Guest Post: “The Worst Things That Can Happen to You in Space” by Rob Boffard
Posted on March 10, 2016 8 Comments
Space disasters. The idea of getting caught in the middle of one would be my worst nightmare, but hey, for whatever reason I sure as hell enjoy reading books and watching movies about them! Indeed it was that love that ultimately led me to pick up Rob Boffard’s Tracer, the ebook on sale now at Amazon, B&N, iTunes and GooglePlay. Space, as you know, is scary. And today, I’m pleased to invite Rob to the BiblioSanctum to tell us why. As the author of a sci-fi thriller taking place aboard a broken and crumbling space station, trust me when I say he knows all about the horrible things that can befall you, out there where no one can hear you scream…
WHAT ARE THE WORST THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU IN SPACE?
by Rob Boffard
Well, you could be set on fire.
A fire on a space station isn’t like a fire on Earth. On Earth, when you set something alight, the flames shoot upwards. But in zero gravity, they expand outwards in all directions, feeding on the oxygen-rich environment and getting very out-of-control, very quickly.
NASA and other space organisations realised a long time ago that fire in space is very bad, and so they did everything they could to prevent it, including making most things on board non-flammable. The problem is that fires still happen (there was one on the space station Mir in 1997) and even if you escape without burns, they can make life on board very uncomfortable. Ventilation systems can be shut down, whole modules can be filled with smoke, and particles of soot will bounce around in microgravity until the end of time.
The next horrible thing that could happen to you in space doesn’t sound so bad: catching a cold. But a cold on the ground is nothing like a cold in orbit. Germs love zero gravity. A sneeze can propel them six or seven feet. The entire environment is closed off, with multiple human beings in close proximity, and handy ventilation systems to circulate the air. Sure, the astronauts around you will have medical training, and there’s plenty of medicine on board, but it’s still one of the worst environments to get sick in. Especially if you contract something other than the cold. Can you imagine what happens if a flu microbe sneaks onto the International Space Station? Or a smidgen of flesh-eating bacteria? What are you going to do when your buddy’s arm is dissolving in front of you and the nearest hospital is 248 miles below you? Actually, let’s stop imagining that, because it’s kind of gross.
And then, of course, there’s the big one: being sucked into space without a spacesuit.
The good news is that this is far less likely to happen than getting a cold or catching fire. The bad news is that when it does happen, it will make those things seem like a stroll on the beach.
So you’re minding your own business, cleaning the airlock, and then one of your dumb-ass colleagues hits the wrong button, sending you whirling into oblivion. You might think you’ll instantly explode, but that’s not the case. You go through something far worse. Within seconds, all the air will rush from your lungs, depriving your body of oxygen. You may quite literally shit yourself as your bowels lose control. The saliva in your mouth and the fluids on the surfaces of your eyes will boil off. There’s a very good chance that the liquid in your blood will do the same thing, causing instantaneous bruising and burst capillaries. In fifteen seconds, you’ll be unconscious, and probably very happy about it. In two minutes, you’ll be dead from lack of oxygen.
But the fun doesn’t end when you pass out. See, the thing about space is that it’s the only environment where you can freeze to death while getting a sunburn. Space is -440F, and if you happen to be facing the sun, you’ll get one mother of a full-body tan. How does a temperature of 250F grab you? And this is without talking about the enormous amounts of cosmic radiation you’re being bombarded with.
This might make real-life space exploration seem like a truly terrible idea, but if you’re a writer (as I happen to be) then it’s a wonderful playground of delights. I got to have fun with it all in my Outer Earth trilogy (TRACER, ZERO-G, IMPACT), which is set on a city-sized space station. Huge fires? Check. Rampant, hideous disease? You got it. Explosive decompression? Naturally. What, you’re surprised that I’m sadistic after reading this post? Get outta here, man.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rob. Thirty. Author. Journalist. Sound Engineer. Snowboarder. Hip-hop artist. Tall. Basketball-player-length arms. Lots of tattoos. Glasses. Bad hair. Proud South African. Born in Johannesburg. Splits time between London and Vancouver. Digs New York. Doesn’t dig Vegas. Loves New Orleans. Not a helicopter pilot.
Debut novel. Tracer. On Orbit Books. Out July 2015 (UK). Out sometime 2016 (US). Space stations. Parkour. Explosions. Good times. Two sequels. Huzzah!
Guest Post: “One Step Forward, Two Steps…Further Forward?” by Marc Turner
Posted on March 9, 2016 7 Comments
As a reader, few things make me happier than picking up a sequel and liking it even more than the first book. And sometimes, it simply takes the second book to get a series to really take off! Brian Staveley’s Providence of Fire, Jeff Salyard’s Veil of the Deserters, and–as you can see from my review of it yesterday–Marc Turner’s Dragon Hunters are just a few examples for me. What’s cool is that Marc himself has chimed in on this very topic, and today we’re pleased and honored to welcome him to The BiblioSanctum to talk about which sequels he feels have not only lived up to their predecessors, but have surpassed them as well. Take it away, Marc!
ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS…FURTHER FORWARD?
by Marc Turner
Dragon Hunters is book two in my Chronicles of the Exile series. I’ve often heard a sequel referred to as “the difficult second book”. That’s because a writer has as much time as he likes to write his first book, but will probably be up against a deadline to write his second. Also, a first book creates expectations that an author must live up to with his next offering. There will be people out there thinking, “I loved your first book! It was great! Now DO IT AGAIN.” Or maybe even, “Do it better”. And you have to deliver.
For me, Dragon Hunters represented an additional challenge because it features a new cast of characters. I’d worked with the characters inWhen the Heavens Fall for many years, so finding interesting new voices that weren’t just reflections of the old ones proved difficult at first.The good news, though, is that you don’t need to have read When the Heavens Fall to be able to enjoy Dragon Hunters. So if you haven’t already started the series (shame on you), now is an excellent time to jump on board.
As a reader, there have been plenty of times that I’ve read the second book in a series and thought it didn’t match up to the first. But not always. Here are five examples of when I thought an excellent first book was trumped by an even better second.
1. Providence of Fire by Brian Staveley
I really enjoyed Brian Staveley’s The Emperor’s Blades. The worldbuilding was excellent, the story rattled along, and everything came together for a gripping finale. I have to say, though, there was one thing about the book that left me feeling cheated. Following Kaden’s example, I buried myself in my garden for ten days, and at the end of it I still felt no closer to understanding the vaniate. What’s going on there? Providence of Fire raised the bar even higher. There’s more mythology, more political intrigue – and more Adare, who had a relatively small role in the first book.
2. Before They Are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie
I liked The Blade Itself – the opening novel in the First Law trilogy – but I didn’t love it. Logen and Glokta are among my favourite fantasy characters, yet for some reason the story didn’t really grab me. Before They Are Hanged, though, is in my top five fantasy books of all time. I finished it in a day, and there was something to admire on every page. It had lots of laugh-out-loud moments, and it dug the ground out from under any number of fantasy tropes. It also introduced us to Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune . . .
3. Deadhouse Gates by Steven Erikson
Steven Erikson is the author whose work I would say has influenced me most, so you won’t be surprised to hear I enjoyed the first book in the Malazan series, Gardens of the Moon. It had epic worldbuilding, multiple story threads, and great characters, who all converge at the end for a battle royale. It was difficult to see how Erikson could outdo that in book two, but he managed it. Deadhouse Gates is crammed with memorable scenes and ideas that I wished I’d had myself. Plus the conclusion to the Chain of Dogs storyline is something that I think will always stay with me.
4. Knight’s Shadow by Sebastien de Castell
Traitor’s Blade was one of my favourite reads of 2015, with its mix of humour, swashbuckling adventure and some twists I really didn’t see coming. De Castell’s in-depth knowledge of swordplay also provided an extra degree of intensity and credibility to the action. The second book in the series, Knight’s Shadow, had all of that and then some. We spend more time with the secondary characters who I thought were a strength of book one. There is also less looking back at the history of the Greatcoats, allowing the story to flow at a swifter pace.
5. The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Fionavar Tapestry was, for me, a series that improved with each book. This being GGK, you can guarantee that the quality of the writing is excellent throughout. But at the start of book one, The Summer Tree, I struggled to warm to the characters. The novel also concludes with a harrowing scene that slightly spoiled my enjoyment of the book. I liked everything about The Wandering Fire, though. The series draws on a lot of different mythologies, and this book included two of my favourites: the Arthurian legends and the Wild Hunt. My edition of the novel also has a cover of which I heartily approve, featuring as it does a sea dragon monster.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Will my own second book in the Chronicles of the Exile series follow this trend? And how could anything surpass When the Heavens Fall (ahem)?
Well, to find out I guess you’ll just have to read both novels . . .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marc Turner was born in Toronto, Canada, but grew up in England. He graduated from Lincoln College, Oxford University, in 1996 with a BA (Hons) in law, and subsequently joined a top ten law firm in the City of London. After realising that working there did not mix well with simple pleasures such as having a life, he fled north first to Leeds and then to Durham in search of a better work-life balance. Unfortunately it proved elusive, and so in 2007, rather than take the next step and move to Scotland, he began working part time so he could devote more time to his writing. Following the sale of his debut epic fantasy novel, When the Heavens Fall, he started writing full time.
Why writing? Because it is the only work he knows where daydreaming isn’t frowned upon, and because he has learned from bitter experience that he cannot not write. The authors whose work has most influenced him are Steven Erikson and Joe Abercrombie. Consequently he writes fast-paced, multi-threaded novels with a liberal sprinkling of humour; novels written on a panoramic scale, peopled by characters that stay in the memory. Or at least that’s the theory . . .
He lives in Durham, England, with his wife and son.
Waiting on Wednesday 03/09/16
Posted on March 9, 2016 11 Comments
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that lets us feature upcoming releases that we can’t wait to get our hands on!
Mogsy’s Pick:
The Guns of Empire by Django Wexler: August 9, 2016 (Roc)
We’re officially past the halfway point in what is one of my favorite fantasy series right now. I love the title and the cover! Can’t believe it’s taken four books to finally see Winter on the cover, seeing as she’s one of the central characters. Seriously, IT’S ABOUT TIME.
“As the roar of the guns subsides and the smoke of battle clears, the country of Vordan is offered a fragile peace…
After their shattering defeats at the hands of brilliant General Janus bet Vhalnich, the opposing powers have called all sides to the negotiating table in hopes of securing an end to the war. Queen Raesinia of Vordan is anxious to see the return of peace, but Janus insists that any peace with the implacable Sworn Church of Elysium is doomed to fail. For their Priests of the Black, there can be no truce with heretics and demons they seek to destroy, and the war is to the death.
Soldiers Marcus d’Ivoire and Winter Ihernglass find themselves caught between their general and their queen. Now, each must decide which leader truly commands their loyalty—and what price they might pay for final victory.
And in the depths of Elysium, a malign force is rising—and defeating it might mean making sacrifices beyond anything they have ever imagined.”
Book Review: Dragon Hunters by Marc Turner
Posted on March 8, 2016 17 Comments
A review copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Book 2 of The Chronicle of the Exile
Publisher: Tor (February 9, 2016)
Length: 496 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Sometimes a second book is required for me to get a feel for a series, and this is certainly one of those cases. When the Heavens Fall was a novel that gave me mixed feelings, because while it didn’t exactly sweep me off my feet, I did genuinely enjoy it for the new and refreshing sword-and-sorcery fantasy that it was. In any event, it made me curious to tackle the sequel, Dragon Hunters, to see how the chronicle will continue.
What I found caught me by surprise. As it turned out, this novel is rather unlike the first one; not only do the stories differ in tone and style, Dragon Hunters also follows a brand new cast of characters and takes place in a different setting. But in spite, or perhaps because, of this huge departure, I liked the book. I liked it a lot.
One does not often find that subsequent volumes in an epic fantasy series can be read as standalones, but I believe this can be done here. Lore-wise, the plot of Dragon Hunters has strong ties to When the Heavens Fall, but other than that, we’re looking at a whole new ballgame. The story first begins in the period leading up to Dragon Day, an annual event celebrated by the raising of the Dragon Gate. A sea dragon would be allowed to pass into the Sabian Sea, where it will be subsequently hunted by the gathered water-mages who collectively make up a ruling body called the Storm Lords.
One of them, the powerful Emira Imerle Polivar is being pressured to relinquish her reign, though she is not about to step down quietly. Conspiring with the Chameleon priesthood, she arranges for two of their members to infiltrate the heavily guarded citadel and sabotage the Dragon Gate. Ruining the ceremony would deal a humiliating blow to the Storm Lords, which is exactly what Imerle wants. However, it appears that others have been targeting the Storm Lords too, as evidenced by the deadly assassins on the hunt, using the confusion sowed by the conspiracies and chaos to their mysterious benefactor’s advantage.
Considering my reading preferences, it’s probably no surprise that I found getting into this second volume was much easier and faster compared to the first. After all, I love my maritime fantasy, and I also love dragons. In Dragon Hunters, Marc Turner masterfully spins an exciting and cohesive tale of nautical adventure featuring these majestic leviathans, and it captured my imagination from the start. Unlike the first book, which saw four disparate characters come together in their shared quest to find a stolen object, the unifying theme of this sequel is not of a search, but of a hunt. That little difference alone gives this story a much more animated and thrilling sense of urgency.
For one thing, all the characters here are working against the clock. Karmel and Veran, the two Chameleon agents tasked to sabotage the Dragon Gate, are on a heist-like mission trying to complete their objective while struggling with mistrust and hidden agendas within their priesthood. Then there’s Kempis Parr, a city watchman hot on the trail of an assassin who has always managed to stay one step ahead of him, slipping from his grasp each time he draws close. And finally, there’s the grand dragon hunt itself. The plot to ruin Dragon Day notwithstanding, you didn’t think we’d get a book called Dragon Hunters without some dragon hunting action, did you? If dragons are what you want, then you definitely won’t be disappointed. Turner’s dragons are marine monsters, vicious predators that will give the Storm Lord ships a run for their money. While I found When the Heavens Fall to be a slower novel that took nearly until the midway point to pick up speed, clearly I had none of those problems here.
Compared to its predecessor, Dragon Hunters isn’t just like a whole different book, it IS a whole different book. For this reason, I have a feeling that opinions on it will vary wildly. For me personally though, it is an example of a sequel that beats out the previous book when it comes to pacing and scope. Overall, I feel that the story has a more “blockbuster” vibe to it, by which I mean its reach is considerably more epic, encompassing the lives of a greater number of characters and resulting in far more serious ramifications for the world—in other words, not a bad deal at all.
All told, Dragon Hunters was a great book and hooked me where the first one didn’t. I’m glad I gave this sequel a go, because in terms of my excitement level for this series, I know that I’m no longer sitting on the fence: I desperately need to get my hands on the next installment! Marc Turner has completely sold me on his excellent world building and characters, and I can’t wait to see what’s next in Red Tide, The Chronicle of the Exile part three.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of When the Heavens Fall (Book 1)
Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Characters Everyone Loves But I Just Don’t Get
Posted on March 8, 2016 58 Comments
Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by The Broke and the Bookish. They created the meme because they love lists. Who doesn’t love lists? They wanted to share these list with fellow book lovers and ask that we share in return to connect with our fellow book lovers. To learn more about participating in the challenge, stop by their page dedicated to it and dive in!
This week’s topic: Ten Characters Everyone Loves But I Just Don’t Get or Ten Characters I LOVE But Others Seem To Dislike
Tiara’s Picks:
Eric Northman (Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris) – Admittedly, I only made it through one Sookie Stackhouse book before I decided it wasn’t the series for me, which is sad because as a Southerner I get excited when I see media set in the South, especially genre fiction. I did watch the television show religiously, though, and I just never did get it. It could turn a conversation with fandom awkward when you admit to being that one person who doesn’t like Eric “Da Gawd” Northman. He was only ever just okay at the best of times in my eyes. This entry could actually be a threefer because I didn’t like Bill or Sookie much either.
Trust me, I do not love you either.
Batman (DC Comics)- I’d be lying by omission if I didn’t say that, at one point in my life, I was a huge Batman girl. Even though I wasn’t into DC, I thought I liked Batman. I’d also like to point out that I was maybe 10-years-old at the time. So, some years back, I got on this big kick where I read a bunch of Batman books to really get to know the character, and I decided that I didn’t really like Batman as much as I thought I did. He has his moments, but after reading some arcs with Batman and Huntress, I pretty much was done with the whole Bat family.
Get out, Batman.
Eren (Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama) – Few manga boys grate my nerves like Eren. I’m a big Attack on Titan fan, but I watch/read it for everyone except Eren. ANYONE except Eren. #ExceptEren. Even his face is stupid. I have spent 90% of my time reading this manga and watching this anime thinking, “Calm the fuck down, Eren.” Just ridiculous.
#CalmDownBro
Anita Blake (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Series by Laurell K. Hamilton) – You wouldn’t believe how over Anita Blake I am. I lasted maybe 10 books, and probably more than half of those books were hate-reads because I was sick to death of Anita by that time. I started out liking her very much. As I continued the series, I found my tolerance level with all the characters, but most especially Anita, hitting an unprecedented level of “This is bullshit!” until finally, I had to stop reading these books.
A dramatization of my disposal of these books.
Luke Skywalker (Star Wars) – *sigh*
I think this reasoning could go on all day, so I’ll sum it all up with one gif.
Mogsy’s Picks:
Jon Snow (A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin) – I can hear the reactions now. “What?! How can anyone not like Jon Snow?” Well, I can come up with several reasons, least of all that the last hope of Westeros rests upon the shoulders of some emo whiny teenager who likes to wear a lot of black and has a phenomenal talent for pissing off everyone who meets him for the first time? I call shenanigans. Actually, Jon has made great strides since becoming a Crow, but I still find his storyline boring.
Life is so unfair…
Meg Corbyn (The Others series by Anne Bishop) – I actually dig this series a lot. More and more though, I’ve been wondering why Meg gets a pass from the Simon Wolfgard and the residents of Lakeside Courtyard, especially when they seem to be quite ornery towards all other humans. Yes, Meg is a blood prophet, but she’s also kind of passive character if you think about it. Doesn’t explain why all the Others defer to her or bend over backwards to treat her like a queen, given too that it goes completely against their nature.
Not impressed…MEG.
Sigrud (City of Stairs by Robert Jackson Bennett) – Let me be clear, I actually don’t have a problem with Sigrud, I think he’s a great character. Still, I’m mystified why he’s so many people’s favorite. I mean, it’s not like the fantasy genre has a shortage of LARGE MEN, those big, strong, hulking berserker types who are always calm — until they’re not. Sigrud is cool, just…nothing special.
Seen this before…
Rowan Whitethorn (Heir of Fire, Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas) – The sad thing is, I started out liking Rowan a lot. His mentor-protégé relationship with Aelin’s was the one thing that stood out for me in Heir of Fire, but I should have known it wouldn’t last. As a teacher, Rowan actually had an interesting dynamic with our main character, but then it crumbled the moment he became just another love interest in Queen of Shadows. I know a lot of readers ship these two, but personally I can’t find it in myself to forgive that scene with Aelin parading in front of Rowan in a skimpy nightie.
Ron Weasley (Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling) – Sorry, I just can’t stand this kid.
Book Review: Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs
Posted on March 7, 2016 20 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs
Mogsy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 9 of Mercy Thompson
Publisher: Ace (March 8, 2016)
Length: 352 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Fire Touched is another strong entry into the Mercy Thompson series, and even though it might not be my favorite book or even in my top three, the significance of this volume cannot be overlooked because it contains a lot of important moments and turning points.
For one thing, the pack has grown again. Mercy may have stirred things up after becoming the mate of Adam, alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolves, but after the events of the last book Night Broken the pack has welcomed yet another non-wolfy member in the form of Joel the tibicena. Mercy, who has already taken a lot of heat (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun!) for her role in making that happen, is once more the target of the pack’s ire in Fire Touched when she extends their protection to a fae-altered child in the aftermath of a troll attack on the city. But while this decision has made some of the pack unhappy, worse yet is the concern that Mercy’s actions may have unwittingly sparked an all-out war between humankind, werewolves and the fae.
Now the Tri-Cities area has become a battleground for fae politics, forcing Bran the Marrok to cut ties with the Columbia Basin pack. However, Adam and his werewolves are standing firm on their promise to defend their territory and protect Aiden, the fire-touched child whom the Grey Lords want to get their hands on. But in the face of constant attacks on the pack and their friends, just how long will they be able to hold out?
There were so many great moments in this book. First of all, Adam probably deserves a husband-of-the-year medal for finally putting his foot down on the nasty pack energy directed at Mercy, and I think even Briggs realizes this pack grudge against the protagonist has gone on for far too long. (I was never too keen on the pack power structure in this series, but I have to admit sometimes a werewolf dictatorship has its uses.) Second, I loved the cameo by the unique vampire Thomas Hao, who has appeared in the author’s other stories before, including Frost Burned where I first met the character. There was also the epic battle on the bridge between the werewolves and the troll, which kicked off this novel with an action-packed scene. The story also culminated into a tense climax and interesting resolution.
That said, I also felt that the pacing of this installment was very inconsistent and not very balanced. Fire Touched is the perfect example of the “sandwich effect”, with an explosive introduction and a stunning conclusion, but everything in between felt comparatively low key and uneventful. I mentioned fae politics, and there a lot of it in here, punctuated with a few scenes of wanton property destruction. Major changes to the future of the Columbia Basin pack notwithstanding, I also felt that little progress was made in the overall series story arc. We’re definitely moving in the right direction, but this novel still has that “filler” vibe to it, and the uneven pacing makes this one feel relatively more subdued compared to some of the previous books.
In spite of its weaker aspects though, I thought Fire Touched was a good book. It might not be the best of the series, but it’s enjoyable and entertaining, which is what matters. I love this series, and I’m especially liking the positive effects that Mercy has been having on the pack, even if not all of them are ready to embrace the changes. She and Adam are as sweet as always, and while I’d like to see Mercy’s role as Coyote’s daughter explored further (it occurred to me that she doesn’t shapeshift into a coyote even once in this novel), I’m okay with seeing her consolidate her place and her power within the pack hierarchy. Now that headway has been made on the storyline with the fae, I’m hoping the series will pick up the momentum that this book has started and run with it in the next installment. Looking forward to seeing what comes next.
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Reread of River Marked (Book 6)
Review of Night Broken (Book 8)
Review of Shifting Shadows (Anthology)
A Local Habitation Read-Along Week No.1
Posted on March 6, 2016 14 Comments
We take a trip back to October Daye’s world of mystery and magic in the second book of Seanan McGuire’s October Daye series. If you’re interested in joining this Read-Along, visit the SF/F Read-Along group for more information and to join the discussion.
Week 1: Saturday 5th March, Chapters 1-8 hosted by Over The Effing Rainbow
Week 2: Saturday 12th March, Chapters 9-16 – hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 3: Saturday 19th March, Chapters 17-25 – hosted by Books By Proxy
Week 4: Saturday 26th March, Chapters 26-end – hosted by The Bibliosanctum
1. Some familiar faces are back for book 2 (hi Tybalt!), but we don’t waste much time getting to meet some new people, most notably Sylvester Torquill’s niece, January, who is … less than upfront with Toby at first meeting. What do you think of January so far?
Tybalt… be still my beating heart.
Hm. Good question. We know she’s being evasive and that’s frustrating for Toby, but I think in her own way her evasiveness is how she’s drawing in Toby more to help her with whatever situation she has going on right now. I think she can’t just outright say it (obviously), but she can act in ways that she knows will have Toby, and by extension her uncle, wanting to help her.
2. Another new face is April, who’s got a rather unique back story according to Alex. What do you make of her so far, and what do you think of the merging of magic and technology that seems set to be the underlying theme in this book?
Mixing magic and technology is something I really love in fiction because I happen to be a big fan of both, and I look forward to seeing how this plays out in the story. Right now, April reminds me a little of my favorite AI from Mass Effect 2 and 3. Very straightforward and to the point despite her origins, likes to stay on task, and is a bit out of touch with the intricacies of feelings. This could have a lot to do with how she came to be part of Jan’s court or maybe it could be just because they treat her like a freaking computer. (So, what else is she going to do besides act like a computer? She’s young and her “habitat” has been altered to be something completely different.)
3. Do any of the rest of the new faces stand out to you here? If so, who and why?
Alex and Terry stand out in a huge way because as Toby says there’s just enough mystery about Alex and his background, which also extends to his sister, to make them interesting. I’m really curious to see what their story is, especially since they obviously have some affect on the opposite sex. April stands out as well just because she is some amalgam of magic and technology. I wouldn’t say this person exactly stands out, but I really liked her. That would be Gordan. I always like the prickly ones, if you haven’t figured that one out. It could be the feeling of camaraderie even if they are book characters. 😉
4. We get some explanation of the political situation where Tamed Lightning is concerned, and by the end of this section we’ve got a body on the ground at ALH Computing… Got any initial thoughts/suspicions/things you still want to know?
I’m not sure what to make of it yet. I think, once Toby gets a little further into her investigation I may have more thoughts. Or this may end up like the last book and end in another scenario where there are no clear leads, so I spit in the wind with my most logical choice and my least logical choice being the likely candidates.
Quentin is adorable. It’s like reading about a puppy whenever he’s in a scene. A bloo bloo bloo…
OMFGADORBABLEPUPPYABLOOBLOOBLOO as Quentin
“The skirt passes muster,” said Tybalt, finishing his survey. “I might have called it a ‘belt’ rather than a ‘skirt,’ but I suppose you have the right to name your own clothing. While we’re on the subject of apparel, tell me, were you intending to walk all the way home in those shoes?”
* *
You are truly endearing when you sleep. I attribute this to the exotic nature of seeing you in a state of silence. —Tybalt
Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire (October Daye #1)
Rosemary and Rue Read-Along Week No.1
Rosemary and Rue Read-Along Week No.2
Rosemary and Rue Read-Along Week No.3
Rosemary and Rue Read-Along Week No.4
Sunday Musings: Review Rut
Posted on March 6, 2016 6 Comments
Normally, when I read a book, I’m already writing the review in my head. Last year, for whatever reason (and there were many valid ones), I just wasn’t in the right mind set to do so. I thankfully still was able to get in the right mind space to read or listen to books, but I just couldn’t get any thoughts onto paper about them. Today (which is actually January 31–hurray for scheduled posts), I’ve managed to churn out a whole bunch of reviews, starting small with these little guys, and moving on to more significant coverage. It’s a nice feeling. That is to say–I’m back, yo! So stay tuned for more bookish thoughts from me. And many thanks to my beautiful, wonderful, inspirational co-bloggers for carrying on the torch in my absence. Being a part of the Bibliosanctum team continues to be an honour for me.
BintiWho’d have thought I’d enjoy a book about math. Okay, Binti isn’t really about math, but it does incorporate mathematics and science into its trek across space. I am always thrilled to read interesting ways that authors use magic, and that was no less the case here, although, despite the grounding in math and science through the protagonist, Binti’s, upbringing, there was a feeling of trying too hard to connecting magic with science and math, and then letting it fall away. As in, when it came down to Binti seeking to understand how her newly discovered abilities worked, she and all those around her seemed content with “I don’t know” as the answer.
The story focuses on this young woman who has been accepted into a prestigious university light years away and who, against her family’s wishes and traditions, abandons everything to pursue her dream. Throughout the story, Binti’s courage is at the forefront, but no more so than when she gives up everything she knows and loves to follow this dream. Unfortunately, her dream is tragically and violently interrupted by the arrival of the Meduse on her ship. The Meduse are a race of beings who have been at war with humanity for a long time, but something about Binti makes her not only immune to their attack, but also allows her to eventually communicate with them through the power of “I don’t know.”
I really liked this book and particularly loved Robin Miles’ narration. Miles is a master of dialects and, when I so often read and listen to books about British or North American protagonists, it’s a thrill to hear Miles strong, confident voice speaking Binti’s words with an African accent. Okorafor also does not waste any opportunities to define her worlds and her characters as something far more than what is too common in the genre, with particular focus on Binti’s hair and the otjize with which she covers her body. These distinctive cultural elements become key factors in the story.
But the story itself, despite being so promising, falls short. It wraps up too easily and perhaps too unrealistically. Without giving away any spoilers, I will simply say that it left me wanting more, which is both a good and a bad thing, in this case, depending on whether or not Okorafor ever decides to revisit Binto and her world.
The Rolling Stones by Robert A. Heinlein
The easiest way to describe this book is that it’s an amusing family road trip… in space.
I’ve come to adore Heinlein’s dry sense of humour, which often appears in one or two characters in his books, but here, we have a whole family of smartasses. From Captain to Doctor, to grandmother, to daughter, to entrepreneurial twins, and a determined little boy with typical little boy stubborness. Oh and flat cats, which are best described as, well, tribbles, but flatter.
The description of this book focuses on the twins, but Castor and Pollux are nothing without the support of their family–and what a supportive family it is. Even when their father is threatening to shove them out of an airlock, or their mother is quietly rolling her eyes at their antics, this is clearly not the dysfunctional family they seem to pretend to be. They are a tight knight group where loyalty and love is evident, even through the sarcasm and idle threats. The Stones are what every family should aspire to be like, and this book was what every family trip wishes it could be (though maybe without the deadly diseases and other critical threats of interplanetary travel.
YA Weekend Audio: Calamity by Brandon Sanderson
Posted on March 5, 2016 14 Comments
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Rating (Overall): 3.5 of 5 stars
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy
Series: Book 3 of The Reckoners
Publisher: Audible Studios (February 16, 2016)
Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Narrator: MacLeod Andrews
Calamity is the concluding novel of The Reckoners series and it was nothing like I expected, but I have yet to decide whether I feel positively or negatively about that. In truth, I feel torn because even though I enjoyed this book overall, for the first time in a long while I ended a Brandon Sanderson novel without feeling completely satisfied. Here came the long awaited answers to the questions that have been with us since the beginning, but I’m not sure that they really resolved all that much for me.
It probably goes without saying, but it’s worth mentioning anyway: This will be a spoiler-free review for Calamity, but if you haven’t read Steelheart and Firefight yet, keep in mind I may reference events from those preceding volumes. Following the devastating events of the last book, David and the Reckoners have left Babilar for Ildithia, tracking down the whereabouts of Jonathan “Prof” Phaedrus. The former Reckoners leader had ultimately succumbed to the darkness of his High Epic powers, but rather than attempting to kill Prof outright, David believes that his friend can still be saved. To do that, he’ll have to uncover Prof’s weakness, the thing that an Epic fears the most, and force the older man to turn back from the evil consuming him.
From the beginning to about three-quarters of the way through, Calamity was set to be my favorite book in the trilogy. I loved that we got to visit a new city that was once again fantastic beyond belief. After Newcago and Babilar, I wondered what Sanderson would have up his sleeve this time, and it turned out to be…salt. Formerly Atlanta, Ildithia was infused with Epic power and is now entirely made up of the stuff. By crumbling at one end while reforming at another, the city replaces itself completely about once every week or so, and gives the illusion that the whole of Ildithia is slowly “moving” across the landscape of the southern Fractured States. That’s some mind blowing world-building.
David was also once again slaying me with his sense of humor, bringing back his signature metaphors that are so bad they’re good. At certain points of the book, especially the first time the Reckoners encounter Prof in Ildithia, the tension was so thick that I was practically frozen in anticipation, simply hanging on to every word in the audiobook. Later on in the story, there’s even an exciting heist scene, and we all know how much I love those. The stakes were much higher in this book, and the greater intensity of the action scenes definitely reflected that.
So needless to say, I was confused when the first reviews of Calamity started surfacing and many of the ratings were mixed. But once I got to the final stretch of the book, I began to understand.
The ending was…interesting. After finishing Calamity I turned to a friend and tried to articulate my thoughts on how I felt about the finale, and found that I couldn’t. I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it either. Still, I just can’t seem to shake the sense that Brandon Sanderson hit a wall when it came to figuring out how to wrap up this trilogy, and in the end decided on a very random, out-of-left-field conclusion—which is not like the author at all. That is why I am so torn. On the one hand, there’s an unmistakable sense of closure, so I’m happy that we got a real ending. But on the other, there are still many important points left open that I feel needed to be resolved. For lack of a better word, it felt messy.
On a happier note though, I’m pleased to say that the audiobook edition has exceeded my expectations—but I already knew it was going to be excellent after my experience with the audio of Firefight. MacLeod Andrews is a talented narrator, and out of all the titles I’ve listened to him read, his performance on this series is by far my favorite. I think it’s because these books are a good match for his energy and enthusiasm. After all, Brandon Sanderson writes the best protagonists, some of whom are among the most vivid and unique characters I’ve ever encountered. David of the Reckoners series is no exception, though his jokes can sometimes become tedious and get in the way of his charm, but Andrews has this way of moderating that goofiness, making the character feel very sincere and likeable.
All told, I think Calamity might be my least favorite installment, but I also can’t say I’m all that disappointed. There were plenty of great moments in here, and while the ending may have dragged down my overall opinion of the book, it hasn’t really affected my love for the entire series. I adore The Reckoners, and I would still readily recommend it to anyone looking to read a fun spin on superheroes.
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*** Originally reviewed at The Speculative Herald ***
More on The BiblioSanctum:
Review of Steelheart (Book 1) by Mogsy
Review of Steelheart (Book 1) by Wendy
Review of Firefight (Book 2) by Mogsy
Book Review: Brotherhood of the Wheel by R.S. Belcher & GIVEAWAY!
Posted on March 4, 2016 19 Comments
***The giveaway is now over, thank you to everyone who entered!***
A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Brotherhood of the Wheel by R.S. Belcher
Mogsy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Series: Book 1 of The Brotherhood of the Wheel
Publisher: Tor (March 1, 2016)
Length: 384 pages
Author Information: Website | Twitter
Urban Fantasy is such an exciting genre right now because of books like The Brotherhood of the Wheel. While mythological creatures and vigilantes have long been a mainstay, R.S. Belcher has shaken up these conventions and breathed new life into UF by looking at a slice of American culture that arguably hasn’t gotten a lot of attention: Truckers. Motorcycle clubs. The U.S. Interstate Highway System.
Meet Jimmie Aussapile, an independent truck driver who lives a double life as a knight of an ancient order, protecting the country’s roads and its travelers from monsters—both the supernatural and the human kind. He and others like him are part of a brethren who call themselves the Brotherhood of the Wheel.
One night, Jimmie picks up a ghostly hitchhiker and follows her message to a number of unsolved missing person cases. Along with his new squire Heck Sinclair, the two men uncover a terrifying situation involving a supernatural serial killer known as the Pagan who has been using the highway system to prey on children since the mid-1900s. Meanwhile, Louisiana cop Lovina Marcou has been conducting her own investigations into a group of missing teenagers, leading her to creepy internet stories about abductions by the inhuman Black-Eyed Kids or BEKs. She eventually crosses paths with Jimmie and Heck, setting in motion a string of events that would pit them against a great evil that has been preparing to make its return into the world.
This is the third book I’ve read by R.S. Belcher, and damn, his storytelling just gets better and better. I found myself really digging the combination of urban fantasy and horror, and I think The Brotherhood of the Wheel would be perfect for readers who love the gritty stylings of Chuck Wendig, or the creepy and otherworldly stories of Joe Hill. I also love the blending of the modern and the ancient. On the one hand, we’re reaching back into history and referencing the Knights Templar to explain the origins of the Brethren, and on the other we’re pulling in elements influenced by internet memes and other online myths that go viral. This fantastic mashup comes together to create a very special kind of magic, bringing a rough and terrible kind of beauty to the places we wouldn’t typically associate with the spiritual or magical—like tunnels, trailer parks, or truck stops.
The characters, especially Jimmie, are really what makes this book stand out. This is the first volume of a new series, but it does take place in the same world as the author’s novel Nightwise, in which Jimmie actually makes his first appearance as a truck driver who gives protagonist Laytham Ballard hitch a ride in his rig. It was a small scene, but for those who have read the book, that intriguing introduction to Jimmie and the Brethren might have made a strong impression. I know it did for me, which was why I was really looking forward The Brotherhood of the Wheel, a novel that would explore his story and his order’s background. Just in case you’re wondering, both books can be indeed be read as standalones, as they’re the openers to two different and separate series, but I still thought it was really neat to read both and catch all the easter eggs and references they make to each other.
Anyway, as it turns out, Jimmie is quite a remarkable man. He’s a reminder that a hero can come in many shapes and sizes, even in the form of a gruff truck driver with a potbelly and bad, tobacco-stained teeth, wearing a hideous Squidbillies mesh baseball cap. By day, he’s a humble worker and a loving husband and father to his wife, daughter, and another baby on the way. Off the books, he’s chasing down murderers, sexual predators, and paranormal beasties that go bump in the night, often putting his job in jeopardy when he misses delivery schedules or deadlines. Unlike Laytham Ballard of Nightwise—who wasn’t an entirely likeable guy—Jimmie Aussapile is a completely different kind of protagonist, almost like a Peter Parker-like character who immediately appeals to the reader because he is willing to make personal sacrifices for the greater good. I also loved Heck, Lovina, and Max the Builder researcher who later joins the team, and together the four of them kick some seriously major ass. It’s impossible not to root for them, especially when they’re fighting against a most twisted and depraved antagonist.
This is probably my favorite book by the author so far and I’m intensely excited about the future of this series. It’s clear he has put a lot of careful planning into this world populated by all kinds of heroes and anti-heroes united as one to protect innocents from the malevolent forces of the occult. By combining modern technology, contemporary urban myths, and age-old folkloric legends, Belcher made me see “road magic” in a whole new light, and I can’t wait to see what he does next. The wheel turns, baby!
THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE WHEEL BOOK
+ TRUCKER HAT GIVEAWAY
Ready for something really cool? The publisher has very generously offered The BiblioSanctum an opportunity to host a giveaway for a hardcover copy of The Brotherhood of a Wheel AND this nifty trucker hat which is one of a limited number made specially for this book! Oh man, I already know I’m going to be insanely jealous of whoever wins this prize package. This giveaway is open to residents in the US and Canada. 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 “THE WHEEL TURNS” by 11:59pm Eastern time on Monday, March 14, 2016.
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!
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