What I’m currently reading…
Judge Dredd Year One
I know these 2000AD novels aren’t what you would call mainstream reads for book lovers, since their origins were established in comics, but I love this world. So I’m indulging myself.
Cascade Failure by L.M. Sagas (2024)
I was around halfway through chapter two when I realised this book was already a five-star read.
Changeless by Gail Carriger (2010)
Book two with Alexia Tarabotti, gets off to a great start in chapter one. Continuing series editions can be tricky, too much recap and reintroduction and you’ll alienate diehard readers, but not enough and the casual reader could end up lost and confused. Carriger handles this exceptionally well…
Neuromancer by William Gibson (1984)
Throughout this entire read, or at least from very early on, I had one recurring thought punch me right in the grey matter, ‘this book is forty years old!?’ I can’t quite imagine just what those first readers in 1984 must have thought when they delved into this insanity back then.
System Collapse by Martha Wells (2023)
Great to be back in the mind of Murderbot again and fantastic to see him/her back to its old self, grumpy and wanting as little as possible to do with humans. System Collapse feels a lot more like the original Murderbot I love.
The Haunting of Tram Car 015 P. Djèlí Clark (2019)
This book is the second published offering in the alternate Cairo of 1912 series. This time out we join a new cast of characters from the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities, and although I was hoping to revisit with Agent Fatma, from the first book, I quickly came to enjoy this new duo.
Solis by A.A. Attanasio (1994)
This book was a big surprise for me. I wasn’t expecting it to be so gripping and fast-paced. Yes, it’s very much hard sci-fi, but it also manages to be an enjoyable adventure.
First Quarter Book Recommendation 2024
If you keep up with Blog That Book and have read my review of Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary, then this recommendation will come as no surprise whatsoever.
Vellum by Hal Duncan (2005)
This is probably one of the toughest reviews I've had to write in a long while. Not because it's going to be bad, it's not, but because I'm biased.
Lock In by John Scalzi (2014)
This book feels quite different right from the opening, from a reading point of view. With a heavy focus on character interaction and dialogue, and almost no mental insight of character emotion. It all feels very unique and intriguing, at first.
Fool Moon by Jim Butcher (2001)
I have to admit this story seems to observe a lot of the same traits book one did. Harry stretched for money, Murphy's career in jeopardy, and grisly murders to turn Harry's stomach.
Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes (2022)
Right off the bat, there are a lot of Alien (the movie) comparisons here. But I guess it's hard to see how there wouldn't be, considering that movie's influence in this genre.
Broken Souls by Stephen Blackmoore (2014)
I tend to steer clear of large series, preferring to read single novels and the ability to move on to something completely new once I'm finished. Until now.