Book review: A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge

Posted on March 14, 2023 by Bruncvik

As far as expansive space operas go, this novel is mind-blowing. The scope of the worldbuilding, richness of characters and attention to detail are impressive, any they highlight the efficient writing that makes reading this book a true pleasure. Add to it the huge influence the worldbuilding exerted over future science fiction works, and you’d have a bona fide classic, if it wasn’t for a few shortcuts taken with the protagonists.

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Book review: The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley

Posted on February 23, 2023 by Bruncvik

Not every book needs to be highly original and well written to receive praise.  Sometimes, all it takes is to slap an interesting twist on a highly derivative work, and the reader will think about the story well past the last page.  This is the case of The Light Brigade.  I found it too similar to previous works, with unlikable characters and too many repetitions, but in hindsight the book gave me something to think about for quite a while.

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Book review: Live Free or Die (Troy Rising 1) by John Ringo

Posted on February 20, 2023 by Bruncvik

At a time when the vast majority of science fiction is bleak and technology is portrayed as potentially disastrous, all optimistic, forward-thinking works deserve special attention. Be it Taylor’s Bobiverse or Weir’s Project Hail Mary, readers like me appreciate true escapism to a world where wonders still exist, people are still capable of great things and humanity can overcome any challenges to flourish within the galaxy. Ringo’s Troy Rising series is yet another shining example of this kind of work. Unlike the others mentioned, however, it also presents a more grounded story, authentic characters and near-future predictions, some of which came impressively close to reality.

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Classic review: We by Yevgeny Zamytalin

Posted on February 9, 2023 by Bruncvik

We is the fundamental dystopian future novel, which served as an inspiration for many of the better known works dealing with totalitarian regimes. Written in 1921 by a Russian author who had first-hand, albeit still brief, experience with life under communist rule, the story feels very authentic and offers futuristic predictions that with the benefit of over a century of hindsight don’t sound too hyperbolic. The book expertly combines worldbuilding with characters that are very relatable, and as a result it feels fresh and modern even today, to the point where other better-known titles may feel aged.

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Classic Review: The Invincible by Stanislaw Lem

Posted on January 27, 2023 by Bruncvik

The Invincible is a truly revolutionary work. It makes bold predictions that have become the norm in later science fiction (and partially in science), serves as one of the best examples of classic idea-driven sci-fi works, and yet it still maintains its humanity. It layers meanings on top of each other, and it slowly grows on the reader. Even though you may feel detached at the beginning, you’ll very slowly and gradually begin to care about the characters. This book may not be as well known as other Lem’s works, due to the relatively recent translation, but it should definitely not be ignored.

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Modern classic: Permafrost by Alastair Reynolds

Posted on January 23, 2023 by Bruncvik

There are two kinds of time travel novels. Those that… Ah, scratch that. There are all sorts of time travel stories, but the only ones I find interesting are those that focus on the time travel paradox. Not some kind of butterfly effect that drastically changes the present, but truly convoluted ways time streams can be messed with. In this regard, All You Zombies by Robert A. Heinlein is the golden standard that all stories look up to. Permafrost is just as fascinating, even though it tackles the issue from a very different perspective: from the accepted scientific explanation of spacetime.

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Book review: The Doors of Eden by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Posted on January 16, 2023 by Bruncvik

The Doors of Eden is a high concept book with great build-up, which still falls short due to the human element. Some of the passages are fascinating and the entire concept is intriguing, but the protagonists fall flat and are largely unrelatable. While other books (including Tchaikovsky’s own works like Children of Time) may get away with this, a narrative where the impact of a global catastrophe directly and very strongly affects the main characters, suffers from such one-dimensional protagonists. I’d rank this story as one of the weaker works of this prolific author.

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Book review: Existence by David Brin

Posted on January 11, 2023 by Bruncvik

What a bargain! Two and a half books for the price of one! But wait; there is more! You get three different sub-genres of science fiction, biting commentary on current social issues, environmentalism, uplift of species, first contact with aliens, space battles, disposable protagonists and so much more. Existence is an intriguing mess that drags on for way too long and has a myriad of problems especially with how it handles its characters. Thanks to these issues the book may never reach the cult status of John Brunner’s Stand On Zanzibar, which it tries so hard to emulate, but it still may offer something to everyone, and disappointing all at the same time.

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Classic Review: Gateway (Heechee Saga 1) by Frederik Pohl

Posted on December 30, 2022 by Bruncvik

Very few books manage to win the triple crown of Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards, and Gateway is one of the most deserving ones.  It features compelling worldbuilding, a very imperfect yet relatable narrator, a mystery that manages to remain mysterious till the end, and a setting that didn’t age at all since the novel’s publication nearly half a century ago.  Gateway is the thinking man’s science fiction, with very little action, and yet riveting thanks to a tight, fast-flowing plot.  It should be the required reading for any serious science fiction fan.

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Book review: The Quantum Magician by Derek Künsken

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Bruncvik

A fast-paced heist on a galactic scale, a universe full of wildly imaginative human variants, and a narrative with a tight internal logic all combine to form a very entertaining book, which almost reaches my imaginary rank of a modern classic. Almost. There are a few elements that hint that this is the author’s debut novel, but they are completely understandable. I still recommend this wild ride to anyone, but in particular (and perhaps surprisingly) to fans of the quintessential heist-in-space novel, William Gibson’s Neuromancer.

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