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David Scrimshaw Locked account

DScrimshaw@bookwyrm.world

Joined 1 year, 8 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 Hexarchate Stories (3) (Machineries of Empire) by Yoon Ha Lee

Yoon Ha Lee: Hexarchate Stories (3) (Machineries of Empire) (2019)

Review of 'Hexarchate Stories (3) (Machineries of Empire)' on 'Storygraph'

If you're a Yoon Ha Lee fan, you don't need my review to know you have to read this.

If you're a fan of modern science fiction, you have to read Yoon Ha Lee and you should probably start with [b:Ninefox Gambit|26118426|Ninefox Gambit (The Machineries of Empire, #1)|Yoon Ha Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1446557461l/26118426.SY75.jpg|46065520].

reviewed Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey

Sarah Gailey: Magic for Liars (Hardcover, 2019, Tor Books)

Ivy Gamble has never wanted to be magic. She is perfectly happy with her life …

Review of 'Magic for Liars' on 'Storygraph'

I'm not super-big on mysteries, but a I found this story about a non-magic person surrounded by magicians engaging.

reviewed The devil you know by K.J. Parker

K.J. Parker: The devil you know (2016, Tom Doherty Associates Book)

"The greatest philosopher of all time is offering to sell his soul to the Devil. …

Review of 'The devil you know' on 'Storygraph'

A fun, brief read.

I should probably read it again sometime, because I'm not sure what really happened.

reviewed This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar

No cover

Amal El-Mohtar, Max Gladstone: This is How You Lose the Time War (Paperback, 2019, Jo Fletcher Books)

Two time-traveling agents from warring futures, working their way through the past, begin to exchange …

Review of 'This is How You Lose the Time War' on 'Storygraph'

I don't know if this was fantasy or science fiction. It was maybe weirder than I'm ready for.

reviewed Nobody Cries at Bingo by Dawn Dumont

Dawn Dumont: Nobody Cries at Bingo (2011, Thistledown Press, Limited)

Review of 'Nobody Cries at Bingo' on 'Storygraph'

This is apparently autobiography. So, we learn that Ms Dumont went to law school. I always feel sad when I learn that someone went to law school but didn't stay with the law.

But if they're going to write engaging books that let us learn about people we don't learn enough about, I'm just glad that their path took them to where they are.

And get this, she does standup comedy. There's an audio clip at:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/laughoutloud/dawn-dumont-at-the-turtle-island-too-gala-a-celebration-of-aboriginal-comedy-1.1742517

reviewed Chasing the Phoenix: A Science Fiction Novel by Michael Swanwick

Michael Swanwick: Chasing the Phoenix: A Science Fiction Novel (Paperback, Tor Books)

Review of 'Chasing the Phoenix: A Science Fiction Novel' on 'Storygraph'

I love Darger and Surplus.

If you like a weird post-post-apocalyptic future like out Gene Wolfe's [b:The Shadow of the Torturer|60211|The Shadow of the Torturer (The Book of the New Sun, #1)|Gene Wolfe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329650008l/60211.SX50.jpg|762497], and you like lovable rogue conmen, you have to read Swanwick's Darger and Surplus stories.