User Profile

avatar for DScrimshaw

David Scrimshaw Locked account

DScrimshaw@bookwyrm.world

Joined 1 year, 11 months ago

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.

Follow on Fediverse

This link opens in a pop-up window

David Scrimshaw's books

To Read (View all 328)

Pat Murphy: The Adventures of Mary Darling (Paperback, Tachyon Publications LLC)
Kevin Hearne: Candle and Crow (2024, Little, Brown Book Group Limited)
Austin Grossman: Fight Me (2024, Penguin Books, Limited)

Currently Reading

Lev Grossman: The magician king (2011, Viking)

Read (View all 959)

K.J. Parker: The Two of Swords: Volume One (Orbit)
Kate Heartfield: The Embroidered Book (AudiobookFormat, 2022, HarperCollins UK and Blackstone Publishing)
Steven Brust: Lyorn (EBook, 2024, Doherty Associates, LLC, Tom)

User Activity

RSS feed Back

reviewed The Mechanical by Ian Tregillis (Alchemy wars -- Book one)

Ian Tregillis: The Mechanical (Paperback, 2015, Orbit Books, Orbit)

"The Clakker: a mechanical man, endowed with great strength and boundless stamina -- but beholden …

Review of 'The Mechanical' on 'Storygraph'

This book didn't set me on fire, but I want to find out what happens next. Particularly to the "Mechanical" who is the main character.

reviewed Europe at Midnight by Dave Hutchinson

No cover

Dave Hutchinson: Europe at Midnight (2015)

Review of 'Europe at Midnight' on 'Storygraph'

This book is more obviously science fiction than [b:Europe in Autumn|18143945|Europe in Autumn (Fractured Europe Sequence, #1)|Dave Hutchinson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1382971951s/18143945.jpg|25491267], but just as compelling.

Apparently, the third, and possibly final volume, [b:Europe in Winter|31277243|Europe in Winter (Fractured Europe Sequence, #3)|Dave Hutchinson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1469629375s/31277243.jpg|51933349] is out, but the Ottawa Public Library does not have it. Arrgh!

reviewed Europe in Autumn by Dave Hutchinson

Dave Hutchinson: Europe in Autumn (2020, Rebellion, Solaris)

Review of 'Europe in Autumn' on 'Storygraph'

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There are no robots, spaceships or aliens, but it's still sci-fi. It is also very good spy fiction.

The series is called the Fractured Europe sequence because it is set in a Europe of a couple decades from now where the EU has fractured and all sorts of tiny countries have split off from the countries we know now.

I feel badly for Dave Hutchinson because in his books, England is still in the EU, but the separate Scotland is not. But he wrote these books before Brexit.

reviewed Europe in Autumn by Dave Hutchinson

Dave Hutchinson: Europe in Autumn (Paperback, 2014, Solaris, imusti)

Review of 'Europe in Autumn' on 'Storygraph'

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There are no robots, spaceships or aliens, but it's still sci-fi. It is also very good spy fiction.

The series is called the Fractured Europe sequence because it is set in a Europe of a couple decades from now where the EU has fractured and all sorts of tiny countries have split off from the countries we know now.

I feel badly for Dave Hutchinson because in his books, England is still in the EU, but the separate Scotland is not. But he wrote these books before Brexit.

reviewed Babylon's Ashes by James S. A. Corey

James S. A. Corey: Babylon's Ashes (2016, Orbit)

A revolution brewing for generations has begun in fire. It will end in blood.

…

Review of "Babylon's Ashes (The Expanse, #6)" on 'Storygraph'

The Expanse series continues to be excellent sci-fi. It's got lots of space ships with believable politics.

The end of this book felt like it could be the end of the series, which would have made me sad. But I see that there are supposed to be at least three more novels.

reviewed Babylon's Ashes (The Expanse, #6) by James S. A. Corey

James S. A. Corey: Babylon's Ashes (The Expanse, #6) (2017, Orbit)

Review of "Babylon's Ashes (The Expanse, #6)" on 'Storygraph'

The Expanse series continues to be excellent sci-fi. It's got lots of space ships with believable politics.

The end of this book felt like it could be the end of the series, which would have made me sad. But I see that there are supposed to be at least three more novels.

reviewed Goldenhand by Garth Nix (Old Kingdom series -- [5])

Garth Nix: Goldenhand (2016, HarperCollins Publishers)

Lirael lost one of her hands in the binding of Orannis, but now she has …

Review of 'Goldenhand' on 'Storygraph'

An entirely satisfying read. I hope Mr. Nix writes more in this series, but since I like pretty much everything he writes, I just want him to keep writing.

However, this series does have something for fans of talking cats. I'd say more but spoilers.

reviewed Stiletto by Daniel O'Malley

Daniel O'Malley: Stiletto (Hardcover, 2016, Little, Brown and Company)

In this spirited sequel to the acclaimed The Rook, Myfanwy Thomas returns to clinch an …

Review of 'Stiletto' on 'Storygraph'

A terrific sequel to [b:The Rook|10836728|The Rook (The Checquy Files, #1)|Daniel O'Malley|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327619585s/10836728.jpg|15750881].

I hope Daniel O'Malley keeps this going. Even though there are no talking cats or rodents. Admittedly there were some talking reptiles, but they were more like reptile shaped telephones.

reviewed The last Adventure of Constance Verity by A. Lee Martinez (Constance Verity)

A. Lee Martinez: The last Adventure of Constance Verity

Review of 'The last Adventure of Constance Verity' on 'Storygraph'

Like all Martinez books, this was fun. It moved along and I didn't know where it would go next.

But there are other Martinez books that I loved and this wasn't up there with those.

No talking cats or rodents, just a talking pen.

reviewed Not So Much, Said the Cat by Michael Swanwick

No cover

Michael Swanwick: Not So Much, Said the Cat (2016, Tachyon Publications)

Review of 'Not So Much, Said the Cat' on 'Storygraph'

I wanted to read this book so much that I actually paid for it. I was not disappointed, and I get to read it again any time I want to.

It's got a great assortment of stories. Even if you don't include the title one that includes a talking cat.

reviewed Hurricane Fever by Tobias S. Buckell

Tobias S. Buckell: Hurricane Fever (2014, Penguin Random House)

"A storm is coming ... Introducing a pulse-pounding technothriller by the New York Times bestselling …

Review of 'Hurricane Fever' on 'Storygraph'

It's kind of fun to read a James Bond type action story where the secret agent is a Caribbean guy.

I like Buckell's outer space science fiction more, but I'll read the next story about Roo Jones.

Even though small talking animals aren't even a possibility.

reviewed Hurricane fever by Tobias S. Buckell

Tobias S. Buckell: Hurricane fever (2014, Doherty Associates, LLC, Tom)

"A storm is coming ... Introducing a pulse-pounding technothriller by the New York Times bestselling …

Review of 'Hurricane fever' on 'Storygraph'

It's kind of fun to read a James Bond type action story where the secret agent is a Caribbean guy.

I like Buckell's outer space science fiction more, but I'll read the next story about Roo Jones.

Even though small talking animals aren't even a possibility.

reviewed Not so much said the cat by Michael Swanwick

Michael Swanwick: Not so much said the cat (2016)

In this collection of short stories, Swanwick takes us on a whirlwind journey across the …

Review of 'Not so much said the cat' on 'Storygraph'

I wanted to read this book so much that I actually paid for it. I was not disappointed, and I get to read it again any time I want to.

It's got a great assortment of stories. Even if you don't include the title one that includes a talking cat.