Blood of Dragons

Robin Hobb

Book 4 in the Rain Wilds Chronicles

The wrap up of the story, the most dragon-like dragons we have yet seen as they thrive in the city built for them. And the keepers are turning to true elderlings, both from the dragons guidance and from the city memories they are partaking. Everyone is growing -- not together or apart, just growing. And the new rules are developing too as these dragons have also changed because of their journey. The down river intrigue is thicker, begging for a dramatic dragon intervention. I guess it is a sign of a well built world that even when everything in the end is solidly resolved, we still want to know more about the characters and where they go next. A bittersweet ending for the reader in that way. 

3 stars (out of 4)

City of Dragons

Robin Hobb

Book 3 in the Rain Wilds Chronicles

How do the dragons get to Kelsingra? Well, they must fly of course. And when they do, the keeper/dragon relationship changes. Add to that the parallel stories of what is happening down river in the Rain Wilds, and further down river in Chalced with the Duke who seeks dragon parts for healing. This definitely feels like an interstitial book, the big middle. But Hobb moves the story along and begins the weaving of plots that will be necessary for the big resolve. If the last book collapsed to a single thread, this book puts everything back on the loom. 

3 stars (out of 4)

Dragon Haven

 Robin Hobb

Book 2 in the Rain Wilds Chronicles

Book 2 collapses to a single story -- the keepers and dragons walking upriver to find Kelsingra. This is the story of their journey, their developing of community and the revealing of more secrets than they wanted. Alise and Sedric find their home, and the keepers are gaining confidence in their new selves. Tragedy and trauma force the issue, but in the end, the quest is (mostly) fulfilled as the caravan reaches nearish to Keslingra. At least, they can see it across the river.  

3 stars (out of 4)

The Dragon Keeper

Robin Hobb

Book 1 in the Rain Wilds Chronicles

It took a minute to get invested, but this has all the things I like in a good fantasy epic. Several stories running parallel that we know will merge or intertwine at some point. An interesting new take within a fabulous new world. In the Rain Wilds, a new batch of dragons has metamorphed, the first in a generation. Unfortunately, most of them are malformed or weak, can't fly. The characters we are following include Thymara (a Rain Wilds touched young girl who volunteers to travel with the dragons),  Sintara (a dragon queen, one of the strongest of the small herd), Alise (a woman in a horrible marriage, but a self-taught dragon expert), and the Tarman (a liveship barge with its own secrets). In this installment, the characters are all introduced and join together for their quest for Kilsingra, the mythical dragon/Elderling city. 

3 stars (out of 4)

Platform Decay

Martha Wells

Book 8 in the Murderbot Series. My biggest complaint here is that this is a novella. I want more. This is another rescue mission, another unintended consequence from System Collapse with other parts of Dr. Mensah's family. Murderbot must infiltrate a hostile space station, get to the hostages, is thrown an unseen variable that completely changes the mission plan, and adjusts to accomplish it while encountering the benefits and detriments of his humanity. In many ways, this is retread material. But Wells is also extending the rogue secunit world by expanding the family of rogues. This version just sets up the storyline, but I look forward to exploring the ethics and implications of mass emancipation in future stories. For now, I am happy to see Murderbot maturing and developing new skills. 

Still 4 stars (out of 4)

Wheel of the Infinite

Martha Wells

One of her early works (2000), this stand alone novel is exactly what I expect from Wells. Maskelle is the protagonist, an exiled shaman/sorceress who is know as the Voice of the Adversary. She is joined by Rian, a highly skilled body guard who recently abandoned his post because he got morals. The two journey across country, Maskelle having been summoned by the Celestial One (chief shaman) and find that nothing less that existence is at stake for all humanity. No big. A fascinating world that is different that other magical fantasy. The attitude and sass of Maskelle foreshadows the personality and of Murderbot some 20 years later. Love it. 

4 stars (out of 4)

The Warrior's Apprentice

Lois McMaster Bujold

Book 3 of The Vorkosigan Saga

Miles Naismith Vorkosigan is of age and planning to join the military academy. Since the emperor is also of age and inhabiting the throne, his dad is no longer the regent, but is named the Prime Minister. When Miles fails his test (his bones just can't hack it), he and Ellen (Sgt Bothari's girl and fellow Escobar War baby raised like Miles in a uterine replicator) travel to Beta Colony to visit Miles' grandmother. A series of chance meetings put Miles and Ellen on a ship to Tau Colony and their local war. Miles military logician mind get shown off as he "accidentally" creates a mercenary army and stops the planetary war. Of course there are repercussions when he gets home, but boy was that fun...

3 stars (out of 4)

Barrayar

Lois McMaster Bujold

Book 2 of The Vorkosigan Saga

Vorkosigan is named the Regent for the new Emperor (4 years old) and Naismith is his new bride. As near as I can tell, Barrayar is some version of a Tsar led Russia, with the Emperor holding together a tenuous cease of violence by the local oligarch/counts. Of course everyone assumes that Vorkosigan will seek to hold the throne when the Emperor comes of age, and therefore the next 16 years will be one assassination attempt after the other. When everything kicks off, it is Naismith who discovers and quells the rebellion with daring commando excursions behind enemy lines. For a space opera, this episode takes place entirely on planet...

What is strange about the Saga is the availability. I actually had to buy a paper version of this book since it was not available in my library. Strange, and likely to mean I won't be reading the entire series. 

3 stars (out of 4)

Shards of Honor

Lois McMaster Bujold

Book 1 of The Vorkosigan Saga

Commander Cordelia Naismith is a survey leader on a planet that is at the terminus of a "new" wormhole. She and her team are surveying the flora and fauna, the geology and preparing a report to the Beta Colony administrators so the planet is registered. They are attacked, and while most of her team gets away in the shuttle, she and one team member are injured and then rescued? by a Commander Vorkosigan, who seems to have also been left on the planet for dead by his Barrayaran buddies. Vorkosigan and Naismith turn out to be birds of a feather in terms of how they view the human condition, meaning they are fighting the same war, even though their political affiliations have put them on opposite sides. Maybe this is soft sci-fi, with the plasma reflectors and wormholes and arc guns and nerve disruptors just showing up where convenient.  But it is a fast read and sets the stage for an epic space opera series.

3 stars (out of 4)

Artemis

Andy Weir

This book was written between The Martian and Project Hail Mary. It is a departure for Weir, since it includes more than one character, but is still all about innovation and creativity and problem solving. Here we follow Jazz, a teenaged resident of the Artemis, the only permanent colony on the Moon. In the afro-sci-fi tradition, the colony was created and is managed by Kenyan Space Corp, which is a global space power. But really, earth is only a side character here. Jazz has lived nearly her whole life in Artemis and, like all teens, pushes against the hopes and expectations of her family and those in authority. Jazz's most hated comment to receive is "you have so much potential". She is forging her own path, wanting to get EVA certified, and has her side gig of smuggling contraband into Artemis. And then she gets pulled into a massive scheme to alter everything. Of course, it goes FUBAR and Jazz utilizes her engineering brain and her friends to save the day. Pretty fun, but for some reason not "page turner" like the other Weir novels. 

3 stars (out of 4)

Murderbot (series)

Martha Wells

Having watched the season 1 series, I have re-read all the murdebot novellas over the past 3 months. See the original reviews here

All Systems Red

Artificial Condition

Rogue Protocol

Exit Strategy

Network Effect

Fugitive Telemetry

System Collapse

In short, there are lots of details I don't remember so I am having fun reading these anew. I also am happy to report that my initial enthusiasm for Martha Wells and this series is warranted. This is a really fun exploration of humanity.

Still 4 stars (out of 4)

Project Hail Mary

Andy Weir

A recent offering from the author of The Martian. This time there is a strange lifeform?? that is siphoning off the energy of the sun, which will lead to sure collapse of life on earth. Junior High school teacher nee pre-eminent astrobiologist Dr. Ryland Grace is pulled into the project that will, on a short timescale, create an interstellar travel plan to go to the origin star and find out what is up. The story is told half in real time (on the Project Hail Mary ship) and half in flashback (the origin story of the project). Definitely consistent with my memory of the Martian, with lots of engineering and science that is pretty well researched and possible. For example, solving the energy problem of interstellar travel with the energy thief itself. Clever. Absolutely worth the read.

4 stars (out of 4) 

Fallen Empire Series (8-books)

Lindsay Buroker

The Fallen Empire series includes 8 books

Book 1 - Star Nomad

Book 2 - Honor's Flight

Book 3 - Starseers

Book 4 - Relic of Sorrows

Book 5 - Cleon Moon

Book 6 - Arkadian Skies

Book 7 - Perilous Hunt

Book 8 - End Game

plus a bunch of later published interstitials. These are fast reads and this review is for the entire series (1-8) but not the x.5's. 

Sort of a Star Wars-esque space opera, but I appreciate at least a little bit of "scientific reality". The setting is a single solar system (albeit with 3 suns) that was colonized by humans on generational ships long before. The system has 51 planets and moons that are inhabited and communication and travel time between the different planets is realistic. No magic teleporting hyperdrives. In the the world, the Alliance has recently "won" over the Empire - but in effect absolutely controls maybe 3 planets, with most of the system moving toward chaos or local control. In this world, Alliance fighter pilot Alisa Marchenko finds herself stranded on a remote planet and basically forgotten. She and fellow stranded Alliance soldier Mica (primarily a mechanic) go to the junkyard to recover Marchenko's family freighter spaceship, fix it up, and return home to her daughter. At the ship, the two encounter Leonidas, an Imperial cyborg who had the same designs. To get off planet, these "enemies" team up and eventually "team up". 

The series uses Marchenko's kidnapped daughter as the main plot driver throughout, and explores post-war politics, religious freedom, the slippery slope of "practical morality", elitist class systems and personal loyalty. Everything I like in a good space opera. Definitely recommend this for diversionary reading.

4 stars (out of 4)

Assassin's Quest

Robin Hobb

Book 3 of the Farseer Trilogy

The final book of the trilogy opens with a bleak outlook. Regal is in charge and has plundered the Duchies for his own personal gain. Anyone with an inclination to good is either dead, missing or powerless and the Red Raiders control much of the coast. With this backdrop, we are treated to a true fantasy quest. A cohort develops over time, evil pursues, magic pulls and hinders at the same time, prophecies abound and the fate of the Six Duchies is at stake. A true epic. And maybe in fantasy, quest form, sometimes the quest drags on, and the whole thing wraps up remarkably quickly. But let me assure you, Fitz is the reluctant hero (the catalyst) for everything that happens and is able to walk off into the sunset. An admirable conclusion. 

4 stars (out of 4)

Royal Assassin

Robin Hobb

Book 2 of the Farseer Trilogy

As the story starts, Fitz is in Buckkeep, the Red Raiders escalate their raids on the coastal Duchies, and it is clear that Prince Regal has designs on the thrown for which he is only 2nd in line. With the raider problem not having a realistic solution, King-in-waiting Verity leaves Buckkeep to search for the Elderlings, mystical creatures who helped keep raiders at bay in prior generations. Which leaves Fitz and his cohort to resist the evils of Regal. He does... until he doesn't. It is hard to remember that Fitz is still just a teen, and that for all of his skills and talents (the Wit and the Skill), he hasn't really been trained in any of them nor really understand the potential or the dangers he faces. Like most teens, he is invincible in his own mind, and knows better than his elders. Reading this through the eyes of a brash teen who simultaneously lacks self-confidence makes for fascinating story development. Especially as his world crashes down around him.

4 stars (out of 4)

Book of Ile-Rien

Martha Wells

This book is actually a combo of Wells first two novels, where she creates the Ile-Rien world. It includes:

• The Element of Fire, and 
• The Death of the Necromancer. 

The first (Element of Fire) is set a century before the Ile-Rien trilogy of Tremaine. So really deep background (since I am reading it last). In this story, it takes a while (first third?) to figure out who really is the protagonist. I can definitely see a less polished writer in Wells than her later works. Some meandering descriptions as she works to build the world. Even so, an engaging story of captain of the Queens Guard Thomas Boniface, and a returning rogue sorceress Kade Carrion, who also happens to be part fayre. In many ways a classic political thriller, with dysfunctional rulers and coup attempts that require sorcery and subterfuge. In the end, my biggest complaint is that Wells never came back to Kade Carrion for more storytelling. 

The second (Death of the Necromancer) is set 100 years later, with Nicholas Valiarde as a young mafiosio in Vienne. There are only brief references to the characters and story of The Element of Fire. The main plot driver here is that Valiarde's foster father and mentor (Edouard Villar) was executed for necromancy after a false conviction, Nicholas entire driving purpose is to enact revenge on the perpetrator. And while this driver is maintained throughout the novel, it is effectively a wrapper for the real story, which introduces us to Valiardes crew, the sorcery spheres created by Viller and Arisilde, and live in the Ile-Rien capital of Vienne. 

Overall, this is a fantastic world. I would read more

4 stars (out of 4)

The Gate of Gods

Martha Wells

Book 3 in the The Fall of Ile-Rien

Wrapping up the trilogy, Tremaine and her cohort (including her newly returned father) take the battle to the Guardier. They have a theory about how the Guardier sorcery works and are continually discovering more about the staging worlds that are used for transport. Simultaneously, they are increasingly surprised by how much they do know. Tremaine, ever the confident schemer, has an idea that they will win before others have that confidence, so she also begins thinking about life after. And those decisions are nearly as difficult as the ones made in battle. All to say, I appreciate how Wells doesn't ignore the interpersonal and emotional weight that comes with conflict. A nice completion to a world building fantasy trilogy.

4 stars (out of 4)

Assassin's Apprentice

Robin Hobb

Book 1 of the Farseer Trilogy

I think this is the beginning of nice long diversion. Hobb has four trilogies in this Realm of the Elderlings world, and based on book 1, there are lots of possibilities. I like the fantasy and magic. I like that not everything is explained all at once (we will see if I keep liking that :), but at the same time enough clarity is provided so I am not just reading large portions of books with general confusion. Fitz is our protagonist and this story covers his discovery (at age 6) to his late teens, and all of his training and learning. Fitz is the illegitimate son of the heir to the Farseer throne. So political intrigue. He is largely oblivious to political intrigue, but clearly intelligent and his own person. So when he is secretly apprenticed to the kings assassin, and his talents are used to help rid the country of soulless victims of the Red Raiders, and he placed as a pawn in inter-kingdom diplomacy and subterfuge - Fitz doesn't always just "go along". A really good built world. What's next?

4 stars (out of 4)

The Ships of Air

Martha Wells

Book 2 in the The Fall of Ile-Rien

This volume takes place mostly in Cineth, and Tremaine and her crew are using the parallel world as an escape hatch of epic size. And along the way, they are actually able to travel to the Guardier homeworld, which comes with its own surprises. Like the first volume, there is plenty of depthening as we, the readers, are continually let into more of the secret at the same time as Tremaine. I feel like I am discovering at the same rate that she is, and the confusion about what is really going on is part of the puzzle and fun of the reading. 

4 stars (out of 4)

The Wizard Hunters

Martha Wells

Book 1 in the The Fall of Ile-Rien

You know I love Martha Wells. Can't believe I hadn't read this series. On the surface, Tremaine is a fragile young protagonist without much self confidence. She lives in a world where a magical, invading force (The Guardier) is invading her country Ile-Rien. There seems to be no hope. But Tremaine is also full of mystery and strength beyond her own knowledge. We follow Tremaine as she discovers that the Guardier are actually invading by using a parallel universe as a staging grounds for the invasion. And that in this parallel world, there are both potential allies and enemies. I love the slow development of this plot, revealing the magic and the reality, the differences between the worlds as a way to tell the story of what Ile-Rien actually is. It is going to be a fun ride. 

4 stars (out of 4)