Take a break or be broken

My boss has agreed that I can take the last week of the month off (that is the week commencing with Labour day). I think she just had to take one look at how shattered I am to agree that it is probably necessary.

I am actually looking forward to a week of mindless spring cleaning, gardening and other low thought low stress activities. I might even get the house tidy enough to not be totally ashamed of it when guests come around.

Going

I'm fascinated by the works of Joe Haldeman. Not necessarily by the works themselves but by the interpretations that I try to draw about Joe's state of mind. I wish I had read some more of the recent titles when I last had a chance to talk to Joe in '02 - I'd love to discuss this with him. My most recent reading was actually published at that point, but the vagaries of the local distribution scene meant that The Coming only came into my possession recently. It also shows one element that I have seen in the other work - the hidden watcher. But this time in a minor role. I think there is something going on there, but I don't know what.

The Coming is an entertaining little snack sized read. It is fast paced with a fast rotating multiple viewpoint style which grabs the attention nicely. The actual story in the overall first contact setting meanders a bit and does not live up to the initial potential it seems to show. I have made the same complaint about other recent Haldemans but it isn't anywhere near as bad in this case.

I have one more recent work from Joe to read. I wonder if it will show the same trends.