I had never heard of Dennis E. Taylor prior to reading the first book in his Bobiverse series last year. I enjoyed that book immensely; so much so, in fact, that I think I oversold it in my review. Setting all that aside, though, the series was still a highlight of the year, and I’ll read any future novels he writes in the universe. So, seeing that he’s come out with a new book piqued my interest. I think it’s an Audible-only release, though. The […]
I love you, Murderbot. But I would never actually tell you that, because of the intense awkwardness that would cause you
4.5 stars From Goodreads: In a corporate-dominated spacefaring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by Company-supplied security androids, for their own safety. But in a society where contracts are awarded to the lowest bidder, safety isn’t a primary concern. On a distant planet, a team of scientists are conducting surface tests, shadowed by their Company-supplied ‘droid – a self-aware SecUnit that has hacked its own governor module, and refers to itself (though never out loud) as […]
Muscle and Blood and Skin and Bones
Assyria soon discovered a painful truth: empires are like Ponzi schemes: financial frauds in which previous investors are paid returns out of new investors’ deposits. The costs of holding imperial territory can only be underwritten by loot and tribute extracted by constant new conquests; empires must continue to expand if they are not to collapse.” – Paul Kriwaczek, Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth Of Civilization At the end of Ancillary Justice, Anaander Mianaai was openly at war with herself. One faction of the Lord of […]
Happiness is a warm gun
The last time I reviewed a Brandon Sanderson book, I complained of Sanderson fatigue, the review got featured, and several more people complained about it with me. So it is a bit sheepishly that I confess I not only went back to him but that I read the entire second Mistborn series minus the one book that hasn’t been published yet. And I enjoyed them immensely. In fact, for someone like me who still had fond memories of earlier Cosmere experiences, The Alloy of Law, […]