Review: The Games by Ted Kosmatka

The Games Ted Kosmatka Del Rey, 2012 The Games by Ted Kosmatka is a sciencefiction thriller that actually leans more heavily on the science part them my initial impressions lead me to believe. In a near future the advancement of genetic science is promoted and funded in part by a no holds barred death sport [...]

A look at John C. Wright’s Count to Trillion

Count to a Trillion John C. Wright Tor, 2011 Count to a Trillion by John C. Wright is the first in a new transhumanist space opera series. The novel follows Menelaus Montrose, resident of the war ravaged Texus and a lawyer (disputes are arbited via pistol duels so there is very little traditional law infvolved) [...]

Review: Heroes Die by Matthew Woodring Stover

Heroes Die Matthew Woodring Stover Del Rey, 1998 Heroes Die by Matthew Woodring Stover is one of those often overlooked novels important to both science fiction and fantasy. Hari Michaelson is better known as Caine, the Blade of Tyshelle, a brutal assassin on the world called Overworld. His adventures are experienced by millions of people [...]

Review: Up Against It by M. J. Locke

Up Against It M. J. Locke Tor, 2011 I am not always a fan of hard science fiction. It is a sad truth but a true one. Blame the fact that I came to science fiction via fantasy and Star Wars. In fact I’ve read very little hard science fiction and placing novels within this [...]

Review: Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey

Leviathan Wakes James S.A. Corey Orbit, 2011 When I finally purchased The Dragon’s Path on my e-reader of choice I was pleasantly surprised (that is an egregious understatement) to note that it included a free advance copy of Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey (aka Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck). Advance advance buzz, the [...]

Review: Sleepless by Charlie Huston (Audio)

Sleepless Charlie Huston Blackstone Audio, 2010 Since having discovered Charlie Huston some time ago he has quickly rocketed up into my circle of favorite authors. Blackstone Audio’s production of Huston’s Joe Pitt series read with style and panache by Scott Brick are some of the best audiobooks I’ve ever listened to and The Mystic Arts [...]

Review: The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi

The Quantum Thief Hannu Rajaniemi Tor, 2011 (orig. Gollancz, 2010) The Quantum Thief opens with the thief Jean le Flambeur trapped inside a prison, his personality fractured into its component parts and forced to endlessly take part in a game of Prisoner’s Dilemma. It isn’t long before he released by a beautiful woman. Of course [...]

Review: Fearless (Lost Fleet Book 2) by Jack Campbell

Fearless Jack Campbell, read by Christian Rummel Audible Frontiers, 2008 Fearless picks up more or less exactly where Dauntless left off.  Geary is still struggling with the presence of his legendary alter ego “Black Jack” trying to reconcile who he is now not only with who he used be but with who and what others [...]

Review: Cowboy Angels by Paul McAuley

Cowboy Angels Paul McAuley (blog, twitter) Pyr, 2011 I started this sort of randomly.  I mean, I certainly intended to read it next, but I was on my way to the bathroom (tmi?) and saw it sitting there on my desk and just sort of brought it along.  Then we had more than a foot [...]

Review: Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card

Pathfinder Orson Scott Card Simon Pulse, 2010 My initial attraction to Pathfinder was based solely on the fact that the main character was named Rigg.  Rig is a less well known name of the Norse god Heimdall;  it is the name Heimdall goes by as he wanders Midgard, the tale of which is chronicled in [...]