Week IX: In Space and Underground

Welcome back, Lanzothians!

This week was a bit busier than usual, or maybe that’s just how it felt. I only finished two titles and did not in fact do any writing for my manuscript whatsoever. I focused primarily on teaching a mini writing unit to a group of eighth graders at the school I work at over a four day stretch, a rare opportunity. Most of my energy was put into this project and making sure the kids were well-prepared and giving the effort that it required of them – along with seeing my partner, and reading as much as I could.

I decided that I wouldn’t try to finish The Count of Monte Cristo before the end of February, though it remains my February classic behemoth book for 2026. I simply did not put enough time into last month and I’m hardly half way through it. (I did put more energy into other books). Despite this, I am loving this book with every chapter that passes by. It’s intriguing, compelling, and humorous at times. I’m about 500 pages and still less than half way through, and I’m excited to see how the epic revenge story comes to fruition. I will be reading more of it today and this week. I don’t know why I chose to read one of the longest books on my list during the shortest month of the year, but here we are. I decided to swap my March classic behemoth read from Les Miserables to Bleak House by Charles Dickens, so that I’m not reading back-to-back 1,200+ page books, especially since I’ll be spending the first week of March finishing Count (I’ll read Les Miserables over summer when I have more free time). Bleak House is also about 800 pages, which is much more doable for the remaining three weeks.

Of Writing

You’ll hear something next week..

Of Reading

#25 Star Wars: Dark Force Rising by Timothy Zahn

Another beloved Zahn book re-read. Specifically, Thrawn. Huge Thrawn fan over here. Apparently, I’ve reread this trilogy every other February for the past four years (2022, 2024, 2026), without planning to. I also started book three during February this year, so I’m counting that for the biannual trend. Anyway, the story continues with Admiral Thrawn and Captain Pelleon, Talon Karrde and Mara Jade, Luke, Han, and Leia, and of course, Joruus C’Baoth.

Without spoiling anything for the reader who wants to dive into this trilogy, a few important things take place. Of course, we know that Joruus C’Baoth is a clone of former Jedi Master Jorus C’Baoth. He basically a dark Jedi with zero patience and the need to control the minds of others. Luke has been summoned through the force by C’Boath, but has unnerving experiences while in his presence. Thrawn captures Karrde as he attempts to secure the Katana Fleet (Dark Force in the title), of which Karrde has memorized the coordinates. Mara still works under Karrde and wants to free him from Thrawn’s grasp, and decides against her conscience, to seek out Luke and ask for his help. Leia, on the other hand visits Honoghr, the planet of the Noghri to persuade them to join the New Republic – as they had been helped by Darth Vader, and will only listen to Leia, since she’s his “heir”.

Definitely not my favorite, nor the peak of this trilogy, but it’s still quite a good read, especially with the esteemed Marc Thompson narrating the audiobook. (I will never not listen to a Marc Thompson Star Wars narration, he is truly top-tier). I have rated Dark Force Rising an 8.4/10. See the ratings here under the Rankings Tab on the bottom.

#26 Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

This was my first reading of any Dostoevsky work. I’m unsure if I’m correct in saying that this is probably the first piece of work one should read from this author. I could be entirely wrong, but I vaguely remember reading somewhere that this is a great introductory to how the author writes and operates his stories.

The book is separated into two parts. The first is a musing of how the Underground Man believes people, including himself, behave within society. Not all, but more than a fair few. He states and elaborates on many different characteristics that he has through the first half of the book, with things from believing himself “wicked and rude” to his awful self-esteem and insecurity, which he seems to thrive on. Our Underground Man is a recluse from society, disassociating and isolating himself for the past twenty years. Eleven chapters expand such existentialist ideas to combat those of rational egoism of the mid-1800s in Russia, particularly in St. Petersburg. The second half of the book tells a story from his early 20s about his interactions with some former school friends and subsequently a prostitute from a brothel where he ends up (in searching for his friends after the dinner party). Here he gives us prime examples of the earlier musings of existential thought and how he intentionally or unintentionally applied them during particular points or circumstances in his life. Did I mention how many of his claims are frequently met with humor and satire?

This book was truly eye-opening and makes you realize that this person, whether or not they live in all of us, definitely exists in our society. I will need to reread this book later on to better grasp some of the ideals Dostoevsky (or rather, the Underground Man) explores. For now, however, I’m going to rate it a 9.2/10 for its execution and elevated prose.

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I’m currently reading several books: The Library: A Fragile History; Star Wars: The Last Command; Star Wars: Lando Calrissian and the Flamewind of Oseon; 1984; Crown of Midnight; and The Count of Monte Cristo (500 pages in).

If you’d like to read any of my reviews from this year so far, I have them all linked below:

Science Fiction: Saturn’s Monsters; The Time Machine; Starship Troopers; The Martian Chronicles; Project Hail Mary; A Meeting with Medusa

Dystopian: Anthem

Fantasy: Prince Caspian; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (full-cast production); Throne of Glass

Star Wars: The Mask of Fear; X-Wing: Wraith Squadron; X-Wing: Iron Fist; Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter; X-Wing: Solo Command; The Courtship of Princess Leia; Star Wars: Tatooine Ghost; Star Wars: Heir to the Empire; The Jaws of Jakku; Dark Force Rising

Contemporary: They Both Die at the End

Literary Classic: The Metamorphosis; Moby-Dick; Wuthering Heights; Treasure Island; Notes from Underground

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Book Ranking System

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Thank you for reading along. My hope is to inspire more and more readers across various genres. Farewell, and see you again next weekend!

T.P. Lanzarotto