The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu

25 September 2016 13:27 (GMT)

I've just posted my review for Cixin Liu's 'The Dark Forest', and it somehow manages to be better than the first book. It's a damn fine read, and in my opinion it's one of the finest examples of modern science fiction:
http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk...

PW3: Amazon Limited Edition Premium Leather Case

05 September 2016 10:05 (GMT)

Hi All,

I recently upgraded from a 4 year old KT to a PW3 and as part of that wanted to order a case for it.  I'd had my KT in a black Amazon leather case since the day I bought it and been very happy with it - it had protected the KT well and still looked good after 4 years of fairly heavy use, being carted around the globe on various travels, being thrown in all sorts of travel bags, etc. so pretty much knew what to expect.

However, the design of the Amazon cases has changed slightly over the last few years.  My two sons have PWs (a 1 and a 2 I think) and have the standard Amazon leather cases for those are perfectly fine - but don't seem quite the same quality as the leather case that my KT is in.  Hence I was interested in the 'Limited Edition Premium Leather' case  that Amazon offer.  I could find very few reviews of the case however other than the ones on Amazon's site - so, having decided to go for it, I thought I'd write a brief one  myself in the hope that it might be of interest to others.

The general design of the case is exactly the same as Amazon's other PW cases (and indeed my old KT case): a rubberised holding 'compartment' for the Kindle itself that the unit 'pops' into and is held firmly by with leather front and back on the outside.  The rubber surround protects all the edges and corners of the Kindle and I know from using one on my KT that it offers effective protection.

The key difference between this case and the other Amazon PW cases however is the brown leather used on the outside.  It's almost like a cross between regular leather and a suede finish - having an obvious grain to it.  The other thing that has been commented on in the various Amazon site reviews is that it marks very easily.  This is true - it does.  Amazon says that this is deliberate and allows a patina to develop over time.  Whether you like this idea is crucial to whether you will like this case I think.  Personally, I like the idea that the case will start to look like a somewhat battered old leather book over time.  But equally I've seen some reports that people don't expect a brand new case to mark so quickly...  Also, I suspect that the grain will smooth down with time and use.

The attached photos show my case with the PW3 in it after about 5 days of use.  As you can see, it's already starting to develop a lot of marks.  The colour of the case is darker than is shown on Amazon's own site - however, my own photos make it look darker than it actually is IMO.  I suspect that the actual colour will vary from batch to batch as different leathers are used.

Last but not least of things to consider is the price.  The standard Amazon case is £29.99 in the UK / $39.99 in the US.  This limited edition one costs £44.99 ($59.99 in US) - so a significant increase.  Personally I think it adds to the charm of my Kindle and the whole reading experience - but of course everyone is likely to have their own views.

I'll try to come back in due course - as the case wears further with time - and give an update.  In the meantime if anyone has any questions, please let me know.

Upgraded from Kindle Touch to PW3

02 September 2016 10:21 (GMT)

Hi All,

I've been a Kindle user since 2012 (why does this sound like the start of an AA meeting....?!) when I bought a Kindle Touch.  I'd held off for a year or so from the original Kindle Keyboard and basic page button units as I knew the Touch was coming.  In it's Amazon leather flip case, it's been my steady travel companion since then - and has probably been to the majority of continents on the planet during that time.

However, I've watched with increasing gadget envy as the various Paperwhites have come along.  Not least because I've started to use reading glasses in poor light and anything which increases reading contrast is a boon.  I looked at both the Voyage and Oasis but didn't feel that I could justify the price point.  Also, I think the extra 'gadgetyness' of these readers might actually detract from the reading experience - I wanted to keep things simple.  Anyway, I finally cracked and ordered a PW3 a few days ago.  It came yesterday.

Side by side, the original Touch and PW3 are almost identical in size.  With the backlight off, the screen contrast on the PW3 v's the KT is actually slightly worse indoors under reasonable lighting.  It may well not be under strong sunlight - I'll try and check that soon whilst there's still some summer sun around!  However, with the backlight on, the difference is really marked - the PW3 is significantly easier to read on.  The lighting seems pretty uniform to me and can't really tell whether the light is 'yellowish', 'blueish', or somewhere in between - since I've nothing to compare it against.  The resolution increase (PW3 is almost double the original KT) is nice - especially when showing photos - but this isn't the main thing for me.  Equally I like the new Bookerly font but the previous ones were perfectly fine too.  The faster processor speed is barely perceptible, if at all.  Will update with any more findings in due course.

One thing I'm currently investigating is the possibility of getting free daily news/RSS digests automatically sent to my Kindle.  Most of the previous solutions that I've seen links to no longer work.  So far, I've got 3 different solutions under testing.  I'll write a post about this in the next few days.

The Turing Exception by William Hertling

20 August 2016 09:11 (GMT)

I've posted my review for William Hertling's novel 'The Turing Exception' - it's an excellent look at the technological singularity, and a cracking read:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk...

Anybody know the going rate for copywriting?

19 August 2016 16:42 (GMT)

Do you know how much people using pay copywriters for a 2,000 word article on something fairly straight forward, please?

Legion of the Damned by Rob Sanders

08 August 2016 13:39 (GMT)

I've just posted my review for Legion of the Damned by Rob Sanders, and while it lacked a decent presence of the named chapter, it was still a decent battle in the 40K universe:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk...

Free this weekend - The Wave at Hanging Rock

23 September 2016 23:25 (GMT)

---  FREE this weekend only ---
Jesse and his friends are the only kids who surf in a small beach town. But as they grow, so does the popularity of their sport, and they soon become anxious to protect their waves. And when the boys discover a perfect surfing wave hidden inside a private estate, they agree to do anything to keep their secret safe. 

Natalie’s life is torn apart when her husband is lost at sea in circumstances that don’t make sense. Her search to discover his fate puts her on a collision course with Jesse in a way that neither could imagine, and nobody can control. 

The Wave at Hanging Rock is a tense and intelligent mystery thriller that will grip you from the first line, and keep you guessing till the very last page. 
"Don't miss this, it's a real treat"
Download FREE from Amazon.co.uk this weekend.

Last day FREE: Independence Day (Time Patrol) Video

12 September 2016 18:37 (GMT)

Independence Day (Time Patrol)
"Same date; six different years, the Time Patrol must save our timeline from the Shadow by preserving our past. 


At Gettysburg, in 1863, the Confederacy reaches its ‘high water mark’ with Pickett’s charge on the 3rd of July 1863. But on the 4th, both armies stare at each other on a rainy day, waiting for the other to make a move. What if the Union attacks? 
The 4th of July, 1776 is one of the most important dates in American history, but there is also the 4th of July exactly 50 years later, in 1826, when two of the architects of that document and the country, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, die within hours of each other. What secrets do they hold close on their deathbeds? And who else might know about them? 
On 4 July 1976, Operation Thunderbolt rescued the hostages at Entebbe, Uganda. What if another commando team had gone in? And never returned?
On the 4th of July 362 B.C. is the Battle of Mantinea in Greece, in which Sparta is defeated by Thebes in a Pyrrhic victory, leading to a third party uniting Greece: Philip II, father of a man who would change history: Alexander The Great. But what if Sparta wins the battle? 
In the same war, on the same day, in a victory that is over-shadowed by Gettysburg in terms of publicity, but of more value strategically, Grant takes Vicksburg on the 4th of July, 1863. But what if he fails? 

All of these events, and others on the same day, are being attacked by the SHADOW. 

It is up to the Time Patrol to send an agent back to six different years on the 4th of July and make sure our timeline remains intact. If they fail, our present will snap out of existence! 

Free Today: An Ungentlemanly Act.

10 September 2016 12:16 (GMT)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01L3XJLWA

Free at all times to Kindle Unlimited subscribers.

FREE! Blaise Maximillian: Bitter Defeat

09 September 2016 21:36 (GMT)

To celebrate the launch of its sister book, [=Emancipation, I am giving Blaise Maximillian: Bitter Defeat away for FREE! From 9th September to 11th September you will be able to download from Amazon. =]