Like many people around the world, I had a rather subdued birthday celebration recently. The combination of a UK lockdown, a global pandemic, and a recent operation meant I was still in self-isolation mode. So I was maintaining a distance even from my family on the day itself.

Along with not going out, and not being near anyone, most friends and family have also cut back a lot on gift giving at the moment for budgetary and logistical reasons. And with Black Friday coming soon, I decided to ask for donations towards some sim racing equipment when prices are lower, so I’m being patient for that…

But I did receive a couple of great books from two people very special to me, and they were both perfect for someone who loves science fiction and couldn’t do much during initial post-op recovery.

Dune is obviously a classic, and with a forthcoming film remake due next year, I was surprised to realise I didn’t seem to own a copy. Or remember actually reading it (I do have vague memories of the 1992 Amiga game)

So I’m currently rectifying that, and really enjoying digging into one of the scifi classics.

Meanwhile I can’t remember how I stumbled across a recommendation for Infinite Detail by Tim Maughan, but I’m very glad I stuck it on my ever-expanding wishlist. It’s his debut novel, and is based around the concept of an area cut off from big data and digital surveillance.

That area happens to be in Bristol – a city that I’ve really enjoyed visiting a few times for work, so the location and culture that’s vibrantly captured in the book is recognisable and familiar. But what makes it such as interesting read is that the plot switches between the periods before, and after, an apparent act of cyberterrorism turns off the internet.

The way that it’s handled, the setting and the characters in the novel all stand out from other tech and cyberpunk sci-fi books I’ve read. In some ways it reminded me of the first time I read something by William Gibson or Cory Doctorow, who became two of my favourite authors from my first encounter. So definitely recommended, and you can also find him on Twitter.

The only problem is that I finished Infinite Detail in a week, and I don’t think Dune will last me until Christmas…

Incidentally, I know there are reasons why you may wish to avoid buying from Amazon, but if you are going to, the following links might earn me a couple of pence towards some more reading material – Dune by Frank Herbert, and Infinite Detail by Tim Maughan.