Category: Books
The Affinities by Robert Charles Wilson (book review).
The idea behind dating apps meshes with social media to create compatible social groupings known as Affinities in Robert Charles Wilson’s near-future novel that initially seems to be heading towards a utopian tale of co-operation and acceptance, but soon turns into a wonderfully complex tale of social revolution. Adam Fisk’s life is fairly humdrum, with […]
Belief: What It Means To Believe And Why Our Convictions Are So Compelling by James E. Alcock (book review).
I think James E. Alcock’s book, ‘Belief: What It Means To Believe And Why Our Convictions Are So Compelling’ will be one of the most important books you will read this year. Mostly, if not entirely, because it will make you think about how you rationalise things and are persuaded by others. The page count […]
The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton (book review).
When Aiden Bishop wakes up in a forest, he can’t remember how he got there, which is unsurprising as he’s currently inhabiting someone else’s body. Evelyn Hardcastle is going to die that night and Aiden must solve her murder and deliver proof of his solution to the mysterious plague doctor at 11pm precisely. He’ll have […]
Nemo! by Ray Bradbury (book review).
Ray Bradbury doesn’t really need much introduction, being among the best known Science Fiction authors of his generation. Suffice it to say that some of his novels, most notably ‘Fahrenheit 451’, are regarded as absolute classics, while his screenwriting credits include such films as ‘Moby Dick’ and ‘It Came From Outer Space’. But one of […]
Activation (The GAIA Series book 1 of 3) by M.G. Gilibert (book review)
I like stories about Artificial Intelligence (AI) although they can be formulaic. The usual story is AI starts nice, AI turns bad. What happens after that is usually what distinguishes the story. In ‘Activation’ by M.G. Gilibert we have a Science Fiction book that follows the formula but has a few distinguishing characteristics. Firstly, the […]
Robot Takeover by Ana Matronic (book review).
Another book I pulled myself last year and only now having a little time to fit in is ‘Robot Takeover’ by Ana Matronic, a member of the Sissors Sisters if you didn’t know, which I didn’t, and a robot geek. The sub-title of this book is ‘100 Iconic Robots Of Myth, Popular Culture & Real […]
The Ion Raider (book 2) by Ian Whates (book review).
Second books of either a trilogy or a series are notoriously difficult to write, especially if it is accepted that some readers will not have seen the first book. Somehow information needs to be conveyed about the characters that continue from one book to the other, the setting has to be re-established without boring previous […]
Wild Cards VII: Dead Man’s Hand by George RR Martin and John Jos. Miller (book review).
It was revealed in the previous ‘Wild Cards’ book, ‘Ace In The Hole’, that Chrysalis had been murdered. Literally smashed to death by someone with super-strength and a black ace hole card that is the calling sign of the Nat archer Yeoman left at the scene. This brings Yeoman back onto the scene to find […]
Welcome To Dystopia: 45 Visions Of What Lies Ahead edited by Gordon Van Gelder (book review).
Gordon Van Gelder says in his preface to ‘Welcome To Dystopia’ that he wanted lots of short stories for this anthology rather than just a few long ones. He succeeded. There are forty-five tales packed in here and even the most meticulous reviewer isn’t going to cover all of them, though I have read them […]
Asimov’s Foundation series built to last as a new Apple-backed TV series.
Classic science fiction author Isaac Asimov is to get TV life breathed into his Foundation series of books (aka Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation) by – not Netflix or Amazon – but Apple Computer! Apple have hired Skydance Studios to do the deed, with Josh Friedman of Avatar 2, the War of the […]
