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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Finding himself without a job, a wife, or money, Theo Bernstein's luck changes when a …
Alternate universe sci-fi that doesn't take itself too seriously and makes for an easy read.
They call Verity 'the app-whisperer,' and she's just been hired to evaluate a pair-of-glasses-cum-digital-assistant called …
William Gibson is keeping it weird.
If you're into William Gibson, you don't need me to tell you to read this.
If you haven't tried any, I'd start with [b:Neuromancer|6088007|Neuromancer (Sprawl, #1)|William Gibson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554437249l/6088007.SY75.jpg|909457], but you should definitely read [b:The Peripheral|24611819|The Peripheral|William Gibson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574084339l/24611819.SY75.jpg|40167043] before this one.
If you have started the Wayward Children series, you are hooked and have already read this one.
If you haven't started, but have liked other stories about children being transported to magical lands, you should start.
If you're wondering if the series holds up and further volumes add new and interesting things without rehashing the same old stuff, be assured the series holds up.
I was lucky enough to get this from the library just before the lockdown started.
This is the third Iron Dragon book from Mr. Swanwick and it is a good fast-paced read with lots to think about.
I feel fine in saying you don't have to read the other Iron Dragon books first. I did. But so long ago that I only remember that I loved them. I want to read them again now.
Belisarius is a quantum man, an engineered Homo quantus who fled the powerful insight of …
This was great fun. Great sci-fi elements including interesting types of post-humans and artificial intelligence.
Also interesting future societies that had roots in today's world.
For a Canadian, having people who spoke varieties of French that included "tabarnak" as a bad swear word, was great.
And because this is more or less a heist story, it starts with the gathering of the team. I just love stories that start that way.
Alas, no talking rodents.
A nice quick read. Not an essential part of the series, but it has some cute stuff. Especially with the younger folk.
"There have been ghosts on the London Underground, sad, harmless spectres whose presence does little …
A nice quick read. Not an essential part of the series, but it has some cute stuff. Especially with the younger folk.
"Rosewater is a town on the edge. A community formed around the edges of a …
A captivating read.
Science fiction that takes place in Nigeria, which is a nice change, and it's a story that would only make sense in Nigeria.
The story is a lot more about psychology than technology, which is also a nice change for me.
I'm looking forward to #2 and #3.
These are delightful cartoons.
And, of course, it is all talking animals.
A fun read where you can feel confident that some surprises are in store but nothing truly awful will happen.
Ivy Gamble was born without magic and never wanted it.
Ivy Gamble is perfectly happy …
I'm not super-big on mysteries, but a I found this story about a non-magic person surrounded by magicians engaging.
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].
"The greatest philosopher of all time is offering to sell his soul to the Devil. …
A fun, brief read.
I should probably read it again sometime, because I'm not sure what really happened.
A fun read where you can feel confident that some surprises are in store but nothing truly awful will happen.
This was fun.
If you enjoy gentle humour, fantasy, and foreign culture, the chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, are rewarding.
But I have to admit that I was sad to learn that Barry Hughart had intended to write seven books, not only three, in the series, but had a falling out with his publishers. And now he's gone, so we'll never get more.
