I do love a good AI story — i hope this is as good as it looks.
Haven’t read any of Pippa’s stuff before, so i’m heading into a new experience with this. Will report back when i get around to reading it.
Tag: #scifi
Mr Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore — Robin Sloan
I read this quite some time ago, before i began writing a reviews, which is unfortunate but such is life. Anyways, since then i’ve read and reviewed ‘Ajax Penumbra: 1969’, which introduces the book store from a totally different perspective and gives a lot of background to ’24 Hour’. So i’d like to read this again one day straight after 1969, but i want to forget it all first and then start afresh.
It’s definitely a good book, that much i can remember.
Robin’s Page
#scifi #robinsloan
Babel-17 — Samuel R. Delany
One of the most imaginative sci-fi novels i’ve ever read.
I only bought it because i was looking for a book i read about 30 years ago that i can’t remember the title of and thought this may have been it, but it wasn’t. But i’m certainly not disappointed to have picked up the wrong book.
There’s all kinds of sub-genres in sci-fi and i’m not really sure where this one would fit. It’s mostly a deep dive into linguistics, as in how words and language are used and the meanings they convey, and Samuel does a wonderful exploration throughout the book.
It also takes in the future body modification — some interesting things going in this book, and does bring to mind some amazing potential within current science for the future body mod industry. The real future is certainly going to be interesting.
Anyways, well worth a read, and definitely worth it’s place in the “SF Masterworks” series.
Samuel’s Page
#scifi #sfmasterworks #bodymods #samuelrdelany
Temporal Contingency — Joseph R. Lallo
Another great addition to this incredible series.
The 2 previous reviews for this series are here and here.
I’m not usually a fan of temporal sci-fi stuff as most of what’s out there tends to run completely up its own arse while leaving the reader with their heads well and truly shoved up their own — but this book doesn’t feel like that. Joseph plays some great temporal “get out of jail free cards” in this book that certainly made it all work for me and, best of all, prevented the aforementioned anal acrobatics.
And he’s really pushing the boat out with Ma on this one — that’s the beautiful woman on the cover. 
She’s definitely become my most favourite fictional AI and one of my most favourite fictional characters altogether.
Anyways, great stuff, and i really can’t wait for Indra Station. Sweeet!
Joseph’s Page
#scifi #josephrlallo
The Big Sigma Collection: Volume 1 — Joseph R. Lallo
What a great collection.
Having really enjoyed Bypass Gemini i jumped straight into the rest of the books.
This collection also features 3 short stories that give more background to some characters in the main novels, which were really enjoyable to read.
I really can’t say enough about Joseph’s writing, i’m a total fan and totally hooked. Even though the known universe is about to end if nothing’s done, Joseph still manages to get lots of fun and shenanigans in the stories and makes it work so well.
Really good sci-fi as well. Pushing the boundaries but never overstepping.
And now all that’s left to do is read the last book in the series: Temporal Contingency.
Joseph’s Page
#scifi #josephrlallo
Bypass Gemini — Joseph R. Lallo
Now this is a writer who is obviously having fun.
Admittedly there’s a thin line between a writer having a lot of fun with a story and the story becoming a little ridiculous and this book does seem to skim a little close to that line on occasion, and then it’s just up to the reader whether they might feel that line has been crossed. For me, at least, i just enjoyed this as a totally fun read. And right about now in my life i really needed a good fun read.
While my normal taste in sci-fi is rather highbrow — Le Guin, etc.. — this book came like a refreshing breath of fresh air in it’s nothing but a full on romp around the galaxy with broad array of characters and shenangians. Yes, there’s a serious side to it, millions are going to die unless our protagonist can sort his shit out, but that doesn’t hold Joseph back from having fun with it along the way.
As in all of Joseph’s books, the characters are wonderful, widely varied and really brought to life, leaving you wanting further appearances in future books.
You can find this book for free on Amazon and then if you like it you can buy the rest of the series: a genuine try before you buy. And i think that’s another great thing about Joseph, in that he gives away the first books in his 3 series as tasters and then let’s the reader make their own minds up freely as to whether they want more or not. I got hooked in this way on Book of Deacon, then Free Wrench and now this. And that for me is the mark of a good book, do you buy the rest of the series or walk away and never come back? The answer to all 3 of Joseph’s series is yes, yes and yes again for me. I bought the rest of the books to this series straight away and can’t wait to read more.
So onwards to Big Sigma Collection: Volume 1.
Joseph’s Page
#scifi #josephrlallo
Dark Matter — Blake Crouch
Wow! That was a total head trip and a half.
Admittedly, i’m not a subscriber to the multiverse theory, but that didn’t detract from the story at all. I was just totally swept along at an amazing pace, i just didn’t want to stop reading. Every spare moment i had for 2 days had my face glued to my Kindle screen reading this — and that’s quite rare for me as i normally only read at bedtime for an hour or so. Very unputdownable!
Definitely a must read for anyone who likes good sci-fi: even if just a little bit. You won’t be disappointed.
Well worth the 99p i got this for as a “Kindle Deal”. 
Blake’s Page
#scifi #blakecrouch
Sourdough — Robin Sloan
If you liked Robin’s Penumbra books then throw this on your reading list and have at it: more of that Robin Sloan style for you to enjoy.
If, however, you’ve come across this book because you’re into sourdough baking and was looking for a story to read that reflects the real challenges, difficulties etc., of baking your own sourdough breads, then you’ll probably want to read something else.
Conversely, if you’ve come across this book because you’re into sourdough baking but are able to put aside — for a while at least — your overly strict, sourdough-baker expectations to read a fun story about a magical and strange starter from a mysterious foreign land — including it’s musical tastes — then you just might really enjoy a good, fun read and become another Robin Sloan fan just like the rest of us.
Robin wrote an article all about sourdough: “Sourdough: A Confession, a Recipe, and a Playlist”.
And check out my review of the album that the Sourdough music was inspired by clicking here.