REVIEW: Conflict of Honors by Lee and Miller

Shannon C.'s review of Conflict of Honors by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Science fiction released by Del Rey May 88, re-release by Ace 30 Dec 08

Every once in a while, I like to revisit my teenaged reading self. This is probably the only part of my teenaged self that doesn't perpetually irritate me, but that's neither here nor there. Anyway, in my teens, I read lots of science fiction and fantasy of the pretty girl has unusual powers, grows up, saves the world, rides a dragon and finds romance with a sensitive man that doesn't exist in real life type. Reading Conflict of Honors, I was brought back to those stories, although Conflict of Honors has a surprisingly adult feel to it, all things considered. [Ed.: Mouse over the cover to see the original release cover.] Read more

Tags: 2008, Ace, Conflict of Honors, December 2008, Grade A, Liaden Universe series, Review, Sci-Fi, science fiction, ShannonC, Sharon Lee, Steve Miller

REVIEW: Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold

Shannon C.'s review of Memory (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Science fiction released by Baen 1 Oct 96

Lois McMaster Bujold has made her way onto my list of favorite authors of all time. I have yet to read a book she's written that I haven't loved, and I tend to space her books apart so that I won't run out. Such has been the case with her Miles Vorkosigan series, which has been highly recommended to me by lots of people, and which I in turn highly recommend. Recently, I felt the need for a Miles fix, and I'm so glad I got one, as this book was no exception. Read more

Tags: 2008, Baen Books, Grade A, Lois McMaster Bujold, Memory, Miles Vorkosigan Adventures, October 1996, Review, Sci-Fi, science fiction, ShannonC

REVIEW: Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre

LauraD's review of Wanderlust (The Jax Series, Book 2) by Ann Aguirre
Science fiction released by Ace 26 Aug 08

Ann Aguirre debuted with Grimspace; the sci-fi page turner about a rag-tag group of space adventurers being chased by both sides of the law. Wanderlust continues the story of Sirantha Jax and her friends, immediately after the events of Grimspace have concluded. Once again, it's a story that grabs you right off the bat. Read more

Tags: 2008, Ace, Ann Aguirre, August 2008, Grade A, LauraD, Review, Sci-Fi, science fiction, The Jax Series, Wanderlust

REVIEW: Wanderlust by Ann Aguirre

Shannon C.'s review of Wanderlust (The Jax Series, Book 2) by Ann Aguirre
Science fiction released 26 Aug 08 by Ace

In Grimspace, Ann Aguirre introduced the reader to Sirantha Jax, messed-up space jumper extraordinaire, and March, her pilot-turned-lover. Readers seemed to be of two minds about that book -- some of them loved it, as I did -- and some found Jax to be too abrasive. I have a feeling that polarizing effect will continue for readers in Wanderlust, particularly since it veers more into straight SF territory than Grimspace did. The romance is still present, but it takes a back seat to Jax's continued emotional development. I think this is a good thing, and I can't wait to see what else Ms. Aguirre has in store for Jax in this series. Read more

Tags: 2008, Ace, Ann Aguirre, August 2008, Grade B, Review, Sci-Fi, science fiction, ShannonC, The Jax Series, Wanderlust

REVIEW: Callahan’s Legacy by Spider Robinson

Shannon C.'s review of Callahan's Legacy by Spider Robinson
Science fiction novel released by Tor 15 Sep 97

One of the reasons that I started reviewing correlates directly with something Spider Robinson said in the first of his Callahan's books: "Shared joy is increased, shared pain is lessened." I know there's nothing that makes me feel better than knowing that someone loved a book as much as I did. And even if nobody else read a book I hated, I at least feel better after I've written my thoughts on the book.

This is why, when I finished the seventh book in the Callahan's Series, I chose to talk about it here, even though it's not a romance, and it's in the middle of a series, so I don't expect a huge overlap in readership. (Not that the non-romance thing has ever stopped me before.) The book left me feeling so angry that I figured I might as well talk about it here.
Read more

Tags: 2008, Callahan Series, Fiction, Grade D, Review, Sci-Fi, science fiction, September 1997, ShannonC, Spider Robinson, Tor

REVIEW: Dust by Elizabeth Bear

Shannon C.'s review of Dust by Elizabeth Bear
Science fiction novel released by Spectra 26 Dec 07

Sybil asked the duckies if any of us had read Elizabeth Bear a few weeks ago, and I decided that I should dig out the one Bear book I had TBR. Apparently, Ms. Bear has won all kinds of awards, and I know she is hyped all over the place. But that doesn't always mean much. Read more

Tags: 2008, Bantam Spectra, December 2007, Dust, Elizabeth Bear, Fiction, Grade C, Review, Sci-Fi, science fiction, ShannonC

REVIEW: Saturn’s Children by Charles Stross

Gwen's review of Saturn's Children by Charles Stross (not a traditional author's site)
Science fiction adventure hardcover released by Ace 1 Jul 08

The author calls this book, "A space opera and late-period Heinlein tribute..." I think Robert A. Heinlein is my favorite author of all time, with my favorite book of all time being his The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress.  This makes me picky when it comes to Heinlein - if someone is going to reference him, or be compared to him, I get the microscope out because that is one VERY high bar to meet, in my opinion.  Tom Clancy has said of Heinlein, "We proceed down the path marked by his ideas. He shows us where the future is."  So, let's see how well Stross does, shall we?  Read more

Tags: 2008, Ace, Charles Stross, Grade C, Gwen, July 2008, Review, Saturn's Children, Sci-Fi, science fiction

REVIEW: Warrior by Angela Knight

Gwen's review of Warrior (Time Hunters, Book 1) by Angela Knight
Sci-Fi romance released by Berkley 1 Jul 08

Angela Knight writes some of the steamiest, far-out books I've ever read. They almost always have uber-alpha heroes and generally have strong heroines. Warrior is no exception. It has an alpha hero in spades, a heroine that rocked, and some sci-fi details that even Shannon will like. Read more

Tags: 2008, Angela Knight, Berkley, Grade A, Gwen, July 2008, Review, Romance, Sci-Fi, science fiction, Time Hunters series, Warrior

Review: Grass by Sheri S. Tepper

Shannon C.'s review of Grass by Sheri S. Tepper
Science fiction novel released from Spectra 1 Jul 90

There are some books you can breeze through in a matter of hours, close the book afterwards with a satisfied smile and reach for the next. Then there are the books that practically demand to be savored, with the reader moving along at whatever leisurely pace the author sets. As someone with a huge stack of books on my To Be Reviewed list, I don't often take time to read the books that need savoring. However, as soon as I started reading Grass which was originally published in 1989, I knew I'd stumbled upon a treat, and I further knew I couldn't just rush through it or I'd miss stuff.

Read more

Tags: 2008, February 2002, Grade A, Grass, July 1990, Reprint, Review, Sci-Fi, science fiction, ShannonC, Sheri S. Tepper, Spectra

Review: Hominids by Robert J. Sawyer

Shannon C.'s review of Hominids: Neanderthal Parallax, Book 1 by Robert J. Sawyer
Science fiction published by Tor 1 May 02

I might never have gotten to this book if it weren't for reading a relatively negative review of it recently. The reviewer seemed to say, at least to my mind, that Robert J. Sawyer is a bit of a weenie with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. And since I tend to like my science fiction on the weenie--the technical term is "soft"--side rather than the typical non-weenie "hard" SF, I thought that Hominids might actually be a book I could get into without having to read through millions of paragraphs worth of scientific infodumping I didn't understand. Thankfully, my instincts were correct, and I found myself immediately drawn in by this fascinating story.

Read more

Tags: 2008, Grade B, Hominids, May 2002, Neanderthal Parallax series, Review, Robert J. Sawyer, Sci-Fi, science fiction, ShannonC, Tor

Next Page »