Old Site Menu

John Ross

Missive #105 Published 6 August 2023

Created by the bestselling SF novelist Jerry Pournelle, There Will Be War is a landmark science fiction anthology series that combines top-notch military science fiction with factual essays by various generals and military experts on everything from High Frontier and the Strategic Defense Initiative to the aftermath of the Vietnam War. It features some of the greatest military science fiction ever published; many science fiction greats were featured in the original nine-volume series. There Will Be War Volume I is edited by Jerry Pournelle and John F. Carr, and features 23 stories, articles, and poems. 

Missive #105 Read More »

Missive #102 Published 30 July 2023

The Innocents Abroad, or The New Pilgrims' Progress is a travel book by American author Mark Twain published in 1869 which humorously chronicles what Twain called his "Great Pleasure Excursion" on board the chartered vessel Quaker City (formerly USS Quaker City) through Europe and the Holy Land with a group of American travelers in 1867. It was the best-selling of Twain's works during his lifetime, as well as one of the best-selling travel books of all time.

Missive #102 Read More »

Missive #100 Published 23 July 2023

In the nineteenth century, a small group of American idealists managed to actually build Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine and use it to develop Cliology, mathematical models that could chart the likely course of the future. Soon they were working to alter history’s course as they thought best. By our own time, the Society has become the secret master of the world. But no secret can be kept forever, at least not without drastic measures. When her plans for some historic real estate lead developer and ex-reporter Sarah Beaumont to stumble across the Society’s existence, it’s just the first step into a baffling and deadly maze of conspiracies.

Missive #100 Read More »

Missive #97 Published 16 July 2023

I saw my first bull elk yesterday morning. There may have been another one in all the herds that I have seen but I didn't see any with antlers until the one yesterday. He looked to be a young bull and had a couple of cows with him; perhaps the start of his harem. He will have to fight to keep them and from his size I don't give him much chance against a fully mature bull.

Missive #97 Read More »

Missive #94 Published 9 July 2023

I chose to read this book to get a better idea of what Phillip K Dick's early sci-fi writing was like. I'll finish reading the trilogy that I've started but was not sure about reading anything else. I suggest that you read this book before trying to read any of his works. He was a 'sick puppy' after 2-3-74.
I also suggest that you read Philip K. Dick's Divine, Amphetamine-Fueled Madness

Missive #94 Read More »

Missive #92 Published 2 July 2023

This is an interesting book but nothing like what Severin's earlier books were. His first adventure books were about him participating in recreating historical adventures. This book is about other adventurers with him playing no part.

Missive #92 Read More »

Missive #90 Published 25 June 2023

I find it very ironic that Will Durant in The Story of Civilization Volume I: Our Oriental Heritage said "Most history is guessing, and the rest is prejudice." He then went on to publish 11 volumes of The Story over a 40 year period from 1935 to 1975. I have started reading Our Oriental Heritage which is 1681 pages in print so I'll be reading it for a few days to say the least.

Missive #90 Read More »

Missive #88 Published 18 June 2023

I have failed repeatedly in my attempts to generate a PDF file from the WordPress pages, using Print My Blog. I have now linked all those pages together and can be seen by clicking on Peace Corps in the menu then read them using the Next button. I also intended for that cover page to have a link to the PDF file that could then be downloaded to any device and read off line. But I'm unable to do that owing to a lack of needed intelligence, programming skills or software at Print My Blog that works with what I have in my WordPress pages. I'll be moving on and try something different.

Missive #88 Read More »

Missive #85 Published 11 June 2023

I have finished adding all of the Bulgaria pages from my old homegrown website to WordPress pages. The formatting changed slightly, mostly in how I have shown the pictures, but the text remained unchanged. You can see what I have wrought by going to the hamburger menu and clicking on Bulgaria.

Missive #85 Read More »

Missive #82 Published 4 June 2023

This is the first book in a trilogy which I'll read. Then decide if I want to read any of the other works by this author. She is British so there is some British English that may be off putting to some readers but I've become accustom to the 'language'. It is a good read and I recommend it.

Missive #82 Read More »