A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan

Notions too mad for another to take seriously are the very notions I seize upon and enact, often in the most organized and sensible fashion

Why I read this book?

This was the main pick for the Sword and Laser bookclub for the month of December. It seemed to be a nice mix of women in science and dragon fantasy and boy did it deliver!

What is the book about?

The book is told in the voice of Isabella Hendemore, a naturalist at heart who discovers very early in her life that 1. She loves science and 2. She loves dragons. These two things are not the ideal pastimes of a proper lady from Scirland. Is through her love of dragons that she will meet her husband and afterwards they will go on an expedition to study her beloved creatures.

What about the main character?

Isabella is a very strong willed woman, a scientist who grew up in a time and a society that this was not "normal" for a young lady. There is sweetness in her that sometimes reads like naïveté about the world. I don't know if she is supposed to know this about herself, but the character for sure uses it to her advantage. What I love the most about this character is that, since she is writing after retirement, you will find comments such as "oh, my editor won't like this, but I will put it anyway" and that for me makes a character that is been round and about and no longer cares about preconceptions.

Final Thoughts

I've read a lot of reviews saying that the book didn't have enough action. I will have to agree with them, and I guess that the first assumption with a dragon book is that there will be action and flying and fire blazing. If that's what you are looking for, this is not a book for you. However, with a title as "Natural History" I was not expecting that so I did enjoy the book quite a bit. I loved the drawings! The turn of events (that I will not discuss you guys, no spoilers!) really caught me off guard and I was honestly sad with it. This is a series I would like to continue for sure; I think is a new way of visiting a world full of dragons and I think Brennan did a great job giving a voice to Isabella.

I am- and was, even then- a scientist. When I find myself with an uncertain theory, my impulse is to gather evidence that will prove it or disprove it.

 

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest

Why I read this book?

This was the October pick for the Sword and Laser book club. It was also my second attempt with steam-punk influenced books.

What's the book about?

In an alternate history, the Civil War is still ongoing. Seattle was home to Leviticus Blue, an inventor, a scientist. With the Gold Rush still active, the Russians asked for a machine that would be able to help them to win the Klondike race and hence Leviticus invented the Boneshaker...but the machine got out of control and at the same time that it destroyed the city's downtown it released the Blight gas a compound that seems to kill people and then bring them back again. 

16 years have passed and Blue's old wife, Briar, has been struggling, working her hands to the bone to raise her son Zeke. But he is determined to go back to the city and clean his father's name, as he is convinced that he is being accused unjustly. The book follows both mother and son as they go inside of the city and encounter more that they bargain for.

What about the main character?

For me the main character was Briar. She is a strong, resolute woman that is at odds with her past for more reasons that I as a reader could imagined, and in fact some of the new information I learned at the end caught me by surprise. I liked her a lot; the way she will deal with the bullies at her job, the way he dealt with the people in the city that pretended to know more about her than herself. The only thing I would say she could work on a bit was her way of dealing with her son, but I think that this will change after the end of the book (no spoilers, don't worry)

Final thoughts

My first attempt at reading Steam-punk was with Knife of Truth and it was not a great experience. However I have to say that I quite enjoyed Priest's world building. The Steam-punk elements were there, but I didn't felt overwhelmed about them so this part of the story built nicely. I liked Briar as a character, Zeke not so much but I think he is not meant to be liked, but just to act as a teenager. I found it to be an interesting story but I was not really caught by it. I never got at a point where I NEEDED to know what was happening next. I won't be reading the next installment of The Clockwork Century series, but it did make me more interested on the genre in general.

The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester

Why I read this book?

This was the October from the Sword and Laser Book Club. It was picked since it was the winner of the Hugo Awards in 1953

What's the book about?

On the 24th century murder is no longer an option. Police have telepathic powers and can pretty much know everything that is happening in your head. Ben Reich however, things he can get away with it. Can he hide his thoughts from detective Lincoln Powell?

What about the main characters?

Ben Reich is a egocentric S.O.B that is obsessed on having it all, the biggest company and ll the power it would entitle. He is smart, but he can easily be blinded by his own obsession. Lincoln Powell, a level 1 telepath is very full of himself but with a reason. He is good at what he does and he knows it. He is very given to be overconfident, but he catches up quickly when he "looses" his step.

Final thoughts

First thing I thought about the premise for this book was "isn't this Minority Report?. But as you advance in the book you realize that, although it probably inspired a bit of the movie, is far from being the same story.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Not only the story developed in lots of ways I was not expecting, but the characters kept me at the edge of my chair. On a very important note for me, the fact that this book was written in the 50s yet the female characters were not lost damsels in distress (at least not all of them) was very agreeable.

The parts written from all telepath point of view was a bit of challenge at first, in a way that you have to certainly pay attention to the page jumps, but once you get used to it is ok. 

The end was very nice. I liked it a lot, and I was not excepting that resolution. I will say, avoiding any spoilers, that as Reich I was also blinded at the fact that changed the whole outcome (let me know in the comments if this happened to you too)

The Curse of Chalion by Louis McMaster Bujold

Why I read this book?

This was the September pick for The Sword and Laser Book Club.

 What's the book about?

The Curse of Chalion is part of the Chalion series and in this book we are introduced to Cazaril, a "knight" that has been stripped of rank, sold to the merchants and that feels like he has lost everything he once was. Coming back to the reign, he enters the service of the House of Chalion and is in charge of Royesse Iselle. Soon enough Cazaril will learn that this task demands more of his body and soul that he ever could've imagine

What about the main character?

Considering Cazaril is the main character, I will say he is a noble man, devoted to his cause. Very smart and yet sometimes naïve. 

However, let me tell you that Iselle was my favorite character by far. I love a good female character, and Bujold did not disappoint me in this case. She is not only strong phisically, but she is smart and proud to be. Take this quote for example:

          Ignorance is not stupidity, but it might as well be. And I do not like feeling stupid

In a world highly dominated by men as Chalion felt, it was very nice to see this young woman prevail and take care of herself.

Final thoughts

This is the first book that I've ever read from Louis McMaster Bujold, but I doubt it will be the last. The world construction was amazing, adding bits of magic without it being overwhelming. I particularly enjoyed the female characters, Beatriz, the Provincara and as I mentioned before, Iselle. I liked how the intrigue built slowly, enticing, while showing was the world of Chalion. 

I particularly liked the religion construction, with all the set of beliefs it involved, very well structured, without being unnecessarily complicated as some books feel to me when they go to polytheism. I am very glad the book club showed me this book.

Ringworld by Larry Niven

Why I read this book?

This was the July official pick the Sword and Laser Bookclub.

What's the book about?

The book tells us the story of an unlikely group selected to go far in the unknown space and study a new world, if you want, that has been built by some other entity. The known space, threaten by a wave that will reduce everything to nothing and this just might be the perfect option to save several life forms.  

What was the thing I liked the most? 

It would have to be the world construction. The author was consistent with the language and environment construction in itself. 

What about the main character?

Louis Wu is a 200 year old guy, kept alive and young thanks to a plant derivate that the human species found years ago and that apparently almost everyone uses. He has lived a lot and through the years has developed a liking for being alone and far away traveling. He is supposed to be a smart and full of knowledge person, but it didn't read that way to me; he read mostly like someone full of himself.

Final thoughts

I didn't like the book...I didn't like a lot of things of the book. Teela Brown, the only main female character is portrayed as an airhead, ridiculous way of thinking, no logic at all...ugh! just frustrating. Louis, as I mentioned, is just full of himself and doesn't really bring much to the picture to be honest with you. I read someone's review saying that it was funny...really? I didn't see it, but maybe is just me. Also it was so slow!!!! I'm not a diehard Sci-Fi fan, but I expected some more action. During the first 100 pages of the book (about 30% of the book) they not even talk about Ringworld at all, is just the recruiting of the team that might be going on an expedition, but will they?. 

That said, I can see how this is a very influential book; as I said, the author is very creative with his world construction and even with language construction. I believe that probably, because this book makes part of a series, it works as just an introduction to the world. Unfortunately it did not make me want to continue the series. 

Redshirts by John Scalzi

Why I read this book?

This was the official alternative pick for the Sword and Laser Bookclub for the month of July. As it turns out, I finished it before the main pick!

What's the book about?

The story follows several new recruits from the Universal Union Capital Ship Intrepid, including Andrew Dahl. The Intrepid is known for having an exceptional amount of missions full of knowledge acquired, adventure...but also a lot of casualties, usually for the new recruits! But are this casualties inevitable? Or is there something more making them happen?

What was the thing I liked the most? 

This is the second novel I've read from Scalzi, and I loved Old Man's War. This book is very different yet as fast passed (in my opinion) as the other one. The story is quiet different too, but is very entertaining. But the part I liked the most (no spoilers) was the codas at the end.

What about the main character?

If I have to choose a main character it would be Andrew Dahl, although that would be appropriate just for the first part of the book (again, no spoilers). Once again a smart character by Scalzi. He came to the story seemingly for different reasons than adventure, yet he doesn't fear it. When the situation arises, he will be the one planning the way out...sort of. 

Final thoughts

I enjoyed this book a lot. I will admit that the first part was a bit predictable, and up to the first Coda I was planning on just giving it a 4, since it was entertaining but it wasn't giving me much more. Then the Codas happened and I was head over heels for the book.