Thursday, January 19, 2017
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Book Review - The Lost City of the Monkey God
Douglas Preston usually writes techno thrillers both alone or in partnership with Lincoln Child, but this is a true, modern day adventure story that combines technology and Indiana Jones in the search for a legendary city hidden in the mosquitia jungles of Honduras.
The book starts with the summary of previous searches for the "White City". Some of these "searches" were fake adventure writing. This brings us to the present day and the use of LIDAR to search for archaeological sites. There is a brief education on the technology and this leads into the logistics involved in getting a survey crew into the jungles. The middle of the book covers the actual investigation, discovery and the difficulties of operating in the virgin jungle.
The discovery unleashes a rash of academic jealousy. The petty politics of academia make office politics look pale in comparison. But more than that, the explorers came down with a rare tropical disease and the story then moves to their treatment and how diseases devastated native populations when the old world explorers arrived.
If you like true adventure stories, this makes a great read
The book starts with the summary of previous searches for the "White City". Some of these "searches" were fake adventure writing. This brings us to the present day and the use of LIDAR to search for archaeological sites. There is a brief education on the technology and this leads into the logistics involved in getting a survey crew into the jungles. The middle of the book covers the actual investigation, discovery and the difficulties of operating in the virgin jungle.
The discovery unleashes a rash of academic jealousy. The petty politics of academia make office politics look pale in comparison. But more than that, the explorers came down with a rare tropical disease and the story then moves to their treatment and how diseases devastated native populations when the old world explorers arrived.
If you like true adventure stories, this makes a great read
Friday, January 13, 2017
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Head Count
The Kingdom beheaded 5 criminals in the final month of the year. Four were for murder and one was for drugs. This brings their 2016 total to 145 heads.
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