The fifth Robert Langdon book. So by now everybody everybody knows what you'll get. A mystery that can only be solved by an understanding of art. In tThe fifth Robert Langdon book. So by now everybody everybody knows what you'll get. A mystery that can only be solved by an understanding of art. In this book the focus is mostly on modern art and groundbreaking technology. The mystery is not so interesting, but Dan Brown showing of his research always is.
If you liked any of the previous Robert Langdon books, you will also enjoy this. This is a 2,5 rating book actually...more
this is actually a 2.5 star book. unlike other Laundry books this one has not Bob Howard but his wife Dr O'Brien who is the main character. For some rthis is actually a 2.5 star book. unlike other Laundry books this one has not Bob Howard but his wife Dr O'Brien who is the main character. For some reason this book feels like one of the weaker ones in this series. The story never really took off. The base idea was very good but I felt the execution was not living up to it....more
One of the statuses I posted while reading this book, is that mister Banks's writing style and scene depiction makes it hard for me to get sucked intoOne of the statuses I posted while reading this book, is that mister Banks's writing style and scene depiction makes it hard for me to get sucked into the story. For some reason his style seems to create a distance between me and the book. I have to admit though that shortly after that status I did get sucked into the book. So it must have been that I needed some more time than usually to get comfortable with his writing.
Story wise this was quite a good book. The story was a bit predictable at places, but the characters made up for that. Also the descriptions of playing the game were really adding tension to the story.
I have to admit that I was not completely convinced about the culture books when I read Consider Phlebas, but this book has pulled me over. I will definitely get the other culture books as well. ...more
Reread in 2024. I'm not sure what happened the previous time I read this book but there were whole parts of this book I had no recollection of. And noReread in 2024. I'm not sure what happened the previous time I read this book but there were whole parts of this book I had no recollection of. And not only small things. My rating remains the same. Great book.
Original review of 2027, The third book (although can you still call a 55 hours audiobook just a book?) in the stormlight archive really is a rollercoaster. Over 55 hours of story and all of it relevant. This series really has its claws in me now and I dread the long wait for the next book.
A lot happened in this book, a lot of revelations are made, and still you feel that there is a lot of hidden story gems lurking around.
Besides being a boundary pushing fantasy story, there is also like always in Brandon Sanderson's work a lot of wisdom about perseverance, religion and the root of human strength and tenacity....more
I enjoyed this book even though most of the stories in here I knew already due to my involvement in hardcore and Straight Edge. There where some partsI enjoyed this book even though most of the stories in here I knew already due to my involvement in hardcore and Straight Edge. There where some parts like the hardline chapter or the salt lake city gang violence that brought me some new information. Mostly because these things are not really part of how I see SXE.
Other then that this is a nice overview of the most influential classic straight edge bands and scenes. The whole book consists of parts of interviews with the movers and shakers from that time and that place. This results in some unreliable narrator issues, but it also emphasizes that Straight edge means different things to different people.
I for my part agree with Porcel that it is about time that a new young torchbearer band for SXE arises. This scene of 3o somethings can do with some new blood....more
This is the second book in the story of Robert Bruce. The first book felt more like a listing of history facts than a real book. That is solved in thiThis is the second book in the story of Robert Bruce. The first book felt more like a listing of history facts than a real book. That is solved in this second book. The story still feels quite historical accurate, but this time the characters have feelings and motivations.
I will surely read the next book in this series....more
this book contained some stories that take place in the background or as side stories to the other 6 first law books. I enjoyed it but I guess that mothis book contained some stories that take place in the background or as side stories to the other 6 first law books. I enjoyed it but I guess that most of this only makes sense when you read the previous books. Not all stories are equally good, but I did enjoy all the Shev and Javre stories. The combination of a thief and a fighter with some humor is always welcome.
The 2nd part of the Faller chronicle and the 7th or 8th book in the commonwealth universe. In this book the Fallers (an aggressive alien life form thaThe 2nd part of the Faller chronicle and the 7th or 8th book in the commonwealth universe. In this book the Fallers (an aggressive alien life form that takes over the dominant species on a planet) are close to overwhelming Bienvenido human population and then some help from the commonwealth arrives.
The story is quite fast paced, filled with action and suspense. While this book still talks a lot about politics and how it evolves in a harsh environment, this time the balance between that and nice SF action is better then in the previous book.
One thing you need to know is that this book is very Peter F Hamilton. All his strengths and weaknesses are present here. So if you disliked his other work, this might not pull you over to the liker's camp. But if you enjoyed any of his previous novels, you will surely enjoy this one. ...more
This was classic SF with lots of talking and lots of ideas. Sometimes the pacing was a bit weird,but other then that, this was a solid read. Nice and This was classic SF with lots of talking and lots of ideas. Sometimes the pacing was a bit weird,but other then that, this was a solid read. Nice and really alien aliens which were allocated human motives and qualities by the humans in this story. Which they even came to regret.
I will surely read the other books in this series. ...more
The collapsing empire was a fun book. It is a classic space opera complete with noble houses, trade and merchant guilds, an emperor and some mystical The collapsing empire was a fun book. It is a classic space opera complete with noble houses, trade and merchant guilds, an emperor and some mystical way to travel faster then light. The only update to this concept is the language and very modern mindset of the characters. It suffers very clearly from the first book in a series syndrome, meaning that this is basically one long introduction of the world and the main characters. But even despite that, this book reads like a train and is very enjoyable.
The (not so) hidden topic of this book is the fact that scientific evidence is often ignored because of political or religious gain. But while that is clearly present, the adventure story is nice enough to keep you entertained.
I will be picking up the second book in this series as soon as it is available on audible....more
This short collection are all stories about the Cosmere. The Cosmere is Brandon Sanderson's way to connect several of his works and fantasy worlds togThis short collection are all stories about the Cosmere. The Cosmere is Brandon Sanderson's way to connect several of his works and fantasy worlds together. The similarities that I always found in his novels and attributed to the fact that every writer has the ideas he is passionate about and wants to write about, are actually there because all these works have a background that ties them together.
In this collection you get a bunch of short stories (quite long ones :-)) and novella's. Some of them tie in to existing series of his, like Mistborn or the stormlight archive, while others are stand alone stories about Cosmere worlds where no main stories have been set yet.
This is a worthy read if you like me are invested in Brandon Sanderson's fantasy series. ...more
This was a nice surprise. I read good comments about this book and it really lived up to that. I also read somewhere that this book uses a lot of tropThis was a nice surprise. I read good comments about this book and it really lived up to that. I also read somewhere that this book uses a lot of tropes. And that is also something that I have to confirm.
But these familiar elements are put to such a good use, they lift this book right up. The characters, the language, the story, the setting. You have seen all of these things before, but it makes you feel welcome. Because of that, this first issue in a series makes you feel like you are reading the seventh installment in your favorite series. Very well done. I really had a good time with this book,
I listened to the audio book that is actually narrated by Jon Skovron, and he did a great job adding to his novel with his performance...more
Book three in the revelation space. Because of the properties of Physics these Revelation space stories span and immense time span. And still somehow Book three in the revelation space. Because of the properties of Physics these Revelation space stories span and immense time span. And still somehow Alastair Reynolds manages to make these tales about humans (or pigs). The scope is so big, but he never forgets about character building, and human conflict.
I'm not sure I understood all the tech and physics of the book but it kept me interested nonetheless. The characters, the mood setting and the overall story are very strong here. ...more
Even though I'm almost 40 now, the 14 year old boy inside me never really got away. And this book is really aimed at that target.
This is clearly a miEven though I'm almost 40 now, the 14 year old boy inside me never really got away. And this book is really aimed at that target.
This is clearly a military SF book which means that this is actually a naval battle with a space trapping on it. Other things very important are skill and honor. This book has a lot of emphasis on warriors honor and duty. Of doing the right thing, no matter what the cost. And that is stuff I really like.
There were some small annoyances in this book as well, but I have to admit that they did not prevent me from enjoying this book. They prevented me from giving this book 4 stars though. The story is a tad predictable at times, although the way it gets to the conclusions you see coming from miles away are always very interesting.
This is a very nice book if you like entertaining, slightly macho military SF.
This is the second book about the city. The story here hinges greatly on characters and events of the first book. Some seemingly small details of the This is the second book about the city. The story here hinges greatly on characters and events of the first book. Some seemingly small details of the first book became very important here.
I liked this book, the writing, the characters and the story. But there were 2 things that bothered me a bit.
1. there is a whole section in the book that is happening at the same time or even before the events of the first book. I found some of these parts a bit boring. I felt that there was not enough tension in those parts. this feeling was also caused a bit by point 2
2. This book assumes that you have recently read and remembered the first book. There are some revelations in here that I did not immediately got because the first book was to hazy in my memory.
Other then these things this is a nice, modern take on low fantasy. ...more
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