The Humans by Matt Haig
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is one of those books where an alien tries to understand humanity by walking a mile in our shoes, figuratively speaking. It’s not a bad book, but nor would I consider it a great book.
Category Archives: Book Reviews
Book Review: The Evolution of African Fantasy and Science Fiction
The Evolution of African Fantasy and Science Fiction by Francesca T Barbini
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have to say, this one’s given me a lot to think about. It’s a small book, physically speaking, but it has some pretty big things to say about where African F/SF has come from, where it currently stands, and maybe even where it’s going. The book itself is a collection of academic papers on aspects of F/SF created in Africa or by African authors and makes for some interesting and eye-opening reading.
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Book Review: Dreaming in Smoke
Dreaming in Smoke by Tricia Sullivan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was an interesting read, albeit one which requires a fair bit of work from the reader. It’s a weird mix of cyberpunk meets colonial sci-fi meets social commentary, held together by some fantastic prose. Right from the first paragraph the writing comes across as a strongly jazz-influenced melange of images and ideas and perfectly sets the stage for what quickly becomes a confusing journey through an alien ecosphere, as seen through the eyes of our protagonist, Kalypso Deed.
Book Review: Empire of Sand
Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Generally speaking, most people think of fantasy as being some analogue of western history with the occasional decidedly anthropocentric non-human races and some variation on a theme of dragons. At least, that’s how it used to be, up until a few years ago. These days, fantasy is a much broader and much more diverse playground, and Tasha Suri’s marvellous debut novel does more than its fair share to add to that diversity.
Book Review: The Tower of Living and Dying
The Tower of Living and Dying by Anna Smith Spark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Following last year’s Court of Broken Knives I had high expectations for this book, and I have to say I was not disappointed. As with the first book in the series, The Tower of Living and Dying may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but if you enjoyed the first you’re going to love the second.
Book Review: Anachronism
Anachronism by Jennifer Lee Rossman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this one. The general tone and pacing make for a fun, almost frenetic read, and the main character is just adorable with her sass and attitude.