I downloaded this one to read for the drive to a track meet for my daughter (since it would be dark at least on the way home). A friend read a differeI downloaded this one to read for the drive to a track meet for my daughter (since it would be dark at least on the way home). A friend read a different book by the publisher and I had bookmarked their web site for that purpose, they seemed to have lots of weird (and hopefully wonderful) books, some by comic book creators, others by famous authors (the one that got my attention was from Max Allan Collins) and they seemed to be on kindle for .99, which is my favorite price.
The cover of this one just got me, so I went for it. It was surprisingly good! Set in 2099 (as all good near future stories should be) the world disintegrated after 'the big melt' and what was left of the rich and powerful formed one big business, the Consortium, which wrestled Antartica (now the best place to live since the ice caps melted) from the original people that fled there.
Of course they messed that up too. Our 'hero' is a 'skulker' basically a bounty hunter for the Consortium with 'biohacks' to make him a superhero who is hired to do a prisoner exchange with a 'feral' tribe (the people still in Antarctica that don't work for the corporation.
He finds far more than he bargained for... a fight with a polar bear, a beautiful scientist, alient ruins, and maybe, a way to save the world.
While the main character Sugg and his girl Cass are far too perfect in a very imperfect world, the author does a great job world building in a natural way and without pages of info dumping. You get the total sense of the world very quickly. The plot is pretty predictable, but that's ok.. the story is such that any twists that were too weird would be annoying.
It also had chapter illustrations by UK artist Simon Bisley, which are pretty great and probably would be even better if you looked at them not on the kindle app on your cell phone. I'd definitely check out a 2nd book if one happens or something else by the author.
Read this for book club.. I'd seen the cover before but it wasn't really on my radar. It did sound good though, so I dove in with decently high expectRead this for book club.. I'd seen the cover before but it wasn't really on my radar. It did sound good though, so I dove in with decently high expectations.
I really like the concept of a dystopian world that is dying not due to any ma made problem that can be fixed, but rather just the the sun has faded. The impact that would have on the world, and on society is immense and very much worth exploring. Then we have 'the corridor' where it seems it is still a bit warmish, and 'the ice' where some sort of barbarians live, but lots of old world technology seems to be.
Unfortunately, that unique and interesting set up is the backdrop for what feels like a fan mashing together their favorite books into one story because they think it will be cool.
We start out with Name of the Wind (dirt poor main character with amazing power if only someone trains them, and their travails of dealing with the rich kids).. but it quickly falls into Harry Potter tropes (not that those are all that different, to be honest. Then there's 'the path' which needs 'serenity' to find, unless you get there by 'anger' (sounds a bit like that other 'force' with the big light swords, doesn't it?). Oh, and the main character also seems to also be Wolverine.
There was what I hope wasn't supposed to be a shocking twist that I was only surprised that it too so long to happen... then there is a sometime in the future prologue and epilogue that tease what might happen next but neither really fits with the story.
I think if the author focused even a bit more on the unique parts of this world, it would have been an amazing story. Instead, we get a run of the mill 'school' story that has been done a million times, and honestly there were not really any characters to really latch on to for the good feels that alot of these books seem get readers with. There are just too many characters and way too much time spent on the minutae of the Abbey and the training of the novices that would have fit better in the RPG handbook after the story because a massive franchise (oops).
This is one of those books were the cover is the best part.... I don't think it's actually Frazetta, but definitely someone doing a decent impression.This is one of those books were the cover is the best part.... I don't think it's actually Frazetta, but definitely someone doing a decent impression.
The story is a straight up adolescent power fantasy, set in a post nuclear holocaust society where there are lots of mutated monsters for the hero to fight. The 'good guys' have to go on a quest to find the Dark Lady, who is the greatest magic user in the world, as long as she's married to the king, but they want her married to THEIR king, instead of the evil one she's currently with.
Modern readers will definitely cringe a bit.. it's not as bad as, say the Gor books, but it's in the neighborhood as far as the 'women are only for one thing' goes, but at least the one that is one of the main character can handle a sword in a fight and isn't a damsel in distress.
I haven't read on of these for a bit so it was a perfectly good quick read between other, better things....more
I had put the first two volumes of this back on my to read pile a while back.. I remembered really liking them, and who doesn't love the concept of 1/I had put the first two volumes of this back on my to read pile a while back.. I remembered really liking them, and who doesn't love the concept of 1/2 animal soldiers from a visual standpoint>
Now I remember... despite the great premise and awesome art, the story just never really does anywhere. It meanders between flash backs and present day, with a few 'imaginary' stories mixed in... not unlike when TMNT got passed around to different writers back in the day.
So in the end, I'm back where I was with it.. maybe I'll pick up more if they ever turn up for a good deal, but not really worth going out of the way for.
The art and the character designs though.. great stuff.
I got this out of Previews having only vaguely heard of it on the strength of 2000 AD stuff generally being great and that amazing cover.
The plot overI got this out of Previews having only vaguely heard of it on the strength of 2000 AD stuff generally being great and that amazing cover.
The plot overall is pretty basic.... evil humans are persuing an Inquisition against aliens, and Nemesis is the leader of the alien resistence.
The imagery of the Inquisition is pretty awesome... both like the historical version and futuristic at the same time, and Nemesis is this weird alien/tech looking hybrid that just jumps off the page... the art is just great.
Very happy I grabbed it... I hope they continue with the 'definitive edition' so I don't have to swap to another version. ...more
Turns out this is one of those that the cover is the best part.. maybe that needs to be a category? (I'd have to go back...)
So in this grim post-apocaTurns out this is one of those that the cover is the best part.. maybe that needs to be a category? (I'd have to go back...)
So in this grim post-apocaltyptic world, there are Professors, people that life in literal Ivory towers run by academics from the old world. Barbarians are more tribal. When Marianne's brother is killed in a raid, she's fasinated and ends up going the the invaders the next time they come... and ends up 'married' to one.
It's a pretty grim, misogynistic tale that has several twists, but each one grimmer than the last. There are some interesting ideas about the relationship between the two groups, but even the characters just blow them off.. the barbarians, in the end, are just nihilistic, really, and burn just about everything they come across. Then there's this weird child that seems to pretend to be mad, and is treated like a dog.. it's very odd. Not sure what the point is there. THe end.. even more nihilistic then the rest of the book.
The cover advertises this as 'swords vs. magic' but it's really 'nomads vs. civilization'.. it's set 3000 years after nuclear holocaust.. one group arThe cover advertises this as 'swords vs. magic' but it's really 'nomads vs. civilization'.. it's set 3000 years after nuclear holocaust.. one group are horse riding warriors, the other live in cities and do 'magic (mostly technology) and try to be one with the Earth.
WAY to0 much description, not much in the way of characters, and a pretty average, standard plot. Nothing really to see here. ...more
I was happy to grab this on my last alibris order... I definitely haven't read enough of Weinbaum. This is not actually a novel, or course, but two seI was happy to grab this on my last alibris order... I definitely haven't read enough of Weinbaum. This is not actually a novel, or course, but two separate novella from the old magazines (based on length, I suspect at least the 2nd was probably a serial).
The first 'Dawn of Flame' pictures a USA being re-united after hundreds of years of barbarism by a group that has rediscovered most modern (for 1938 anyway) tech, including some new tricks, including what are essentially Tasers (nice!)... a 'resonator' that blows up gun powder for miles around, and 'hard radiation' that, in applid just right, makes you immortal. The first story is about a mountain man that discovers this new group, including 'Black Margot', the Princess of the story.
the 2nd story 'The Black Flame' takes place several hundred years, when the world is united, but some people (even though by all accounts it's managed extremely well), resent the rule of the Immortals. Here, the main character is a man of 'current' (1938) times that somehow slept through all this instead of being electrocuted, and gets stuck in the center of a revolution.
Weinbaum has some really interesting views and thoughts about Immortality, and his future vision has the usual fun mix of things that make sense and came true and stuff that is a bit nonsensical. My favorite was his 'atomic bomb' that did no more damage than a bit of plastic explosives.
The 1st story is far better than the 2nd... in the 2nd the plot is such at is quite clear exactly what's going to happen after 5 pages, since nothing else would make any sense, which is never good. THe meldrama between the character was WAY over the top.. worthy of the worst romance novel, and was far too large a chunk of the story. The journey still isn't bad though, not enough to cancel out how fun the 1st one story is. ...more
This was the first book by Ursula Le Guin I really just didn't like that much. I can appreciate the creativity in it... the building of world upon worThis was the first book by Ursula Le Guin I really just didn't like that much. I can appreciate the creativity in it... the building of world upon world, as she did, like the story was being written by a group of people in a circle, taking turns with each line. And it (mostly) held together.
What I didn't need is nearly 1/2 the book being spent on the mechanics of dreams and the technology that drove the story.. that part felt VERY 1970s to me. I also dislike near future scenarios that are so very far from the world we know... the changes in the world from 1971 are far too much too soon.. even considering the plot.
I did really like the two main characters... George and Dr. Huber, but I did get really annoyed at the romance bit.. it was totally out of nowhere, as if someone decided the surely the book could not exist without it.
While a medicore outing from such a great author is still not a terrible read, I definitely wouldn't recommend this one over an f her others I've read....more
I read this for the Hugo award book club here... not something I had any idea existed before hand... it's an intriguing premise... a dystopian novel 'I read this for the Hugo award book club here... not something I had any idea existed before hand... it's an intriguing premise... a dystopian novel 'written' by an alternate universe Hitler, who, instead of being Hitler, moves to New York after getting disillusioned by the nascent National Socialists and becomes first a sci fi artist, then a writer.
The novel is some good absurdist literature, but WAY too long... the story (which runs 230ish pages) could have been 1/2 that easily and got the point across. It sorta tries to make the Nazis the good guys by setting it in a post atomic world populated by helpless mutants and evil mind controling 'Dominators', which just the 'true men' are the ones saving the world. The imagery is absolutely off the scale.. which first is funny while driving the point home, then just goes on and on and on.
The end is an 'analysis' of the story.. which tells us that in this world, the Nazis never came to power, but instead Communism went unchecked through Europe and Africa, and only The American and Japanese oppose them. It also talks about how Stalin committed the atrocities of the Holocaust.. opening up some really interesting things to think about.
I always say the mark of a good sci fi story is that it makes you think, and this book does that, which is good. I do wonder about the actual authors political leanings... I may have to check that out to give some the book more context. Overall, a strong stomach is definitely required, and I was doing a fair amount of skimming in the 2nd half, but the first bit and the afterward are definitely interesting. ...more
I was really pleased to find this at a library book sale a couple weeks back (The 1st one I had found since the Pandemic).. it was a 'fill a bag' typeI was really pleased to find this at a library book sale a couple weeks back (The 1st one I had found since the Pandemic).. it was a 'fill a bag' type sale, so for $5 we managed 29 books of various types.
My copy of this one is a Batnam paperback from the late 70s and has a bit of past water damage, but is pretty good as old books go.
The book is not a novel as much as 3 novella of different time periods, each about 600 years apart. The first chronicles the fall of civilization after nuclear war, and the priesthood that attempts (largely without success) to keep knowledge alive. In the story, a young monk finds an unlooted fallout shelter that has bits of blueprints for what sounds like vacuum tubes. The main story here is a wel done satirizing of the medeval church, as the main action is not about the discovery, but how the church can use it to help it's patron, St. Liebowitz (not yet a saint to the Vatican) achieve his sainthood.
Its a very good version of the fall of man, with some great touches that reminded me of two of my other favorite version of the same... the 'Gamma World' RPG system (with it's adventures to explore the tower of 'Mike Soft' on the coast of 'Sea Battle'.)... and the Babyon 5 episode of the far future where the Rangers, Foundation-like, are visiting a monastery to monitor tech discoveries.
The 2nd book is 600 years later, and shows a world that has organized states, but still little technology and literacy.. it is a work of only the strong surviving, but the monk of St. Liebowitz continue to preserve and now try to interpret the knowledge (Memorabilia, as they call it in the story) to help the world. In the story, one of the monk develops an electric generator (Monk-powered, of course, with novices on treadmills), and a non-church scholar comes to investigate. It's intended to be the tipping point where the new society goes back to technology, and it works well for that purpose.
It also has some interesting discussions about the ramifications of nuclear holocaust.. and the people that survive a new race? Better, or worse? In story, the scholar interprets scraps of fiction about robots to imply that 'real' humans created an inferior race which they were a part (give a great excuse to why it's taking so long to rediscover technology of all sorts), while the monks call him out for interpreting with hubris, which is some great stuff.
The final story is another 600 years in the future, and the tribes of the 2nd story have become modern nations, complete with computers of a sort, and space colonies. The Monks are part of a plan with the Vatican to secretly start a new monestary to protect all knowledge in deep space, even as a 2nd nuclear holocaust loomed. Will the world learn from the past, or be doomed to repeat it? Is the theme. There's also a good bit of some heavy thinking about Euthanasia (in the context of fallout victims) which continues to be an issue today. Great stuff.. a true classic that I'm glad I finally got to! ...more
I just want to start by saying how amazing fiction is sometimes. This book. written in 1998. In it, a political demogague rallied the Christian right I just want to start by saying how amazing fiction is sometimes. This book. written in 1998. In it, a political demogague rallied the Christian right to help 'Make America Great Again'. THe figure in the book is far more religious that a certain former President that used that slogan, but damn, how is that possible? I mean, if I thought he was literate, I'd almost think he stole it.
Anyway, the book. I definitely didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as the first one. It was simply too relentless depressing. I understand the points that were being made, but those points were made better in Kindred.. I didn't need them again. The period of time I wanted to read about was briefly covered, but only briefly... I wanted ot know how the world got fixed, and how Earthseed (if any) helped. It seems that happened, which is nice, but 'off camera'.
That's the book I wanted to read, not another tale of how horrible people can be to each other. While I fear that could happen, I like to choose to believe it wouldn't ever be that bad. Perhaps I just read too much science fiction.
I think I've found a new favorite fictional religion. Earthseed is very cool. I'm not the biggest fan of dystopias, but this won, for a good portion aI think I've found a new favorite fictional religion. Earthseed is very cool. I'm not the biggest fan of dystopias, but this won, for a good portion at least, was surprisingly realistic. No magical caches of supplies everywhere, no lack of death and destruction among the main characters (at least until the last 3rd).
After that, sadly, it did fall into some less-than-stellar tropes. All the strays that got picked up along the way were, of course, wonderful additions to the party, and while one person did die, for the most party they made a massively perilous seeming journey without any trouble. I know you kinda have to do that in a dystopian novel, but it never feels right.
Society's downturn seemed quite realistic, and the story was able to be told without any 'hook'... just a general sense of some global warming related issues. It was implied that the rest of the world might be better off the then US, in fact, which was an interesting twist. (or perhaps it was just Northern climates.... it wasn't totally clear).
I'm not sure they can actually get anywhere near space colonies from crumbling dystopia, but I'm definitely looking forward to the next book. ...more
I gave this book a shot on a recommendation of a friend at work... he described it as 'weird satire and sort of sci fi', but that he was his favorite I gave this book a shot on a recommendation of a friend at work... he described it as 'weird satire and sort of sci fi', but that he was his favorite author.
I'm not sure he'll be a favorite, but I can see the appeal... Saunders has a pretty crazy ability to distill the human condition down to it's most absurd. I can picture him writing for Monty Python.
The short stories were all very similar.. they all involved a main character working at some sort of amusement park in a low level job, and having some personal tragedy that lead them to be bad at the job and ruin their life, to tragicomic consequence.
They are kinda the opposite of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, which I just read for a book club, in that the characters were mostly good, but their situation cause the problem. I wouldn't say any one stood out over the other, they all had a few insightful bits, a few funny bits, but by the 6th one I was pretty done.
The Novella, 'Bounty', takes it a step farther.. he actually sets the stay with a post-apcalyptic world divided by 'normals' and 'Flawed' (apparently anyone that has the slightest mutation, no X-Men here). The story is a 'journey across America' type, where we see all kinda of amazingly pathetic people, just trying to get by.
That's really the main theme, people just trying to get by in whatever horror life throws at you, which it does with some wonderful farce. I'm not sure I'd need to read more of it though, unless the author has more in his arsenal that downtrodden amusement park workers. ...more
Thankfully, no Zombies in this one (though the plant life is alot like them). This is a far future post-apocalypse novel set in England, where civilizThankfully, no Zombies in this one (though the plant life is alot like them). This is a far future post-apocalypse novel set in England, where civilization barely hangs on in the form of tiny villages that do the best they can to fend off 'choker trees' using bits of past (near future to us) tech. Those that can operate the tech are called 'ramparts' and defend the others. Koli very much would like to be one, but instead he steals a 'Dream Sleeve' (bascially an ipod with an AI), then is off on adventures.
While the setting is pretty typical post apocalypse. there seems to be alot more tech arount than usual in these things, and at least a few people that know enough to try to use it and get the world up and running again. They also address some things that such stories never typically address.. like having a small gene pool and there NOT actually being lovely caches of useful things just lying around everywhere.
There were some inconsistencies though.. at first it was described that you basically had to hide behind walls in prepared ground or the fast growing 'choker trees' would kill you, but by the end Koli and his crew are just hanging out in the forest without much of an explanation, almost like when he left his village earlier he beat that level and it wasn't a thing anymore.
The AI of the Dreamsleeve (an imprint of a fictional Japanese pop star with a tragic story) is by far the most interesting character,and is almost worth reading the 2nd book for, we'll see. ...more
I realize as I was reading this I definitely had read this before... I had remembered Audran for sure, but not the title, but this is definitely I booI realize as I was reading this I definitely had read this before... I had remembered Audran for sure, but not the title, but this is definitely I book I read.
I LOVE the atmosphere.... its a very believable future based on the tech of the time, and it all makes sense. We get just enough of the world view to know what's going on, but no info dumps.
The downside of the book is Audran... he's just not a very likable guy. Well developed and interesting, definitely. But do you root for him? I guess so, since the bad guys are worse, but he's far from a hero or even a good guy. He's the best this world has, I suppose.
It was also so really interesting contradictions in the sex/gender/race relations in the book. The world clearly was described that one could be literally anyone or anything they wanted, yet people still maintained some inborn prejudices, which at times was a bit jarring, but then the real world is pretty jarring at times too.
What is especially nice is that this is a complete story and yet still sets up another book... a rare talent these days. ...more
I'm not quite sure what I thought of this book... I'm happy it was for book club.. .I suspect the discussion will help me figure it out.
On the one hanI'm not quite sure what I thought of this book... I'm happy it was for book club.. .I suspect the discussion will help me figure it out.
On the one hand, it's a near future dystopia that doesn't involve zombies, which makes me happy. The traumatic event is called 'The Big Water'.. it's not spelled out, but it's some extreme version of the climate change disaster some predict... it seems a massive flood, perhaps coupled with 'the big one'. Sadly, other than Dinetah (the 'home base of the story), there's very little indication of what's going on in the rest of the world... they mention the US is gone, and there's a mormon state (why does every writer decide they'll be a Mormon state? Every... single... one), but nothing else.
What we do know is that gods and magic are back in the world (perhaps the author liked the later Terry Brooks series more than I did)... but we only get a bit of the mythology of the Dinetah(Navajo).
I would have liked alot more on that, and a lot less of the main character whining about how emotionally broken she is. Maybe it's because I'm a happy, well adjusted person, but I can't stand that sort of main character. They make me want to slap them in the back of the head and scream 'GET OVER IT'. I understand from my personal point of view as a happy, well adjusted person, this may be a bit mean, and unsympathetic, but I can't help it.
Ultimately, the lack of characters to cheer for is what made me give it a lowish rating. Kai is too perfect, Maggie too broken, and the others are just not developed or 'on screen' enough.
Also, the semi-cliff hanger ending definitely takes off half a star... writing a series does not mean you can write one novel and split it into 3 parts. While the teaser for the 2nd book sort of serves as an epilogue.. there should have just been an actual epilogue instead.
Venting aside, the series has some potential if the author can either focus more on the world she's created, or make the characters a bit more interesting... the book definitely is a page turner with a solid, comfortable style.
I'm really torn about how to rate this book... the 1st short story about Holston is easily a 5 star novella... it has all the things I love about 60s I'm really torn about how to rate this book... the 1st short story about Holston is easily a 5 star novella... it has all the things I love about 60s sci fi, but in a modern version. There's enough mystery to make you think, but enough world to make sense.
The more the author explained things, the less I liked it. Where there was thought provoking mystery, there because obvious fact, or sometimes plot-driven convenience... neither is ever good.
The middle books are, not bad exactly, but not all that logical either. Things go from a bit squirrelly to catastrophic in the blink of an eye without explanation.. and there are a few bits that just make NO SENSE AT ALL. Like the gun manufacture, or the radio thing... no one ever thought to play with a radio before??
The end did redeem it some, even if there continued to be alot of things that made no sense, I did enjoy the read and would probably check out any further adventures/stories.
There is really some unique stuff in this book... it shows a post-apocalyptic world that is actually pretty OK. The apocalypse isn't some Earth-shatteThere is really some unique stuff in this book... it shows a post-apocalyptic world that is actually pretty OK. The apocalypse isn't some Earth-shattering disease or World War... we just sort slide into to as a natural consequence of how humans interact with the world and each other. It makes alot more sense than most do.
The actual plot is a bit hard to follow, though. People in the 'present' (which seems to be a bit into our future, just on the edge of the slow descent into 'the jackpot', which ends up killing 80% of the world's population over 70 years or so) get visited by the future... but not really. In the 'future' the main form of entertainment is going into the past at a fixed point, and basically messing with it like it was a game of Civilization.. only once you do, it's not the past anymore, but an alternate time line.
It eventually all comes together and makes sense, but you have to have alot of patience with both seeming unrelated events (they ALL tie up nicely...eventually) and weird lingo that gets explained only after you've pretty much figured it out.
Definitely not for everyone, but thought provoking and unique if you're willing to stick through alot of confusion and weirdness....more
I really, really dislike Zombie books. I've read a few, and they're all the same, and they all have the same logical gaps... yet here I am, reading onI really, really dislike Zombie books. I've read a few, and they're all the same, and they all have the same logical gaps... yet here I am, reading one. I guess the book club has done an excellent job before this picking stuff I either knew I like or thought would be very interesting.
Then, when I realize this was Mike Carey, hope bloomed. Surely, if anyone can write an engaging, thoughtful Zombie novel, he could!
But alas, while this book was certainly a page turner, and I the visually evoked will certainly translate very well into a movie, it's still just a basic zombie book, albeit with the new slant of making the zombies have a scientific explanation instead of a supernatural one.
The main character, Melanie, is a zombie (called 'Hungries' here, but for some reason even though Zombies are super popular right now, no one actually CALLS them Zombies0 that somehow retains most human thought, and is in a class full of similar kids. The adults on hand in the military base/research lab are trying to use them to find a cure to the fungus (the real life Ophiocordyceps unilateralis) 20 years after society crumbled after said Fungus started jumping to humans.
As usual, our intrepid heroes somehow are able to scour the countryside for food, gas, and ammo (though they are less successful then in other similar stories) while dodging the zombies, who have their own logic which is always perfectly exploitable, but in the end the good guys drop one by one in heroic fashion.
The ending was a bit surprising (which was nice), but I wouldn't call it good exactly.. just different. There was far less world building than I prefer, and far more logic holes (which are not only too numerous to list, but a bit spoilery).
In the end, it just confirms that I really just don't like Zombie books. Glad to see a usually great writer like Carey have a commerical success, though ....more
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