Tag: Science Fiction Page 34 of 35

by Rick Yancey
Series: The 5^th Wave, #2

Hardcover, 300 pg.
Putnam Juvenile, 2014
Read: October 4 – 5, 2014
Man, talk about trepidation. Did I want to pick up this book? Was there any chance it could live up to The 5th Wave? Slim to none. But man, I wanted to find out what happens to the Earth. I wanted to know if we ever figure out what the aliens want with the Earth, why they’re eliminating humanity in the way they are. So, prepared to be disappointed, I cracked the cover.

And Yancey doesn’t try to match — or even try to top — The 5th Wave. He writes a very different book. Not one that grabbed me as thoroughly, but one that works in its own way. Where The 5th Wave was a bullet train that you just tried to hang on to — The Infinite Sea was roller coaster you’re riding while blindfolded — the ride lopping, diving, screaming around a corner with no warning, leaving your stomach behind you.

Yancey can’t even give us a Prologue to reorient ourselves to this world, to get our feet under us so we can say, “Oh yeah, this is what’s going on…” before resuming the action. Sure, it starts to seem like that, but nope. He’s right there to pull the rug out from under us at the first possible moment, in a way that catches the reader just as off-guard as the bits of remaining humanity will be.

I read some criticism lately about The 5th Wave that complained about the lack of motivation given for the aliens to do what they’re doing — it makes no sense, and therefore the reviewer couldn’t buy into the book with a motive-less enemy. But to me, that’s why the book worked. Humanity doesn’t understand what’s going on, so there’s no reason we human readers should either. Try as they might, there’s just no figuring out what’s going on other then their great need to survive.

On the whole, we spend time with the characters we met in the first book, those that survived — and, in flashbacks, some that didn’t, Cassie, Sam, Ben/Zombie, and a few others I won’t name because I can’t be sure I won’t spoil something by doing so. We say good-by to some of them, too. We meet a few other characters, too. Some of which we’ll see again. It’s that kind of series. But we get to know almost all of them better, the last book was all about getting to know a couple of these characters really well. This time, we get backstories on everyone, even if it’s pages/paragraphs before they die. This is important, I feel more grounded in this world the more I get to know characters who aren’t Cassie, Evan or Ringer.

And we get some more mature, experienced — and in some cases, informed — hints at what’s really been going on. Still, not enough to placate that other reviewer, I bet — or, really anyone. At one point, Cassie’s complaining about her interactions since Day 1 with Evan.

Every time I edge too close to something, he deflected by telling me how much he loved me or how I saved him or some other swoony, pseudo-profound observation about the nature of my magnificence.

I chuckled as I read it, because this is pretty much Yancey’s modus operandi — just when you get close to learning something, being told something, a character figuring something out, etc. — something explodes or someone starts shooting. Or both. Not a way to tell a narrative that satisfies everyone or to show off brilliant world-building. But a it’s great way to keep pages turning.

I found this to be a very satisfying read. As I said, I didn’t expect to be as taken with this book as I was its predecessor, and I wasn’t — but in a way, I’m sucked into this series more than before. I really don’t know the last time I said “son of a — “* out loud at a book as much as I did with this one. It’s probably not since Butcher’s Changes that I’ve called a writer so many names as I’ve read. Yancey just keeps throwing me for loops. Not the best book I’ve ever read, not high literature, but edge-of-your-seat thrills, convincing characters, and honestly come by surprises. Really entertaining stuff. That’s all I ask for.

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* I seriously don’t finish the sentence, because I’m too busy shaking off whatever trauma is thrown my way and getting back into things to bother.

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4 1/2 Stars

Sleepy Hollow: Children of the Revolution by Keith R.A. DeCandido

By HCNewton

On November 4, 2014

In Fiction

Sleepy Hollow: Children of the Revolution

by Keith R.A. DeCandido

Paperback, 304 pg.
Broadway Books, 2014
Read: October 24, 2014DeCandido has given us the best possible first tie-in for Sleepy Hollow — it’s a good follow-up to the second episode, “Blood Moon,” (which I didn’t even realize needed a sequel until I read this); it captures the essence of the show; and tells a good story to boot.

This takes place about four months after “Blood Moon” — 8 half-moons, to be exact. We’re told it’s January 2014, but I’m not exactly sure where that locates things in the first season. Somewhere between episodes 10 and 11, by my reckoning. A coven is trying one more time to resurrect Serilda, using a collection of medals commissioned by General Washington for a group of heroes of the Revolution — including Ichabod, of course.

DeCandido touches base with the characters and most of the events that stand out in the first season, all the touchstones are there. Macey Irving, Sheriff Corbin, Andy Brooks (I’m pretty sure his name is dropped), Henry Parrish, the Golem . . .

The book is filled with random historical musings from Ichabod — though the part where he criticizes (to put it very mildly) the recreation of Ft. Ticonderoga was a bit too much like his dressing down of the docent about Paul Revere. But you know what? It was just as amusing — and what else are you going to to with our favorite time-displaced Witness?

Really, the key to this book (like the show) is getting the two central characters right. Let’s look at two brief snippets:

Abbie spent most of the drive up Interstate 87 to Ticonderoga being simultaneously charmed by Crane and seriously wanting to strangle him.
Thinking about it, that defined a lot of her relationship with him.

Captures Abbie’s attitude, her swagger, and her humor.
and then:

. . . he pulled out the device that was referred to as a “cell phone.” He assumed the modifier “cell” was a joke referring to how much modern humanity was imprisoned by such devices, as it seemed that the citizens of the twenty-first century relied on them to an appalling degree.

Even though that’s in the Third Person, if you don’t hear Tom Mison’s voice in your head there? Something’s wrong with you.

He captured the friendship, the feel of the characters and their voices — both in narration and in dialogue. Couldn’t ask for more.

This tie-in captured the show’s tone, its feel, its characters and its world while telling a compelling story. Great stuff.
—
Note:I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review. Which was generous and cool of them, but didn’t impact what I said about the book. It was strong enough to gain my respect on its own.

—–

4 Stars

The Deaths of Tao by Wesley Chu

By HCNewton

On October 29, 2014

In Authors, Fiction, Science Fiction, Wesley Chu

The Deaths of Tao

by Wesley Chu
Series: Tao Trilogy, #2

Mass Market Paperback, 462 pg.
Angry Robot Books, 2013
Read: October 17 – 24, 2014
It’s been a few years since the events of The Lives of Tao, and things have not gone well for Roen Tam, either personally or in the war. He’s basically dropped out of everything, going rogue, running covert ops for Tao while ignoring Prophus’ command structure. Tao’s sure he understands what’s going on in the world better than anyone else, and so he pushes Roen to leave everything behind and find evidence for Tao’s theory.

Meanwhile, Jill — and Raji — have wormed their way into the corridors of power in the Capitol, moving and shaking on behalf of Prophus while also keeping her cover as a Senatorial aide intact. This is where Prophus seems to be holding its own – but barely.

We bounce around between Roen, Jill, and a new Gengix host, Enzo, who is trying to find a level of dominance very quickly for himself in the Gengix hierarchy. He’s rash, impetuous, and egotistical — not the signs of a great leader. But the Gengix he’s hosting is wise, methodical, honorable and tries to impress these characteristics on this host.

But like I said, things aren’t going well for the Prophus — they’re on the verge of losing this war once and for all, clinging to power and influence some areas, absolutely losing it in others. They’re so close to the brink that they eventually are driven to one final act of desperation that will change everything forever.

As the title suggests, The Deaths of Tao is darker (like any good 2nd volume of a trilogy), not as fun (understandable given the darkness, but would’ve been helpful), and slower paced than The Lives of Tao. But, still, I was enjoying it enough to keep going — and I wanted to see what happened to Roen and the rest. Hopefully get to see my favorite Prophus host whip that Gengix Enzo around a bit. But Chapter 29? Made everything up to that point worth it. And excitement, the pace, and the stakes picked up after that (not the stakes for the whole armies, obviously, but for Roen and Jill)

Still, it took until Chapter 29 for this really to come together for me — and that’s far too long. Which is strange, because up until that point, I’d say this was better structured than its predecessor. It built better in plot development, character and tension. But Chapter 29 made me rethink that, it’s just too much of a jump in development and voice.

I find it hard to understand — except for strength in numbers — just how the Gengix are winning this thing. The Prophus seem to come out on top — if not even with — the Gengix almost every time we see them. It’s difficult to extrapolate from this to them almost losing this war. Yet that’s exactly the situation they’re in, and you believe it, up until you think about it a day or two later.

Giving it three stars — as good as the last 150 pages or so were, as huge as the ending was — it was a slog up until that point. I just couldn’t connect with Roen or Tao (or anyone else). But believe you me, I’m anticipating The Rebirths of Tao and expect it to blow me away. Just wish this had done that.

—–

3 Stars

The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

By HCNewton

On September 24, 2014

In Fiction

The Girl With All the Gifts

by M.R. Carey

Hardcover, 403 pg.
Orbit, 2014
Read: September 22 – 23, 2014

I HATE ZOMBIE STORIES, I should get that out of the way up front.

So why this book? Well, I put this book on my TBR list based on a tweet from the director of the most recent Much Ado About Nothing movie and a vague, yet promising, book blurb. If I’d waited until it was reviewed, or more detailed descriptions were available, I probably wouldn’t have started this. Having started it, and then figuring out what it’s about, I stopped reading it several times during the first two hundred pages — but I kept finding myself in waiting rooms, or just waiting for something, with nothing else to read — or was curious about how the next chapter would deal with plot point X. Before I knew it, I was 50% done, so I might as well finish.

There’s a little more to it than that — this book just got me, and I couldn’t stop reading it, really. Little Melanie — in all her innocent, caring, devoted, Zombie genius glory, is delightful. This book is a wonderful combination of childhood optimism, stark darkness, hope, love, despair and megalomania . . . told in a voice that’s in the same breath amusing and gut wrenching.

This is another one of those that I don’t know how to talk about without spoiling in on multiple fronts. Carey (author of the Felix Castor UF books and The Unwritten comics — and many other things I haven’t gotten around to) has created something special here, something unlike anything else I’ve read from him. Think Let the Right One In, but endearing and without the creepy sexual vibe. That’s not entirely accurate, but it’s not inaccurate, either.

I guess let’s just leave it as this: it’s a zombie novel, that I couldn’t put down and almost gave 5 stars to. Pretty remarkable accomplishment by my standards.

—–

4 1/2 Stars

Doctor Who: Silhouette by Justin Richards

By HCNewton

On September 19, 2014

In Fiction

Doctor Who: Silhouette

by Justin Richards

Series: Doctor Who

Trade Paperback, 256 pg.
Broadway Books, 2014
Read: September 18, 2014

I’d just said few weeks back how I hadn’t read any tie-in novels for a bit, when the good people at Blogging for Books offered this. Seemed like a good way to get back into them.

Things got off to a rough start when the argument that the Doctor and Clara were having about their next destination (she wants to meet King Arthur, he wants to go somewhere else) reminded me too much of the argument in “Robot of Sherwood” — but there’s a great punchline that redeemed it. They don’t head off to Camelot, because the Doctor finds some sort of sign of nuclear power in Victorian London which seems far more urgent.

The Doctor doesn’t want to trouble Madam Vastra and her crew when they can take care of this themselves. Besides, The Great Detective is investigating a locked-room murder, and Strax is off looking into the death of a friend. I’m sure no one at all will be surprised to discover that the investigations are soon intertwined. And we’re off to the races — peril, aliens, impossible weapons, The Shadow Proclamation, Strax being Strax. Loads of fun.

This story is best suited for a novel rather than a TV episode — it’s just unfilmable. Too many special effects, too large a cast, plot couldn’t be boiled down into the less than 60-minutes necessity. But it feels like an bonus-length episode, right kind of pace, right kind of mix of tension and humor. In other words — exactly what this kind of book is supposed to be.

Here’s the only thing I didn’t like about this — Richard’s characterization of The Doctor. Which, yeah, is a pretty significant piece in a Doctor Who novel. But here’s the thing, this thing came out September 9 and season 8 premiered August 23. So, I’m betting while Richards had plenty of access to scripts and whatnot, he hadn’t seen a final cut of an episode starring Capaldi before he finished this (maybe one or two — definitely not a lot of them). So he couldn’t really capture the full flavor of the Twelfth Doctor. He could get some of it — the stuff that’s in the script — but all the intangibles, gravitas, the full je ne sais quoi that only happens when an actor becomes the character wasn’t available for Richards. I’d like to read something he writes after the end of season 8 just to see if he can capture it — I’m betting he can (he nailed the characterizations of Clara, Vastra, Jenny and Strax).

Still, this is just the sort of thing for the fan who can’t be satisfied with twelve episodes of TARDIS-based adventure.

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Note:I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review. Which was generous and cool of them, but didn’t impact what I said about the book.

—–

3 Stars

From the Archives: Year Zero by Rob Reid

By HCNewton

On July 28, 2014

In Fiction, Science Fiction

Year Zero

by Rob Reid

Hardcover, 364 pg.
Del Rey, 2012
Read: October 27 – 29, 2012

Aren’t we at the point yet where just because something involves aliens, spaceships and more than a few laughs, we don’t have to invoke Douglas Adams? (not that I have anything against the man or his work) But this book owes more to Scalzi’s Agent to the Stars than to anything about Arthur, Ford or Zaphod (or even Dirk). Yet that doesn’t stop 70% or so of the reviews from mentioning Adams. Time to move on folks — or at least realize there are others out there doing funny SF.

I’d give this 4.75 stars, really. Rounded up. But whatever, the important thing is that this book is a hoot. There’s nothing about this that isn’t funny–the plot, the characters, the commentary on the music industry, congressional shenanigans, trendy restaurants, Microsoft…whatever Reid touched on, he hit squarely and hilariously. I laughed out loud a whole lot. And then some more.

I think towards the end, plot lines and plot points got a bit out of control. But honestly, he just reminded me of most of Christopher Buckley‘s work in that regard (and several other ways now that I think of it)–though I think Reid did a better job of pulling it all together at the end than Buckley usually does.

And the coda? Perfect. And more than made up for any flaws.

—–

5 Stars

The Martian by Andy Weir

By HCNewton

On July 10, 2014

In Fiction

The Martian

by Andy Weir

Hardcover, 369 pg.
Crown, 2014
Read: July 7 – 8, 2014

Also, I have duct tape. Ordinary duct tape, like you buy at a hardware store. Turns out even NASA can’t improve on duct tape.

Yes, of course duct tape works in a near-vacuum. Duct tape works anywhere. Duct tape is magic and should be worshiped.

More than just a love letter to duct tape (although I could’ve come up with more than those two quotations), The Martian is a taut survival thriller, filled with laughs, science, and attitude.

And attitude is the key — Mark Watney is full of it. From what I can tell, how you react to his attitude, his sense of humor, his personality directly correlates with your enjoyment of the book. When the book was first released, I read plenty of lukewarm or negative reviews that were about Watney as a character more than they were about the book as a whole. And that’s fair. Some times you can deal with a protagonist that you don’t like because you like the story, or the world, or the author — whatever. But The Martian‘s not built that way. It rises or falls on your appreciation for and attachment to the abandoned astronaut. By the end of chapter two, if you don’t like the guy, put the book down and move on to something else, because it won’t get any better.

Me? I liked the guy almost instantly — his self-deprecation, his sarcasm, his temerity, his MacGyver-esque abilities, his hatred of disco. Coupled with the severity of his situation, and the refreshingly original premise, I was hooked but good from the get-go.

We do eventually meet other characters — NASA executives, NASA non-executives, the rest of Watney’s team, and so on. We don’t get to know them as well as we do Watney — but what we do get are well-rounded characters working as hard as Watney is to help him survive. Racing against the clock — with the eyes of the world on them (think of the media coverage of Apollo 11’s landing — but in a 24-hour news cycle in the Internet age), these people are in a situation almost as extreme as his is.

Not only do the character moments work — and work very well — but the details are spot-on. The book is chock-full of scientific detail and explanations. Would you appreciate more of Weir’s work if you actually followed the details of the Chemistry and other science? Probably, but you can get the gist of it without really understanding it all. Jesse Pinkmans of the world can enjoy this book, not just the Walter Whites. Unless his science is wrong, I guess — in that case we liberal arts types are better off — but I’m betting he knows his stuff.

The plot moves along quickly — but not too quickly. Plenty of ups and downs, successes and failures, steps forward and steps back. There were times in this that the tension was so high I wondered if I should get back on my blood pressure medication. But then, like a seasoned professional, Weir would have me chuckling. A near-perfect balance of tension and release, enough to keep you on the edge of your seat without falling over. There’s some good emotional moments, too — particularly as things start to come together on the rescue mission, and more-so as the mission gets into trouble — even some inspirational moments. Weir put together the whole package — story, characters, style, and heart.

Do yourself a favor and grab this one.
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Note:I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review. Which was generous and cool of them, but didn’t impact what I said about the book.

—–

5 Stars

The Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu

By HCNewton

On June 5, 2014

In Authors, Fiction, Science Fiction, Wesley Chu

The Lives of Tao

by Wesley Chu
Series: Tao Trilogy, #1

Paperback, 460 pg.
Angry Robot, 2014
Read: May 29 – June 4, 2014

Last spring, it seemed that every writer I follow on Twitter was gushing about this book, but it really didn’t seem like my kind of thing. But last week, I saw it on the new book library shelf and decided to give it a shot. So glad I did. In case you haven’t seen it, the back cover blurb is:

When out-of-shape IT technician Roen woke up and started hearing voices in his head, he naturally assumed he was losing it. He wasn’t. He now has a passenger in his brain – an ancient alien life-form called Tao, whose race crash-landed on Earth before the first fish crawled out of the oceans. Now split into two opposing factions – the peace-loving, but under-represented Prophus, and the savage, powerful Genjix – the aliens have been in a state of civil war for centuries. Both sides are searching for a way off-planet, and the Genjix will sacrifice the entire human race, if that’s what it takes. Meanwhile, Roen is having to train to be the ultimate secret agent. Like that’s going to end up well…

Roen’s obviously not your typical hero, or even your atypical hero. But he’s a good guy that you eventually like (as difficult as that can be to imagine when we first encounter him). Which is good, because he’s our entry point in to this world, and an entry point that you can’t stand doesn’t make for fun reading. As he gets to understand his place in this new reality he’s been exposed to, as he begins to understand how these aliens have changed world history — we get to, too.

This doesn’t seem like Chu’s first book, he writes with panache, skill and confidence. His action scenes feel authentic, his world is intricate and believable, and he tells his story in a compelling manner that keeps you turning pages.

There’s some real heart here amongst the SF action. Often in SF, particularly the more high-concept SF, characters can be 1- or 2-dimensional. Not here, the most minor of characters seem real, seem like someone you could bump into at the water cooler, public transportation or a government office. You get to like them as people, not just as representatives of Prophus or Genjix — and that’s key. People with convictions, aspirations and relate-able motivations. As long as Chu keeps that up, this series will be one to stick with.

While I liked the banter, the back-and-forth between Roen and Tao, Roen and the others — but I didn’t find the book as hilarious as so many others have. I just see it as a good suspense novel (with a wicked twist) featuring some snarky characters. And that’s good enough to enjoy this and to bring me back for more.

—–

4 Stars

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

By HCNewton

On January 7, 2014

In Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Hardcover, 526 pages
Katherine Tegen Books, 2013
Read: October 23-25, 2013

Given the phenomenon that the Divergent series has become — particularly amongst certain demographic segments — it’d be an almost impossible task to finish this series in a way that would please all readers. From what I can tell, she didn’t. But did she please this reader? On the whole, yeah. Despite an ending that many, many people disliked (I was fine with it, not crazy about it, but fine) Roth got the story wrapped up as she wanted, and ultimately, that’s what’s most important in this setting.

Yes, there was a lot more exposition and back story than you typically get in an end to a series. But Roth had a bunch of questions that Tris and her readers demanded answers for — and Roth answered most — if not all — of them. Which didn’t leave as much time for story as one would hope. It’s not 500 pages of info dump by any means, but there was probably more backstory in this book than there were in the other two. And really, other than the fate of the world, there wasn’t that much plot to take care of, so it sort of balanced out. Roth did bring every hanging plotline to a satisfying resolution, and didn’t introduce all that many to deal with within the pages of Allegiant.

Reading what I’ve written, it seems like this is a dull narrative. Not at all — there was enough action, enough mystery to keep you going. And in the moment, I didn’t have any problems with the amount of exposition, or anything else. It’s only afterwards, thinking about it that I started to have a “yeah, but . . . ” type of reaction. In the moment, it all worked — it all kept me hooked and waiting for what would come next.

Like many, I thought a good deal of the latter quarter was pretty predictable, but just because you can see an ending coming 5 miles away, doesn’t mean that it can’t be pulled off effectively — which is what Roth did.

I’m going to miss this world, and many of the characters, Roth had a thankless task before her here, and she managed to acquit herself pretty well. Looking forward to what she does next.

—–

4 Stars

Dusted Off: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

By HCNewton

On January 7, 2014

In Fiction, YA/MG/Children's Books

Insurgent

by Veronica Roth
Hardcover, 525 pg.
Katherine Tegen Books, 2012

A solid follow-up to a great book–not as good as its predecessor, but close enough.

I thought the plot meandered a bit, and several scenes between Tris and Four seemed to just be a repetition from the earlier. But the rest of the book was so good, those minor gripes are completely forgivable.

Am not sure what to do with what we learn in the last 3 pages or so–but I’m pretty sure we’re not expected to know what to do with it, so I’m okay with that.

—–

4 Stars