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A Review: Machine Vendetta

Machine Vendetta Alastair Reynolds ISBN: ‎ 978-0316462846 Machine Vendetta is the final Revelation Space novel we’re getting and the final part of the Dreyfus trilogy and it could have been a lot better. Unlike the previous book in the series, there was only one main thread and consequently lacked a lot of the Space Opera we’re used to from Reynolds. A lot of the plot was predictable, including the Ultras coming to the rescue and Hafdis being key towards the end. There’s no real ending either. There are far too many loose ends left untied. It really felt like just one more novel to finish the authors publishing contract and it wasn’t really given the love and attention it deserved.
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A Review: A Storm of Swords, Part 2: Blood and Gold

A Storm of Swords, Part 2: Blood and Gold (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 3) by George R.R. Martin ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0007447855 At least George R. R. Martin is consistent. I didn’t really enjoy the second part of this book any more than the first. The Red Wedding was very disappointing and there was far too much about choosing a new commander on The Wall. I was pleased Lysa got pushed through the moon door at the end though! Of course I’m going to continue with the final, so far, two books. I can’t not finish it.

A review of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance   by  Robert Pirsig ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0099786405 Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is an interesting book, which I read after a recommendation. The reader’s guide at the end (Kindle edition), which I’d recommend reading first, explains that the book is really three stories: A motorcycle trip from Minnesota to California A philosophical meditation on the concept of quality A story of a man persuaded by the ghost of his former self I only really enjoyed the motorcycle trip part. The discussion on quality was long, a bit rambly and convoluted. There was just too much of it. Other than the enjoyable description of the motorcycle journey, this part of the book has some interesting insights into relationships, interaction between people and what motivates people’s behaviour.

A Review: Prelude to Foundation by Isaac Asimov

Prelude To Foundation Asaac Asimov ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008117481 Although, as a child and teenager, I’ve heard an abridged audiobook many times and read Prelude to Foundation the first time more than two decades ago, I loved it more than I can describe and more than any other book I have read for a long time. It’s a good story, well told. While probably not true Space Opera, it has a wide scope. It has all the things I like: Spaceships, otherworlds, science and even some action. I also realised for the first time that Hari Seldon is both unpleasant and sexist. Maybe this is because I am viewing a book from the mid eighties through eyes from the 2020s. Maybe this was Asimov’s intention. Maybe it’s how Asimov was. Perhaps reading the other Foundation and Robot novels will help my understanding.

Not as good as TV! A review of Caliban's War, The Expanse Book 2

Caliban's War by James S. A. Corey ISBN: 978-1841499918 I was really keen to read this after Leviathan Wakes was so good and after enjoying the TV series so much. Of course there was the pull of the introduction of Chrisjen Avasarala as well, and she really did not disappoint. She was amazing. The majority of the book was a bit ploddy, especially compared to the first, but the exciting bits were super exciting. The events which resolved the climax and sustained one of the main characters were somewhat contrived and convenient, but I could live with that. In this book, the TV series diverged even more. This disappoints me, because the story and events in the book are so much better than what they changed or invented for TV. I guess I have more of this to come moving on to book 3.

A Review: Detonation Boulevard

By Alistair Reynolds ASIN: B0C99899GL Take two of my favourite things and my favourite author and what do you get? Formula 1 in space with cyborgs, and who doesn’t love a Sisters of Mercy Reference? From a Formula 1 perspective, there’s so much there. Reynolds explains how, in this universe, there are different races on different bodies in the solar system. He alludes to some of the sports biggest questions from how much technology is used, to the role sponsors and money play to some of the politics around which teams are favoured and what benefits they may get to stay in the sport. He explores a bigger question through the drivers as well. This is a short story, so I read it in two sittings. There definitely could be a larger novel here, but I suspect there won’t be. If you’ve an hour or two to spare, give Detonation Boulevard (which I can only hear in my head in Andrew Edritch’s voice) a read!

A Review: God Emperor of Dune

By Frank Herbert ISBN:  ‎ 978-1473233805 I’ve seen lots of people rave about God Emperor of Dune, the first of the second Dune trilogy, which is set several thousand years after the events of Children of Dune. As far as I’m concerned, it’s ok. It consists mostly of the God Emperor, Leto II, whose body is transitioning into a wormlike state with a protruding, cowelled face and arms, giving various other characters his thoughts and feelings on existence and how wonderful and godlike he is. Not much actually happens in the book, few conclusions are drawn and the ending kinda peters out.