zkrisher

zkrisher , 9 days ago to bookstodon group

I've finished: Rose / House by Arkady Martine

Kudos to Arkady Martine for publishing something very different from her breakthrough novel, A Memory Called Empire.

Hauntingly strange, this murder in an AI mystery house is a bit of a slog, and I'm not at all sure I understand what happened.

It does manage to convey the uncanny vibe I think Arkady was aiming for an in that manner it is a successful Novella.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/32a3186e-85d1-49ce-bf80-47f126b64bbd

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zkrisher , 14 days ago to bookstodon group

Rakesfall, a new novel by Vajra Chandrasekera, author of the excellent, nebula award winning: The Saint of Bright Doors, is about to be published on the 18th of June.

It is now available for preorder on audible for $8.80.

This sale price is available until the 17th of June.

https://www.audible.com/pd/Rakesfall-Audiobook/B0CWB43YSR?ref_pageloadid=veB23sH7H2Y0ge64&ref=a_author_Va_c19_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=f3abc0ee-320d-4c19-8388-fcd3a8e6c3a4&pf_rd_r=J1NS42P87S3DM0C34S3X&pageLoadId=UxHWfvi1YWTSNy1e&creativeId=73c32a9a-e504-4597-bb87-c30c58fc0204

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zkrisher , 17 days ago to bookstodon group

Space Oddity, the sequel to Space Opera by Catherine M Valente is on sale on audible.

I can't see the sale price since I already preordered it on a previous sale.

I want to compare the prices.

If you have an audible membership, can you please check the current price for me?

Thanks,

https://www.audible.com/pd/Space-Oddity-Audiobook/B0CSH1KFZC?qid=1718180933&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=JNKPQF59KC1RC8B933CH&pageLoadId=R5it2dmOIimwsUCM&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c

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zkrisher , 18 days ago to bookstodon group

I'm 30% into Service Model.

I want to give Tchaikovsky readers fair warning.

This novel is in the vain of Dog of War.

It's written for a very novice sci-fi reading audience. Every concept is explained in exhaustive detail and in first person, which turns out to be a very convoluted form for exposition.

It deals with an inefficient system that is breaking down. Think about a buggy computer. but now your being told in detail what happens when you send an e-mail. How it bounces off of all kinds of legacy code, restrictions and convoluted routines before it reaches it's destination.

He is exploring a form of intelligence. but in a very tedious manner. This is not the Adrian Tchaikovsky you know and love from Children of Time, Shards of Earth or City of Last Chances.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/4579ea63-8f63-49ee-a592-eb04ade011b7

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zkrisher , 18 days ago to bookstodon group

Villain, the long awaited sequel to Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots is on sale on audible for a bit under 12$.

It's a pre-order, with publication expected on July first 2025!

But after having so much fin readnig Hench, I'm in.

And if you haven't read Hench yet, give it a try. it's super power realism. Examining the effect on society such powers would have.

https://www.audible.com/pd/Hench-Audiobook/0062978608?ref_pageloadid=mqPIOlR6A75sGbfO&ref=a_author_Na_c19_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=f3abc0ee-320d-4c19-8388-fcd3a8e6c3a4&pf_rd_r=DJXZN3ZNPBNA8CRG4MT8&pageLoadId=bRwRHJyt2GPjaVSj&creativeId=73c32a9a-e504-4597-bb87-c30c58fc0204

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zkrisher , 25 days ago to bookstodon group

I've finished: Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson

The sequel to: The Space Between Worlds

This is the story of Ashtown, of the runners, of the emperor, of Cheeks and of scales.
This is the story of their violence, of their grace, of their love, of their hate.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/61b7556c-456d-4d12-a20e-a15025496eb0

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kimlockhartga , 28 days ago to bookstodon group

Since we are coming up on June, it seems like a good time to check in with everyone here on @bookstodon regarding favorite reads of 2024 so far. Whatcha got?

My top five reads of 2024 so far:

The Criminal series of graphic novels by Ed Brubaker (ten primary works)

James, Percival Everett

The Book of Love, Kelly Link

Poor Deer, Claire Oshetsky

Prequel, Rachel Maddow

zkrisher , 1 month ago to bookstodon group

I've finished: House of Saints by Derek Künsken

House of Saints starts slowly, dealing mostly with oppressive politics, subterfuge and straining relationships.

It took me a while to get through the first half of the novel.

Things heat up in the second half, and we get to see more cool engineering as our beloved characters try to survive under the oppressive conditions of Venus, the government and the bank.

I finished the second half of the novel in one day.

I especially enjoyed Pascal's continuing transition story, it is nuanced and beautiful.

Note that This is not The Quantum Magician, it is slower, it broods.

P.S.

Venus Rising is a duology, so we get an ending.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/814446f8-be9f-488c-af84-beb0f883adfe

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zkrisher , 1 month ago to bookstodon group

Jagannath by Karen Tidbeck is on the Audible Plus catalog at the moment.

This is a great introduction to Tidbeck's work. Usually I pause between short stories in a collection by the same author, the same way I pause between books by the same author, so the reading doesn't get monotonous.

Karen Tidbeck's work is different enough to keep me excited at every twist and turn.

Weird, Dark, thought provoking, familiar enough yet different.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/38414cbb-b50c-4524-ab9b-97f2f0672eb8

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zkrisher , 1 month ago to bookstodon group

The Eurovision contest final reminded me of Catherine M. Valente's excellent Space Opera, that was heavily influenced by the European song contest.

This is still my favorite Valente novel and her flowery prose is very well suited to the audio format with an impressive performance by Heath Miller.

There's even a sequel on the way.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/6b1d509d-3d30-4d8c-b8f4-5f35a029ad79

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zkrisher , 1 month ago to bookstodon group

I've finished: House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky

House of Open Wounds wasn't what I expected.

It's not a middle book in a trilogy, it has an ending. It's not about the mysterious Woods at the edge of Ilmar that were so promenant at the end of City of Last Chances.

It's about my favorite characters from that novel, Yasnic and his God. It's about the healers that are allowed to work their miracles at the periphery of the Pall war camp because they are useful. It dangles the promise of healing in return for pacifism at a humanity that can't stop fighting.

Like City of Last Chances, it's about the people stuck in the gears of the Palleseen Empire's ambitions. Not about kings and emperors.

Tchaikovsky has grown allot at a writer since the Shadow of the Apt series and has written a very compelling story that concentrates on engaging characters.

I couldn't put it down, I listened at every opportunity. It did sometimes feel repetitive and perhaps could have been shorter. But the ending clinched it all and most of it payed off brilliantly.

A friend of mine told me that the characters in this series remind him of Pratchett characters and that House of Open Wounds reminds him of Monstrous Regiment. Now that he has brought my attention to it, I can't unsee it.

Tchaikovsky isn't Pratchett and isn't trying to be Pratchett. He is not trying to be funny, but the social commentary, humanism and satire are reminiscent of Pratchett.

https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/23aec627-a8f8-4d9c-82e9-b45299690f28

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