Permutation City Blog

Learning to create web services in a RESTful, or object-oriented, way. I found this an attractive method but haven't used it in practice yet. Read more about this in a summary of RESTful.

I listened to an unabridged reading of this on the radio. I don't think I've read this before although I'm sure I've seen the TV adaptation. I though both the reading and the story were excellent. I was very easy to listen to several episodes in a row. I noticed myself being frustrated when Bill's progress was blocked. In the end I wish it could have continued.

This book follows a number of different software "people" when they decide to look outside their closed world and explore the universe instead. This follows of of Egan's traditional ideas mathematics, physics, and conciousness. I particularly like the first chapter which follows the genesis of one of the main characters inside his computer womb.

A single man survives alone in a world populated by vampires. During the day he hunts them and during the night they hunt him. Actually there is much more to the book than this and it is well worth reading. Most interesting are the vampires themselves. Haven't read it for a while and I really should.

A lovely book for children and adults. It is a typical tale of peril and heroics to overcome adversity, admittedly in canine form. Characters are wonderful both the human pets and their doggy owners. The way all the dogs work together to help hide and feeds the dogs as they travel is nice as it all goes on out of site of the human world (except for little Tommy.)

This was a wonderful story in my childhood and it's still a wonderful story now. A mother mouse fighting to protect her sick child and dealing with the mysterious rats of NIMH. There are a lot of nice characters: the mother, her friend the crow, the wise owl, and the rats themselves. It has some good child-friendly tension balanced with small victories along the way.

I can't remember when I got the first three Earthsea books. It must have been a long time ago because they were bought new and the pages have slowly yellowed. They were good then and are still good now. Short and easy to read for a child but enjoyable as an adult too. My favourite has always been The Tombs of Atuan.

Most of you will already be familiar with this book but for those who aren't I highly recommend it. It is, of course, similar to The Lord of the Rings but The Hobbit is a children's book which means you can expect a much easier and faster read. Travel with Bilbo and experience the ups and downs of his adventures, it's great fun.

Dream Hunters is set in the world of Sandman and told in the style of a Japanese folk tale. Although this story has no historical precedent it feels wonderfully natural and is set with wonderful illustrations. I prize artwork here above any that is on up on my walls. This is a beautiful book.

A book without humans, an insectoidal race and its development from the first scientific discovery through to a technological future. The story is told from the viewpoint of a variety of major historical figures.