By Scott Westerfeld
ONE LINE SUMMARY: A carrier of a strain of vampirism, Cal hunts peeps (parasite-positive people) and learns why he is different from them.
I must have been hiding under a rock or something, because I had never heard of Scott Westerfeld until this year. Two of his books are nominated for the Andre Norton Award given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers who also give out the Nebula Awards. (Interestingly, Westerfeld’s wife, Justine Larbalestier is also nominated for the Andre Norton Award.)
I’ve now read Westerfeld’s Midnighters trilogy, and have been waiting (and waiting) for my library to get the first book of another of his trilogies, Uglies, which is constantly checked out.
So far, Peeps is by far the best book. Although I felt like I never knew Cal at all, the book has so much going on that I didn’t really miss him. And the book is about Cal discovering himself so it seemed normal that I didn’t know him either.
Now that I think about it, this would make a great movie. I’m not sure why it hasn’t been optioned yet, given that the Midnighters series has been optioned as a TV show by the WB, and a few others optioned as films.
Westerfeld’s also won a bunch of awards for his adult and YA fiction. This dude is prolific.
by Susan Beth Pfeffer
ONE LINE SUMMARY: In a series of diary entries, Miranda relates her life when an asteriod knocks the moon out of orbit which results in worldwide devastation.
I’ll be honest with you. I know Pfeffer solely from the book Kid Power which is great, but covers about as many serious topics as the Ramona Quimby books by Beverly Cleary. This book came as a total surprise to me, even though with the book summary, I kind of figured it was not going to be as light-hearted as Kid Power.
This is engrossing, deeply moving, and utterly fascinating. I would love to know what happens next (will there be a sequel?), because this is not one of those books that gives you a tidy ending with all the loose ends wrapped up. I normally love tidy endings but as much as I wanted to know what would happen to Miranda and her family, I also thought the ending was perfect, for this kind of story.
After I finished this, I crept around my house, feeling like the world was coming to an end.
by John Scalzi
ONE LINE SUMMARY: Unless Harry Creek can locate the last remaining Android’s Dream breed of sheep, Earth will be destroyed by an alien race.
I got mixed up and thought this book was set in the same world as Old Man’s War, so I had some difficulty getting into it. When I finally realized this book was completely different from Scalzi’s previous two books, I enjoyed it. The ending is particularly good.
However, I can’t say that this book lingers in my memory the way Old Man’s War did. You have to forget about Scalzi’s other books, enjoy this one for what it is, and wait until April for Scalzi’s sequel to Old Man’s War.
by John Scalzi
ONE LINE SUMMARY (for Old Man’s War): John Perry turns 75 and joins the Colonial Defense Force.
ONE LINE SUMMARY (for The Ghost Brigades): Jared Dirac is the clone of a scientist who betrays humankind to the aliens.
Over the course of three years, I noticed that my sci-fi/fantasy reading had fallen way down. Eventually I realized that the way I find something to read is to browse the “new books” section of a library, and the library currently closest to me purchases very few sci-fi/fantasy books. I was craving some sci-fi, so I asked Chris to ask his co-worker, Derek, for a sci-fi or fantasy recommendation, and Derek mentioned Old Man’s War. I finished that book in a day, and immediately looked for the next book which takes place in the same world, although the books have only a few characters in common.
Both of these books are quite good, although the second one pales in comparison to the first, namely because the excitement of how an old man becomes a young soldier is so much more entertaining. By the time a conflict finally arose, half the book had been taken up with John Perry’s transformation into a soldier.
In the second book, my initial “hey, that’s a neat idea” enthusiasm faded. Without the “neat idea,” this book has to rely on plot to carry it through, and I admit that I couldn’t follow parts of it. And because this book focuses on someone who is largely emotionless (but becomes more human), I found it harder to empathize with Jared’s dilemmas.
by Lois McMaster Bujold
ONE LINE SUMMARY: Miles is on his long delayed honeymoon when he is called away to investigate an incident involving Barrayaran troops, quaddies, and Cetagandans.
This is the last of the Vorkosigan books (thus far; I can only hope more are written), and it neatly brings familiar characters back in an involved plot. Miles is as charming, witty, and insane as always, and if another book follows, I would love to see how parenthood changes him.
by Lois McMaster Bujold
ONE LINE SUMMARY: Miles is having problems with his woman (she doesn’t know she’s his woman), Mark is having problems with his woman (she doesn’t want to be his woman) and Cousin Ivan has no woman, that’s his problem.
The Emperor’s wedding approaches in the midst of romantic mayhem and political intrigue. This book is as engaging as the others, and yet now that I think about it, there isn’t actually much plot other than various romantic relationships resolving themselves.
I did, however, stay up until 1 AM on a work night reading this. Bad, Jane, bad!
by Lois McMaster Bujold
ONE LINE SUMMARY: On his first major job after being appointed an Imperial Auditor, Miles accompanies fellow Auditor Vorthys on an investigation involving Vorthys’s niece on Komarr.
Ah yes, Miles falls in love…and it is strangely not very interesting. Because most of the actual evil plan seems largely over by the time Miles gets involved, this book is a bit duller than the other ones. Still good, still enjoyable, but Miles seems a bit more distant in this book and more of an outsider to the reader.
by Lois McMaster Bujold
ONE LINE SUMMARY: Miles discovers his dream job.
For a book containing almost no space scenes, this is an exciting and fast-paced addition to the Vorkosigan saga. There are no attacks or battles, but the plot is engrossing–you get a great view of the workings of Miles’s mind.
by Lois McMaster Bujold
ONE LINE SUMMARY: Mark, Miles’s clone, meets his parents for the first time, and attempts to destroy Jackson’s Whole.
This is gripping, sad, and exciting. Poor Mark gets horribly tortured, and I cried a few times. Interestingly, we spend much of this book from Mark’s point of view, and…Miles Vorkosigan? Not such a hot shit anymore. In fact, we finally see Miles as the somewhat insane hyperactive that the rest of the world sees.
This is terrific, but one that requires some space and distance before re-reading.
by Lois McMaster Bujold
ONE LINE SUMMARY: After pretending that Admiral Naismith is a clone of Miles Vorkosigan, Miles discovers that a clone of himself does exist, and is attempting to assassinate him.
Some of the plot drones on a bit, but the appearance of Cousin Ivan helps liven things up.
« Previous Entries