Showing 41 - 50 of 120
Last of a trilogy
Life, Bernard Trink, Published on 15/08/2016
» First a kingdom ruled by kings, then a republic ruled by senators, there was a growing feeling that Rome should be a kingdom again -- well, not exactly a kingdom, but an empire as befits an expanding state.
Waiting for the Fisherman
Life, Bernard Trink, Published on 08/08/2016
» When asked what I like/love about of the Land of Smiles, its climate is high on my list. Though born and bred in the Big Apple, I never cottoned on to its winter cold. It was worse backpacking through Scandinavia, Finland and Russia. As for racing over icy courses, skiers are welcome to the sport.
Too complex by half
Life, Bernard Trink, Published on 04/07/2016
» I find ever increasing complexity in the novels I review. In crime thrillers, in particular, mere twists and turns no longer suffice. Authors have taken to throwing in conspiracies, perpetrators in high places, deep-seated prejudice, psychopaths and national security.
Reinventing oneself
Life, Bernard Trink, Published on 20/06/2016
» It isn't uncommon for people to reinvent themselves when they move to another country. Doing so in their homeland is difficult, as they may well be recognised, even of they undergo cosmetic surgery. Yours truly had an interview column for a while, and more than a few subjects (farangs) made up lies about themselves as they went along.
The Black Hand
Life, Bernard Trink, Published on 06/06/2016
» The US has the dubious distinction of having the largest number of people behind bars than any other country in the world. It also has the greatest number of lawmen. It has long attracted organised and individual crime, especially in its big cities. Perpetrators figure that crowded metropolises are ripe for the picking.
The Fourth Reich?
Life, Bernard Trink, Published on 30/05/2016
» Whereas the guns going quiet with a ceasefire (armistice) marked the finis of World War I, World War II ended with unconditional surrender. Tens of millions, soldiers and civilians, perished in both struggles. The sides realigned in the Cold War with far fewer deaths.
Empires don't endure the ages
Life, Bernard Trink, Published on 23/05/2016
» Empires have come and gone throughout human history -- some lasting more than a millennium, others less than a century. Contemporary historians keep analysing the reasons for their rise and fall. They peruse the same documents and works of earlier historians and eyewitnesses, yet often arrive at differing conclusions.
Be wary of your spouse
Life, Bernard Trink, Published on 16/05/2016
» It's said that men marry for sex, women for security. An oversimplification yet consistent with the undeniable fact that each party enters matrimony with expectations. Before exchanging vows, they've probably discussed and agreed on children, one or two jobs, family relations, domicile, time with friends.
Historical hot spot
Life, Bernard Trink, Published on 02/05/2016
» This planet is comprised of hundreds of countries, few of which university graduates can name or their professors find on the map. Asked why, they'll say because they aren't important. Maybe they popped up in history, but then sank back into obscurity. Every continent has them. Poor buggers.
The Cold War: Phase 2
Life, Bernard Trink, Published on 18/04/2016
» The implosion of the Soviet empire was greeted with a sigh of relief in democracies by all but the cloak-and-dagger novelists. Who would replace the Soviet Union as the common enemy? To be sure, terrorists are sinister, but they lack the cohesiveness that was a mark of the KGB.