that no one can hear the whispers
they’ve lit the world so bright
that no one can see in the dark
they’ve told so many lies
that no one knows the truth now
they’ve ruined all of nature
and told us to play in the park
The Angel of Khan el-Khalili — P. Djèlí Clark
The second story from the Dead Djinn Universe, which i only just got hold of with it having been quite some time since i finished the other three books (silly me thought it was a trilogy). But not to worry, while it would have been better to have read it before The Haunting of Tram Car 015, it was very much worth reading still and doesn’t detract from anything i’ve already read in this series.
Once again, all the super good writing we’ve come to enjoy from Djèlí, my only question would be is will there be any more Cairo books? I do so hope so, this is a fantastic world Djèlí has created that begs to be explored a lot more. And i totally recommend this whole series for everyone, even if you’re not already into steampunk flavoured fantasy with a North African twist you soon will be.
This is available in the anthologies, Clockwork Cairo and Swift the Chase, and also can be read for free over at Tor.com.
P. Djèlí Clark’s Page
#steampunk #fantasy #pdjeliclark
Fresco — Alastair Reynolds
You’ll find this in the collection, Deep Navigation.
A rather brief short story about an observatory near Jupiter that listens to broadcasts from other galaxies.
I get the idea that this should be a prequel to something: not sure what the point is being on its own. Ho hum.
Next in the timeline from Alastair, it’s The Real Story from 2002.
Alastair’s Page
#scifi #alastairreynolds
A Practical Guide to Conquering the World — K. J. Parker
The third instalment in The Siege. The first two thirds of the trilogy were excellent, this book has a lot to live up to.
As soon as i got a copy of this book i dropped everything else i was reading and jumped straight in: that’s how much i enjoyed the first two books of the trilogy.
Once more, great writing with great characters being forced into corners and having to do whatever it takes just to survive another hour or so, because you only need another hour or so to figure out how you can find a way to survive the next hour or so. Fortunately for us avid readers our protagonists in these stories always find a way to keep surviving all those next hours or sos and thus the story keeps on rolling along with calamities and shenanigans abounding.
To be honest, i was sold on K. J. Parker’s writing after the first book, Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City, the second book, How To Rule An Empire and Get Away With It, just confirmed that i wasn’t mistaken in my assessment, and this book now makes me realise that i’ve been missing out on some great writing for over 20 years, but hey, now i can go back and read the complete K. J. Parker back catalogue and really enjoy myself.
So yeah, if you’re looking for a good fun read then do give The Siege trilogy a go, i’m sure most people with even just a tiniest smattering of a sense of humour will enjoy these books.
K. J. Parker’s Page Tom Holt’s Page
#fantasy #kjparker
The Power of Chowa — Akemi Tanaka
A quite enjoyable Japanese wisdom book with a rather different perspective, that of a Japanese woman who at times comes across as the outsider, shunned in some ways by conservative Japanese society for standing up — and standing out — as an independent woman, while at the same time Akemi is very clearly a traditionalist in all the ways that truly matter. At least that’s the view i get on Akemi from these pages.
And why shouldn’t strong-minded, independent women take the very best of tradition and leave the worse of it behind? Surely that’s the point of evolution, to take what is the best, that which benefits the most and to leave behind and slough off those very things that hinder, bind and stifle all of us ultimately; and in doing so build stronger and more resilient societies for the future. Of course, there will always be tension between which side of this coin things fall on, the ultra conservative who blindly want to maintain everything, regardless of worth and value, while on the other side those who want to cast of everything they see as old and done. Or maybe there’s a middle way, a way of Chowa?
It’s from these two different perspectives that Akemi takes us on this journey to discover Chowa, that balance and harmony within and without that we could all use a good dose of in our crazy modern lives.
Definitely another one of those books that i feel everyone who reads it with an open mind can find some small nugget to take away to help improve themselves, their lives and their environments. I certainly feel it was worth the read and feel others will do so as well.
Akemi’s Page
#japan #akemitanaka
Briarpatch — Ross Thomas
I got this book because i totally loved the TV show. I don’t normally watch TV shows before i read the book but i got totally hooked on it because it was just so frigging awesome:
But having had a brief start at reading this book, it just isn’t as good as the TV show. Pick is a guy in the book whereas in the TV show it’s Rosario Dawson and i just can’t get my head around Pick being a man.
So i’ve decided to put this away for quite a few years when i hopefully may have forgotten all about the TV show and then i’ll come back and give it a read. Probably not though. Me thinks it’s just one of those books that will get relegated to “The Boneyard” forever.
Ross’ Page
#rossthomas
The Things My Mother Left Me — P. Djèlí Clark
More great fantasy story telling from Djèlí. And i’m definitely looking to return to this issue of Fantasy magazine once i’ve got done reading the rest of Djèlí’s books.
This is available in the periodical, Fantasy Magazine — Issue 60.
Next up in my P. Djèlí Clark reading festival will be The Angel of Khan el-Khalili, which i seem to remember reading is just an excerpt from A Dead Djinn in Cairo. Which i’ll be perfectly happy reading again anyway, so who cares anyway?
P. Djèlí Clark’s Page
#fantasy #pdjeliclark
Merlin’s Gun — Alastair Reynolds
The fourth book in Alastair’s Merlin Series, and should be read immediately after The Iron Tactician.
Leaving his previous hitch-hiker behind, Merlin then finds another to join him on his quest to find the ultimate weapon against the Huskers. Will they find it? Will Merlin finally get to use it? Will there be some ultimate act of betrayal?
You’ll have to read it yourself to find out.
Great ending though.
Sadly, for now at least, this is the fourth and final book in this short but very enjoyable tetralogy.
You’ll find this in the collection, Zima Blue and Other Stories.
Alastair’s Page
#scifi #alastairreynolds
The Iron Tactician — Alastair Reynolds
The third book in Alastair’s Merlin Series, and should be read immediately after Minla’s Flowers.
More shenanigans as Merlin finds another system to play fixer in, this time it’s because he needs a new syrinx and this system happens to have one the cohort sold them. Merlin knows this because he picks up a hitch-hiker along the way, who is the only surviving member of the Cohort ship who sold the syrinx.
So it’s all big war things and all that sort of stuff.
Next book — and final book — in this enjoyable little tetralogy will be Merlin’s Gun. I wonder if the title gives away the fact that he finally found it? We shall soon find out: at least, i shall.
Alastair’s Page
#scifi #alastairreynolds
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