An avid sci-fi and fantasy reader who sometimes does historical fiction or even mainstream.
You might notice that most of my reviews are 5 stars. That's because if I start reading a book that doesn't engage me, I stop reading it. Life is too short. I've realized that it's not fair to review a book I haven't read and nobody really needs to hear why I didn't get into a book especially when they might like it.
My goals with reviews are to be brief and give other potential readers an idea of why they might like the book. I leave it to the marketing people and other reviewers to describe the plots.
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After eighty years of fragile peace, the Architects are back, wreaking havoc as they consume …
It is great to be back with Idris and the others even though things are really not going so well.
Adrian Tchaikovsky has built well on the foundation he created in Shards of Earth.
A young girl discovers an infinite variety of worlds in this standalone tale in the …
A terrific, nuanced story and and essential reading for anyone who has enjoyed any of the Wayward Children books.
Slough House is Jackson Lamb's kingdom; a dumping ground for members of the intelligence service …
A friend told me that I'd like the TV series. But I wasn't ready to sign up for Apple+. So I borrowed the book from the library and WOW! I loved it.
This book delighted me as much as any work by Roz Chast. I'm not much of one for remembering dreams or interpreting them, but I found this collection to be informative, interesting and inspiring.
“I’m a piece of architecture, Detective. How should I know how humans are like to …
I very much appreciated the take on artificial intelligence. And the bleak but honest take on the direction our corporate overlords are taking law enforcement.
In Adrian Tchaikovsky's Elder Race, a junior anthropologist on a distant planet must help the …
Another delightful story in a completely different genre from anything Tchaikovsky has done before.
And I don't think that it's a spoiler that this one is not as dark or depressing as some of his works have been.
In Adrian Tchaikovsky's Elder Race, a junior anthropologist on a distant planet must help the locals he has sworn to …
All roads lead to Underhill, where it’s always winter, and never nice.
Harry Bodie has …
It seems that Adrian Tchaikovsky has a mission to tackle every fantasy and science fiction trope there is and do it brilliantly.
In this one, he has a whole new take on a Narnia-like world and it is a terrific addition to the genre.
A group of scientists and soldiers are hunted by mysterious enemies in a terrifying new …
Not a cheery read. And certainly inspired by Covid lockdowns. But another great read from this master.
Groundhog Day meets Deadpool in Django Wexler’s raunchy, hilarious, blood-splattered fantasy tale about a young …
Content warning I don't think it's really much of a spoiler.
This was exactly the fun read I needed.
I am very glad that I had the hard copy version to read because there are excellent footnotes on most pages and they can be a pain when I'm reading on my phone.
Among the bonuses for me, at one point the narrator directly addresses the readers and says "Okay, listen up: F*** you. Yes, you, Dave. If your name isn't Dave, pretend I wrote your name." And I didn't have to pretend! Sure my name was the most popular name for boys in the 60s and 70s, but it's gotten to be a bit rare.
The other bonus [possible spoiler alert] I've been watching a lot of Taskmaster these days. Without giving away too much, I speculate that Django Wexler has also been watching a lot of it.
More than a hundred years ago, Bender set out for the stars and was never …
I imagine this series wouldn't be fun for everyone, but if you've been enjoying rollicking sci-fi since the 1960s like I have, I'd say you'll have a more than satisfying time with the Bobiverse.
This entry shows that Taylor's imagination is coming up with new wrinkles and he's fully exploring the way various players will react to the Bobs.
"Since stumbling from their world into the Up and Under, Avery and Zib have walked …
This finish to the series satisfied me completely with at least one excellent surprise.
Adrian Tchaikovsky has an amazing gift.
He keeps taking on different fantasy and science fiction styles and tropes and then creating something fresh and wonderful.
Shroud was gripping from start to finish. It is a new classic in the theme of surviving an impossible planet and what life is like when the corporations are in charge.
If he gives us more set in this universe, I'll be grateful. But I'll be similarly grateful if he adds to any more of his stories, and I've learned to trust that whatever he does will be terrific.
When mysterious faeries from other realms appear at her university, curmudgeonly professor Emily Wilde must …
Content warning Not much of a spoiler really...
I found this to be an excellent sequel and (spoiler alert) it includes a trip to fairyland, which I'm always up for.
Longlisted for the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour Huckleberry Finn meets The Catcher in …
When this book appeared in Libby, I had no memory of why I had reserved it. But I was ready for a new book and started. Within pages, I was hooked.
I just adored the book and the narrator, Kaspar.
I logged in to give it a 5-star rating and that's when I read in the description that it's the last day of Kaspar's life. Why? Sure he's in dire shape at the end of the book, and because he's the narrator, I guess he couldn't say "and then I died." But still. If it's only in the blurb describing the book is that what really happened?
Anyway, I'm not happy that he apparently died and there won't be a sequel and adorable Kaspar didn't get to grow up. But I can't take off even half a star for it. The book is just too good.