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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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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