Descriptions of this as a cross between Hunter S. Thompson and Raymond Chandler are pretty spot on, though James Crowley plumbs some deeper emotional Descriptions of this as a cross between Hunter S. Thompson and Raymond Chandler are pretty spot on, though James Crowley plumbs some deeper emotional depths.
Crumley is clearly a skilled wordsmith, and his perspicacious, wisecracking PI and war vet C.W. Sughrue brings to mind a kind of beer guzzling, whiskey binging Philip Marlowe. Seemingly lacking ambition, he becomes obsessed with the case of a girl gone missing ten years earlier. We follow Sughrue on his quest, bar after bar, drink after drink to the point that the pages feel sticky with stale beer. All the while his obsession over the girl grows, seeing perhaps a chance at a kind of redemption for himself.
Sughrue makes for a great character, and Crumley's style and talent for dialogue carry the story along smoothly. While engaging and never dull, the plot feels well trodden and perhaps a bit predictable. Yet Crumley strongly imparts some deep melancholic impressions through the doomed, dysfunctional relationships of his much flawed characters, with themes of failed love and forgiveness that comes too little, too late....more
Excellent hardboiled crime pulp, with the ruthless bank robber protagonist (who's real name stays a mystery) reminiscent of Donald Westlake/Richard StExcellent hardboiled crime pulp, with the ruthless bank robber protagonist (who's real name stays a mystery) reminiscent of Donald Westlake/Richard Stark's Parker, the thieving brute from his renowned Parker series. In very short order Marlowe manages to paint quite a deep picture of his protagonist, with some excellent backstory, and tell a taut story of a bank robber on the lamb looking to recover his take from a partner that's mysteriously gone missing. As much as I enjoyed Parker, I think Marlowe does an even better job giving some real depth and soul to his characters....more
Deeply fascinating and chilling first contact story. Watts' writing is compact yet engrossing, visceral and lyrical. He doesn't ramble, giving more baDeeply fascinating and chilling first contact story. Watts' writing is compact yet engrossing, visceral and lyrical. He doesn't ramble, giving more backstory than actual story like so many writers today. He cuts to the chase, and it's liberating.
There's so much mind blowing hard science in here, plumbing the murky depths of consciousness, intelligence, xenobiology, transhumanism and human nature itself. I could only really understand a fraction of the science. But that isn't the point. Rather, it's the sense of fascination and awe that it engenders that makes it all feel *so* real. It's like looking into the cockpit of a jumbo jet - you can't make sense of most of what you see, but it makes the challenges and wonders of flight feel all that much more concrete in a way that just sitting in the passenger cabin never could.
This is true hard science fiction. An amazing story, with fascinating conceptual underpinnings. Highly recommended!
Chasm City is proof that Alastair Reynolds has a dark side. And it is wonderful.
This is a revenge tale following a bad ass, morally ambivalent (yet peChasm City is proof that Alastair Reynolds has a dark side. And it is wonderful.
This is a revenge tale following a bad ass, morally ambivalent (yet perhaps ultimately redeemable?) mercenary pursuing his prey across ruined, deformed worlds devastated by war and a catastrophic nanobot plague. During his pursuit, he slowly unravels, revealing a murky, disturbing past.
The story is smart and quick paced, and the world building superb. Reynolds paints a brooding, menacing landscape, brimming with mind blowing cyberpunk motifs based on runaway nanotech, cyerbnetics and genetic engineering.
"As for the fourth, she figured in my plans, which is why she wasn't currently emptying her soul into a puddle of warm rain."...more
How is this not more well known? This is like the granddaddy of absurd intergalactic misadventure tales, published over ten years before Douglas AdamsHow is this not more well known? This is like the granddaddy of absurd intergalactic misadventure tales, published over ten years before Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!
The story follows an unlucky schlemiel trying to return home to Earth (and the correct one among an infinity of alternate universe Earths) after unsuspectingly winning the galactic sweepstakes. During the journey he gets a behind the scenes look at the absurd inner workings of the cosmos, the nature of god, reality and everything in between. Most of which he finds somewhat tedious. And all the while is pursued by a deadly predator of sorts. Good sci-fi comedy is hard to pull off, but Sheckley manages a superb job, in what feels like should be an enduring classic.
"It's been one of my favourite books for years, and I remember Douglas Adams telling me how shaken he was to read Dimension of Miracles and watch someone doing something a lot like the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy a decade before he did."...more
The perfect epic fantasy tale, all in under 300 pages (and from 1954). This is a timeless masterpiece. A rich tale, with elegant prose, weaving ancienThe perfect epic fantasy tale, all in under 300 pages (and from 1954). This is a timeless masterpiece. A rich tale, with elegant prose, weaving ancient mythology and lore, romance and action. Although not the biggest fan of Nordic mythology or epic fantasy generally, I was spellbound from beginning to end. There are several themes here that I think could have quite possibly inspired Neil Gaiman's American Gods, such as the clashing of old vs new gods, and the power of peoples' beliefs in shaping the fate of the gods....more
Banks has outdone himself in what might be the best Culture novel, in a series which never fails to deliver. In typical Banks fashion, he masterfully Banks has outdone himself in what might be the best Culture novel, in a series which never fails to deliver. In typical Banks fashion, he masterfully weaves disparate story threads into a whole, building into a magnificent crescendo of galactic intrigue and confrontation.
The story shines with an intricate plot, featuring vast, multi-nested virtual realities, and a cast of amazingly well developed characters, which of course include some of the wonderfully advanced, witty, sentient ship AIs (Minds). We're also treated to quite a bit of insight into the history and inner workings of many aspects of the Culture itself, Banks' fascinating, ultra advanced, post scarcity civilization.
My only regret is that I'm quickly running out of Culture novels to read :(...more
This one goes to 11. While I can sympathize with the kvetching regarding the oft overwrought narrative style, dripping with overly descriptive, metaphThis one goes to 11. While I can sympathize with the kvetching regarding the oft overwrought narrative style, dripping with overly descriptive, metaphor rich prose, there is so much brilliant gold in them hills, often downright hilarious. I laughed more reading this book than any other I can recall. Add that on top of an awesome cast of colorful characters, a fascinating, gritty setting, and wrapped in a compelling murder mystery. Now that's a meal. And a nice kosher one at that....more
Such a fantastic and well rounded series. Amazing world building, characters, plot development and twists and plenty of action, with not a little goreSuch a fantastic and well rounded series. Amazing world building, characters, plot development and twists and plenty of action, with not a little gore to boot....more
The deeper I got into this series, the more I loved it. Amazing world building and depictions of beautiful and bizarre alien landscapes. Plus nonstop The deeper I got into this series, the more I loved it. Amazing world building and depictions of beautiful and bizarre alien landscapes. Plus nonstop action and adventure to boot. This is a pulp series, no doubt, but a classic....more
Mind blowing, intergalactic awesomeness on an immense scale. This is a story of brewing conflict between human civilization of the far future and the Mind blowing, intergalactic awesomeness on an immense scale. This is a story of brewing conflict between human civilization of the far future and the rise of robot/machine sentient civilization. And all wrapped up in a (mass) murder mystery. I could not ask for anything more from my sci-fi. I was already an Alastair Reynolds fan after reading Revelation Space, but this seals the deal....more
Outstanding! The gold here is the amazing characters and their relationships, and their exploration of deeper philosophical and theological issues relOutstanding! The gold here is the amazing characters and their relationships, and their exploration of deeper philosophical and theological issues relating to faith and the nature of god as they set out to discover the source of alien radio transmissions on a distant planet in the near future....more
Earth has been devastated by famine and political upheaval thanks to man's attempts to control food supplies via genetic engineering. Plagues, engineeEarth has been devastated by famine and political upheaval thanks to man's attempts to control food supplies via genetic engineering. Plagues, engineered by global corporations, are used as weapons in the struggle for political and economic dominance.
Now they are tinkering with genetically engineered animals and humans. Yikes.
Bleak? Surely. Depresssing? Maybe. But what a great cast of characters. Each struggling to survive. Flawed, conniving, yet redeemable in some way.
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