Ruined Cities edited by James Tallett (2013) – I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed this anthology before. I like beginning writers and original stories, so independent publications’ short story collections are right up my alley. I’m not wild about dystopian or post-apocalyptic stories, but this one is large and meaty (420 pages) and has some exceptional writing. I’ll talk about a few of my favorites. “The City Over Hell” by Jennifer Povey – A young illiterate girl discovers her city is actually a dying space […]
“End of All Things” as a title isn’t being overly dramatic
This is review number lucky 13 and marks halfway through my half cannonball. I’m on better track this year than last! The End of All Things is the sixth book in John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War universe and direct sequel to The Human Division. THD is a set of thirteen standalone short stories (originally released serially in e-format and then collected in dead tree format) with a narrative thread tying the stories together. TEoAT, while not advertised as such, feels similar only instead of short stories they […]
Say Hello to My Little Friend
Dreamsnake by Vonda N. McIntyre (2008, but originally published in 1978) – First of all, I’ll admit to being a big Vonda N. McIntyre fan since I read this in the seventies and loved it. It’s one of her earliest works (and a Nebula and Hugo winner). I’ve always enjoyed her Star Trek movie adaptations and consider her to be one of the best writers around. In this post-apocalyptic world (it might be Earth or it might not), Snake, a healer who uses snakes who […]
Sleeping Giants or I Wish This was The Iron Giant Instead by Sylvain Neuvel
I’m a big fan of epistolary novels, oral histories are particularly juicy and fun. Add in robots and aliens? The description sold me instantly! Sadly, the other problem with oral histories is that I inevitably compare them to Max Brooks’ World War Z. I realize that’s incredibly unfair as World War Z is an exceptionally awesome book, but that’s where my bar is set. Sadly, this book is nowhere near the level of World War Z. Short summary: big metal body parts are showing up […]
At least I got more Lying Cat in this one
This is volume 7 of an ongoing series. It’s not the place to start. There is no question that any person of good taste should be reading Saga, but you should start at the beginning with volume 1. I suppose that because the last volume made me very happy, this one was going to make me sad. Damn you, Vaughn and Staples and the emotional roller coaster you send me on. Temporarily stranded on Phang, a tiny comet that Wreath and Landfall have been battling […]
Scalzi’s new space opera: Please, sir, I want some more?
It’s been almost two years since The End of All Things was published, and I’ve been jonesing for some new Scalzi. Unfortunately, all The Collapsing Empire has really done is make me want more. It’s like how when you bake a fresh batch of cookies and you eat one hot from the oven, how that one cookie does nothing to curb your craving for cookies. All it makes you want to do is shove five more cookies down your gullet. (Your potentially upset tummy is […]
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