Merge branch 'post-2024_books'

_posts/2025-01-01-favorite_books_of_2024.md

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+---
+layout: post
+title: My Favorite Books of 2024
+description: >
+  These are my favorite books that I read in 2024.
+image: /files/book-reviews/a_simple_charming_color_pencil_drawing_of_an_adorable_robot_reading_a_book_on_a_white_background.jpg
+hide_lead_image: False
+image_alt: >
+    A pencil drawing of a cute robot reading a book. Prompte:A simple,
+    charming color pencil drawing of an adorable robot reading a book, on a
+    white background. The robot has a rounded, friendly design with
+    expression.
+categories:
+  - opinions
+---
+
+{% capture file_dir %}/files/book-reviews{% endcapture %}
+
+In 2024, I finished 46 books and joined a sci-fi book club. The club has been
+a fantastic way to explore books outside my usual reading habits and has
+encouraged me to think more critically about writing, thematic connections,
+and the author's intent---so I have plenty to share during discussions.
+Following the tradition of [last year's post][last_year], here are my favorite
+reads from 2024:
+
+[last_year]: {% post_url 2024-01-01-favorite_books_of_2023 %}#blindsight-by-peter-watts
+
+## <cite class="book-title">Echopraxia</cite> by <span class="author-name">Peter Watts</span>
+
+{% capture ff1 %}{% include book_link.html title="Blindsight" %}{% endcapture %} 
+{% capture ff2 %}{% include book_link.html title="Echopraxia" %}{% endcapture %} 
+
+{% capture watts %}{% include author_link.html name="Petter Watts" link_text="Watts" %}{% endcapture %}
+
+{{ ff2 }} is the sequel to {{ ff1 }}, one of my [favorite books from last
+year][last_year]. Although it wasn't as well received by readers as {{ ff1 }},
+it was my favorite read of the year. In fact, I liked it _more_ than {{ ff1 }}
+because of its complex storyline, intriguing characters, and the broader
+perspective it offers on the world.
+
+<div class="card-grid">
+  {% include auto_book_card.html title="Echopraxia" %}
+</div>
+
+## The <span class="book-series">Culture</span> Series by <span class="author-name">Iain M. Banks</span>
+
+{% capture c1 %}{% include book_link.html title="Consider Phlebas" %}{% endcapture %} 
+{% capture c2 %}{% include book_link.html title="The Player of Games" %}{% endcapture %} 
+{% capture c3 %}{% include book_link.html title="Use of Weapons" %}{% endcapture %} 
+{% capture c6 %}{% include book_link.html title="Inversions" %}{% endcapture %} 
+{% capture c9 %}{% include book_link.html title="Surface Detail" %}{% endcapture %} 
+{% capture c10 %}{% include book_link.html title="The Hydrogen Sonata" %}{% endcapture %}
+
+{% capture culture %}{% include series_link.html series="Culture" %}{% endcapture %}
+
+{% capture banks %}{% include author_link.html name="Iain M. Banks" link_text="Banks" %}{% endcapture %}
+{% capture bankss %}{% include author_link.html name="Iain M. Banks" link_text="Banks" possessive=true %}{% endcapture %}
+
+I **hated** {{ c1 }} when I read it in 2023, but I gave the {{ culture }}
+series another chance because I had spent the better part of two decades
+waiting to get my hands on the books. I'm glad I did, because I read {{ c2 }}
+with my book club and loved it! My favorite from the series was {{ c9 }},
+closely followed by {{ c3 }}. I even enjoyed {{ c6 }}, one of the least
+well-reviewed of {{ bankss }} books. It will be bittersweet to finish the
+series with {{ c10 }} in 2025.
+
+<div class="card-grid">
+  {% include auto_book_card.html title="The Player of Games" %} 
+  {% include auto_book_card.html title="Inversions" %} 
+  {% include auto_book_card.html title="Look to Windward" %} 
+  {% include auto_book_card.html title="Surface Detail" %} 
+</div>
+
+## <cite class="book-title">A Fire Upon The Deep</cite> by <span class="author-name">Vernor Vinge</span>
+
+{% include book_link.html title="A Fire Upon The Deep" %} is a nostalgic
+favorite that I first read about 20 years ago and reread this year for my book
+club. It does a fantastic job of telling a story that feels small and personal
+while having galaxy-spanning implications. The Zones of Thought concept is
+also a unique way to structure the galaxy and explore how it shapes
+civilizations.
+
+<div class="card-grid">
+  {% include auto_book_card.html title="A Fire Upon The Deep" %}
+</div>
+
+## The <span class="book-series">Cheela</span> Series by <span class="author-name">Robert L. Forward</span>
+
+{% capture ch1 %}{% include book_link.html title="Dragon's Egg" %}{% endcapture %} 
+{% capture ch2 %}{% include book_link.html title="Starquake" %}{% endcapture %} 
+
+{% capture cheela %}{% include series_link.html series="Cheela" %}{% endcapture %}
+
+{% capture forward %}{% include author_link.html name="Robert L. Forward" link_text="Forward" %}{% endcapture %}
+
+The {{ cheela }} series consists of two hard sci-fi novels by {{ forward }}:
+{{ ch1 }} and {{ ch2 }}. Even though the Cheela are _extremely_ alien---living
+on the surface of a neutron star and experiencing time a million times faster
+than humans---their characters still pulled me in. It was exciting to watch
+them build their civilization from hunter-gatherers to a spacefaring society.
+
+<div class="card-grid">
+  {% include auto_book_card.html title="Dragon's Egg" %}
+  {% include auto_book_card.html title="Starquake" %}
+</div>
+
+## <cite class="book-title">Childhood's End</cite> by <span class="author-name">Arthur C. Clarke</span>
+
+{% capture end %}{% include book_link.html title="Childhood's End" %}{% endcapture %} 
+
+{% capture clarkes %}{% include author_link.html name="Arthur C. Clarke" link_text="Clarke" possessive=true %}{% endcapture %}
+
+Another nostalgic read, {{ clarkes }} {{ end }} was one of the first sci-fi
+books I ever read. Revisiting it years later was a treat, and I'm happy to say
+it holds up. The focus on humans' psychic abilities feels a little dated, but
+{{ clarkes }} crisp writing kept me engaged.
+
+<div class="card-grid">
+  {% include auto_book_card.html title="Childhood's End" %}
+</div>