It's been a long time since I read a ST:TOG book, and I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed with this one. I was able to jump right back into tIt's been a long time since I read a ST:TOG book, and I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed with this one. I was able to jump right back into the world and back into step with the characters with this short story collection. Most of them were pretty good and read quickly, and the only one that I found myself slogging through was the last one. I love the fact that most of these stories were written by women, in the 1970's no less. Having each short story introduced by one of the main original cast was also a nice surprise. I enjoyed most of the entries here- but my favorites were The Enchanted Pool, Visit to a Weird Planet Revisited, and The Winged Dreamers. My least favorites were The Face on the Barroom Floor and Mind-Sifter, but even those were still pretty good. I could imagine most of these being played out as episodes, and the authors got the characters spot-on. This was a great read, and I would recommend it to anyone who loved the original series and wish it lasted more than three seasons!...more
This novel was pitched as a combination of The Expanse and Game of Thrones. In reality, it's really more a combination of The Expanse and Firefly. If This novel was pitched as a combination of The Expanse and Game of Thrones. In reality, it's really more a combination of The Expanse and Firefly. If you've got withdrawal from either one of those series, The Last Watch is your next stop. It tells the story of a group of soldiers at the edge of known space who have to go rogue and work together to keep the universe intact, all while dodging aliens known as Drudgers. There are a few characters here that fall into the typical stereotypes- our MC Rake is a fusion of Captain Mal and Jim Holden- she knows how to lead, strives to always do the right thing, and refuses to leave any of her crew behind, sometimes to the point of foolishness. Griffith is the stoic, macho and gruff veteran with a soft spot for Rake, and Emery is the young, impressionable 'whatever' girl, up for anything. Besides that, Dewes mixes it up. Our other MC, Cavalon, is banished royalty- but he's not spoiled, and is all to happy to help dig in and get his hands dirty. His years spent in university certainly come in handy as well. Jackin, the pilot, has a past he won't reveal, but even though he's slow to trust others, he doesn't let down his teammates. And then there's Mesa, called a 'Savant', which are genetically enhanced seers of some kind- ridiculously smart, and very little emotion- think a vulcan from Star Trek. Cavalon started out as someone I thought I wouldn't like, but he quickly grew on me, and I was rooting for him to prove his worth and become part of the team. The plot flew by at a ridiculously fast pace- there was always something happening to move the story along, which was nice. I also really liked their 'imprint' system- genetic microbot enhancements that speed healing, protect against threats and damage, and assist in strength related activities when needed. This is really the key that sets Last Watch apart from other similar science fiction stories of the moment. There's a few detractors here. One, it feels *awfully* close to The Expanse. Two, they have their own curse word that seems to be on at least every other page, and it gets annoying, fast. Three, by the end of the first book, we still don't know much of anything about Earth, the 'Core', the Viators, or even what year this takes place. These will probably be answered in future novels, but it would be nice to have some of that setting information up front. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by this science fiction entry, and I would definitely consider picking up future installments of the series....more
Persepolis Rising, book 7 of the Expanse series, follows thirty years after the events of the previous book, Babylon's Ashes. In essence, it is safe tPersepolis Rising, book 7 of the Expanse series, follows thirty years after the events of the previous book, Babylon's Ashes. In essence, it is safe to say that this installment begins a 'part 2' of sorts to the nine book series. Our favorite characters are all present- Holden, Naomi, Amos, Alex, Bobbie and Clarissa all aboard the Rocinante, Drummer still in charge of the transit union, and Avasarala stalking in the background. The crew is obviously older and feeling their age- there's lots of mentions and asides about how their bodies don't work like they used to, don't heal as quickly, don't move as fast, etc. While that is sad, it's still great to know that they have been together in the time spanning the novels. Their characters are consistent, and their relationships in the years since have grown believably. Seeds planted in previous novels reach harvest here- Duarte's rogue Martian fleet (that used Inaros' Free Navy campaign as cover) that escaped through the Laconia gate is back with an entire generation of brainwashed soldiers and ships that work in tandem with the protomolecule, making them nearly indestructible. While the plot does struggle a bit after the initial attack from Laconia, it slowly builds back up as the crew of the Roci work with belters and an underground force to oppose its conquest of Medina station. Whatever lines that previously existed between Earth, Mars and Belters vanish as the inhabitants of the Sol system fight those of Laconia. The novel is reminiscent of The Empire Strikes Back in that the story ends on part cliffhanger, part pause- forces are scattered, and time is needed to lick wounds, regroup, and plan the next attack. This novel is a great leaping off point for the books to come, and I can't wait to see how they will beat back the Laconia invasion, and find out more about the protomolecule and those who made it. ...more
Although this book might be a natural progression from Nemesis Games, it isn't nearly as interesting. While the previous book was filled with action, Although this book might be a natural progression from Nemesis Games, it isn't nearly as interesting. While the previous book was filled with action, space battles, devastation and survival, this was filled with internal monologues, space politics and character growth. The pacing was beyond slow and half of the conversations taking place weren't even necessary. The TV show based on this series did such a better job of portraying the aftermath of Marco's attacks and his amassing of the Free Navy. It compacted the important parts of this novel into an interesting portrayal of events, even if some of the events were slightly different or played by different people. I vastly prefer Drummer to Michio as the leader of the rebels. I really don't care about Prax's life on Ganymede or Anna's life on a ship heading to a planet through the gates, or Avasarala attempting to pick out her outfit for the evening. The last quarter of the book was the most interesting, but good luck getting to it through all the rest of the slog. All that being said, the book was still good, but just not as good as the rest of the books in the series have been to this point. I don't see myself revisiting this one in novel format. It's fine, but if you've seen season 6 of the TV show, you can really skip this one. ...more
The fifth installment of The Expanse was a huge leap forward from the fourth- in entertainment, in storytelling, in character development, and in worlThe fifth installment of The Expanse was a huge leap forward from the fourth- in entertainment, in storytelling, in character development, and in world building. The crew of the Rocinante were split up for the majority of the novel and each had their own struggles and self-realizations in the process. Each of the crew found themselves dealing with the ghosts of their past, and they all rose spectacularly to the challenge. Amos was probably my favorite viewpoint, and I love the relationship between him and Clarissa. The dynamic of the story shifted in this novel, and not just for the characters. The balance of power in the solar system and beyond did as well, and both Mars and the Earth were caught off guard as a splinter cell of the Belters/OPA made their move, devastating the Earth and leaving Mars scrambling and helpless. Because the Roci crew was split up, the reader got to see many different angles as the events unfolded, and the devastation and misery that one determined man with enough followers and supplies and patience can bring to fruition. At the end, there were still some unanswered questions, so I'm excited to see what the next installment brings, both in the series, and in the TV show. ...more
I am really loving the journey of these characters. Hawks and his crew might have started out as a rag-tag band of somewhat nobodies, but they are devI am really loving the journey of these characters. Hawks and his crew might have started out as a rag-tag band of somewhat nobodies, but they are developing into a seasoned group that even Ocean would be proud of. This sophomore entry into the Rings of the Master series deals primarily with the aftermath of the group's escape from the prison Melchior, their attempt to trust each other and come up with a plan, and work with Star Eagle to rework the giant ship into one they can use, all while keeping out of sight from Master System and its minions. It ends up being largely politics, and I can see most readers losing interest. Chalker's writing is really what kept me engaged, and I found dozens of pages easily flying by. I love this universe he has created, the heist storyline, and the myriad of alien races that populate it. His descriptions are extensive without being over the top, and there's very little sci-fi mumbo jumbo to stumble over. The plot is sensical and direct, and there aren't a bunch of side stories to slow down the action for no reason (I'm looking at you, Classic Who). Now that they have a fleet and a plan, I'm really jazzed to see where this story will go next, and how the group will attempt to snag the rings of power. ...more
This book really surprised me. It's not often that you can dig through a stack of old fantasy books that no one talks about and come out with a real gThis book really surprised me. It's not often that you can dig through a stack of old fantasy books that no one talks about and come out with a real gem. I wasn't sure about it at first, because the prologue seemed to have nothing to do with the rest of the novel, and I was waiting for it to come back around and be explained. This is truly a story in two parts- one about a Native American named Hawks and his two women escaping with knowledge they shouldn't have, and the other a Chinese girl name Song Ching from a prominent family who is being sent to be essentially re-programmed to become a breeder. This is post-apocalyptic Earth, one after AI has taken over and sent half of humanity into the stars, and regressed the other half to primitive times in their respective countries' pasts. The Master System knows all, and it rules all, and keeps humanity from progressing technologically, with the exception of a few watchers who travel back and forth from "council" (read: the mother ship, basically) to keep an eye on things. Each area of Earth is run by a Lord of the Middle Dark (middle management, for all intents and purposes). I have never seen anything like this done before- a marriage of Native American historical fiction and The Matrix, and it was just fascinating and so well done. Chalker kept the action moving and never stopped to over-explain anything. I loved the mind-printing idea, the asteroid prison, the body modification, and the personable AI as the pilot who can join and become one with a person. I've got to hand it to Chalker as well in terms of representation. He did a fabulous job of not calling attention to any of it (polygamy, same sex attraction and sex, and a person changing sexes multiple times, as well as many different races of people who are completely capable and brilliant in their own ways), but weaving it seamlessly into the story. Take notes, folks. This is how it's done. Final score 4.5/5 and can't wait to read the next....more
I really hoped I would be the exception to the rule here, and really love this installment of The Expanse. I'm not, and that's just fine. This novel iI really hoped I would be the exception to the rule here, and really love this installment of The Expanse. I'm not, and that's just fine. This novel is serviceable, but not great. I think it has mostly to do with the fact that none of the characters that you're following are likeable. Elvi acts like a teenage girl with a crush who doesn't understand how to socialize. Havelock's point of view is boring at best, and grating at worst. Basia is a selfish moron. The only one who is holding the whole story together, as usual, is Holden, and half the time he's flailing around unsure of what to do next. Murtry (a character we don't follow but might have been intriguing if we did) completely played off like a cartoonish villain. Where is Drummer? How about Bobbie? Why are the interesting characters not in this story? I suppose I understand the idea that Corey wanted to introduce new perspectives to keep things fresh, but why fix something that isn't broken? I hate to say it, but the TV series, especially for this book, is so much better. They cut out all the nonsense and kept in characters that the audience truly liked to follow. My other gripe is the story had WAY too much going on- it was almost comical. You've got a turf war on an alien planet, world-ending tsunamis and hurricanes, alien technology, death slugs, and parasites that make you go blind? Seriously? I feel like they just did the shotgun technique here- threw a bunch of stuff at the wall, and instead of only a few things sticking, EVERYTHING did, and they just decided to roll with it. It's pretty ridiculous. Things I did like? Miller's role in the story and the ending. Amos kicking ass, as per usual. Naomi being brilliant and saving the day, and Alex's unparalleled pilot skills- all of which we didn't see enough of, because we had to learn about Basia's reluctance to let his daughter go to college and Elvi's obsession with Holden. Show the readers the things we actually want to see, Corey. Here's hoping installment five will be better. ...more
Another hit from SA Corey! The third installment of The Expanse was much better than the second, and filled with new characters and near-constant actiAnother hit from SA Corey! The third installment of The Expanse was much better than the second, and filled with new characters and near-constant action. I truly enjoyed Clarissa/Melba's point of view- she was my new favorite. Bull's seemed pretty standard for a man in charge of security. Anna's perspective was more wholesome, and slightly preachy at times, but nothing so over-the-top religious that I wasn't interested. Holden's his same old optimistic, friendly, honest self, except this time he's got pseudo-Miller in tow, which definitely added a little intrigue to his chapters. I love the set up here; the proto-molecule ascends from Venus and creates a gate a the edge of our galaxy to who-knows-where, and everyone goes to it to check it out, not having a clue what it is or what it means for the human race. While these novels tend to give us some information, there is still so much that is shrouded in mystery, and I hope that as the novels go on we learn more about the creators and how and why they ceased to be. The only gripes I have about this novel (which obviously I don't hold against it) is entirely due to the fact that I watched the TV show first. I really prefer Drummer to Bull, for instance, and she doesn't appear in this novel at all (it seems the authors swapped Drummer's character for Bull's in the series). Ashford is far more likeable and stable in the show, whereas in the book he comes off like a power-hungry, unhinged lunatic. The way in which Anna discovers Clarissa's identity is different. The power-struggle at the end is more drawn out in the book. These are little, noticeable things that honestly make me like the show more- but I still really enjoyed the book. I finished it quickly and really enjoyed every chapter. I'd highly recommend this series to anyone who likes Star Trek or Stargate, or who wants to dabble in sci-fi. ...more
The author duo did it again. Caliban's War is an amazing follow up to Leviathan Wakes. Not perfect, but definitely very, very good. Throughout most ofThe author duo did it again. Caliban's War is an amazing follow up to Leviathan Wakes. Not perfect, but definitely very, very good. Throughout most of the novel, an all out war is happening between Earth, Mars and the belt. We get more perspectives than in the first novel- this time it is Bobbie the Martian Marine, Praxidike the scientist from Ganymede, Avasarala the UN undersecretary, and of course Holden. The majority of the story isn't focused on the actual war, but on side events, or results of the war, with the conflict continuing to happen in the background. Avasarala is a welcome addition to the story, with her dirty mouth, cynical attitude, and drive to protect her people at all costs. (Her politics get to be too much at times, though. The games get to be tiring, and the tit-for-tat really exhausting.) Holden starts the novel stuck in a rut, but slowly begins to come back to himself with the help of Naomi. Prax's story is long, drawn out and repetitive. It was by far my least favorite perspective, and I found myself skimming those sections or zoning out. My favorite perspective was Bobbie. She was a fresh, new, female point of view who brought not only a Martian way of looking at things, but also a military perspective. The mutation of the protomolecule was an interesting direction to take, and a welcome one. I was worried that this novel might give us more of the same infection-type molecule that we saw in LW, but the fact that they turned into actual bi-pedal monsters was fascinating. The ending provides you with a cliffhanger that makes you want to dive right into the next. ...more
Oh. My. Goodness. Did I love this book. This is the best space opera, the best science fiction (besides Doctor Who of course) that I have read in a reOh. My. Goodness. Did I love this book. This is the best space opera, the best science fiction (besides Doctor Who of course) that I have read in a really, really long time. The text is descriptive without being flowery. The authors aren't trying to show you how educated and high-brow they are (hello, Ancillary Justice) by taking forever to get to the point, or imparting each and every feeling of each character, or focusing on space politics (yeah, that's a thing). At no point was I bored, or felt like I needed to put the book down and take a break or reach for something else- and that's impressive given the size. I became immediately attached to Holden, Naomi, Alex and Amos. Miller quickly grew on me as well. The evolution of humans into space, into the Belt and on Mars made sense as did the growing tensions among Earth, Mars and the Belt. The authors tried as much as possible to base future science on fact rather than fiction, and the specifics of spaceships and flight didn't seem all that far-fetched. The introduction of the alien proto-molecule made the pace intense, and there were several points in the story where I was on the edge of my seat, desperately needing to know what happened next. This is a huge world, with a lot more story to tell, and I can't wait to get to the next one. ...more
I love a good Dalek story. They're a staple to Doctor Who, the quintessential villain. This one might start off a little slow and throw in a couple ofI love a good Dalek story. They're a staple to Doctor Who, the quintessential villain. This one might start off a little slow and throw in a couple of side stories (I'm assuming to add length to the novel- you can skip them or enjoy them as you like) but once it gets rolling, it really gets rolling (pun intended?). Davros is back, and even though he can't do much, he's still terrifying. The Dalek Prime is in here as well, and an all out war ensues (as per the title) on Skaro in the last hundred pages or so. The Doctor isn't so much instrumental here as he is just along for the ride, and then eventually does outwit a few laid traps. It's interesting just to see the dynamic between Daleks and then between Davros and the Daleks. A word of warning, you do need to be familiar with The Hand of Omega (used by the 7th Doctor) as it's referenced several times, Davros, Skaro, the Thals (longtime foes of the Daleks and taught to fight by the 1st Doctor) and of course, the Daleks. You can certainly go in to this novel knowing nothing, but the Doctor Who lore is rich in this one, and knowing what you're getting into and what's happening will help you enjoy the novel all the more. I'd recommend this to anyone who's a fan of the Daleks, and classic Who. ...more
This is a fantastic collection of Doctor Who stories and is a must-read for any Whovian. No matter which of the Doctors is your favorite, there's a stThis is a fantastic collection of Doctor Who stories and is a must-read for any Whovian. No matter which of the Doctors is your favorite, there's a story in here with them in it- all by separate authors who take different approaches to the short stories. That is one of the major downsides here- they are all much shorter than I'd like them to be (and some more than others). As with any mix of short stories, some are better than others- there are great stories, so-so ones, and ones that really could have been better. My favorite by far were The Nameless City (The Second Doctor), Spore (The Eighth Doctor), The Mystery of the Haunted Cottage (The Tenth Doctor) and Nothing O'Clock (The Eleventh Doctor). These four stories were engaging, had depth, and really understood The Doctor and used him to his full potential. The most surprising story was from The Eighth Doctor, who I didn't know much about, but still thoroughly enjoyed the story. I typically don't like the works of Neil Gaiman, but found his Eleventh Doctor story spot on in terms of Matt Smith's Doctor and his companion Amy Pond. The stories that I really didn't care for were Tip of the Tongue (The Fifth Doctor), Something Borrowed (The Sixth Doctor) and The Beast of Babylon (The Ninth Doctor). The Fifth Doctor story had very little of The Doctor in it- he was a background character to a group of children who we view the story from. Patrick Ness, the author of this story, has done this before- in a book I have DNF'd in the past called The Rest of Us Just Live Here, in which we view a superhero story from the non-super heroes. It's about as boring as it sounds. I want to read about The Doctor, not about a group of kids who are going through social problems with a bit of magical realism tossed in- so this one was a big let-down. The Sixth Doctor story I just found boring- as it was about a wedding taking place on a Las Vegas type planet. The Ninth Doctor story was far too short and didn't allow any time for the story to grow and for the reader to really learn anything about his character or the titular beast. The most disappointing story of the bunch (not mentioned above) was Lights Out (The Twelfth Doctor) because it was so short, and it was again told from the viewpoint of someone who wasn't The Doctor- so he wasn't in it much at all. I was bummed because Capaldi's Doctor is one of my favorites. The other stories were just fine- entertaining, and long enough to get invested in the story and for their particular personalities to that regeneration (and that actor) to come through. The stories read quickly, and you can read them in any order you like. I jumped all over the place depending on what I felt like reading that day (I started with 11 and the last one I read was 4, for instance). I can certainly see myself rereading this collection in the future, and will definitely lend it to others. ...more
I DEVOURED this book. It's been a long time since I couldn't put a novel down. Typically, I don't enjoy the dystopian theme so much, and a space storyI DEVOURED this book. It's been a long time since I couldn't put a novel down. Typically, I don't enjoy the dystopian theme so much, and a space story rarely grabs and holds my interest. The Diabolic is a rarity in that regard- it hit all the right notes, was the perfect length, and there was hardly any filler. The protagonist, Nemesis, is technically the "bad guy". She's not entirely human, and was grown and made to be bonded to one person for life- and that person is Sidonia Imperion. Nemesis is a Diabolic- a human-like creation that is created for service (in the form of bodyguard and assassin) to the elite in this future society. Kincaid provided information at just the right moments so there was little to no exposition, info-dumps, or long-winded fish out of water explanations from other characters. Nemesis is a fascinating study- she is incapable of crying, and supposedly also incapable of feeling emotion other than love and devotion to the one she is bonded to. Her character growth is extraordinary, and is completely believable the way it is laid before us and unfolds. She is angry, unsure, confused, and eventually learns to love and trust another person. Tyrus' character comes out of nowhere and is exactly what Nemesis needs, and their relationship forms naturally and beautifully. The twists and turns in the plot make the book hard to put down. There's always something happening to Nemesis, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering how she's going to get out of her next predicament. The political drama throws another complex wrench into the mix and makes things more difficult to predict. The religion versus science aspect is also enjoyable. There's so much to reflect on here, packed into a beautiful package. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good character arc from an unlikely heroine, and a good futuristic space drama. ...more
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