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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.
Category Archives: Book reviews
Modern Classic: Too Like the Lightning (Terra Ignota 1) by Ada Palmer
This tour de force has easily become my favorite science fiction book of the 2010s, and it restored my faith that classic literary science fiction would thrive in this century. Don’t get me wrong: I have other favorite authors, from … Continue reading
Book review: A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow
As far as modern retellings of classic fairy tales go, Harrow’s take on The Sleeping Beauty is quite original, emotional, and featuring one of the most efficient writing I’ve seen among this year’s Hugo nominees. The characters are highly relatable, … Continue reading
Book review: Across the Green Grass Fields (Wayward Children 6) by Seanan McGuire
Another year rolls by, and another book in the Wayward Children series gets nominated for the Hugo award. Unfortunately, as time goes by, the series seems to have lost its spark and became somewhat stale. This title digs itself into … Continue reading
Book review: She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
For an epic fairy tale, this story is exceedingly personable and nuanced. It features interesting characters with strong arcs, but also vast empires in exotic locales and cultures. Add to it a little bit of magic, some more faith in … Continue reading
Book review: Fireheart Tiger by Aliette de Bodard
With three stories crammed into a very small novella, extensive hints at worldbuilding, dialogue that is often incomplete and confusing, this book is a mess to read. The setting is tantalizingly exotic, some of the plot offers interesting parallels to … Continue reading
Book review: A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
Chambers has set a new trend in science fiction storytelling. Her works are usually very comfortable, inoffensive, full of hope, and light on technical details. She may not have been the first, but other writers are already being compared to … Continue reading
Book review: Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
A feel-good book that does its best to juggle multiple plot lines, Light from Uncommon Stars is best enjoyed when the reader leaves all preconceptions behind, before turning to the first page. Even though the book has been nominated for … Continue reading
Book review: The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente
Very few modern authors have the knack for presenting serious issues with so much light-hearted, yet insightful flair as Catherynne Valente. Her easy flowing prose is entertaining, inventive, and yet insidiously indoctrinates the reader into the author’s way of thinking. … Continue reading
Book review: A Master of Djinn by P. Djeli Clark
With his inventive worldbuilding and spectacular visuals, P. Djeli Clark has become a mainstay of the awards circuit in the recent years. His blend of alternative history, magic, urban fantasy and exotic locales resonates with me and many others, and … Continue reading
Posted in Book reviews, Hugos
Tagged alternate history, hugo, locus, nebula, urban fantasy
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Book review: Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky
A quick, entertaining read, Elder Race may appear fairly formulaic at the first glance. Tchaikovsky’s idiosyncrasies in his writing style further enhance this perception. However, the novella still includes a few hidden layers, which push it from a light evening … Continue reading