Set in the same empire as the "Thorns" books, but a completely different protagonist, this time, one who was inspired by Harry Flashman of [b:Flashman|142458|Flashman (The Flashman Papers, #1)|George MacDonald Fraser|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320656064s/142458.jpg|1137467].
Now, I read all the Flashman books back in the 80s, and I'll admit, I got a bit tired of him, but I never tired of Prince Jalan.
Plus he travels with the bravest and strongest Viking you could imagine, and who doesn't love a good Viking?
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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's books
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Review of "Prince of Fools (The Red Queen's War, #1)" on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
Set in the same empire as the "Thorns" books, but a completely different protagonist, this time, one who was inspired by Harry Flashman of [b:Flashman|142458|Flashman (The Flashman Papers, #1)|George MacDonald Fraser|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320656064s/142458.jpg|1137467].
Now, I read all the Flashman books back in the 80s, and I'll admit, I got a bit tired of him, but I never tired of Prince Jalan.
Plus he travels with the bravest and strongest Viking you could imagine, and who doesn't love a good Viking?
David Scrimshaw reviewed Legion: Skin Deep by Brandon Sanderson (Legion, #2)
Review of 'Legion: Skin Deep' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
It's fun reading about a character who seems to have all sorts of amazing experts living in his head. It was particularly cool how he considered what others thought was a mental illness to be an asset.
It's fun reading about a character who seems to have all sorts of amazing experts living in his head. It was particularly cool how he considered what others thought was a mental illness to be an asset.
David Scrimshaw reviewed All Systems Red by Martha Wells (duplicate author entry) (The Murderbot Diaries, #1)
Review of 'All Systems Red' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
This is a charming series and I loved spending time with Murderbot.
I think this might be a good series for people who want to try science fiction because they like things like Star Trek, but don't like most sci-fi they have tried.
The stories are pretty short. Not too short for a full story to be told, but too short for someone who wants to spend a lot of time with the delightful Murderbot. (Spoiler Alert: Murderbot isn't actually a murderer. It's more a life-saver.)
This is a charming series and I loved spending time with Murderbot.
I think this might be a good series for people who want to try science fiction because they like things like Star Trek, but don't like most sci-fi they have tried.
The stories are pretty short. Not too short for a full story to be told, but too short for someone who wants to spend a lot of time with the delightful Murderbot. (Spoiler Alert: Murderbot isn't actually a murderer. It's more a life-saver.)
David Scrimshaw reviewed In Search of a Better World by Payam Akhavan
Review of 'In Search of a Better World' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
This deepened my understanding of modern genocides, but it didn't help overcome the feeling of hopelessness I get about them.
This deepened my understanding of modern genocides, but it didn't help overcome the feeling of hopelessness I get about them.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Beautiful Scars by Tom Wilson
Review of 'Beautiful Scars' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
This isn't fantasy or science fiction, so I wasn't inclined to read it, but Manon told me I'd like it.
She was right.
Even though I've followed the music of many of Tom Wilson's contemporaries, I've never followed his music.
But he has a fascinating story and he tells it beautifully.
This isn't fantasy or science fiction, so I wasn't inclined to read it, but Manon told me I'd like it.
She was right.
Even though I've followed the music of many of Tom Wilson's contemporaries, I've never followed his music.
But he has a fascinating story and he tells it beautifully.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Legion by Brandon Sanderson
Review of 'Legion' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
It's fun reading about a character who seems to have all sorts of amazing experts living in his head. It was particularly cool how he considered what others thought was a mental illness to be an asset.
It's fun reading about a character who seems to have all sorts of amazing experts living in his head. It was particularly cool how he considered what others thought was a mental illness to be an asset.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee
Review of 'Revenant Gun' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
This is a strong finish to the trilogy.
I especially like the "servicer" characters, who are basically sentient robots that the humans are barely aware of as thinking beings. I hope Yoon Ha Lee gives us more of them.
This is a strong finish to the trilogy.
I especially like the "servicer" characters, who are basically sentient robots that the humans are barely aware of as thinking beings. I hope Yoon Ha Lee gives us more of them.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells (duplicate author entry) (The Murderbot Diaries, #3)
David Scrimshaw reviewed Dracula by Bram Stoker
Review of 'Grey Sister (Book of the Ancestor, #2)' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
This is a satisfying second book in what is apparently going to be a trilogy.
Mark Lawrence is now on my must-read list.
I particularly like that each of the three series of his that I've read have very different protagonists and the stories have very different feelings.
This is a satisfying second book in what is apparently going to be a trilogy.
Mark Lawrence is now on my must-read list.
I particularly like that each of the three series of his that I've read have very different protagonists and the stories have very different feelings.
David Scrimshaw reviewed An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
Review of 'An Absolutely Remarkable Thing' on 'Storygraph'
4 stars
It was fun watching how someone could use Youtube and other social media to deal with alien first contact.
But for a serious sci-fi fan, I wanted more aliens.
Review of "The Wheel of Osheim (Red Queen's War)" on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
I really enjoyed this.
I liked the little crossovers with the Thorn series.
Spoilers follow:
Things get mostly wrapped up.
Jalan and Snorri both survive.
I see no reason that we can't have more novels about them.
I really enjoyed this.
I liked the little crossovers with the Thorn series.
Spoilers follow:
Things get mostly wrapped up.
Jalan and Snorri both survive.
I see no reason that we can't have more novels about them.
David Scrimshaw reviewed Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee
Review of 'Revenant Gun' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
This is a strong finish to the trilogy.
I especially like the "servicer" characters, who are basically sentient robots that the humans are barely aware of as thinking beings. I hope Yoon Ha Lee gives us more of them.
This is a strong finish to the trilogy.
I especially like the "servicer" characters, who are basically sentient robots that the humans are barely aware of as thinking beings. I hope Yoon Ha Lee gives us more of them.
David Scrimshaw reviewed One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence
Review of 'One Word Kill' on 'Storygraph'
5 stars
Between this book and Stranger Things, I get the impression that my life would have gone better if Dungeons and Dragons had been a thing in the early 70s and I'd found a few people to play it with.
Between this book and Stranger Things, I get the impression that my life would have gone better if Dungeons and Dragons had been a thing in the early 70s and I'd found a few people to play it with.





















