I can't say I wasn't entertained, but somehow I wasn't 100% sold. The characters were relatable, and I liked the general comradery of the main characters.
It was a good change from my usual fare, even though the magic system (which was cool) felt a bit too much like science fiction with it's many rules and identifiable patterns.
Reviews and Comments
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Aaron reviewed The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
Review of 'The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1)' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Aaron reviewed All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Aaron reviewed Artificial condition by Martha Wells
Aaron reviewed Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
Review of 'Rogue Protocol (The Murderbot Diaries, #3)' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Hey, just cos this one took me an extra day to read doesn't mean I liked it any less. Murderbot, keeps breaking my heart.
Aaron reviewed The Gloaming by Kirsty Logan
Review of 'The Gloaming' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
My favourite thing about Logan's writing is how she contrasts the soft edges of the fantastical with hard reality. This is not "magical realism", but a heartbreaking and down to earth love story, but there are cracks where the magic leaks out, which makes it all the more powerful.
Aaron reviewed Edges (Inverted Frontier) by Linda Nagata
Review of 'Edges' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Iain Banks' death still hits me every now and then. At least to me, he wrote with a singular optimism. Horrible things were done by horrible people, but there was always the pervading idea that sensibility and kindness were what made a civilisation thrive.
So, I've been chasing that dragon since he passed. I was recommended [a:Alastair Reynolds|51204|Alastair Reynolds|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1521740247p2/51204.jpg], and while I loved his take on sci-fi, I found his characters mostly petty and overly cruel. So I still haven't found anything that hit that high.
But [b:Edges|43483913|Edges|Linda Nagata|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546820501l/43483913.SY75.jpg|67627795] comes pretty damn close.
It has its weak points: the characterisation isn't great; there are perhaps too many convenient coincidences to drive the plot; and some ideas seem a little "unfleshed". But it still really got to me, got me excited about reading again, excited about science fiction, and even a little optimistic about humanity. The people in this …
Iain Banks' death still hits me every now and then. At least to me, he wrote with a singular optimism. Horrible things were done by horrible people, but there was always the pervading idea that sensibility and kindness were what made a civilisation thrive.
So, I've been chasing that dragon since he passed. I was recommended [a:Alastair Reynolds|51204|Alastair Reynolds|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1521740247p2/51204.jpg], and while I loved his take on sci-fi, I found his characters mostly petty and overly cruel. So I still haven't found anything that hit that high.
But [b:Edges|43483913|Edges|Linda Nagata|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546820501l/43483913.SY75.jpg|67627795] comes pretty damn close.
It has its weak points: the characterisation isn't great; there are perhaps too many convenient coincidences to drive the plot; and some ideas seem a little "unfleshed". But it still really got to me, got me excited about reading again, excited about science fiction, and even a little optimistic about humanity. The people in this book are just... nice, even the "roguish" main character tries to do right by the people in his care.
It's not for everyone, but if you miss Iain M. Banks, this might go some way towards filling the void.
Aaron reviewed Fall; or, Dodge in Hell by Neal Stephenson
Review of 'Fall; or, Dodge in Hell' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
I think I see what Stephenson is trying to do here, but I just can't.
Like not even.
It's slow, plodding, and introduces new characters so often that it feels like a G.R.R Martin spin off.
The central idea is somewhat interesting, but, look Neal, if you want to write a fantasy book, write a fucking fantasy book, don't tack on some weird contrivance that just confuses everything!
Anyway, I gave up about the 700 page mark, because I realised that having this monstrosity hanging over me was hurting my desire to read anything at all.
Aaron reviewed Skinner Luce by Patricia Sarrafian Ward
Review of 'Skinner Luce' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
A really engaging read. The "Aliens" were not at all what I imagined they would be going in. The only downside is that it feels like it becomes a bit more conventional sci-fi at the end, and the story gives up many of its secrets. But, luckily it stops short from giving them all up.
Aaron reviewed Grunts! by Mary Gentle
Review of 'Grunts!' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Second time through this, and it was an interesting experience. On the one hand, not being 14 anymore, I got many more of the references. But I also found a lot of humour fell very flat. It was not anywhere near as funny as I remember... It switches from outright farce to gritty dark comedy too quickly, which makes it really hard to nail town the tone.
However, as a concept it's great and well worth reading just for the exploration of what it actually be like to be an orc in a dark horde... too bad I just found it tonally all over place, but your mileage may vary.
Aaron reviewed The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Review of 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
This was like reading Neverwhere again. Except the main character is a child not 30ish. And I'm 30 odd, not a child.
It pretty much hits all the beats of Gaiman story, but here the structure creaks and groans. He mixes Coraline with Neverwhere, with American Gods, all the elements are there, and none of them feel original, or interesting. The quirky mystery of the Hempstocks was just annoying rather than alluring.
The main character has no agency, he just gets thrown from event to event, and his big heroic moment has him literally sitting still for hours.
No, I didn't like this at all. It's so bad that it may have tainted the earlier, better Gaiman stories, and that makes me kinda sad...
Review of 'Crux' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
A very unfortunate sequel. I very much enjoyed the first book, but this one took the story in a direction that I was not interested in.
Although there are some interesting secondary characters, and some insights into the applications of the series' main technology, it really feels like the book spends three quarters of it's length treading water, and then tries to wow with an overwrought action finale that I mostly skimmed...
So, yeah, not for me.
Aaron reviewed The Last Wish (The Witcher, #0.5) by Andrzej Sapkowski
Review of 'The Last Wish (The Witcher, #0.5)' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Translations haven't really worked for me that well in the past, so I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get through the first chapter, but I was actually pleasantly surprised by the competency of the writing.
What is ostensibly a collection of short stories, with some connective tissue starts strong, but I found myself growing tired of it near the end. It's a weirdly antiseptic book, all description and a minimum of internal monologue. It's hard to get a grasp on Geralt as he seems to act somewhat randomly and never getting to hear his thoughts means there is not a lot to hang his motivations on.
And the humour gets old fast.
And so does the weird sexism.
It has, however, made me appreciate the computer game a lot more, so I guess that is something...