Reviews

Killswitch: Rough and Tumble Action

Sandy Amazeen of Monsters & Critics has some thoughts on the latest Cassaandra Kresnov novel from Joel Shepherd, the just released Killswitch:

“Plenty of rough and tumble action full of high-tech weaponry and battle savvy female warriors keep readers engaged as Cassandra and all of Callay become mired in the endless political machinations that come with social upheaval… Definitely a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy with enough wiggle room for more to come from this series that serves up social commentary with military action in equal doses.”

Killswitch: Rough and Tumble Action Read More »

The Big Pyr News Roundup

Lots going on round the blogosphere to catch up on.

First, Sean Williams is interviewed by author Tobias S. Buckell in the latest edition of Clarkesworld Magazine. They discuss his Books of the Cataclysm, which begin with The Crooked Letter,as well as his science fiction, his upcoming novella Cenotaxis,his thoughts on writing for the Star Wars universe, and much, much more. Here’s a taste:

“I spent a very long time working on the religious background to the Books of the Cataclysm. Really, it started when my father chose to become a priest during my early high school years. I witnessed the study he undertook from the sidelines, and became fascinated with the idea of faded myths—stories (such as Noah’s Ark) that one culture appropriates from another and adopts as their own. Once it occurred to me that all religion can be viewed as a bunch of great stories that people take entirely too seriously, it was just a short hop sideways to the atheist I remain today—one who denies the existence of both deities and the afterlife but is endlessly fascinated with other people’s fascination with the same.”

Then SciFiChick comes in with not one, but three, Pyr reviews.

Keeping It Real, Justina Robson: “Deftly fusing science fiction and fantasy, it’s hard to categorize this novel. The magic is vividly portrayed, and the idea of such different and accessible dimensions makes for a truly unique setting. The character of Lila, would make a more interesting Bionic Woman, than the current tv show version. No cardboard cutout characters here.”

The Prodigal Troll, Charles Coleman Finlay: “This is a humorous and moving tale in the vein of such classics as The Jungle Book and Tarzan. With characterization as the strength of this novel, Finlay has created a fantastic world for this tragic circumstance. Seeing the human world from Maggot’s troll mindset, invokes times of humor as well as drama in a realistic way. Well, as realistic as a world where trolls and magic are the norm. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel. “

Paragaea, Chris Roberson: “Paragaea is a wonderful story with the feel of a fantasy, but the heart of a science fiction novel. Though it isn’t necessary to read Set the Seas on Fire, I found it helpful to already have a background on the character of Hero. I found myself loving Paragaea , the story and world, even more. With more swash-buckling action and stronger characters, Roberson is a truly gifted storyteller.”

Then Fantasy & Sci-Fi Lovin’ Book Reviews chimes in with two Pyr reviews:

Bright of the Sky, Kay Kenyon: “I found the world that Kenyon created to be rather fascinating, not so much because of the strong Asian influence, but in the way that she designed her various aliens. No species are useless; they all seem to have a purpose that makes sense. I particularly enjoyed her descriptions of these different species–their bodies, minds, uses, hobbies, etc… All in all, the novel is good. It would be suited for someone that looks for a different flavor of adventure story–a sort of more subtle adventure that doesn’t attempt to be too grand until the end, fulfilling what I would call a sense of wonder over a sense of pure action. It’ll be interesting to see where the story goes in the next book.”

The Crown Rose, Fiona Avery: “I enjoyed The Crown Rose a great deal. It was engaging, well-written, and quite obviously well-researched. I will say though that anyone with a strong (for lack of a better word) fundamentalist Christian view might find the ending of the book a trifle upsetting. I believe that the key to appreciating this book is an acknowledgment that, though much of the story is based in fact, it is in essence a work of fiction, and should be read as such. If you can manage that, this is definitely a book for you.”

The Big Pyr News Roundup Read More »

Brasyl in USA Today

Ian McDonald finds himself part of Roundup: Science Fiction in today’s issue of USA Today (circulation 1,618, 000). Speaking of his novel Brasyl, Brent Jones writes, “The cultural mix of high-tech cyber-gangsta, present-day cutthroat showbiz striving and historical Amazonian mysticism is dizzying, and the pace of events is relentlessly frantic. But the overall result is the most rewarding science fiction in recent memory.”

Nice one.

Brasyl in USA Today Read More »

Three More Pyr Reviews

Over on Sci Fi Weekly, Lois H. Gresh reviews Joel Shepherd’s Killswitch:

“Joel Shepherd delivers an android character that’s richer in human emotions than most real humans. …the strength of the novel, which lies in the character of Cassandra Kresnov, is full of promise…Cassandra Kresnov is such a delightful character that the reader wants to see her push beyond the tropes of science-fiction androids.”

Meanwhile, SF Signal JP reviews Sean Williams’ The Hanging Mountains:

“What Williams does well is in creating an interesting fantasy setting, without the usual fantasy tropes. …Obviously a lot of thought has gone into the world of the Cataclysm and Williams does a great job bringing it to life. …Williams has created a unique and interesting setting for his Cataclysm books, stuffing it full of unexpected creatures and sympathetic characters.”

And I was very gratified to see JP add: “One thing I must praise Pyr for is the physical book itself, specifically the dust jacket. The cover art is awesome, but the entire jacket is well done. From the electric blue runes surrounding the cover art to the green toned rest of the cover, the whole thing just looks amazing. In fact, all of the books in this series so far look terrific. Couple that with a very easy to read font and layout on the inside, and these are some very impressive books.”

And finally, Greg L. Johnson of SF Site reviews Alexis Glynn Latner’s Hurricane Moon. While Greg wasn’t 100% on some bits of the novel, he does offer this:

“In science fiction, one of the most difficult feats to accomplish is a simultaneous appeal to both the romance of the intellect and the romance of the heart. Hard SF writers are all used to invoking a sense of wonder that thrills the imagination, it’s what that particular game is all about. Fewer are able to at the same time involve the reader’s emotions in a story that evokes the character’s personal emotional attractions. …It’s very much to her credit, then, that Alexis Glynn Latner manages to pull this trick off in the very first chapter of her new novel.”

And he concludes, “It is in fact a nicely written novel, with well-drawn characters and a story that succeeds quite well in mixing a cosmic mystery with its characters personal lives. “

Three More Pyr Reviews Read More »

More Love for Pyr’s Butt Kicking Ladies

The blog Of Science Fiction discovers that Justina Robson’s Keeping It Realis “not I, Robot meets Lord of the Rings in a London flat of a single secretary looking for love. But that’s not too far off…” And who can fault them when they say, “Seamlessly meshing martial drama, political intrigue, magic, science and corporate politics with light fun-poking and flirting, this is an extremely entertaining book. …Find it, buy it, read it. Support this author and the new label. And, enjoy a really good book in the process. Talk about win-win!”

Meanwhile, over at SciFi Crowsnest, Tomas L. Martin weighs in on Joel Shepherd’s last Cassandra Kresnov novel, Killswitch“Shepherd treatment of Cassandra’s personality has been a real highlight of these books and this continues in Killswitch. Cassandra’s relationship with the gay CDF leader Vanessa Rice is especially thoughtfully handled and never clichéd. Like all of the books, too, the action is electric and explosive. … a class above most SF thrillers and completes the trilogy well.”

More Love for Pyr’s Butt Kicking Ladies Read More »

The Blade Itself Rises to the Top

Neth Space posts their review of Joe Abercrombie’s The Blade Itself,which they say “easily equals anything released in epic fantasy in the past few years, and just may rise to the top.”

As have many before, Neth praises the book’s characters, saying “Abercrombie skillfully portrays them with near-perfect internal and external dialogue set at an ideal pace. These seem like real people from history rather than some over-done cliché or archetype.”

And finally, Neth concludes “…one of the most promising epic fantasies that I’ve read in years. Abercrombie had me laughing with his guile as he stops just short of spitting in the face of genre and set my heart racing through some the best written fight scenes of any genre. This one is not just for fans of epic fantasy.”

Update 10/30/07: Neth Space also posts this hysterical interview, Joe Abercrombie Answers Five Questions. Not your usual interview, mind you.

The Blade Itself Rises to the Top Read More »

Killswitch & The Blade Itself: Come for the Battles, Stay for the Characters

Two more great Pyr reviews in my in-box this morning.

Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist says that Joel Shepherd’s third and finale (for now) Cassandra Kresnov novel, Killswitch,is “yet another intelligent, action-packed and kick-ass scifi thriller!” Patrick says the book is “highly recommended” and explains that, “The characterization is probably my favorite aspect of this trilogy. Cassandra’s moral awakening has been a fascinating facet to follow thus far, and I like how the author raises a number of philosophical issues through her character. Those moments are interwoven almost seamlessly into the plotlines, which is no small feat.”

Overall, he finds the book, “A remarkable blend of political thriller and thrilling science fiction adventure… an exciting closing chapter to a terrific series. Shepherd brings the story to a satisfying ending, though the door is left open for possible sequels…Readers who relish strong female characters, complex storylines, and incredible action and battle scenes should give this trilogy a shot. Chances are they won’t be disappointed!”

Meanwhile, Fantasy & Sci-Fi Lovin’ Book Reviews weighs in on Joe Abercrombie’s debut fantasy, The Blade Itself.” Sprinkled with political intrigue and short, messy battles, The Blade Itself is packed with action for sure, but it’s also an amazing work of character development. Abercrombie’s characters are profane, complex and never boring…

And, in something that made me smile, they add, “I finally have a rival for The Name of the Wind as my favorite book of the year.”

Killswitch & The Blade Itself: Come for the Battles, Stay for the Characters Read More »

Selling Out: Can We Get a Cyborg Woman Show-Down?

Monsters and Critics reviews the second Quantum Gravity book from Justina Robson. Reviewer Sandy Amazeen says of Selling Out:“This absorbing and exciting second installment lives up expectations with the six parallel worlds of humans, elves, demons, faeries, elementals and undead further developed with tantalizing hints of a seventh world dropped in for good measure. Lila’s strong character is nicely balanced by enough self-doubt and concerns about her autonomy to be interesting without being overplayed. A lot more background is provided for the other key protagonists giving this a well rounded feel while setting up the next book with a couple of potential showdowns.”

Meanwhile, she isn’t the first to make the comparison with another Pyr series: “Fans of Joel Shepherd’s Cassandra Kresnov series, think Sandy with six realms worth of creatures, politics and villains to run afoul of.”

Can the fanfic be far behind? Me, I think either one of these two super soldiers could kick the new Bionic Woman’s butt. And Katee Sackhoff would be an excellent Cassandra, but who would you cast as Lila Black?

Selling Out: Can We Get a Cyborg Woman Show-Down? Read More »

Multiverse Reviews: Brasyl & Infoquake

Over on MySpace, Multiverse Reviews tackles two Pyr novels, Ian McDonald’s Brasyland David Louis Edelman’s Infoquake.

Speaking of Brasyl, they write, “Sure, I’ve read parallel universe plotlines before, but Brasyl takes it to a whole new level of weirdness… Enjoy their stories for what they are, don’t rush to the end for the action. The enjoyment of the journey makes the unexpected and bizarre kicker even sweeter.”

Speaking of Infoquake, they write, “Let me just say that this is a wonderfully written book. It kept me engrossed and riveted, with well-written dialogue and engaging characters. In addition, as an avid fan of world building, I loved the world that Edelman created. This book carved a brand new universe using alternate history, detailed imagination and Edelman’s computer programming background…I wholeheartedly recommend Infoquake for anybody and everybody. I know I am just one of many who eagerly await Edelman’s follow up novel to the fantastic Infoquake.”

Multiverse Reviews: Brasyl & Infoquake Read More »

Washington Post on the Moon

Adrienne Martini, of the Washington Post, reviews four SF novels in her article “Spaceships, Gunfights and believable characters, too.” She reviews works by Emma Bull, Joe Haldeman, Jon Courtenay Grimwood, and our own Alexis Glynn Latner. Speaking of Hurricane Moon,she says the novel is ” a compelling work that creates believable worlds informed by hard science but populated with credible characters who aren’t just mouthpieces for technological wizardry.”

She goes on to say that, “By the end of the book, both the science and the spirit are joined in a union that is strong and dynamic. Hurricane Moon… is a resonant achievement.”

Washington Post on the Moon Read More »

Scroll to Top