Don't Forget to Read a Book!

Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about Kim Stanley Robinson's  Red Mars. The Short of It Plot:  The ongoing evolution of Mars following its colonization.  Page Count:  Green Mars: 650 Blue Mars: 780 Award:  Green Mars:  1994 Hugo, 1994 Locus SF Blue Mars:  1997 Hugo, 1997 Locus SF Worth a read : Nope (Directed by Jordan Peele) Primary Driver:  (Plot,  World , or Character) Bechdel Test : Pass Technobabble:  Make it stop. Review:  Written in response to somebody who said, "Mr. Robinson, I enjoyed Red Mars,  but it was just too exciting." This might be the dullest trilogy known to humankind. A massive spread of different topics and world building come into play, once again immaculately detailed. It is just impossible to care because it is impossible to be engaged in any part of this book. A lot of important plot and character moments are built upon an assumed connection between the reader and the First Hundred, which is simp...

Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about Tim Powers's  Expiration Date and Earthquake Weather . The Short of It Plot:  When a particularly powerful ghost resurfaces, the boy he's possessing becomes a major target for all sorts of arcane sorts. His expertise in ghost handling makes him useful to Scott Crane as well. Page Count:  Expiration Date: 384 Earthquake Weather: 416 Award: Earthquake Weather: 1998 Locus Fantasy. Worth a read : No. Primary Driver:  (Plot,  World , or  Character ) Bechdel Test : Pass. Technobabble:  Mild to moderate. Review:  These two forgo the dark humor and bitter charm of Last Call  and are instead ceaselessly miserable to read. It's hard to tell if this is an intentional choice or if the attempts at humor just don't land here. Pacing is spasmodic: one moment there will be an abrupt string of action sequences, and then nothing happens for the next thirty pages. Characters are generally too selfish to be engaging, and la...

Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars. The Short of It Plot:  An international coalition of 100 scientists is sent out on a mission to establish the first colony on Mars, but interpersonal strife mars their mission.  Page Count:  592 Award:  1993 Nebula. Worth a read : No. Fight me. Primary Driver:  (Plot,  World , or Character) Bechdel Test : Pass Technobabble:  (Technobabble * Technobabble) < Technobabble["Red Mars"] Review:  Undeniably a masterpiece of hard SF. Incredibly in depth and thought through systems and technologies with a rigorous scientific approach. Also heinously tedious and drier than pre-terraforming Mars. Characters tend to be irrationally inflexible or utterly spineless. Shocking levels of high school-esque romantic drama tossed in to the mix. Pacing is a full on dumpster fire. One can recognize the brilliance of Robinson without finding this remotely enjoyable. The Medium of It Spoiler ...

Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about Lois McMaster Bujold's  Komarr. The Short of It Plot:  Miles settles into his new life as a full time Imperial Auditor, but his father's shadow towers over him. Page Count: 332 Award:  Part of the  Vorkosigan Saga Worth a read : Yes Primary Driver:  ( Plot ,  World , or  Character ) Bechdel Test : Pass Technobabble:  Minimal/Moderate Review:  Miles is back in business. An excellent entry into the series. Komarr, a planet famously butchered by Miles's father, is an excellent backdrop for well-executed suspense and romance plots. Miles has a mentor here, and it's nice to see him actually need to learn something, no just be good at it. Pacing stays brisk, aided by alternating narrators by chapters. This also helps reestablish characterization: we're so accustomed to Miles as he is that is helps to see him from an outside perspective. The Medium of It Spoiler Free! Miles is a real Auditor now! Not just a hal...

Hello, Stranger. Let's talk about Tim Powers's Last Call . The Short of It Plot:  Scott's life is falling apart. Maybe because of the alcohol, maybe because his dead wife keeps talking to him, or maybe because of that poker game where he bet his soul. Page Count:  535 Award:  1993 World Fantasy Award, 1993 Locus Fantasy Worth a read : Yes. Primary Driver:  (Plot,  World , or  Character ) Bechdel Test : Fail. Technobabble:  Not really. Review:  Somehow walks the line between relentlessly dark and darkly humorous. Lots of fun world building showing off a hidden side of what we know, though occasionally gets lost in the weeds on the very same. Scott is such a depressing character that we both cheer on his improvements and believe his failures. For a book that really dives deep into the rules of both magic and card games this manages to maintain a remarkably solid pace. The Medium of It Spoiler Free! At the heart of this book is an extremely detailed ...