Don't Forget to Read a Book!

Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about Gene Wolfe's  Soldier of Sidon. The Short of It Plot:  Our favorite amnesiac soldier is back, but this time he's in Egypt! Page Count:  320 Award:  2006 World Fantasy Award Worth a read : Not really. Primary Driver:  (Plot,  World , or  Character ) Bechdel Test : Fail Technobabble:  No. Review:  Did you like the military adventures of Sir Forgetful the first two times it came out? Then this is a great book for you. A different set of supporting characters and a new location - as well as a significant in-world time jump - offer surface level differentiation from the previous volumes. But once the adventure actually begins it is more of the same. Slow pacing and constant reminders of amnesia punctuated with occasional excellent scenes involving the gods. Also, Wolfe's still terrible at ending books. The Medium of It Spoiler Free LOOK, IT'S THE same book. I don't have anything to say about it. I've already reviewed it twice. He

Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about C J Cherryh's  Cyteen. The Short of It Plot: The only person brilliant enough to run the cloning colony cannot live forever - but a perfect copy of her can take her place. Page Count:  680 Award:  1989 Hugo and 1989 Nebula   Worth a read : No Primary Driver:  (Plot,  World , or  Character ) Bechdel Test : Pass Technobabble:  Oh yes. Review:  Slow, dull, and plodding, this book is a rough read. Interpersonal relationships are the backbone of the story but a lack of believable or compelling characters make it all fall flat. Beneath it all are some legitimately interesting questions of identity and self, couched in the context of cloning but more broadly applicable. These are posed as unresolved questions, and would be better served by a short story than a text girthy enough to pull a body underwater. The Medium of It Spoiler Free! Beyond basic premise from the book blurb. There is something about C J Cherryh's writing that just does not do it