Imagining Better: Philosophical Issues in Harry Potter (Reason Papers Special Issue)

I am very excited to announce the publication in Reason Papers of my article: "Harry Potter and Humanity: Choices, Love, and Death" (PDF).

This is a special issue of Reason Papers: "Imagining Better: Philosophical Issues in Harry Potter". It had its start at "Imagining Better: Philosophical Issues in Harry Potter Potter," a conference organized by Carrie-Ann Biondi at Marymount Manhattan College on October 29, 2011. (link to information about that conference). The paper I presented at this conference is a much expanded paper that I gave at Tufts University in 2008. The published version was further revised and expanded from the Marymount Manhatthan conference.

Here is a link to the table of contents for all the articles in this special issue: http://www.reasonpapers.com/archives/ (Scroll to Issue 34, No. 1 June 2012).

Here is a link to the full issue on Harry Potter: http://www.reasonpapers.com/pdf/341/rp_341.pdf

And here is a link to my original blog post about the conference (with my talk abstract): http://www.philosophyblog.com/2011/05/philosophy-of-harry-potter-abstract.html

Lastly, a link to my co-edited book on Harry Potter: Harry Potter and Philosophy (Open Court 2004)

Review: The Robots of Dawn

The Robots of Dawn by Isaac Asimov

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Starts a little slow, a little too much like the previous two. But it picks up and takes on its own path. I enjoy the way Asimov develops the relationship between Baley and the robots. Baley is a good character, but too intuitive as a detective for my tastes. The robots are in many ways the more interesting characters. It is also fun to learn about the early developments of psychohistory. I am mixed on the end. In a way it is a bit dues ex machina. At the same time, there are enough hints looking back so that is not really.



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Review: Socratic Circles: Fostering Critical and Creative Thinking in Middle and High School

Socratic Circles: Fostering Critical and Creative Thinking in Middle and High School by Matt Copeland

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



A useful text for developing Socratic dialogue in class rooms. Some of it is more relevant for (as the title indicates) middle and high school literature classes, but I found a lot here that can be adapted to my classes. Copeland's suggestions on pre- and post-discussion activities and assessment techniques also will be, I think(and hope), helpful. I also really liked the examples he provides of actual student dialogues.



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Review: Murder Most Frothy

Murder Most Frothy by Cleo Coyle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Good, fun summer read. Involving coffee as a main ingredient (see what I did there??) makes it all the more fun.



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Review: The Hutt Gambit

The Hutt Gambit by A.C. Crispin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This, like the first novel in this series, was a lot of fun to read. This was not as crisp as the first, but had some exciting battle scenes. It also introduces you to several well-known characters from the movies and how Han meets them (including the Millenium Falcon). Great summer time, fun read. I'm tempted to pop A New Hope into the DVD player.



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Review: Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues

Robert B. Parker's Killing the Blues by Michael Brandman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



No one will mistake Brandman with Parker. Ace Atkins, the author conintuing the Spenser series, captured Parker's voice at least partially. Atkins got the feel of the characters, the style, and the language of Spenser. Brandman, unfortunately, is not as successfully. It is not a bad book, but it is far from Parker's Stone. One clearly sees the influence of the TV movies here, no surprise since that is how Brandman comes to the series. But Stone's edge, both from the Selleck movies and the Parker books, is too softened here. Brandman does a good job with the dialogue, but the inner life that Parker was so adept at is lost. All this said, the book was interesting and enjoyable. I am glad I tried it out, though I am not sure how quickly I'll pick up the next one. Almost certainly, it will be a library rental if I do (as was this).



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Review: The Chairman

The Chairman by Stephen W. Frey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



A solid thriller. Took a little bit, but sucked me in. Many of the characters were a little too stereotypical; from central casting for wall st types. Many characterize Frey as Grisham for finance. Dead on. I really liked Stiles, the security guy. The main character could have been more heroic in my view. Still, it was fun and I'm sure I'll read more Frey in future--though I am in no rush.



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Review: The Paradise Snare

The Paradise Snare by A.C. Crispin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



That was a lot of fun. I got the book through the library as a test of its ebook lending. I was a little surprised at how quickly I got sucked in. But then Han Solo was always my favorite from the original film trilogy. Not sure I'll get into the whole expanded universe but I think I'll finish this trilogy. Crispin does a great job of capturing Solo. Hard not to picture a young Harrison Ford! A slight fault might be that Muuurgh and Bria where just a little too close to Chewie and Leia.



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