Reviews and Comments

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David Scrimshaw Locked account

DScrimshaw@bookwyrm.world

Joined 9 months, 3 weeks 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 Corporation Wars by Ken MacLeod (Corporation wars -- book 2)

Ken MacLeod: The Corporation Wars (2016)

Ken MacLeod continues the Corporation Wars trilogy in this action-packed science fiction adventure told against …

Review of 'The Corporation Wars' on 'Storygraph'

I enjoyed this book, not as much as the previous one, perhaps because it spends less time with the robots. But I'm eager for [b:The Corporation Wars: Emergence|31932972|The Corporation Wars Emergence|Ken MacLeod|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1482790432s/31932972.jpg|52587939].

reviewed Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie

Hugh Laurie: Gun Seller (Paperback, ARROW (RAND))

When Thomas Lang, a hired gun with a soft heart, is contracted to assassinate an …

Review of 'Gun Seller' on 'Storygraph'

I liked the fast moving action. The narrator really likes wise cracking to annoy the people he talks to. To the point that it irritated me, the reader also.

But still, it's fun that the superlative actor, Hugh Laurie, can also write a good novel.

reviewed The gun seller by Hugh Laurie

Hugh Laurie: The gun seller (1996, Washington Square Pr.)

Offered a large sum of money to perform an assassination, Thomas Lang chooses instead to …

Review of 'The gun seller' on 'Storygraph'

I liked the fast moving action. The narrator really likes wise cracking to annoy the people he talks to. To the point that it irritated me, the reader also.

But still, it's fun that the superlative actor, Hugh Laurie, can also write a good novel.

reviewed Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children, #3) by Seanan McGuire

Seanan McGuire: Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children, #3) (2018)

Review of 'Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children, #3)' on 'Storygraph'

If you've enjoyed any stories where children wind up in magical land, McGuire's Wayward Children series are must-reads. It turns out that going to a magical land isn't always so great, but getting sent back to your original world can be worse.

In this one, we spend time with some characters we've encountered before and some new ones. The time spent moves quickly and is satisfying.

reviewed Killing Floor by Lee Child (Jack Reacher (1))

Lee Child: Killing Floor (Paperback, 1998, Jove Books)

Ex-military policeman Jack Reacher is a drifter. He’s just passing through Margrave, Georgia, and in …

Review of 'Killing Floor' on 'Storygraph'

I gobbled this up. Jack Reacher is one tough guy. This was sort of like an Elmore Leonard crime novel, except more violent.

reviewed Dark State (Empire Games, #2) by Charles Stross

Charles Stross: Dark State (Empire Games, #2) (Paperback, 2018, Tor)

Review of 'Dark State (Empire Games, #2)' on 'Storygraph'

For a Charles Stross book, I was finding this slow going until near the end when the pace picked up and the plot started to get interesting.

And then it was over.

With a long historical essay that I skimmed through.

Stross has done enough things I love that I'll keep reading everything he publishes. I just hope he gets back to having more fun with things.

reviewed Dark State by Charles Stross

Charles Stross: Dark State (Paperback, Tor Books)

Hugo Award-winning author Charlie Stross dives deep into the underbelly of paratime espionage, nuclear warfare, …

Review of 'Dark State' on 'Storygraph'

For a Charles Stross book, I was finding this slow going until near the end when the pace picked up and the plot started to get interesting.

And then it was over.

With a long historical essay that I skimmed through.

Stross has done enough things I love that I'll keep reading everything he publishes. I just hope he gets back to having more fun with things.

reviewed The VIEW FROM SATURDAY by E.L. Konigsburg

E.L. Konigsburg: The VIEW FROM SATURDAY (Paperback, 1998, Aladdin Paperbacks)

Four students, with their own individual stories, develop a special bond and attract the attention …

Review of 'The VIEW FROM SATURDAY' on 'Storygraph'

I've been meaning to read this for years because I've really liked other books by E.L. Konigsburg and yesterday was a good day to bring a book along on a trip and this book was perfect.

The story is a delightful way of showing how a group of people can come together and by being kind to each other can enrich their lives and enrich the lives of the people around them.

No talking animals, but there is a smart dog and you learn something about turtles.

reviewed The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg

E. L. Konigsburg: The View from Saturday (Paperback, 1996, Aladdin Paperbacks, Aladdin)

Four students, with their own individual stories, develop a special bond and attract the attention …

Review of 'The View from Saturday' on 'Storygraph'

I've been meaning to read this for years because I've really liked other books by E.L. Konigsburg and yesterday was a good day to bring a book along on a trip and this book was perfect.

The story is a delightful way of showing how a group of people can come together and by being kind to each other can enrich their lives and enrich the lives of the people around them.

No talking animals, but there is a smart dog and you learn something about turtles.