Tag: #scifi

Signal to Noise — Alastair Reynolds

By 5t4n5

Signal to Noise -- Alastair ReynoldsAvailable in the collection, Zima Blue and Other Stories.

Alastair wrote a love story: awwwwwww.

And . . . . . . it’s rather good.

Although . . . . . . i’m not really a fan of all this parallel universe nonsense, because it is nonsense, just like flat earth nonsense.

But . . . . . . done right, like Alastair can, you can find some good stories in a parallel universe as long as you ignore all the nonsense bits.

All that aside . . . . . . next up in Alastair’s bibliographic timeline is The Six Directions of Space, which i’ll be eagerly devouring in the next week or so.

Alastair’s Page

#scifi #alastairreynolds

Cardiff Afterlife — Alastair Reynolds

By 5t4n5

Cardiff Afterlife -- Alastair ReynoldsAvailable in the collection, Zima Blue and Other Stories.

Oh dear, just when i thought it was safe to read Alastair again he had to go and start writing parallel universe nonsense stories once more.

Oh please someone assure me that this is the last of Alastair’s delusions that parallel universe stories are any good, or that the theory holds any water at all. Seriously, it’s just utter twaddle.

Anyway, next up in Alastair’s publishings will be Terminal World, let’s hope that isn’t more parallel stuff twaddle nonsense.

Alastair’s Page

#scifi #alastairreynolds

Before We Say Goodbye — Toshikazu Kawaguchi

By 5t4n5

Before We Say Goodbye -- Toshikazu KawaguchiThe fourth book from this rather enjoyable series: at least it had been rather enjoyable up to this book.   But i’m beginning to feel that Toshikazu is beginning to get a bit repetitive and the cafe is beginning to become a little stale.

I think that Toshikazu is simply rushing out books and not really making any effort to create something new and interesting, which is a shame.   I really feel that what this series needs is for Toshikazu to just put it down for a while and not come back to it until he has something new and interesting to bring to the cafe.

That’s my thoughts on the matter, it really doesn’t need to be ruined to meet a deadline, either with the publisher or with Toshikazu’s bank account.

Bye for now.

Toshikazu’s Page

#scifi #japan #toshikazukawaguchi

A Fire Born of Exile — Aliette de Bodard

By 5t4n5

A Fire Born of Exile -- Aliette de BodardAnother super good story from Aliette’s Xuya universe.   I’m thinking this is probably the longest one so far: it’ll certainly keep you occupied for a good while.

Our protagonist, and her mindship friend, have both come back from the dead (that’s the exile bit) hell set on revenge against those who executed them.   But revenge isn’t quite as straight forward as they would like it to be.

If you haven’t read any Xuya stories yet then get yourself over to Aliette’s “all things Xuya page” and find out where to start and what it’s all about.   Basically, it’s just really good sci-fi, from a really good writer, with a wonderful Asian flavour to it all.

Aliette’s Page

#scifi #aliettedebodard

Kalicalypse — Anthology

By 5t4n5

Kalicalypse -- AnthologyCopyright 2022 unless otherwise stated.

Standalones

The New Humans — Trishna Basak
Kali_Na – 2019 — Indrapramit Das
The Art of Possible — Yudhanjaya Wijeratne
The Daughter That Bleeds – 2018 — Shweta Taneja
The New Migrants — Navin Weeraratne
Anamnesis — Rupsa Dey
The Architecture of Loss — Salik Shah
Tethered — Haris A. Durrani
Steeling Minds — Kehkashan Khalid
The Almighty — Zafar Iqbal

~~~~~~~~

#yudhanjayawijeratne

Translation State — Ann Leckie

By 5t4n5

Translation State -- Ann LeckieI get the feeling these latest books by Ann are fleshing out the universe she introduced in the Imperial Radch Trilogy and its many varied lifeforms and AI’s.

That’s not to say they’re not enjoyable, well written stories in their own right, they are. And i thoroughly enjoyed this one as well as Provenance, which introduced us to the Geck.

In this story we’re being introduced more intimately to the Presger Translators, who are genetically engineered, very strange beings.

To be honest, i’m looking forward to lots more of these books as we slowly moved towards the Conclave where they all will come together to discuss whether to accept the Two System’s AI’s into the treaty.

Bring it on.

Bye for now.

Ann’s Page

#scifi #annleckie

Provenance — Ann Leckie

By 5t4n5

After the two inbetweenie shorts we’re back to novel length stories in the Imperial Radch Universe.

In this story we find ourselves on a planet outside of the Radch empire who are having a bit of a political squabble with some neighbours over the jump gates in their neighbourhood, and also quite a bit of a political squabble amongst themselves.

Our protagonist, Ingray, is trying to show her mother that she’s better than her brother because they’re competing for her inheritance, but Ingray keeps blundering through, making mistakes, because she’s unearthed a can of worms that others have set in motion.

In some ways there’s a continuation of the Imperial Radch Trilogy in that people are talking about the upcoming Conclave with the Presger.   The Geck have already sent an ambassador, who has gotten itself sidetracked chasing down a Geck fugitive, which just happens to fall right in Ingray’s path, turning her plans upside down as well.   But, as everyone says, it’ll be a very long time before the Conclave happens, and i think this is Ann’s way of saying there’ll be a lot more of these side stories before we get to the Conclave.   I do hope so because this is a wonderful universe that Ann has created and it’s nice to get out and explore it’s many cultures and life forms.

All in all though, Provenance has been a really good story.   There’s plenty going on and Ingray is a wonderful protagonist to follow this story through.

Next up, Ann has written Translation State, also in this universe.   Which i’m diving straight into eagerly.

Bye for now.

Ann’s Page

#scifi #annleckie

She Commands Me and I Obey — Ann Leckie

By 5t4n5

She Commands Me and I Obey -- Ann LeckieWell this was not what i expected.

Apparently, supposedly, based in the same universe as the Imperial Radch Trilogy, i was expecting something as good as the trilogy but instead got this jumble-luted mess of names that was just ridiculous to follow.

Really, your readers expect much, much better, Ann.   Although, as i have said in the past, every writer is allowed to write something utterly below their abilities once in while.   But it’s still annoying to wade through this nonsense.

Even the sports match was just nonsense.   Was it like a game of tennis or something?   I really couldn’t work out what the game was about.

Onwards and upwards, next in this universe is Provenance, i do hope for much better.

Bye for now.

Ann’s Page

#scifi #annleckie

Night’s Slow Poison — Ann Leckie

By 5t4n5

Night's Slow Poison -- Ann LeckieAlso available in Galactic Empires.

A good novella about a flight through an area of space to a planet that virtually impenetrable.   But the Radch want that planet and when the Radch want something they won’t stop until they get it.

Yes, it’s set in the same universe as the Imperial Radch Trilogy, but it’s completely unrelated to those books.   I found it good to read it straight after i finished the trilogy.

Next up in this universe is She Commands Me and I Obey.

Bye for now.

Ann’s Page

#scifi #annleckie

Ancillary Mercy — Ann Leckie

By 5t4n5

The final episode in the Imperial Radch Trilogy, and quite a good page turner it was.

We;re still at the space station and planet system but “She” has turned up, and it’s one of those “She’s” that really doesn’t like Breq.

So all kinds of chaos and fun ensues with some great new characters thrown in to spice things up.

I did feel the ending was a bit lacking, as in it didn’t finish the trilogy off neatly, leaving lots of openings for further stories — which is a good thing because there’s four more books in this universe to read next.   Hopefully we’ll get to find out what happens next during one of those stories.

So that’s exactly what i’m going to do now, start reading those four stories, beginning with Night’s Slow Poison.

Bye for now.

Ann’s Page

#scifi #annleckie

Ancillary Sword — Ann Leckie

By 5t4n5

Ancillary Sword -- Ann LeckieI just finished this second book in the trilogy, and it was good.

The story has evolved and now the Lord of the Radche is at open war with herself with Breq, our favourite ancillary, caught in between her various parts.

And so it’s off to another planet and a space station for more wonderful shenanigans within this fantastic universe that Ann has created for us all to enjoy immensely.

If you’re into sci-fi and you haven’t started reading this series already then just drop whatever you’re reading and pick this up instead, you won’t be disappointed.

I’m now diving straight into the third book, Ancillary Mercy.

Bye for now.

Ann’s Page

#scifi #annleckie

Ancillary Justice — Ann Leckie

By 5t4n5

Ancillary Justice -- Ann LeckieThis is a super good read.   An AI spaceship’s mind ends up in the body of one person named Breq, one of its ancillaries.   The AI mind is out for a bit of revenge after its spaceship, all it’s crew and the rest of its ancillaries are destroyed.

Really well written with a great protagonist, it’s a real page turner.

But don’t just take my word for it being a great story: Ancillary Justice won the following awards:

Arthur C. Clarke Award for best science fiction novel of the year, 2014.
British Science Fiction Association BSFA Award for Best Novel
Hugo Award for Best Novel from the World Science Fiction Society, 2014.
Kitschies Golden Tentacle for best debut novel, 2013.
Locus Award for Best First Novel, 2014.
Nebula Award for Best Novel from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, 2013.
Seiun Award for Best Translated Novel, 2016.

The novel was also nominated for the following awards:

Finalist for the Compton Crook Award for best first science fiction/fantasy/horror novel from the Baltimore Science Fiction Society.
Named to the James Tiptree Jr. Award Honor List, for science fiction or fantasy that expands or explores our understanding of gender.
Shortlisted for the Philip K. Dick Award for distinguished original science fiction paperback.

It does kind of remind me of Murderbot by Martha Wells, so if you liked those books you’ll probably like this, and vice versa.

And now i’m diving straight into Ancillary Sword:   #excited

Bye for now.

Ann’s Page

#scifi #annleckie

The Counselor — Robin Sloan

By 5t4n5

The Counselor -- Robin SloanA look to the future when everyone has access to talk therapy with a counselor, for their whole lives.

But the only way this has become possible is because everyone’s free lifelong counselor is an AI.

And how does the counselor council the terminally ill who can stay alive on life support equipment for decades?

An interesting view of the future of health care, which isn’t too far fetched when we consider that health care providers are already putting chat bots in old people’s homes to talk to them and old people are already heavily medicated and looked after for decades to keep them alive without any real quality of life.

Another interesting little story from Robin.

Bye for now.

Robin’s Page

#scifi #robinsloan

The Red Scholar’s Wake — Aliette de Bodard

By 5t4n5

The Red Scholar's Wake -- Aliette de BodardIt had certainly been a while since i read any Xuya stories when i finally got this in my Kindle’s memory bank, but i soon fell back into the universe like i’d never been away.

‘The Red Scholar is dead.’   So begins the story.   And left behind in her wake is her wife, the mindship Rice Fish.

The Red Scholar was the head of the Red Banner of the pirates and Rice Fish wants to stake her claim as banner head, but to do so she needs to find out who arranged the death of her wife.   In order to do so she enlists the help of a captured scavenger, Xich Si.   And so begins a story of intrigue, deception, betrayals, love, and all kinds of crazy pirates’ political machinations.

Super good stuff, as are all the Xuya Stories i’ve read.

Next in the Xuya universe is A Fire Born of Exile.

Bye for now.

Aliette’s Page

#5t4n5 #fantasy #scifi #aliettedebodard

The Art of Possible — Yudhanjaya Wijeratne

By 5t4n5

The Art of Possible -- Yudhanjaya WijeratneAvailable in the anthology Kalicalypse

An interesting little story about the coming apocalypse and how the world is mired in policy and nothing is more important than following the policy.

At least that what i got from it.

Like all of Yudhanjaya’s stories, it’s interesting and enjoyable.

Bye for now.

Yudhanjaya’s Page

<#scifi #yudhanjayawijeratne

Detonation Boulevard — Alastair Reynolds

By 5t4n5

Detonation Boulevard -- Alastair ReynoldsAlastair is back with one of his great little stories.

This time Alastair has conjured up a racing league where the races circumnavigate small moons and such within the solar system.   This is about one race, the race around Io, one of Jupiter’s moons.   Super geologically active, you’d have to be insane to be racing around this.   It kind of reminds me of all the old stories of early motor racing, before actual race tracks and before the FIA came along and sanitized everything.

So if you like a good motor racing story, or like Alastair’s short fiction, you’ll enjoy this one.

Now i go back to eagerly awaiting Alastair’s next book.

Bye for now.

Alastair’s Page

#scifi #alastairreynolds

Quantum Shift — Joseph R. Lallo

By 5t4n5

Quantum Shift -- Joseph R. LalloFairly good, but this series is getting rather repetitive.   I really think Joseph needs to go off on a different tangent with this story line.   Lex really doesn’t need to be saving every universe in existence in every story, surely there’s something else he’d rather be doing?

I like the crazy Karter stuff with lots of Ma, just not saving the universes every time Lex gets in a space ship.

Bye for now.

Joseph’s Page

#scifi #josephrlallo

Home Again, Home Again — Cory Doctorow

By 5t4n5

Home Again, Home Again -- Cory DoctorowAvailable in the collection, A Place So Foreign and Eight More.

A fun little story about coming home.

A human councillor on an alien world goes home to watch his childhood home be demolished.   Along the way he reminisces about his childhood there.

It’s different and i quite enjoyed this: you might also enjoy it.

Next up will be Visit the Sins.

Bye for now.

Cory’s Page

#scifi #corydoctorow

Eversion — Alastair Reynolds

By 5t4n5

Eversion -- Alastair ReynoldsHave you ever fell asleep in a dream and in that sleep you start dreaming, only to fall asleep in that dream and start dreaming again.   But then you wake up from that final dream and a new day begins, but it’s just soooo fucked up you can’t understand what’s going wrong with the world: because you thought you’d actually woken up because you forgot you fell asleep within a dream within a dream and you haven’t actually woke up, woke up, you just woke up within the next dream level up, you’re still dreaming.   And it takes a while to realise what the fuck is going on.   If that’s never happened to you then you’re really missing out a wonderful mind fuck.

It’s just like what happens in the film Inception, they go to sleep and dream, then go to sleep and dream and then go to sleep and dream, in order to get so far down the rabbit hole in order to get the thing they want.

And yes, you can fall asleep in dreams and then dream in that sleep and so on.   It’s freaky!

Why am i telling you this?   Because Silas Coade, our protagonist within Eversion, appears to be doing the same thing.   So if you liked that idea in Inception you might just really like this one as well, because this is just as good but in a much different way.   I can’t tell you why it’s different because it would totally ruin the story, you just have to believe me that it’s really good and read it for yourself.

This is currently Alastair’s last published novel and i’ve read everything else he’s written apart from the young adult, nonsensical, Revenger trilogy, which i just couldn’t cope with.   So now i sit eagerly awaiting the next great story from this master of science fiction: let’s hope it’s not too long in appearing.

Bye for now.

Alastair’s Page

#scifi #alastairreynolds