There are some books which just suck you in... Some you like fine but still the reading is steady but this one just grabbed me. Maybe this was becauseThere are some books which just suck you in... Some you like fine but still the reading is steady but this one just grabbed me. Maybe this was because this is a real treat for enjoyers of the main Malazan series and Esslemont's books. It's a cornucopia of character origins and groundwork for the actual Malazan Empire. ...more
Well... What can I say? More of the same but this time I think I enjoyed it more as I knew what to expect. Or maybe the pacing was better - it still iWell... What can I say? More of the same but this time I think I enjoyed it more as I knew what to expect. Or maybe the pacing was better - it still is a pretty slow book but there was no slowdown in slow pace this time. ...more
To SF zdecydowanie spod znaku koncepcyjnego, nie zaś na akcję nastawionego. Wysokie nasycenie pomysłów, dialogów i rozmyślań. Całość zaś momentami ciuTo SF zdecydowanie spod znaku koncepcyjnego, nie zaś na akcję nastawionego. Wysokie nasycenie pomysłów, dialogów i rozmyślań. Całość zaś momentami ciut zbyt chaotyczna za sprawą czasowych przeskoków i technik wysoce zaawansowanych. Niektórych pewnie zmęczy, ale mi podpasowało....more
This quite an itneresting set by the Polish publisher - I am not sure if it was published in the same form in other countries but I liked the mix of hThis quite an itneresting set by the Polish publisher - I am not sure if it was published in the same form in other countries but I liked the mix of historical introduction, the story itself, sequel teaser and the Polish closing comments. Vesper delivers high quality. The story itself is not the most life-chaning tale but it still holds up as a concise dose of tension and lovecraftian-space-monstrosity. ...more
Really enjoyed this - I have a soft spot for the vague origin dystopias. I liked the ambience, I liked the subtle tones of fear and resistance. For soReally enjoyed this - I have a soft spot for the vague origin dystopias. I liked the ambience, I liked the subtle tones of fear and resistance. For some it may be a bit too vague or abstract at times but the vignettes really got me. I wonder if Yōko Ogawa read this before writing The Memory Police......more
Bardzo solidny numer na tak okrągłą okazję. Nie będę tu się o tekstach rozpisywał, ale w opowiadaniach same dobre i świetnie - kilka ciekawych pomysłóBardzo solidny numer na tak okrągłą okazję. Nie będę tu się o tekstach rozpisywał, ale w opowiadaniach same dobre i świetnie - kilka ciekawych pomysłów, oryginalnych perspektyw. Dodam tylko, że dzięki niektórym z nich kilka książek mocno podskoczyło na liście "do przeczytania". Publicystyka także na poziomie. ...more
This was the first Murderbot story that did not fully click with me. I think this was mostly due to the pacing - it seemed to me like the first three This was the first Murderbot story that did not fully click with me. I think this was mostly due to the pacing - it seemed to me like the first three quarters of the book were a dragging preparation for a too quick finale. The finale was satisfying but the lead on was much too long with not much tension nor action. Sure, the Murderbot banter was fun and his trauma was shown well but in previous parts this was mixed with more punch....more
I could almost repeat my thoughts after reading part one: I like the art, I like the tempo and I loved the pop-culture callbacks (from lack of a betteI could almost repeat my thoughts after reading part one: I like the art, I like the tempo and I loved the pop-culture callbacks (from lack of a better word). The stakes have been raised, waiting for the conflict....more
Peter Watts does not disappoint - even after 11 years of waiting. The focus is different, the scope larger and the pace is faster. I enjoyed the cyberPeter Watts does not disappoint - even after 11 years of waiting. The focus is different, the scope larger and the pace is faster. I enjoyed the cyberpunky-virtual parts, I enjoyed the hormone controlled individuals and the moral dilemmas they faced. And most of all - the destroyer/rightful (?)avenger paradox embodied by Lenie. Just great SF....more
Classic SF at its... very good. This is the kind of first contact story that verges a bit more on a political thriller than space opera/danger to humaClassic SF at its... very good. This is the kind of first contact story that verges a bit more on a political thriller than space opera/danger to humanity alien contact story. There is danger but the Niven and Pournelle decided to go for an interesting balance of power with a generally human-like, understandable creatures. The characters in themselves were a bit bland but got to shine in the interactions with the Motes.
To sum up: I was not blown away but would still recommend....more
Well written and even better looking. The story maybe a bit tropey (I did not like the "leverage on good cop" repetition) but it's dynamic, has properWell written and even better looking. The story maybe a bit tropey (I did not like the "leverage on good cop" repetition) but it's dynamic, has properly likeable and a sufficiently detestable bad guy (oh, and to corpos). But it would not be a proper cyberpunk flick if not for the great visuals - there are some stunning frames here. And this Polish joined edition has a great set of cover art and work in progress pages at the end - it's nice to take a look inside the art, even for such a comic book amateur as myself....more
I just did not mesh with this one (almost) at all. It w decently written book with an OK (though a bit far-fetched and tropey) premise. The main lure I just did not mesh with this one (almost) at all. It w decently written book with an OK (though a bit far-fetched and tropey) premise. The main lure of the book should be in the interplay, the tensions between the characters and the book is not lacking in this aspect but I just found the four protagonists obnoxious, one and all. Maybe it's due to the fact that they were rooted in the (in)sensibilities of the 1970s, they were of their time but they just came of as assholes. Silverberg did not convince me one bit that they were a group of friends capable of such an endeavour. ...more
Książka piękna i kształcąca. Pięknie wydana, pięknie zilustrowana. Do tego pełna atrakcyjnie, przystępnie opisanych dziwactw, przebiegłości i podstępóKsiążka piękna i kształcąca. Pięknie wydana, pięknie zilustrowana. Do tego pełna atrakcyjnie, przystępnie opisanych dziwactw, przebiegłości i podstępów wykorzystywanych przez przedstawicieli polskiej przyrody. Lektura rekomendowana dla pisarzy sf szukających pomysłów na fabuły.
Nie wiem, czy Powergraph będzie wydawał więcej non-fiction, ale zaczęli z wysokiego C. ...more
The more I read, the surer I become that the most influential Polish book is "Heart of Darkness". And it's not even Polish... Jokes aside, this is an The more I read, the surer I become that the most influential Polish book is "Heart of Darkness". And it's not even Polish... Jokes aside, this is an interesting take on the (post)colonial tale. I liked that the plot takes place after the shift but still shows the colonial past and the effects of the shift. I liked the protagonist initially oblivious to his own misdeads but slowly learning about the stigma of his/their presence.
This is my second reading but as I read this a long, long time ago I am not sure if the remembered the plot twist or forgot and figured out once more....more
First thought: I wonder what it was like to read this shortly after it came out.
Second thought: oh, how sadly and tragically current this seems to beFirst thought: I wonder what it was like to read this shortly after it came out.
Second thought: oh, how sadly and tragically current this seems to be.
I wont try to assess this one in any even seemingly professional manner as my competences fall way to short but I will share a couple of amateurish words. It will be a bit hard to read for someone with no academic background - it's doable but some theoretic background will make things easier. With that in mind it's worth a read - both as a historical, postcolonial initialiser but also as a thought provoking deliberation on issues which are still in play....more
Although the opening of the book seemed to suggest that the tempo and focus will be different, I still liked the book after the change of pace. I likeAlthough the opening of the book seemed to suggest that the tempo and focus will be different, I still liked the book after the change of pace. I liked the new focus and the emotional & social perspective on SF, I liked the alternative take on beginnings of NA(C/S)A, the plight of women and minorities, I liked how the vibe of that age was made visible in the quasi newspaper snippets at the start of chapters... ...more
I think this is the point I got tired with how convoluted the writing is. Some mystery and ambiguity is fine - I like careful reading and piecing thinI think this is the point I got tired with how convoluted the writing is. Some mystery and ambiguity is fine - I like careful reading and piecing things together but this is a bit too much. Even though the origin of the whole Earth-gone-necromantic-resurrection-beasts has been shown more or less clearly it still was mainly confusing. I still like some of the characters, some of the banter but the confusion and writing strategy muddies this all up. Or maybe it was due to the fact that the best characters were non- or almost non-present....more
Honestly? I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this. I was pretty sure I was past the heroic fantasty subgenre but Howard managed to grab me. Honestly? I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this. I was pretty sure I was past the heroic fantasty subgenre but Howard managed to grab me. There is something captivating in the simple sincerity of Conan in the face of the fall of civilisation(s) and the weakness of their people - his honour, urges and cunning. I liked the variety of themes. And as it was with Wagner & Kane - Lovecraft, Lovecraft everywhere....more
Stunning set of short stories. An acerbic mastery of the word and a stunning closeness to the depicted characters. Small town sadness, dejection and cStunning set of short stories. An acerbic mastery of the word and a stunning closeness to the depicted characters. Small town sadness, dejection and crossroads depicted in a manner which evokes tenderness and sadness. It breaks your heart in the crude beauty of West Virginia....more
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