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.
This link opens in a pop-up window
Another wonderful work from Liz Climo. Here's a tip for you: Go to her website and add her feed to your RSS reader. She is an endless delight.
"A happy workforce, it is said, is a productive workforce. Mmmm. Try telling that to …
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.
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.
First in a duology that reimagines fairy tale tropes within a space opera—The Princess Bride …
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
I was almost inclined not to read this because the fairyland our human heroine is navigating is not a fun place to be.
But this is a good story.
This is apparently autobiography. So, we learn that Ms Dumont went to law school. I always feel sad when I learn that someone went to law school but didn't stay with the law.
But if they're going to write engaging books that let us learn about people we don't learn enough about, I'm just glad that their path took them to where they are.
And get this, she does standup comedy. There's an audio clip at:
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/laughoutloud/dawn-dumont-at-the-turtle-island-too-gala-a-celebration-of-aboriginal-comedy-1.1742517
Stories that interconnect four First Nations people, Everett Kaiswatim, Nellie Gordon, Julie Papequash, and Nathan …
An outstanding of collection of linked short stories.
These would appeal to anyone who has an interest in people surviving impossible childhoods and how all of it can wind up messing up a whole life.
The stories were often bleak, but still there's hope.
