Author: Greig

A Hat Full of Sky

This is a second book about Tiffany Aching and the Wee Free Men.
As with the first book the writing is simpler and the world more real than is usual in a Discworld story.
There’s no real need to go into any detail of the plot, it should suffice to say that I think this is top rank Pratchett.
It’s funny, it’s moving, it’s deep and it feels full of truth.
I recommend it without hesitation.
If he can take the form he’s shown with these Young Adult books and apply them to a full blown Discworld book, he’s going to have a masterpiece on his hands.
I should note though – I get the feeling he’s getting ready to let some of his beloved characters die.

Rating: A

Newton’s Wake

This is an entertaining piece of far future science fiction. Set in a future where humans live on throughout the galaxy after the effects of a war between post human intelligences.
The story largely takes place on a planet where the people believe that they are the only survivors of the ‘Hard Rapture’. They are rudely disabused of this notion by a team scavenging amongst the post human technology left behind on the planet. The events in the book follow on from this point.
I’ve not read much in the way of science fiction recently, but this one I definitely enjoyed. No literary masterwork, but it has enough good ideas, novel takes on future society and entertaining plot to keep you reading.
Rating: B-

The Nation’s Favourite

This is a look behind the scenes of BBC Radio 1 during Matthew Bannister’s time as controller. It follows the sacking of all the old DJs, the rise and fall of Chris Evans, etc., all in their own words.
I was prompted to read this by the last ever Mark and Lard show on Radio 1. This is the period when Radcliffe was doing the Graveyard Shift – which to do this day is the best radio show I’ve ever heard.
So this was a nostalgia read. It was entertaining enough but more entertaining, perhaps, for what it leaves out.
Not as good as Garfield’s book The Wrestling, but still a good read.
Rating: B-

Witches Abroad

I bought myself a hardback copy of this in the most recent library sale. It’s always good to have a hardback copy – paperbacks don’t have the same lifespan.
Anyway I ended up reading it again. Still pretty funny after all these years. It’s not in the top rank of Pratchett’s work, but it is very good.
Rating: B+

Straw Men

This is a pretty mainstream crime thriller by the artist otherwise known as Michael Marshall Smith.
It’s a decent read, but the plot twists are telegraphed way too early for my liking.
I’d say it’s worth a read, but it’s not nearly as good as his science fiction classic Only Forward.
Rating: B

Update

I’m the middle of reading several books.
I’m doing a full re-read of the entire Sandman library -which i’ll review in long piece.
I’m also reading Straw Men by Michael Marshall and Dave Gorman’s Googlewhack Adventure. I’m also reading selected stories in the Legends II fantasy anthology, which I might review.

So, if you’re wondering at the hiatus – don’t worry it’s just that I’m reading too many things at once.

Only Forward

This is one of my favourite books from the nineties.
This is Smith’s debut novel and tells the story of Stark.
This book starts off as a funny fast paced science fiction noir and reveals new layers of meaning underlying the events in the narrative as time goes on.
It heavily depends on the fact that our narrator, Stark, is not always telling us the whole truth.
I continue to be really moved by this book, even after a decade of re-reads.
I would urge anyone to read it.
Rating: A

The Portable Door

This is first of a new series by Holt, based around a leading character called Paul Carpenter.
The book starts with Carpenter going to an interview for a job. Convinced he isn’t going to get the job he obsesses over the other candidates. In particular the unpleasant thin girl in the corner.
After a very odd interview he is offered the post. On his first day he discovers that the thin girl, called Sophie, has also been given a job. Paul spends most of his time thinking about her and falling for her.
The job is boring and weird and things aren’t what they seem.
Holt is a competent writer, and can be very funny, but I’ve always had the feeling that he jumps on bandwagons rather than writing things that he really wants to. Of course, I can’t vouch for his historical novels, so I could be wrong.
Anyway this book is really very good while it’s based around the weirdness of the workplace and kind of loses steam once he introduces a fantastical element.
Worth a read though. I’ll probably read the sequel as well – which I suspect that it will irritate me.
Rating B

The Well Of Lost Plots

This is the third Thursday Next book. After the events of the previous book Thursday is hiding out in an unfinished book in the Well of Lost Plots. She is working for Jurisfiction as an apprentice agent and learning to deal with BookWorld.
The plot as slight as it is, involves Thursday in a plot to take control of BookWorld and dealing with a mindworm left with her by Aornis Hades.
Most of the book deals with her adventures in training to be a Jurisfiction agent.
It’s most definitely silly, but it’s a nice piece of world building, and while it’s the least of the books so far it’s still a fun read. Another one for the train.
Rating: B-

Lost In A Good Book

This is the second Thursday Next book. Following on from the events of The Eyre Affair, Thursday is newly married and work seems to mostly consist of doing publicity.
The plot involves Thursday butting heads with Goliath Corp once more, still getting help from her “time travelling knight errant” father, encountering Jurisfiction and dealing with a new villain who can decrease entropy.
It’s all a bit silly, but quite good fun – in fact it’s better than the first book.
An easy read, perfect for the train.
Rating: B