Science Fiction Reading in October 2018

[Av Demeisen]

Wasn't sure you'd like it, Av!

It's not completely awful. The first chapter was pretty interesting.

 

[Prairie_Dog]

I just finished “Nemesis Games” wherein the crew of the Rocinante go on separate missions early in the novel, while the ship gets significant repairs at Tyco Station. Each of these missions is related to unfinished business from their past. Likewise, each of these individual stories provide interesting background for the characters. While these personal problems are being worked out, a larger and deeper plot is unfolding. This over-arching story will change the balance of power in the Solar System, and the course of history. Needless to say, our crew will end up in the thick of these events.

I find that this novel is a good sequel to “Cibola Burn.” I think I actually enjoyed it more, as the threaded narrative focusing on the individual characters really worked for me. It was also nice that it saw the re-introduction of some characters from previous works. It might be good to have read the Expanse Novella “The Churn” before this one as it provides background on characters involved in Amos Burton’s portion of the book.

 

[Diosces]

Just finished Semiosis by Sue Burke.
Magnificent book about colonists and plant sentience, I was wary on how this would develop but I was not let down. Instilled a rare sense of wonder in me while I was reading it The ending suggests a sequel in the works..
The toughest part of finishing such a great book is finding excitement in the next book your read.

Downloading Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovksy, looks promising.

 

[Westy]

Just finished Semiosis by Sue Burke.
Magnificent book about colonists and plant sentience, I was wary on how this would develop but I was not let down. Instilled a rare sense of wonder in me while I was reading it The ending suggests a sequel in the works..
The toughest part of finishing such a great book is finding excitement in the next book your read.

Downloading Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovksy, looks promising.

Good couple of books, I liked both of them a lot. I don't believe there'll be a sequel to Semiosis though (as far as I know).

 

[Westy]

Today I finished An American Story by Christopher Priest, a meditation on the 9/11 attacks, told through journalist Ben Matson who loses his partner on one of the planes.

It's quite different to a usual Priest novel, in that it's very much centred around an actual event, but through fictitious characters. The first half especially I found readable and interesting, but I thought it lost it's way a bit by the end - and ultimately it's just a showcase for Chris's views on 9/11, ie, an alternate version to what was presented in the media. It does make you think, though.

 

[Hobbit]

and ultimately it's just a showcase for Chris's views on 9/11, ie, an alternate version to what was presented in the media. It does make you think, though.

I got the impression that they were not Chris's views, but certainly the views of some of those outside, in the media. What Chris did at the end for me, though, was make me think, just for an instant, that such alternatives were possible. (Even though they're not.)

Sorry it didn't hold together at the end for you, Westy.

M.

 

[Westy]

I got the impression that they were not Chris's views

I'm pretty sure they are, from what I've read of his website posts previously, eg the one below.

"Then there is 9/11, of which I have written. My novel is about the cognitive dissonance that sustains a myth. Everyone in America knows what happened that day, everyone knows the story that eventually emerged from the US authorities to account for it. Most people have also heard that the story (the ‘American story’ of my title) is full of illogical reasoning, omissions, bad science, inconsistency, implausible explanations, but they go on preferring the official story because it’s simpler and it maintains the status quo ante.

Those unwelcome doubts are raised by people the American media call conspiracy theorists; others are described as ‘truthers’. While loony conspiracy theories spring up these days about almost any publicized violent event, the ‘truth movement’ in the USA is of a different stripe. They are usually lumped in with the cranks, written off by the contempt implicit in the label as oddballs, troublemakers, fringe activists. But in reality the truth movement consists of professional engineers, architects, chemists, airline pilots, physicists, air traffic controllers, scholars, defence analysts. All of these groups (and in membership they number several thousand) have mounted sober and rational dissent from the official story. In every case they back up their arguments with evidence, hard science, clear logic. Necessarily they have had to work outside the mainstream of publishing. The dismissive labelling of them as ‘truthers’ avoids the disagreeable necessity of having to think about what they are pointing out, and more so, takes away the need to do something about it.

9/11 was a disaster of international proportions, its deadly consequences continuing into the present day, but because the attacks happened where they did, the Americans have grabbed the rights to the story. Not all stories are true. Some are cognitively dissonant, full of denial.

My book is a novel, and it stands or falls in that respect. I make no claim for it other than the fact that it is not part of a conspiracy, that I do believe in the truth, and that one should always listen to dissent."

 

[Hobbit]

I may stand corrected, Westy!

In my defense, I have read that before. It seems we are reading the same but interpreting it in different ways (how apt for a Chris Priest novel!)

I read this as that Chris was showing these other views (and, indeed, using them in this alternate world) but that 'the truth' was what happened - there was no conspiracy, but you should listen to the other things as well to make up your mind...

It is left open enough for readers to decide, I guess.

 

[chitman13]

Good couple of books, I liked both of them a lot. I don't believe there'll be a sequel to Semiosis though (as far as I know).

A sequel has been contracted - will be interesting to see where it goes

Also, Children of Time is one of the best Sf novels of recent years.

Still progressing through Uncompromising Honor by David Weber. Over half way through and still wondering how these plot threads will be tied off before the end of the book.

 

[Westy]

A sequel has been contracted - will be interesting to see where it goes

Cool (shows how much I know)!

 

[Vince W]

I've only read a few books by Alan Dean Foster, mostly film novelizations. I've started The Tar-Aiym Krang and am finding it quite enjoyable. I can understand immediately why the Humanx Commonwealth series has done so well.

 

[Hobbit]

I've only read a few books by Alan Dean Foster, mostly film novelizations. I've started The Tar-Aiym Krang and am finding it quite enjoyable.

Read that one over 30 years ago, I think. Seemed to remember that I enjoyed it!

 

[Vince W]

Read that one over 30 years ago, I think. Seemed to remember that I enjoyed it!

Ooh. I love that cover! Any idea who the artist is?

I should have read this 30 years ago, but for some reason I never got into Foster. I think it's because I hated Splinter of the Mind's Eye. It was disappointing to me as a child, so I think that put me off his writing.

 

[Hobbit]

Ooh. I love that cover! Any idea who the artist is?

Not entirely sure, but I think it was Peter Elson...

Later edit: Nope. It was Tim White, according to isfdb...

 

[Vince W]

Not entirely sure, but I think it was Peter Elson...

Later edit: Nope. It was Tim White, according to isfdb...

Thanks for the info. I'll have to look up more of his work. I feel like I've seen some, but can't think of where.

 

[Contrarius]

I haven't read any Alan Dean Foster in decades, but I vaguely remember thinking fondly of him as a somewhat forgettable yet enjoyable writer.

 

[Hobbit]

Thanks for the info. I'll have to look up more of his work. I feel like I've seen some, but can't think of where.

He was all over UK books in the late 70's & 80's. Try here for more: http://www.graphicine.com/tim-white-the-other-side-of-the-sky/

I have this book too:

 

[Vince W]

He was all over UK books in the late 70's & 80's. Try here for more: http://www.graphicine.com/tim-white-the-other-side-of-the-sky/

I have this book too:

Cheers for the link. Now I have to track down a copy of that book.

 

[suciul]

Read a little more from the Rig by R Levy which is an extremely intriguing novel (it starts on a religious planet, one of only two isolated from the rest of the "godless tech" universe, with the other being completely unknown to most, only that it exists, where convicts are sent to mine rare elements and where to everyone's surprise a famous orchestra from the outside universe has been invited to perform), but like the author's earlier novels, a fairly difficult read (think Adam Roberts on steroids so to speak) so will see if I have the energy to advance more into it - definitely would like to

 

[krisbslick]

Consuming Fire by John Scalzi just came out today. Perfect timing for my 5 hour flight tomorrow