The descriptions in Butler's work are always good and there is plenty of action. However, this book is SO dark. Given the horrifying 2024 election andThe descriptions in Butler's work are always good and there is plenty of action. However, this book is SO dark. Given the horrifying 2024 election and my severe case of TDS, this may not have been the right time to read about black slave owners and shape-shifting genetic engineering programs by immortals. I didn't find either of the protagonists particularly compelling or likeable. I might read the other Patternmaster books but later when my mind is visiting less dark parts of my soul because this is just boundless pessimism. ...more
I thought that this one was one of the better Age of Exploration novels that seem to take place kind of on the sidelines of the bigger Cherryh epics oI thought that this one was one of the better Age of Exploration novels that seem to take place kind of on the sidelines of the bigger Cherryh epics of Chanur, Alliance, Union, and the Faded Sun. It works well because of the extraordinary world-building with the fascinating Serpent's Reach space adjoining Alliance space that we have not explored elsewhere in Cherryh's novels. The adventures of Raen are entertaining as through her adventures we get to explore planets and stations and learn that despite this being Alliance space, it was colonized by Union and so, like in Cyteen, we encounter azi clones. Somewhat like in Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?/Blade Runner, the immorality of enslavement of the azi is a major theme here which also adds to the attractiveness of the story. If you are unfamiliar with Cherryh, I would probably not start here, but I would recommend it once you have read at least Downbelow Station and the aforementioned Cyteen....more
This was a great short novel that kind of flips the narrative on first contact and has an alien raising a human orphan at the center of the story. As This was a great short novel that kind of flips the narrative on first contact and has an alien raising a human orphan at the center of the story. As usual, Cherryh does a fantastic job at world-building describing yet another alien species, the Shonunin, and how Thorn realizes his own identity and comes into his own agency. It is a standalone novel that is a real pleasure to read and could be one that I would recommend to folks unfamiliar with Cherryh to give them a taste before diving into the longer and far more complex stories that make up the larger cycles such as Alliance-Union. ...more
This is not one of my favorite Cherryh stories. There are some interesting ideas and it is always fun to be immersed in the Alliance-Union universe. TThis is not one of my favorite Cherryh stories. There are some interesting ideas and it is always fun to be immersed in the Alliance-Union universe. This one leverages the extinct aliens and dangerous AI tropes to function as a sci-fi horror story similar to her Port Eternity book. It is not as essential as the Chanur, Faded Sun, Union, or Alliance stories but still a short but somewhat entertaining narrative with that claustrophobic style that Cherryh is so good at....more
This is Cherryh's very first novel and as such it is not bad, I just felt that she hadn't quite hit her stride yet. This is somewhere between a medievThis is Cherryh's very first novel and as such it is not bad, I just felt that she hadn't quite hit her stride yet. This is somewhere between a medieval fantasy novel and a sci-fi book with the eponymous portal, the gate of Ivrel, being the central focus point. However, I wasn't inspired by the characters here and the narrative got confusing at points. Cherryh is working up to her third-person stream-of-consciousness style that works so well in the Chanur novels as well as Cyteen, but there are still some growing pains. As much as I love her stuff, I am not sure to carry on to the other 3 novels in this cycle. ...more
Wow, this was such a powerful sequel to Russell's excellent The Sparrow. I was happy to see Emilio get back eventually to his lost paradise and felt tWow, this was such a powerful sequel to Russell's excellent The Sparrow. I was happy to see Emilio get back eventually to his lost paradise and felt that the character arcs here were well-done. The whole story is quite Catholic in the line of books like A Canticle for Leibowitz or A Case of Conscience, but I think this one is done better and truly gives the reader a lot to think about and mull over. I would put it up there with Anathem in terms of a sci-fi novel trying to talk about religion and religious experience without cramming it down the reader's throat and demonstrating a real, intimiate view of the doubts and fears that contemplating eternity and fate can bring....more
I came to this book quite late as it didn't win the big three, but rather a few tier-two prizes. Nonetheless, it was such a strong story and so well wI came to this book quite late as it didn't win the big three, but rather a few tier-two prizes. Nonetheless, it was such a strong story and so well written that I am impatient to find a copy of the sequel. It has an interesting Catholic mystique to it that sometimes reminded me of Anathem or A Canticle for Leibowitz. The colonization gone very bad was so well done and reminded me of The Poisonwood Bible in a lot of ways too. I loved the Sandoz character and the way the author reveals the whole story to us in pieces. It is a powerful first novel and some truly excellent science-fiction! It is a powerful demonstration that even with the best of intentions, we can severely misinterpret a situation to our own doom....more
Silverberg could certainly write some depressing books. After The Book of Skulls, this one must be one of his most depressing. It is a dystopian NYC rSilverberg could certainly write some depressing books. After The Book of Skulls, this one must be one of his most depressing. It is a dystopian NYC run by career criminals with a fresh start for an "uncorrupted" mayor. However, our protagonist Lew becomes seduced by the foresight of a mysterious reclusive billionaire and, in the manner of Balzac - La Peau de Chagrin or Faust, he is sucked into a universe and spit out. The writing is great and although it is a short book (just under 200 pages), it packs a punch, particularly the cynical ending. I really enjoyed it, Silverberg was a master, perhaps a bit underappreciated these days....more
I got to be a little bored with Harvest of Stars but figured that the next book would be a bit more interesting once the backstories were established.I got to be a little bored with Harvest of Stars but figured that the next book would be a bit more interesting once the backstories were established. What I got was a convoluted narrative with way too much preaching of libertarianism and not enough narrative. The story was rather confusing and I had a hard time concentrating on the narrative. There are big issues here concerning cyberspace and the future of humanity alongside Anderson's obsession with freedom at all costs, but it felt entirely too top-heavy and the characters were all so one-dimensional. The alternating chapters occur five hundred years apart that doesn't help the readability at all. This was just too much preaching to the converted to me (and I am not even a subscriber to this particular congregation) and despite its status as one of the "all-time" great sci-fi novels (and a Prometheus Award), I didn't enjoy it and had a hard time finding positive points to write about it....more
This started out as a slog. As cool as character as Kyra was, her faux-Spanish was really annoying. The Guthrie character reminded me of Robin BroadheThis started out as a slog. As cool as character as Kyra was, her faux-Spanish was really annoying. The Guthrie character reminded me of Robin Broadhead from Frederic Pohl’s Heechee series. The ideas are really good though and I liked the way he described the migration to Demeter. Clearly a libertarian manifesto and I will read the next one in the series....more
I have heard of Lovecraft quite a lot without ever having read his work. This short story is probably his most influential having inspired metal songsI have heard of Lovecraft quite a lot without ever having read his work. This short story is probably his most influential having inspired metal songs from Metallica and others as well as probably hundreds of stories and novels and video games. Admittedly, the horror atmosphere drips of violence and premonition. I felt that the text hasn't aged all that well and the plot was not incredibly original. What is compelling about it is the evil lurking in the unpronounceable eponymous villain(s) and their impossible-to-forget appearance, a tentacle-bearded skull. It is not a big investment at less than 50 pages and certainly now part of our collective imagination, but from a strictly literary perspective, not an absolute masterpiece despite its status as a horror classic....more
This is the book that inspired loads of hive mind or shared consciousness tropes in sci-fi, particularly the series Sense 8 on HBO a few years back. IThis is the book that inspired loads of hive mind or shared consciousness tropes in sci-fi, particularly the series Sense 8 on HBO a few years back. It is a great story from way back in 1953, broken into three parts. In each, we learn about the gestalts (members of the shared conscience) who each are on the rough edges of society but become something far bigger as a group. The strength of the book is more on the ideas of this emerging hive mind rather than deep character development, but I found that it was highly readable and entertaining while also being thought-provoking. A sci-fi classic for sure....more
This one was interesting. I did NOT read the original story from 1940 from which the book is derived, and maybe I should have? In any case, the end ofThis one was interesting. I did NOT read the original story from 1940 from which the book is derived, and maybe I should have? In any case, the end of the book feels a lot like The Walking Dead including the freeway into Atlanta scene. I wonder if Kirkman took inspiration from this. As for this book though, although the idea of a world in constant daylight going apeshit because of an eclipse is somewhat interesting, but the character development is weak, the relationships between the protagonists takes a long time to ferment, and I just felt like I didn't care that much about any of them. I felt the conclusion was overly depressing. Iknow other folks loved this book, but even if I loved the Robots and Foundation series of Asimov and several novels including Lord Valentine's Castle, this collaboration felt a bit flat to me....more
This is yet another PKD mind-stretching book this time about time slippage on Mars. It has a bit of a dystopian feel to it and the cynisicm that fans This is yet another PKD mind-stretching book this time about time slippage on Mars. It has a bit of a dystopian feel to it and the cynisicm that fans of this author find in each of his other works. It is not on the same level as Minority Report or UBIK, but nonetheless a great story that could only have been written by PKD....more
This was the shortest book in the magnificent Helliconia series by Aldiss. It is very pessimistic about human nature - the visit to the planet ArmagedThis was the shortest book in the magnificent Helliconia series by Aldiss. It is very pessimistic about human nature - the visit to the planet Armageddon in particular was depressing - but it is done with such a fantastic, sweeping vision. I loved how Aldiss opposes the lives of the humans going to hell on Aventus, coming back from nuclear holocaust on Earth, and continuing its eternal back and forth on Helliconia itself. It was a brilliant idea to have the Wheel under the mountain - and that is what really wins in this book, the imagination here rivals that of Silverberg's Majipoor. Fabulous sci-fi. The only reservation I have is the pseudo-babble around Gaia, but I think the book was still a 5* read....more
This was an. excellent rags to riches story that, although marketed to "juveniles" has adult themes and a great plot. I found it fascinating to see thThis was an. excellent rags to riches story that, although marketed to "juveniles" has adult themes and a great plot. I found it fascinating to see this character arc although I felt the end was a little rushed. It is not as epic as the three major works of Heinlein, Starship Troopers, Stranger in a Strange Land, and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, but it stands its ground and we can see the maturing and expanding of Heinlein's vision and unique style throughout this one. Really worthwhile reading!...more
I absolutely loved this book that immediately follows on Kesrith and builds the relationship between the primary protagonists who are distrustful of eI absolutely loved this book that immediately follows on Kesrith and builds the relationship between the primary protagonists who are distrustful of each other at first and over time develop bonds of friendship in surprising and refreshing ways. All of the characters were equally interesting and their stories just grabbed me and didn't let go. Cover to cover, it is only a few hours of reading, but just so enjoyable. I couldn't wait to finish this series off in Kutath....more
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