It's a well-written contemplation on living through an apocalypse in a most interesting location. I only wish it wasn't so short & clinical...I would It's a well-written contemplation on living through an apocalypse in a most interesting location. I only wish it wasn't so short & clinical...I would have preferred something a bit more emotionally draining...but that's just me....more
This is a prime example of why predicting the near-future is a mug's game. This novel became the basis for the film "Soylent Green", and while it makeThis is a prime example of why predicting the near-future is a mug's game. This novel became the basis for the film "Soylent Green", and while it makes valid points about the over-use of resources and the rise of climate disasters, its Paul Ehrlich-Population-Bomb-inspired future completely failed to materialize, leaving this feeling like a strange left-turn into an alternate universe. The racism and misogyny prevalent throughout the novel is disappointing and puzzling...one wonders just how grim and apocalyptic & stratified Harry Harrison saw our potential future....more
This may be the weirdest idea ever for an apocalypse...but I can't deny it's original, even if the revealed "enemy" straddles the line between fascinaThis may be the weirdest idea ever for an apocalypse...but I can't deny it's original, even if the revealed "enemy" straddles the line between fascinating and hokey. The writing style keeps it moving, but in the end I'm rounding it up from 2.5 stars as this isn't exactly my cup of tea....more
It's the most soap-opera-ish and intimate of the book series so far...and it pales next to the epic nature of the previous 3 volumes. But it does sow It's the most soap-opera-ish and intimate of the book series so far...and it pales next to the epic nature of the previous 3 volumes. But it does sow some ominous seeds for the future...something to look forward to in the next volume....more
This novelization of the greatest comic book mini-series in history should have been either a thousand-word brick...or a complete shambles. Instead, MThis novelization of the greatest comic book mini-series in history should have been either a thousand-word brick...or a complete shambles. Instead, Marv Wolfman focuses everything from the point-of-view of The Flash...and as a result manages to include so much in a condensed package, without sacrificing any of the main thrust of the plot. It also handles the death of Supergirl in powerful & touching fashion...the one part over which I was particularly concerned. Could it have included more? Did the cuts and omissions prevent it from satisfying every geeky completist gene I have? Perhaps...but I don't think it could have been done in any other way. And the final result is a staggering, delightful surprise....more
As someone else has already stated, this reads like a solid "Doctor Who" style Target novelization -- free from the tyranny of effects and wooden actiAs someone else has already stated, this reads like a solid "Doctor Who" style Target novelization -- free from the tyranny of effects and wooden acting, and able to expand upon the original tale. The portentous (pretentious?) nature of the source material remains however, so it's never going to rise above 3 stars...for a jump in quality, you need to turn to the re-imagined "Battlestar Galactica" of the early 21st century. And let us not ever breathe a word about "Galactica 1980"......more
I tried...I really did. I hung in to the halfway mark, then skimmed the rest. The jargon, the slang...it's all too overwhelming, and just got in the wI tried...I really did. I hung in to the halfway mark, then skimmed the rest. The jargon, the slang...it's all too overwhelming, and just got in the way. I'm sure there will be readers utterly fascinated by it -- is this the new cyberpunk? Technopunk? I'm afraid it's not for me...which is sad, as I recognize the solid story at the heart of this futuristic tech miasma. This is definitely not in the same universe as the last Cory Doctorow book I read...and I much preferred that previous volume. It was much more my speed....more
It takes a while to get going...and I'm no fan of cats...but the end result is a book that surprised and confounded me, and once the plot was well undIt takes a while to get going...and I'm no fan of cats...but the end result is a book that surprised and confounded me, and once the plot was well under way it was full of typical & delightful Scalzi snarkiness. This may qualify as the lightest and breeziest of John Scalzi's novels....more
It's a perfectly decent transcription novel of the film...though I was hoping for far more expansion of the characters. There are a great many things It's a perfectly decent transcription novel of the film...though I was hoping for far more expansion of the characters. There are a great many things ignored and glossed over here, especially in regards to Roy Neary and the destruction of his family life. These things could and should have been addressed....more
For the first time, I hit an Adrian Tchaikovsky story I didn't enjoy. Actually, that's not entirely true -- I absolutely loved all the chapter excerptFor the first time, I hit an Adrian Tchaikovsky story I didn't enjoy. Actually, that's not entirely true -- I absolutely loved all the chapter excerpts from the text about alternate Earths and branch points of evolution. The rest of the novel reads like some overwrought police procedural that didn't hold my interest at all...but every time I came to one of these interludes, I was hooked by the enormous imagination behind the evolutionary roads-not-taken-but-actually-taken-somewhere-else. If only THAT were the entire book......more
I'm rounding this up from 3.5 stars. There is almost too much going on, and too many characters to keep track off...even as some of them didn't do mucI'm rounding this up from 3.5 stars. There is almost too much going on, and too many characters to keep track off...even as some of them didn't do much to keep my attention (I'm looking at you, "Bull" chapters). Pseudo-Miller's cryptic comments also become too cryptic for their own good, especially in regards to the climax. Yet the intensity remains, and the determination to see the story to its conclusion drives the novel like an out-of-control engine. Give yourself over to the ride, shunt aside the misgivings...and the novel will reward you....more
This completely shredded my brain...and I'm still processing what I read. In concluding his "Children of..." trilogy, Adrian Tchaikovksy covers not onThis completely shredded my brain...and I'm still processing what I read. In concluding his "Children of..." trilogy, Adrian Tchaikovksy covers not one but two terraforming settlements, the end of two colonies of ancient human civilization, the nature of reality and sentience, and the psychological strains of one life form copying its progenitor. I can't even begin to think how this description covers the nuances and subtleties...and mind-warping concepts...on offer. Perhaps it's almost too much for one novel...but damn if Mr. Tchaikovsky doesn't give it the old college try. There is no way you should be reading this book unless you've read the previous two installments....more
I liked this, but I wish I could have loved it. By this point, you need to know what's going on in the story of our favourite SecUnit to join in the fI liked this, but I wish I could have loved it. By this point, you need to know what's going on in the story of our favourite SecUnit to join in the fun...but while previous books managed to fill in a few "story so far" gaps, this book just dives in and dares you to keep up. It moves at a relentless pace, and I wish it was less furious in pursing the plot...I was losing track of all the characters in this book, and it was all a blur by the end. A bit less than I was hoping for......more
Definitely more towards a 3.5 star rating...mostly due to the fact that it doesn't conclude in as interesting a manner as it began. It's a strange masDefinitely more towards a 3.5 star rating...mostly due to the fact that it doesn't conclude in as interesting a manner as it began. It's a strange mash-up of the old-fashioned & the modern, the fanciful and the wry, the elegant and the profane. It is fascinating and confounding and exhausting....more
I have to admit that I preferred the Imperial side of the story to that of the Fremen, but in the end this was a great look at a pre-"Dune" role for bI have to admit that I preferred the Imperial side of the story to that of the Fremen, but in the end this was a great look at a pre-"Dune" role for both major female characters of the original saga, particularly Irulan. The role of the Emperor and his court tends to be subsumed by the Atreides/Harkonnen feud, so it offers a fascinating new perspective on the cog-wheels of the Herbert universe....more
I'm afraid I didn't enjoy this. I found the subject matter handled in a tiresomely cliched & corny fashion, and the sense of humour was definitely outI'm afraid I didn't enjoy this. I found the subject matter handled in a tiresomely cliched & corny fashion, and the sense of humour was definitely outside my own wheelhouse. It's a pity as I have enjoyed Connie Willis' writing in the past...but I'm afraid this book is a miss for me....more
A strange, eccentric, concise, amusing tale of a nightmare world where an IKEA-style store is the stage for strange shenanigans involving wormholes, pA strange, eccentric, concise, amusing tale of a nightmare world where an IKEA-style store is the stage for strange shenanigans involving wormholes, pocket universes, and the oddest type of genetic engineering. It sounds laughable...but it's actually sweet and funny, and wastes no time telling its tale....more
I don't usually go for any kind of western...especially SF westerns. Yet what we have here is a post-apocalyptic right-wing nightmare of a remnant USAI don't usually go for any kind of western...especially SF westerns. Yet what we have here is a post-apocalyptic right-wing nightmare of a remnant USA, which has degenerated into a John Wayne-style nightmare world...and the only hope is a group of LGBTQ+ women known as Librarians, fighting to rescue those the rest of the world would consider "deviant". To say I was surprised and delighted is an understatement. A short, sweet, concise stick-in-the-eye to all bigots...who, frankly, are too stupid to appreciate the satire and social conscience of this little book....more
A very quick read...but one that did my head in. The only thing that prevented me from a meltdown was that Paul Cornell's writing style is always hilaA very quick read...but one that did my head in. The only thing that prevented me from a meltdown was that Paul Cornell's writing style is always hilarious and sweet and warm...and I needed it, because I still can't honestly tell you what happened in this novella after the first 20 pages. I have several theories...but I honestly can't coherently put them together. I wish I could, because then I might be able to give it a higher rating than 3 stars......more
Easy to read, fast-paced, unpretentious Asimov-style SF with a modern twist. It's one of those novels that just hits the spot. That said, it loses oneEasy to read, fast-paced, unpretentious Asimov-style SF with a modern twist. It's one of those novels that just hits the spot. That said, it loses one stars for three reasons: (1) the artificially-drawn-out solve-the-sabotage plot in the middle of the journey to Proxima b; (2) a full stop as opposed to a proper ending...cliffhanger or not, it could have used more than what is here, and (3) the author's dedication invoking Kirk, Picard & Janeway misses the best Trek captain of them all, Sisko...so a pox on the houses of both authors....more
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