My other half kept telling me to pick this one up, but I was hesitant, simply because I don't usually read hard SF. It's her favourite Reynolds book, My other half kept telling me to pick this one up, but I was hesitant, simply because I don't usually read hard SF. It's her favourite Reynolds book, so I finally decided to give it a go.
Pushing Ice is gripping from the very first page. Janus, one of Saturn's moons, suddenly zooms away, and of course, we give it chase. (Who wouldn't?)
Janus turns out to be a spaceship in disguise, and the people giving it chase are the unfortunate souls on board of a ice miner who just happened to be the nearest when Janus took off.
Janus moves extremely fast, and this might just turn into a one-way mission.
This is a space opera mixed with hard SF, filled with plenty of drama and the character development is terrific. The book is almost bursting with its cast and the feuds that develop.
I loved and hated these characters and they had me glued to the book.
I can imagine that this has too much drama for an outright hard SF fan and perhaps too much hard SF for a space opera fan, but I couldn't put it down.
I've loved Claire North's work ever since I read the First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. By now, she's on my 'will read anything by her' list, and I I've loved Claire North's work ever since I read the First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. By now, she's on my 'will read anything by her' list, and I found Touch to be a compelling, interesting and fascinating novel.
The concept is simple: by touching someone else the protagonist can jump from one body into another, taking on another life like a new skin. The story begins with Kepler, our protagonist, being killed in their latest body, now trying to find out who the mysterious killer is, while at the same time trying to save themselves.
Somebody is after Kepler...
North did a lot with this thought-provoking premise, and her characters are magnificent. Part mystery, part sci-fi thriller, there's never a dull moment. I'm impressed by North's imagination. She seems to be able to come up with enticing concepts and delivers a captivating story each time. The twists are satisfying and many, and despite the many jumps into new bodies amidst a number of flashbacks, I was never confused. Though, the book requires the reader's full attention.
Kepler is an ambiguous character. One I liked, but definitely wouldn't want to meet. I admire North's prose, and think very highly of her writing skills.
I recommend this to anyone who is either a fan of Claire North's work or finds the premise intriguing. You really can't go wrong with this one....more
I received a copy from the author. My review is honest, as usual.
This is one of those fast paced books where the action almost never lets up, and you I received a copy from the author. My review is honest, as usual.
This is one of those fast paced books where the action almost never lets up, and you can't put it down until you're done. Thankfully, it's a short read and a very entertaining one at that.
I was drawn in by the concept of Drones. Emotional Transference is an intriguing idea, and selling emotions...well, personally, I'd have a lot to offer. Anyone up for some anxiety?
Garrick is a well developed character, flawed, selfish, hurt, and despite all of Garrick's flaws, Hayes managed to make me care for him. The world building is minimal, only what's necessary to tell the story.
Told in first person and present tense, the writing style is perfect for the pace of this book. The reader is right there in the moment with Garrick, giving it a thrilling sense of immediacy.
The author could have explored the premise a bit more. The consequences of transferring emotions, the ethical side of it etc. He does so only superficially, but that hasn't actually bothered me because this book is simply about Garrick. And Garrick is in a lot of pain, and now in a lot of trouble.
If you're a fan of sci-fi/cyberpunk and find the premise interesting, this book will not disappoint. At only about two-hundred pages, it's the perfect alternative to an action film....more
I love all of Tchaikovsky’s work that I’ve read so far but was a bit meh about this one. It just never fully gripped me and lacked some of the deeper I love all of Tchaikovsky’s work that I’ve read so far but was a bit meh about this one. It just never fully gripped me and lacked some of the deeper ethical/moral questions I’ve grown to expect from this author.
It’s a short read, novella length, and the plot follows a group of soldiers in a dystopian future. Some clever world building and engaging prose make this a pleasant read, but I didn’t connect with it like I did with Dogs of War.
I highly recommend you read Dogs of War; it’s my favourite Tchaikovsky read. Of course, he’s also the author of the brilliant Children of Time.
If you’re a fan of fantasy, try Guns of the Dawn....more
What a fantastic beginning to a series. I've seen other reviewers call it 'Game of Thrones on the moon', and others mention the Godfather movies, and What a fantastic beginning to a series. I've seen other reviewers call it 'Game of Thrones on the moon', and others mention the Godfather movies, and yes, that's about right. HBO/Netflix, someone, anyone, should be all over this.
The cast is diverse, and I absolutely loved all of them. They're well developed, with amazing arcs, and McDonald put a lot of care and effort into the world building. The pace never slows; not a dull moment in this book.
Now, I won't lie, this book took a lot of effort. Damn those families are huge. I have a notebook for difficult reads, and I used it. A lot. I basically kept drawing family trees, until the characters clicked into place. It takes a while, but eventually they do click into place.
I immediately bought the second book and can't wait to dive in. Highly recommended to people who enjoy dynastic families struggle for power with a generous dash of drama...on the moon!...more
Rosewater came with high praise, and when I attended a comic convention in London last November, I just had to buy a copy and get it signed by the autRosewater came with high praise, and when I attended a comic convention in London last November, I just had to buy a copy and get it signed by the author, Tade Thompson. What a lovely, kind man. It was a pleasure to meet him.
I highly recommend Rosewater, though I do not think it will be for everyone. It's speculative science-fiction, plays with flashbacks, is confusing at times, and the narrator is a very peculiar character. Personally, I never felt lost, but I totally understand if others struggle with the different timelines and the constant flipping between years.
Rosewater is a town in Nigeria, built around an alien biodome which opens once a year and heals everybody nearby. Some people have started developing powers, and one of those individuals is Kaaro, our protagonist.
The story is told in the present tense from the point of view of Kaaro. He's an unreliable narrator and a bit of a jerk, but still I found myself rooting for him and wanted him to succeed. He's an incredibly well written character.
The prose is interesting, and I can picture Kaaro talking just like this, but it took me some getting used to it. The world building is intriguing and innovative, and I loved finding out about Kaaro's power and the alien that has surfaced or landed on our world. I've got a ton of question still, as do all the character and therefore can't wait for the sequel.
I am extremely curious to find out where Thompson takes this story in the next few instalments of the series.
Recommend to all sci-fi fans who like their stories placed on earth and don't mind complex timelines and mysterious aliens....more
Fletcher rewrote and re-edited (and renamed) his first novel, 88. Basically, he revamped his debut, and wow, what a ride.
Ghosts of Tomorrow is a treatFletcher rewrote and re-edited (and renamed) his first novel, 88. Basically, he revamped his debut, and wow, what a ride.
Ghosts of Tomorrow is a treat for cyberpunk fans. It's fast-paced, filled with almost non-stop action, and offers a big cast made up of memorable characters. Fletcher's writing style is engaging and fun.
Fletcher's stories are gritty, grim and dark. Most of his characters are morally grey, not necessarily good, not bad, but always relatable. The story is told from the point of view of different characters in a future where everything is just a bit bleak.
The beginning is slow, and it took me a while to find my bearings, but once I was about a hundred pages in, I did not want to put it down again.
If this is our future... count me out.
Recommended to all cyberpunk and near future sci-fi fans....more
Thank you to Geoffrey Pierce for offering me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I almost never read the synopsis, even when authors ask mThank you to Geoffrey Pierce for offering me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I almost never read the synopsis, even when authors ask me for a review I only briefly glance at it, because I like to enjoy a book knowing nothing about it. Occasionally, I'm very pleasantly surprised. Occasionally, it goes wrong.
I was pleased with this read.
We follow three characters: Nista, Dane, and Halvist. Nista is pregnant, married to Dane and together they're trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. The day they meet Halvist things change...
Manna City itself is a mythical place. A place where things are good, and where water and food aren't scarce. But is it real?
I love post-apocalyptic novels. I enjoy the grim tone, the desperate characters, and the odds stacked against their success. Pierce does a good job at describing the world he created. His style is easy to read, and his visuals are vivid and clear. I read the book almost in one sitting; it's pretty short, but also pretty tense with good pacing.
The characters are well fleshed out, but I couldn't connect the three. In fact, I disliked all of them, and maybe that's realistic, because I doubt someone fighting to survive every single day against all odds is going to remain what we'd call a "nice person." Sadly, barely caring whether these people lived or died, made me feel somewhat detached from the book.
I recommend Manna City to people looking for a short post-apocalyptic read with a supernatural touch....more
I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Channing Whitaker is a master of misdirection, and I must admit even though I received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Channing Whitaker is a master of misdirection, and I must admit even though I read quite a bit of science fiction, and this novelette is only forty-seven pages long, he managed to surprise me more than once.
It's obviously a very quick read, and I don't want to give away too much of the plot. Whitaker has a brilliant imagination and his scenes are filled with vivid details. I enjoyed the prose, and the story flowed at a nice pace.
Obviously, forty-seven pages is not a lot of time to flesh out a character, but Alden felt like a real person, and I emphasised a lot with him. He's got believable flaws and I enjoyed the way Whitaker developed him throughout the piece. The author slowly reveals more about Alden by showing us how he deals with the challenges this dystopian world throws at him.
The world building is intriguing, and I'd very much like to find out more about this setting...maybe at some point in a full-length novel?
I will definitely read more by this author and recommend Existence Augmented to anyone who is a fan of the genre and enjoys when the world is rather bleak....more
I listened to this in German while out walking the dogs or running.
One thing Jurassic Park clearly revealed was that I definitely should not3.5 Stars.
I listened to this in German while out walking the dogs or running.
One thing Jurassic Park clearly revealed was that I definitely should not become a mother, because I would have fed Lex to the Tyrannosaurus at the first opportunity.
Overall, the book was a lot of fun, but I thought the first part had too much science, the pacing was off, and it took too long to get to the part where people were being eaten by dinosaurs....more
With Persepolis Rising, The Expanse performs a thirty year time jump into the future, revealing new ideas, new plot points and an interesting world buWith Persepolis Rising, The Expanse performs a thirty year time jump into the future, revealing new ideas, new plot points and an interesting world building development.
Sadly, I wasn't enamoured with the first half or so, but the story picks up towards the end becomes incredibly tense, fast-paced and interesting. I would have wished for more character development, since most characters felt the same as they did in the last book, despite having aged thirty years.
It's still a good read, and I think The Expanse is well worth it for any space opera fan....more
I was immediately drawn to this book because of the premise. A virtual assistant taking on the personality and speaking with the voice of a 3.5 Stars.
I was immediately drawn to this book because of the premise. A virtual assistant taking on the personality and speaking with the voice of a dead relative. How chilling, and very Black Mirror. I can understand the appeal. You get to talk to that person as if they were still alive. Totally something I'd see myself do, and then suffer.
The problem with Everything About You is that the mystery is mediocre. The sci-fi premise is brilliant, and those aspects of the book are the ones I enjoyed the most. But the mystery? Predictable, sadly.
The book is written in third person, and there's something about the prose I really enjoyed. The characters are all well developed and the world building is thrilling and chilling at the same time. The author takes time to develop and explore the relationship between the two sisters and the hope Freya feels every time she thinks she's getting closer.
This is a great debut and I can't wait to see what Child's next book will be about.
I recommend this to all Black Mirror fans, and readers who like near future books that focus on exploring the benefits and dangers of technology....more
I received a copy from the author (thank you, K.E. Lanning) in return for an honest review.
While I'm intrigued enough to pick up the second book in thI received a copy from the author (thank you, K.E. Lanning) in return for an honest review.
While I'm intrigued enough to pick up the second book in the trilogy, I was a bit underwhelmed by A Spider Sat Beside Her. The premise is intriguing, the plot promising but I found the characters to be somewhat two-dimensional and flat.
I liked Lowry well enough, but she was naive. So much more naive than I'd expect a divorced woman (coming out of an abusive relationship) to be. The handsome man she falls in love with the moment she sees him? Every single thing he says and does is a bright red flag, and Lowry simply ignores it. I wanted to shake her.
The other people in the story are mostly there to fulfil a role in the story, and the author missed the chance to flesh them out properly.
The writing is solid and the pacing good. Personally, I would have wished for a bit more science, but there were no dull moments, and the mystery is gripping.
A few moments surprised me, especially towards the end, and it's obvious the author has a background in science. I'm looking forward to reading the second book. All three books are standalone works, and I am looking forward to reading a different story in this world where the ice caps have melted....more
I've seen another review post this quote, but it's the one that stuck with me as well.
“Our culture has become obsessed with supporting everyone’s indi
I've seen another review post this quote, but it's the one that stuck with me as well.
“Our culture has become obsessed with supporting everyone’s individual dreams and ambitions, catering to every little whim, assuring ourselves that we’re each special and unique. We need to bring back our concern for each other and focus on building our community. The concept of time wrecks may be relatively new, but the sin behind it is a tale as old as time.”
I've started reading this book a few days ago, and today I simply couldn't put it down and flew through it.
Personally, I would love to reload an old save, you know? Just go back ten years and do things differently. Live my life differently. But then I look at my other half, and I think: no, I wouldn't want to risk this relationship.
This is exactly what Will and Mara face. They've met because of a school shooting during which Mara got shot. She's suffering from chronic pain. Will is suffering from PTSD. They are happily married. If they go back and undo it all...they might never meet.
The romance is wonderful (and when do you ever hear me say that?) and I love both Will and Mara. They're amazing characters. They're initially opposed to a timeline rectification because what if they don't find each other in this new timeline? What if they don't fall in love with each other? What if they don't even meet? You have no idea how much this thought stresses me. Mara, however, deals with so much pain and Will suffers from nightmares. They deserve to go back. They deserve a life without PTSD and pain.
It's not as easy as that. Of course. Timeline Rectification is regulated. There's a trial. Everyone needs to agree. There are rules. And, as usual, about half the world is opposed. Because of personal conviction, religion, because of politics or because they think it isn't moral. You should only live once! YSOLO! The author does an amazing job showing all the different problems that come with the possibility of timeline rectification and why the different factions all got a point. She does this by including blog posts, news reports and comments on Internet forums.
The point of view switches back and forth between Will and Mara. Both characters are well developed and they both struggle a lot and are torn about the timeline rectification because of different reasons.
I don't want to say too much about the plot, since I love going into books without knowing anything at all. I loved Every Last Minute because the author clearly put a lot of thought into the time travel aspect and surprised me several times with things I hadn't even thought of, like how exactly does the government keep track of this and regulate it? The pacing is great, especially if you're interested in the time travel aspect (how it works etc.) otherwise you might find the middle a bit slow. The prose is engaging and well edited.
Also: what a gorgeous cover, right?
I recommend Every Last Minute to fans of time travel novels and obviously to everyone who finds the premise interesting.
I received a review copy from the author in return for an honest review....more
Babylon's Ashes neatly wraps everything up that was started in Nemesis Games and actually might be a good stopping point if you're tired of this serieBabylon's Ashes neatly wraps everything up that was started in Nemesis Games and actually might be a good stopping point if you're tired of this series. I won't stop though, since the entire reason I'm reading this series is because I thought the blurb of Persepolis Rising sounded amazing!
It's a bit slower than the previous instalments and essentially a three star read with a four star ending. In my opinion there were too many POV characters and not enough Avasarala. She's one of my favourite characters in genre fiction and deserves her own book.
The Expanse continues to be a very entertaining space opera series, that I recommend to every science fiction fan....more
Finally we get to explore more points of views from the crew of the Rocinante. I especially enjoyed reading more of Naomi and found her backstory veryFinally we get to explore more points of views from the crew of the Rocinante. I especially enjoyed reading more of Naomi and found her backstory very interesting, but also Amos and Alex got an interesting and enthralling story. I even grew to like Holden!
Avasarala is my favourite character and I think my only complaint this time around was that we don't get to see as much of her as I'd like.
I heard good things about The Gods Themselves. It won a Hugo, Nebula and Locus award for best novel in 1973. The premise is a delight for the hard sciI heard good things about The Gods Themselves. It won a Hugo, Nebula and Locus award for best novel in 1973. The premise is a delight for the hard science fiction fan: In the twenty-second century Earth obtains limitless, free energy from a source science little understands: an exchange between Earth and a parallel universe, using a process devised by the aliens. Of course there's a catch. There's always a catch.
It's a short and interesting read with believable aliens, who have a fascinating way of structuring their families. It didn't wow me, but I'm glad I read it.
I recommend this book to all science fiction fans who either want to read more Asimov, or more classic SF....more
I wanted to like this much more than I actually ended up liking it. It's my first Jeff VanderMeer, and while it won't be my last, I was underwhelmed.
VI wanted to like this much more than I actually ended up liking it. It's my first Jeff VanderMeer, and while it won't be my last, I was underwhelmed.
VanderMeer's writing is intriguing, strange and definitely fits the genre. It's atmospheric, creepy and unsettling. But, ultimately I was somewhat bored. As if the prose was more important to the author than the plot.
The beginning is intriguing, and I wanted to find out more, dig deeper, but then the rest of the story never really delivered. I'm aware it's a trilogy, of course, and never expected the entire story in one go, but there just wasn't enough to make me care.
Recommended to fans of the New Weird genre....more
This is a fascinating and demanding read. One so complex that I don't find it easy to recommend it without adding a 'but.' It's a very ambitious book This is a fascinating and demanding read. One so complex that I don't find it easy to recommend it without adding a 'but.' It's a very ambitious book with an epic scope and intriguing world building. To like this book, you (probably) must either enjoy Voltaire, the 18th century, philosophy, or all of the above. It feels, at times, like the prose and the way Ada Palmer chose to write this book is more important than the plot itself, and not everyone is willing to put in that kind of work.
It plays in a futuristic utopia, maybe dystopia, and is told from the perspective of Mycroft Canner, an unreliable and to a certain extent unlikable narrator. We find ourselves in the 25th century, but Mycroft insists on writing like he time travelled straight from the Age of Enlightenment. Ada Palmer describes this futuristic society in astonishing detail and the characters are fascinating and well developed.
This one is definitely for the ambitious science fiction fan, and I'm pretty certain it will benefit from a re-read....more
I'm a bit disappointed that the authors keep introducing new characters, just after I finally got attached to the new characters introduced in the preI'm a bit disappointed that the authors keep introducing new characters, just after I finally got attached to the new characters introduced in the previous books. I miss Avasarala, is all I'm really saying.
Cibola Burn feels like the weakest book so far. The strength of this series is the crew and here they're mostly separated from each other.
I must admit, I was a bit bored this time around. The characters came across as passive, mostly just swept around by the plot. The antagonist feels very generic and one dimensional. Basically he's evil just because he's evil. And Elvi...well, I found her frustrating and annoying.
All in all, I hope the next book is better, because I do love the whole aspect of exploring new planets and expanding into the galaxy....more
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