Reviews and Comments

David Bremner Locked account

bremner@book.dansmonorage.blue

A rejoint ce serveur il y a 3 années, 4 mois

computer scientist, mathematician, photographer, human. Debian Developer, Notmuch Maintainer, scuba diver

Much of my "reading" these days is actually audiobooks while walking.

FediMain: bremner@mathstodon.xyz

bremner@bookwyrm.social is also me. Trying a smaller instance to see if the delays are less maddening.

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David Bremner commented on Space Oddity by Catherynne M. Valente (Space Opera, #2)

Catherynne M. Valente: Space Oddity (Paperback, 2024, Saga Press)

The Metagalactic Grand Prix—part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation …

This may be the first book I've bought because the author's cat was sick. Somehow that fits with the Douglas Adams adjacent humour of the book. I don't know how much the voice acting of this ebook contributes, but it is quite convincingly Brit for something written by a resident of the USA.

David Bremner wants to read The Shadowed Sun by N. K. Jemisin

N. K. Jemisin: The Shadowed Sun (2012, Little, Brown Book Group Limited)

Aucune note

Gujaareh, the city of dreams, suffers under the imperial rule of the Kisuati Protectorate. A …

Book 2 (and final?) of the series...

David Bremner finished reading The Killing Moon by N. K. Jemisin (Dreamblood, #1)

N. K. Jemisin: The Killing Moon (EBook, 2012, Orbit)

FOLLOWING HER SERIES, HUGO, NEBULA, AND WORLD FANTASY-NOMINATED DEBUT SERIES, N. K. JEMISIN RETURNS WITH …

Quite an engaging Vampire-adjacent story (also a bit ancient Egypt flavoured). Earlier work by NKJ, worth a read. I will say it boldly self contained for book 1 of a series.

David Bremner wants to read Light-- science and magic by Fil Hunter

Fil Hunter: Light-- science and magic (2012, Focal Press)

Aucune note

This might be more aspirational than realistic. I'm not sure how much (if at all) this applies to underwater photography / lighting.

David Bremner wants to read Nazi Billionaires by David de Jong

David de Jong: Nazi Billionaires (2022, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company)

Aucune note

I heard an interview with the author on the Wabanaki Windows podcast, and it sounds interesting, if not exactly uplifting.

David Bremner started reading Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee (The Machineries of Empire, #1)

Yoon Ha Lee: Ninefox Gambit (EBook, 2016, Solaris)

When Captain Kel Cheris of the hexarchate is disgraced for her unconventional tactics, Kel Command …

Welp, this is very odd so far. Lots of mystical sounding talk about equations.

David Bremner wants to read Lady Eve's Last Con by Rebecca Fraimow

Rebecca Fraimow: Lady Eve's Last Con (2024, Rebellion)

Aucune note

On sale for USD0.99 at rebellionpublishing.com

David Bremner wants to read Bang Bang Bodhisattva by Aubrey Wood

Aubrey Wood: Bang Bang Bodhisattva (2023, Rebellion)

Aucune note

An edgy, queer cyberpunk detective mystery by an exciting new trans voice from New Zealand. …

On sale for USD0.99 at rebellionpublishing.com

David Bremner wants to read Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee (The Machineries of Empire, #1)

When Captain Kel Cheris of the hexarchate is disgraced for her unconventional tactics, Kel Command …

On sale for USD0.99 at rebellionpublishing.com

David Bremner reviewed The World We Make by N. K. Jemisin

N. K. Jemisin: The World We Make (AudiobookFormat, 2022, Hachette Book Group and Blackstone Publishing)

Four-time Hugo Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author N.K. Jemisin crafts a glorious tale …

Second verse, same as the first

4 étoiles

Essentially all of the pros and cons of the first volume. Cleverly plotted, interesting characters, but kindof overwhelming violent.

David Bremner commented on The World We Make by N. K. Jemisin

Four-time Hugo Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author N.K. Jemisin crafts a glorious tale …

Getting back into this after a long pause. I can't really explain the pause, except for a long time it felt like heavy going, compared to the other thing I was listening to at the same time (history of rock music). Now that I'm back into it does not feel especially heavy. While some of the political commentary is pretty pointed, no more than the first volume.

David Bremner reviewed Steelflower by Lilith Saintcrow (The Steelflower Chronicles, #1)

Lilith Saintcrow: Steelflower (2008, Samhain Publishing)

Thief, assassin, sellsword—Kaia Steelflower is famous. Well, mostly famous, and mostly for the wrong reasons. …

Tolkein adjacent, characterization, episode 1

4 étoiles

Content warning general plot discussion

I finished this a while ago, so the details are fading.

At first I was a bit worried that it was going to be a Fellowship of the Ring knockoff, but about half way it switches into a kind of military fantasy. Neither is exactly my bag, but at least the switch keeps me on my toes.

The characters are interesting. In particular the main character has fairly severe mental health issues. This plays off the whole romance subplot. Will the literally star-crossed lovers end up together when she is such a pain in the ass? Only book 2 will tell.

Indeed that is my most substantial grumble is that this is very much not a standalone novel. Weighty epic fantasy subplots are started, but then the book stops. Maybe I'm just mad that I didn't buy book 2 when it was on sale.