07/military-action-thriller-series-reacher-harvath-gray-man/ Fri, 15 Jul 2022 13:22:42 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=38950

Reacher, Harvath, or the Gray Man? Which military action thriller series should you read this weekend?

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Look, let’s be honest: You watch plenty of Netflix. So let’s try a little reading for entertainment this weekend!

The below book series are all military action / adventure thrillers. Each series goes at least 12 books deep, so if you pick up book #1 and enjoy it, you have entertainment options for a fortnight, no Netflix necessary.

Although I won’t go deep into these reviews, let’s see if I can share enough to whet your appetite for some fun military action reading.

The Grey Man Series

The Grey Man series is the grittiest of the three book series we’ll look at. More specifically, it is the most bone-crunchingest and sucking-chest-woundiest, although the Jack Reacher series we’ll talk about below often has more gore.

The military and combat sequences of Grey Man don’t pull any punches. It fact, what often sets Court Gentry – The Grey Man – apart from the other two leads is his ability to persevere through the wounds sustained via violent situations. Sometimes this challenges belief, but what are books for if not for stretching our imagination.

Court Gentry is an assassin that works as a contractor after being burned by the CIA. There are times when readers even wonder if he is a good guy at all. He’s certainly the most morally compromised of the three leads we’ll talk about today.

But Mark Greaney is the best writer of the three authors. His action is incredibly engaging and his descriptions of military tech and weaponry are clear and captivating. He also writes great dialogue. For example, the character Hightower is a foul-mouthed agent that will frequently have you chuckling.

“Grey” is an apt word. Court Gentry is no white knight like Scot Harvath, who we’ll read about below. But I still recommend The Grey Man books highly. The writing is superb and the action is non-stop. You might not always root for the hero or feel good about the moral relativism of the characters’ decisions but the books are absolute page turners.

++ You can get the Grey Man books here.

The Jack Reacher Series

Jack Reacher doesn’t sustain as many injuries as Court Gentry primarily because he’s such a huge, intimidating presence that someone would be crazy to pick a fight with him. The violence of Reacher isn’t always fistfights the characters engage in, it is often depicted instead through descriptions of grisly, gory murder scenes that Jack Reacher – being former Army MP (Military Police) – investigates.

Reacher being a former military investigator gives the Reacher books a detective mystery vibe that is distinct from the other two. Reacher is a detective. Court Gentry is an assassin. Scot Harvath – who we’ll meet in a moment – is a military special forces hero.

The hobo vibe of the Reacher stories is another distinctive. Reacher just kind of roams around, a man without a home. He doesn’t work for an agency or answer to a government. He simply finds himself pulled into murder-of-the-week situations. And he solves it by the turn of the last page.

Reacher is no saint, but he’s a good man who is willing to do the right thing. Lee Childs is an excellent writer that does a great job with descriptive text as well as with writing characters. I highly recommend the books.

I enjoyed the Tom Cruise movies but the Amazon television show is wonderful. The casting of Reacher is perfect and you can’t help but picture him as Reacher when you read the books.

++ You can get the Jack Reacher books here.

The Scot Harvath Series

The first book in the Scot

Scot Harvath, on the other hand, is a saint. Of the three, Scot is the true hero that always does the right thing. He’s the closest to Captain America and as a result, is the most likable of the three and the one you root for most.

He is also the most patriotic. Harvath was an Olympic skier turned Navy SEAL who was a member of the Secret Service by the time we meet him in the books. He loves his country and will die to protect it. He’s blue eyed and handsome, and readers know he’ll win in the end. And probably get the girl as well.

Yet author Brad Thor is the weakest writer of the three. Scot Harvath is said to be a funny and a bit of a smart alec. But readers have to be told that because the written dialogue is often more corny than humorous and readers wouldn’t know it was a joke except the author tells us the other characters laugh.

But Brad Thor’s storylines are entertaining and thrilling, like watching a Tom Cruise Mission Impossible movie. Even though you know the hero will pull it out in the end, the fun is in the journey of how he gets there. Despite the flaws, Brad Thor’s books get a high recommendation from me, largely because there is a sense of optimism and wholesomeness to the books. Sometimes the world needs a hero and Brad Thor gives us one.

++ You can get the Scot Harvath books here.


Military actions thrillers are page-turners, so they are always fun as weekend reading. I’ve read 4-6 books in each series listed above and I’m yet to be disappointed.

Whether it’s Jack Reacher for the detective vibes, Gray Man for gritty assassination plots, or Scot Harvath for root-for-the-hero tales, they are all entertaining.

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The Nerds On Earth 2021 Literary Booktacular https://nerdsonearth.com/2021/12/the-nerds-on-earth-2021-literary-booktacular/ Fri, 10 Dec 2021 13:00:00 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=37687

Check out the list of the Top 7 books that we read this year! There's something for everyone, including Star Wars and The Office fans!

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With the holidays coming up, you know what you need more of: books! Erasmus famously said, “When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.” I don’t know if I could give up Funyuns, but I do spend way too much money on books. A lovely side effect of that habit are the end-of-year reading recommendations I’ve written for Nerds On Earth over the years (check out my recs for 202020192018, and 2017 here). Peep these seven books for some great stories to jump into!

Record of a Spaceborn Few—Becky Chambers

Image courtesy of Amazon.

I’ve written about Becky Chambers’s hopepunk Wayfarer books for the site before. Her unremitting commitment to character development and world building makes Record of a Spaceborn Few an incredible addition to a series whose conclusion I still mourn. 

Spaceborn Few introduces a handful of people who are so lovingly written that even Kip—an incredibly annoying teenager stuck on an enormous life raft for humanity—redeems himself by the end. And Chambers has so completely realized that life raft (a huge spaceship named the Asteria) that the book is practically begging for a movie adaptation!

Get it here.

The Actor’s Life—Jenna Fischer

Ever wanted to know what it’s like to be a working actor? Jenna Fischer, best known for her role as Pam Beesly on The Office, walks readers through the paces of making it in Hollywood.

Using her own life and the experiences of her friends as a backdrop, Fischer explains how to improve your acting skills, audition, find an agent, land gigs, and even gives tips on side-hustles to make ends meet (hint: working for a catering company is gold for starving actors). Even if acting isn’t in your tarot cards, The Actor’s Life provides a friendly, unpretentious look behind the curtain. 

Get it here.

Vindolanda—Adrian Goldsworthy

Goldsworthy is more famous for his scholarly work on the Roman Republic, but this first book in his Vindolanda trilogy is well worth the detour into historical fiction. Flavius Ferox plays like a scruffier Maximus of Gladiator fame, tasked with solving a bloody crime while tiptoeing through the explosive colonial politics of Roman-era Britain. His sidekick, the laconic Brigante scout Vindex, is a underused delight too.

Goldsworthy gives the forts, carriages, weapons, and tribal encampments a gritty, tactile realism that reaches across the millennia. Don’t let all the Latin scare you away!

Get it here.

Leadership in Turbulent Times—Doris Kearns Goodwin 

There’s an old curse that masquerades as a blessing that goes, “May you live in interesting times.” The past few years have certainly been interesting, and in such buckwild times, this book from one of America’s very best historians is a much-needed balm. Leadership in Turbulent Times illustrates how catastrophes can both test and strengthen us by examining pivotal moments in four American presidencies.

Whether it’s Lincoln pulling the country back from the brink the apocalyptic Civil War or Lyndon Johnson finding his moral purpose in the burgeoning civil rights movement, Goodwin shows us how strength and courage can be found in unlikely places.

Get it here.

Image courtesy of Madeline Miller.

Ramses: The Son of Light—Christian Jacq

When I say that this story reads like the script of a sword-and-sandals epic, it’s a good thing. Light on meaningful dialogue but highly evocative of ancient Egypt, this translation from the original French is zippy and light, making Ramses: The Son of Light the perfect holiday read. Jacq’s decades of experience in Egyptology give this fast-paced romp some much-needed ballast, and the whole book has an eternal quality lends it further weight. Some unexpected cameos from other mythologies and pantheons provide some bitter twists and turns to the otherwise smooth path young Ramses takes to the khepresh

Get it here.

Circe—Madeline Miller

Circe’s powerful, lonely, and vibrant namesake is an often intimidating presence. This forgotten child of the sun god Helios and the naiad Perse spends millennia mastering her powers, winning control of her life, and navigating a legendarily thorny family tree.

In the process, Miller brings readers on a whirlwind ride around the Mediterranean, introducing everyone from the flippant sociopath Hermes to the unknowable, ancient Trygon. Circe makes Greek mythology addictive and cool in a way it hasn’t been since the course on The Odyssey I took my freshman year (miss you, Robert Fagles!). 

Get it here.

Light of the Jedi—Charles Soule

Lucasfilm’s High Republic multimedia initiative started in January 2021 with the stellar Light of the Jedi. Charles Soule transplants the best parts of the prequel trilogy—its gee-whiz optimism, new technology, and strong characters—into the greatest opening in a Star Wars novel ever. From there Soule spins a tale of the Jedi at the height of their unity and the Republic at the peak of its power, though hidden enemies lurk around every tree root. Almost a year in, the High Republic continues to thrive, and Light of the Jedi deserves credit for hitting all the right notes at the very beginning. 

Get it here.

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STRANGE HISTORY: The Poisoned, Potent Alcohol of Prohibition https://nerdsonearth.com/2021/08/strange-history-the-poisoned-potent-alcohol-of-prohibition/ Wed, 11 Aug 2021 12:00:00 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=36726

Did you know that Prohibition featured the intentional poisoning of alcohol? Learn more about this potent time in history!

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Welcome back to another edition of STRANGE HISTORY! A few months ago we highlighted the vampire panic that struck a small Rhode Island town in the 1890s. Weird tales from real life make excellent fodder for creative nerdery, whether you’re building a world for your novel or creating your next D&D campaign.

Today we’ll investigate the intentional mass poisoning of alcohol by the American government during Prohibition that ended up killing an estimated 10,000 people. Too wild for fiction, too weird to possible be true, this is STRANGE HISTORY!

A Moral Crusade

To truly understand this story, you have to go back to 1830s-40s America. These were the years of the Second Great Awakening, a time when Christians, motivated by an intense desire to reform American society, focused on abolishing slavery, ending male-only suffrage, and getting every kid in school. One of the longest-lasting, popular, and widespread movements to emerge from the Second Great Awakening was the temperance movement. 

Temperance activists blamed alcohol for a huge spectrum of social problems. Image courtesy of Pinterest.

Temperance groups were devoted to the elimination of alcohol from society. Their strategies varied to suit their audience. Some focused on personal reform, convincing people to become card-carrying members of huge temperance groups like the Anti-Saloon League. Other groups lobbied state and federal politicians, sponsored events like temperance picnics and plays, or funded temperance candidates running for public office.

By World War I, the movement was presented with the perfect set of conditions. The public was electrified by the United States’ entry into the Great War in 1917, and temperance groups (often anti-immigrant to begin with) played anti-German sentiment into political action. Many states and counties had already passed temperance laws by the 1910s, and well-connected temperance activists were able to pressure Congress and state governments into passing the Eighteenth Amendment in 1919.

Not A Drop To Drink

Temperance groups across America celebrated Prohibition when it went into effect on January 17, 1920. Supporters of the Eighteenth Amendment (called “dries”) were sure that outlawing the “manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors” would lead to the elimination of most if not all of society’s problems. 

Image courtesy of Encyclopedia Brittanica.

What these moral crusaders failed to recognize was something the COVID-19 pandemic is teaching us today: the government can’t legislate human behavior. People who drank alcohol didn’t stop wanting to drink when Prohibition went into effect. Illegal alcohol distilleries popped up across the country. Secret bars called speakeasies could be found in any sizable town or city with the right password. 

Folks with money and connections kept their stash by paying rum-runners to smuggle illegal hooch. Criminal organizations like the Mafia, willing to break the law if it meant getting paid, flourished during the 1920s. This led to the curious public idolization of brutal gangsters like Al Capone, who were Robin Hood-esque figures for anti-Prohibition “wets”.

Hazardous Hooch

Determined to continue drinking but banned from obtaining it legally, many Americans bought homemade alcohol of suspect origin and quality. Moonshiners would steal industrial alcohol, either themselves or purchased from the gangs, distill the alcohol of poisons and impurities, and resale it as “drinkable” liquor. The chemical makeup of alcohol used in paints and fuel, combined with the self-taught skills of distillers, meant that anyone desperate enough to try homemade hooch during Prohibition was risking a likelihood of alcohol poisoning, if not death.

Image courtesy of the Prohibition Museum.

“Dries” were shocked that “wets” would defy federal law and risk death to continue drinking. By 1926, with illegally distilled liquor more popular than ever, the Treasury Department ordered industrial alcohol manufacturers to make their products so poisonous that no one would be able to distill (much less drink) them. Poisons like mercury salts, iodine, formaldehyde, and methyl alcohol were mixed into industrial alcohol within days of the federal mandate.

Image courtesy of Amazon.

The results were deadly and intentional. Alcohol poisoning was common throughout Prohibition, but numbers spiked dramatically after 1926. Poor people—those with access to the cheapest and therefore the poorest quality alcohol—were the hardest hit. Even those not killed found themselves blinded or paralyzed by the poisonous alcohol. Outcry against this naïve, hardhearted government strategy was immediate, particularly in cities. New York City’s medical examiner, Charles Norris, even publicly condemned the policy with “Our Essay in Extermination”. By the time the Eighteenth Amendment was repealed in 1933, an estimated 10,000 Americans had been killed by poisoned alcohol.

For a much more in-depth look at this forgotten slice of history, check out or buy The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum. Blum is a Pulitzer-winning journalist, and much of my research for this edition of STRANGE HISTORY comes directly from her. And watch out—that next sip of liquor could be poisoned! 

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Street Gang is the Sesame Street Scoop You Never Knew You Needed https://nerdsonearth.com/2021/05/street-gang/ Tue, 11 May 2021 12:00:00 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=35876

HBO's Street Gang brings the book of the same name to life as a documentary - revealing all sorts fascinating information about the greatest children's TV show ever made.

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HBO’s new documentary, Street Gang, is all about the greatest children’s television show ever made: Sesame Street. I’ve always had a soft spot for Jim Henson and the Muppets, so this grabbed my attention immediately. When I realized that the documentary is based on the titular book by Michael Davis, I picked it up and dove in. Here are seven things I learned about the most famous brownstone in the world.

Thank the Captain (Kangaroo)

Before the Children’s Television Workshop created Sesame Street, most TV shows for kids were pretty terrible. They were poorly written, full of violence, and existed almost entirely as advertising vehicles for toy and cereal companies. One of the few bright spots was Captain Kangaroo, a kinder and gentler show than the typical kiddies’ fare.

Many of the most important behind-the-scenes people at Sesame Street cut their teeth in television working for the Captain, a brilliant and sometimes terrifying actor/producer/writer named Bob Keeshan. Keeshan’s bullying and dictatorial approach to Captain Kangaroo were lessons in how not to run a children’s show, but his show’s mixture of education with entertainment was an early blueprint for the format Sesame Street would master.

Image courtesy of Britannica.

A Three-Year-Old Named Sarah

Early one morning in December 1965, a three-year-old named Sarah accidentally woke her dad up. Sarah loved to sneak out of bed, turn on the family’s television, and wait for the test pattern to disappear at 7 AM. Her father, an experimental psychologist named Lloyd Morrissett, stumbled blearily into the living room to find Sarah spellbound by the numbing test tone. Morrissett was fascinated by the medium’s latent power.

The idea for what would become Sesame Street bloomed a couple of months later at a dinner party at the apartment of Joan Ganz Cooney, a New York City TV producer. Morrissett posed a question to the people at the party, “Do you think television could be used to teach young children?” Cooney, the only person to respond, replied, “I don’t know, but I’d like to try.”

A Noble Cause

Cooney, Morrissett, and many of Sesame Street’s founders came of age in the mid-1960s, an era of great promise and hope in the United States. Like millions of other young Americans, they were inspired by Jack Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and the Great Society. TV could hold children captive for hours, but Cooney wanted to use it to educate, not to sell toys or cereal.

FCC Chairman Newton Minow issued a call to action with his scathing remarks to the National Association of Broadcasters in 1961: “There are fine children’s shows, but they are drowned out in the massive doses of cartoons, violence, and more violence. Must these be your trademarks?” Sesame Street could harness the power of TV to actively teach young kids, particularly those from lower-income families and urban areas. With funding from the federal government and private endowments, the future for millions of kids could be brighter.

Reflection of Reality

The creators of Sesame Street were determined to reflect the reality of life for poor and inner-city children. The street’s famous brownstone, construction wall, and stoop are viscerally evocative for New Yorkers. The show’s human cast would be equally reflective of urban life, with a cast of Black and White (and eventually Hispanic American and Asian American) actors. The show’s creators were stirred by the civil rights movement and the progressivism of the 1960s. Sesame Street approached race relations naturally from very first episode in 1969: “There would be an integrated cast, but nothing would be done artificially to draw attention to their diversity and harmony. The actors would regard each other with kindness, respect, and tolerance.”

Image courtesy of the Today Show.

Research, Research, and More Research

Cooney, a smart, no-nonsense producer with a decade of experience and industry connections galore, was determined to “test the power and influence of the medium” of TV. Encouraged by Lloyd Morrissett’s academic background, Cooney set out on a three-month blitz of colleges, daycares, hospitals, and television studios to gather research in the summer of 1967. Her initial feasibility study led to three historic research seminars hosted by Gerry Lesser, a developmental psychologist from Harvard, in 1968.

The seminars were possible thanks to $8 million in funding from a mixture of public and private institutions ranging from the United States Office of Education to the Carnegie Corporation and the Ford Foundation. Their research consistently demonstrated what educators call an “achievement gap”: kids without access to preschool (who often come from lower-class families) arrive in kindergarten “ill prepared and miles behind their middle-class peers”. The conferences were the first sign of Sesame Street’s foundational bedrock: sound academic research and creative visual and audio content, all specifically geared to stimulate preschool-age children.

Jim Henson: Puppeteer, Artist…Terrorist?

All the research in the world wouldn’t make kids want to actually watch Sesame Street. That job fell to Jim Henson, the legendary creator of the Muppets. Henson’s work would entrance millions of children as they watched and learned from Grover, Bert, Ernie, Big Bird, and Oscar. But Joan Ganz Cooney’s first impression of Henson terrified her.

When he sidled into one of the research seminars and sat at the back with his long beard, sandals, and big leather jacket, she assumed he was a member of the Weather Underground. The Weathermen, as they called themselves, carried out several attacks and bombings on public buildings in the late ‘60s and ‘70s and were devoted to the destruction of the United States government. Cooney mistook Henson for one of the Weathermen and whispered to a friend, “How do we know that man back there isn’t going to throw a bomb up here or toss a hand grenade?” “Not likely,” the friend whispered back. “That’s Jim Henson.”

Image courtesy of LA Magazine.

Toots & The Blues

One of Sesame Street’s biggest weapons is its music. “Sunny Day” (the instantly memorable theme song), “Rubber Duckie”, “Bein’ Green”, “I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon”, the list of bonafide classics goes on ad infinitum. One of the most memorable parts of “Sunny Day”—that bluesy, strolling harmonica line—came courtesy of Jean-Baptiste Frederic Isidor “Toots” Thielemans, an honest-to-goodness multi-instrumental virtuoso. Thielemans would eventually become internationally famous and an ennobled baron of his native Belgium, but in 1969, Toots was a hustling jazzman in New York, thankful for the $37/hour rate he got for the 90-minute recording session. His soulful harmonica would give Sesame Street’s theme song an endearing quality that cemented in the American consciousness.


Now that you know more about that place where the air is sweet, give Street Gang a read and a look. You’ll be surprised!

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A Spoiler-Free Look at Light of the Jedi’s Relentless Optimism https://nerdsonearth.com/2021/03/light-of-the-jedi-optimism/ Tue, 09 Mar 2021 13:00:00 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=35260

With new Star Wars TV and movies on pause, now is a great time to dive into The High Republic's Light of the Jedi - where optimism rides high in the galaxy!

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light of the jedi cover
Courtesy of StarWars.com

Things have been quiet for me on the Star Wars front lately. The Mandalorian wrapped up an incredible second season a few months back, none of the upcoming Disney+ shows are close to release, and Lucasfilm is keeping a tight lid on all details related to any future films. And a little-known indie show about trauma called WandaVision has completely absorbed all of my nerdish attention since January. 

All that changed when I picked up Charles Soule’s Light of the Jedi on a whim. I’d heard good things about it from Clave, and its Shadows of the Empire-esque background stoked my curiosity.

I was hooked from the first pages, finishing it in one feverish week of reading on lunch breaks, before bed, and on suspiciously long trips to the bathroom. But the thing that remains after finishing Light of the Jedi is the confident optimism that radiates steadily from its pages.

Light of the Jedi: An Orchestra of the Force

light of the jedi concept art
Courtesy of StarWars.com

Light of the Jedi’s first one hundred pages are the greatest opening in any Star Wars novel. Ever.

Soule opens with the “Great Disaster,” a mid-hyperspace collision that threatens forty billion lives in the Hetzal system. The desperate race to stop—or at least impede—the impending catastrophe introduces the ingenuity and optimism that are the keystone characteristic of the High Republic’s Jedi Order. And what an Order it is. 

The Jedi we meet in Light of the Jedi brim with confidence, creativity, and curiosity.

  • Avar Kriss weaves songs out of the Force to boost the connections between Jedi even parsecs away.
  • Porter Engle, an old Ikkrukkian with so many full legendary careers in the Order that he’s settled into the role of outpost cook by the time Light of the Jedi begins, was once known as the Blade of Bardotta (you learn why).
  • Loden Greatstorm might just have invented the Jedi mind trick and is the gruff teacher everyone needs in their life.

These three are among the dozen or more Soule introduces in the book. From the Wookkie Padawan Burryaga to the Trandoshan Master Sskeer, all are devoted to serving the Force through the Jedi Order. They are the Jedi we thought we were looking at when George Lucas showed us Jedi Council in The Phantom Menace—calm, brimming with power, and fully in control.

We Are All The Republic

I don’t make that comparison to Episode I lightly. Remember the feeling you had the first time you saw it, whether as an adult or a kid, on opening day or at home on DVD? Remember all of the incredible adventures we saw: the Boonta Eve Classic on Tatooine (even 21 years later that name springs unbidden to my fingers as I write this), the Battle of Geonosis, the colossal space battle over Coruscant at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith. Feeling that? That’s what Light of the Jedi feels like. 

Part of George Lucas’s genius was his ability to instill the classic Joseph Campbell archetypes spelled out by with relentless optimism. Sometimes questionable execution aside, Lucas took that optimism and gave it actual historical overtones in the prequels.

At their heart, the prequels are like Europe in 1913. War is coming—people know it, they even predict it—and the magnificent pomp of the Galactic Republic disguises the corrupt rot within. The Jedi Order of the prequels is similarly weak, hollowed out by its obsession with rules and myopically squabbling over midi-chlorians as the threat to the galaxy looms. 

Courtesy of Pinterest

Charles Soule distills the pure excitement and goodness and adventure that George Lucas patented decades ago and pours it into this book. In the prequels that optimism is misplaced; the Republic will fall, no matter how high Anakin’s midi-chlorians counts are. But all of that is centuries away in Light of the Jedi, and the optimism here is earned. 

Supreme Chancellor Lina Soh’s Great Works (enormous building projects) strengthen the Republic’s presence across the galaxy. The Jedi Order and its masters are capable of incredible things that I don’t want to spoil. And when characters conjure the power of the phrase “We are all the Republic,” the optimism is catching. You find yourself wanting its magic to last as long as it can. 

light of the jedi Lina Soh's Great Works
Courtesy of StarWars.com

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First Impressions of Star Wars: The High Republic https://nerdsonearth.com/2021/02/first-impressions-of-star-wars-the-high-republic/ Wed, 17 Feb 2021 13:00:00 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=34522

Earth Nerd Clave gives you his first impressions of The High Republic, including a review of its first book and a glance at an upcoming Disney+ series.

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Star Wars High Republic is a multifaceted publishing campaign designed to introduce a new era into the Star Wars mythos. It currently includes books and comics, but a Disney+ show and more is on the horizon. (More here.)

The High Republic Era was a period of time that lasted around two hundred years in which the Galactic Republic was said to be at its height. It was also a golden age for the Jedi, who were significantly more active throughout the galaxy, and a time of expansion and exploration in the Outer Rim Territories.

Importantly, The High Republic exists a few hundred years before Luke Skywalker. The old Star Wars Expanded Universe has been out for some time now, but the release of Charles Soule’s new Light of the Jedi novel kicks off this new expansion of the Star Wars universe, an era more prequel even than the prequels that has no overlap with Luke Skywalker’s saga.

First Impressions of The High Republic: Light of the Jedi

I’m incredibly excited about this new era of characters, creatures, and cultures it will open up to us. I’ve also finished reading the introductory novel for The High Republic: Light of the Jedi. What follows is a quick, non-spoilery review.

star wars high republic light of the Jedi cover

Light of the Jedi is no a page-turner, which I realize can be received as a negative. But I don’t mean it in that way at all. I turned the pages of Light of the Jedi slowly, savoring every page.

Its 370 pages are packed with new characters and starships. I wanted to visualize each one so I read the book with my iPad next to me, opened up to Wookieepedia, allowing me to really immerse myself.

The book introduces Longbeams, Vectors, Vanguards, and a brand new threat that wonderfully – at least from my perspective – is not the Sith. Are you curious about the look of a Vector? Well, savor the book and soak up the new High Republic goodness!

Light of the Jedi also skips between at least 10 point of view characters, so it reads slowly as a result of that as well. In other words, you want to take your time to get to know the new characters. But Soule does an excellent job of establish all those new characters, and telling the story from so many sets of eyes is a brilliant way to build out a whole cadre of new faces for this new era.

The High Republic: The Acolyte

But we’ve received hints that the Sith won’t stay fully hidden during the High Republic era. In fact, an upcoming Disney+ television show is thought to focus on that.

The Acolyte was announced at the latest Disney investors meeting and will be set in the final years of the High Republic, putting it a little closer to the events in the prequels.

The High Republic is a time of prosperity for the Jedi, who have been peacefully protecting the galaxy for 800 years after the fall of the Old Republic and their last interactions with the Sith Empire.

But Lucasfilm shared that The Acolyte will focus on the emergence of “dark side powers” in those waning years of the High Republic. And since “acolyte” is a term sometimes used for Sith apprentices, the Disney+ series could be the connective tissue that connects the High Republic era to the rise of the Sith, as seen in the prequels.

High Republic, Mixed Reception

As a result, The High Republic is already receiving pushback. For some it’s not Skywalker-y enough. For others it’s…well, it is unclear about what they are unhappy about but you guessed it: Star Wars fans are angry and are spreading their frustrations online. We truly live in the most annoying of timelines.

Thanks for nothing, Large Hadron Collider.

First of all, SHUT IT, NERDS, I REALLY LIKE THIS NEW HIGH REPUBLIC ERA AND I’LL LIKE WHAT I LIKE!

There. That’s taken care of.

Second, I know what some of you are going to say. Oh, Nerds on Earth, why are you being so defensive? Oh, Nerds on Earth, why are you barricading yourself in your house with your High Republic comic books? Oh, Nerds on Earth, is that a moat around your house… filled with hungry dianogas? Are those creatures even in existence in the High Republic era?

And where could you have possibly gotten so many? That is a lot of dianogas. And how can one household possibly generate enough trash to feed them all? To which I say: You know what? It’s the pandemic, isn’t it? Everyone is trapped at home so the trash is piling up more. The dianogas are eating well!

This new High Republic era introduces great new characters and settings, opening up worlds of storytelling possibilities. Star Wars fans are eating well as well.

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Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis – Stellar Afrofuturism https://nerdsonearth.com/2021/01/escaping-exodus-symbiosis-stellar-afrofuturism/ Fri, 29 Jan 2021 13:00:00 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=34729

Earth Nerd Adkins reviews Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis - his first foray into the afrofuturist genre. Learn what that is and why you should read this series!

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Last year I was invited to review Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis – a sequel to Nicky Drayden’s Escaping Exodus. But there was a problem: I hadn’t read the first book! That was remedied quickly, and while a review of Escaping Exodus at the time would have been a little on the late side, I regret not writing it anyway.  

Escaping Exodus is an amazing read, and was my first foray into afrofuturism. My return to the series and genre in Symbiosis was nothing short of spectacular.

What is Afrofuturism?

“The term ‘Afrofuturism’ was coined in 1990s by, cultural critic, Mark Dery in his edited collection Flame Wars: The Discourse of Cyberculture. Dery uses the term Afrofuturism to define “speculative fiction that treats African-American themes and addresses African-American concerns in the context of 20th century technoculture — and more generally, African-American signification that appropriates images of technology and a prosthetically enhanced future.”

Source

To put it a little more simply: it is where science fiction and African pride meet and blossom into something beautiful and, in many ways, challenging.

Marvel’s Black Panther, I’d argue, would qualify as an example of the genre. It isn’t just about black casts and futuristic technology; it’s about heavy cultural influences – the kind you can neither miss nor remove from what is presented without destroying what it is.

The same goes for both Escaping Exodus and Symbiosis. Are they science fiction works featuring black people? Yes. But they are so much more than that, and it is that more that establishes them as excellent examples of the genre and sets the series apart in both obvious and meaningful ways.

The Plot So Far

Disclaimer: I’m going to breeze through this a bit for the sake of brevity; particularly the information contained within Escaping Exodus. No major spoilers below.

Humanity has fled earth and taken up residence in gigantic space-faring aliens whose interiors are habitable. Humans are largely parasitic on these beasts, and while they work to maintain the creatures to a degree for their own sake, they routinely have to leave one for another as their host dies.

Events of the first book lead Seske, a member of the ruling class, to fight for major reforms with regards to the care of their vessels – what are revealed to be called Zenzee. 

In the time between the first and second books, something closer to symbiosis is established with the Zenzee, but all is not well with or within them still. As old horrors are remediated, new horrors are unearthed. Last time it was their relationship with the Zenzee that required reform. This time, it is their very culture. And they’ll receive help from some very unlikely and unexpected sources.

Themes in Escaping Exodus

Escaping Exodus Symbiosis cover

Author Nicky Drayden does some absolutely incredible work around the concepts of environmentalism, tradition, religion, gender, sexuality, class structure, family structure, love, eugenics, censorship and more. And maybe the most amazing thing about it is the interconnectedness of those themes. They are all rooted deeply within the culture and traditions of the people, but what has been is not always what should be. 

And there’s more than a little relevant modern culture commentary at work here, in my opinion.

It is not often that I read a work of fiction and think, “Now this would make for an excellent book club book.” Book club selections, particularly works of fiction, should be capable of generating more than plot summaries and favorite moments when discussed. They should inspire good and even important discussions around their themes. Escaping Exodus has tremendous power within its pages to be that book series. 

The world and characters and story Drayden imagines and invites you into are all excellent, but it is the themes that she tackles and writes of and around that give each of those things their clearest and strongest qualities.

And they way Drayden rolls each of these themes out through different types of conflict is really well done. It’s kind of like how once you address one pain in your body and it is alleviated you may become suddenly aware of another pain that was previously overshadowed but no less present. The problems of the world of Escaping Exodus cascade, and by the end of Symbiosis there’s the promise of a powerful remedy for at least some of them. But are they being sold snake oil?

Verdict

Image Credit: William Ting

Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis is a stellar sequel. You’re absolutely going to want to read both – along with any future installments. Drayden is working straight magic in this series. It features some of my favorite world building in recent memory, and her character work with Seske and Doka in Symbiosis is top shelf.

This series has cast quite the spell on me. I honestly worry that I’d never have heard of it apart from the invitation to review Symbiosis, so I’m extremely grateful for the introduction and hope this review serves a similar purpose for you.

Both novels weigh in around an easily (and eagerly) consumed 330ish pages, so they’re not daunting undertakings. I could put neither one down. Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis releases on February 23rd – just sneaking in on the tail end of Black History Month. Befitting.

This sequel hasn’t even officially released yet, and I’m already desperate for the next installment of the series. I don’t know that there’s higher praise to bestow upon Drayden and the world, characters, and narrative of Escaping Exodus.

You can order a copy of Escaping Exodus here and preorder Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis here.


Disclosure: HarperCollins provided Nerds on Earth with an advanced reader copy of Escaping Exodus: Symbiosis in exchange for an honest review.

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Dry: A Post-apocalyptic “What If?” Novel That Hits Close to Reality https://nerdsonearth.com/2021/01/dry-book-review/ Tue, 19 Jan 2021 13:00:00 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=34405 dry book cover cropped

We review Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman, which envisions a waterless modern day Southern California. The post-apocalypse hits close to home.

The post Dry: A Post-apocalyptic “What If?” Novel That Hits Close to Reality appeared first on Nerds on Earth.

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dry book cover cropped

Dry by Neal and Jarrod Shusterman is a page-turning, post-apocalyptic adventure set in modern day Southern California. As the water crisis in California has reached the drastic point of shutting off all access to water, we primarily follow Alyssa, her bother Garrett, and their next door neighbor Kelton as they try to navigate their once blissful suburban neighborhood and surrounding beach community, which has turned into a desert wasteland after the tap out. 

Neal and Jarrod use multiple writing perspectives in this first-person narrative which add to the elements of a study in human nature. While Alyssa is the first and primary of these perspectives, we get strong influence from Kelton’s point of view, along with Garret from time to time, as well as a couple other characters they meet along the way. We also get a handful of snap shots which give us a peek into other areas of the larger story happening around them. 

Dry Explores the “Three Days to Animal” Theory

dry book cover

Inspired by the concept “three days to animal,” the Shusterman duo explores the thin veil of society and civilization when they dive into “what if” the taps suddenly went dry. Set in what appears to be near-present day Los Angeles, and amidst the very real water shortage, it makes for a very compelling story. After the surrounding states and regions break off a deal to help supply Southern California with water, the local government must take drastic measures, and eventually, so do the inhabitants of Southern California.

Speaking as a native of California, the authors show a great deal of attention to detail when describing the landscape and surrounding cities to paint a very realistic feel of the area. The peril behind this crisis is also aided by the actual pandemic we have been navigating since early 2020. Walking through stores cleaned out of necessities became an all too familiar scene for many this past year.  

Dry: Final Thoughts

Neal has been one of my favorite authors for years now and along with his son Jarrod, they have created a must read in Dry. Without going into much spoiler territory, this book and the four main narrative perspectives will hold up as a mirror for the reader to self-assess their preparedness for the collapse of civilization as we know it, both physically and ethically. Along with the discussion questions provided at the back of the book, this is a perfect novel for parents to read and discuss with their children 13 and older. 

I give this a 6 out of 7 stars    

Dry has also been sold to Paramount productions to become a major motion picture. So if you want to be that guy that says “the book was better,” read it now! You can snag a copy from Amazon here.

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Joy in the Time of Pandemic: The Best Books I Read in 2020 https://nerdsonearth.com/2021/01/7-favorite-books-2020/ Tue, 12 Jan 2021 13:00:00 +0000 https://nerdsonearth.com/?p=34371

Earth Nerd Kerry shares his seven favorite reads of 2020. When he most needed a distraction, these titles carried him through!

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For me, reading gave the grey clouds of 2020 a vital silver lining. As headlines got worse, cases spiked, and the world shut down, books provided a much-needed escape from the confines of my home. 

To pay it forward I’m recommending a handful of the best books I encountered last year. Some were short, others long, and they range across the spectrum of genres. Their common denominator is their ability to make me think, smile, and dream during the long months of quarantine and isolation.

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

Credit: Amazon

This incredible book examines the Great Migration—the massive exodus of Black Americans who fled the South for the cities of the North from approximately 1910 to 1970—through the lives of three ordinary people. In the process Isabel Wilkerson peels back the overt (but often subtly coded) racism haunting all facets of American culture.

While the folks who made the brave and dangerous decision to seek “the warmth of other suns” are fading into the past, Wilkerson conjures her subject with warmth and great detail. She’s a master at the height of her powers in The Warmth of Other Suns.

Get The Warmth of Other Suns here.

Shadow Fall by Alexander Freed

Credit: Amazon

When I reviewed Shadow Fall for the site earlier this year, the thing that jumped out about the novel was how internal much of the action is. Don’t get me wrong—as I mentioned then, it’s “packed with intricate action setpieces, internal conflict galore, and enough antiheroes to fill the next Game of Thrones book.”

But Alexander Freed is particularly skilled at picking at the psychological wounds left by the wide-ranging galactic war between Empire and Alliance. Shadow Fall easily juggles whiz-bang space battles with the kind of moody, dark-souled introspection you might expect in a Steven Erikson novel. And that’s a good thing! 

Get Star Wars: Shadow Fall here.

Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia by Christina Thompson

Credit: Amazon

Confession time: I saw way too many Disney movies way too many times in 2020. When you’re stuck at home for months with a toddler, sometimes you just have to press play and take a breath. Repeated viewings of Moana sparked my interest in the Polynesian cultures that inspired the film.

That led me to the fascinating Sea People, which attempts to answer how, when, and why ancient humans traveled across and eventually settled the largest body of water on the planet. If you enjoy anthropology and/or sociology (think Charles Mann’s 1491 by way of New Zealand), Christina Thompson’s tome is right up your sea lane. 

Get Sea People here.

The Fifties by David Halberstam

Credit: Amazon

The Fifties, the magnum opus of the late, great journalist Dave Halberstam, can be deceptive. It starts and stops, jumping from one subject to another—Harry Truman’s reelection campaign, the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott, Marlon Brando’s acting style, the research that led to The Pill, McDonald’s, Marilyn Monroe, ad infinitum—seemingly without rhyme, reason, or descriptive chapter headings.

Don’t sweat that small detail, though; Halberstam weaves an intricate tapestry of American life at mid-century, capturing moments large (the French-Vietnamese conflict that planted the seeds of the Vietnam War) and small (the design choices that went into the design of General Motors’ most popular cars) with cracking prose.

Get The Fifties here.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Credit: Amazon

Novik’s Uprooted is a heady blend of Polish folklore, court intrigue, and powerful, almost biological magic. What starts as a tale planted in the Wood—the dark forest surrounding the quiet village of Dvernik, home to our heroine, Agnieszka—blossoms into something much bigger, older, and more sinister.

Agnieszka starts the book as a fish out of water; by the end, she’s grown into a magic user whose supposed master, the Dragon, has become her sardonic sidekick. It’s a rollicking ride, and the faceless dread emanating from the Wood proves to be a worthy foe for Agnieszka’s best efforts. 

Get Uprooted here.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

Credit: Amazon

Ever read a story so fully realized, with a world so completely fleshed out, that it feels like it’s existed for centuries? Samantha Shannon’s The Priory of the Orange Tree is an outstanding example of world-building.

With four main characters, a host of different kingdoms, and a seemingly infinite list of languages, names, and cultures, the novel sometimes risks overwhelming the reader. But Shannon’s deft prose skims lightly over the world she’s created, pulling you into her tale—a world split by politics and religion threatened by the return of an ancient evil—instead of drowning you. Never has an 800-page book flown by faster. 

Get The Priory of the Orange Tree here.

The Last of the Doughboys by Richard Rubin

Credit: Amazon

Richard Rubin did something amazing with The Last of the Doughboys: he captured the memories and ruminations of the very last American veterans of World War I. Through interviews with dozens of centenarians, Rubin waltzes through the experiences of the average “doughboy”: enlistment, training camp, the sea voyage across the Atlantic, the terror of battle, and the boredom of life behind the frontlines.

The last doughboys died within the past decade, and the stories they tell in this book serve to emphasize that loss. But reading this is the best way to celebrate the passing of that now-lost generation. 

Get The Last of the Doughboys here.

Honorable mentions:

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