Monthly Archives: April 2011

Consider Phlebas – Ian M. Banks

Posted on April 27 2011 by Justin | Leave a comment

Once a month or so I’ll try to review a book from the annals of the genres.  This time I decided to give Ian M. Banks a shot with his first Culture novel Consider Phlebas.  I decided on this particular novel because Orbit, in their infinite wisdom (ok, so I like Orbit) was offering it in eBook format for $.99.  Orbit has made a habit of offering very popular author’s first books in an effort to whip up new readers.  It works and it’s another example of how eBooks are changing the market.  It may be apparent by now, but I read eBooks exclusively except when I’m working on advanced reading copies.

Banks has long been discussed as one of the better science fiction writers in the business – not to mention a very successful mainstream author as well.  I had high expectations going into the novel, and to be honest I came away disappointed.  … Read the rest

The Quantum Thief – Hannu Rajaniemi

Posted on April 23 2011 by Justin | Leave a comment

If The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes had a baby with The Lies of Locke Lamora and then gave it up for adoption to Neuromancer you would have a pretty good simulacrum for The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajaniemi. The book is at its heart a whodunit, or more specifically which whodunit. After finishing the book I’m not sure who did it. But I think that’s the point.

The novel begins when a winged woman who talks to god rescues an amnesiac thief named Jean Le Flambeur at the request of her deity and brings him to Mars to remember. Juxtaposing this perspective is the antagonist, Isidore Beautrelet, a detective akin to Sherlock himself who in solving the murder of a chocolatier finds himself set against le Flambeur himself. Told at a breakneck pace the story follows our thief and his winged caretaker as he infiltrates Martian society to rediscover who he was and who he wants to be.… Read the rest

Leviathan Wakes – James S.A. Corey

Posted on April 23 2011 by Justin | Leave a comment

First of all, I need to give some kudos to Orbit Publishing. I was first exposed to Orbit a few years ago when they released the Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks in its entirety over a few months. This strategy provided Weeks with a strong shelf presence and offered reader’s an assurance of a completed story arc.

Last week Orbit released The Dragon’s Path, Daniel Abraham’s highly anticipated first book in a new series. Attached to the end of the eBook version of Dragon was an advanced copy of Leviathan Wakes, Abraham’s first foray into science fiction under the pseudonym James S.A. Corey. This inclusion has ensured that readers will begin to associate Corey with Abraham and furthermore it gives the online community an opportunity to give Leviathan some love before its wide release in June. Orbit clearly understands how the publishing industry is changing and they are responding.… Read the rest