MEDIA INTERVIEW & REVIEWS
REVIEWS 2016
Science Fiction Adventure with Action, Mystery, and a Strong Hero. Lieutenant
Henry Gallant is an exciting science fiction novel that holds attention through
a nice balanced blend of action and interplanetary conflict. By E. Lucus - Top
500 Amazon Reviewer.
This is yet another excellent installment in the "Henry Gallant" space opera
series. . . . Henry Gallant and the
Warrior is a fairly quick read, but it is a good, fast-moving story that has
a good ending in and of itself. By Roger J. Buffington VINE VOICE, Top 500
Amazon Reviewer.
This is an epic sci fi series that has some great elements put together, making
it one that I have put on my watch list. By TFLReader Top 500 Amazon
Reviewer.
I have read all three books in order and I am hooked. Outstanding cast of
characters, interesting and believable. Again, I think it's an outstanding look
at the future of space warfare. The author's take on what could happen, makes an
intriguing and interesting story line. By S/F OLD READER Amazon Reviewer.
Interview with H. Peter Alesso (Nov. 2013)
Thank you for allowing me to discuss some of my ideas about writing in
relationship to my book,
Midshipman Henry Gallant In Space.
I love words.
That hasn’t always been the case. My first infatuation was with numbers, in all
its manifold forms from algebra to topology. However, with maturity came insight
into the elegance and efficacy of words for expression beyond algorithms. Words
elucidate the ideas of great thinkers and leaders from Aristotle to Lincoln.
Consider the brief collage, “All men are created equal?” Can you doubt the
inspiration of these words? Words shroud us with the emotions of others and
bring nature’s kaleidoscopic scenery into view. They let us share experiences
both past and present.
Our past is a tapestry, rich with dramatic experiences. Our thoughts and
memories are arranged around such experiences. As memories bring the past
flowing into the present, we gather words into stories that capture the drama
and excitement of real and imaginary events. As such, they help us understand
our place in the world.
In 1949, Joseph Campbell wrote The Hero with a Thousand Faces, and argued that
myths, spanning all time and all cultures, contain the same basic elements, or
‘archetypes.’ Campbell thought that stories formed a grand pattern he called the
‘hero's journey.’ The journey begins with the hero hearing a plea for help. When
he finally responds, he crosses a threshold into a new realm where he faces
great challenges and matures under the tutelage of a mentor. Finally, he becomes
the master; committed to changing the world. This story archetype has thrived
from the Odyssey, to Star Wars. The ‘hero's journey’ is a theater of human
behavior; anecdotal but illuminating.
In
Midshipman Henry Gallant In Space , I present a young man’s heroic journey. He
doesn’t travel it along. He has friends, mentors, rivals, and enemies, and one
more essential element, romance.
There is beauty in expressing your thoughts. Find your words. Tell your story.
Regards,
H. Peter Alesso
Connections, Patterns of Discovery (with a foreword by James
Burke)
book Review by Xavier K. Maruyama
(Newspaper: Pacific Union 2010)
The television series Connections by James Burke opened our eyes to scientific
connections where seemingly disconnected events were interconnected. For
example, the episode ten, "Yesterday, Tomorrow and You" starts with the plow,
which leads to irrigation, which leads to pottery, to craftsmen, civilization,
writing, mathematics, calendars, and on and on to the modern world. In the
modern world, changes happen at a much more rapid pace.
H. Peter Alesso and Craig F. Smith take us one step further.
Connections,
Patterns of Discovery brings us to the understanding of today’s world dominated
by information technology. It shows how circuits, transistors, chips, software
and hardware brought us today’s world dominated by Google. The changes in our
lifetime have been so rapid, we quickly become members of what I consider the
“technological dark ages.” In the “technological dark ages,” we become
effectively technicians fighting with swords while teleporting ourselves through
wormholes. We use the fruits of technology, but have a very small understanding
of the connections.
Connections,
Patterns of Discovery gives us an understanding of how seemingly
disconnected events, hardware and thought patterns allow us to exist in the
information world. The players, Moore of Moore’s Law, Vannevar Bush, science
advisor to President Roosevelt, Alan Turing, John Von Neumann, and Steve
Wozniack, may be familiar to us. However, Michael Dertouzos, Tim Berner-Lee and
Jeff Hawkins are among the lesser known players who gave us what we have. What
are Thomas Edison's and Kurt Godel's connections to the web? The authors, Alesso
and Smith allow us to understand connections and give us coherence. If you have
half the geek strength of those who use the internet, Connection, Patterns of
Discovery is a must.
Thinking on the Web: Berners-Lee, Godel, Turing
Review by (DePaz, Nov.27, 2008)
Thinking on the Web: Berners-Lee, Godel, Turing
Although the target audience for this book is most likely comprised of computer science students, those well versed in computer science, IT type professionals and anyone with a vested interest in remaining on the leading edge of Web capabilities, it is my opinion that even a casual reader will benefit from reading this book. Because this book makes one aware of the current Web limitations and describes how it could be significantly more than what it is today and then launch us into the real Information Revolution. Yes, according to the authors we have not yet experienced the full Information Revolution.
This book makes you think about thinking or at least the thinking process as it relates to instilling the Web with enough artificial intelligence (AI) to make it capable of thinking. I learned from this book that the Web, as it is currently structured, it not really very intelligent at all and there are many enhancements that have to be made to bring the Web to its full potential. Those who are in any way interested in the Web achieving its full potential will be well served by reading this book.
The authors take on a sizable task and do an excellent job of interweaving the philosophical with the technical aspects of AI as a driver and/or incremental part of enabling the Web to "think". The authors start from the beginning and bring us up to the current status of web thinking. The beginning here is literally from Aristotle and along the way they spend considerable time laying a foundation that includes the significant contributions of Berners-Lee, Gödel, and Turing. After the first part of the book establishes the foundation, the second part of the book becomes very technical (as you would expect) focusing on Web ontology and logic and a lot more to address the complex superstructure that will be required to establish thinking on the Web.
One aspect of this book that I found refreshing and I believe unique for a technical book are the interludes at the end of each chapter. These interludes are a running interaction/dialogue between two computer science students as they debate/discuss the feasibility of using AI applications, etc. to make the Web capable of thinking. These interludes are refreshing to read and give a real life perspective of how daunting the task is to make thinking on the Web possible. And, indeed will we all ever agree on what thinking on the Web really means and if it is ever fully achieved? My opinion after reading this book is that there will probably not ever be a unanimous agreement. Of course, you will have to judge for yourself.
I gave this book five stars because I really learned a lot, and some of what I learned was more than I bargained for, a real surprise. The authors did a thorough job, and the book stimulates a lot of thinking about something we take for granted --- and that is thinking. Enjoy the book and when you read it, expect to be challenged.
"Anyone with experience of HCI will want to read this book which after all, has provided a new and entirely different way of providing a stimulus to a subject that is very much in need of direction.? (Kybernetes, 2009)
"
Thinking on the Web: Berners-Lee, Godel, Turing offers a fascinating history and impressive background of the age we are living through, and serves as a tribute to three great minds. A true geek bonus is the depth of coverage, with rich explanations, examples, and a look at next generation web services." (Blogcritics.org, March 9, 2009)