Category: Fiction

kazak?

Posted on by Greig

The Sirens of Titan

Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

sirens of titanThis is a Science Fiction classic first released way back in 1959. It’s a totally different animal than the Heinlein book of a similar vintage I read recently. Certainly it’s sexual politics are a bit less dodgy however there is one discordant aside about homosexuality that did stand out.
It’s a darker, angrier piece with much more in common with the satirical masterpiece The Space Merchants and later works like Silverberg’s Dying Inside.
Although a satire, and occasionally funny, the book seethes with a palpable sense of disgust for the author’s contemporary culture and really offers no hope for the future.
I’ve read it before but it was well before I started keeping this blog.
It really is a great bit of work but it left me feeling really very down after reading it. I recommend it to any lover of literary Science Fiction but be warned it is not an uplifting tale.

Rating: A-

egress?

Posted on by Greig

The City of Ember

Jeanne DuPrau

The City of EmberThis is a quirky YA science fiction novel that was turned into a film a few years back.
While I quite liked the film general opinion online was that the book was much better.
To be honest, while different in ways, the book is pretty much the same thing.
The thing I liked most about the book was the world building. The general air of everyone muddling along and not really knowing how anything works in a city that’s falling apart and running out of resources really worked.
It’s worth reading I just didn’t feel it was at all exceptional.

Rating: B

wand?

Posted on by Greig

Double Star

Robert A Heinlein

double starHeinlein’s 1956 Hugo Award winner is a Prince and the Pauper style tale set in a future where humans have colonized the Solar System alongside native Martians and Venusians.
The Great Lorenzo is a down-at-heel actor who is shanghaied into a role of a lifetime – impersonating a prominent politician in order to prevent chaos on Mars.
The lead character is pure Heinlein – the confident competent man. In this particular case he’s only competent at acting and an idiot about everything else.
There are some rather dodgy sexual and racial politics that stand out in modern context but generally it’s much less objectionable than some of his later works.
The political intrigues and engaging storytelling pull you in but it is a very dated book. Well worth a read if you want to get to know the history of Science Fiction or are just looking for a quick and involving read.

Rating: B+

cute?

Posted on by Greig

Attachments

Rainbow Rowell

attachmentsI read this because I really enjoyed Fangirl which is one of the best YA books I’ve read in ages.
This in contrast is a pretty mainstream romance novel.
It’s set in 1999 and it’s partly told through email exchanges. The conceit being that the protagonist works in the IT department of a newspaper with a strict email filter that he monitors for violations of policy.
Reading the emails between an editor and the film critic he falls for one of the two friends.
There’s something very creepy about the premise and it makes it hard to really believe the pretty straightforward way that things resolve.
Otherwise this is a very charming read. It’s nowhere near as good as Fangirl but certainly worth reading if you like a fluffy romance.

Rating: B+

kompressor?

Posted on by Greig

The Cinderella Pact

Sarah Strohmeyer

the cinderella pactA solid romance novel where a frumpy magazine sub-editor creates an alias who becomes a overnight sensation as an advice columnist.
I bought this as a cheap paperback because I enjoyed the TV movie based on it. It turns out this was mostly because I really like Poppy Montgomery as a redhead.
It was a quick and easy read and certainly recommended if you’re looking for an enjoyable piece of fluff.

Rating: B

capri?

Posted on by Greig

The Summer I Became A Nerd

Leah Rae Miller

the summer i became a nerdA diverting, speedy read, this YA novel is a coming of age story where the lead character is a closet nerd who has carefully constructed a ‘popular’ persona to help her survive the social minefield of school life.
The plot finds her learning to be honest with herself and the people in her life.
This is another one of those Kindle Daily Deal books. Oh the dodgy books you end up reading just because they were a bargain…
It really is nothing special and only worth reading if you’re after something to switch your brain off with.

Rating: B

baz?

Posted on by Greig

Fangirl

Rainbow Rowell

fangirlCath hates new places, new people and new things. Which is a bit of a problem when she’s just moved away from home to study at college. Doubly so when she’s forced to share a room with someone other than her identical twin sister for the first time in her life.
Escaping into writing her popular serial fanfic she struggles to adjust to her new life and to deal with the problems that life throws at her.
This is easily the best YA book I’ve read since The Fault In Our Stars. I really enjoyed spending time in Cath’s head. I’ve read a ton of fanfic in the past year after going crazy for The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and I really empathized with her, while recognizing that she’s young and frequently mistaken about how other people thnk and how the world works.
In fact I devoured the book in less than a day.
I recommend this to anyone but especially to those with an interest in YA books or the world of fanfic.

Rating: A

veronica?

Posted on by Greig

Faking It

Jennifer Crusie

faking itA charming romance novel about con men and art forgers.
I got a very Gilmore Girls vibe from this book with all the pop culture references and the family of wonderful and off kilter women. This isn’t surprising when you remember that the author once edited a collection of essays about that beloved TV show.
I liked the slightly neurotic lead character Tilda a lot and I think I would like to read more about her.
I’d recommend this if you’re in the mood for an entertaining slice of romantic hokum.

Rating: B

fabber?

Posted on by Greig

Rule 34

Charles Stross

Rule 34The follow up to Halting State is another Edinburgh set near future crime thriller written in the second person.
Told from the perspective of several characters including a police detective, an organized crime ‘executive’ and a local hacker the story gradually uncovers an intricate plot involving puppet states, international financial manipulation, murder investigations, and artificial intelligence researchers.
It takes a while to get into as the second person thing is so jarring but once you’re into the story it’s a great read with interesting characters who aren’t just your regular square-jawed straight white folks.
Definitely recommended, particularly if you liked Halting State.

Rating: A-

starlight?

Posted on by Greig

The Shambling Guide To New York

Mur Lafferty

shambling guide to new yorkThis enjoyable slice of urban fantasy was a Christmas gift from my parents this year. I’m not usually so good at reading gifts promptly but this seemed like a quick, fun read and I was not wrong.
An ordinary human finds herself working for a supernatural publishing company editing a travel guide and subsequently smack in the middle of events as chaos hits New York.
As I said it’s a fun a read and an intriguing start to a series. Recommended if you like a bit of urban fantasy.

Rating: B