Author: Greig

Professional Librarian from Fife who likes books and music.

inskipp?

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The Stainless Steel Rat

Harry Harrison

Harrison – who passed away recently at the age of 87 – was a master of smart, funny satirical science fiction.
The Stainless Steel Rat books were always my favourites and I’d been thinking about re-reading them before news of his death prompted me to finally buy a copy.
While the book is dated in many respects (it was originally published in 1961) it’s still a fast read, full of expertly constructed capers and a whole lot of fun.
We’re only just getting to know Slippery Jim DiGriz in this book and he evolves into an irrestistable character over the next few books in the series.
You should be able to pick this up cheap from a second hand bookshop but it’s also available from Gollancz’s SF Gateway site.
It’s well worth a read and I recommend it to those who like classic science fiction or want to revisit the rat.

Rating: A-

patisserie?

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Moon Over Soho

Ben Aaronovitch

The second PC Grant book finds the characters still dealing with the repercussions of the events in the first book.
Physical and mental injuries to his colleagues mean that Grant is left on his own in the field for the first time as he investigates the deaths of jazz musicians that show telltale signs of magical influence and continues to try and find who’s been killing men by biting their penises off.
The book feels a bit less focussed than the first of the series and it annoyed me by having the lead character being stupid in a really obvious way for a good chunk of the tale.
I’d still recommend the book as it’s a really satisfying mix of humour, horror and police procedural.

Rating: A-

toby?

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Rivers of London

Ben Aaronovitch

This mix of supernatural horror, fantasy and police procedural is very entertaining. It’s so good, in fact, that I’ve already started reading the follow up.
Peter Grant is a probationary constable in the Metropolitan Police, staring down a career behind a desk. An interview with a witness at the scene of a homicide sends his life on a new course when the eyewitness turns out to be a ghost.
This tale is a perfectly judged fluid mix of horror and comedy that serves a well wrought detective story.
I can’t wait to see where the author goes with this series.
I would recommend this book without hesitation (especially since it’s on sale for £1.99 on the UK kindle store at the time of writing).

Rating: A

rectangles?

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The Long Earth

Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter

the long earth by terry pratchett and stephen baxterThis first collaboration between Pratchett and Baxter is the initial offering of a proposed trilogy.
The books events are spun into motion when a scientist mysteriously disappears leaving behind him instructions on how to build a device that allows people to ‘step’ to parallel versions of the Earth.
A vital point to make is that this is a pretty straight ahead science fiction novel mostly free from Pratchett’s trademark humour. Set your expectations accordingly.
This is a promising book but it does spend a hell of a lot of time setting things up and provides not much in the way of payoff. I do like the central character of Joshua Valiente a lot and I will be keen to pick up the sequel when it comes out.
I can only recommend the book if you’re prepared to commit yourself to the full series. If you’re a fan of Pratchett or Baxter (I’m a fan of both) then I think you really should make the necessary commitment.

Rating: A-

attic?

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Dave Gorman Vs the Rest of the World

Dave Gorman

What do you do when you get bored and have time to kill? Dave Gorman asked his followers on twitter if they fancied playing a game.
This book chronicles his travels all over the UK to play strangers, acquaintances and friends at various games from Monopoly to Darts with odd pub and board games thrown in.
Gorman has previous when it comes to taking on insane challenges – see Are You Dave Gorman? and Dave Gorman’s Googlewhack Adventure which are both very funny books (I’ve read them but they escaped being reviewed on the blog).
Gorman has a pleasing style and the book is genuinely funny but there’s just something tired and bored underlying the adventures.
Something screams “I want to stop doing crazy stuff and to settle down!”
Recommended if you liked his earlier books.

Rating: B+

smallpark?

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Where the Hell Am I? Trips I have survived.

Ken Levine

Levine is a hugely successful sitcom writer (his resume includes MASH, Cheers and a couple of Simpsons episodes) and this is a collection of short travelogues he initially wrote as emails to friends and family that ended up becoming a staple of his blog (which I recommend reading by the way).
It’s pretty lighthearted jokey stuff but it never really lights the heather on fire.
I got it for nothing, but certainly worth it’s normal low price if you particularly like his blog.

Rating: B-

nancy?

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Lemonade Mouth

Mark Peter Hughes

Lemonade MouthI came across the Lemonade Mouth film while looking for episodes of Phineas and Ferb (awesome kid’s cartoon) on the Disney channel. I gave it five minutes expecting to hate it and instead found it sweetly funny and filled with pleasant songs (well constructed teen pop, nothing revelatory).
So when I saw the book the film was based on for sale in the Kindle store on Amazon for a couple of quid I decided it was worth trying.
It differs from the film in that the characters less obviously photogenic and the music they play in the book sounds insanely off the wall, but most of the character’s themes and motivations are there.
In the book the story is told from the perspectives of the individual band members and some other people involved in the events related.
It’s a sweetly funny, very readable young adult book and I’m not surprised it translated so well into a tv film.
Recommended if you enjoyed the film or like charming young adult tales where misfits band together to become something greater. Personally I’m a sucker for that kind of thing.

Rating: B+

arisaig?

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Espedair Street

Iain Banks

Espedair StreetThe last review I wrote of this book is still a pretty accurate precis of the book and my feelings about it.
I get the impression that Banks was obsessed with rock music growing up. He must have been to have constructed this ur-myth of rock stardom. He takes elements from several real bands to make his perfect vision of musicial success, excess and hubris.
What struck me during this re-read was how influential this book must have been on my idea of what a band should be like and my understanding of the music industry. So many of the music crazy people I know have read Espedair Street and I can’t help but think that there has to be a generation informed and maybe even inspired by Banks’ charming but slight tale.
I’d still recommend this book to people but with the caveat that the 25 years since publication have rendered this a period piece and that it contains attitudes that seem wildly out of date now.

Rating: B

oof?

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How To Be A Woman

Caitlin Moran

Moran’s book is a funny autobiographical feminist polemic.
Each chapter illustrates an aspect of growing up and living as a woman using events in her own life.
Her anecdotes are usually hilarious, occasionally moving and nearly always enlightening.
I found much to admire in her take on feminism, but that’s not too surprising given how well it chimes with my own views.
It’s currently available as a cheap paperback or ebook and is well worth buying.

Rating: A-