#RRSciFiMonth Book Review: Artemis by Andy Weir
Posted on November 13, 2017 30 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Crown Publishing (November 14, 2017)
Length: 384 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
A hit like The Martian is hard to follow up, but it seems Andy Weir has no trouble keeping the good ideas coming, producing another yet novel with realistic hard science and entertaining adventure. Still, while comparisons will no doubt be drawn between his debut and his new novel Artemis, it’s important to note that the two stories are very different, not to mention his new protagonist is a heroine cut from an altogether different cloth than Mark Watney.
Meet Jasmine “Jazz” Bashara, a twenty-six-year-old who has spent most of her life living in Artemis, the only city on the Moon. It’s a nice place to live if you’re wealthy enough to afford all the amenities, but as Jazz puts it, you can’t expect J. Worthalot Richbastard III to scrub his own toilets. Of the two thousand or so residents in the city, a bulk of them are the support staff and people who keep the place running, and Jazz is one of them. A genius who could have been anything she wanted, she instead chose to become a porter, a job that barely covers the rent, though she does occasionally supplement her salary with small smuggling operation on the side, sneaking in harmless bits of contraband.
Then one day, one of her richest and most trusted clients offers her a lucrative business proposal. The job, however, requires Jazz to pull off a crime that goes far beyond the limits of petty smuggling—one that, if she gets caught, can get her kicked out of Artemis and deported back to Earth. Having been on the Moon since she was six, Jazz can’t imagine a life anywhere else, but with this much money on the line, she can’t afford to say no either.
Like The Martian to some degree, I think whether you enjoy this book or not will largely depend on how you feel about the protagonist. While she may be exceptionally intelligent, Jazz lacks the aspiration and drive of a traditional hero, preferring to stay under the radar instead of applying her smarts to achieve something greater. However, that’s not to say she shies away from a challenge, for as unambitious as she is, Jazz also has a rebellious streak and seems take secret pleasure in using her intelligence to break the rules. Coupled with her sense of humor that tends to skew towards the juvenile, this admittedly makes her character feel much younger than her twenty-six years. I think Weir probably tried for “bold, cheeky young woman” but only managed “childish teenage girl” instead, ultimately giving Jazz a narrative voice that you’ll either get used to or you won’t.
Now with that warning out of the way, let’s get on to the good stuff. Weir has apparently created something that many readers—and not just science fiction fans—seem to be missing in their lives: a speculative genre that blends thrilling adventure and fun with realistic and believable science. Once again, he appears to have gone to great lengths to get everything as scientifically accurate as possible, beginning with a bit of insight into the day-to-day life of an average citizen on the Moon. Weir allows Artemis to unfold before us, presenting it in a creative and reader-friendly way through Jazz’s eyes as she spends the first few chapters 1) failing her EVA Guild exam, 2) traversing the city while carrying out her duties as a porter/smuggler, and 3) pitching in to help rescue workers at a factory fire. In one fell swoop, the story has not only introduced our protagonist but also managed to convey all the wonders and dangers of lunar life. Artemis is a place of dichotomies. It’s a vibrant ultra-modern city in the middle of a desolate landscape. The rich and the glamorous exist beside the poor and drab. And while authorities may take a lenient stance on some matters related to the law, on matters of safety they are unbending and resolute. Everyone takes the rules seriously when it comes to maintaining the integrity of the city’s framework or life support systems, because it could mean the difference between life and death.
Once the setting is established, that’s when the real fun begins. The story picks up considerably as soon as Jazz agrees to take on her wealthy client’s job. Her immature personality notwithstanding, Jazz is a force to be reckoned with when she sets her full mind to a task, and her problem solving process is an incredible thing to see. But of course, nothing ever goes as planned. Gradually, the excitement builds as Jazz unwittingly stumbles into a web of conspiracy and backroom dealings, putting herself and the people she cares about in danger. The action crescendos and doesn’t stop until we reach a boiling point in the climax, giving rise to some of the most intense chapters I’ve ever read, with the added bonus of making you want to fistpump the air yelling, “GO SCIENCE!”
All in all, I had a great time with Artemis, a story which was as fascinating and enjoyable as I expected from a brilliant mind like Andy Weir’s. The true test, really, is Jazz and how you’ll react to her personality and narrative voice. She’s one of those characters who would either endear herself to you or give you a raging headache, and where you fall in this spectrum will no doubt affect your experience with the book. If Jazz can win you over though, like she did with me, then I have no doubt you’re going to love this highly entertaining caper set on the moon.
#RRSciFiMonth Book Review: Valiant Dust by Richard Baker
Posted on November 12, 2017 10 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 1 of Breaker of Empires
Publisher: Tor (November 7, 2017)
Length: 352 pages
Author Information: Website
Richard Baker is a name I know mostly from his game design work for Dungeons & Dragons as well as his Forgotten Realms novels, so my curiosity was piqued when I learned that he was kicking off a new military sci-fi series called Breaker of Empires. The first book is Valiant Dust which introduces protagonist Sikander North, a prince of Kashmir who has just been assigned to serve as the new gunnery officer aboard the Aquilan Commonwealth starship CSS Hector. Almost right away, he experiences pushback from some of his fellow crewmates who either doubt his ability or are disdainful of his background.
Meanwhile, Amira Ranya Meriem el-Nasir, niece to the Sultan of Gadira is growing more concerned for her uncle’s safety as her home world is caught up in the middle of a political storm. She meets Sikander and quickly strikes up a friendship with him as the Hector is called upon to quell the uprising and provide aid as the Dremark Empire attempts to exert its influence by destabilizing the planet’s government. Unlike the Aquilan Commonwealth, the Empire subscribes to more extreme methods in matters of colonial strategy, sowing chaos in a bid to seize control of the planet from its current masters, the Republic of Montreal.
Mirroring the tumultuous era of Earth’s own colonial history, Valiant Dust blends political intrigue and space opera elements to create a futuristic vision of a galaxy fought over by two major powers. Through the eyes of Sikander, readers see how 19th century style colonization has affected his own planet of Kashmir which has experienced much technological advancement under Aquilan rule, though plenty of economic and social issues still exist at all levels. Compare this to Ranya’s experience on Gadira, where swift modernization has also led to lost jobs, increasing inequality gaps, and uprisings due to fears that the common people and their traditions are fast becoming left behind.
Featuring characters from worlds influenced by diverse cultures and faiths, the story also closely examines the relationship between those in power and the individual citizen. The first half of the book is also an important look at the way these great colonial powers view their vassals, following the trials of Sikander as he must prove himself on an Aquilan Commonwealth starship crewed by many who are unused to seeing a Kashmiri serving in an officer position. Much of what we read about in the early parts of the story involve him dealing with discriminatory attitudes and other negative perceptions toward his abilities.
Interestingly, while both Sikander and Ranya come from royal backgrounds, their past histories are no less fraught with difficulty and grief, having each experienced a loss in separate politically motivated tragedies. As a citizen of a world that has seen similar colonial battles play out, Sikander is also immediately drawn to Ranya, empathizing with her concerns for Gadira. Unfortunately though, the ensuing romance between them signaled a downhill slump in the story, overshadowing the excellent character development up to this point. After all, Sikander’s determination was what initially drove the plot and compelled me to keep reading, and I also loved watching those who underestimate Ranya get skewered by her intelligence and political savviness. Without a doubt, both characters were much more fascinating when Baker was focusing on each of them individually, and I think this is why I ultimately enjoyed the first half of this book a lot more than the second.
There was also less action that I would have liked, with definitely a lot more emphasis placed on the political aspects of the story. The plot was slower to build as a result, so don’t go in expecting a grand swashbuckling adventure in space or too many battle sequences. Tensions were largely created be the characters’ personal conflicts or through all the feverish political maneuvering between the ruling powers.
If that describes the kind of military sci-fi you like, then Valiant Dust might be a good book to consider. For me, the story started out quite strong before losing some of its steam, but I’m still very much intrigued by the characters and the political situation established in this first novel, and I’m open to the possibility of continuing this series.
YA Weekend Audio: A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge
Posted on November 11, 2017 27 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge
Mogsy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Audible Studios (October 17, 2017)
Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: Hallie Ricardo
Earlier this year I had the pleasure of reading Frances Hardinge’s A Face like Glass, and afterward I just knew I had to read more of her work. Because of this, I picked up the audiobook of A Skinful of Shadows, and I’m happy to say it did not disappoint. The book turned out to be one of the most wonderfully magical and imaginative Young Adult novels I’ve ever read—in other words, everything I expected from the author.
Set in the mid-17th century in the time of the English Civil War, the story stars our protagonist Makepeace who lives with her mother Margaret in the very Puritan town of Poplar. For as long as she can remember, terrible ghostly figures and other tortured spirits have haunted Makepeace’s dreams, but Margaret has remained stubbornly tightlipped about the topic, even when it is clear she knows why the dead are interested in her daughter. Instead, Margaret forces Makepeace to spend one night every few months locked up by herself in the darkness of the town’s cemetery crypt, telling the girl she must confront her fears in order to build stronger defenses against the ghosts. “One day you will thank me,” Margaret tells her daughter, but as the years pass, Makepeace grows more resentful of the cruel treatment, and the relationship with her mother was never the same again.
Then one day, during a particularly bitter argument, Margaret accidentally lets slip an important piece of information about Makepeace’s father, a subject rarely spoken of in their household. This precipitates a chain of tragic events that leads Makepeace to the discovery of where she came from, as well as the origin behind her nightmares. Never did she imagine that the truth would be so terrible though, as she suddenly realizes the forces of evil her mother had been trying to protect her from. Understanding much too late, Makepeace lets her guard down in a moment of weakness, unwittingly allowing a ghost to invade her mind—except this ghost is different from the ones she has encountered before, being the spirit of a frightened, angry bear.
One thing I’ve learned from reading Hardinge is that you can never predict how her stories will play out. When I first read an early synopsis for this book which describes Makepeace and the ghosts in her head—which includes a motley crew of outcasts, misfits, criminals and one dead bear—I had no idea what I was going to be in for. I certainly did not expect the plot to be so darkly twisted and yet so whimsically magical at the same time. The ideas in A Skinful of Shadows are astonishing in their originality and complexity, and I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to read a YA novel that isn’t clogged t0 the gills with rehashed tropes and paint-by-number characters.
On that note, I also loved the protagonist Makepeace, who exhibits uncommon bravery in the face of the unknown. All her life, she has been surrounded by lies, even from her own mother, who was admittedly just trying to protect her. Still, by withholding the truth, Margaret has only managed to make her daughter more defiant, and like most confused adolescents, Makepeace occasionally lets her temper get the better of her. Still, instead of turning me off, the protagonist’s little acts of defiance only endeared her even more to me, because it made her feel genuine and easily relatable. As a coming-of-age tale, this book really shines in showing the emotional impact of living a life caught in the middle. Makepeace has never felt like she belonged in Poplar, and later finds out that her ability to see ghosts and absorb them into herself is the result of her father’s bloodline. And yet, when she finds herself at Grizehayes, the ancestral home of her father’s family, she is quite horrified to discover what exactly her powers can be used for. Worst of all, instead of finding acceptance with others like her, she is threatened and manipulated, and the only person she ends up trusting is a half-brother named James, who shows her kindness.
And then, of course, there’s the bear. Out of all of Makepeace’s relationships, the one she has with her ghostly beast passenger was by far my favorite—and not just because it’s so strange and wonderful. Having the spirit of a wild animal in your head is as scary as it sounds, but eventually a deep rapport forms between the two of them, with Makepeace trusting the bear’s instincts and “forest wisdom” to guide her. For a companion who isn’t even human, and mainly only communicates with our protagonist through senses and emotions, bear was a surprisingly deep and heartfelt character.
This is only my second novel by Frances Hardinge, but I already feel confident in saying this is not a fluke. She is one of the most creative storytellers I’ve ever read, with a clear talent for crafting strong and evocative narratives whose depth of emotion will stun you. A Skinful of Shadows has firmly placed her on my must-read authors list, and I can’t wait to see what she’ll write next.
Audiobook Comments: Absolutely loved the audiobook. The narrator Hallie Ricardo did a great job and she has an amazing range of voices which really brought all the characters to life. Highly recommended.
Friday Face-Off: Key
Posted on November 10, 2017 18 Comments
Welcome to The Friday Face-Off, a weekly meme created by Books by Proxy! Each Friday, we will pit cover against cover while also taking the opportunity to showcase gorgeous artwork and feature some of our favorite book covers. If you want to join the fun, simply choose a book each Friday that fits that week’s predetermined theme, post and compare two or more different covers available for that book, then name your favorite. A list of future weeks’ themes are available at Lynn’s Book Blog.
This week’s theme is:
“Zip it, lock it and throw away the key”
~ a cover featuring a KEY
Mogsy’s Pick:
The Apartment by S.L. Grey
My pick for today was still fresh on my mind because I had just featured it on Halloween in a post about haunted houses. The story follows Mark and Steph Sebastian, a happily married couple despite their financial troubles. However, that was before their home was violently invaded by three masked men, who threatened husband and wife at knife point before robbing them of their already meager possessions. While they managed to survive that attack physically unharmed, Mark and Steph are unable to return to their normal lives because of the psychological trauma, so when a friend refers them to a house-swapping website and suggests that they take a nice relaxing vacation, the two of them are intrigued by this money-saving option.
Almost right away, Steph connects with the owners of a charming little apartment in Paris, and they decide to take the leap. After all, who can resist the city of light and love? However, once they arrive at the French capital, their dream vacation quickly turns into a living nightmare, and instead of rest and romance, all they find is darkness and terror in their borrowed apartment which is nothing like advertised.
Now that we know the basics of the story, let’s take a look at the covers to see how well they stack up against each other
From left to right, top to bottom: Anchor (2016) – Pan Macmillan (2016) – Pan Macmillan (2017)
German Edition (2017) – Hungarian Edition (2017)
Winner:
Compared to the “key” covers, the US Anchor Books edition looks quite plain, doesn’t it? So, that one’s out. But while I dig the devilish design on the key in the Hungarian edition, I also just can’t quite get over the darkly clever and ominous symbolism of the upside-down Eiffel Tower in the Pan Macmillan covers. They also tie the book to its Paris setting, so I have to give them extra points for that. And ultimately, I’m going to have to give the original black Pan Macmillan cover the edge, not only because it features the key front and center, but also because it doesn’t have distracting text plastered all over it like its red counterpart.
So that’s how I came to my decision this week. But what do you think? Which one is your favorite?
#RRScifiMonth Spotlight & Review: Star Wars: Stormtroopers: Beyond the Armor by Ryder Windham & Adam Bray + GIVEAWAY!
Posted on November 9, 2017 13 Comments
***The giveaway is now over, thanks to everyone who entered!***
Star Wars: Stormtroopers: Beyond the Armor by Ryder Windham and Adam Bray
Genre: Nonfiction, Media Tie-In
Publisher: Harper Design (October 24, 2017)
Length: 176 pages
Just in time for the next blockbuster, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, this unique and beautifully designed compendium with removable features traces one of the franchise’s most iconic characters—the stormtrooper—from initial development through all nine Star Wars movies to their many iterations in TV, comics, videogames, novels, and pop-culture.
Star Wars: A New Hope, the very first installment in the beloved science-fiction series, introduced the Imperial stormtroopers—the army of the fearsome and tyrannical Galactic Empire. Charged with establishing Imperial authority and suppressing resistance, these terrifying, faceless, well-disciplined soldiers in white have become a universal symbol of oppression.
Star Wars Stormtroopers explores these striking warriors and their evolution in depth for the first time. Ryder Windham and Adam Bray trace the roots of their creation and design, and explore how these elite troops from a galaxy far, far away have been depicted in movies, cartoons, comics, novels, and merchandizing.
Filled with photographs, illustrations, story boards, and other artwork, this lavish officially licensed book comes complete with removable features, including posters, stickers, replica memorabilia and more, making it an essential keepsake for every Star Wars fan, as well as military, design, and film aficionados.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Ryder Windham has written more than seventy Star Wars books, including The Complete Vader with co-author Pete Vilmur, The Bounty Hunter Code with Daniel Wallace, and Millennium Falcon Owner’s Manual. An avid blood donor, he has worked with members of the Star Wars costumer clubs—the 501st Legion, Rebel Legion, and Mandalorian Mercs—to help promote voluntary blood donations all over the world.
Adam Bray is the author of guides to Star Wars Rebels and a coauthor of numerous books about Star Wars, LEGO Star Wars, and Marvel. He has written for CNN.com and National Geographic News, and contributed to around forty guides to travel in Southeast Asia. His talents have extended to other spheres, including illustration, music, archaeology, spelunking, and working with chimpanzees. Follow Adam Bray on Twitter and Facebook: @AuthorAdamBray, at StarWars.com, and at AdamBray.com.
***With thanks to the publisher and Wunderkind PR for providing me with a review copy!***
Today, in celebration of Sci-Fi Month as well as my rabid love of Star Wars, I’m shining the spotlight on the galaxy’s favorite faceless baddies. That’s right, w’re talking Stormtroopers!
From authors Ryder Windham (who has written more than 70 Star Wars books, including novels, comics, and reference books) and Adam Bray (author of Star Wars: What Makes a Monster, Star Wars Rebels: The Visual Guide, and co-author of Star Wars: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know and more) comes this gorgeous hardcover featuring a comprehensive look at the Empire’s most ubiquitous enforcer. Who were they? Where did they come from? Why were they so willing to kill and die for the Empire? Any topic or theme you can think of about iconic Stormtrooper, from their countless appearances across all forms of Star Wars media to the many fandoms that have sprung up around them, this book covers them all. History, creation, design, and even merchandising – you name it, it’s in here.
“Sandtroopers from Star Wars: A New Hope Special Edition (1997)” – pg.82
The book begins appropriately with a foreword by John Boyega, who portrays Finn in the new movies. Through his character, Star wars fans got their first opportunity to know a Stormtrooper deeply as an individual – someone with a unique personality and a complex past, more than just an anonymous, indistinguishable armored soldier. It’s the perfect introduction to a book that is all about going beneath the mask to explore the wonderful and fascinating world beyond.
“Finn in The Force Awakens” – pg.128
From the result of what must have been hundreds or even thousand of hours of research, the authors present to readers the full history of the Stormtrooper, from the roots of their inception to the evolution of their depiction through the many iterations of the Star Wars movies, cartoons, comics, books, games, and even toys and collectibles. The book’s pages are also chock-full of colorful images ranging from behind-the-scenes photographs and concept art to movie scenes and illustrations.
“Concept art for Zuke by Marvel artist Jorge Molina” – pg.137
“A frame from Marvel’s Star Wars #21 (July 20, 2016) featuring Task Force 99” – pg.137
Some of my favorite sections, however, were the ones dedicated to fandom, examining how Stormtroopers have gone beyond background roles in the original movies to become an instantly recognizable symbol of the Star Wars franchise. They have invaded popular culture, and are here to stay. One can hardly walk down a toy aisle in any store these days without seeing some form of the iconic helmet, but as we all know, the phenomenon has become more than just about action figures and lunch boxes. This book also goes into how “premium collecting” has become a huge area of interest for hardcore fans (and as someone who has invested not a small amount of money into Star Wars stuff over the years, I can relate!) And of course, no book about Stormtroopers would be complete without a nod to the cosplayers and other fan groups who take pride in costuming as well as volunteering for community service, like the famous 501st Legion.
“Funko POP! Star Wars bobbleheads” – pg.136
In short, Stormtroopers: Beyond the Armor will definitely be a worthy addition to any Star Wars bookshelf and is a must have for any fan. If you’re looking forward to the upcoming Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie as much as I am, it’s also a great way to drum up even more excitement, and everything about this book made my geek heart sing with joy. The back of the book even includes a sleeve with extras like reproductions of action figure backer cards, comic strips, storyboards, and a whole bunch of other cool goodies enclosed.
Overall, this super informative reference volume (which also contains enough visuals to pull double duty as an art/photography book, in my opinion) features a wealth of detail and stunning images, making for a compelling read. Whether you’re a die-hard follower of the franchise or just a sci-fi film and art enthusiast, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Star Wars: Stormtroopers Giveaway
And now time for the giveaway! Up for grabs is one copy of Star Wars: Stormtroopers: Beyond the Armor. With apologies to our international followers, due to the publisher’s specifications this giveaway is open to residents of the US only. To enter, all you have to do is send an email to bibliosanctum@gmail.com with your Name and valid Mailing Address using the subject line “STORMTROOPERS” by 11:59pm Eastern time on Wednesday, November 15, 2017.
Only one entry per household, please. The winner will be randomly selected when the giveaway ends and then be notified by email. All information will only be used for the purposes of contacting the winner and sending them their prize. Once the giveaway ends all entry emails will be deleted.
So what are you waiting for? Enter to win! Good luck and may the force be with you!
Waiting on Wednesday 11/08/17
Posted on November 8, 2017 17 Comments
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that first originated at Breaking the Spine but has since linked up with “Can’t Wait Wednesday” at Wishful Endings now that the original creator is unable to host it anymore. Either way, this fun feature is a chance to showcase the upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick
Before Mars by Emma Newman (April 17, 2018 by Ace Books)
In honor of Sci-Fi November, I’m featuring sci-fi picks for my Waiting on Wednesday posts this month. Up next is this highly anticipated third volume of Emma Newman’s Planetfall sequence, though like the previous installments, it can be read as a standalone!
“After months of travel, Anna Kubrick finally arrives on Mars for her new job as a geologist and de facto artist-in-residence. Already she feels like she is losing the connection with her husband and baby at home on Earth–and she’ll be on Mars for over a year. Throwing herself into her work, she tries her best to fit in with the team.
But in her new room on the base, Anna finds a mysterious note written in her own handwriting, warning her not to trust the colony psychologist. A note she can’t remember writing. She unpacks her wedding ring, only to find it has been replaced by a fake.
Finding a footprint in a place the colony AI claims has never been visited by humans, Anna begins to suspect that her assignment isn’t as simple as she was led to believe. Is she caught up in an elaborate corporate conspiracy, or is she actually losing her mind? Regardless of what horrors she might discover, or what they might do to her sanity, Anna has find the truth before her own mind destroys her.”
#RRSciFiMonth Novella Review: All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Posted on November 7, 2017 36 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction
Series: Book 1 of The Murderbot Diaries
Publisher: Tor.com (May 2, 2017)
Length: 144 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Reading Martha Wells is always such a delight, but All Systems Red seemed like such a departure from her usual projects so I had no idea what to expect. As it turned out though, this little novella was a real treat.
Told from the point of a view of a rogue SecUnit—a part organic, part synthetic android designed to provide humans with protection and security services—this story takes readers on a journey to a distant planet being explored by team of scientists. Accompanying them is our protagonist, a self-proclaimed “Murderbot”, whose presence is required by the Company sponsoring the mission. Thing is though, Murderbot doesn’t exactly feel warm and fuzzy towards humans, and it knows that the scientists aren’t too comfortable with having a SecUnit on the team either, given the cagey way they get whenever it’s around.
Still, that’s just fine for Murderbot. Having hacked its own governor so that it doesn’t have to follow Company directives, all it wants is to be left alone to enjoy the thousands of hours of entertainment vids that it has downloaded from the humans’ satellites. Of course, no one can suspect that Murderbot is secretly autonomous, so it still has to go about its job like everything is normal, and this arrangement was working out just fine until one day, a routine surface test goes seriously wrong. Murderbot ends up saving the day, earning the admiration and curiosity of the team leader, Dr. Mensah. Soon, Murderbot is left with no choice but to take the lead in defending the scientists, when disaster strikes another neighboring expedition on the planet and threatens to come after them next.
Having read a few of the author’s Raksura novels, I was already familiar with her penchant for throwing readers into the thick of things, leaving them to gradually feel everything out for themselves. Thus I was unsurprised with the way this story opened—by unceremoniously dropping us into Murderbot’s head with hardly any context and minimal background information given. It takes a while to even grasp the kind of protagonist Murderbot is: an artificial entity, albeit a very sentient and self-aware one, complete with personality quirks and a dry sense of humor. While I’ve read plenty of books starring robot protagonists, I can honestly say I’ve never met one quite as unique and interesting as Murderbot. Martha Wells may be tight-fisted when it comes to the details, but she knows exactly how to get your attention. Everything from Murderbot’s anti-social tendencies to its love of cheesy soap operas made me want to keep reading to discover more about the character and why it is telling this story.
At just a little under 150 pages though, and with so much ground to cover, there’s not much opportunity to stop and take a breath. As much as I loved how this book was so snappy and fast-paced, you do have to find your footing quickly or risk getting left behind. This means learning and familiarizing yourself with the characters as soon as they’re introduced, and most of them, like the humans on the science team, are only going to be lightly sketched. This was probably my only criticism; considering how over time, Murderbot comes to see the team as “its humans” and become very protective of them, it would have been helpful to develop those characters a bit more, especially since our protagonist begins this tale by being very disdainful of them.
Still, there wasn’t much else I didn’t enjoy about this book. It was entertaining, and more importantly, it also felt complete to me, unlike a lot of novellas that leave me wanting more. Plus, this snarky first-person narrative style is quite different from what I’m used to when it comes to Wells, but I think I could grow to like it! Murderbot’s narration was a joy to follow, and I even found myself chuckling at many of the story’s scenes. Overall, I found myself pleasantly surprised, and I definitely would not hesitate recommending All Systems Red to anyone looking for a quick sci-fi fix with a fun and captivating premise. I was excited when I found out this was going to be a series, and I can’t wait to check out the next installment of the Murderbot Diaries.
Book Review: The Bloodprint by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Posted on November 6, 2017 15 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
The Bloodprint by Ausma Zehanat Khan
Mogsy’s Rating: 2 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Khorasan Archives
Publisher: Harper Voyager (October 3, 2017)
Length: 448 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
I’ve had my fair share of disappointments when it comes to books this fall, but not enjoying The Bloodprint as much as I thought I would somehow makes this one feel worse. I wanted to like this one so badly, and not least because of the gorgeous writing or incredible premise inspired by the author’s own background and knowledge of Middle Eastern history and mythology. This is also an important book as it also deals with some weighty themes, such as religion, slavery, and women’s rights.
So why didn’t this book work for me, when it should have been right up my alley? I suppose it might just be the simple matter of being unable to click with the author’s style. Despite her clear talent for writing elegant and lovely prose, something still felt missing. The opening sequence, for example, which introduces our protagonist Arian and her apprentice Sinnia as justice seekers who fight against the oppressive rule of the cruel organization known as the Talisman, should have been stirring and heroic as the two women ambushed the enemy and shattered their slave-chains. But instead, all I felt was indifference and boredom. Ausma Zehanat Khan can write beautiful sentences and fill the page with detailed descriptions, but in the end she does a lot more telling than showing and the writing itself lacks heart and soul.
Still, I pressed on because the ideas in the story were promising and I wanted to see where they would lead, plus admittedly I was curious to know more about the characters. Arian and Sinnia are part of a group of women who called themselves the Companions of Hira, their power deriving from as sacred scripture known as the Claim. They have dedicated themselves to fighting the Talisman, whose ideology of spreading hatred and fear goes against everything the Companions of Hira believe in. Attacking their caravans and rescuing their slaves are just a few of the things they do to combat the enemy, but without a miracle, our protagonists have concerns that the Talisman’s power will only spread and grow.
But then one day, Arian and Sinnia come upon a piece of knowledge that can help turn the tide. Legend tells of The Bloodprint, a dangerous text that the Talisman has tried to erase from the world because they know it would lead to their downfall. Now our heroines must embark on a quest to find The Bloodprint, a task that would lead them into many dangers deep in the heart of enemy territory.
Like I said, it’s a fascinating premise, which is why it pains me so much to admit that my initial apathy for the characters did not improve, creating a hurdle which prevented me from embracing this tale fully. Others have described the plot as a treasure hunt, which gives the impression that this is an adventurous novel, but I didn’t feel that at all either, given the plodding pace. Also, it’s hard explaining what exactly didn’t appeal to me about the writing, but it had the frustrating quality of being too descriptive and yet not enough at the same time. Khan’s writing is rich on details when it comes to the immediate and small things, but when it comes to the big picture, her world-building was lighter than I would have liked. I wish we could have gotten more background information into the Companions of Hera and the Claim, considering the hazy explanations given into the connection between their religion and magic.
The characters also felt lifeless to me. For one, I was surprised at Arian’s lack of agency and inability to influence many plot developments, given how she’s one of our central figures. Her relationships with others around her also felt muted, and again, I think this might have been a side-effect of the writing, which caused the characters’ personalities to feel emotionless and sterile. The result is a distance between Arian and her friends, making her interactions with Sinnia feel somewhat stilted and her romance with her love interest Daniyar the Silver Mage feel very unconvincing. These problems ended up marring the whole experience, given how so much of Arian’s quest was motivated by her personal reasons which were never effectively communicated.
The last straw, I’m afraid, was the cliffhanger. If you weren’t excited about the story before, the ending might incentivize you to pick up the next book, but personally, I think my journey with this series ends here. I probably should have listened to my instincts and set this book aside as soon as the first few chapters failed to hook me, but curiosity and hope prompted me to continue, and unfortunately things did not turn around for me in this case. It’s a shame, really, because the author is clearly very talented and she has built the story of The Bloodprint around a compelling and meaningful premise. If the book’s description interests you, I would urge you to try it for yourself, but ultimately I just couldn’t connect to the writing style.
#RRSciFiMonth YA Weekend: Invictus by Ryan Graudin
Posted on November 5, 2017 21 Comments
I received a review copy from the publisher. This does not affect the contents of my review and all opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Series: Stand Alone
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 26, 2017)
Length: 458 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
As you probably know, I was very excited to read Invictus after Ryan Graudin’s Wolf by Wolf duology landed her squarely on my radar for new favorite YA authors to watch. Also, as much as I harp on time travel stories and the issues surrounding some of their shortcomings, I can never resist checking them out, especially one with a premise as intriguing as this one.
The story introduces us to protagonist Farway Gaius McCarthy, a young man with a very unique background. Conceived in 95AD as the result of a love affair between a time-traveling Recorder and a Roman gladiator, Far was born just as his mother Empra and her crew were in the middle of jumping back to their own year of 2354. While the entire truth behind the circumstances of his birth was kept a secret (and not just because of the whopping number of time laws Empra broke), nothing can be changed about the fact that Far was born out of time, and his existence has vexed census databases and record-keeping computers ever since.
Growing up though, Far has always wanted to follow in his mother’s footsteps and explore history, especially after Empra left on a mission when he was just a boy and never made it back. Motivated by the possibility that he will one day find and rescue his mom, the now seventeen-year-old Far is determined more than ever to ace his final exams at the academy to become a full-fledged licensed time traveler. However, an odd glitch occurs in the middle of his simulation test, leading to a failing grade and expulsion from school. Disgraced but not discouraged, Far decides to pursue another path that would allow him to travel through time, taking on a job as a black market smuggler whose specialty is stealing and bringing back treasures from the past.
With the help from his crew that consists of his Historian cousin Imogen, his medic girlfriend Priya, and an engineer named Gram, Far captains the ship Invictus for their shady employer, whose latest mission for them requires going back to 1912, on the fateful night that the Titanic sank. Their prize is a priceless jewel-encrusted book that went down with the ship—but of course, it is Far’s job is to retrieve it before it is lost to the icy depths and bring it back to his own time with no one being the wiser. Unfortunately though, even before the heist can begin, the crew of the Invictus runs into trouble. A computer malfunction leads them to arrive hours after their scheduled time, and once Far makes it onto the Titanic to steal the book, he discovers that someone has already beaten him to the punch.
I really liked how this book was an adventure story at its heart, and with Ryan Graudin, you can always trust her to keep things exciting and fast-paced. The science behind the time travel was admittedly a bit light, but I found I could easily overlook this minor flaw in a Young Adult novel which is clearly more concerned with telling a good story rather than get bogged down by the little details. I also loved the overall premise as well as the protagonist’s origin story. There are already other books out there about time traveling thieves who plunder history to bring back treasures from the past or otherwise I would have been more impressed, but I did enjoy how the author made this one feature an ensemble cast, involving all the other members of the Invictus crew.
As for weaknesses, while I wouldn’t say there was anything I flat-out disliked, there were a few stylistic choices and a couple character or plot-related pet peeves that got on my nerves. For one, I found it difficult to sympathize with anyone on the crew. Far is reckless and impetuous, and thinks rules don’t apply to him, except he’s got none of the good qualities that typically go hand-in-hand with the “loveable rogue” persona. He’s unabashedly arrogant and has an ego the size of a planet, which is why I also thought his girlfriend Priya, despite being an extremely intelligent young woman, is an idiot for putting up with that crap. I never got on board with their relationship for this reason, but theirs was not the only romance I felt was hokey either, for you see, Far’s cousin Imogen also harbors a secret crush on the ship’s engineer Gram, and the whole hackneyed business with the quirky girl trying to get the nerdy but oblivious guy to notice her was downright eye-roll inducing.
Furthermore, because this book is so light on the details of time travel, we don’t get to know much about the history or mechanics of it. This by itself wouldn’t have been such a big deal, except there is a plot twist in the second half of the novel which complicates things further. To avoid revealing spoilers, I won’t be going into this issue in detail, but I will say that because the author failed to establish some basic rules and concepts early on, the story at the end became a bit of a mess, and so just be prepared for some potential confusion.
As you can see though, my complaints are mostly personal, related to problems that most other readers might not mind at all. That said, I would probably recommend Wolf by Wolf over this one if you’re curious about checking out Ryan Graudin’s work, because objectively, I still feel it’s a stronger book. Nevertheless, you can’t go really wrong with Invictus, especially if you’re looking to satisfy a sci-fi itch; no matter what, its blend of adventure and time travel make it an entertaining read.
Mogsy’s Bookshelf Roundup: Stacking the Shelves & Recent Reads
Posted on November 4, 2017 46 Comments
Bookshelf Roundup is a feature I do every other weekend which fills the role of several blog memes, like Stacking the Shelves where I talk about the new books I’ve added to my library or received for review, as well as It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? where I round up what I’ve read since the last update and what I’m planning to read soon. Mostly it also serves as a recap post, so sometimes I’ll throw in stuff like reading challenge progress reports, book lists, and other random bookish thoughts or announcements.
November is upon us! Normally the last two months of the year are my “catch up” months where I go back to check out earlier releases in the spring or summer that I might have missed, but 2017 seems to be an extraordinary year. Due to extenuating circumstances I am much farther behind on current releases than I have ever been and, incredibly, there are still a lot of great books coming out and we don’t appear to be slowing down at all as we make our steady march towards winter! Real life should be calming down for me later this month though, and hopefully I should be back on track with having enough reviews to schedule posts at least two weeks in advance, which is where I’d feel most comfortable.
And in other news, in case you missed the announcements, November is Sci-Fi Month! I’m not as organized this year though, so I’ll be kind of playing this event by ear, gathering up the sci-fi titles in my TBR and maybe making an effort to bump them up. I might also have a couple special spotlights and giveaways coming up, so keep an eye out for those!
And now, on to the new books…
Received for Review
Thank you to the publishers and authors for the following review copies received. For more details and full descriptions of the books, be sure to click the links to their Goodreads pages!
First, my thanks to Tor Books for sending me all kinds of goodies this week. Lately, you might have noticed a lot of buzz surrounding Steal the Stars by Nat Cassidy and Mac Rogers. This is actually the novelization based on the hit science fiction podcast from Tor Labs and I am so curious to see what it will be all about. The next surprise arrival came in the form of Blade of Empire by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory, the continuation of The Dragon Prophecy series. This being the second installment, I’m not sure that it can be read as a standalone, but it looks really cool regardless. I also got a finished copy of The Dark Intercept by Julia Keller, whose release date kind of snuck up on me! It’s a YA sci-fi dystopian, which would make it a good choice to read this month, if I can get to it.
Next, Valiant Dust by Richard Baker is a book I’m super excited for, being the first of a new military SF series that has been described as perfect for Horatio Hornblower and Honor Harrington fans. An unsolicited finished copy of Deadhouse Landing by Ian C. Esslemont also showed up last week, but it’s the second volume of Path to Ascendancy and unfortunately I haven’t read the first book. It sounds intriguing though, so hopefully I can check out the full series one day. Finally, I was excited to receive a finished copy of The Realms of God by Michael Livingston. I believe this is the final book of the Shards of Heaven series which I’ve been really enjoying, and I can’t wait to see how the story will conclude.
Actually, Tor left one last surprise for me this week. With thanks to their YA imprint Tor Teen, I received this ARC of Blood and Sand by C.V. Wyk and I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to see it. I am a sucker for anything to do with Ancient Rome and gladiators, and this one sounds like it’ll be a very promising debut. And speaking of ARCs, I requested The Infernal Battalion by Django Wexler as soon as I got a heads up from the author that they were out in the world! My thanks to Ace Books for this fifth and final volume of the amazing military fantasy series The Shadow Campaigns! This is going to be an epic finale, I can just feel it. And with thanks to Prometheus Books I also received this surprise copy of Blockbuster Science by David Siegel Bernstein, a book that explores the real science behind our favorite sci-fi books, movies, and shows like Gravity, The Martian, or Dr. Who. Whenever this publisher does nonfiction, their subjects are always very interesting.
Also, Artemis by Andy Weir is almost here! My thanks to Crown books for sending me a finished copy. I am going to be reading this one very soon, and hopefully I’ll have a review ready by release week. The wonderful team at Inkshares/Geek & Sundry also sent over a finished copy of Sparked by Helena Echlin and Malena Watrous. I was sorry that I didn’t get to check this one out in October, so maybe I’ll get another chance to fit it in later this fall. And rounding out this batch is Successor’s Promise by Trudi Canavan, the final novel in the Millennium’s Rule trilogy. I’ve been waiting for this conclusion for a long time, and I am grateful to Orbit for sending me a finished copy.
Finally, from Saga Press comes Above the Timberline by Gregory Manchess, a jaw-droppingly beautiful painted novel about a polar explorer’s son searching for his stranded father. Oh my goodness, guys. Mere words cannot express how stunningly gorgeous this book is! I just can’t stop looking through these pages, which are filled with more than 120 fully-illustrated art pieces that go along with the story. I have plans to review later this month, and I can’t wait to post some images of the paintings! With thanks to the publisher and Wunderkind PR for sending me the book.
Kicking off the digital book haul this week is Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman of Seraphina fame. I’m really looking forward to see what else she has in store for us with this new series about dragons, and my thanks to Random House for Young Readers for approving me for the eARC via NetGalley. While I was over there I also grabbed Zero Day by Ezekiel Boone when I saw the book being offered for “Read Now”. This is the finale of the The Hatching trilogy, and I can’t wait to see how this spider apocalypse will play out. From Tor Books I also received an eARC of Semiosis by Sue Burke, which looks like a very interesting story about alien first contact!
And I’ve found that having NetGalley auto-approval privileges from Del Rey can be dangerous. At a time when I should be reining in my requests, I am instead tempted by all their books! I found out about Unbury Carol by Josh Malerman from Tammy at Books, Bones, and Buffy last month, and she definitely piqued my interest in it. So I when I saw the eARC pop up earlier this week, I just couldn’t help but hit the download button. I also couldn’t resist hitting the “Read It” button for Iron Gold by Pierce Brown, but surely I can be forgiven for looking forward to this next series in the amazing Red Rising saga. And last but not least, I also took the plunge on Daughters of the Storm by Kim Wilkins, which sounded really interesting from its description of a Norse-flavored epic fantasy debut about five sisters who team up against their stepbrother to save their kingdom.
Although it’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a series from Serial Box, I certainly have not forgotten about their titles. I’m especially excited about continuing with the completed Bookburners Season 2 by Max Gladstone, Margaret Dunlap, Brian Francis Slattery, Andrea Phillips, and Mur Lafferty. I was also offered another serial for review, the completed first season of ReMade by Matthew Cody, Kiersten White, E.C. Myers, Andrea Phillips, Carrie Harris, and Gwenda Bond which is the publisher’s first YA series, featuring a dystopian adventure about twenty-three teenagers trying to survive in a world they barely recognize. Thank you so much to Serial Box for the review copies.
And I just have one audiobook for review this week. Star Wars: The Legends of Luke Skywalker by Ken Liu is pretty self-explanatory, I think, featuring a collection of myths and tales about the legendary Jedi Master. It’d be interesting to read a Star Wars book by Ken Liu though! With thanks to Listening Library.
Reviews
A quick summary of the reviews I’ve posted since the last update:
The Naturalist by Andrew Mayne (4.5 of 5 stars)
For We Are Many by Dennis E. Taylor (4 of 5 stars)
Kill Creek by Scott Thomas (4 of 5 stars)
The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (4 of 5 stars)
Children of the Fleet by Orson Scott Card (3.5 of 5 stars)
The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli (3.5 of 5 stars)
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson (3.5 of 5 stars)
Star Wars: Phasma by Delilah S. Dawson (3 of 5 stars)
Roundup Highlights:
What I’ve Read Since the Last Update
Here’s what I’ve managed to “unstack” from Mount TBR since my last roundup post, with most of the reviews having been posted already. Like I said, I’ve fallen behind on number of books read while working through the thousand-plus-page Oathbringer, but now that I’m done it shouldn’t be long before I’m completing more books again.
Have you heard of or read any of the books featured this week? What caught your eye? Any new discoveries? I hope you found something interesting for a future read! Let me know what you plan on checking out. Until next time, see you next Roundup!
The BiblioSanctum 