Even though World War II is not a period of great interest for me, John Crowley's beautiful prose and deftly drawn characters pulled me in and kept me...moreEven though World War II is not a period of great interest for me, John Crowley's beautiful prose and deftly drawn characters pulled me in and kept me reading to the end. This is almost a series of short stories, sketches of various women whose lives are changed and dislocated by the war, but all of whom end up in an aircraft factory in Oklahoma where they meet Prosper Olander, a disabled man whose own story ties all the others together. (less)
It took a long time for the many different threads to coalesce into a story and while the characters were interesting, this is much more successful as...moreIt took a long time for the many different threads to coalesce into a story and while the characters were interesting, this is much more successful as an exercise in world-building than as a gripping plot. As a lover of post-apocalyptic fiction, I enjoyed exploring the scenario Bacigalupi established, but never really came to care what happened to any of the figures within it. (less)
Jo Graham continues her winning streak with Stealing Fire. She combines vivid historical description with relatable characters and lively narrative. I...moreJo Graham continues her winning streak with Stealing Fire. She combines vivid historical description with relatable characters and lively narrative. I was especially pleased with the way she handled sexuality--a very different thing in the days of Alexander the Great than it is today. A fantastic read. (less)
MacLeod does a nice job here of welding science fiction and mystery while exploring the possible consequences of our current events and the ethical qu...moreMacLeod does a nice job here of welding science fiction and mystery while exploring the possible consequences of our current events and the ethical questions of artificial intelligence and "smart weapons". The ending was a little unsatisfying, but tidy enough to do the job. I'd be very interested to read more of the adventures of DI Ferguson. (less)
This was not my favorite of McKinley's work. I saw what she was trying to do by weaving together current-action, history, and musings over recent even...moreThis was not my favorite of McKinley's work. I saw what she was trying to do by weaving together current-action, history, and musings over recent events, but the effect was repetitious and left a feeling of nothing actually happening until the last quarter of the book. And, as central to the story as the bees were, there still seemed far too much attention paid to them, adding to the sense of lethargy in the first 3/4 of the story. I really liked the world McKinley created for this and wish the book had been longer and more wide-ranging, which might also have allowed some genuine suspense over the outcome of the central conflict. (less)
While I quite enjoyed this, it didn't have the same iconic quality as Black Ships or Stealing Fire, perhaps because the historical background is more...moreWhile I quite enjoyed this, it didn't have the same iconic quality as Black Ships or Stealing Fire, perhaps because the historical background is more complex and the period of time involved much longer. But I love Graham's characters and her weaving of recurring types through the great classical stories. She tells me that there are two more unsold manuscripts in the Numinous World series, so everyone should run out and buy these so we get to read more!(less)
This is a marvelous mystery--I had no idea who the murderer was until just before the reveal, even though all the pieces were in place. My hat is off...moreThis is a marvelous mystery--I had no idea who the murderer was until just before the reveal, even though all the pieces were in place. My hat is off to Upson for creating a real puzzler, along with some wonderful characters and a nicely drawn historical setting.(less)
This was a really fun fantasy ride through the back alleys and high towers of a well-realized world. The characters are lightly drawn, but generally r...moreThis was a really fun fantasy ride through the back alleys and high towers of a well-realized world. The characters are lightly drawn, but generally running too fast from one caper to the next to hold still for a full portrait.
There are flaws: While the overlapping narrative threads are fine, shifting in and out of linearity sometimes undermines the tension of the plot (if we already know that they made it to the count's study, going back and following them over the wall and down the hallway is anti-climatic at best). At times the world-building devolves into a series of "let me show you this!" gee-whizzery. And while Lynch's creativity in torture and violence is impressive, there are times when I was really ready for less.
In the end, it's a nicely twisting story that pulls everything together for a satisfying conclusion. I'm not sure I'll pick up the 2nd one, but I've enjoyed the first.(less)
While I enjoyed Android's Dream more, this first novel was a lot of fun. Very reminiscent of Niven's Forever War, but with a more modern sensibility a...moreWhile I enjoyed Android's Dream more, this first novel was a lot of fun. Very reminiscent of Niven's Forever War, but with a more modern sensibility and hopeful outlook, it's largely an exploration of an idea strung along a perfectly serviceable storyline. The main character is a little too good--even his breakdowns are on schedule and within parameters and otherwise he exceeds in everything he does with his "aw, shucks" spirit--but he's a nice guy for a clone soldier shooting aliens across the galaxy.
I'm not jonesing for the next one, but I'll put it on my to-read list and see how well the series continues.(less)
As always, Cleverly's period detail is gorgeous and engaging and her characters clever and interesting. But despite the fascination of a period archeo...moreAs always, Cleverly's period detail is gorgeous and engaging and her characters clever and interesting. But despite the fascination of a period archeological dig, having her protagonist on the other side of the island from the case for much of the book makes the story lag. (less)
It was fascinating to read this set of stories, all of which pull from traditions, cultures and experiences quite different from my own. There were ti...moreIt was fascinating to read this set of stories, all of which pull from traditions, cultures and experiences quite different from my own. There were times that I felt I was missing too many allusions to fully grasp Shawl's meanings and resonances, but the stories were still gripping and beautifully crafted. I was especially pleased to read "Wallamelon," which draws on the mythology of The Blue Lady that I first read about in this 1997 article and have thought would make fascinating background for a story. (less)
This is harder SF than I usually pick, but Budz has managed to weave together a hard SF concept with some deeply human characters--three men in separa...moreThis is harder SF than I usually pick, but Budz has managed to weave together a hard SF concept with some deeply human characters--three men in separate times, each suffering from head trauma. The author draws the reader on his own journey of integrating these characters within themselves and the larger narrative. It's not always clear what story is being told, but if you have patience, the threads untangle. (less)
Kress can always be depended upon to take an interesting idea and really think out how people would react to it. The only frustration in Steal Across...moreKress can always be depended upon to take an interesting idea and really think out how people would react to it. The only frustration in Steal Across the Sky is that the tight focus on those reactions overshadows the idea itself. Perhaps this is merely the set-up for a sequel, but the central question is unresolved at the end and left me impatient for further exploration. (less)
Carroll is such an inventive, free-thinking writer that I frequently find myself shaking my head in amazement at the leaps he permits his pen to take,...moreCarroll is such an inventive, free-thinking writer that I frequently find myself shaking my head in amazement at the leaps he permits his pen to take, creating worlds in which it feels that anything is possible and yet the pieces come together with their own internal logic. My only complaint here is that too often he resolves cliffhangers by switching to a different scene and returning after the problem is resolved with a handwaving "after they solved that..." comment. Also, the appearance of multiple versions of certain characters occasionally made it hard to follow where the real one is hiding in plain sight. But his thinking about the nature of life and love and the details of engagement with the world are constantly intriguing and I continue to find a renewed sense of wonder whenever I open one of his books. (less)
The Ottoman Empire feels like a great gap in my understanding of the history of the world, which I've tried to fix over the past decade. Jason Goodwin...moreThe Ottoman Empire feels like a great gap in my understanding of the history of the world, which I've tried to fix over the past decade. Jason Goodwin's Lords of the Horizon was one of non-fiction histories I read and I've enjoyed his move into fictionalizing the declining days of the Empire. Set in 1830's Istanbul, The Snake Stone, like The Janissary Tree before it, explores not only the solutions to crimes, but the culture and politics of the moment, from the perspective of eternal outsider Yashim, a eunuch of the city. His tastes--from the beautiful food that he makes using simple tools, to his weakness for French women--and his friends in places high and low allow the reader a sense of what life was like in a time and place very different from our own. (less)
Calling this book "fantasy" is like calling The Time Traveller's Wife "science fiction". Absolutely true, but not what people usually mean by those wo...moreCalling this book "fantasy" is like calling The Time Traveller's Wife "science fiction". Absolutely true, but not what people usually mean by those words. The book this most reminded me of was The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It is the story of a family who've survived World War II, beginning to move into the unknown future embodied in the new baby that seven sisters and an amazing mother share between them, their different homes and lives illustrating the forces of history at work. Their ghosts are a bit more literal than most family's, yet this is not a ghost story, but a human one. (less)
The first couple of chapters felt sort of clunky to me, filled with some fairly awkward exposition, but the pace and style smoothed out and drew me in...moreThe first couple of chapters felt sort of clunky to me, filled with some fairly awkward exposition, but the pace and style smoothed out and drew me in. The characters are interesting and engaging and the plot races along. There were times that I wished the book were longer, to give more time to Garet's exploration of the city and to allow relationships to develop. Perhaps because of this, shifts in certain characters occasionally felt too abrupt, so that it was hard to believe that a character at the end of the book was the same one we had met at that beginning. But overall I quite liked it and might be tempted to pick up the sequel. (less)
At times these stories became a bit repetitive (how many rich old men with nubile nieces were there in the Big Apple?!) but it was fascinating not onl...moreAt times these stories became a bit repetitive (how many rich old men with nubile nieces were there in the Big Apple?!) but it was fascinating not only to read mysteries from before the tropes were established, but also to catch a glimpse of 19th century New York in these pages. (less)
This was quite different from anything else I've read from Kress, a contemporary thriller at the intersection of biological warfare, espionage and fan...moreThis was quite different from anything else I've read from Kress, a contemporary thriller at the intersection of biological warfare, espionage and fanaticism. The characters are nicely drawn and the differing psychological reactions of the victims creates an interesting Rashomon effect. At times the main characters seem almost too capable and perfect to the point of admitting their imperfections. But it's a fun ride and does nothing to lower my opinion of the author's skill. (less)
I enjoyed this even more than I have the other Carroll work I've read recently. As always, it's a wild ride when you hitch your mind to Carroll's imag...moreI enjoyed this even more than I have the other Carroll work I've read recently. As always, it's a wild ride when you hitch your mind to Carroll's imagination, but this time he moves beyond the questions of love and identity to the wider world of fame, religion and the nature of God, while never getting bogged down. (less)
A fantastic set of short stories from one of the best writers working in SF today. A couple of pieces from the Revelation Space universe, but many in...moreA fantastic set of short stories from one of the best writers working in SF today. A couple of pieces from the Revelation Space universe, but many in other settings. It was particularly interesting watching him work through some recurring themes and concepts over time. If you haven't tried Reynolds and are wondering if you'd enjoy his work, this would be a great place to start. (less)
While I hate to be sexist, this felt like very much like a "boy" book to me. And in fact it was purchased by my husband for his own reading, but I'm n...moreWhile I hate to be sexist, this felt like very much like a "boy" book to me. And in fact it was purchased by my husband for his own reading, but I'm not one to let in-house reading matter pass me by. It's a pretty straightforward post-collapse dystopic saga, narrated by a character who loves and writes adventure books. While it's a fine yarn, none of the characters ever seemed particularly real to me and the naivete of the narrator gave the whole thing an annoyingly gee-whiz tone that lowered the stakes of any particular episode. (less)
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