Flash review: The Sisters of Saint Nicola of The Almost Perpetual Motion vs the Lurch by Garth Nix

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Bruncvik

Highly energetic, outrageously ridiculous, and compellingly weird. This novelette, whose full name I will not repeat lest be accused of padding the word count of this review, hit me in all the right spots. It is easy flowing, features very fascinating worldbuilding, has set pieces that are exciting and funny at once, and leaves me longing for more. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had such a fun-filled half an hour of reading.

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Book review: Relic by Alan Dean Foster

Posted on May 23, 2023 by Bruncvik

The most recent novel by Alan Dean Foster is quite a surprise. It reads like pastoral science fiction of old, while maintaining its own modern character. It’s slow and ponderous, with minimal action, yet endearing and insightful. It will please only a subset of readers who appreciate the slower, almost hypnotic pace, and those who like to break away from serious conflict. If it wasn’t for the final twist, mildly annoying in its grandiosity, I would consider Relic to be one of the best books of the last five years.

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Book review: The Genesis Fleet trilogy by Jack Campbell

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Bruncvik

Jack Campbell has built up one of the most successful military science fiction franchises, thanks to a few simple strategies. He kept the worldbuilding, character development and moral ambiguities at a minimum, and instead focused on the tactics of space battles. Each book features a different scenario, and the author comes up with a way for the good guys to emerge victorious. Over time, especially in spin-off series to the main Lost Fleet narrative, Campbell added more strategic elements, better character development and even humor. And so, here we are. At a prequel trilogy, which is far more refined than other books in the universe, with characters that are so likable I had problems parting with them, and with set pieces that are far more exciting than in the original series.

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Flash review: Counting Casualties by Yoon Ha Lee

Posted on May 10, 2023 by Bruncvik

A space opera encompassing a galactic war, numerous planets and cultures destroyed, and a journey that takes several years, in a package of less than 5000 words. Yoon Ha Lee continues with her trend of creating enormous worlds, which are all but obscure to her readers. However, unlike Ninefox Gambit, the size of this story does not allow for concepts to get out of hand, and the audience will always know what they are dealing with.

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Book review: The Haunting of Tram Car 015 by P. Djeli Clark

Posted on May 3, 2023 by Bruncvik

P. Djeli Clark is a master worldbuilder, and his Egypt of the 1910s is so far his most fleshed-out world. Haunting is one of three novellas set in this place, followed later by a novel. Many of his stories, including this one, received nominations for most of the major awards, and even though Haunting didn’t win any, it’s still a fairly quick and pleasant read.

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Flash Review: The Difference Between Love and Time by Catherynne M. Valente

Posted on April 25, 2023 by Bruncvik

Valente has a penchant for quirky writing, but even so, this story ranks among her more extreme ones. And I mean it in a good way. This short, but endearing and funny novelette, highlights the author’s skill with words and settings, as well as her perfect timing at delivering gut punches, only to soften them with gentle humor. Difference may not be for everyone, as it is wide open for interpretation, but if absorbed in one sitting, it will provide high entertainment value.

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Book review: The City & the City by China Miéville

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Bruncvik

Given the choice between worldbuilding and good characters, I always pick the latter. But every rule has an exception, that The City & the City is just that. The worldbuilding here is absolutely perfect. It is unique, yet simple enough to be open for interpretation, to the extent where I’ve been thinking about the author’s setting ever since I finished the book a few weeks ago. This novel has deservedly won the BSFA and Locus awards, along with many others.

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Modern Classic: A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge

Posted on April 12, 2023 by Bruncvik

Very few books from the last quarter of a century were as influential as A Deepness in the Sky. Even fewer managed to upstage their already great predecessors in a truly grand manner. And while there are other titles spanning massive scales of time and space, well-developed alien civilizations, or a slew of memorable characters the reader develops strong feelings towards, very few authors manage to combine all three into such a delightful classic as Vernor Vinge did.

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Flash review: Burning Books for Pleasure and Profit by K. J. Parker

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Bruncvik

This fast-paced, amusing story is a pleasure to read. It combines an inventive world, a moral quandary that the author very efficiently and plausibly resolves, and characters that have a certain charm, be they the heroes or antagonists. The story won’t stay with the reader for long, but it will provide for half an hour of blissful entertainment.

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Flash review: Even If Such Ways Are Bad by Rich Larson

Posted on March 29, 2023 by Bruncvik

Rich Larson first popped up on my radar with Quandary Aminu vs The Butterfly Man, a fast-paced biopunk story. I really enjoyed that story’s inventiveness, theme and the pacing. Unfortunately, his latest story lacks some of these elements and adds new problems, which make Ways rather mediocre, with the only saving quality being the hints of a rich and very weird universe.

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