A solid and entertaining read.
The only negative thing for me is that there is a moral problem with how this body-jumping character lives.
Reviews and Comments
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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David Scrimshaw reviewed Touch by Catherine Webb
David Scrimshaw reviewed Starlings by Jo Walton
Review of 'Starlings' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
This collection shows the enormously wide range that Jo Walton can do.
In her introduction, she says that she could write novels right away, but struggled to write short stories. She goes further to say that some of the stories in this collection still aren't right. I wouldn't try to guess which ones aren't right, because every story felt right to me.
There's even one that has a talking cat.
This collection shows the enormously wide range that Jo Walton can do.
In her introduction, she says that she could write novels right away, but struggled to write short stories. She goes further to say that some of the stories in this collection still aren't right. I wouldn't try to guess which ones aren't right, because every story felt right to me.
There's even one that has a talking cat.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Boom! by Mark Haddon
Review of 'Boom!' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
This was fast and fun read about a teenager, Jim, and his best friend in the UK who discover that two of their teachers are speaking in a secret language and decide to learn more about them.
Telling you that this is science fiction gives is a bit of a spoiler, but there's a rocket ship on the cover, so there's a hint already.
There's some good, fun weirdness in this story, but what makes it most worthwhile is Jim's family dynamics. In particular, what happens with his father who gets laid off and takes up playing with remote-control models.
I'd be happy to lend my copy to anyone who'd like to read it. I've had the book on my to-read shelf for so long that I'd forgotten where I got it. Although Manon says she's pretty sure she bought it for me. I bet she did. It's an adorable …
This was fast and fun read about a teenager, Jim, and his best friend in the UK who discover that two of their teachers are speaking in a secret language and decide to learn more about them.
Telling you that this is science fiction gives is a bit of a spoiler, but there's a rocket ship on the cover, so there's a hint already.
There's some good, fun weirdness in this story, but what makes it most worthwhile is Jim's family dynamics. In particular, what happens with his father who gets laid off and takes up playing with remote-control models.
I'd be happy to lend my copy to anyone who'd like to read it. I've had the book on my to-read shelf for so long that I'd forgotten where I got it. Although Manon says she's pretty sure she bought it for me. I bet she did. It's an adorable little hardcover with the cute little rocket on the cover.
Review of 'Pattern (Scavenger Trilogy, Book 2)' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
Pattern is the second book in a pretty weird fantasy series. It's completely readable and interesting, but, although we're starting to get clues about what's going on, by the end of this book, we're still as lost as Poldarn the main character.
This book might appeal to people interested in how Vikings lived when they weren't raiding their neighbours. That is, if Vikings could read each others minds.
I'm hoping that I'll get to read the final book, Memory, but the Ottawa Public Library doesn't have it, they won't let me suggest they buy it because it was published too long ago, and their interlibrary loan page is broken.
No talking cats, but sometimes a crow talks.
Pattern is the second book in a pretty weird fantasy series. It's completely readable and interesting, but, although we're starting to get clues about what's going on, by the end of this book, we're still as lost as Poldarn the main character.
This book might appeal to people interested in how Vikings lived when they weren't raiding their neighbours. That is, if Vikings could read each others minds.
I'm hoping that I'll get to read the final book, Memory, but the Ottawa Public Library doesn't have it, they won't let me suggest they buy it because it was published too long ago, and their interlibrary loan page is broken.
No talking cats, but sometimes a crow talks.
Review of "The Christian's Pattern Or A Treatise Of The Imitation Of Jesus Christ" on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
Pattern is the second book in a pretty weird fantasy series. It's completely readable and interesting, but, although we're starting to get clues about what's going on, by the end of this book, we're still as lost as Poldarn the main character.
This book might appeal to people interested in how Vikings lived when they weren't raiding their neighbours. That is, if Vikings could read each others minds.
I'm hoping that I'll get to read the final book, Memory, but the Ottawa Public Library doesn't have it, they won't let me suggest they buy it because it was published too long ago, and their interlibrary loan page is broken.
No talking cats, but sometimes a crow talks.
Pattern is the second book in a pretty weird fantasy series. It's completely readable and interesting, but, although we're starting to get clues about what's going on, by the end of this book, we're still as lost as Poldarn the main character.
This book might appeal to people interested in how Vikings lived when they weren't raiding their neighbours. That is, if Vikings could read each others minds.
I'm hoping that I'll get to read the final book, Memory, but the Ottawa Public Library doesn't have it, they won't let me suggest they buy it because it was published too long ago, and their interlibrary loan page is broken.
No talking cats, but sometimes a crow talks.
Review of 'We Are Legion (We Are Bob)' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
This was just fun. It's not high literature.
On the downside, it doesn't do anything for modern themes about diversity and has no talking animals.
But it moves along.
This was just fun. It's not high literature.
On the downside, it doesn't do anything for modern themes about diversity and has no talking animals.
But it moves along.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Galactic Empires by Neil Clarke
Review of 'Galactic Empires' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
I didn't love every story in this collection, but I loved a lot of them.
And if you're serious about science fiction, many of the stories are by authors on your must-read list. Of course, you might have read the stories elsewhere, but it's probably easier to get this book from the library and read the stories than to look up all the stories first and verify that you've read them elsewhere.
I didn't love every story in this collection, but I loved a lot of them.
And if you're serious about science fiction, many of the stories are by authors on your must-read list. Of course, you might have read the stories elsewhere, but it's probably easier to get this book from the library and read the stories than to look up all the stories first and verify that you've read them elsewhere.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Ich bin viele by Dennis E. Taylor (Bobiverse, 1)
Review of 'Ich bin viele' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
This was just fun. It's not high literature.
On the downside, it doesn't do anything for modern themes about diversity and has no talking animals.
But it moves along.
This was just fun. It's not high literature.
On the downside, it doesn't do anything for modern themes about diversity and has no talking animals.
But it moves along.
David Scrimshaw reviewed The Corporation Wars by Ken MacLeod (Corporation wars -- book 2)
Review of 'The Corporation Wars' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
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].
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].
David Scrimshaw reviewed Shadow by K.J. Parker
Review of 'Shadow' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
This is well written and engaging. But, wow, it is confusing. It's so long that I had to borrow it twice from the library to finish it and I'm still confused.
I've reserved the next book in the trilogy, so maybe I'll become less confused.
This is well written and engaging. But, wow, it is confusing. It's so long that I had to borrow it twice from the library to finish it and I'm still confused.
I've reserved the next book in the trilogy, so maybe I'll become less confused.
David Scrimshaw reviewed The gun seller by Hugh Laurie
Review of 'The gun seller' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
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.
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.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Gun Seller by Hugh Laurie
Review of 'Gun Seller' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
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.
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.
Review of 'Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children, #3)' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
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.
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.














