A morning coffee read. I am starting to think that I should read more short stories.
This probably loses quite a lot in translation, there are some clA morning coffee read. I am starting to think that I should read more short stories.
This probably loses quite a lot in translation, there are some clunky phrases that seem more reminiscent of 1950' scifi. I don't think the translation truly pulled off the Captain's character but we certainly see what was being tried to portray. There were parts where I rolled my eyes and there were parts where I sat back and reflected what I had just read. It gave a unique and fascinating story to the history of civilizations and I thoroughly loved the irony of morals with the ants. That alone was worth the price of the coffee.
DNF at about 45% I am currently reading 6 books, so something has to be dropped off the currently reading list and I have given this a good go, but reaDNF at about 45% I am currently reading 6 books, so something has to be dropped off the currently reading list and I have given this a good go, but really not getting into it. As I have said earlier, it is actually tiring to read. The characters interactions are hard work, everyone is constantly sniping, shouting or glaring at each other. There is very little 'normal' conversation, living that kind of way would be exhausting, even reading it makes me tired. It's like having a house full of squabbling pre-teens. Every comment is met with at least one person getting their nose out of joint.
It kind of has potential, it also could have easily been a Western about a cowboy wanting to head back down the mine to find the gold, yeehaa. A bit of a pasted on theme without any real depth.
Hmmm. Well yeah, that was............average. 2.5 stars at best. Not going to spend too much time reviewing this. Another pretty much tacked on short Hmmm. Well yeah, that was............average. 2.5 stars at best. Not going to spend too much time reviewing this. Another pretty much tacked on short story modified to suit the world building of The Expanse. Take Stephen Kings Pet Cemetery stick it on a planet with weird Fauna and Flora, have a character from the main Expanse series make a cameo to glue it together with the main series and call it a Novella. The only upside of this story is if you enjoy the writing of the geniuses that James S A Corey are, then you have something to read whilst waiting for the next book. ...more
This was a bit of a slow burn, but I did enjoy. I have always had a interest in how the experiment on Eros with the Protomolecule came about and the cThis was a bit of a slow burn, but I did enjoy. I have always had a interest in how the experiment on Eros with the Protomolecule came about and the conditions the research team must of been under to run a trial with a couple of million people, knowing what the outcome was likely to be. There isn't much in this area in the series, so I did like reading the back story here. So if you are into that part of the story you might enjoy understanding how the Eros experiment came about. ...more
You would think that I would remember by now how short these stories are. Yet it still surprises me when I reach the back page. Once again, Murderbot You would think that I would remember by now how short these stories are. Yet it still surprises me when I reach the back page. Once again, Murderbot delivers a fun, easy to read story. I am not sure there is much overall story growth, there is a underlying main focus for our lovely SecUnit, but this story feels like a Dr. Who episode, where we need to get the introduction to the new characters, build a quick plot, introduce some monsters and save everyone before the half hour is up. At least Wells doesn't spend anytime reminding you what happened in other stories. There isn't enough words/dollar as it is, so not spending time catering for book 3 series starter readers is appreciated.
Not much else to say really. Fun! I love SecUnit, her (have we established she is a she? Well in my head we have) sarcasm is really starting to shine and whilst she is starting to get over her issue with personal space with humans, she still has issues which are written very well. In this story we are definitely seeing a side to her that is developing empathy toward certain individuals. Whilst her thoughts on Miki (a pet, thank god she doesn't have a stomach, otherwise she'd vomit) actions with its 'owner', we do find MurderBot starting to always do the right thing, even if she is justifying it in her own head as 'its along the lines of my overall plan, so I may as well just save them'.
Whilst I complain about the shortness of the story, the other half of my brain loves the fact that I can power through one of these quickly and feel refreshed.
Time to look at Wells' other works me thinks....more
Sigh. So sad to be back to waiting for the next book again. But at least holding out to read this one means that I only have a few months for book 8.
WSigh. So sad to be back to waiting for the next book again. But at least holding out to read this one means that I only have a few months for book 8.
What can I say about this book, 99% of you who are interested in reading this are already mad fans since you have read the previous 7, so to be honest, if they printed the menu log from the Roci on a piece of cardboard, you'd probably buy it.
So how does it stack up against others in the series? VERY WELL. One of my favourite in the series I think, it is hard to remember the other books in detail now as the whole story seems to be merging into one large memory, but I thought this book really had me hooked. Brilliantly paced and I guess the most exciting thing is that it seems to have opened up a hugely potential story arc. I was concerned after the last book that the story would start to peter out, but this book has me very excited for future books.
A wonderful world to immerse yourself in. As soon as I have read Tiamat's Wrath I am going to start the series again. ...more
Okay. So with only 3 stars with book 2 I was completely expecting to rate this very similarly. Which is why I had put it off for so long. But hey! LooOkay. So with only 3 stars with book 2 I was completely expecting to rate this very similarly. Which is why I had put it off for so long. But hey! Look at that 4 stars.
A very enjoyable read. It is still very YA and the whole teen angst part has been scaled back somewhat in this. But all in all, I think the story was a fun read and flowed very nicely. Again the best part of the story is the relationship between AIDEN and Hanna and I thought it was cleverly written. It would have been easy to overdo that and make it cheesy, but it came out believable.
Short review as I am behind on my goodreads updating.
This was a fantastic series. Great writing, good characters and some of the best space battle deShort review as I am behind on my goodreads updating.
This was a fantastic series. Great writing, good characters and some of the best space battle descriptions I have ever read. He is second to none of writing a drawn out battle scene.
There is no one quite like Dalzelle for writing space battles. He has a 'edge of your seat' style way of describing a battle, that in real life could There is no one quite like Dalzelle for writing space battles. He has a 'edge of your seat' style way of describing a battle, that in real life could be going on for 8 hours. A solid book two that continues what I think is a very solid story with wonderful action. The characters have stagnated, but I guess given the circumstances, ie they are just fighting for survival, they may not have had time to develop much more. Looking forward to going straight into book 3....more
From start to finish this is a giant roller coaster of a space battle. It rarely slows down and is very absorbing. I thought that I would be exhaustedFrom start to finish this is a giant roller coaster of a space battle. It rarely slows down and is very absorbing. I thought that I would be exhausted in reading something that was just traveling with one plot line and that being battle, but it is actually very well paced and even though I had read book one a l while ago, i fell straight back into this pretty quickly.
it is a bit Buck Rogers in terms of the good guys and their pilots, very stereotypical characters, but hey, it's a lot of fun. ...more
Another solid story by Martha Wells. The continuation of this story is certainly keeping me interested. I didn't think it was as strong as book one, bAnother solid story by Martha Wells. The continuation of this story is certainly keeping me interested. I didn't think it was as strong as book one, but I think a lot of that was the first book had an original side to it, with us learning all about the personality side of the Murder Bot. In Book 2, that is not original and there is no where near as much human interaction and the early awkwardness of Murder Bots interactions was reduced. However, in saying that, the interaction with a ships highly intelligent AI was a lot of fun. I am definitely recommending this series to pretty much every one, even if you are not much of a scifi fan, there is a lot to like about the story and the writing.
I do have a issue though. Currently these books are small, I mean this should be the second half of the first book. I don't expect every book to be 500 pages, but just over 100 pages is not really a 'full sized' book. So wtf are Amazon charging us like it is?! $12.95 for this novella. They are projection the same price for book 3 and 4. I totally understand that the author does not set the price at Amazon, but I seriously hope that Wells will give us 300 pages in book 3 if we are going to have to pay $12.95. ...more
Every now an then I find a book that just hits the right spot. This is definitely one of them. A solid 4.5 Stars for this read. It is impossible not tEvery now an then I find a book that just hits the right spot. This is definitely one of them. A solid 4.5 Stars for this read. It is impossible not to like Murderbot, she (well, it should be 'it' as it is sexless, but halfway through page 1 I had it pegged as her) has a delightful personality, full of self consciousness and selfishness built around her role as, basically a security guard on a planetary scan job. Her first interactions with her clients, who see SECUnits, as they are known by, as property, are awkward for all and lead to some interesting dialogue and of course opens up a huge story opportunity in the 'AI's have feelings too' arena.
Very short book. Quick to read, I did it all in one evening as I was engrossed in it and decided that my Friday night gaming was going to take a break so I could finish it. Going straight into book 2, but I am also going to have a whinge about pricing. Book 2 is $12.95 on Kobo and Amazon here in Australia. For a 159 page eBook!!!...more
Thoroughly enjoyed this. Well worth th read. Going to keep this short because I don't have time to write a review. Bit the 4 stars shoudl tell you allThoroughly enjoyed this. Well worth th read. Going to keep this short because I don't have time to write a review. Bit the 4 stars shoudl tell you all you need to know. A great scifi story that I am really looking forward to reading book 2. ...more
So normally I do not write my reviews with details of the actual story, as most of my GR friends all ready know that the s5 Big fat Stars! I tell you!
So normally I do not write my reviews with details of the actual story, as most of my GR friends all ready know that the story is about. Rather, I focus on what my personal feelings are about the book. I am going to change that a bit for this one, as it is not yet a widely read book in my circles and I think that needs to change.
So here goes: There are three super powers: The Alliance, a warrior breed who escaped slavery 2 generations ago and have been doing nothing but building war ships and training everyone to become a cog in the great war machine. They are small compared the other two super powers but have global domination on their minds and as soon as they pick off a planet, they subjugate the population into slavery and make them work to build more military products. The Union, who make the Alliance sound nice. A conniving, back stabbing faction, the largest of the three, who have slavery as a norm and if you aren't in the ruling class, then you are dirt. These people would be the worst to join up with. And good old USA. The Confederate. Who are in the middle of the two hell bent on domination. The confederate whilst large have a democracy and A MARINE CORP. They have been fighting with those Unionists for a long time.
So now you know who is who in the Zoo. Everyone see the Confederates as weak as they are a democracy and the people do not live in fear.
Premise of the story is that the Union want the Alliance to sneak attack the Confeds. The Alliance doesn't want to risk the Union beating the Confed and taking all their planets as they would become a Super Super Power and would take on the Alliance next.
So that is the first Chapter. The rest of the story is one of the best space battles between two ships that I have ever read. Seat of the pants stuff. There was certainly stages where I just could not put the book down. Massively exciting, fast paced and brilliantly written.
The characters in the book are well written and believable. Whilst this is a military scifi, it is not hard SciFi, it isn't all about war and just shooting the shit out of each other. It is two freaking huge space destroyers, kilometers in length, playing cat and mouse with each other in a thoroughly enjoyable tense battle. They take damage, they have to limp around and put blue tack in holes. None of this "100% power to forward shields Captain" or "Scotty, I need maximum warp in 8 seconds". It's more like "Captain, I can give you a laser at 20% and 8% thrust, oh and a lot of our crew are venting through the holes we are having blown in the ship"
2 Stars for a Glen Cook book? Yes, you better believe it.
If you read my review for the Starfishers (Book 2) you will know that I became increasingly 2 Stars for a Glen Cook book? Yes, you better believe it.
If you read my review for the Starfishers (Book 2) you will know that I became increasingly frustrated with the story. I had high hopes that many of the questions raised in that book would be answered in the last of the trilogy. Unfortunately they were not which leaves some very big holes in the plot that fundamentally ruin the book for me. I am very much a character driven reader and I have to say, the characters in the last two books are shite! There is no better word for it. They appear flat and their interaction with each other appears juvenile times. Development of key characters was left untouched which appears to be lazy writing. My thoughts are were: that whilst writing book 1, Cook had grandiose ideas about the Starfishers World and how the series pans out. But after looking at the publication dates, it appears that 2 and 3 were published a year before 1. Which does in fact make sense when you read the story. One of the main characters is completely different in book 1 and even the style if different,
There is nothing positive for me in this book. Hugely disappointed. ...more
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