Reading SF in July 2026

[chitman13]

I was offered this one for review and felt the same, M, which I was sad about. Didn't finish it the end after getting about halfway through. Humour's still a funny old thing, isn't it?

Am wondering whether there will be any more books now after the recent passing of Rob Grant. I did feel that this was meant to be the start of a new set of books, or a new TV series- be interested to see where it goes.

Definitely felt like this was meant to be the start of something, and a shame if nothing further comes of it. I think the humour worked in places, but it seemed to try and put everything that made Red Dwarf so good across all its seasons into one book, and the inconsistency of this just didn't work. If it had been more focused like the first few seasons it would have been great, but I think in the end it just tried too hard.

 

[chitman13]

Columbus Day by Craig Alanson (Expeditionary Force #1) - as I'm almost up-to-date with the series that I'm currently reading, and finished off a few recently too, I thought it was time to start a new one, and settled on Columbus Day. I'm fully aware that there are, I think, 19 books out in this series so far, so I figured it can't be that bad if it's so popular. To start off with I wasn't entirely sure - it seemed very much something I'd read before - bad aliens invade earth, good aliens come to the rescue. BUt asd the story progressed there were little bits here and there that started to get my attention and make me think, and then things really took a turn and ramped things right up. For me it went from an okay read that I may continue, to one I couldn't put down and will definitely see where the series goes. Not quite sure I'll be in it for the long haul, it really depends where the story goes and if it can keep things interesting enough. We'll see.

 

[krisbslick]

Columbus Day by Craig Alanson (Expeditionary Force #1) - as I'm almost up-to-date with the series that I'm currently reading, and finished off a few recently too, I thought it was time to start a new one, and settled on Columbus Day. I'm fully aware that there are, I think, 19 books out in this series so far, so I figured it can't be that bad if it's so popular. To start off with I wasn't entirely sure - it seemed very much something I'd read before - bad aliens invade earth, good aliens come to the rescue. BUt asd the story progressed there were little bits here and there that started to get my attention and make me think, and then things really took a turn and ramped things right up. For me it went from an okay read that I may continue, to one I couldn't put down and will definitely see where the series goes. Not quite sure I'll be in it for the long haul, it really depends where the story goes and if it can keep things interesting enough. We'll see.

They're not winning any awards, but they're always fun! I'm hoping the 20th book comes out before the new year, which should be the last last one in the main series. I see them as lighthearted beach reads. Hope you enjoy!

 

[Fryan]

I finished this one up during a long flight. Found this one to be a bit of a mess in terms of structure and pacing. Hutchinson’s vignette-style approach to the narrative was ineffective as it often left me feeling disoriented and trying to fill in big gaps in time and space with little to no detail, and left me coming to grips with newly introduced characters who meant very little to the overall arch of the story.

The spy novel mixed with SF was pretty fun and definitely what kept me reading to the end, but overall it was just too sloppy to really come together as a cohesive story. Which is a shame because it shows promise.

 

[T77]

Columbus Day by Craig Alanson (Expeditionary Force #1) - as I'm almost up-to-date with the series that I'm currently reading, and finished off a few recently too, I thought it was time to start a new one, and settled on Columbus Day. I'm fully aware that there are, I think, 19 books out in this series so far, so I figured it can't be that bad if it's so popular. To start off with I wasn't entirely sure - it seemed very much something I'd read before - bad aliens invade earth, good aliens come to the rescue. BUt asd the story progressed there were little bits here and there that started to get my attention and make me think, and then things really took a turn and ramped things right up. For me it went from an okay read that I may continue, to one I couldn't put down and will definitely see where the series goes. Not quite sure I'll be in it for the long haul, it really depends where the story goes and if it can keep things interesting enough. We'll see.

I read the first book too a little while ago. I don't think I gave my review here - I gave it a 4/5. I'll get back to the series at some point.

 

[Ropie]

I'm still waiting for my print copy of Robert Anton Wilson's Axis to arrive, so in the mean time I've fallen back on an old favourite author: Barrington J Bayley, The Zen Gun.

 

[chitman13]

Dark Agent by Neal Asher (Time's Shadow #2) - sequel to Dark Diamond and continuing the plot threads from that one. Lots going on here and done in a way that doesn't feel very relatable to me, at least compared to his earlier stuff. It's all very high stakes with advanced tech and characters at the top end of power scaling. Despite this I just don't feel attached to the story - it's happeneing and for me it doesn't so much as show, but simply tells. I'm not really sure about Asher's stuff anymore, if I'm honest. His releases since Weaponised haven't really hit the spot and I've felt have this similar issue. I thought I might be looking back on his odler stuff with rose-tinted glasses, but I re-read both the Owner trilogy and the Spatterjay trilogy in 2024 and still really enjoyed them. Not sure if I can push myself to stop reading his stuff, but maybe the last book in this latest trilogy will make my mind up when it's released next year...

 

[Hobbit]

I found that these are bigger in scale and page numbers, but relentless: I read Dark Diamond, which hits the ground running at 100mph, but stays there, which was pretty wearying for me.

 

[Westy]

I've also now read The Traveler by Joseph Eckert, like many other forumites - and loved it!

Such a readable SF story - it's fairly rare I really look forward to coming back to a book, but that was the case here. I thought the author did a pretty good job of predicting what a far future could look like, and interlocking that future with his son Lyle was also well done.

There was a moment of doubt when there's full-on weaponising and I thought the novel was going to turn down this path for the remainder, but luckily I wasn't disappointed. A few have mentioned the ending wasn't great but I thought it was OK; the idea it self was good, maybe just not executed the best way, but also it would be a tricky book to end perfectly anyway.

A very profound time travel novel, and a favourite (maybe the favourite) of the year for me.

 

[chitman13]

C.S. Garrand's Severant is now on audible, so that'll be up for me very soon.

 

[Hobbit]

A very profound time travel novel, and a favourite (maybe the favourite) of the year for me.

Wow. Good to hear! It would have been one of my reads of the year, but I found the ending was all rather too convenient and felt a bit flat after what had gone before. It will end up in my best of the year, I think, but not my 'best of'.

But very pleased you liked it!

Finished Richard Swan's The Infinite State, which I really enjoyed. Also got back some responses from Richard this morning for an interview that will go up next week. Very pleased with those.

 

[Fryan]

Now I’m kicking myself now for not picking up a copy of The Traveler when I saw it at a bookstore the other day.

 

[Ropie]

A very profound time travel novel, and a favourite (maybe the favourite) of the year for me.

Good to hear. I've only read the first couple of chapters but have to admit I was groaning at the page when the main character kept saying to his wife, "I dunno, one minute I was in the car then I wasn't" like a character in a soap opera who you know is getting themselves into hot water by just not explaining a situation properly! Come on man, get with it! Explain what happened in detail not in single syllables!

 

[mylinar]

Good to hear. I've only read the first couple of chapters but have to admit I was groaning at the page when the main character kept saying to his wife, "I dunno, one minute I was in the car then I wasn't" like a character in a soap opera who you know is getting themselves into hot water by just not explaining a situation properly! Come on man, get with it! Explain what happened in detail not in single syllables!

Guess you must be single LOL

 

[Westy]

I've also now read The Traveler by Joseph Eckert, like many other forumites - and loved it!

Such a readable SF story - it's fairly rare I really look forward to coming back to a book, but that was the case here. I thought the author did a pretty good job of predicting what a far future could look like, and interlocking that future with his son Lyle was also well done.

There was a moment of doubt when there's full-on weaponising and I thought the novel was going to turn down this path for the remainder, but luckily I wasn't disappointed. A few have mentioned the ending wasn't great but I thought it was OK; the idea it self was good, maybe just not executed the best way, but also it would be a tricky book to end perfectly anyway.

A very profound time travel novel, and a favourite (maybe the favourite) of the year for me.

At the same time not wanting to overhype as it wasn't 100% perfect….

Spoiler

The fact that his son turns out to be one of the smartest people on the planet is conveniently helpful.

And re the ending,

Spoiler

I thought the idea that he ends up at the end of the Universe and is part of the start of a new one pretty cool, but maybe not the way it was done – the entity that organised it all seemed a bit slapped together, and how did it come into being?

But for me these are minor; I really enjoyed the ride.

 

[chitman13]

Three Days in April by Edward Ashton - an older release of his now in audio form, and quite enjoyable. Looking at the divides between normal humans and modified ones, what happens when something occurs to cause further tension between the two groups, and how a group of friends makes it through. Quite interesting with the central idea nicely played out. I enjoyed it, and being short-ish it worked for me.

 

[suciul]

Finished Razor's Edge (Command Decision 3) by MA Edelheit (this was NG as the book is due in August but it should be on KU as the rest of the author's work and I plan to reread it on publication from there too) and it was excellent like the other series books - mil sf but more of the psychological tense with occasional battles, then large scale fleet actions at least so far.

My Goodreads review below:

An excellent sequel, though the ending is on a sort of cliffhanger so hopefully the series will continue soon - at least it felt very sudden and unexpected, since my page count was at 320+ out of 370+, but the rest are excerpts from the Guardians of the Dark series (another excellent one btw), from earlier installments of this one and a glossary with characters, places, how things work etc.

This being said, the book is really gripping, tense and one cannot stop turning the pages. Now (brevet) commodore, Steele has to go back to Santana and wreak havoc on the enemy's logistics and forces with a small destroyer flotilla and hit and run attacks from the dark.

Though of course things are not so simple as intelligence officer Miller still tags along, secret orders are sealed and the captains of his command are not the best and the brightest, nor are their ships since the Union is preparing powerful fleets to take the war to the enemy, while this type of operation seems to be more of let's keep on their toes with minimal resources, like old destroyers that couldn't stand in the modern battle lines with captains to match....

And to add to the drama, Admiral Kellenin, nicknamed "the butcher", whom Steele humiliated once already and lived to tell the tale, is in command of the enemy forces in the Santana system, and among other things, he has put a 50 million bounty on Steele's head, dead or alive...

And so it goes, gripping, powerful, and with great characters, though the next book is a must as soon as possible.

[ADMIN EDIT: Another one of those images not showing up here, Suciul, so I've added another one instead. Hope that's OK. Mark]

 

[blailock]

I finished my reread of Dark Age.
I think that I was not in the right mindset the first time I read this. This time, I absolutely loved it. Talk about dark and brutal and bleak. I can't wait to get to Light Bringer. I'm hoping for better times for our guys in that one. Haha. I doubt Pierce will let that happen though.

 

[chitman13]

This Gilded Abyss by Rebecca Thorne - I really liked the cover art for this so picked it up without much thought. generally it was an okay and entertaining listen, mostly what I expected and an interestign enough premise played out well.