Reviews and Comments

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David Scrimshaw Locked account

DScrimshaw@bookwyrm.world

Joined 2 years, 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 Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson

Kim Stanley Robinson: Red Moon (2018, Orbit)

Review of 'Red Moon' on 'Storygraph'

This is hard science fiction in the believable space ship sense.

It's also social science fiction in how it deals with politics and political movements.

It's also, and this is the main thing for me, a story about people that I found myself caring about right from the beginning.

I really like how in Robinson's recent fiction he shows how systems could change to make things better.

reviewed The wheel of Osheim by Mark Lawrence (The Red Queen's war -- book 3)

Mark Lawrence: The wheel of Osheim (2016)

All the horrors of Hell stand between Snorri Ver Snagason and the rescue of his …

Review of 'The wheel of Osheim' on 'Storygraph'

I really enjoyed this.

I liked the little crossovers with the Thorn series.

Spoilers follow:
Things get mostly wrapped up.
Jalan and Snorri both survive.

I see no reason that we can't have more novels about them.

reviewed Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee

Yoon Ha Lee: Revenant Gun

Review of 'Revenant Gun' on 'Storygraph'

This is a strong finish to the trilogy.

I especially like the "servicer" characters, who are basically sentient robots that the humans are barely aware of as thinking beings. I hope Yoon Ha Lee gives us more of them.

reviewed My documents by Alejandro Zambra

Alejandro Zambra: My documents (2015)

"My Documents is the latest work from Alejandro Zambra, the award-winning Chilean writer whose first …

Review of 'My documents' on 'Storygraph'

These were well written stories, but they were bleak. And lately, I'm not in the mood for bleak stories.

reviewed Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee

Yoon Ha Lee: Revenant Gun

Review of 'Revenant Gun' on 'Storygraph'

This is a strong finish to the trilogy.

I especially like the "servicer" characters, who are basically sentient robots that the humans are barely aware of as thinking beings. I hope Yoon Ha Lee gives us more of them.

reviewed Grey Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #2) by Mark Lawrence

Mark Lawrence: Grey Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #2) (2018)

Review of 'Grey Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #2)' on 'Storygraph'

This is a satisfying second book in what is apparently going to be a trilogy.

Mark Lawrence is now on my must-read list.

I particularly like that each of the three series of his that I've read have very different protagonists and the stories have very different feelings.

reviewed Grey Sister by Mark Lawrence

Mark Lawrence: Grey Sister (Paperback, VOYAGER)

Review of 'Grey Sister' on 'Storygraph'

This is a satisfying second book in what is apparently going to be a trilogy.

Mark Lawrence is now on my must-read list.

I particularly like that each of the three series of his that I've read have very different protagonists and the stories have very different feelings.

reviewed The Wheel of Osheim (Red Queen's War) by Mark Lawrence

Mark Lawrence: The Wheel of Osheim (Red Queen's War) (HARPER COLLINS)

All the horrors of Hell stand between Snorri Ver Snagason and the rescue of his …

Review of "The Wheel of Osheim (Red Queen's War)" on 'Storygraph'

I really enjoyed this.

I liked the little crossovers with the Thorn series.

Spoilers follow:
Things get mostly wrapped up.
Jalan and Snorri both survive.

I see no reason that we can't have more novels about them.

reviewed Prince of Fools (The Red Queen's War, #1) by Mark Lawrence

Mark Lawrence: Prince of Fools (The Red Queen's War, #1)

Review of "Prince of Fools (The Red Queen's War, #1)" on 'Storygraph'

Set in the same empire as the "Thorns" books, but a completely different protagonist, this time, one who was inspired by Harry Flashman of [b:Flashman|142458|Flashman (The Flashman Papers, #1)|George MacDonald Fraser|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320656064s/142458.jpg|1137467].

Now, I read all the Flashman books back in the 80s, and I'll admit, I got a bit tired of him, but I never tired of Prince Jalan.

Plus he travels with the bravest and strongest Viking you could imagine, and who doesn't love a good Viking?