Economy Size Geek

Top 20 geek novels — the results! from Guardian Unlimited: Technology

1. The HitchHiker’s Guide to the Galaxy — Douglas Adams 85% (102)
Tried to read it - but just didn’t like it
2. Nineteen Eighty-Four — George Orwell 79% (92)
Still as disturbing as ever
3. Brave New World — Aldous Huxley 69% (77)
Listening to it on my palm pilot currently
4. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? — Philip Dick 64% (67)
I cheated and watched the movie. I still intend to come back for the real thing
5. Neuromancer — William Gibson 59% (66)
Fine so I never read this classic
6. Dune — Frank Herbert 53% (54)
Great book - though everyone has advised me against reading the sequels
7. I, Robot — Isaac Asimov 52% (54)
Nope - I’m a late comer to the Hard Science Fiction stuff
8. Foundation — Isaac Asimov 47% (47)
See above - at least this book is on my “to read” bookshelf
9. The Colour of Magic — Terry Pratchett 46% (46)
He’s written a ton of books - I’ve just never taken the plunge
10. Microserfs — Douglas Coupland 43% (44)
I preferred 21 Dog Years - mostly because I like Amazon a lot more than Microsoft
11. Snow Crash — Neal Stephenson 37% (37)
A friend recently offered to buy this for me if I promised to read it
12. Watchmen — Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons 38% (37)
Oh yeah. Though I’m a little confused because I could have sworn this was a graphic novel. They say they’re going to make a movie - don’t worry it will be terrible.
13. Cryptonomicon — Neal Stephenson 36% (36)
10 pages in I began to realize that this was not the book for me
14. Consider Phlebas — Iain M Banks 34% (35)
Wow one I’ve never heard anything about
15. Stranger in a Strange Land — Robert Heinlein 33% (33)
My geek friends in High School tried to get me to read this. I didn’t but it’s on my palm pilot to listen to after I finish Brave New WOrld.
16. The Man in the High Castle — Philip K Dick 34% (32)
I Ching and Germans winnin WWII - Oh my! A strange look into the world of Philip K Dick. I liked it but I haven’t gone back
17. American Gods — Neil Gaiman 31% (29)
Everyone loves Sandman. Except me since I didn’t read it. Guess I didn’t feel compelled to read this for the same reason
18. The Diamond Age — Neal Stephenson 27% (27)
Fine I get it - Cyberpunk == Geek.
19. The Illuminatus! Trilogy — Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson 23% (21)
I made it almost all the way thru the trilogy. At the time I didn’t fully realize how tongue and cheek it was.
20. Trouble with Lichen - John Wyndham 21% (19)
No idea - but if it involves fungus, mold, or yeast - I’ll probably find it plenty interesting

Feast of Crows is Done! sort of ….

The man who literally owns my soul and has kept me and all of his fans since March of 2003 when he put out out the last book in the series says he’s finally going to publish “Feast of Crows”. You can read the link for the gorey details - but at a combined total (yes there are going to be two books) of over 1700 pages - I get the feeling I have my work cut out for me this summer.

Amazon.com: Books: Cider : Making, Using & Enjoying Sweet & Hard Cider, Third Edition

Ok I just got this in my shipment from NorthernBrewer.com. I just in my ingredients for Koslch. I also got some 5 gal. kegs since we’re oging to be brewing a big batch for the wedding and I figured we might as well get started :)

The book is very good from the standpoint of making cider from start to finish. It really is a great guide - including how to make vinegars and such as well as how to make cider using wild yeast or champagne yeast.

I actually purchased some White Labs Beglian Heavy Gravity yeast to attempt another batch of cider. Last time we did champange yeast and it tasted terrible. I think there were two factors that contributed to it’s taste - the first was the yeast. I’m hoping the beer yeast will provide a better more mellow flavor. I’m also hoping that the yeast will give up the fermentation process before all the sugar in the juice mixture is processed leaving us with a sweeter cider.

I also learned in the book that there is actually a secondary fermentation process that can take place that mellows the flavor. I’m not sure how I’m going to trigger that second round - but that’s what the internet is for.

There is a huge chapter in the end on how to setup an apple brandy making system in your kitchen. Amazing how much alcohol one can make in one’s own house if one is up to it :)

Overall the only complaint I have about the book is that it is completely focused on the processing of fresh apples. I would be all for this method if I had an apple tree handy. I’m going to be buying organic juice and skipping about 5 steps. I wish he had at least discussed this option.