One of my favourite anime, the manga doesn't disappoint. Far too short though, I need to buy a batch of them next time.One of my favourite anime, the manga doesn't disappoint. Far too short though, I need to buy a batch of them next time....more
I'm a big fan of this fella's art, he does stunning stuff. Eerily beautiful and horrifying all at once, I really need to get hold of the Tales from thI'm a big fan of this fella's art, he does stunning stuff. Eerily beautiful and horrifying all at once, I really need to get hold of the Tales from the Loop and the Flood art books....more
Picked up in Japan, haven't played NieR Automata (yet) but goodness is there some pretties in there.Picked up in Japan, haven't played NieR Automata (yet) but goodness is there some pretties in there....more
Picked this up on my latest jaunt to Japan, very pretty artwork. Lots of nice Black Lagoon stuff, and plenty of others - Fate/Stay Night, his manga PhPicked this up on my latest jaunt to Japan, very pretty artwork. Lots of nice Black Lagoon stuff, and plenty of others - Fate/Stay Night, his manga Phantom Bullet, etc....more
I really like Ann Leckie's books, they're funny without trying, touching without being sappy and thought-provoking without being obnoxious. ProvenanceI really like Ann Leckie's books, they're funny without trying, touching without being sappy and thought-provoking without being obnoxious. Provenance was no different - set in the same universe as the Imperial Radch trilogy, but not within the Radch itself (indeed the Radch is made fun of at length throughout the book), it puts an interesting view on the aliens of the universe, and the various human civilizations which may as well be alien themselves.
I love how developed and distinct the Hwaean, Omken, Tyr and Radch humans are - in my head I kept picturing them as completely different species despite them all basically being different nationalities of the human race.
Not the strongest plot I've ever read - it seemed to meander for 2/3 of the book before suddenly realising it needed to have something happen, but hell, I'm happy just being back in this universe that I didn't mind that much....more
This was my least favourite so far of the Old Man's War series. Most of it was a retread of stuff I've read before (admittedly the new things were intThis was my least favourite so far of the Old Man's War series. Most of it was a retread of stuff I've read before (admittedly the new things were interesting, though), but written from the viewpoint of a snarky teenage girl - so, basically, how Scalzi usually writes his characters, except moreso.
I found myself skipping over large chunks of story, and I was fairly uninterested in the book in general. So hopefully Human Division is a return to form....more
Was certainly not as grim or apocalyptic as the title had me thinking it was going to be. Better than Old Man's War, not as good as Ghost Brigades I rWas certainly not as grim or apocalyptic as the title had me thinking it was going to be. Better than Old Man's War, not as good as Ghost Brigades I reckon.
There's something about these books that, despite being entertaining and eminently readable, always ends up being somewhat of a disappointment or anticlimax or something. They always seem to end too soon and too fast....more
I really enjoyed this, went in with no idea what it was about. The only bits I wasn't fussed on were the journal entries, and the ending but still, quI really enjoyed this, went in with no idea what it was about. The only bits I wasn't fussed on were the journal entries, and the ending but still, quite good. I'm bad at reviews lately....more
Christ, that was one hell of a book. I can't quite get my thoughts together on it right now, and I've been pretty slack with my review game for a whilChrist, that was one hell of a book. I can't quite get my thoughts together on it right now, and I've been pretty slack with my review game for a while so yeah we'll leave it at that. A slog, but importantly entirely worth the effort. Very keen for the sequel....more
Much preferred this to Old Man's War. It was still funny in parts, but the overall tone and dialogue was a lot less jokey and glib, which would have bMuch preferred this to Old Man's War. It was still funny in parts, but the overall tone and dialogue was a lot less jokey and glib, which would have been at odds with a bit of a darker story. Stands well on its own, but expands well on the existing world....more
Been meaning to read this book for years and years. As it turns out there's no rush as Rothfuss is still working on the third book, but regardless I'mBeen meaning to read this book for years and years. As it turns out there's no rush as Rothfuss is still working on the third book, but regardless I'm glad I finally got around to it.
It's interesting coming to this late and seeing the heapings of praise and accolades - but then so much sourness and rage surrounding the time he's taking to finish it off. It seems to be a bit of a trend - the Brandon Sandersons and George R. R. Martins and so on, and I guess the Patrick Rothfusses (Rothfussi?).
A lot of that frustration probably stems from how eminently readable his writing style is - I was intimidated by the length of the Name of the Wind (I'm the sort of wuss to whom 600+ pages is a 'long' read), but I probably read it twice as fast as I would a book half its length. As such, the pain of not having the conclusion available is probably a lot more acute than it would otherwise be.
Anyway, I really loved this book and can't wait to read the second and be disappointed that the third is such a long time coming.
Also Team Fela Forever, I was so frustrated with Kvothe's teenage indecision and blindness to what was right in front of him. Hit far too close to home :(...more
3 stars upgraded from probably more like 2.5 as it is a very readable book. I'm disappointed I didn't enjoy it more, but I will give it credit as I in3 stars upgraded from probably more like 2.5 as it is a very readable book. I'm disappointed I didn't enjoy it more, but I will give it credit as I inhaled it regardless. Spoilers below.
Book felt like it was 200 pages too long - which makes sense since it was apparently originally meant to be a short story. The start is the strongest section of the book, it sets up the characters well and you get a nice chapter or two from several perspectives - first Melanie, then Mrs Justineau, then Dr Caldwell, then Parks - to give you a good all round perspective on the situation.
Soon after this is where it all started falling apart for me. After the first 100 or so pages, the story enters a holding pattern as the crew journey towards Beacon, punctuated by brief action scenes and slow, meandering character development which (considering the end of the book) did its job quite well as it served to kill off any empathy or sentiment I had for any of the characters, Parks being the slight exception. Though in the end he's not immune to it either - zombie girl lures off a pile of zombies by screaming and he suddenly trusts her nigh-completely? Come on, Sarge, put a bullet in her.
This section (about 200 pages, oddly) culminates with everything going to shit, and Melanie bringing about the extinction of the human race as we know it. This decision on her part seemed to come about out of nowhere - maybe it's meant to be a reflection of how she's a savant, her analytical mind deciding that it's better for her kind to usurp humanity sooner rather than later, but it felt like the information she needed to make this decision was inadequate, which flies in the face of the way she had made her decisions throughout the rest of the book. It also would put her dear Mrs Justineau at risk, which is the main (dare I say the only) motivator she's had throughout the entire thing.
Astute observers will also see I've shelved this under Science Fiction, rather than Horror - this is partially cos I don't have a horror shelf, but mainly because it completely failed to impress any sort of unease or scares on me. The concept is scary yes - but the content is not. The most uncomfortable the book made me was the description of the main character eating a feral cat alive.
Resoundingly meh. A decent enough quick read, but I fail to see why it's as praised as it is....more
I absolutely hated the first half of this book, and I loved the second half. I don't often have that an extreme swing within a book.
The pacing of the I absolutely hated the first half of this book, and I loved the second half. I don't often have that an extreme swing within a book.
The pacing of the first half felt all wrong, and it was basically 150 pages of family politics when all I was interested in was the folklore side of stuff - more conversations with the domovoi, more magical stuff.
Once the book committed fully to the magical it picked up immensely. The pacing straightened out and it kept my attention til the end. I think it was trying to do the fairy tale thing where it starts off introducing the mundane and painful world which is made so much better by the magic later on, but it didn't work for me.
3.5 stars rounded up, a solid four stars off the strength of the last half but the first half dragged it down. Still, if you can get past the first half, an enjoyable read....more
As someone who has only come into Formula One in recent years (2014 to be precise) and thus missed Mark Webber's up and down career, this was a very eAs someone who has only come into Formula One in recent years (2014 to be precise) and thus missed Mark Webber's up and down career, this was a very enjoyable book.
I was of course aware of the main dramas - Multi 21 (which the book actually starts with), Red Bull gives one wing and so on, and that a lot of the time he "Webbered" starts (to use a friend's nomenclature) but I knew very little about the guy other than he's Australian and has an odd accent then for one of us.
His journey to the cockpit is very impressive to follow, and I can only imagine how it felt to be rooting for him during his time in the sport, and his many disappointments. After this and Brundle's book I quite feel like reading some more F1 literature....more
March 2020 reread: Again, really enjoyed this. Gillen writes Vader perfectly, and the final arc in particular is excellent - as is the Sho-Torun War aMarch 2020 reread: Again, really enjoyed this. Gillen writes Vader perfectly, and the final arc in particular is excellent - as is the Sho-Torun War arc. I'm actually picking up the Doctor Aphra books now, as I never did back when I read Vader for the first time, so I look forward to seeing how they are! I also want to pick up the new Darth Vader comics, which are kind of the equivalent of this, but for Empire > Jedi rather than New Hope > Empire.
Original May 2017 review Very enjoyable, Gillen has a writing style that I have always enjoyed from back when he wrote for Rock, Paper, Shotgun which translates surprisingly well to a fairly dark comic series about Darth Vader. Unlike a lot of expanded universe things dealing with pre or during the original trilogy, it actually expands on the universe rather than detracting from it, and I am very interested to read the Doctor Aphra run now.
Would recommend to anyone who was or is a fan of the older Star Wars films as it is a great fit for tone....more
Liam || Books 'n Beards
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Books:
2017
(33)
