Charles > Recent Status Updates

This book lacks focus.

Not as dynamic as the first two in the series; Taran seems pretty static here, and I suppose Prince Rhun is the one who will change the most by the end of the book.

"Dividing the Sustain" - 5; A man who has himself genetically altered to become gay falls in love with a woman pregnant with her husband. Both are over 100 years old. Oh, and it happens aboard a spaceship.

"Minla's Flowers" - 5; Old man travels alone on spaceship, becomes stranded on steampunk world. The sun is going to be killed in 70 years. Warns them; little girl grows into dictator, evacuates planet.

"Glory" - 3 stars; galactic culture clash while pursuing mathematical theorems

"Maelstrom" - 4 stars; theater on Mars. Funny.

"Blessed by an Angel" - 2 stars; clash of civilizations experienced through teen pregnancy

"Who's Afraid of Wolf 359?" - 4 stars; civilization reboot story with twists, incredible pacing

"The Valley of the Gardens" - 2 stars; struggle against an evil pocket universe... I think.

These stories are relentlessly monotone in their theme of human insignificance and the depravity of the cosmos. Not really my thing.

"Saving Tiamaat" - 4 stars; sociological and ethical themes
"Verthandi's Ring" - 4 stars; cosmic scale
"Hatch" - 3 stars; the body used and abused in service of the mind; materials and resources, too; nanotechnology as a given
"Winning Peace" - 4 stars; "War only happens when peace breaks down. That's why peace is harder work, but more worthwhile."

Superb fiction full of math and science. I think reading these stories is making me smarter.

Heady.

Some of the stories I like, some I don't, all are darker than usual for me. Nasty people in nasty little worlds.

Bad stuff. Not bad writing, bad stuff: rotten, evil, bad. The first two stories didn't make much of a mark, but "Hand of Glory" is repulsing and fascinating me.

Just in time for Halloween.