This is another in the sequence started way back in 2017, bringing you perspectives on the classic film trilogy from the perspective of various bit players. Those include a variety of Imperials stationed on the moon of Endor and beyond, bounty hunters, monsters, unfortunate civilians, and beyond. The idea is to provide some context and flavour to the world, to look at the adventures of Leia, Luke, Han et al through another lens. To emphasise that those other perspectives are just as important, in a wider universe. And I'll say this, this is a collection with a diversity of perspectives, gods ..read more

Wicked Problems is the second in Max Gladstone's Craft Wars sequence, which builds off another series of his, the Craft Sequence. I'll offer full disclosure by saying that there's never been a Craft book of his that I didn't like. Something about the blending of magic, gods and warfare with the more prosaic linguistics of consulting and attorneys, the mix of the high fantasy with the low familiar, really hits the spot. Gladstone also isn't shy about pointing out social issues, framed inside his fantasy; you're as like to see a necromantic lich lord called out for his unsound e ..read more

 Back (again) next week! We're all sick this week sadly, review to follow next week ..read more

As long time readers know, I've always been a fan of Mark Lawrence. He's got a knack for writing a richly imagined, immersive universe. For making the stage feel like a real, lived in place. And for putting characters on it who you can feel. Who are working on their own wants and needs, not just marching through the narrative motions. A knack for stories that ask big questions, and challenge the reader to go on the journey to, if not find the answer, at least find an answer. Which brings us to The Book That Broke The World.  In part, this is a book about The Library. Not a library ..read more

 We're away this week, we'll be back next week ..read more

Mother of Learning is a little outside of my fantasy comfort zone. It’s a progression fantasy. That is to say, it’s one where the protagonist explicitly gains power over time, going from squishy novice to, typically, all powerful wizard of doom. And, in fairness, the protagonist here certainly has the opportunity to do tha> Zorian starts the story as a student at a pre-eminent mage academy, but definitely just a student - and one with, it must be said, something of a high opinion of himself, whether thats deserved or not. But he’s about to have the opportunity to learn more - both in terms ..read more

You'll always get me with a new work by Steven Brust. He has a sharp eye for the human condition, a real talent for snark, a penchant for saying interesting things, and a tendency to play around with the format of his stories to see what works. From the period-stylings of The Khaavren Romances to the thriller beats of The Good Guys, there's an impressive range there. But the heart of it, for me, is Vlad Taltos, and the saga of the Jhereg. Taltos has been a lot of things. Thug. Killer. Father. Fugitive. And we've seen him weave in and out of his story, switching point sin his personal ti ..read more

Honestly, how very dare they? K.J. Parker put out an entire trilogy in the last few months of 2023, firing them off at a rapid pace while, frankly, also firing on all cylinders. We looked at the first two books last year, and thought that they were vintage iterations on Parker's signature style - darkly humorous, intelligent but ruthless interlocutors, and a rich, deeply detailed world that feels very real. And I'm here to tell you that they've done it again. Saevus Corax is back, and so is K.J. Parker. Saevus continues to be, well, who they've always been. A wry, apologetic protagonist, who ..read more

The new Parker trilogy is releasing at a rapid pace this year, following up Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead with this new volume. And, in case you were wondering, yes, it is rather good. I will sound a note of caution that it hits a lot of the same notes stylistically as the previous volume. Our protagonist is smart, funny, determined to just keep his head down and out of the way - and yet catastrophic, world altering events seem to always catch him in their wake. Or the other way around, I suppose. There's civilisations that look familiar if you squint and turn your head to the left a ..read more

  Murderbot is back!  And it's about time. This series has been a runaway success, and I must admit that in my view it's entirely deserved. I've been champing at the bit for a new Murderbot novel since, well, since about a day after the release of the last one. And, well, here it is. Is it any good? Dear reader, the answer is an unmitigated yes. If you're a fan, and up to date with the series: Go out and pick this one up right away. If you're not: Go and read the rest of the series, then go out and pick this one up right away. Now that that's out of the way.  Murderbot, eh? It ..read more