My Favourite Willis Book - Short, Hilarious, and not even SF
This was an unexpected addition to my reading list. I had just real all the Oxford Time TrMy Favourite Willis Book - Short, Hilarious, and not even SF
This was an unexpected addition to my reading list. I had just real all the Oxford Time Travel series, and even though I had very mixed feelings about those books, I noticed this novella was on sale on Audible and decided to give it a try. I’m so glad I did, as this turned out to be my favourite book by her, which is pretty unusual based on what most other GR reviewers say.
Bellwether already scored points for me by not being bloated beyond reason. It was succinct, extremely funny, had a unique story about researchers studying the phenomenon of fads and chaos theory while working for a corporation dominated by absurd management “improvement” initiatives, and a gentle love story. For some reason every part of the story worked really well for me, without any of the plot irritations of the much longer Oxford Time Travel novels.
It was easy for me to sympathize with the researchers and their struggles to maintain funding for their obscure research topics, and even moreso, Willis absolutely nailed the utter absurdity of corporate management, skewering it with precision, and producing comic gold. Having worked in a corporate environment for two decades but never having bought into the mentality at all, I found these parts of the novel laugh-out-loud funny as they rang so true.
Then there was the most hilarious character ever, Flip the Admin Assistant from Hell, utterly lazy, unreliable, constantly complaining, and yet rude and contemptuous of everyone else with absolutely no grounds for it. Her relationship with the protagonist was just as funny, especially the way she was portrayed in the audiobook by Kate Reading. I can still hear her whiny, sarcastic, and jaded voice in my head, brilliant character, and far more important than she first appears....more
Saga, Vol. 8: Unafraid to mix space adventure with difficult topics Originally posted at Fantasy Literature It’s been six months since I read Vol 7 of SSaga, Vol. 8: Unafraid to mix space adventure with difficult topics Originally posted at Fantasy Literature It’s been six months since I read Vol 7 of SAGA, and after moving to London last summer we recently popped into Forbidden Planet in Soho, and that store is an absolute treasure trove of SF comics, books, and other fan goodies. There are so many enticing comics on offer there, you could spend your entire salary in one wild shopping spree. When I saw Vol 8 of SAGA with Wild West cover art among the new releases, I knew I had to have it.
SAGA is my favorite comic series, because it is always pushing the envelope in terms of content, themes, gorgeously assured and sometimes shocking artwork, and characters so charming, honest and flawed that you can’t help but cheer for them. If you like intelligent, snarky, sometimes profane space opera with a vast cast of star-crossed lovers, bounty-hunters, humanoid robots, tabloid reporters, terrifying monsters, and oddball creatures all caught up in a galactic war between the technology-based Wings and magic-wielding Horns of Wreath and Landfall, this series is guaranteed to captivate.
In Vol 8, Marko, Alana, Hazel, Prince Robot, and Petrichor find themselves on a remote Wild West planet. The traumatic events on planet Phang are still lingering, and they are in desperate need of an emergency medical procedure (any more details would be a spoiler). Once again writer Vaughan is unafraid to tackle a sensitive subject with the opening panel. And while I thought this time the story sometimes felt like it was purely a vehicle for political debate and hurt the story’s momentum, I applaud his willingness to put his characters in contentious moral situations. It’s a trademark of the entire series, love it or hate it.
While Petrichor encounters some Wild West outlaws, Alana, Marko, and Hazel hitch a ride on a train and meet up a very unexpected new character that quickly bonds with Hazel. In fact, Alana has discovered some surprising new powers that may be connected to this. Finally Alana and Marko reach their destination and the doctor they’ve been seeking. The dialogue sounds like something from a TV talk show debate, but then that’s what Vaughan wants to talk about, so that’s what we get. I thought this part of Vol 8 dragged, as the characters debate the merits of their actions. Likewise, Petrichor and Prince Robot are another odd partnership and have many arguments over gender, war, and politics. I liked the story of Hazel and her new friend Kurti better. There were a number of poignant moments as they innocently discuss the world of adults, and this section will appeal to parents, siblings, and those aspiring to become one. Again, this part is very well-written and didn’t feel as forced as their earlier parts.
In the next chapter, we once again see what The Will has been up to, and he’s not in a good place. Seems that one of the many individuals he’s casually killed during his illustrious freelance bounty hunter career had a loved one who has tracked him down to exact revenge. This person has decided to really torture him by going through his old memories. We get to see some scenes from The Will’s childhood and early days as a bounty hunter with The Stalk. Artist Fiona Staples treats us to the ultra-violent action that the series generally features. I’m sometimes unsure if Vaughan & Staples show gruesome violence for the vicarious thrills, or as a technique to highlight that killing is not clean and anonymous like storm-troopers in Star Wars. Considering that his old sins are now catching up with The Will, I would hazard a guess its’ the latter. Eventually, his tormentor unearths a very valuable secret from his memories, though it’s no secret to readers.
In the final chapter, we rejoin Upsher, the gay tabloid journalist, Ghus the little prairie-dog warrior with a sense of justice, and the innocent young son of Prince Robot, Squire. They have an adventure in the forest, seeking the fearsome Dread Naught, and Ghus and the young robot have some interesting discussions about what situations justify fighting and killing to protect yourself. Vol 8 ends on an upbeat note, quite the opposite of the dark final panels of Vol 7.
Now that the series has reached 48 episodes and eight volumes, it has settled down to a more thoughtful pace, and while I think it does lack the intensity of the first four volumes and over-indulges in overt political themes that didn’t really carry the story forward much, I think Vaughan feels that he’s earned the loyalty of readers enough to be able to explore such themes with less propulsive action and more discourse. Again, I really appreciate that SAGA is not about escapism, its about our messy world, war, injustice, intolerance, innocence and cruelty, and most importantly the decisions we must make each day to get to the next day. That’s what keeps the series relevant and fresh – it’s real and funny and heartbreaking, often in rapid succession. Give it a try if you haven’t yet.
Merged review:
Saga, Vol. 8: Unafraid to mix space adventure with difficult topics Originally posted at Fantasy Literature It’s been six months since I read Vol 7 of SAGA, and after moving to London last summer we recently popped into Forbidden Planet in Soho, and that store is an absolute treasure trove of SF comics, books, and other fan goodies. There are so many enticing comics on offer there, you could spend your entire salary in one wild shopping spree. When I saw Vol 8 of SAGA with Wild West cover art among the new releases, I knew I had to have it.
SAGA is my favorite comic series, because it is always pushing the envelope in terms of content, themes, gorgeously assured and sometimes shocking artwork, and characters so charming, honest and flawed that you can’t help but cheer for them. If you like intelligent, snarky, sometimes profane space opera with a vast cast of star-crossed lovers, bounty-hunters, humanoid robots, tabloid reporters, terrifying monsters, and oddball creatures all caught up in a galactic war between the technology-based Wings and magic-wielding Horns of Wreath and Landfall, this series is guaranteed to captivate.
In Vol 8, Marko, Alana, Hazel, Prince Robot, and Petrichor find themselves on a remote Wild West planet. The traumatic events on planet Phang are still lingering, and they are in desperate need of an emergency medical procedure (any more details would be a spoiler). Once again writer Vaughan is unafraid to tackle a sensitive subject with the opening panel. And while I thought this time the story sometimes felt like it was purely a vehicle for political debate and hurt the story’s momentum, I applaud his willingness to put his characters in contentious moral situations. It’s a trademark of the entire series, love it or hate it.
While Petrichor encounters some Wild West outlaws, Alana, Marko, and Hazel hitch a ride on a train and meet up a very unexpected new character that quickly bonds with Hazel. In fact, Alana has discovered some surprising new powers that may be connected to this. Finally Alana and Marko reach their destination and the doctor they’ve been seeking. The dialogue sounds like something from a TV talk show debate, but then that’s what Vaughan wants to talk about, so that’s what we get. I thought this part of Vol 8 dragged, as the characters debate the merits of their actions. Likewise, Petrichor and Prince Robot are another odd partnership and have many arguments over gender, war, and politics. I liked the story of Hazel and her new friend Kurti better. There were a number of poignant moments as they innocently discuss the world of adults, and this section will appeal to parents, siblings, and those aspiring to become one. Again, this part is very well-written and didn’t feel as forced as their earlier parts.
In the next chapter, we once again see what The Will has been up to, and he’s not in a good place. Seems that one of the many individuals he’s casually killed during his illustrious freelance bounty hunter career had a loved one who has tracked him down to exact revenge. This person has decided to really torture him by going through his old memories. We get to see some scenes from The Will’s childhood and early days as a bounty hunter with The Stalk. Artist Fiona Staples treats us to the ultra-violent action that the series generally features. I’m sometimes unsure if Vaughan & Staples show gruesome violence for the vicarious thrills, or as a technique to highlight that killing is not clean and anonymous like storm-troopers in Star Wars. Considering that his old sins are now catching up with The Will, I would hazard a guess its’ the latter. Eventually, his tormentor unearths a very valuable secret from his memories, though it’s no secret to readers.
In the final chapter, we rejoin Upsher, the gay tabloid journalist, Ghus the little prairie-dog warrior with a sense of justice, and the innocent young son of Prince Robot, Squire. They have an adventure in the forest, seeking the fearsome Dread Naught, and Ghus and the young robot have some interesting discussions about what situations justify fighting and killing to protect yourself. Vol 8 ends on an upbeat note, quite the opposite of the dark final panels of Vol 7.
Now that the series has reached 48 episodes and eight volumes, it has settled down to a more thoughtful pace, and while I think it does lack the intensity of the first four volumes and over-indulges in overt political themes that didn’t really carry the story forward much, I think Vaughan feels that he’s earned the loyalty of readers enough to be able to explore such themes with less propulsive action and more discourse. Again, I really appreciate that SAGA is not about escapism, its about our messy world, war, injustice, intolerance, innocence and cruelty, and most importantly the decisions we must make each day to get to the next day. That’s what keeps the series relevant and fresh – it’s real and funny and heartbreaking, often in rapid succession. Give it a try if you haven’t yet....more
A bubble-gum pop song story to ease the pain of the pandemic, told with Scalzi's trademark snark and humour This one was a lot of fun to listen to, witA bubble-gum pop song story to ease the pain of the pandemic, told with Scalzi's trademark snark and humour This one was a lot of fun to listen to, with the winning duo of Scalzi on the keyboard and Wil Wheaton on the mike, they are a match made in heaven to delivery clever entertainment and levity when it was most needed during the dumpster fire of 2020-21 with the pandemic, lockdowns, US election, and all manner of other miseries. The less you know about the plot the better, but rest assured you will be showered with sci-fi pop culture references at the usual clip, so great stuff if that's your cuppa.
The only downside is that Wil Wheaton's narration has gotten a bit too smug and nudge-nudge, wink-wink, isn't this material great-type of delivery. And while he nails that particular tone of American snark, his "foreign" accents are dreadful and he'd be better off not trying. Other than that, a quick and original and fun story, just what I needed....more
Another Foray into the Agora, Hayden's, Blood Sports, Corporate Intrigue, Classic Scalzi This is another story set in the near-future world of Lock-In,Another Foray into the Agora, Hayden's, Blood Sports, Corporate Intrigue, Classic Scalzi This is another story set in the near-future world of Lock-In, this time focused on a highly commercial blood sport called Hilketa too violent for normal humans to play, but just right for Hayden's Syndrome people to play virtually. It's got all the snappy/snarky/clever dialogue that is Scalzi's trademark style, and he remains really good at it. It's a fast-paced murder mystery, and also explores plenty of serious territory about disabilities - those with them and how they live in a society that may not understand or appreciate their difficulties and special abilities. It's got plenty of VR themes, all explored without any slowdown in narrative momentum. And of course this audiobook could not be narrated by anyone other than THE Wil Wheaton, the dynamic duo in action. It's practically guaranteed a John Scalzi book will entertain and enlighten, which is quite an impressive feat, and this one did not disappoint....more
A bit overlong, but Ray Porter's brilliant narration redeems it The Bobiverse was an unexpected hit by an unknown author who struggled to find a publisA bit overlong, but Ray Porter's brilliant narration redeems it The Bobiverse was an unexpected hit by an unknown author who struggled to find a publisher but signed a deal with Audible and somehow found one of the best voice narrators out there, Ray Porter, and the combination has been sheer magic. A bit like John Scalzi, Dennis E. Taylor tells clever, breezy, enjoyable SF adventures with solid science, lots of humorous geeky pop culture references like Ernest Cline's Ready Player One, and has a great concept of a human persona being converted into an AI, who then closes himself and launches a flotilla of Von Neumann machines to spread human and AI intelligence to the stars, with an endless possible number of adventures to be had.
I consider these Bobiverse stories as the perfect antidote to heavy-going, serious, literary books - these books are meant to be fun but intelligent, and don't take things so seriously all the time. This is the first one I've read in a while, and I have to say that while enjoyable, it was a bit overlong for the plot, which got a bit repetitive for the latter 2/3rds, but was still good solid entertainment....more
All the World's a Stage, and These Twins are Star Performers This is another energetic, ribald, meandering tale of bigger-than-life characters in a th All the World's a Stage, and These Twins are Star Performers This is another energetic, ribald, meandering tale of bigger-than-life characters in a theatrical world, immersed in dance and entertainment, two twin girls raised by a grandmother and uncle, denied by their biological father who is a famous Shakespearian actor, and their life adventures that get very convoluted indeed, but their telling of it is full of joie de vivre despite the many setbacks of difficulties they face. It shares a lot with Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus, but I liked this one better, seemed a bit more grounded, but the narrative style and voice were again the core of the story, so ideally suited for an audiobook, and who better than the legendary Tracey Ullman to bring this wild tale to life. If the story had been a bit less convoluted and somewhat too meandering, it would definitely have been a 5-star book for me....more
What an Amazing Time 1927 Was To my mind, this is one of Bryson's best books, touching on so many amazing events in a memorable period of American histWhat an Amazing Time 1927 Was To my mind, this is one of Bryson's best books, touching on so many amazing events in a memorable period of American history, much of which most Americans (including myself) had never heard of or knew only vaguely. This is his most structured and least-episodic book. It has a cohesive narrative that weaves between a large number of bigger-than-life real personalities and events, and does so with a very compelling storytelling style.
He also isn't afraid to explore the unpleasant realities of those times, especially the pervasive racism, sexism, and embracing of eugenics and admiration of racial cleansing and the Nazis by some elements in America, not least Charles Lindbergh. So this book is far, far more than just a nostalgic tribute to a long-gone, simpler, grander time in America. It's an honest exploration of the good, the bad, and the excesses like the stock market frenzy and crash. For all those reasons, I found this to be his most substantial book, still featuring his signature humor in parts, but far more intent on understanding a far different America from now, that still brings insight into American society today....more
The Odd Couple Walk the Appalachian Trail Bill Bryson is a funny guy, with a satirical eye for exposing the underlying absurdity of daily life in whateThe Odd Couple Walk the Appalachian Trail Bill Bryson is a funny guy, with a satirical eye for exposing the underlying absurdity of daily life in whatever country he resides in or is visiting, or in the case of America, is revisiting after two decades abroad. And he is the classic chubby, middle-aged, well-read and frequently complaining type, but usually in a self-deprecating manner that takes a little of the edge off some of his harsher barbs directly at American life. In this case he reunites with his long-separated friend Stephen Katz, whom we last saw having a acrimonious split with Bill after their trip across Europe in the 1990s. Katz has since spiraled into a dissolute life of casual work, alcoholism, and general decline, and surprisingly approaches Bryson to ask if he can join him on his ambitious plan to hike at last part of the 1,700-mile Appalachian Trail.
What ensures is one of the funniest and sometimes poignant travelogues of the tribulations of two middle-aged guys of different temperaments, social standing, professional achievement, and general life outlook. Katz is constantly struggling with his urges to drink alcohol and binge on junk food, chucks vital equipment on the train because its too heavy, frequently wants to stop and rest, and is generally arguing with Bryson when they are not in a strained silence. And yet somehow they persevere, through many adventures, and find moments of camaraderie and hilarity in their encounters with annoying fellow hikers, backwards locals, bears & other forest creatures, and most of the the woods themselves that they are surrounded by.
It's a very entertaining story, and like all his books has a comfortable, unpretentious tone of sardonic humor, interspersed with his diatribes again the Forest Service and America's odd relationship with and treatment of its incredibly rich and (dwindling) abundance. There are plenty of things he doesn't like about what our civilization is doing to nature, and this book is a tribute to the value of that heritage, but doesn't sugar-coat how little funding there is, and how fundamentally unsuited to living in nature we are with all our modern conveniences. Lots of laughs but just as many insights and plenty of food for thought. The interaction of Bryson and Katz is comic gold, and holds the story together throughout....more
An enjoyable follow-up in 2015 to mark the 20th anniversary of his classic travel observations as an American living in England (which covered his firAn enjoyable follow-up in 2015 to mark the 20th anniversary of his classic travel observations as an American living in England (which covered his first time in the UK in the 1970s, working there in the 1980s, and then a last trip in 1995 before moving back to America). It has the same curmudgeon-humour, but from an older perspective, and tries to cover new territory and with revisits to some old haunts and how things have changed in the ensuing two decades.
Plenty of amusing anecdotes and observations, but not quite as substantive as the previous book. I listened to them back to back on audiobook and enjoyed both, but the first book is certainly better. Both still well worth a listen, especially for those who are fascinated and enamored of quirky British culture from an outsider's perspective....more
A wonderfully whimsical and humorous story of an American's tongue-in-cheek travelogue of the charms and oddities of the English countryside, its peopA wonderfully whimsical and humorous story of an American's tongue-in-cheek travelogue of the charms and oddities of the English countryside, its people, scenery, and town and villages. As a fellow American now living in the UK, its perfectly suited to me, and I like his snarky humor that isn't afraid to poke fun at all kinds of things, including himself and his own culture, along with his adopted home in the UK. Entertainingly narrated by William Roberts, who is also ideally suited to the job: born and raised in America, but a longtime voice actor and resident of the UK, so he can do all the accents effortlessly. Couldn't imagine anyone not enjoying this amiable wander through that small island with a big heart known as the UK (he spends most of the time in England but makes forays to Wales and Scotland as well)....more
An enjoyable travelogue of Europe in 1990s by a humorous curmudgeon Nobody does irritable, ironic, and curmudgeonly travel writing in a humorous and seAn enjoyable travelogue of Europe in 1990s by a humorous curmudgeon Nobody does irritable, ironic, and curmudgeonly travel writing in a humorous and self-deprecating way like Bill Bryson. He travels through a Europe that is already in the past for us, especially Eastern Europe as it emerges from behind the Iron Curtain as the Soviet Union collapses. There are loads of humorous, sometimes bitingly-sarcastic observations of the up-tight Germans, indolent French, and dysfunctional Italians, exploring stereotypes to see what truths lurk beneath them. He certainly seems determined to eat and drink his way through each country, thereby learning the cultures at their most fundamentally accessible level. It's a very human and ground-level approach, and usually produces some amusing episodes and the occasional astute observation. Good fun, though certainly dated in many ways....more
Bryson Revisits the Foreign Land of America After 20 years living in the UK, Bill Bryson and family move back to the East Coast, in Hanover, MassachuseBryson Revisits the Foreign Land of America After 20 years living in the UK, Bill Bryson and family move back to the East Coast, in Hanover, Massachusetts, to reacquaint himself with his former homeland, and learn the lessen that you can never go back to the same place, because it has changed indelibly and so have you.
This book is a series of articles and vignettes on the strange, maddening, endearing, and befuddling nature of life in America, coming from the "King of Curmudgeons" as another reviewer put it, applying his sardonic wit to his native land from the perspective of someone whose been away in the UK for two whole decades.
As a fellow American who has been away now for over half my life, I too can take a long step back and question all the unquestioned myopia of America consumerism, junk food, baseball, Thanksgiving, and everything else in between. This is not a cohesive story like A Walk in the Woods or Notes from A Small Island, but it features the same winning combination of humor, insight, and absurdity....more
Bill Bryson Does Australia Listening to Bill Bryson's travel audiobooks, especially narrated by William Roberts, are such an enjoyable combination, thaBill Bryson Does Australia Listening to Bill Bryson's travel audiobooks, especially narrated by William Roberts, are such an enjoyable combination, that it's really a no-brainer to go from one to the next, whether it's about England, America, Europe, or Australia. He has that same self-deprecating humor, slightly snarky and curmudgeonly, often critical of the absurdity of people's behavior, but sympathetic at the same time. He knows how to accentuate the innate hilarity of different locales and cultural practices that outsiders find perplexing and locals take for granted. This was was no different, a very enjoyable though slightly repetitive travelogue as he traveled Australia, both the coasts and the outback, for several months, braving extreme heat, deadly creatures, and a lot of encounters with Aussies. Good fun, and insightful too....more
Originally posted at Fantasy Literature The Most Shattering Volume to Date It’s been nine months since I read Vol 8 of Saga, and ages since I've had timOriginally posted at Fantasy Literature The Most Shattering Volume to Date It’s been nine months since I read Vol 8 of Saga, and ages since I've had time to write any reviews since moving to London last fall. It’s one of the only comic series that I follow (the other being Vaughan's Paper Girls), and the characters are as vivid, complicated, lovable, despicable, cruel, and conflicted as any I know. This is a space opera that tackles the most difficult and relevant topics of our own society, doesn’t hesitate to shock readers, flip the script, and most frightening of all, doesn’t hold back from killing off major characters that we are deeply invested in. It’s a cruel message, that even the best people trying to just live their lives and maintain their ideals can be snuffed out by those with less scruples, and that those that have used violence in the past can rarely escape the consequences, even after having turned to a peaceful path. This volume will leave you stunned, gutted, and struggling to recover. Not only that, but writer Brian K. Vaughan and artist Fiona Staples have said they will be taking an extended hiatus after this volume. It may be a good time to re-read the entire series and consider the first nine volumes as a major story arc that comes to a stunning ending here.
In Vol 9, Marko & Alana, their daughter Hazel, Prince Robot, his son Squire, Petrichor, Ghus, Upsher & Doff, The Will, and Ianthe continue their tense cat & mouse chase. While the “good guys” are taking a breather, Upsher & Doff pitch the idea of sharing Marko & Alana’s story to their tabloid in exchange for a big payout that will let them (possibly) escape from all their pursuers and enemies and just be a “normal” family, one not under the constant threat of death from rival galactic empires that both have an interest in extinguishing them. At the same time, Prince Robot has his own plans on how to achieve happiness for himself, Squire, and Petrichor. This extremely unlikely trio makes for a fascinating family unit, and the whole series is so good at mixing up very different characters and forcing them to face brutally-difficult decisions in the midst of harrowing circumstances. How Vaughan manages to keep the banter clever, humorous, and yet completely honest is an amazing accomplishment. There are no false notes, just a continuously shifting tone as we go from quiet moments of brief happiness to sudden, wrenching, and violent deaths. It’s quite an emotional roller-coaster, so be prepared to be thrown for six and put through the wringer – it’s hard to imagine any fan of the series getting through this volume unscathed, and I was once again so impressed by how Vaughan and Staples use the story panels to create unbearable tension. I use Comixology and have it set so you read each panel without seeing the next, so there were moments in the story when I just didn’t want to move to the next panel, knowing something awful was waiting, but being unable to stop myself. It’s a perfect use of the medium, and the artwork is clean, expressive, and gorgeous as always....more
Pride and Prejudice for Miles Vorkosigan Fans This one is for the fans. If you've followed the many adventures of Miles Vorkosigan, Ivan Vorpatril, EmpPride and Prejudice for Miles Vorkosigan Fans This one is for the fans. If you've followed the many adventures of Miles Vorkosigan, Ivan Vorpatril, Emperor Gregor, and Ekaterin in Komarr, you'll understand all the intricate character details and background that give this story the proper context to enjoy it. If you just read it on its own, be prepared for a lengthly series of comic romantic mishaps among Miles and his friends. It really doesn't feature any space adventure or substantial political intrigue, and a major subplot involves butter bugs. But it's basically a fun reward to all the fans of Miles who wondered, "Is this manic guy every going to find the right woman for him?"
Well, being Lois McMaster Bujold, she revels in intricate and humorously tangled love stories, but what I find quite annoying about most romances, whether in book or movie form, is that they require the characters to first be attracted to each other, fall in love, and then for no logical reason have a massive misunderstanding and blow-out that occupies the entire middle act and provides dramatic tension before eventually having the characters make up and live happily ever after as the credits roll.
Of course A Civil Campaign is a better story than that, and some of the situations like Miles' dinner party are truly hilarious, but overall I found the story a bit too padded and contrived for my tastes. It is like a buffet of tasty treats that you can overindulge in and get sick of well before its time to head home. So while devoted fans will likely gobble it up, I'd recommend a more modest appetizer first like Shards of Honor or The Warrior's Apprentice first....more
Brothers in Arms: Miles gets seriously schizophrenic...or is it Admiral Naismith?
Now that I've thoroughly immersed in the Miles Vorkosigan Saga, like Brothers in Arms: Miles gets seriously schizophrenic...or is it Admiral Naismith?
Now that I've thoroughly immersed in the Miles Vorkosigan Saga, like other fans I can begin to appreciate all the little character details that Bujold has carefully woven into each of the volumes, and as each of the seemingly small events of previous stories have larger repercussions later on, and previously minor characters take on greater importance and depth. This story takes places directly in the aftermath of the prison camp breakout told in "Borders of Infinity" and explains why the Cetagandans are so upset with Miles.
In Brothers in Arms, the Dendarii Mercenaries flee to Earth for much-needed repairs and recuperation after their latest misadventures. Miles contacts the local Barrayaran Embassy in London to get payment for his fleets expenses and repairs, but soon finds out the Cetagandans are on the hunt for a certain Admiral Naismith, who caused so much trouble to them recently. Never having had both Miles Vorkosigan and Admiral Naismith in the same place at the same time has avoided identity complications until this point, but now Miles must play both roles while avoiding Cetagandan assassins, his own Dendarii mercenaries causing trouble Earthside when their credit is found to be no good, and eventually a very sinister plot to undermine both Miles and Naismith long in the planning. The mastermind of this is just as clever as Miles is, and has a serious axe to grind with Miles. Also, his method of getting revenge introduces an intriguing and very conflicted new character to the story, who will take on even greater importance in the next volume Mirror Dance.
This was a very enjoyable entry in the series, especially the difficulties that Miles encounters with his split identity, funding troubles for his fleet, more romantic entanglements, and finally some very intense drama as he encounters his nemesis in a tense finale in the city. Once again Bujold manages to seamlessly combine humor, improbable but madcap plot twists, tense action, but above all characters that you come to care about very much. All rolled into a fun-filled SF romp, but intelligent and above all humane....more
The Android’s Dream: More like The Fifth Element than Bladerunner Originally published at Fantasy Literature
The Android’s Dream (2006) is one of John SThe Android’s Dream: More like The Fifth Element than Bladerunner Originally published at Fantasy Literature
The Android’s Dream (2006) is one of John Scalzi’s earlier books, and a stand-alone rather than part of a series, so I couldn’t resist given the obvious Philip K. Dick reference in the title. I decided to go into this one without knowing anything about the plot or reading any reviews at all. I know Scalzi’s humor and style from the OLD MAN’S WAR series, Redshirts and Lock In, and I love the audio narration of Wil Wheaton, so I figured I’d give it a try. I was also surprised that this hadn’t already been reviewed on FanLit, which has covered pretty much all of Scalzi’s prolific output.
Initially I was a bit nonplussed by the opening sequence, essentially the most elaborate “fart joke” in a tense human-alien diplomatic meeting in the history of the genre (tiny niche, I know). It suggests we’re in for something more along the lines of The Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy or The Fifth Element than the profound and melancholic ruminations on what separates humans from replicants in PDK’s classic Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep that I had expected from the title. But the story certainly throws out enough ideas, computer hackers, AIs, mercenaries, phony religious cults, secret government agencies, intense action sequences, and humorous quips sprinkled throughout, to provide the entertainment that Scalzi has become famous and very successful for delivering.
The plot involves a major diplomatic incident between the UNE (United Nations of Earth) and the Nidu, a more powerful alien race that is the ostensible ally of humanity, a new junior member of the Consolidated Confederation of Worlds, in which the Earth is sitting at the “loser’s table in high school”, as Scalzi puts it so succinctly. So it is up to ex-military State Department “Xenosapient Facilitator” Harry Creek to track down an a rare species of blue sheep called Android’s Dream that holds the key to a major power struggle for succession on the Nidu homeworld. What follows is a madcap, zany, action-packed, whirlwind adventure, from shopping mall shootouts to some pretty cool computer hacking by AIs, and leading up to a grand finale on the Nidu homeworld at the coronation ceremony, with the fate of the Earth and intergalactic war hanging in the balance.
As typical for Scalzi, The Android’s Dream produces dozens of eminently quotable quips about this future society, our own human foibles, etc. However, as the story frequently veers from snarky humor to intense action sequences, sometimes I felt like Scalzi was not quite in control of the tone of the story. It’s much like a Luc Besson movie, with frenetic action, slapstick humor, and then random moments of seriousness. I also think the author was still finding his voice, though his debut novel Old Man’s War was a near-perfect pastiche of Heinlein that updated and improved on Starship Troopers. So I don’t think it really hung together in the end, despite being filled with promising elements. Still, if you are a fan of zany SF thrillers, you probably won’t be disappointed....more
Angelmaker: Zany mashup of thriller, doomsday devices, and clever repartee Originally posted at Fantasy Literature Angelmaker (2012) is Nick Harkaway’s Angelmaker: Zany mashup of thriller, doomsday devices, and clever repartee Originally posted at Fantasy Literature Angelmaker (2012) is Nick Harkaway’s second book, after his exuberant, clever, digressive and exhausting debut The Gone-Away World. It shares the same qualities with that wild and free-wheeling tale, with relentlessly clever dialogue, quirky and in-depth characters, an intricate but playful doomsday plot, more flashbacks than most readers can handle, and chock-a-block with clever and ironic observations of the weirdly-unique world he has created, and by extension our own less colorful one.
The story skips back and forth in time just like its predecessor, to a degree some readers will get irritated by, as we learn a great deal about the back stories of the main characters but very little of the forward momentum you’d expect from a “political thriller.”
Harkaway is in love with language and cleverness, and this time sets his sights on old-school English gangsters, WWII spy-games, secret agents, doomsday devices, evil arch-villains, dramatic fight scenes, and another mild-mannered protagonist, this time a quiet clock repairman who sets in motion a string of bizarre and potentially world-ending events. Many secretive and sinister characters come out of the woodwork and the whole thing is a bit overwhelming, though Angelmaker is slightly more tightly-plotted than The Gone-Away World, but not by much.
I found both this book and its predecessor to be sufficiently complex that it was difficult to follow the plot or lighting-paced dialogue, filled with anecdotes and carefully-crafted quips. It is probably much better suited to a proper printed page reading experience, absorbing all the various flavors that the cook has poured into his high-brow fusion of multiple genres. The narrator Daniel Weyman does an excellent job of capturing the many larger-than-life characters, including all the different accents, and I find that British accents are inherently charming for this type of humor, especially as I now recognize many locations that are mentioned.
Still, Nick Harkaway’s works are not to be shoveled down like a burger and milkshake, but rather, need to be savored like a multi-course French meal....more
The Gone-Away World: Relentlessly ironic, digressive, and clever Originally posted at Fantasy Literature The Gone-Away World (2008) is a post-apocalyptiThe Gone-Away World: Relentlessly ironic, digressive, and clever Originally posted at Fantasy Literature The Gone-Away World (2008) is a post-apocalyptic comedy/tragedy about our world before and after the Gone-Away Bombs have wiped up out much of humanity and the world we know. It is about Gonzo Lubitsch and his nameless best friend, who work for a special crew that is assigned to put of a fire along the Jorgmond pipeline, which produced the special material “Fox” that can eliminate the Stuff, the matter that is left over after gone-away bombs have removed the information from matter so that it no longer can form coherent form and structure. Stuff takes on the shape of the thoughts of people near it — nightmarish monsters, ill-formed creatures, and “new people.” Nightmares become real, and the world itself is a nightmare of sorts.
And very soon after the story begins, we are wrenched back into Gonzo and his friend’s upbringing and bizarre early years learning kung-fu from Master Wu. The Gone-Away World is a long story that absolutely revels in its digressions and manic humor that relentlessly attacks the insanity of the military weapons mentality and the soul-destroying nature of corporations and conformity. It devotes a lot of time to ninjas and martial arts and military training, the cruel absurdity of war zones and civilian casualties, weird desert nomad tribes, and then the surreal post-apocalyptic communities of Mad Max-like survivors and predators clinging to a precarious survival.
It is also about friendships and identity, as the characters fall into and out of different roles and situations, constantly shifting. Everything is maniacally sarcastic, filled with tragic irony and withering contempt for corporate rapacious greed. There are so many digressions that even the digressions have digressions. The story veers from one situation and tone to another, and then two-thirds of the way in, a shocking turn of the plot turns the entire story on its head and changes our understanding of everything that came before, and the final third of the book is truly different from what came before.
The story flies through some powerful and grim examinations of war, destruction, greed, and societal collapse, and yet retains a dogged insistence on making an ironic and ultra-clever quotable comment on the whole glorious mess. It is self-indulgent and digressive and deeply morally-insistent all at the same time. The relationship of the narrator and Gonzo is a fascinating thing, and changes dramatically and suddenly mid-way through. The book could have used a much tougher editor — it’s like listening to your brilliant friend talking a mile a minute, both exhilarating and exhausting. It reminded me somewhat of Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policeman’s Union, with its larger-than-life characters, lengthy descriptions and elaborate language and humor.
If you are in the mood for a completely different and bizarre literary SF satire on our world, this may be worth a try. The audiobook is expertly by Kirby Heyborne....more
14: A fun mashup of hard times in LA, a creepy building, the occult, and horror It's very easy to see where Peter Clines got the inspiration for this s14: A fun mashup of hard times in LA, a creepy building, the occult, and horror It's very easy to see where Peter Clines got the inspiration for this story of a mysterious, creepy, and way-too-cheap apartment building in Hollywood and all the struggling LA misfits who live it in it. As a Hollywood screenwriter himself, he writes with great confidence and pathos about the daily grind and struggles of fringe people trying to make a living in crappy temp jobs, working in the movie business, battling for parking spaces and the daily traffic grind, and searching for the cheapest apartments to make ends meet. There is a camaraderie of poverty that provides rich material for irony and snark and snappy dialogue. The mystery of the creepy building with all the locked rooms, incongruous apartment dimensions, weird tenants, 7-legged green cockroaches, and tons of spooky Cthulu elements is carefully built, and the timing of his reveals is carefully designed to build the suspense before all hell breaks loose in the third act. It's done very well, and has a similar structure to his equally-popular mashup The Fold, though I much preferred 14 because of the scuzzy LA setting and knowing banter of the characters over the eidetic memory of the genius protagonist in The Fold and the various paranoid scientists. Overall, it's easy to see why Clines has become a very popular author, though the reviews for his third book Paradox seem mixed. I enjoyed both of them as skillfully-wrought entertainment, but would say 14 was the better of the two....more
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