The Million Year Hunt by Kenneth Bulmer (1964)

"The Million Year Hunt" by Kenneth Bulmer (1964); cover by Ed Emshwiller a photo by CoffeeInSpace on Flickr.

Something for the years's end. I feel that I've been hunting for many things this year - like love, success, luck, old books, money - and sometimes I succeeded, but unlike other years, in 2013 there were many obstacles on the way. Good friends and family members got sick, I missed a plane to London, I had to get a new car (some bloke crashed in the old one) and some other "nice" surprises. Many things are ok now, but there were hard times.

So I really look forward to 2014.

But I'd like to mention also the really good things: This month, I will be godfather for the first time, my girl - who always is full of power and fantastic ideas, our holidays in France, The Day of the Doctor, the Europa Park in winter, shopping in London, helpful friends in the office, my team.

Merry X-Mas and a Happy New Year!

Utopia Grossband 73

Utopia Grossband 73, a photo by ortokur01 on Flickr.

The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov

Universal War One by Denis Bajram

I just finished the excellent series "Universal War One" or "UW1" by the french author/artist Denis Bajram. I had these books quite for a long time (the french originals), but I never came farther than the first book. Now, I managed it to read all books in a week. This complex, sometimes depressing and incredibly well-written and drawn story is a hard SF, and covers timetravel, wormholes, time paradoxes, destructions of planets, and much more.
Alone the destruction of the earth, beginning in NYC (in a world where the WTC was not destroyed) caused me nightmares. It is so realistic and gripping.
About three years ago, it was also published by Marvel Comics.
If you love good science-fiction - pick it up.

RIP Ian M. Banks

One of the most interesting authors of science fiction has died, aged 59.
Read this article in the Guardian.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/jun/09/iain-banks-dies-59-cancer

I remember the first book I read, Excession, and was impressed by the scope and the multiversity of the Culture-Universe.

May he rest in peace.

UNKLE - Lonely Soul (Fighter Pilot)