Don’t be put off by the title—Bleak House contains a full complement of Dickens’ humor as well as social commentary and it introduces Inspector Bucket, the prototypical English detective.
William Jackson
Worth Reading: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas–A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream by Hunter S. Thompson
The preeminent work of gonzo journalism by its preeminent practitioner. Don’t let the drugs fool you—the writing is disciplined and crafted. The pictures are good, too.
Worth Reading: Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
Hacking, swordplay, virtual reality and high-stakes pizza delivery in a franchised future, circa now.
Worth Reading: Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas
D’Artagnan is putting the band back together, but after 20 years it’s a little complicated.
TWB Author Honored With National ASBPE Win
Following a regional award, Tech Writers Bureau CEO John Breeden earned a silver medal at the national level from the 2018 American Society of Business Publication Editors. The award was recognition for an ongoing review series that Breeden is writing for CIO Magazine.
Open Wi-Fi gets a security upgrade
Adding opportunistic encryption to open Wi-Fi networks will add a layer of protection for users in public spaces without adding complexity.
Worth Reading: Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
A bittersweet evocation of childhood discovery and loss by master creator-of-worlds Ray Bradbury.
Worth Reading: Beowulf
The grandfather of all sword-and-sorcery fantasy. If you like monsters, dragons, magic and swordplay—uninterrupted by mush and romance—this book is for you.
Worth Reading: Timberline—A story of Bonfils and Tammen by Gene Fowler
Two of the most colorful scamps in the history of journalism. They turned the failing Evening Post into Denver’s leading newspaper at the turn of the 20th century.
An essay contest for students
The Library of Congress is inviting fifth and sixth graders in the Mid-Atlantic region to share the books that have shaped their lives in an essay contest. If you know a student who reads, let him or her know about this contest, being held in conjunction with the National Book Festival.