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purplecthulhu) wrote2017-08-07 10:41 am
purplecthulhu) wrote2017-08-07 10:41 am
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Book diary 2017: the story so far
The Age of Scorpio, by Gavin Smith
Ultraviolent space opera with storylines over three epochs including apocalypses in the iron age, the rough present and the far future. A mixed bag - seemed almost formulaically killing off viewpoint characters at first but also oddly compelling. Not sure it was compelling enough to get the next 2 volumes though.
Moskva, by Jack Grimwoord (or John Courtenay Grimwood as he's known in SF circles)
Nice cold war thriller, well told and well written. Interesting to see JCG working in a different genre. He does it well!
Infidel, by Kameron Hurley
Sequel to God's War, with the Belle Dames seizing control and Nyx fighting back. Lots more insect action in this weird but fascinating world.
Who Killed Sherlock Holmes?, by Paul Cornell
The most recent Shadow Police novel. Paul's take on London and the magic and history that surrounds it continues to develop very nicely, and the aftermath of what our heroes did in the last novel has many effects. These are not cardboard cutout coppers but people who have real problems with the strange new world of crime they find themselves in. Hopefully there's another coming soon!
Waking Hell, by Al Robertson
Sequel to the excellent Crashing Heaven, and a return visit to Station. Lots more development of the fascinating future history Al has mapped out, with the aftermath of the last novel still playing out and the addition of some very nasty new adversaries. We also find out a bit about what happened to Earth, and it's not very nice. Happy to say I provided some inspiration for some bits of this. Not sure I can forgive Al for the Kneale Pits though :-)
Eidolon, by Libby McGuigan
Got this in a BSFA raffle and a nice short read it is. Slightly reminiscent of Einstein's Bridge in that a strong plot element is the need to stop a major particle physics experiment (in this case the LHC), but with rather more mystical and conspiracy elements as well.
Going Back, by Juliet Kemp
Writing group read of a members draft novel. Developing nicely, but other than that my lips are sealed.
Into Everywhere, by Paul MacAuley
Second (last?) Jackaroo novel, in which we learn a lot more about what's going on and see more of the very weird stuff Paul has developed for it. Really good mind expanding stuff.
Predictably Irrational, by Dan Ariely
Secret Santa present from work. Not a lot new to me here but some interesting demonstrations that we are not as rational as we like to think we are, and how various groups, from business to politics, use that to manipulate us. The writer has an interesting MO where he has an idea for something, then experiments on students to see if he's right.
The Fifth Season, by N K Jemisin
I can see why this won the Hugo last year - really good fantasy world with rounded characters, believable rivalries, and some really nasty goings on. The world here is quite unpleasantly hostile in many ways, especially to our lead character.
Revenger, by Alastair Reynolds
Hard SF Space Opera! Space Pirates! Space sailing! Mysterious technologies and swashbuckling heroines! Great fun and highly recommended.
The Hanging Tree, by Ben Aaronovitch
The latest Rivers of London book, and we head back into the core narrative after a trip to the country. This time we're in the high class part of London, which means a lot of visits to Knightsbrige and Mayfair. I can see Ben has the same opinion of 1 Knightsbridge as I do. Great fun.
Aurora, by Kim Stanley Robinson
KSR's take on generation colony ships, resulting in a story that is almost as optimistic as something by Peter Watts, but also realistic, human and believable. Will set the agenda for discussion of colony ships for years to come.
Killing Titan, by Greg Bear
Sequel to War Dogs that, despite it's title, spends a lot of its time just getting to Titan where, presumably, the third novel will provide the finale. A bit of a between book, but still enjoyable and with some interesting weirdness thrown in. The simple us vs. them of book one is eroding to something much more interesting and complex, with interesting similarities between Bear's Gurus and MacAuley's Jackaroo.
Empire Games, by Charles Stross
Merchant Princes the Next Generation starts well, though the real world is trying hard to be as nasty as Stross' surveillance state.
The Corporation Wars: Insurgence, by Ken Macleod
Another Volume 2, and with some of the usual problems. We get to see more of the Acceleration here and again the good vs. bad between Axe and Rac of volume one breaks down into something more complex. Looking forward to vol 3 to see where this is going.
Luna: Wolf Moon, by Ian McDonald
Another volume 2, but I felt this pulled it off very well. The dynastic war between the Moon's five families continues, but with a new and frightening player entering the game - Earth. Very definitely recommended.
Ultraviolent space opera with storylines over three epochs including apocalypses in the iron age, the rough present and the far future. A mixed bag - seemed almost formulaically killing off viewpoint characters at first but also oddly compelling. Not sure it was compelling enough to get the next 2 volumes though.
Moskva, by Jack Grimwoord (or John Courtenay Grimwood as he's known in SF circles)
Nice cold war thriller, well told and well written. Interesting to see JCG working in a different genre. He does it well!
Infidel, by Kameron Hurley
Sequel to God's War, with the Belle Dames seizing control and Nyx fighting back. Lots more insect action in this weird but fascinating world.
Who Killed Sherlock Holmes?, by Paul Cornell
The most recent Shadow Police novel. Paul's take on London and the magic and history that surrounds it continues to develop very nicely, and the aftermath of what our heroes did in the last novel has many effects. These are not cardboard cutout coppers but people who have real problems with the strange new world of crime they find themselves in. Hopefully there's another coming soon!
Waking Hell, by Al Robertson
Sequel to the excellent Crashing Heaven, and a return visit to Station. Lots more development of the fascinating future history Al has mapped out, with the aftermath of the last novel still playing out and the addition of some very nasty new adversaries. We also find out a bit about what happened to Earth, and it's not very nice. Happy to say I provided some inspiration for some bits of this. Not sure I can forgive Al for the Kneale Pits though :-)
Eidolon, by Libby McGuigan
Got this in a BSFA raffle and a nice short read it is. Slightly reminiscent of Einstein's Bridge in that a strong plot element is the need to stop a major particle physics experiment (in this case the LHC), but with rather more mystical and conspiracy elements as well.
Going Back, by Juliet Kemp
Writing group read of a members draft novel. Developing nicely, but other than that my lips are sealed.
Into Everywhere, by Paul MacAuley
Second (last?) Jackaroo novel, in which we learn a lot more about what's going on and see more of the very weird stuff Paul has developed for it. Really good mind expanding stuff.
Predictably Irrational, by Dan Ariely
Secret Santa present from work. Not a lot new to me here but some interesting demonstrations that we are not as rational as we like to think we are, and how various groups, from business to politics, use that to manipulate us. The writer has an interesting MO where he has an idea for something, then experiments on students to see if he's right.
The Fifth Season, by N K Jemisin
I can see why this won the Hugo last year - really good fantasy world with rounded characters, believable rivalries, and some really nasty goings on. The world here is quite unpleasantly hostile in many ways, especially to our lead character.
Revenger, by Alastair Reynolds
Hard SF Space Opera! Space Pirates! Space sailing! Mysterious technologies and swashbuckling heroines! Great fun and highly recommended.
The Hanging Tree, by Ben Aaronovitch
The latest Rivers of London book, and we head back into the core narrative after a trip to the country. This time we're in the high class part of London, which means a lot of visits to Knightsbrige and Mayfair. I can see Ben has the same opinion of 1 Knightsbridge as I do. Great fun.
Aurora, by Kim Stanley Robinson
KSR's take on generation colony ships, resulting in a story that is almost as optimistic as something by Peter Watts, but also realistic, human and believable. Will set the agenda for discussion of colony ships for years to come.
Killing Titan, by Greg Bear
Sequel to War Dogs that, despite it's title, spends a lot of its time just getting to Titan where, presumably, the third novel will provide the finale. A bit of a between book, but still enjoyable and with some interesting weirdness thrown in. The simple us vs. them of book one is eroding to something much more interesting and complex, with interesting similarities between Bear's Gurus and MacAuley's Jackaroo.
Empire Games, by Charles Stross
Merchant Princes the Next Generation starts well, though the real world is trying hard to be as nasty as Stross' surveillance state.
The Corporation Wars: Insurgence, by Ken Macleod
Another Volume 2, and with some of the usual problems. We get to see more of the Acceleration here and again the good vs. bad between Axe and Rac of volume one breaks down into something more complex. Looking forward to vol 3 to see where this is going.
Luna: Wolf Moon, by Ian McDonald
Another volume 2, but I felt this pulled it off very well. The dynastic war between the Moon's five families continues, but with a new and frightening player entering the game - Earth. Very definitely recommended.
no subject
When I first met him it was just after the 2nd Arabesk book came out, he did a reading in Exeter I got dragged to by housemate/organiser. His work up to that point had definitely been SF (I hadn't read any at the time), but he said his publishers were going to reclassify the Arabesk books as Crime to see if it helped sales, you can see the crossover there. 9 tailed fox is another that could fit as either. Keep meaning to grab Moskva, not actually gotten around to it.
I didn't enjoy Hanging Tree as much as previous stuff, it seemed a bit shoehorn the arc plot but it was still fun.
no subject