Foundation

Title: Foundation
Author: Isaac Asimov
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 320
Rating (out of 5 stars): **1/2
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Set far in the future, Foundation tells the story of a galaxy-wide Empire that has enjoyed peace for thousands of years.  But a brilliant psychologist named Hari Seldon has worked out a set of mathematical equations that predict the future, and what he finds is that the Empire is on the verge of collapse.  He sets up a foundation of scientists designed not to prevent the collapse of the Empire (its too far gone for that), but rather to shorter the dark ages that he knows will follow by retaining the accumulated knowledge of mankind.
Thoughts: This is one of the first, great sci-fi books out there; the predecessor to Star Wars, Star Trek, the Ender series, 2001, and basically every other sci-fi bit of media you've ever seen.  Written way back in 1951, it is quite imaginative and, in some ways, maybe a bit prescient.  But, I'm just not much of a sci-fi fan, I don't think.  I never really got into it; much of the story seemed too contrived so that everything tied up just a bit too neatly.  And the writing itself isn't great either, although I'm willing to let Asimov slip on that given that he was just 21 when he wrote the book.  Anyway, if you like sci-fi, you should read it.  Otherwise, it might not be worth your time.
Disclaimer: Maybe a swear word or two??  Pretty clean.

The Devil in the White City

Title: The Devil in the White City: A Saga of Magic and Murder at the Fair that Changed America
Author: Erik Larson
Genre: History
Pages: 447
Rating (out of 5 stars): ****
Reviewed by: Ben
Description: Larson weaves together the story of the building of the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 with the tale of a mass murderer far worse than Jack the Ripper.  Both stories are so outrageous that you might think he made them up, but they're both true, and they happened at the same time in the same place.
Thoughts: It took me about a hundred pages to really get into this book, but by the end I was hanging on every word.  Having moved to Chicago a year ago, this was the perfect time for me to read The Devil in the White City; I've been here long enough to know my way around, but I'm still trying to figure out its aura.  Knowing a bit of the history helped with that.  And the World's Fair is a huge part of what put Chicago on the map (and its imprint is still quite visible on the South Side).  I was mind-boggled at how many firsts there were at the fair (a small sampling: first shredded wheat, first usage of AC current, first Ferris wheel) and at the vastness of the project of just putting it together.  It left me wondering why we don't have World Fairs any longer; it's a shame they've gone away.  At any rate, throw in the true tale of a truly clever and sick mass murderer to boot, and you've got a great book.
Disclaimer: The descriptions of the murders were somewhat gruesome.