David B.
It was fine. 3 Stars.
But I was expecting more from the premise. Two jaded employees, who have just broken up, finding Wormholes and multiverses inside an Ikea-like store.
At least it was short
#JennyGuyColvin
This book is a charming story of an unlikely friendship between a non-binary monk looking for purpose in their life and a curious robot on a mission to meet and understand humans.
They live in a world where humans and robots have lived apart for generations after robots achieved sentience and freedom.
Becky pains a picture of a world that is slightly dystopian without being terrifying. Dex is initially afraid of the world beyond the safety of sealed roads and villages, but with the aid of the ever helpful and eager to understand the world, robot Mosscap, goes on a spiritual journey to find themselves.
Another lovely character driven story from Becky Chambers. Highly recommended
#JennyGuyColvin
It's no The Martian, but an enjoyable moon based story by Andy Weir.
A feisty female smuggler involved in a heist and getting on the wrong side of gangsters.
It's a quick fun read
#JennyGuyColvin
This is a strange book to review. I did enjoy it. It had unique characters with unique abilities.
It is a rich fantastical world. The librarians are raised from children in 1 of 12 specialised talents by “Father” a god-like being with god-like powers.
I wavered between giving this 3 or 4 Stars (I would have given it 3.5 Stars if I could)
What stopped me giving it the 4 Stars were the horrific scenes of torture against children.
I would recommend this to lovers of strange dark fantasy, but with a warning of the violence.
#JennyGuyColvin
This Novella is a lead in to the full length John Scalzi novel “Lock In”
This is story of a pandemic Flu is told in an interview format similar to Max Brook's “World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War”
This was published in 2014 an is eerily prescient on some of the political machinations that we have seen over the last few years.
The third stage of this flu leaves some survivors “locked-in”. Left in a vegetative state, but fully aware of their surroundings. Scalzi comes up with some interesting technological advances that give these people a chance to participate in life, But these also come with problems for society and individuals to overcome.
I like the concept, but I won't be moving on to the full novel as the last few years have left me not in a mood to read pandemic fiction. Even if it comes with a sci-fi twist.
An okay read. 3 Stars
#JennyGuyColvin
This is my first Clifford D. Simak read and I'm shocked that I've never read him before.
This is a very thoughtful and sweet story of an American Civil War veteran who becomes the unlikely station master of a Galactic Travel Station.
Enoch has lived for over 100 years. He only experiences time while outside the station and doesn't age while inside it.
He befriends the many aliens who visit and his only human friend is the mail man.
It not an overly action packed story, but delves into many philosophical ideas.
A great read. 4 Stars
#JennyGuyColvin
This a fantastic urban fantasy novel.
Mark Boss has created a unique parallel reality setting. Even though the world seems so familiar, he has painted such a vivid picture of this world that it feels so different. Everything has aged, rusted and become dirtier, almost like you have walked into a world years after some apocalyptic event.
The world is inhabited by strange creatures and feral kids. Dahlia has no idea why she's here, how she got here and how she can get home.
She must fight to survive and meets many unique characters (some friendly, some not) in her quest to find answers.
I enjoyed the story and how it ended. I was left with a few questions which hopefully will be answered in a sequel.
An okay fantasy story set in an Indian like setting.
Not normally my type of Fantasy, but it has a few good moments.
The blurb made this sound a bit more spicy than it turned out to be. If you came for the sexy times then you'd be disappointed.
I did enjoy the book, but didn't enjoy it enough to read the sequels.
#JennyGuyColvin
A short story that explores the rights of AI.
Robotnik 812-3 has been sentenced to life in prison on Europa for murdering a human.
But did he have a fair trial, when all the Jurors were human?
Is he guilty?
Aiya must battle her own inner doubts, as well as her fellow Europans and even her partner, to fight for the AI's legal right to a trial of his peers.
3 Stars
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