A Simple Plan by Scott Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. You know just how bad it's going to be, and then it gets even worse. Gripping.
View all my reviews
Monday, February 17, 2025
Review: A Simple Plan
Review: If I Die in a Combat Zone Box Me Up And Ship Me Home
If I Die in a Combat Zone Box Me Up And Ship Me Home by Tim O'Brien
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the kind of war book that feels like stories told to you by a new friend you're getting to know: they feel revealing, and raw, and painful but also a bit charming. The mix of just-a-regular-guy and the very skilled writer makes you think he's got it all exactly right, as if there could be only one perspective on such an experience. This and Herr's Dispatches are the two best memoirs I've read on Viet Nam.
I also recommend Going After Cacciato and The Things They Carried
Personal copy
View all my reviews
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Sunday, February 09, 2025
Review: The Three Pigs
The Three Pigs by David Wiesner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wiesner is amazing, and this is my favorite. The hyper-realism, the three-Dimensionality, makes the text so much more meaningful. Both kids have always loved these, and we none of us show any signs of getting tired of his work.
View all my reviews
Saturday, February 08, 2025
Review: The End of All Things
The End of All Things by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Aug 30, 2015
View all my reviews
Review: Earth Below, Sky Above
Earth Below, Sky Above by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I'm ambivalent. I really enjoyed the writing of this segment, just as I did all the others. But I'm really bummed that the story wasn't brought to some sort of conclusion. On the other hand, there will be another series...
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: The Gentle Art of Cracking Heads
The Gentle Art of Cracking Heads by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am both very eager to read next week's final installment, and somewhat saddened, because then it will be over.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: A Problem of Proportion
A Problem of Proportion by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
We're nearing the end, with more of the puzzle being revealed, and also, more of the characters.
Well done, and touching.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: This Must Be the Place
This Must Be the Place by John Scalzi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A relatively calm, quiet interlude in which Hart Schmidt goes home for a harvest festival dinner with his family. No big adventure, no tricky plot, just good-natured family ribbing and some backstory. Well, okay, some thoughtful observations about class, presented in an amusing way.
As a whole, this is going to be great.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Friday, February 07, 2025
Review: The Observers
The Observers by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've started really looking forward to these Tuesday episodes. Shouldn't have left the house this morning without downloading this one.
You know what this one is like? Asimov short space mysteries. Not exactly, but the idea of a puzzle for which the solution lies in the specific setting. And the mildly humorous tone. Loved it, again.
I bought a copy.
View all my reviews
Review: The Sound of Rebellion
The Sound of Rebellion by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Well here's a new thing: props to Scalzi for showing a woman soldier in peril, but with nothing sexy about it whatsoever.
That sounds sarcastic, but really, it's refreshing not to have bad guys leering at women and threatening them with sexual violence as a plot point.
Anyway, clever, clever, clever. And intriguing. Eagerly awaiting next week. And the rest.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: The Dog King
The Dog King by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A perfect little short story, funny, that fits into the arc. If I thought for a second that diplomacy were anything like Scalzi writes it, I'd be be kicking myself for never having joined the foreign service. He skips over the tedious bits in favor of the clever solution to thorny problems. Such fun.
Interesting that he didn't end each section on a cliff-hanger. Well, interesting because I'm totally enthralled anyway. I'm gonna miss this when it's done.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Sunday, February 02, 2025
Review: The B-Team
The B-Team by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
7 February 2013
Takes place in the Old Man's War universe shortly after events in prior novels, but with a new cast of characters, many diplomats, with a few members of the CDF for derring-do.
All the things I like about Scalzi are here: clever plotting, a diverse cast that feels natural, snappy dialogue, interesting tech puzzles. Richly enjoyable, but it never feels condescending or empty. This is going to be good.
I bought a copy.
****
1 February 2025
There's a lot to be said for experimentation. Rereading this, I am reminded of the novelty of receiving a chunk of a book each week. The expectation, and also the bonding among the fans. Because Scalzi includes Mary Robinette Kowal, Scott Westerfeld, and Justine Larbalestier in his acknowledgements for Zoë's Tale, they come immediately to mind as other writers who also set challenges for themselves, which in turn means something new and interesting in every book they publish. Every fan will rate their preferences for the experiments differently, sure, but I love that there are writers who keep trying new things. Maybe it's odd me bringing up the concept of novelty in the fifth major work set in the same universe, but these novels and shorter works are never just more of the same. AndN.K. Jemisin and Courtney Milan, too. No doubt more will come to mind as soon as I hit post.
So there, that's today's entry in my gratitude journal: I appreciate writers who consciously experiment: it expands their skill set and takes readers into new genres and styles.
View all my reviews
Review: The Back Channel
The Back Channel by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This section is mostly talking heads, so it could have been info dumpy and dull, but it isn't. It's funny as hell, particularly the conversation over churros.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Saturday, February 01, 2025
Review: Tales From the Clarke
Tales From the Clarke by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The plotting here is just amazing. There is a lot going on but it never feels overwhelming or much of a muchness. I'm not sure whether I'm more excited to be reading it as a serial, or to re-read the whole thing once it's done.
I bought a copy.
I really should give a read-through. The details are fading from my mind.
View all my reviews
Review: We Only Need the Heads
We Only Need the Heads by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Loving it, eager to move on to the next section. Heads, heh.
I bought a copy.
View all my reviews
Review: Earth Below, Sky Above
Earth Below, Sky Above by John Scalzi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I'm ambivalent. I really enjoyed the writing of this segment, just as I did all the others. But I'm really bummed that the story wasn't brought to some sort of conclusion. On the other hand, there will be another series...
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: The Gentle Art of Cracking Heads
The Gentle Art of Cracking Heads by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am both very eager to read next week's final installment, and somewhat saddened, because then it will be over.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: A Problem of Proportion
A Problem of Proportion by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
We're nearing the end, with more of the puzzle being revealed, and also, more of the characters.
Well done, and touching.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: This Must Be the Place
This Must Be the Place by John Scalzi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A relatively calm, quiet interlude in which Hart Schmidt goes home for a harvest festival dinner with his family. No big adventure, no tricky plot, just good-natured family ribbing and some backstory. Well, okay, some thoughtful observations about class, presented in an amusing way.
As a whole, this is going to be great.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: The Observers
The Observers by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I've started really looking forward to these Tuesday episodes. Shouldn't have left the house this morning without downloading this one.
You know what this one is like? Asimov short space mysteries. Not exactly, but the idea of a puzzle for which the solution lies in the specific setting. And the mildly humorous tone. Loved it, again.
I bought a copy.
View all my reviews
Review: The Sound of Rebellion
The Sound of Rebellion by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Well here's a new thing: props to Scalzi for showing a woman soldier in peril, but with nothing sexy about it whatsoever.
That sounds sarcastic, but really, it's refreshing not to have bad guys leering at women and threatening them with sexual violence as a plot point.
Anyway, clever, clever, clever. And intriguing. Eagerly awaiting next week. And the rest.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: The Dog King
The Dog King by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A perfect little short story, funny, that fits into the arc. If I thought for a second that diplomacy were anything like Scalzi writes it, I'd be be kicking myself for never having joined the foreign service. He skips over the tedious bits in favor of the clever solution to thorny problems. Such fun.
Interesting that he didn't end each section on a cliff-hanger. Well, interesting because I'm totally enthralled anyway. I'm gonna miss this when it's done.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: The Back Channel
The Back Channel by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This section is mostly talking heads, so it could have been info dumpy and dull, but it isn't. It's funny as hell, particularly the conversation over churros.
I bought it.
View all my reviews
Review: Tales From the Clarke
Tales From the Clarke by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The plotting here is just amazing. There is a lot going on but it never feels overwhelming or much of a muchness. I'm not sure whether I'm more excited to be reading it as a serial, or to re-read the whole thing once it's done.
I bought a copy.
I really should give a read-through. The details are fading from my mind.
View all my reviews
Review: The B-Team
The B-Team by John Scalzi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Takes place in the Old Man's War universe shortly after events in prior novels, but with a new cast of characters, many diplomats, with a few members of the CDF for derring-do.
All the things I like about Scalzi are here: clever plotting, a diverse cast that feels natural, snappy dialogue, interesting tech puzzles. Richly enjoyable, but it never feels condescending or empty. This is going to be good.
I bought a copy.
View all my reviews
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
