A few years back, my brother recommended I read Dan Brown’s book Origin. There’s a scene early in the story where futurist Edmond Kirsch announces that he has found the answers to humanity’s oldest questions: Where do we come from? Where are we going? I remember reading that and first…
Category: Book Reviews
Advice
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How ‘The Turn of the Screw’ got me Addicted to One of the Sexiest Book Publishers in the World
Some time ago I found myself in London, which as usual put me inside one of my favorite used book shops called Any Amount of Books. On this particular occasion, I happened to be standing in front of the glass case which is behind the cash register and one title…
Book Reviews
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These Non-Fiction Books will Get Your Brains Sizzling this Summer
I recently spent a week sightseeing in and around London. My wanderings took me on a private tour through the British Museum. I also got a chance to hop a Thames River Uber bus (Uber?) and headed to Greenwich where I spent the day at the National Maritime Museum, the…
Book Reviews
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20 Armageddon Books to Help You Conquer Quarantine Boredom During the Corona Virus Outbreak
Strictly speaking, these aren’t ALL armageddon books. I’ve included some excellent examples of war, pestilence, murder, and a torch-toting book-burning Caesar. Just to keep things, you know, light. Of course, hiding from contagion isn’t funny. But excessively indulging in Netflix, Apple TV and the CBS and Disney apps has its…
Advice
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The Seven Most Indispensable Tools Every Novelist Needs
A friend of mine recently shared with me that she wanted to write a novel. She had the story, but it was locked in her head. I can acutely empathize with her. In fact back in 2012 I wrote an article about this funny yet painful process. However, what my…
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Scott Allen’s 2013 Reading List
This past year was like a rebirth for me. Finally after 10 years of cocooning I was out in the world, again. I think my 6 (or so) months living in near isolation in Kiev (yes, that’s Kiev, Ukraine) put the final touches on my 10,000 hours as a–whatever I…
Scott’s Last Minute Guide to Books – My Favorite Reads From 2012
I’m boring. My favorite things to give as gifts, aside from $1 lottery tickets, are books. Yea, that’s right. I said it. What sort of doofus gives people books for Christmas? This doofus. So shoot me. A few years ago through Audible and Kindle my consumption of books was radically…
Advice
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How to Write a Novel
Oh woe, is me. To be shackled to a story until either the story beats you, or you beat it. It’s a pitiful state to be in. The choice; self-imposed as it is, from freedom, to write a novel. Tis but gloomy prospects for the witless. Nothing more than a holy war…
The Best Books I Read in 2011
Your 2011 might have been BIG. Or your 2011 might have been small. Mine was more like a resetting of priorities. With my divorce finalized and my focus on writing returned…I was able to dive into more books this year than ever. If you’re looking for a list of great…
10 Top Books for the Modern Geek
Daemon By Daniel Suarez If you know the difference between FTP, MMORPG and FMRI, then this techno thriller is for you. Forget about the pseudo bullshit tech that others and Hollywood try to shove down your throat (yea you heard me Jack Bower), you won’t get that here. Instead you’ll…
