Don't Forget to Read a Book!

Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about Dan Simmons's Hyperion. The Short of It Plot:  Seven pilgrims journey to the one place that connects them: the planet Hyperion. Page Count: 492 Award:  1990 Hugo, 1990 Locus SF Worth a read : Yes. Right now. Primary Driver:  ( Plot, World, or Character ) Bechdel Test : Possible Pass? Technobabble:  Moderate. Review:  Hot diggity dog. What a book. It's a masterpiece. The world is great. The characters are distinct and fantastic. A sense of mystery permeates everything, as well as urgency. Every plot beat is woven brilliantly - each character telling their story informs another, fills in blanks. But doesn't overfill! Keeps things mysterious! World building both answers and raises questions - but so, so, so well. Writing is crisp, pacing is great. I cannot recommend this one enough. Go! Get thee to a bookery! The Medium of It Spoiler Free What're you doing, reading this blog post? Go out and buy the book! Or get it from t...

Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about Lois McMaster Bujold's  Falling Free. The Short of It Plot:  Quaddies were genetically engineered to thrive in null gravity. Too bad they're basically kept as slaves. Page Count:  320 Award: 1988 Nebula Worth a read : For a Vorkosigan Saga completionist: Yes. But can be skipped. Primary Driver:  (Plot,  World , or Character) Bechdel Test : Pass Technobabble:  Yes. Review:  One of the weaker stories in the Vorkosigan Saga. Characters lack depth - and the childlike state in which the quaddies are kept becomes grating. Pacing is decent and the story is somewhat engaging. Leo Graf, the main "standard" human character, is far more compelling than any of the quaddies. Corporate greed is a believable but underwhelming bad guy, because [gestures vaguely at everything]. The Medium of It Spoiler Free! This is the first book in the Vorkosigan Saga chronologically, but should actually be read later. It is a prequel that exami...

Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about Orson Scott Card's  Tales of Alvin the Maker, books two through six. The Short of It Plot:  In an America much like our own, Alvin is one of the only forces of order capable of countering the Unmaker. Page Count:  Red Prophet: 311 Prentice Alvin: 342 Alvin Journeyman: 381 Heartfire: 336 The Crystal City: 340 Award:  Red Prophet: 1989 Locus Fantasy Prentice Alvin: 1990 Locus Fantasy Alvin Journeyman: 1996 Locus Fantasy Worth a read : No Primary Driver:  (Plot,  World , or  Character ) Bechdel Test : Pass, but only barely. As in, I think in only one book. Technobabble:  Mild fantasy babble. Review:  The delicate crafting of Alvin's world gets wackier and wackier the further the series goes. Card desperately scrambles to cram any and all historical figures he can into the narrative with little to no justification. Pervasive religious themes come across as excessive. Slow plotting and attempts to overdevelop...

Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about Orson Scott Card's  Seventh Son. The Short of It Plot:  In an alternate-history America, the seventh son of a seventh son is born with remarkable abilities.   Page Count:  377 Award:  1988 Locus Fantasy Worth a read : No Primary Driver:  (Plot,  World , or  Character )  Bechdel Test : Fail Technobabble:  None.  Review:  An intriguing alternate timeline that is ultimately undercut by bloat and poor pacing. Interesting use of different magic systems. Many well written scenes of believable family interaction, generally convincing interpersonal stakes. The protagonist, however, is the least compelling character by dint of being exceptional at everything. Weak antagonists as well. This book is longer than it needs to be, the series is even more so. The Medium of It Spoiler Free! This is easily the best book of the Tales of Alvin the Maker  series, and is possibly worth reading on its ...