In most current historical fiction, we tend to meet white characters who are mysteriously free of all the prejudices of their age. Not so in The Map o...moreIn most current historical fiction, we tend to meet white characters who are mysteriously free of all the prejudices of their age. Not so in The Map of Lost Memories, where the white Westerners in 1938 feel credibly paternalistic toward/suspicious of the Cambodians and the Chinese they encounter.
Balancing this historically accurate stank attitude with otherwise appealing personal traits to make characters we care about is a pretty neat trick that most authors don't even attempt, so hats off to Kim Fay for this.
Having said that, this is an adventure story that is very short on adventure. The pace is pretty much the opposite of rip-roaring. Though there are a few examples of our heroes getting into tight spots and barely escaping, there's a lot more talking. And talking. And talking. I get that some of this is necessary in order for the main character's point of view to evolve, but it really slows the novel down to the point where I was on the fence about finishing.
I'm glad I did, though, because the ending is clever, surprising, and satisfying.(less)
Bought after the positive review in F&SF. It does not disappoint--it's a fast-paced, very involving techno-thriller. The characters are likable, I...moreBought after the positive review in F&SF. It does not disappoint--it's a fast-paced, very involving techno-thriller. The characters are likable, I didn't see the solution to the mystery coming a mile away, and I tore through it in two days. It's a very entertaining book with strong characters and incredibly compelling action.
I have some quibbles, though.
The first is just that I think this book could have wrapped up in a very satisfying fashion in another hundred pages or so. Although the author does a good job of giving enough closure to reward the reader while keeping enough loose ends to justify a sequel, I had the distinct sense while reading it that the ending was driven more by commercial concerns than artistic ones. (Note--I do not intend this as a criticism of the author. We all gotta eat.)
These are not spoilers, but they are nitpicky complaints that will not at all affect your enjoyment of the book unless you live in Boston, so, you know, beware and stuff.
The book is set in Boston, and the Boston stuff, at the beginning of the book, is pretty consistently wrong. "South Boston, then; somewhere close to the airport." Okay, so techically South Boston is not far from the airport as the crow, or airplane, flies, but given that the airport is in East Boston on the other side of the harbor from South Boston, this sounded a bit odd to me.
"Noa made it a point of paying when she could, honoring [the MBTA's] honor system." So the honor system she's referring to here is only true on the Green Line at certain above-ground stops. Noa would have had to have gotten on the Red Line from where she was in South Boston. Admittedly, security is not incredibly tight, but you do have to sneak through, and it can't really be described as an honor system.
At Back Bay Station: "It was cavernous inside, much bigger than he remembered. He had no idea how to find the burrito cart." Well, given that Back Bay station holds a whopping 4 food carts, I don't think it really would have been too hard. And while it's true that the station is cavernous in that the ceiling is probably 25 feet high, the footprint is not actually that big. It would definitely not be a problem to find someone there.
"He'd been spending more time in Boston proper since Amanda started school at Tufts, but even then they mainly hung out on campus." Only Tufts Medical School is in Boston proper. Amanda is an undergraduate, which places her on campus in Medford, two towns away from Boston and most certainly not Boston proper.
A rich suburban kid is treated for a serious illness at Boston Medical Center. This never ever happens. Mass General, Beth Israel, Children's Hospital, and Brigham & Women's would have all been credible choices.
Two white kids decide to hide out in Mattapan, where they meet a white woman with a South Boston accent. If you know Boston, you're already laughing at this. Mattapan is the absolute worst place in Boston for two white kids to try to be inconspicuous, and white people from South Boston do not live in Mattapan. It's not clear from the way it's written that the author understands that these are even different neighborhoods. (I just looked it up: Mattapan is actually 4% white, so I guess it's theoretically possible, but still...)
The Boston Public Library is described as having a "computer room." It does not.
Nobody in the book knows about the tunnel under Dartmouth Street between the Copley Mall and Back Bay station.
I should say in fairness that most of the locations on the D line are described credibly and correctly.
I know all of these are relatively nitpicky quibbles, but it pulls me out of the story every time there's a mistake like this. In the acknowledgments, the author thanks people who sent her pictures of Boston to help her research.
This is just not adequate. I think you can set a thriller in a city without including lots of details--we mostly care about people running from point A to point B without much concern for what those points actually are--but if you're going to attempt to write a book in which the characters are lifelong residents of a metro area and you're going to consistently mention real places, you just have to do more than get someone to send you pictures. It seems like the use of a lot of Boston-specific names was supposed to lend the book a certain amount of credibility, but when you get big and small details wrong, it actually does the opposite.
Also: is Harper Collins not employing copy editors? When my books come back from copy edits, they are full of nitpicky notes like the ones I wrote above. Who dropped the ball here?
Having said all that, I'm definitely on board for the sequel. I'm hoping it's set in a city I'm not familiar with.(less)
Damn. This is one hell of a book. It is perhaps a little bit less of a rollicking adventure than the previous two, but it's an even deeper look into t...moreDamn. This is one hell of a book. It is perhaps a little bit less of a rollicking adventure than the previous two, but it's an even deeper look into the characters, especially Will Henry, who undergoes some pretty significant changes in the course of the novel.
As before, the language is cool, the plot is involving, the grossness is gross (glad to see the word "suppurating" make yet another appearance), and the worst monsters are the ones we see in the mirror.
Another tour de freakin' force I really wish I'd written.
Read the ebook problem which had format problems that would embarrass a self-publisher and are just inexcusable from a major publisher.(less)
I really enjoyed this. Ellroy does a fantastic job of conjuring up LA in the 1940's--or so I assume. In any case, it all felt very real and credible,...moreI really enjoyed this. Ellroy does a fantastic job of conjuring up LA in the 1940's--or so I assume. In any case, it all felt very real and credible, and if you like crime fiction, this is a definite win. I did feel like the plot was a little oddly structured, though--it kind of resolves in the middle and then putters for a bit and then picks up steam again. Most of the big twists are ones you'll see coming if you have any experience with this kind of thing, but it's a hell of a good ride.(less)
Abandoned halfway through, i.e. after about 420 pages. It starts out pretty compelling--I think the initial nuclear war scenes are really well-done an...moreAbandoned halfway through, i.e. after about 420 pages. It starts out pretty compelling--I think the initial nuclear war scenes are really well-done and an interesting window into what we were afraid of in the 80's and why those of us who were kids and teens then are so screwed up--we literally thought this stuff was going to happen.
And even the survivors getting together part is okay, but then the momentum just stalls out. Or maybe the things that had been bothering me all along just started to get overwhelming. The bad guys are particularly unbelievable, especially the kid.
And a lot of this will be VERY familiar to anyone who's read The Stand. Even to the point of a grisly escape through a tunnel out of Manhattan.(less)
An incredibly compelling story I couldn't put down, and a cool twist on the universal problem of trying to figure out how much of your identity you ge...moreAn incredibly compelling story I couldn't put down, and a cool twist on the universal problem of trying to figure out how much of your identity you get from your parents and how much you get to create yourself. Also, I did not spot the twist coming a mile away, which I always appreciate. Suspenseful and thoughtful. My only real quibble is with Connie--while I see why Jazz likes her, I'm not sure why she likes him. She's just a little bit too perfect. But as I said, this is a small thing in what is otherwise a terrific and very suspenseful book.(less)
What an odd and awesome book this is. What starts out as a kind of madcap dystopia turns much deeper and weirder as it goes on. Some of it is hilariou...moreWhat an odd and awesome book this is. What starts out as a kind of madcap dystopia turns much deeper and weirder as it goes on. Some of it is hilarious, some of it is profoundly disturbing, but it kept surprising me and defying my expectations, which is excellent, and under the duck suits and golden showers....well, let's say beyond the duck suits and golden showers, there's a novel with serious ambitions and some very challenging ideas about life and death and love and forgiveness. (less)
I really enjoyed this very clever fantasy. (I think it's been mischaracterized as steampunk and as YA--I don't really think it's either one.) It doesn...moreI really enjoyed this very clever fantasy. (I think it's been mischaracterized as steampunk and as YA--I don't really think it's either one.) It doesn't follow any predictable pattern--it's not a "chosen one emerges" type of book, or a "quest for the magickal thingy" type of book, though I guess it has both of those elements. There's an excellent adventure here, but there's also depth of characterization and a lot to chew on about regret and forgiveness. Also, I always appreciate a book where everyting is not as it initially seems. Oh, also, strong parts for both male and female characters.(less)
It was very hard for me to assign stars to this collection. Nearly every story in here is freaking brilliant. The world building is fantastic througho...moreIt was very hard for me to assign stars to this collection. Nearly every story in here is freaking brilliant. The world building is fantastic throughout, and every story is well-written, imaginative, and satisfying.
And yet.
Ultimately, for me, the whole was less than the sum of the parts. Any of these stories would probably be the standout in an anthology, but taken together, they get wearying.
It's all a little one-note: future dystopia environmental disaster people doing horrible things to survive in a horrible situation. I was psyched when I finally got to a non-dystopian story, but then it was about a guy killing his wife.
There's no question that Bacigalupi is one of the most talented writers working today, but, for me, this collection is best taken in very small doses.(less)
This book completely knocked me out. A really interesting twist on the ghost story that is dark, compelling, ultimately hopeful, and at times painfull...moreThis book completely knocked me out. A really interesting twist on the ghost story that is dark, compelling, ultimately hopeful, and at times painfully honest about grief. I kept putting it down because I wanted to savor it and then picking it up again because I had to know what happened. Oh yeah--it's also beautifully written and full of three-dimensional, believable characters.
I hope that readers who like horror novels but don't usually read YA will find this because it is an exceptional horror novel.
I tore through this page-turning mystery in no time. It's a compelling read, but the insights into grief and family dynamics really set it apart. The...moreI tore through this page-turning mystery in no time. It's a compelling read, but the insights into grief and family dynamics really set it apart. The supernatural elements are that much more believable because the natural elements are grounded in reality. Definitely a fun mystery, but with additional depths that made it extra satisfying for me.(less)
I think this letter from Hugo's editor pretty much sums up my feelings:
Vic--
Unlike some people I could mention, I'm going to get straight to the point...moreI think this letter from Hugo's editor pretty much sums up my feelings:
Vic--
Unlike some people I could mention, I'm going to get straight to the point. What you've turned in is a breathtaking 800-page novel. Unfortunately, it currently runs 1440 pages.
You're asking a lot of your readers, here, Vic. It's an implied contract--you give me a bunch of time, I'll tell you a great, epic story. And here's the frustrating part, Vic--you do. You've created memorable characters and a great story that really illustrates the social point you're trying to make. And a bunch of this book contains page-turning action: Valjean's flight from Javert through the streets of Paris, or his narrow escape when he's captured by Thenardier--I was madly flipping pages to see what happens.
But you seem to be almost afraid of writing something entertaining. As soon as Valjean lands in the convent after a pulse-pounding chase, you give us fifty pages about the rules of the convent and your thoughts on monasticism in general. As soon as Valjean escapes from Thenardier, fifty pages on revolution and reaction. There are so many of these digressions Vic, and right now, they're killing your novel. Fifty pages of your thoughts on Waterloo, which is only important for one half-page scene where Thenardier meets Pontmercy. Hell, you open the book with fifty pages on the Bishop, who isn't even the main character!
In short, (get it? Probably not!) we're going to need you to cut out at least a third of what you've got here. Focus on your characters and story. If you want to produce an essay collection out of what's left, that's your business. The story you've written here can move millions, if you'll just shorten it.
Tremendously inventive fantasy with a page-turning plot. The world-building in this novel is as good as I've read anywhere, and Taylor does a fantasti...moreTremendously inventive fantasy with a page-turning plot. The world-building in this novel is as good as I've read anywhere, and Taylor does a fantastic job of unspooling the details little by little in a compelling, page-turning plot. Just a spectacular feat. A fantastic and engaging book.
And now, me being me, a spoilery quibble.
(view spoiler)[ About two-thirds of the way in, this turns from a fantasy unlike anything I've ever read before into a forbidden love story that was much more familiar. Just a matter of personal taste, but I felt like we didn't need quite so many pages of the Romeo and Juliet stuff. The pace and tone of the book changed, and once I knew that Karou was Madrigal, I just wanted to get back to Karou. Also a matter of personal taste, but Karou is such a cool and three-dimensional character that Akiva feels a little flat by comparison. (hide spoiler)] (less)
So often we have to choose between beautiful writing and, you know, a plot where something happens. Not this time. This book is a total gem--a tightly...moreSo often we have to choose between beautiful writing and, you know, a plot where something happens. Not this time. This book is a total gem--a tightly-plotted, thrilling story told in really beautiful prose. I hope this finds an audience because it defies easy categorization. Kind of a historical fiction/fantasy/horror-ish novel.
(view spoiler)[ Quibble--the description on the red herring was laid on a little too thick: saying he had a wolfish face, and calling him lupine later, etc. I knew it couldn't be him because the author was too good to be that clumsy. But other than that, this book completely rocks. I mean, were-gorilla. Were. Freaking. Gorilla. (hide spoiler)](less)
Essentially a noir PI story in urban fantasy clothes. I liked it but did not love it. I've found it hard to figure out what was lacking for me--I thin...moreEssentially a noir PI story in urban fantasy clothes. I liked it but did not love it. I've found it hard to figure out what was lacking for me--I think that ultimately there was just too much going on in too short a space. I had a hard time keeping the secondary characters separate. I appreciate that we got the world building without massive info dumps, but there was a lot to take in, and I wound up feeling slightly distanced from the book by confusion.
Having said that, the story is interesting and inventive and Beukes is a fantastically talented prose stylist. I will definitely read more from her.(less)
A fun, if slight, military SF adventure. Page-turning sense of wonder in the first half, action in the second half. Long info dumps that are just a fe...moreA fun, if slight, military SF adventure. Page-turning sense of wonder in the first half, action in the second half. Long info dumps that are just a feature of hard SF I don't like. Secondary characters are so thinly drawn I couldn't tell them apart. Don't get me wrong--it's definitely a fun book.
But I guess with Scalzi getting his fan base to vote it best SFF novel of the decade, I was expecting more than a lightweight adventure novel. I think it was a mistake to read this right after The Vor Game. This is in the same genre, but definitely not in the same league.(less)
Olson does a great job of explaining some of the more technical details of hacking in a way that made sense to this layperson. She also does a great j...moreOlson does a great job of explaining some of the more technical details of hacking in a way that made sense to this layperson. She also does a great job of framing the story by following a handful of hacker/activist/pranksters. I learned a lot from this book (including the importance of not re-using passwords) and enjoyed the story. (less)
It's big in scope and ideas, and the ending was so satisfying it made me reconsider a couple of things I didn't like too much while I was reading them...moreIt's big in scope and ideas, and the ending was so satisfying it made me reconsider a couple of things I didn't like too much while I was reading them. So pretty much a tour de force with a lot of interesting stuff to chew on. I really enjoyed it. And now, the inevitable quibbles: Though it's not marketed as a sequel, I really think this would be more satisfying if you've read The Map of Time. Which I haven't. But there were a couple of obvious "a-ha!" moments where I wished I'd read the first book so that the big reveal felt a little bigger to me.
Semi-spoiler-ish quibble:
I never knew if Murray's time travel business had been legit, whether Shackleton was real or an actor, and whether the battle against the automatons was a real thing. Again, I think I would get this if I'd read the first one.
The beginning of the book is a polar horror thing that is very reminiscent of both THE TERROR(the book) and THE THING (the 1983 movie) and doesn't really improve on either.
Still, a really enjoyable, well-written, and imaginative book with a big heart. (less)
In the end, the main idea of the book is fascinating. But I didn't like this as much as some of Stross' other books. The mystery plays out very intere...moreIn the end, the main idea of the book is fascinating. But I didn't like this as much as some of Stross' other books. The mystery plays out very interestingly, but I think my problem with this is the problem I have with a lot of "hard" SF--I got bogged down in all the description of how stuff works. There's a fair amount of heavy lifting here about both computer networks and financial markets, and while I suppose some readers probably dig this level of plausible (I assume) extrapolation from current technology, I'm perfectly content with "here is a thingy that works because magic" and then back to the story. Still, the characters were likable and the mystery resolves in a very satisfying way.(less)
I liked it as much as, if not better than, Vol 1. The serial killer con as a satire of cons is brilliant. The whole thing is dangerous and weird and a...moreI liked it as much as, if not better than, Vol 1. The serial killer con as a satire of cons is brilliant. The whole thing is dangerous and weird and awesome. Quibble: this repeats an issue from Vol 1. I got both from the Boston Public Library, so no skin off my nose, really, but I'd be pissed if I'd paid for them. Bad decision on DC's part.(less)
Decided to plug a hole in my comic/fantastic literature knowledge. I had read a few issues here and there but could never make heads or tails of them....moreDecided to plug a hole in my comic/fantastic literature knowledge. I had read a few issues here and there but could never make heads or tails of them. It makes way more sense starting at the beginning. It's a tour de freaking force--just such a big, audacious idea that makes fantastic use of the medium. (less)
I saw her at a panel at Readercon (I did the "dip my toe in the water for free on Thursday night" plan), and was just really impressed with how she ta...moreI saw her at a panel at Readercon (I did the "dip my toe in the water for free on Thursday night" plan), and was just really impressed with how she talked about art-- it's clearly a life or death thing for her. So I found this "Greatest Hits" collection at the library and checked it out. I really enjoyed it. She is insanely talented--so much so that I really liked the early stories, in which nothing really happens. To say that I am not usually a fan of such stories is an understatement. But Kiernan is just so good at creating dread and a sense of the eerie that even the relatively plot-free stories really got in my head. It was also fun to watch her style evolve through the stories, and her brief afterwords after every story are actually pretty illuminating.
Having said all this, it was due at the library and I took it back without finishing because it's a massive volume, and after spending two weeks with Kiernan's excellent work, I just needed a change of pace. Still, highly recommended, and I'll definitely be checking out more of her work.
It's a shame that a book with such a striking cover turned out to be so poorly copy edited. It's not exactly rife with typos, but I had about a dozen pop out at me, which is pretty shocking in a professionally published book and really disappointing in what's supposed to be a major career retrospective. I saw in the back that Subterranean put out a limited edition for 60 bucks. If I'd paid for a collectable like that and gotten something with such sloppy copy editing, I'd be mightily pissed. As it was, I was pulled out of some really excellent stories by glaring errors.(less)
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