Books read in June 2012
Jul. 1st, 2012 01:12 pmLeviathan Wakes - James S A Corey
Last Call: The rise and fall of Prohibition - Daniel Okrent
A Clash of Kings - George R R Martin
Swift - R J Anderson
A Storm of Swords part 1: Steel and Snow - George R R Martin
Captain Vorpatril's Alliance - Lois McMaster Bujold
Yes, this is a paltry lot and I am ashamed. On the other hand, the GRRMs contain, like, the textual equivalent of five YA novels (and about as much rape, if the YA novels are Issue Books). And Last Call took forever. It was an okay read, not very well written, but it just never seemed to end! Which, I guess, could also have been said for Prohibition at the time.
Leviathan Wakes is another Hugo nominee. It was the first I actually enjoyed reading, being a straight-up action-adventure with a heavy dash of mystery and some slightly self-conscious noir. And also spaceships, which I approve of in general. Unfortunately, I feel like I can't actually give it my first preference in voting, because it just doesn't deserve it. No new ideas, plot-wise, and a few diversions into hinkiness that made me side-eye the author(s) a bit, and wonder how the issues would have been dealt with in the hands of writers who weren't white men. Which is sad, because they obviously put a lot of effort into writing a diverse range of stereotype-avoiding characters, and in general did quite a good job. (Actually, now I think of it, possibly [female character] winding up in a refrigerator had more to do with the conventions of noir than anything else. But it still sat ill.)
Things I wholeheartedly loved: Swift, which took![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rj_anderson's faery series away from its previous settings and characters. Apparently this has earned her some hate mail, which is stupid, since the new characters and places are fascinating. And the only familiar character is Martin, who would be the leather pants faery woobified by fandom if she had that kind of fandom, but he's not suddenly forgiven for his past sins etc.
Woobies I'm less in love with: nothing will ever convince me that Byerly Vorrutyer is remotely interesting, but luckily he doesn't overstay his welcome in Captain Vorpatril's Alliance. I'm not sure if Ivan Vorpatril is a particularly interesting character either, but he's entertaining, which is just as good. (I've realised that my dream Barrayar novel these days involves Gregor and Duv FIGHTING CRIME, with Alys as their long-suffering boss.)
(Because I was looking for it, I feel compelled to note that we STILL don't know what Alys's Vormaidenname was. I think Bujold must be taunting me personally.)
Last Call: The rise and fall of Prohibition - Daniel Okrent
A Clash of Kings - George R R Martin
Swift - R J Anderson
A Storm of Swords part 1: Steel and Snow - George R R Martin
Captain Vorpatril's Alliance - Lois McMaster Bujold
Yes, this is a paltry lot and I am ashamed. On the other hand, the GRRMs contain, like, the textual equivalent of five YA novels (and about as much rape, if the YA novels are Issue Books). And Last Call took forever. It was an okay read, not very well written, but it just never seemed to end! Which, I guess, could also have been said for Prohibition at the time.
Leviathan Wakes is another Hugo nominee. It was the first I actually enjoyed reading, being a straight-up action-adventure with a heavy dash of mystery and some slightly self-conscious noir. And also spaceships, which I approve of in general. Unfortunately, I feel like I can't actually give it my first preference in voting, because it just doesn't deserve it. No new ideas, plot-wise, and a few diversions into hinkiness that made me side-eye the author(s) a bit, and wonder how the issues would have been dealt with in the hands of writers who weren't white men. Which is sad, because they obviously put a lot of effort into writing a diverse range of stereotype-avoiding characters, and in general did quite a good job. (Actually, now I think of it, possibly [female character] winding up in a refrigerator had more to do with the conventions of noir than anything else. But it still sat ill.)
Things I wholeheartedly loved: Swift, which took
rj_anderson's faery series away from its previous settings and characters. Apparently this has earned her some hate mail, which is stupid, since the new characters and places are fascinating. And the only familiar character is Martin, who would be the leather pants faery woobified by fandom if she had that kind of fandom, but he's not suddenly forgiven for his past sins etc. Woobies I'm less in love with: nothing will ever convince me that Byerly Vorrutyer is remotely interesting, but luckily he doesn't overstay his welcome in Captain Vorpatril's Alliance. I'm not sure if Ivan Vorpatril is a particularly interesting character either, but he's entertaining, which is just as good. (I've realised that my dream Barrayar novel these days involves Gregor and Duv FIGHTING CRIME, with Alys as their long-suffering boss.)
(Because I was looking for it, I feel compelled to note that we STILL don't know what Alys's Vormaidenname was. I think Bujold must be taunting me personally.)
