Reviews and Comments

David Scrimshaw Locked account

DScrimshaw@bookwyrm.world

Joined 1 year, 3 months ago

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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reviewed The Two of Swords: Volume One by K. J. Parker (The Two of Swords trilogy, #1)

K. J. Parker: The Two of Swords: Volume One (Orbit)

The epic opening volume in The Two of Swords trilogy by World Fantasy Award-winning author …

An ambitious series

I enjoyed this from start to finish and was eager to get the next volume.

The story switches from one major character to another seamlessly and each character was compelling and kept my interest.

The central mysteries also kept me engaged without leaving me frustrated.

Marie-Helene Bertino: Beautyland (Hardcover, english language, 2024, Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

At the moment when Voyager 1 is launched into space carrying its famous golden record, …

A weird but fascinating book

We may not have thought we were commissioned with reporting to aliens, but I suspect most of us can identify with aspects of Adina's experience of the world.

Neal Stephenson: Polostan (2020, HarperCollins Publishers)

The first installment in Neal Stephenson’s Light cycle, Polostan follows the early life of the …

A fine start to a new series

Dawn Rae's life is fascinating and just about believable. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Seanan McGuire: Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear (2025, Tor Publishing)

Giant turtles, impossible ships, and tidal rivers ridden by a Drowned girl in search of …

A wonderful addition to the Wayward Children series

Nadya's story is heart breaking and in a different way from any of the other children's stories.

Similarly, Seanan McGuire has given us a compelling story that is different from all the other compelling stories she has given us.

Mick Herron: Slow horses (2010, Soho Constable)

Slough House is Jackson Lamb's kingdom; a dumping ground for members of the intelligence service …

Gripping and Fun

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.

Roz Chast: I Must Be Dreaming (2023, Bloomsbury Publishing USA)

Another tour de force from Roz Chast

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.

Adrian Tchaikovsky: Elder Race (Paperback, 2021, Tordotcom)

In Adrian Tchaikovsky's Elder Race, a junior anthropologist on a distant planet must help the …

Is it fantasy? or is it science fiction?

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.

Adrian Tchaikovsky: And Put Away Childish Things (2023, Black Library, The, Solaris)

All roads lead to Underhill, where it’s always winter, and never nice.

Harry Bodie …

Tchaivovsky does it again

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.