11. Nanotechnology - Basic Science and Emerging Technologies - Wilson, Kannangara, Smith, Simmons and Raguse.

12. Out of the Corner of His Eye - Koontz, Dean. Now this is a creepy story. It is an interesting story, particularly because it attempts to deal with the idea of parallel universes, and the compensation of evil by good and the converse. However, I remain skeptical about such paranormal transactions. If science can afford us a good explanation, then the notion of good and evil can be drilled down to, as in the Matrix II, a matter of choice. At the time of making a choice, it is only human to take it that the choice is either informed or not, rather than good or evil. The book, in its lame defense, entertains the intersection of scientific speculation ("quantum mechanics") and religious fervour ("he watches from the corner of his eye") both of which, I am sad to say, the author fails to convincingly resolve. Movie material, I would say, after The Sixth Sense. It is not lost upon me that Mr. Koontz dwells on and ravishes the evil far more than the good.

13. The FountainHead - Ayn Rand. I had intended to read this book over six years ago. But, whenever I started it, I was overwhelmed by the sheer length of the novel, and I now realise that I really never had sufficient time to really enjoy reading. So then, this endless summer vacation presented an opportunity to rectify some shortcomings in my literary escapades. Like "The Picture of Dorian Gray," The Fountainhead somewhat mirrors my analysis of what I care about in life. While I would have preferred that something or someone humble Ellsworth M. Toohey in the end, publicly, I also realise that in this man's world there are some untouchables. Likewise, I would have preferred that Mr. Roark had triumphed earlier in the tale. But it appears that there is joy in suffering, and that a life of misery is worth it if in the end you are exonerated or vindicated, which is a difficult pill for me to accept or swallow. Ultimately, I believe, this is an instructive work, and that Ayn Rand challenges us to rise above pettiness, which might often drive one to exactly the end that Roark faced. I doubt that many have the moral strength to rise above the mob, though. This is a dangerous book.

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