Bookshelf Q2 2022
Hi there!
This post is about books that I read in the first quarter of 2022.
Mastering Blockchain: Unlocking the Power of Cryptocurrencies, Smart Contracts, and Decentralized Applications
The book should truly be called an “Introduction into Blockchain” as it covers a lot of topics, but the book lacks depth. The book describes the fundamental concepts with a bit of history. It begins with a brief introduction into Bitcoin history followed by a detailed description of how the Bitcoin blockchain works. In the next chapter, the author talks about “Blockchain 2.0”, where he mainly covers Etherium with a set of coins that are built on top of the Ethereum blockchain. Closer to the end of the book, the author talks about new developments in blockchain worlds such as stablecoins, other types of blockchains, and about ways regulators approach this new phenomena.
As I mentioned in the first sentence, the book feels like a whirlwind tour. It covers everything and, at the same time, nothing. I would recommend it to somebody who is completely new to the blockchain world, but who is keen to have a broad introduction into the brave new world of crypto coins.
Dune Messiah
I’m a big fan of the original “Dune” book that I read a while ago. After watching Dune by Denis Villeneuve in 2021, I decided it was a good time to move forward to the second book, which is “Dune Messiah”. The book is talking about the period of time after Paul Atreides defeated the Emperor and seized power. It’s interesting to read how Frank Herbert managed to explain how the new ruler managed to maintain power in the long term. Paul’s empire is controlled and driven by a new religious cult that worships him as a new God. The emperor started the Great Gihad to spread “the word” across a thousand worlds that lead to the death of 61 billion people.
As expected, there is lots of politics, intrigue, and treachery, but, compared to the original book, there is not as much action. The main scene for the book is Arrakis undergoing transformation from the desert to an oasis. The three main powers - Bene Gesserit, Spacing Guild, and Tleilax are united to get back their original places.There is a lot of dialogue among the main characters in an attempt to overthrow the new Emperor.
To conclude, I would highly recommend the book to somebody who would like to take a deep dive into the world of intrigue or for true fans of the original “Dune”.
Quantum magician
I think this book is the discovery of the year for me, even though only half a year has passed. I fell in love with the book only after a few short chapters. The book shares a story about a person, who represents a new, genetically modified type of human. The author called them Homo Quantum for their ability to comprehend a world on a quantum scale. The majority of the Homo Quantum is based on a small asteroid, which is designed as a facility to study the Universe. The main character, Belisarius Arjona, is an outcast. Instead of dedicating his life to a noble goal of comprehending the Universe, and, particularly, studying the structure of black holes, he chose the life of a con man.
The main story is about the greatest con in Belisarius’ life with an outstanding reward. An exceptional job requires an exceptional plan and an exceptional team. Thus, a decent part of the book tells us how the main character assembles his team and develops a plan. During the story, the author unveils the complexity of the book’s Universe with entangled relationships among various nations, races, and corporations.
I would strongly recommend the book to everyone who likes high-grade science fiction on a cosmo opera scale. The last book that gave me a similar impression was “Hyperion” by Dan Simons. “Quantum Magician” is only the first book of a trilogy about Belisarius, so expect at least two more reviews from me about this world.
Stay tuned!