Reviews of Science Fiction Books »

One of his best

Advantages: A non-Culture book from one of the very best of Sci Fi authors
Disadvantages: None really... unless you don't like science fiction!

...great too, but I adore Against A Dark Background! I had been getting used to the concept of the Culture and I enjoy the culture novels the best of all of them generally. However, it was good to read a non-culture book of his and Against A Dark Background has become my favourite so far... although Use of Weapons comes close! The story is based on Sharrow... a former member of a personally attuned combat team. She is also being hunted by the Huhsz, ...
...Lazy Guns. A weapon so powerful that they could destroy the world or worse! They blamed Sharrow for the destruction of the only other Lazy Gun in existence and are determined to not only kill Sharrow, but also to claim the final Lazy Gun for themselves. And so begins a roller coaster of a race to find the last Lazy Gun whilst also uncovering plots within plots. As with all Banks' books, it is very cleverly written and something new and unexpected ...

poodu 02.01.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Against a Dark Background - Iain M. Banks

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Hot Faerie Cakes

Advantages: fresh, original storyline, a modern slant on an old myth, and of course, Merry Gentry
Disadvantages: a bit confusing with all the different types of fey, but it becomes clearer

...general tone is written as a mix of fantasy and an alternate history. The point of deviation from normal history is when Thomas Jefferson gave the Unseelie and Seelie courts asylum after they were exiled from Europe. However, Jefferson said that they could not set themselves up to be worshipped as gods, or they risked being evicted from American soil. Meredith NicEsus is a faerie. No, she isn't two inches tall, and no, she doesn't have wings. She ...
...and twisted Cel. But being a faerie princess isn't all it's cracked up to be. Unfortunately for Merry, she not only has royal blood, but also lesser Fey AND human blood, which has left her mortal, which the sidhe don't take kindly to. Having staved off legal assassination attempts (in the form of duels) for years now, she realises that she is fighting a losing battle, so she flees. She moves to Los Angeles, where she assumes the name 'Gentry,' uses ...

aphenderson 22.11.2006 · Read full review
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Review of A Kiss of Shadows - Laurell K. Hamilton

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Time for Merry's lick of Frost

Advantages: Enjoyable story line.
Disadvantages: Some chapters can drag on

...the Merry Gentry series. A lot of her books have featured in the New York Best Sellers List. On the Back Princess Merry and her loyal bodyguards flee to LA to escape the malign attentions of the faerie court. She's being pursued by someone who tried to kill her once before, and whose intentions are now more terrifying. Plot This is the sixth book of the series and is narrated by Merry Gentry also known as Princess Meredith NicEssus, Princess of Flesh ...
...The book starts of in a set of Layers offices where they are trying to resolve an issue three of the guards. The guards Galen, Rhys and Abe have been accused of raping a royal in the seelie court and to there surprise King Taranis have called in the human police. Situations arise in the office which none of them expect. The book follows Merry throughout this day and we see how the wild magic that she awaken in faerie has followed her to LA. My Opinion ...

bohoangel 15.05.2009 · Read full review
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Review of A Lick of Frost - Laurell K. Hamilton

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It is not just about football!

Advantages: It's very funny, and oh so true!
Disadvantages: None

The Disc, for those who don't know, continues to float in space, supported by the elephants who ride the back of the great swimming turtle A'tuin. The Hub about which the planet spins is a centre of great magic, and best avoided if you want to live a happy and contented life. At the outer perimeter is the great circle sea which unendingly streams over the rim into the void, which is best avoided if you want to continue to live at all. Most Discians ...
...Smeems, for instance, is the Candle Nave at the Unseen University. He has to worry about keeping the candles not just alight, but properly melted, artistically, gothicly, dribbled, as it were. Of course, there's Trevor to help. And there's Nutt. With two t's. Trevor Likely has a tendency to skive off work whenever possible, and to kick a tin can around. His dad was a legend. Nutt is… well, no-one's quite sure what Nutt is, even him. Goblin isn't ...

hiker 07.12.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Unseen Academicals - Terry Pratchett

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From Dead to Worse

Advantages: Good read
Disadvantages: Lots of threads, can be confusing

...A failed attempt of takeover from werewolves in another area results in Alcide becoming the new packleader. This, however, comes with a price which is the death of a few weres in the community including the previous packmaster Patrick, Maria-Star, Alcide’s girlfriend. As for the vampires, the explosion in the vampire summit results in the loss of various main personnel in Queen Sophie’s court and the King of Nevada, Felipe, grabs the opportunity. ...
...Louisiana apart from Eric and his gang. Eric surrenders to the new regime and manages to keep his area. And with Sookie saving the King from the attack of the Sophie’s last surviving child, Eric is slowly gaining the trust of the new King. And as for our heroine Sookie, a surprise meeting with her great-grandfather Niall reveals her heritage of being part-fairy. This completes Andre’s discovery of Sookie having fairy blood. And also explains the ...

medgenie 21.11.2009 · Read full review
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Review of From Dead to Worse - Charlaine Harris

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