I almost gave this one only three stars, and perhaps if I wasn't a writer, I probably would. However, I am creative, and I'm fascinated by the creati...moreI almost gave this one only three stars, and perhaps if I wasn't a writer, I probably would. However, I am creative, and I'm fascinated by the creative process - the way story comes into being, how it grows and changes, and - especially in this case - how many different writers begin from an established set of guidelines and build their own stories from that point. How different they all are! Most barely share more than you probably share with the family down the block. Maybe you have the same type of pet, say, a cat, but yours is black and theirs is calico. That's the idea here.
Does it work perfectly? No. Are there inconsistencies between the stories? Yes...but I'd argue that perhaps the world of Medea, as a barely exokored world, has room for all sorts of stories. Think about our own planet. Can the same human beings have enough room for diversity to be cowboys, samurai, Catholic, etc, and still be the same creatures, at the core? Why shouldn't we apply that standard to the greater universe?
I'm going on too much about this, and like I said, this is more a book for creative people interested in watching an idea grow from seed to a smattering of full plants raised by different gardeners. None of them look quite like one another, but they're obviously the same basic thing. So what if they don't look as pretty as other plants we see. This one's not ugly, and the stories, even dated by nearly thirty years of tech advancement, are well told and entertaining to those who enjoy the genre. (less)
Like Alastair Reynolds, the stories of Hannu Rajaniemi require a certain level of...not faith, exactly, but a desire to immerse oneself in a brand-new...moreLike Alastair Reynolds, the stories of Hannu Rajaniemi require a certain level of...not faith, exactly, but a desire to immerse oneself in a brand-new sci-fi universe of technology. A willingness to put up with a barrage of terminology, concepts, and advancements without the aid of a glossary, companion "History of This Universe" book, or anything like that. In short, you have to love hard sci-fi, and you have to trust the author won't leave you out of your depth for too long.
Rajaniemi does a great job helping the reader to understand the most pertinent concepts, then dolling out information as it becomes necessary for his compelling caper plot. He's got a unique vision for the fractured future of humanity, and the interplay between various factions is at the heart of this novel. It's an entertaining read - not necessarily for casual, Star Wars-type fans - but solid enough for those of us immersed in the genre. I'm honestly curious how the rest of the trilogy turns out.
My only reservation about this book was the shifting point-of-view. For one character, we're presented with first-person POV, and soon after, another main character is told from an close third-person POV. In a novel chock full of "new/different," it's more hurdle than technique; I'm already learning about q-dots, Mars, a ton of unconventional names, etc, and the back-and-forth POV switch felt like an obstacle at times. It's not a deal-breaker, but it does make the reader work a little bit harder.
A solid effort, I'd recommend The Quantum Thief to anyone who enjoys sci-fi, mystery, likes a bit of a challenge. (less)
What I really like about Kelly Link is that she straddles the line between literary and fantasy fiction in a way that doesn't deflate the principles o...moreWhat I really like about Kelly Link is that she straddles the line between literary and fantasy fiction in a way that doesn't deflate the principles of either one. Pretty Monsters is the kind of book that's memorable for all those reasons you learned about in English classes, yet also memorable because the stories are damned good. Yes, some of them lean far towards lit, leaving you kind of scratching your head, and yes, some of them also hurry through tales that feel bigger and a bit unformed, but in both cases, it's like eating a cookie that's crispy in the outside and still doughy underneath. Still good, just a little surprising.
A handful of these tales find the perfect balance, and they're the ones you'll remember. I'll leave you to decide which are which - that's half the fun! (less)
A complete stranger told me about Jim Butcher when we discovered our mutual love of sci-fi and horror, and also found we're both smartasses who love i...moreA complete stranger told me about Jim Butcher when we discovered our mutual love of sci-fi and horror, and also found we're both smartasses who love it when writers put a funny or fresh twist on a genre. Butcher manages to write a mystery worth pursuing set in a slightly alternate universe, and still manages to put characters such as a wizard-for-hire on the set of a porno flick for reasons that make perfect sense within the Dresden Files universe. Laurel K. hamilton does the same kind of thing in serious circumstances; Buffy nailed the camp factor, but Butcher walks the middle without downplaying either side. If you don't write pop fiction, foklks, trust me: this is a lot easier said than done, and to that, I say bravo.
I plan on reading more of these, perhaps the entire series. (less)
Bullet is a modern Anita Blake book - and by that, I mean, if you pine for the old days where all she did was stalk psychos, talk tough, and keep out ...moreBullet is a modern Anita Blake book - and by that, I mean, if you pine for the old days where all she did was stalk psychos, talk tough, and keep out of lusty supernatural romances...well, you won't like this one. Or most of the later books, for that matter.
The overall storyline of the series has been evolving on the macro scale for quite a while now, and here in Bullet, there are several instances of characters stepping outside themselves for love, friendship, power, and trust. In terms of character development, this ends up being a milestone book. What's more, it's done in-context, as part of the threat to the sprawling supernatural community of St. Louis. Yes, there's a ton of sex. Yes, that sex challenges conventional values, or at least the middle-of-the-road values, but from a literary and artistic standpoint, it's done well, explored fairly, and integrated naturally into the story. Maybe it's not your cup of tea, but then again, story has to satisfy the writer first, and this is the direction the story has gone. Expectations and history be damned, I say; after reading through the whole series, I honestly think the course of events couldn't be more interesting.
It's still the same story, folks. Like all of us, Anita Blake has grown and adapted to her life, made sacrifices and adjustments, fallen into and out of love, and never stops caring about being one of the good guys, even when she must do terrible things. The exact details matter no more than a friend living an alternative lifestyle, and if we can be be tolerant of real people living the way they wish, we should do the same with the fictional people we keep up with. Accept Anita for who she is, in oher words, or move on, but if you stay, enjoy your time.
I had fun with Bullet. Action, sex, discovery, plot development...it's all here. I wish the ending woud've been a little more fully realized, a little longer, actually, but it works well, and I'm looking forward to the next adventure!(less)
Back to basics Anita Blake, without sacrificing the mythology. Writers will find the afterword, where Hamiltion takes us through her creative process...moreBack to basics Anita Blake, without sacrificing the mythology. Writers will find the afterword, where Hamiltion takes us through her creative process, an inspiration for their own processes.(less)
Here's a book that was ahead of its time in the category of language. Steinbeck sounds more like a modern writer than any of the literary figures of ...moreHere's a book that was ahead of its time in the category of language. Steinbeck sounds more like a modern writer than any of the literary figures of his time, very natural without losing the beauty of the words. He also handles a long span of time with a commanding hand, taking us in and out of generations without evet sacrificing point of view. That takes a lot of work, and when you factor in the religious parallels (the work that goes into parody is much more in-depth than it seems), and the facg that the story is captivating when so much literature isn't, and you get a stellar novel. Worth the time, and not as much effot as, say, Faulkner. Enjoy!(less)
These are the kind of stories you need to take as they are: happy endings here are a matter of perspective and whether you can relate to the main char...moreThese are the kind of stories you need to take as they are: happy endings here are a matter of perspective and whether you can relate to the main characters. Overall, I feel like these are the nightmares of an aging Boomer, simetimes spot-on, sometimes the selfish indulgence of a generation who never thought they'd be old. King still writesas engagingly as ever, and while i do like a hard edge from time to time, this one feels like uneven.(less)
Reynolds continues the tale begun in Revelation Space in his usual mind-bending narrative ways. If you like hard sci-fi extrapolated from the researc...moreReynolds continues the tale begun in Revelation Space in his usual mind-bending narrative ways. If you like hard sci-fi extrapolated from the research of today, coupled with a many-faceted narrative where all the threads braid together for a totally shocking conclusion, this is the best there is today.
Whatever you do, don't start here, as it's the second in the trilogy. The series as a whole is worth the time and energy it takes to get into tbe slow-boils lf Reynolds' long tale, and despite how you'll feel by that learning curve, it comes to be second nature. However, if your interest in sci-fi doesn't stretch much beyond Star Wars and/or Star Trek, it's probably not your cup of tea. (less)
This is my second time reading It, but I felt virginesque considering my first read came around age 16, and I wasn't ready to tackle some of the thema...moreThis is my second time reading It, but I felt virginesque considering my first read came around age 16, and I wasn't ready to tackle some of the thematic challenges like growing up vs. imagination, the power of thought, and the sense of losing touch and moving on.
I feel like it's a B+ kind of book. You get to know the characters in expansive detail, and it's fun to get so far inside people, but I felt like it could've been accomplished in couple hundred less pages. This was King at the beginning of the carte-blanche era, where he wrote two or more books a year, so it feels like the quality suffered a little bit. Good resolution to things (in both time eras) forgives a lot - imagine reading this behemoth for a shitty ending! - and I love the structure of bouncing back and forth in time, where the two are braided and inform one another to drive the story forward. There aren't many popular authors with the skill to pull that off well. You can usually find it in more literary authors, but often the plot suffers, or there is no plot, no model of action and reaction. It sets a standard there.
Pass. That's the best advice I can give you about this well-researched, plodding book about a mystery that never truly presents itself, a horror tale...morePass. That's the best advice I can give you about this well-researched, plodding book about a mystery that never truly presents itself, a horror tale that's trapped by that lack of mystery, and above all, Charles Dickens. I suppose scholars and afficianiados of Dickens might find entertainment in seeing Dickens come to life in new and unexpected ways, but as a story, a novel, it lacks development and conclusion. We're left, at the end, about where we started, and there's no resolution to the plot I spent better than a month and seven hundred pages forcing myself through. Where's the fun in a lack of resolution? Why can't an acclaimed author like Simmons, a guy who writes truly awesome horror and sci-fi, step outside the confines of a Dckensian plot to payoff the reader for sticking with him through that much storytelling? It's unfortunate, and too bad, because the premise was excellent. It's just never fulfilled.(less)
Any Tim O'Brien is fun, but this is my favorite of his. It's lit fiction, but the kind anybody can read, not just a bunch of academics with patches o...moreAny Tim O'Brien is fun, but this is my favorite of his. It's lit fiction, but the kind anybody can read, not just a bunch of academics with patches on their coat's elbows who get snotty over these kinds of things.
It's war fiction; it's not. It realistic and fantastic. It reads like people speak in the here-and-now. If you're one of those who needs to "get some culture," you can do it with Tim O'Brien instead of those older, sometimes impenetrable classics. Trust me, this one belongs on those shelves, but without the antique frills and lace.(less)
I have an up-and-down relationship with Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series, for all sorts of reasons, but this one is a winner! It has most of ...moreI have an up-and-down relationship with Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series, for all sorts of reasons, but this one is a winner! It has most of the elements that got me hooked on the series in the first place: murder, vampires who don't sparkle, gobs of horror, detective schtuff, and romance. In Skin Trade, Hamilton finds a balance while working in issues of gender and prejudice, yet the story keeps moving forward. Something is always happening, usually one right on top of the other, which leads to a braided plot that shifts between its angles all the time without letting you get lost or left behind.
My only complaint is the speed of the conclusion, which wraps up a little too quickly. If the novel was less complex and shorter, like her first Anita books, this works well, but a 5-star book got demoted to 4 because of how fast it finishes. Still, a great offering, back to as much of the basics as a series like this can get, and a lot of engrossing fun.
It's better the second read through the series. King does a great job of bringing all his threads together, and shocking as the developments are, the...moreIt's better the second read through the series. King does a great job of bringing all his threads together, and shocking as the developments are, they make sense given the hard lives these characters lead. It's not pretty fantasy, but it's rich and entertaining. Start with the first and don't give up until after the third. Trust me, it's worth it.(less)
This is one of those books where the concept is interesting, the opening sequences serve up a mystery or two, and then all the characters fail to groe...moreThis is one of those books where the concept is interesting, the opening sequences serve up a mystery or two, and then all the characters fail to groe and change and do all the things good novel characters are supposed to. I felt from perhaps s early as page 40 that I was being led along, shown the marvels, and the expected to put the pieces together, which I did a little more than halfway through the book. It's too bad because the concept was so damned interesting; that's what happens sometimes. It's like dating someone really good-looking who has less brains than your dog.(less)
If you're a fan of the Wheel of Time, you'll understand when I say this next-to-last entry is perfect. If you're not a fan, and you've enjoyed things...moreIf you're a fan of the Wheel of Time, you'll understand when I say this next-to-last entry is perfect. If you're not a fan, and you've enjoyed things like Lord of the Rings, you don't know what you're missing. Start at the beginning, but give it a go.(less)
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