Shine

Shine is an anthology of optimistic sci-fi edited by Jetse De Vries.

I admit I enjoyed the positive or hopeful endings of the stories. Don't be misled by the phrase optimistic sci-fi here the stories are optimistic (in some cases less clear than other) but not "saccharine sweet" there are some good thought-provoking sci-fi short stories here.

Confession, I hadn't come across all the writers in this book before, but I enjoyed all the stories. The range of stories was interesting, including:

• possibility of benign AI in "The Church of Accelerated Redemption" by Gareth L Powell and Aliette de Bodard;
• rise of a developing country "Solnet Ascendency" Lavie Tidhar;
• understanding humanity "Sarging Rasmussen: A Report (by Organic)" by Gord Stellar;

If you like sci-fi short stories, this book is worth a read.

The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5

I recently finished this book The Defence of the Realm: The Authorized History of MI5 by Christopher Andrew. It is not a quick read but saying that it is a good read, well written and accessible without been 'dumbed down'. 

 It is a history book and it does portray the security service in a positive light but then it is an Authorised version. Say that there are some discuss some MI5's failures as well - Cambridge Five and the suggestion of over-rating the Soviet spying capability and success.