David Scrimshaw reviewed When it's a jar by Tom Holt
Maurice has just killed a dragon with a bread knife... and his true love has …
Review of "When it's a jar" on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
An easy and fun read.
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 Rose's run by Dawn Dumont
Review of "Rose's run" on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
I think Ms Dumont has spent a lot of time in bingo halls.
Anyway, this story joins her others where she describes characters that you instantly like, even when they don't get along with each other.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Doughnut by Tom Holt (YouSpace #1)
Finding himself without a job, a wife, or money, Theo Bernstein's luck changes when a …
Review of 'Doughnut' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
Alternate universe sci-fi that doesn't take itself too seriously and makes for an easy read.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Doughnut by Tom Holt
Finding himself without a job, a wife, or money, Theo Bernstein's luck changes when a …
Review of 'Doughnut' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
Alternate universe sci-fi that doesn't take itself too seriously and makes for an easy read.
First in a duology that reimagines fairy tale tropes within a space opera—The Princess Bride …
Review of 'How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
This is a good fast-paced adventure with some highly likable characters that blends sci-fi with magic.
My only quibble is that, so far, "Multiverse" seems to mean one area of a single universe rather than a group of multiple universes that differ from each other in large or small ways.
Review of 'The Epic Crush of Genie Lo (The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, #1)' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
This book felt a little too young for me, but the story moved along and I really like being exposed to Chinese mythology which is unfamiliar to me.
David Scrimshaw reviewed The outsorcerer's apprentice by Tom Holt
"A happy workforce, it is said, is a productive workforce. Mmmm. Try telling that to …
Review of "The outsorcerer's apprentice" on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
I think I enjoyed this the most of the three so far.
It would seem that when Tom Holt reads a lot of fantasy out there, he ponders how people actually put food on their table.
Review of 'Auberon (The Expanse, #8.5)' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
The Expanse series is probably the best science fiction series of the last decade and Auberon is a great addition.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Come Tumbling Down by Seanan McGuire (Wayward Children, #5)
Review of 'Come Tumbling Down' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
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.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Agency by William Gibson
They call Verity 'the app-whisperer,' and she's just been hired to evaluate a pair-of-glasses-cum-digital-assistant called …
Review of 'Agency' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
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.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Iron Dragon's Mother by Michael Swanwick
Review of "Iron Dragon's Mother" on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
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.
David Scrimshaw reviewed The Quantum Magician by Derek Künsken (The Quantum Evolution, #1)
Belisarius is a quantum man, an engineered Homo quantus who fled the powerful insight of …
Review of 'The Quantum Magician' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
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.
David Scrimshaw reviewed The furthest station by Ben Aaronovitch
"There have been ghosts on the London Underground, sad, harmless spectres whose presence does little …
Review of 'The furthest station' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
A nice quick read. Not an essential part of the series, but it has some cute stuff. Especially with the younger folk.
David Scrimshaw reviewed The Furthest Station by Ben Aaronovitch
Review of 'The Furthest Station' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
A nice quick read. Not an essential part of the series, but it has some cute stuff. Especially with the younger folk.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Lobster Is the Best Medicine by Liz Climo
Review of 'Lobster Is the Best Medicine' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
These are delightful cartoons.
And, of course, it is all talking animals.