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As an avid consumer of sci-fi and fantasy in all its forms, please allow me to say a few words about my favorite subject.
Author Archives: Bruncvik
Book Review: The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
The Calculating Stars is a superbly written alternate history story, which mixes some very recent concepts and ideas with 1950s social norms. It offers well developed characters, which the reader can get easily emotionally attached to, as well as sound … Continue reading
Musings on Recent Hugo Award Winners (and Why I Didn’t Vote for Them)
It’s no coincidence that the following text reads like the ramblings of an old man who is struggling to understand the current generation. It’s exactly that. In the next few paragraphs I’ll try to verbalize why all of my Hugo … Continue reading
Book Review: Binti: The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Okoafor
The third Binti book may have closed a series of highly successful books. The first Binti was awarded the Hugo and Nebula awards, among others, for its very original ecosystem of Earth civilizations and aliens. The second one got nominated … Continue reading
Book review: The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèli Clark
The Black God’s Drums is a fun little adventure that takes place in a well-developed and engaging alternative timeline. It may rely a little too heavily on worldbuilding at the expense of the story, but it is still engrossing, reminiscent … Continue reading
Book review: Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach by Kelly Robson
The Lucky Peach is one of the most compelling time travel stories I’ve read in the recent years. In an age when almost every viable trope in the time travel subgenre had been explored, Robson makes the wise choice of … Continue reading
Book review: Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire
It is exceedingly rare for me to miss my tram stop because I’m so engrossed in a book. This little gem managed it. I was absolutely in love with this adult fairy tale. It features a highly original story, likable … Continue reading
Safety in Dublin during the 2019 Worldcon
I’ve been living in Dublin for eight years, and for most of the time I’ve walked, run, cycled or taken public transportation. Prior to that, I spent 16 years in the US and over 20 years in various countries in … Continue reading
Book Review: Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
Second in the Murderbot series, Artificial Condition is an endearing piece of science fiction, which has a lot going for it. In particular, it’s not pretending to be more than it is: an inconsequential story in a large, fleshed-out universe. … Continue reading
Hugos 2019: Best Graphic Story
Graphic novels were a mixed bag this year. While my top pick got me all teary-eyed, and any of the top three books is a contender for the Hugo award, I feel that many better books, especially those dealing with … Continue reading
Book Review: The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard
Sherlock Holmes meets the Culture. This, in short, will be used by many reviewers of this Hugo-nominated novella. On a superficial level, this will hold true (after all, I’m using the same analogy), but I think there are a few … Continue reading