An engaging thriller that builds from an interesting mystery to a tense simmer to an extended final sequence that's impossible to put down. The super-sAn engaging thriller that builds from an interesting mystery to a tense simmer to an extended final sequence that's impossible to put down. The super-science that forms the impetus for this whole operation is a bit hard to swallow, when finally revealed, given how naturalistic the rest of the novel is. I don't know if it seemed plausible in 1994, but I don't find it so now. At least it's well foreshadowed....more
I really enjoyed this book (which is two sequential novellas in one volume). The author researched the real magic traditions & grimoires of Medieval &I really enjoyed this book (which is two sequential novellas in one volume). The author researched the real magic traditions & grimoires of Medieval & Renaissance Europe (real traditions, not real magic), and included lots of that detail in the book. Consequently, the text has a strong ring of authenticity. I got a frisson of latent post-Christian fear when reading the invocations of the various princes of Hell, angels, and the many names of God.
Come to think of it, reading this book felt like seeing The Exorcist for the first time....more
As different from the first two books as the second was from the first. I read it twice in a row, and discovered on the 2nd reading much that I had miAs different from the first two books as the second was from the first. I read it twice in a row, and discovered on the 2nd reading much that I had missed on the first! Complex. Unpredictable. Full of rich characters and character play. Loved it....more
I liked it almost as much as the first book. It contains less about the space race, owing to the decades that this installment spans, and more about tI liked it almost as much as the first book. It contains less about the space race, owing to the decades that this installment spans, and more about the Trackers (which are less interesting to me). But on the bright side, there's a really neat arc involving ancient history.
And that ending...!! I can't wait for the 3rd book!...more
The author really challenges the reader and herself. It's confusing but stick with it. If something doesn'tConfusing until the end; and then, amazing.
The author really challenges the reader and herself. It's confusing but stick with it. If something doesn't make sense to you, it's not supposed to... yet. It's worth the wait.
Your favourite characters from book-1 are there. Yes, even some of the dead ones. Muir's characteristic snappy prose is there.
And then, if you're like me and you still don't get it, go read one of the "Okay here's what happened" posts on the internet. It was still worth it!...more
An original and intriguing premise. I really like the "secret history" genre, in which the author weaves fictional characters into real historical eveAn original and intriguing premise. I really like the "secret history" genre, in which the author weaves fictional characters into real historical events. This book contains a lot of fascinating true history of the development of rocketry in the 20th century, and how these characters were pulling the strings, plus a compelling tale of hidden aliens among us. A generous "Further Reading" section at the end of the book details the authors researches into the historical basis, and many fun facts that didn't make it into the novel.
My only complaint: a bit more of the prose than I would like is taken up by introspection....more
I coulda swore I reviewed this one already. Anyway, I appreciate that a top-notch author is still writing Lovecraftian fiction today. But, this book dI coulda swore I reviewed this one already. Anyway, I appreciate that a top-notch author is still writing Lovecraftian fiction today. But, this book didn't really grab me. A cornerstone of Lovecraftian fiction is a unique creature or alien god which eventually leads to a nihilistic revelation about the nature of human existence. This book is about... ghosts. Underwhelming.
On the bright side, the book viscerally evokes the character of post-war England. The endless rationing, the stultifying social environment, the bombed-out neighbourhoods that haven't been cleaned up almost 10 years after the bombing had stopped....more
Fans of Sword & Sorcery swear by these tales. I thought I should finally find out what I've been missing.
The prose is charmingly unhurried and ornamenFans of Sword & Sorcery swear by these tales. I thought I should finally find out what I've been missing.
The prose is charmingly unhurried and ornamental; some would call it "slow", but not me. There's a continual wink implied from the author, who seems to be saying "watch while I deploy my vast erudite lexicon and labyrinthine sentence structures to convey the antics of these foolish ruffians, ha-haa!"
I didn't mind the wordy writing, but some of the actual stories didn't fulfill the promise of their prose, amounting to little more than a practical joke on the main characters.
This volume contains Leiber's early novella "Adept's Gambit", which is well known and quite good....more
A genuine pleasure to read. Unlike orientalist fantasies of the past, this book was written with real care for the people of Egypt and their history.
TA genuine pleasure to read. Unlike orientalist fantasies of the past, this book was written with real care for the people of Egypt and their history.
The British characters are simultaneously clowns and monsters, representing the West's rapacious and ignorant approach to Egypt through the years.
Egyptian culture also gets some rebuke, as our hero fights for respect as the Ministry's first female agent.
That's what stood out for me, in this rollicking tale of murder, magic, prophets, mighty djinn, ancient gods, and towering clockworks. There's a lot to enjoy here....more
Great series of books, and this is the first. Fully half the horror is economic. Think you know what it's like being poor in America? Try hunting vampGreat series of books, and this is the first. Fully half the horror is economic. Think you know what it's like being poor in America? Try hunting vampires after your bank account is seized....more
I really enjoyed this book! In premise, with both space travel and necromancy, it manages to be futuristic, post-apocalyptic, and fantastic. In prose,I really enjoyed this book! In premise, with both space travel and necromancy, it manages to be futuristic, post-apocalyptic, and fantastic. In prose, it's both classic and starkly modern. Our main character delivers lines like "Oh hell no", and "The fuck you will". The contrast between her dialogue and her deeply traditional surroundings is wonderful.
I was a little worried when I saw that chapter-1 was preceded by a dramatis personae. And there ARE a lot of characters. But Muir does a good job of helping us to remember who's who. People's surnames indicate which house they're with ("Septimus", "Nonagesimus", etc.), and they often refer to each other by house or title: "Lady the Seventh" or "Fourth Cavalier". Also, many of them don't survive til the end of the book...
Strongly recommended -- although a good friend of mine didn't like it. I look forward to reading the sequel....more
A planetary survey goes off the rails when the team is attacked by a megafauna species that wasn't in the brochure. More things go dangerously wrong, A planetary survey goes off the rails when the team is attacked by a megafauna species that wasn't in the brochure. More things go dangerously wrong, and more data is discovered missing. Have they been set up to fail? Is someone trying to kill them all?
A short book, at barely 150 pages of big type, but fast-paced and often funny. I felt for Murderbot, the security robot that didn't want to kill anybody, the cyborg with extreme social anxiety. I think many of us can relate to a being who spends the whole workday wishing they could be watching their favourite shows instead of interacting with people.
I'll be reading more of The Murderbot Diaries....more
