Category Archives: Book reviews

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

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Book reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Book review: The City & the City by China Miéville

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Book reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Modern Classic: A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Book reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

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

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Book reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

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

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Book reviews | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Book review: A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Book reviews, Hugos | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Book review: The Light Brigade by Kameron Hurley

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Book reviews | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

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

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Book reviews | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Classic review: We by Yevgeny Zamytalin

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Book reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Classic Review: The Invincible by Stanislaw Lem

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 … Continue reading

Posted in Book reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment