On my latest dive into my pile of Ace Doubles I came up with a pair of novels about which I had mixed feelings. Keith Laumer's Worlds of the Imperium is one that I have long wanted to read, as it's considered an early classic of alternate history. I've never been a fan of Laumer's work, though, and while there were elements of the story I enjoyed (in which an American from our world is kidnapped by another timeline in order to fight his dictatorial double on another world), it never felt like it lived up to its reputation.

Reputation also was a factor in how I judged Marion Zimmer Bradley's Seven From the Stars. While it seems as though the books of her Avalon series were everywhere when I was growing up this was the first of her novels that I've read. It's a more conventional sci-fi tale written early in Bradley's career in which seven human-looking aliens crash land in Texas, where they're forced to find ways to survive. This premise alone offers enormous possibilities, yet Bradley layers it with the efforts of an undercover observer to rescue them and the looming threat of an amorphous Big Bad. It felt like a case of too much plot getting in the way of a good story, and while I try not to hold an author's early work against them, given Bradley's horrifying personal actions I doubt I'll seek out any more of her novels.

Last night I had some anxiety-related difficulty sleeping, so I decided to start one of the Ace Doubles I have lying around. I began with Keith Laumer's Worlds of the Imperium, as it was an early alt-history novel that I had read about but never had the opportunity to read for myself until now.

I've never been a big fan of Laumer's work, and this novel didn't do a lot to change my opinion. In it, the central character gets kidnapped from our universe by an multi-world-spanning Imperium, because his alternate in another timeline is waging an inter-temporal war. It's an interesting premise that was pretty fresh when JFK was in the White House but it's been done quite a lot since and it wasn't difficult for them to improve on what Laumer does. What was potentially a rich premise ends up being squandered in what could have been a non-sci-fi adventure without too much tweaking.

Now I have to work out whether I'm going to read Marion ZImmer Bradley's book, as I have to decide whether I can separate the art from the artist.

According to the new market research report “Pedicle Screw System Market by Product Type (Monoaxial & Polyaxial Pedicle Screw), Surgery (Open Surgery, Minimal Invasive Surgery), Indication (Spinal Deformities, Spinal Trauma), Application (Thoracolumbar, Cervical Fusion) - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets™, The pedicle screw systems market is expected to reach USD 724.23 million by 2023 from USD 538.64 million in 2018, at a CAGR of 6.1%.

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The global pedicle screw systems market is expected to reach USD 724.23 million by 2023 from USD 538.64 million in 2018, at a CAGR of 6.1%. The major factors driving the growth of this market are the increasing incidence of spinal cord injuries, the growing preference for minimally invasive surgeries, and a rising geriatric population.

Pedicle Screw System Market segmented into :

+ By product type, the pedicle screw systems market is segmented into monoaxial, polyaxial, and other pedicle screw systems. In 2018, the polyaxial pedicle screw systems segment is estimated to command the largest share of the pedicle screw systems market. The large share of this segment can be attributed to the increasing incidences and prevalence of spinal cord injuries.
+ On the basis of surgery type, the pedicle screw systems market has been segmented into open surgery and minimally invasive surgery. The open surgery segment is expected to account for the largest share of the pedicle screw systems market in 2018. The large share of this segment can be attributed to the rising geriatric population and increasing incidence of spinal deformities.
+ Based on indication, the pedicle screw systems market has been segmented into spinal degeneration, spinal trauma, spine deformities, and other indications. In 2018, the spinal degeneration segment is projected to account for the largest share of the pedicle screw systems market. The increasing incidence of degenerative spinal disorders is the major driving factor for this market.
+ By application, the market is categorized into thoracolumbar fusion and cervical fusion. In 2018, thoracolumbar fusion is expected to command the largest share of this market. The increasing incidences of lumbar degenerative disc diseases and the launch of new products are key factors driving the growth of the thoracolumbar fusion segment

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What Drives the Market?

1. Increasing Incidence of Spinal Injuries
2. Rising Geriatric Population
3. Technological Advancements
4. Growing Preference for Minimally Invasive Surgeries

Geographical Growth Analysis:

The market is dominated by North America, followed by Europe. North America will continue to dominate the market during the forecast period. The rising geriatric population and increasing incidence of spinal disorders in this region are the major factors supporting the growth of the pedicle screw systems market in North America.

Key Players and Strategies Adopted by Them:

Globus Medical (US), DePuy Synthes (US), Zimmer Biomet (US), B. Braun (US), Stryker (US), and Medtronic (Ireland).

@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=98811670

Well.
I am a bit torn here, because I love the concept, the idea, the language and the implications on an intellectual level, but do I love Nabokovs execution of it all? (To be clear, I am not talking about the execution of his protagonist, but of the actual novel)

Not so much.

I must say that was much better then some of the stuff I've read by Bradley.

Apparently we have parallel evolution or something going here.

7 humans crash land on earth and have to help save it from interdimensional parasitic aliens.