Science Fiction Books B : Read reviews and compare prices at Ciao.co.uk

Reviews of Science Fiction Books »

Deep into the future Advantages: thought provoking and engaging Disadvantages: maybe too much jargon ...Future. That is what Baxters Time gives us... a time line between the day after tommorow and the end of time. It follows a set of characters who want to start mining the asteroids, in order to do so they dispatch a spacecraft containing a genetically engineered intelligent squid, Sheena, out into space then follow themselves. In the course of their adventure they encounter an artefact and use it to travel further and further into the future and ... ...part of a trilogy (and a set of short stories) however each book takes the characters from the start again and plants them in a different universe, For ecample in this one the univerese has no aliens but in Space aliens are everywhere. An interesting concept. The question that each book covers is why the universe is like that. Overall a fantastic read, deeply thought provoking and intelligently researched and written. It may be a little too technical ... RafK2survey 26.04.2007 · Read full review Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Time - Stephen Baxter	Would you read it again? Story Characters Readability How does it compare to ...
Words to create a thousand pictures in the mind. Advantages: A very humanist, entertaining read. Disadvantages: Fantasy, so it will not appeal to all. First the plot outline. Along a muddy road walking slowly comes a ragged scarecrow of a man. It is one Lord Lupe dy Cazaril, ex-courtier, courier, soldier, captain and castle warder, now a betrayed, crippled ex-galley slave. He has hopes of seeking some menial position in the house of the noble patron of his youth. He doesn't know it yet but the Gods have other plans for him. Ones he would rather not be involved in, Thank You, if he had a choice. ... ...is appointed as secretary-tutor to the young and beautiful Royesse Iselle, sister to the heir of Chalion, her younger brother. He must face perils both physical and demonic in quest to save not only his own soul but the soul of the kingdom and to find a measure of peace and happiness. If you want more, read the publishers introduction and the book. I have to be honest and say that this is a book I have read and re-read on many occasions and have ... Coloneljohn 12.07.2008 · Read full review Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Curse of Chalion - Lois McMaster Bujold	Would you read it again? Story Characters Readability How does it compare to ...
'UNCULTURED' SPACE OPERA AT ITS BEST Advantages: Good plot, Intriguing story Disadvantages: Complex at times 'The Algebraist' is the welcomed return of Iain M Banks (aka Iain Banks) to science fiction and I'm glad to say he has continues where he left off producing another intriguing and cerebral piece of fiction. Iain M Banks is best known for his novels set in the 'Culture' universe (The Player Of Games, Consider Phlebas) dealing with the development of human civilisation thousands of years in the future where machines have been completely integrated ... ...'The Algebraist' is different, the Culture does not exist (or maybe has not yet developed) in this universe in the year 4034 AD, 'thinking' machines are seen as abominations actively legislated against and destroyed if found. Humanity has spread far and wide throughout the universe but only with the help of other alien races older and more advanced than us. The eventual result is a hierarchical economic and interracial galactic empire the 'Mercatoria' ... Mauri 01.11.2006 · Read full review Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Algebraist - Iain M. Banks	Would you read it again? Story Characters Readability How does it compare to ...
The Wolverine Files - A comprehensive & visually impressive book Advantages: Well presented and packed with information, facts and great original artwork. Disadvantages: Can't really find any faults with this book ! In 1974 the character "Wolverine" made his debut into the Marvel Universe on the last page of Hulk #180 ... and these days Wolverine has become a well loved character. Over the years he became a regular and popular member of the X-Men line up and with a vast number of his own comics and graphic novels the character's popularity quickly grew. This year saw the first Wolverine movie hit the silver screen ... and with a sequel already planned it would ... ...to come. The Wolverine Files is a fantastic book which presents the complete story of Wolverine. With an impressive hardback slipcase (with Wolverine's trademark claw marks cutting through it) this book is presented as a series of files assembled by intelligence officers at Marvel's "Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-Enforcement Division" [S.H.I.E.L.D.] The files chronicle the complete history of the character "Wolverine" and ... jedimastergray73 21.07.2009 · Read full review Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Wolverine Files - Mike W. Barr	Would you read it again? Story Characters Readability How does it compare to ...
Short, but not always to the point Advantages: An opportunity to read Banks' shorter work Disadvantages: Not all of it is brilliant “The State of the Art” is Banks’ only short story collection at present. It contains one novella with the same title, and several other shorter pieces. The best piece in the book is the title story - a short novel set in Banks’ “Culture” milieu, in which the intergalactic utopia considers contacting Earth (they decide against it after looking around. A few of the stories - the excellent non-sf “Piece”, and “Descendant” - show Banks working perfectly ... ...literary doodles. The sad fact is that, on the evidence of this book, Banks just isn’t comfortable working in the short format - which I charitably suspect is because his ideas are too large to be contained. I would recommend this book to any fan of Banks, but not to anyone who hasn’t read his fiction before, because it doesn’t really show him at his best. Read some of his longer fiction first - both the sf and the non-sf - then come to this interesting, ... NeilHudson 17.08.2000 · Read full review Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The State of the Art - Iain Banks	Would you read it again? Story Characters Readability How does it compare to ...