I don't really like short story compilations. I'd rather have 800 pages than 80. BUT this was a VERY cool anthology of short stories by fantastic authI don't really like short story compilations. I'd rather have 800 pages than 80. BUT this was a VERY cool anthology of short stories by fantastic authors about Mad Scientists. Some were artistic, some were Dr. Horrible-esque, and all were very very enjoyable! Definitely recommend to turn your head around on the bad guy we see in all our genre faves!...more
I was sent this book and I didn't know what to expect. It was written in installments over the last year, and now it's compiled into one work. It's a I was sent this book and I didn't know what to expect. It was written in installments over the last year, and now it's compiled into one work. It's a really interesting cyberpunk-ish novella involving governmental surveillance, paranoia, and a bizarrely engaging set of characters. A really quick and fun read.
It also has my favorite line from any book this year, it made me laugh out loud: ""Dickson appeared from nowhere, like the world's shittiest elf..." ...more
I don't think I've read a more exciting sci-fi novel since Neal Asher's "Owner" trilogy. This is sci-fi thriller writing at its best, I literally coulI don't think I've read a more exciting sci-fi novel since Neal Asher's "Owner" trilogy. This is sci-fi thriller writing at its best, I literally couldn't put the book down. How best to describe it? John Wick in space. Jason Bourne on an alt-Earth. Yeah, those work. All I could do while reading this was picture the John Woo version starring young Chow Yun Fat (Hard Boiled is my favorite action movie, soooo, yes I have good taste :D). If that could happen, please Hollywood, make it so!
The book follows an assassin who works for a corporation on a near-future earth. He has an implant in his brain that essentially gives him amnesia for the duration of a hit. But he's tormented by his job nonetheless. He gets sent on a mission into space to a ship wreck, which leads to an awesome twist that I don't want to spoil, and that jettisons him on the path of a world-bending mission. Upshot, he has to adjust to a strange and not-so foreign culture and kick ass over and over again. There's also an amazing female character who I couldn't stop picturing as Rooney Mara, who is incredibly kick ass herself.
I would recommend this if you like action movies, if you like thrillers like Jason Bourne novels, or Richard Morgan-type sci-fi. Please let this be a series, because I need moooooooore!...more
This is a very odd George RR Martin book that I picked up randomly. It's almost serialized into 5 parts, but holds together nicely as a book. It's aboThis is a very odd George RR Martin book that I picked up randomly. It's almost serialized into 5 parts, but holds together nicely as a book. It's about a very odd trader who basically gets possession of the most powerful ship in the galaxy, and how he uses it to help people. Or...hinder them. And underneath the stories there are VERY powerful environmental and animal rights messages, it's kind of amazing and dark and has an amazing sense of humor. Definitely a really fun ride, I have to check if he wrote any more with the character, because I can see a ton more happening when you're in charge of basically a God-Vessel!...more
If it's possible, this book is BETTER than the first one. This is just a great Sci-Fi book, wonderful worldbuilding, that focuses on CHARACTERS ratherIf it's possible, this book is BETTER than the first one. This is just a great Sci-Fi book, wonderful worldbuilding, that focuses on CHARACTERS rather than every planet and ship and technical science thing in the world. Some of that stuff, while interesting, make big sci-fi for me a bit less compelling. This, however, has it ALL! And, contrasting with the first one, it is very clear about POV and stuff. The gender ambiguity is still there, but in a streamlined way, so you don't question things as much in your head. The plotting is excellent, and its just a great sci-fi read. Highly recommended for M/F looking for a good space drama that doesn't have a cast of thousands!...more
Ok, well, my tastes have gravitated towards violent, uber dark sci-fi lately, and this is probably the best one I've read since the Takashi Kovaks novOk, well, my tastes have gravitated towards violent, uber dark sci-fi lately, and this is probably the best one I've read since the Takashi Kovaks novels by Richard Morgan. SOOOOO GOOOOD.
A future world where humanity has eaten away the planet, reproduced to unsustainable levels, and a socialist/fascist/corrupt government controls them completely and has plans to liquidate the "stock"? Yes please!
There are so many things in this book that seem PROBABLE and real and not so fiction-y. Especially on the tech side. The world building is doled out perfectly, and grows to be completely believable, like this, frighteningly, could be OUR FUTURE. I can't imagine an author being more air-tight in his world building. It's so good.
Of course, the main character is an amnesiatic uber-human who is much more than he seems at first, and the grand plan is to take down the government, and there's a subplot on Mars, but MAN is the ride bloody and dark and horrible and perversely fun. The characters are GREAT, a few main ones women, and awesome ones at that.
If you don't like people being graphically murdered by robots and other people, this is NOT the book for you. But dystopian fans will enjoy. Onto the next book already, and MAN is it good too!...more
I'm almost wanting to give this five stars, because I LOVED it, but the first section of the book is very confusing ( in some ways by choice) and I thI'm almost wanting to give this five stars, because I LOVED it, but the first section of the book is very confusing ( in some ways by choice) and I think that could put some people off so there you go. 4 1/2 stars, ha!
This is a great sci-fi adventure following a character who is not man nor woman, and don't even try to figure it out, that's the confusing part. But the character is fomerly HUNDREDS of people, and a spaceship. All at once. Yeah, ok once you can wrap that around your head, it's SO GOOD this book. How the author accomplishes the changes of POV when someone is more than one person, is beyond me. It was deftly handled. And the plot is gripping and interesting, the other characters flawed but fascinating, and I was angry when the book came to a close, because I wanted the next one SO BAD.
Like I said, the whole gender thing was confusing (the lack and confusion of the main character about said subject), I understand it's a big idea and concept that is clever and unique, but I'm not sure I followed it entirely. A re-read would help. And maybe I'm just so weighted in NEEDING a gender for characters that I couldn't back up and relax about it? Who knows. Anyway, definitely a great book, makes sci-fi character based, and great world building. Highly recc! ...more
This book kicked ass, I loved the main characters, the mystery, the setting, the plot twists, I JUST LOVED IT! Perfect light sci-fi. If you like spaceThis book kicked ass, I loved the main characters, the mystery, the setting, the plot twists, I JUST LOVED IT! Perfect light sci-fi. If you like space stuff that isn't that complicated but highly entertaining, I give two thumbs up!...more
Well I'm a big fan of this author's other Sci-Fi series, Sirantha Jax, so I was very excited to see this new series that is kind of a spin-off, it hasWell I'm a big fan of this author's other Sci-Fi series, Sirantha Jax, so I was very excited to see this new series that is kind of a spin-off, it has the world and a character in common. And on the surface of it, this is a really pulpy fun concept: Prison that has no supervision, territory wars, no hope, badass woman lead, etc. And it did fulfill several of the things I really loved about the concept. I really liked them main character, I believed MOSTLY that she could keep a group of bloodthirsty horrible criminals in a group under her, I loved the spymaster character, the different factions were really interesting too. The plot is fairly predictable based on the concept: Prison wars for territory. But is executed really well, with the idea of some interesting things happening in the future.
SLIGHT SPOILERS: I guess the only thing I didn't enjoy was that I kind of started skimming in the last half because the prison was a BIT claustrophobic. I wish we had had more interactions with the other factions. And the lead male character was cool (he was from the Jax series) but he was a BIT TOO perfect in how GOOD he was at everything. Yes, totally justified by the logic built up, but then his perfection almost made the lead character seem weaker, somehow? Very small criticisms though, and I really REALLY hope the series continues and opens up even OUTSIDE the prison later. Very much looking forward to #2!...more
I got this ARC from the publisher (YEAH IM ON A LIST!!!)
This is a really cool, dystopian sort of fantasy/sci-fi world mashup, it's hard to describe, bI got this ARC from the publisher (YEAH IM ON A LIST!!!)
This is a really cool, dystopian sort of fantasy/sci-fi world mashup, it's hard to describe, because there's magic and yet there's tech as well. It's supposed to be very China Mieville, but since I've never been able to get through one of those books, I'll just take people's word for it, lol.
I DID get through this one, and enjoyed it a LOT! The world building is crazy interesting, the characters are very noir, and the plot was enough to keep me on my toes (although a few things that happen towards the last third are VERY convenient, needed to be set up a wee bit earlier to be smooth, but that's a small criticism).
I'm very excited to read the second in the series for sure! I love this new wave of gritty fantasy/sci-fi world building, it's like Brazil is very en-vogue!! The movie, not the country....more
Hmm well, this book was enjoyable, the premise, that magic has appeared in modern-day and the military has to regulate it, was very intriguing to me. Hmm well, this book was enjoyable, the premise, that magic has appeared in modern-day and the military has to regulate it, was very intriguing to me. It was a fast read for me, it reminded me of a Vin Diesel movie (not a bad thing!) in that I pretty much knew what was gonna happen (shades of Avatar and other sc-fi movies everywhere) but that's fine, it was a good vacation read. I wasn't blown away by the characters, but I liked the magic system a LOT so I'll pick up the next book....more
GUILTY PLEASURE HEYYYYYYY! So this book was really fun, about the biggest baddest space assassin falling for a princess/dancer. Yeah, that wasn't the GUILTY PLEASURE HEYYYYYYY! So this book was really fun, about the biggest baddest space assassin falling for a princess/dancer. Yeah, that wasn't the best one-line summary, but I did enjoy this book. Nik was a GREAT hero character who was abused as a child and trained to be the ultimate badass assassin (who is on the run from the League, the assassin's guild, that he left for moral reasons). He ends up having to protect Kiara, a famous dancer/daughter of royalty, from assassination attempts and they fall in love.
YES the main character girl is really annoyingly helpless sometimes, and definitely don't try to dissect the actual SCIENCE parts of the book, but the group of guys with Nik who are assassins are so fun to read about that I totally forgave the other stuff. I guess each dude gets his own book, really looking forward to picking up the others....more
**spoiler alert** This is the sequel that has been hanging on my Kindle for a while, couldn't get myself to dive in, but once I started I couldn't put**spoiler alert** This is the sequel that has been hanging on my Kindle for a while, couldn't get myself to dive in, but once I started I couldn't put it down. Definitely don't pick this up without reading #1 as it's almost a continuous thing from the end of the last to this one.
I really loved the world and the abilities the main character Edie has. I think the whole "seeding" thing was really well-done as well, and the plot paid off in the sequel. The main bad woman was kind of 2-dimensional, but whatever, I think this was a really enjoyable, light, sci-fi book.
SLIGHT SPOILER: I would give this book overall 4 stars, and the romance a 3 1/2. Why? Because there was SUCH amazing tension in book 1 and 1/3 of book two, and then when these two finally get the sexing on it's the LEAST ROMANTIC SCENE EVER. I mean, there was so much potential to see the ROMANCE there, I felt like it was pretty underwritten, and then once they were together it wasn't really mined for all the awesome stuff that was there before they consummated everything. The last part together was good, it was just the middle of the book felt like there were some character beats missed. Other than that, really enjoyed their characters finally finding middle ground. Def would pick up books by this author in the future! ...more
OH YAY THIS ISN"T A ROMANCE BOOK! It is, however, a very interesting Sci-Fi tale with extremely interesting world-building and a strong female protagoOH YAY THIS ISN"T A ROMANCE BOOK! It is, however, a very interesting Sci-Fi tale with extremely interesting world-building and a strong female protagonist. I feel like this book is pretty singular in NOT having a big romance arc. Basically the main character is a space ship wreck diver, and the peril with which she infuses the dive sequences is more than worth the price of admission here. Haven't seen this much tension infused in a scene the same way since I saw The Abyss for the first time, just GREAT tension. I also loved the main character because she is paranoid and OCD and...er, I empathized and congratulated her on her paranoia/thoroughness a lot, haha.
This book is a BIT strange because it feels like two novellas strung together, and it might be the case that these started out as separate novellas, but they're linked together well enough to enjoy as a pair. Looking forward to reading the second.
One complaint, the Kindle edition is 9.99, and for an old book that seems pretty lamely expensive....more
Taking a break from fantasy/romance/mystery, i picked this book up because my brother recommended it. And it was TOTALLY worth it! If you read a lot oTaking a break from fantasy/romance/mystery, i picked this book up because my brother recommended it. And it was TOTALLY worth it! If you read a lot of my reviews you know I adore Iain Banks' work, and this book felt like a cousin of his work. Basically we're dealing with a deep future society depended on vast machines, and an overarching mystery of a sabateur, a James-Bond-like main character, and a side-plot of a psychopath's ruthless need for revenge at any cost. I dunno how to describe it much more, but if you like violent and gritty sci-fi, you will like this a lot.
I did feel like the emotional potential of having this character pulled away from the machine-dependent world he'd lived in for so long was not mined as much as it could have been. And the whole Dragon thing (WTF IS THAT THING) was obscure in that classic sci-fi way to the point where I was slightly irritated, but I can't deny the interestingness of the world, the twistedness of the characters, and the adventure that drew me in.
This is the start of a long series, and I definitely know I'll be coming back to it when I want my hard sci-fi kick in the pants. Recommended!...more
Hey! It's a space story with Marines and no vagina plotlines! And I REALLY LOVED IT!
This is the first in a series of a hero brought back from stasis tHey! It's a space story with Marines and no vagina plotlines! And I REALLY LOVED IT!
This is the first in a series of a hero brought back from stasis to save the universe. I loved the world, the space fights, the manly commanding of Jack, the idea of a mythical hero that is accidentally discovered and revived in space, and where the myth and reality clash. Dude is a bossy pants, but I enjoyed this a LOT! Good clean military space fun!...more
Super conflicted about this book. I believe if I could remember more of my college physics I would REALLY love this book. Because the whole premise isSuper conflicted about this book. I believe if I could remember more of my college physics I would REALLY love this book. Because the whole premise is that we're on a made-up world with weird aliens whose world is ruled by TOTALLY made-up physics. There is a TON of exposition about how the physics works which made it feel like a pseudo textbook in a way, did you ever read Sophie's World? Kind of like that, but not as accessible. Because in Sophie's World you had the context of understanding more as a basis to build on. This book requires you to understand basic physics in order to understand how it is NOT like that on this world.
I think there should have been a character who was new to the world and needed to be explained to IN COMPARISON to his/her world, that way I could have gotten on board more.
That said, it was an interesting read with an interesting female alien protagonist. Some complex social and political subjects are dealt with very deftly. Not having read other books by this author it definitely makes me want to pick up something else he's written, maybe with less homework involved :)...more
This was a really well done sci-fi book with a romance in it but it's secondary. I really enjoyed the characters and the world built up. It felt like This was a really well done sci-fi book with a romance in it but it's secondary. I really enjoyed the characters and the world built up. It felt like a first book a bit, but definitely intrigued me enough to order the sequel!...more
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