Latest news with #DogsOfWar
Geek Dad
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Dad
‘Bee Speaker by Adrian Tchaikovsky:' A Book Review
Another month, another book by Adrian Tchaikovsky. This time, returning to his irregular but excellent Dogs of War series. Each book nominally stands on its own. Indeed, I read book 2, Bear Head , before reading book 1, Dogs of War, with little detriment. Having said that, to fully understand the world Tchaikovsky has created, I would recommend reading at least Dogs of War before commencing Bee Speaker. If you haven't read the Dogs of War trilogy, I wholeheartedly recommend that you do. They remain my favorite of Tchaikovsky's books, and some of the best science fiction I have read. The main premise of the Dogs of War universe is that humans have invented bioengineering and used it to create 'Bioforms.' Engineered dogs, bears, and even snakes and reptiles, to be used in the theatre of battle. Both Bear Head and Dogs of War explore the ethics of using non-human sentient creatures to do one's dirty work. Both books are utterly compelling and hooked me from the very first page. Another key component of the books is distributed intelligence systems. Essentially, in the series, hive minds were distributed across Earth and later, Mars. Bees are one such system, and they play a pivotal role in Dogs of War. Unsurprisingly, they take center stage in Bee Speaker. Bee Speaker takes place some time after the previous two books. Civilization has collapsed on Earth, leaving them with some pre-collapse technology, but few ways of recreating it. Mars, meanwhile, is beginning to thrive. The citizens of Mars receive a distress signal from Earth – from bees – and decide they need to investigate. The novel opens with that investigation underway. The Martian explorers have arrived on Earth, and things are about to go very, very wrong. Tchaikovsky delivers again. If a little more slowly. Unlike the other two novels, it took me a while to work my way into Bee Speaker, and I can't quite put my finger on why. It might be because there are several different competing factions (Earth's citizens, as depicted here, have a feel of the Fallout factions to them). The story contains humans and bioforms from both Earth and Mars, and I initially struggled to identify fully with any of them. I think there was some deliberate vagueness for plot reasons, too and I could only appreciate this once I was deeply immersed in the book. And deeply immersed I became! Bee Speaker is a sparkling construct that examines the power and limitations of distributed intelligence (and therefore, by extension, in a more real-world context, AI). Once again, (as he did with Alien Clay as well as the other Dogs of War novels), Tchaikovsky makes us rethink how we see ourselves. Makes us consider the nature of life and the definition of sentience. There is also, as there often is in his novels, a subtle examination of power structures and, in this case, the absurdity of doomsday-prepared billionaires. After reading Bee Speaker , I am happy to maintain that the Dogs of War series are my favorite of Tchaikovsky's books (though his output is so large, I have barely scratched the surface). If you haven't read them, I thoroughly recommend you do. I've yet to encounter anybody who doesn't like them. Will there be more? Who knows? Each story mostly drives down its own cul-de-sac, yet Adrain Tchaikovsky keeps revealing pathways to new roads. May the exploration long continue. If you would like to pick up a copy of Bee Speaker, you can do so here in the US and here, in the UK. (Affiliate Links) If you enjoyed this review, check out my other book reviews, here. I received a copy of this book in order to write this review. Liked it? Take a second to support GeekDad and GeekMom on Patreon!
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Is this Everton's 'final opportunity'?
On this day 30 years ago, Saturday 20th May 1995, events will be forever etched in my was my first (and only) taste of Everton success - as I'd been unlucky to miss the glory of the memories from that day still remain incredibly to arriving at Wembley, it was a memorable occasion for all the wrong the promise of a luxurious journey on an executive coach, my mum and I arrived at Goodison Park to be greeted by the most basic of elongated tin cans to carry us down the greatest start to proceedings, and it set the tone for what was to happen lunch at Lords Cricket Ground all part of the package we'd booked, the excitement soon dissipated once it became apparent that the coach driver was lost, meandering through the streets of eventual arrival coincided with dessert being dished out. Strike two for the day and as we know, things always happen in threes! It's fair to say we couldn't envisage what materialised a short few hours later.A slither of cake and hastily painting of my face later, we approached the Twin Towers to scenes of blue and white. I'll never forget the immense ferocity of our club colours as far as the eye could the start to the day, to witness Paul Rideout's winner, Neville Southall's heroics and the Dogs of War mentality against the much fancied Manchester United, felt nothing short of at the age of 10, I always remember wondering if it was always going to be this way.I never left Wembley that day contemplating this would be the only time I'd see an Everton captain raise a piece of meaningful silverware above their unthinkable has sadly been our reality since that false dawns and unfounded hope have littered our history move to our new stadium, under the ownership of The Friedkin Group, gives us a fabulous opportunity to become competitive once feels like we've been given a second, and potentially final opportunity to get it right. We simply have to take more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
From 'needing snookers' to FA Cup glory - Everton 30 years on
Everton's 1995 FA Cup Final win over Manchester United at Wembley remains the club's last major trophy - but the manner in which it capped a remarkable transformation under manager Joe Royle remains fresh in the memory of all who witnessed it 30 years ago. Royle left Oldham Athletic to return to his beloved Goodison Park in November 1994 with Everton rooted to the bottom of the Premier and, in his words, "needing snookers" to survive. Everton, under his guidance, did not just get the snookers required, they then cleared the table to not only stay in the top flight but crown Royle's stunning renaissance with the most glamorous prize in domestic football. This was the year of Everton's famous "Dogs Of War", a throwaway phrase Royle used to describe a combative, fiercely competitive style led by the midfield pair of Barry Horne and Joe Parkinson. It was instantly adopted by Everton supporters, who wore T-shirts bearing the phrase in their thousands, but was also turned back on Royle by those who chose to diminish the dramatic turnaround. To suggest Everton were one dimensional that season can be dismissed, as the team contained the mercurial talents of the brilliant Swede Anders Limpar as well as the subtle forward play of Graham Stuart and Paul Rideout. Duncan Ferguson was the great talisman, scoring his first Everton goal in Royle's opening game in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool, but he was actually sidelined for the latter part of the run to Wembley, missing the semi-final and only appearing as a substitute in the final. Everton's 4-1 win in the semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road was their finest performance in years and remained so long afterwards, fuelled by two goals from second-half substitute Daniel Amokachi, who entered the pitch by accident as a replacement for Rideout, mistakenly thinking he had been waved on. Royle later called it: "The greatest substitution I never made." Everton's demolition of a Spurs side containing Jurgen Klinsmann and Teddy Sheringham wrecked what many regarded as the so-called "dream final" with Manchester United, Royle literally spelling out the colourful phrase he used in the direction of those disappointed at the planned party being spoiled. And so to Wembley on 20 May 1995, and a meeting with hot favourites United, Sir Alex Ferguson's side without the inspirational Eric Cantona, serving an eight-month suspension for a kung fu kick at a Crystal Palace supporter in January 1995. United had lost the Premier League to Blackburn Rovers on the final day of the season the previous week, but this was not an Everton side given to sympathy. They gave no quarter to an opposition midfield containing Paul Ince and Roy Keane, but also utilised the skills of Limpar, an enigmatic figure Royle had boosted before the final by comparing his natural gifts with French great Michel Platini. Everton held sway in the first half, going ahead after 30 minutes. Man-of-the-match and Everton captain Dave Watson won a crunching duel with Ince deep in his own half. Limpar broke clear at pace before passing to Matthew Jackson, who fed Stuart. He looked certain to score but hit the bar, Rideout reacting first to head home the rebound. United pushed in the second half but the great Everton keeper Neville Southall, now 36, rolled back the years with a magnificent display, especially with a double save from Paul Scholes and then from Gary Pallister's header. The FA Cup, lifted by Watson, went to Goodison Park and remains Everton last success. Not an Everton fan? Find and follow your team on BBC Sport
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
From 'needing snookers' to FA Cup glory - Everton 30 years on
Everton's 1995 FA Cup Final win over Manchester United at Wembley remains the club's last major trophy - but the manner in which it capped a remarkable transformation under manager Joe Royle remains fresh in the memory of all who witnessed it 30 years left Oldham Athletic to return to his beloved Goodison Park in November 1994 with Everton rooted to the bottom of the Premier and, in his words, "needing snookers" to under his guidance, did not just get the snookers required, they then cleared the table to not only stay in the top flight but crown Royle's stunning renaissance with the most glamorous prize in domestic was the year of Everton's famous "Dogs Of War", a throwaway phrase Royle used to describe a combative, fiercely competitive style led by the midfield pair of Barry Horne and Joe was instantly adopted by Everton supporters, who wore T-shirts bearing the phrase in their thousands, but was also turned back on Royle by those who chose to diminish the dramatic suggest Everton were one dimensional that season can be dismissed, as the team contained the mercurial talents of the brilliant Swede Anders Limpar as well as the subtle forward play of Graham Stuart and Paul Ferguson was the great talisman, scoring his first Everton goal in Royle's opening game in the Merseyside derby against Liverpool, but he was actually sidelined for the latter part of the run to Wembley, missing the semi-final and only appearing as a substitute in the 4-1 win in the semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road was their finest performance in years and remained so long afterwards, fuelled by two goals from second-half substitute Daniel Amokachi, who entered the pitch by accident as a replacement for Rideout, mistakenly thinking he had been waved later called it: "The greatest substitution I never made."Everton's demolition of a Spurs side containing Jurgen Klinsmann and Teddy Sheringham wrecked what many regarded as the so-called "dream final" with Manchester United, Royle literally spelling out the colourful phrase he used in the direction of those disappointed at the planned party being so to Wembley on 20 May 1995, and a meeting with hot favourites United, Sir Alex Ferguson's side without the inspirational Eric Cantona, serving an eight-month suspension for a kung fu kick at a Crystal Palace supporter in January had lost the Premier League to Blackburn Rovers on the final day of the season the previous week, but this was not an Everton side given to gave no quarter to an opposition midfield containing Paul Ince and Roy Keane, but also utilised the skills of Limpar, an enigmatic figure Royle had boosted before the final by comparing his natural gifts with French great Michel held sway in the first half, going ahead after 30 and Everton captain Dave Watson won a crunching duel with Ince deep in his own half. Limpar broke clear at pace before passing to Matthew Jackson, who fed Stuart. He looked certain to score but hit the bar, Rideout reacting first to head home the pushed in the second half but the great Everton keeper Neville Southall, now 36, rolled back the years with a magnificent display, especially with a double save from Paul Scholes and then from Gary Pallister's FA Cup, lifted by Watson, went to Goodison Park and remains Everton last an Everton fan? Find and follow your team on BBC Sport
