I won’t lie, I liked the TV Series more. With that out of my chest, I still enjoyed Leviathan Wakes a lot. It’s epic but revolves around a group of inI won’t lie, I liked the TV Series more. With that out of my chest, I still enjoyed Leviathan Wakes a lot. It’s epic but revolves around a group of interesting characters and keeps the stake personal. The ideas here are excellent and the story is immersive. It’s a praised classic for a reason....more
A lot of readers rave about “Fear Agent,” and I get them. I really do. It blends space opera, pulp adventure, gritty war stories and brutal fight sequA lot of readers rave about “Fear Agent,” and I get them. I really do. It blends space opera, pulp adventure, gritty war stories and brutal fight sequences. Despite its occasional moments of brilliance, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
The protagonist is a rugged anti-hero (cool) who more often than not comes as one-dimensional (uncool). His unending self-pity and constant drunkenness grated on my nerves. Many of the secondary characters are reduced to clichés.
I wasn’t a fan of abrupt shifts between timelines and settings and I don’t think the series balanced multiple storylines well. Another thing that tired me was the tone of the story that oscillated between dark and serious and campy, over-the-top action. I love pulp reads, but I didn’t gel with this approach.
“Fear Agent” has a cool premise and great art but to me it struggles to maintain an engaging narrative. ...more
It's an ambitious and clever space opera. Quite impressive in places, with rich world-building and multidimensional characters. And while I appre3.5/5
It's an ambitious and clever space opera. Quite impressive in places, with rich world-building and multidimensional characters. And while I appreciate it, I never felt fully immersed and have some spoilery nitpicks about the world. Worth a read, but it didn't appeal to me as strongly as to many of my favorite reviewers....more
This is a solid and fast-paced space opera that gets most things right. My only concern is that it feels a bit overstuffed. Nonetheless, fans of 3.5/5
This is a solid and fast-paced space opera that gets most things right. My only concern is that it feels a bit overstuffed. Nonetheless, fans of the genre will discover plenty to adore here.
Regarding the audiobook narration, the narrator does an outstanding job....more
It was ok, but I'm not in love. It's a superhero space opera with exciting world-building and ok characters (subjective - it seems most readers like tIt was ok, but I'm not in love. It's a superhero space opera with exciting world-building and ok characters (subjective - it seems most readers like them). While I liked the premise, I found the writing uneven (and sometimes clunky). I guess I simply didn't connect with it the way others did.
STRINGERS is quick, witty, and exuberant. Ben possesses useless but vast knowledge about animals and wristwatches. He knows A LOT; he just can't explaSTRINGERS is quick, witty, and exuberant. Ben possesses useless but vast knowledge about animals and wristwatches. He knows A LOT; he just can't explain how he knows any of it. Do you want to discover the mating habits of Brazilian bark lice? He's your guy? Wanna learn about butterfly's toothed vaginas? He's your guy. Or about creatures that eat and defecate through the same orifice? Yeah, you guessed it. Ben's your guy.
He also knows about the Chime. He can't tell you what it is or why it's important, but the fact that he knows gets him in trouble. I'll be more specific - a trash-talking alien bounty hunter abducts Ben and his best friend, Patton. And so the adventure begins.
Panatier's sense of humor won't appeal to everyone. Gross facts about insects' intimate lives and fart jokes appear on almost every page. I found them tiring but, to be fair, Panatier's writing is intelligent and the pacing excellent. His extraterrestrials are varied and extraordinary, and the story is engaging. So, if you like your stories on the wild side, you'll probably love this heartfelt cosmic romp. On the other hand, if stories driven by manic energy and dozens of unfocused asides tend to tire you, you might want to skip this one.
What else? There are footnotes here. Mostly funny and interesting. But they're LEGION, and exhausting. They fit the whimsical and wild narrative. They contain a lot of cool facts. For me, though, there are just too many and I felt they distracted me from the flow of the story. The world-building goes in-depth and is fascinating, and the changes in a tone fit the story well.
All in all, STRINGERS is an entertaining book, but not for everyone. I'd wholeheartedly recommend it to readers looking for something fast, wild, and surprising. Fans of odd wristwatches and insect trivia will also be delighted....more
Children of Time is a fascinating but slow epic with big ideas (evolution, biology, AI). It follows two intertwined stories - the evolution of sentienChildren of Time is a fascinating but slow epic with big ideas (evolution, biology, AI). It follows two intertwined stories - the evolution of sentient arachnids and the desperate fate of the humans fleeing a dying Earth in a spaceship. Both storylines converge near the end of the book during the inevitable conflict. I found Tchaikovsky's ideas ingenious but the story lost its momentum halfway through. It spent hundreds of pages to set the table and tell the actual story.
In all, a fascinating read with fascinating moments stifled by boring bits and disappointing ending....more
I can’t say I love metafiction. Or Star Trek. It should explain why Redshirts left me cold.
Ensign Dahl joins the crew of the Intrepid, famous for itsI can’t say I love metafiction. Or Star Trek. It should explain why Redshirts left me cold.
Ensign Dahl joins the crew of the Intrepid, famous for its charismatic senior officers who survive impossible situations against all odds. Their subordinates, though, have no such luck and each mission takes its toll. The junior crew is expendable. Someone has to die to keep the stakes high and you don’t kill your main characters, right?
Right. That’s why Redshirts (expandable crew members) get killed in dramatically over-the-top ways (eaten by Ice Sharks or killed by robots with harpoons) whereas senior crew members heal the gravest wounds.
The first part of the book makes fun of lazy genre conventions and does it well. I had a few laughs and aha moments. Unfortunately, Scalzi’s characters break the fourth wall and look for answers about their current situation. The story devolves quickly and loses its charm. And it simply doesn’t work as a suddenly serious metafiction.
To be fair, though, I admit the codas were powerful. All told, Redshirts is…ok? Vaguely humorous, full of references to Star Trek, and quick to read. Something’s missing here, but if you have a few hours to kill and no interest in challenging yourself with something more complex, I see no reason not to try it....more
Dark Age lived up to its name - it's a bloody and unforgiving spectacle I need to recover from. That said, I have rather mixed feelings about it.3.5/5
Dark Age lived up to its name - it's a bloody and unforgiving spectacle I need to recover from. That said, I have rather mixed feelings about it. It blends six stars parts with two stars parts.
I'm impressed by Brown's plotting skills, subtle foreshadowing, and prose that gets better with every book. On the other hand, some resolutions and big reveals, while shocking, felt a little far-fetched (like resurrecting you know who - this story isn't exactly lacking in villains).
Also, violence. I don't consider myself squeamish or particularly sensible to graphic violence but I felt numerous scenes were unnecessarily graphic. Yes, violence (and sexual violence) is a thing and does happen during wars but I really don't need to read about it on every second page (I exaggerate to make a point).
Nothing good happens to anyone I like. Characters I related to died. Things got complicated and multilayered. Perhaps I would understand them better during re-read but I have no interest in repeating the process.
I'll be the first in line to buy and read the last book in the series when the time comes. I can't imagine any Howler will miss Dark Age. I'm glad I've read it. I'm just not sure if I really liked it.
I am Fergus Ferguson, and I find lost things. I’m going to bring Venetia’s Sword home because I said I would, and if I have to go through Gilger an
I am Fergus Ferguson, and I find lost things. I’m going to bring Venetia’s Sword home because I said I would, and if I have to go through Gilger and the Asiigto do it, so be it.
While not exactly a law-abiding do-gooder, Fergus has enough charm to make readers like him. He specializes in chasing things, getting into trouble and running away. When he tries to recover a sentient spacecraft stolen from Shipmakers of Pluto by a ruthless crime boss Airun Gilger, someone makes an attempt at his life. He barely survives, and what was supposed to be a routine job devolves into a disaster. Fergus’ actions may start a civil war, and to make matters worse, dangerous aliens seem interested in him as well.
The action-packed plot sucked me in fast and never let go. Ferguson escapes one dire situation just to find himself in even more trouble. When you start to think he can’t handle more, Palmer proves you wrong. Watching Ferguson getting out of a mess thanks to his quick wit and ingenuity entertained me, and his resourcefulness impressed me. We all recognize lasers and light-swords as standard tools used to fight in space, but how many of you thought about using vibrating alien sex toys as space weapons (of sorts)? Just a few, I guess. And Fergus is one of you.
Luckily, quick thinking and insolence are just the outer layers of his nuanced and well-developed character. His many flaws and upbeat attitude coupled with intriguing backstory delivered through occasional flashbacks make him relatable. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about secondary characters who lack depth. They’re well rounded and fun, I’ll give it to Palmer, but they’re here mainly to make Ferguson shine. That said a good dialogue, evocative descriptions and interesting tech make up for this. And let’s not forget about aliens. They’re cool and they make Fergus’ life more interesting, heck, they make him more interesting :)
Breakneck-paced, action-packed, and character-driven, this story is powered by thrilling plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Well worth a shot....more
I plan to read all novellas picked as Nebula finalists to satisfy my curiosity. Fire Ant follows a minuscule corporate exploration pilot Floribet3.5/5
I plan to read all novellas picked as Nebula finalists to satisfy my curiosity. Fire Ant follows a minuscule corporate exploration pilot Floribeth Salinas O’Shea Dalisay (abbreviated to Beth).
She doesn’t love her work, but she needs money and her job pays well. While returning from a profitable mission, she gets attacked by aliens. She barely escapes them, but it’s just a start of her problems.
I liked Beth’s story. It’s simple and straightforward, and it doesn’t redefine the genre. Instead, it presents a relatable and likeable heroine, good team dynamics and exciting actions scenes. With lasers. And spaceships. And stuff.
Frequent infodumps explaining the mechanics of the universe knocked the pacing off the rhythm and, especially at the beginning of the story, we got more telling than showing. Fortunately, Beth has enough charm to make me overlook those minor issues.
I greatly enjoy a mix of dramatic elements and high-tech, but I prefer books that focus more on characters than on scientific ideas. That makes S3.5/5
I greatly enjoy a mix of dramatic elements and high-tech, but I prefer books that focus more on characters than on scientific ideas. That makes Space Opera a perfect subgenre for me as it usually delivers a full package. And more, depending on the grandness of the vision and the focus of the story.
The Bayern Agenda fits in the genre, but I wouldn’t call it a pure Space Opera (if such a thing exist). Consider it a sci-fi spy thriller, set against the backdrop of a galactic cold war between two rival superpowers: the Illyrican Empire and the Commonwealth of Independent Systems. The former conquered Earth and its colonies, but sacrificed too much to achieve this and had to pull back and defend its borders. The Commonwealth is less organised but powerful. A stalemate can turn into war at any moment, affecting every planet in the galaxy, including the ones that have remained out of the fight.
The story follows Simon Kovalic, a covert operative for the Commonwealth, as he tries to understand the nature of the ties between Illyricans and the Bayern Corporation: a planet-sized bank. Because of unexpected events, his ex-wife, Lt Commander Natalie Taylor, has to take over his undercover team.
While Bayern Agenda doesn’t answer all the questions a reader might ask, it delivers a strong, layered intrigue and good pacing. Subsequent reveals surprised me and I consider them clever. While Moren doesn’t focus on a world-building, he gives plenty of details concerning the galaxy, high-tech and travels through wormholes. He uses interludes and some info-dumps to clarify things and build backstories. As interesting as they were, they also slowed down the story in places.
And now, characters. We’ve got two main POVs: Kovalic, the veteran covert operative, and Eli Brody, a pilot who never wanted to become a spy. Where Kovalic is self-assured and confident, Eli is out of his element in the world of spies and political intrigue. He covers his insecurity with bravado and sarcasm. I liked him. His chapters are faster, more tension-charged and funnier.
I think most secondary characters shine as well, especially Sarah M’Basa, a Commonwealth spy who resents other spies stomping all over her turf. Clearly, we have both protagonists and antagonists, but the story avoids simplistic divisions into good guys and bad guys. Each side of the conflict has good reasons to act the way they do and I appreciate it.
Bayern Agenda doesn’t contain much violence; it mentions disastrous battles and war casualties but never in a graphic way. Instead, it focuses on building tension through clever twists and reveals.
That said, I felt detached from characters and their actions. I liked Eli, but I didn’t care about Kovalic or his mentor. As a result, I’ve finished the book mostly because I was interested in the plot, not because I deeply cared about the characters.
Bayern Agenda is well worth a shot, as it mixes genres, creates an interesting galactic history and focuses on a high-charged stalemate between two superpowers. I’m sure most readers will find characters more compelling than I did.