Book Review: The Steel Remains by Richard K. Morgan

In preparation for my reading of Richard K. Morgan's third book in the the Land Fit for Heroes, titled The Dark Defiles, I re-listened to The Steel Remains, which is the first book in this series.  I've read/listened to this volume four times now, and my impressions remain the same: Richard K. Morgan transplanted his kinetic style of writing, which I first encountered in Altered Carbon, and applied it to a fantasy/noir setting.  The results are a bit mixed: Morgan's style keeps the story moving in a fast pace, no sentence wasted, no unnecessary chapters.  It worked well in Altered Carbon, whose 'hard sci-fi' noir elements read like an action thriller in book form (rivaled only by the Expanse series by James S.A. Corey), and you can almost imagine how it's going to look like in movie form.  Here in The Steel Remains, you don't really have much time to smell the flowers, since the characters are busy moving from one point to another, kicking ass all the way through.

You have three protagonists, reminding gamers of Bioware games (Mass Effect, Dragon Age) in their banter as well as placing them into 'character classes' (you get a warrior type, a berserker/barbarian type and a thief type).  There is sorcery, though it's limited to 'an elder race' with science of a sort being a specialty of another 'race'.  The book serves as an introduction to these characters and eventually their paths meet, in their attempts to figure out what's going on.

I appreciate the (relatively) low stakes here: no end of the world stuff (yet); everything's personal (another Morgan trope) and violence and sex abound.  The latter bit deserves a bit of caution: if you are bothered by depiction of gay sex, you might want to skip a chapter or two.  This is especially disconcerting in audiobook form, since I had to listen to Simon Vance describe the act in quite explicit detail; made the worst by the fact that the prolific Vance also reads a lot of my other favourite books, and I could not quite get the image out of my head as Vance reads  Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series (it can be a bit disconcerting, to say the least).

But, the world building is there and it's extensive: you have an alternate earth (conjecture mine), with multi-dimensional travel, at least three cultures / countries taken from your usual historical Earth sources.  You have some form of magic and scientific system sketched out, as well as a pantheon of gods and a couple of religions -- extensive stuff!

Unfortunately, given RKM's tight writing style, it feels as if you have blinders attached to your head: you just don't get to look around while you're passing through: no plot fat to speak of, it's all lean story-telling from start to finish.

There was a bit near the end though, where the all too sudden transition felt jarring: one minute the characters are apart, the next, they're all together:  (SEMI-SPOILER: at least we can blame divine intervention for that I suppose END SPOILER).

This book is only slightly better than Woken Furies (Takeshi Kovac's Series, Book 3, of which Altered Carbon was the first of that series) in my book (pun intended).  Woken Furies was the weakest book in that series, which felt more like a money grab -- an attempt at exploiting the goodwill of Takeshi Kovac fans (as well as the character himself) for monetary gain.  You can almost feel the author's weariness as he gamely soldiered on in his efforts to finish the story and cash in his paycheck.  Perhaps he needed to pay off a Porsche, or settle a lost bet.

Even so, I am merely nitpicking: I loved The Steel Remains on first reading, just not head-over-heels the way I was with Altered Carbon (the bar was set rather high).  The next book isn't bad (I'll write up another review, of course), and I can't wait to reach to the third and final book in this short, but sweet series.

Verdict: Recommended 3.5/5

TL;DR:
++ Well written. Fast Paced. Not an ounce of plot-fat.
+ Interesting characters, and there are three protagonists
+/- This book is sometimes classified as LGBT fiction.  Consider yourself informed
+ Extensive world-building, though I wish we could spend more time in that world RKM built, instead of zooming through
- Author uses the word BANDLIGHT (sort of like Moonlight, except there's no moon and the 'band' is probably made up of materials from the moon blowing up. Or something) too many times

Details:
Author: Richard K. Morgan
Genre: Fantasy, Noir
Book Length: 432 Pages (Hardcover Version)
Published: January 20, 2009
Amazon Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Steel-Remains-Richard-K-Morgan/dp/0345493036/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=
Followed By: The Cold Commands

Book Review: The Republic of Thieves (Gentlemen Bastards 3) by Scott Lynch

Review:
I did not like The Republic of Thieves as I did the first two book of the Gentlemen Bastards series. At least, not at first.  It wasn't the usual book of plot twists and hateful villains: it was more about the narrative, the world-building.  It was about Locke Lamora's past (and therefore a bit about Jean Tannen and the rest of the crew as well), and also about his future, though it wasn't until the end where we were given clues as to where this series might potentially be headed towards.

The book is divided into two parts: one half covering Locke's childhood, while he was in the process of learning his trade.  The other half covered his latest job, this time in Karthain, where he faces the Bondsmagi who have been hounding him ever since he encountered one of their own in the first book.

I wasn't too crazy about the second part of the book: it began a bit too tedious, then devolved into Locke the do-it-all.  It got better as it got to the last third of the story, and the payoff was well worth the tedium.

The other half which dealt with Locke's childhood was more enjoyable to read: this part focused on his first courtship with the 'mythical' Sabetha -- the love of Locke's life.  It overlapped with the other part of the story, though not by much.  The two timelines gave us cliffhangers, as the point of view went from one to the other.

All in all, this is a slightly different kind of book in the ever growing series.  It's not bad, just different, and just as enjoyable to read, as it is to finish.  As it is, I cannot wait for the next book in the series (and I hope it does not take 7 years).

Verdict: Recommended 3.5/5

TL;DR:
+ We get more details about Locke's and the Gentlemen Bastards' early years
+/- The courtship of Locke and Sabetha can be a bit tedious
- No real villain here, at least, none that inspires the sort of hate the first two books did
+ Long read (or listen), quite satisfying
+ Audiobook version was narrated well.  Michael Page the narrator (of all three books) is pretty much the voice of this series

Details:
Author: Scott Lynch
Genre: Fantasy
Book Length: 704 Pages (Hardcover Version)
Published: July 29, 2014
Amazon Link:  http://www.amazon.com/The-Republic-Thieves-Gentleman-Bastards/dp/0553588966
Preceded By: The Republic of Thieves

Followed By: The Thorn of Emberlain 

Anime Review: Aldnoah Zero

TL;DR:
+ Aliens VS Earth!
+ Nicely designed mechs
- Super/Do-it-all Protagonist
+ Deals with Politics (though simplified) and Racism
+ Story is set in a realistic background (physics, political)
+ Art is pretty good.  CG doesn't look obvious.

Review:
I grew up on Voltes V, Daimos and other giant robot, earth versus aliens themed anime.  I spent my college years devouring (and trying to make sense of) Evangelion and its copycats (RahXephon).  I liked Aldnoah Zero well enough, and while it's hardly groundbreaking, it's very well made and was enjoyable enough.

Your protagonists are high-school kids, though at least their participation in the Earth-Vers (Mars) war is handled in an acceptable manner (they're basically required to go through military training, by virtue of an earlier war with Mars).

The other side is your stereotypical European-Feudal society, albeit one that wields a bigger, higher technology stick.  Truth be told, they all looked the same, despite the fact that they used titles in one form or another (count, maybe a baron or two) and none of them were memorable.

The mechs on both sides are the star of the show -- both the simpler Terran mechs and the more complex Martian Kataphrakts were very well done.  I do feel that combat was a bit... oversimplified, with the Martians trouncing the Terrans at nearly every turn (except when Mr. Protagonist saves the day, of course).

Each of the Martian mechs had a particular gimmick (dimensional barrier, flying robot knuckles, plasma blade, etc. etc.) and that each mech was limited to that particular ability (which was inevitably used against them).  Would've been fun to see how the Orbital Knights (the nobility cum military arm of the Martian Empire) divvied these abilities up among themselves, and how many of them would've died to have the privilege of getting Rocket Punch as their Kataphrakts main ability.

Well, it's no more silly than the robots in Pacific Rim (3 armed mech to for a 3 pilot team?).

Well, plot holes aside, I quite enjoyed watching the series, though the ending was a cliffhanger.  At least there's a part 2 coming this 2015, which I'll definitely be looking forward to watching.

Verdict: Recommended 3.5/5

Details:
Genre: Sci-Fi, Realistic Mecha
Episodes: 12
Aired: July-September, 2014 (Part 2 Coming 2015)

Book Review: Red Seas Under Red Skies (Gentlemen Bastards 2) by Scott Lynch

TL;DR:
+/- Starts out a bit slow, but gathers steam after a while.  Can be a bit dragging at times.
++ Still your favourite characters.  A new cast of hateful villains are well matched for our favourite pair.
++ Just like the first book, nothing goes as planned.
+/- Decent ending, but you know there's a follow-up novel (which is already out, thank the gods).

Review:
Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen return in what has fast become my favourite low-fantasy pair of scoundrels, and, of course, they're up to no good. The book picks up from where the previous book left off, with greater emphasis on the relationship between Locke and Jean.

The book is pretty long, with the pair going from one impossible situation to another, and their plans becoming more and more convoluted as they struggle to survive against the odds.  As the title implies, a big portion of the book occurs at sea, though this doesn't really take up the majority of the story.   The naval portions are well done, though it's no Patrick O'Brian.

The main highlight for this book is still the developing relationship between our two thieves: there are times when their bromance seem to be unraveling at the seams, as the tension of their situation runs high and higher still.  This part is done quite well and made me love them both all the more.

Of course, this book is a must read if you loved the first one.  I'm on to the next book (The Republic of Thieves) and I'll probably going through it real quick, only to wait years for the next book in the Gentlement Bastards series.

Verdict: Recommended 3.5/5

Details:
Author: Scott Lynch
Genre: Fantasy
Book Length: 576 Pages (Hardcover Version)
Published: July 31, 2007
Amazon Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Seas-Under-Skies-Gentleman-Bastards/dp/0553588958
Preceded By: The Lies of Locke Lamora
Followed By: The Republic of Thieves

Book Review: Half a King by Joe Abercrombie

TL;DR:

+++ Very fast paced, very hard to stop reading

++ Interesting protagonist, with the right sense of vulnerability and ability, and a nice set of supporting characters

++ Twists aplenty and nicely executed

+/- Not as long as I wanted it to be, but was good while the pages lasted

Review:

“A fast-paced tale of betrayal and revenge that grabbed me from page 1 and refused to let go.”—George R. R. Martin

That line sums it up, from someone who knows best.  Half a King is like your A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones novel distilled into its essence and with the sex bits taken out.  The story is pretty much your typical medieval fantasy fare: successor wars, betrayal, revenge and with dirt and blood rubbed all over the pages.  The plot is pretty straightforward in that sense, and there are twists aplenty.  I finished the book in less than two days -- it was THAT entertaining.

Worldbuilding is there, though it's tightly integrated into the plot.  As Amazon labels it as Shattered Sea Book 1, I'm hoping it wouldn't take too much time to get to the next book, and that it won't span across a dozen volumes.  Well, maybe it would be nice if there would be 12 books in this series, as long as each of them ends as satisfyingly as the first one did.

The book isn't really about innovating, in fact, you can see the similarity between this book and other books (Game of Thrones, Bernard Cornwell books) and movies (13th Warrior comes to mind), but it's just so well done, I can't recommend it enough.  I just wish it were just a bit longer.

Verdict: highly recommended 4/5

Details:

Author: Joe Abercrombie

Genre: Fantasy

Book Length: 354 Pages (Hardcover Version)

Published: July 15, 2014

Amazon Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Half-King-Shattered-Sea-Abercrombie/dp/0804178321

Book Review: Spark A Novel by John Twelve Hawks

TL;DR:

++ Very Noir

++ Very interesting character and character development

++ Realistic setting, well fleshed-out world (very Picketty)

++ Well paced, quite a page turner

++ Just the right length

Review:
Imagine all the favourite bits of Luc Besson's greatest hits: Leon the Professional, Le Femme Nikita, Transporter, heck, even Taken, and mix it with a dash of Hitman (the game series, mind) and set it in a Strossian x Picketty near future sci-fi noir fest and that's Spark: A Novel for you.

The story is pretty simple: an assassin whose neurological disorder allows him to accomplish his corporate-sponsored assignments effectively.  He has a set of rules that allows him to barely function as a member of society.  He has no sense of sentiment, no sense of morality, no right or wrong.  Despite that, his seeming alienness, he remains quite relatable, particularly in his unintentionally humorous:

“The music was as tasteless as the rice pudding. People sang about losing love instead of something important—like losing their car keys”

I especially like how he breaks down seemlingly complex situations into charts, just like your favourite game or book review.  One unusual thing about the novel are the many-numerous figures and drawings peppering the text (describing various ways by which the protagonist copes with the world around him).  It reminds me of that Hyperspace novel with its even stranger drawings.

I haven't had this much fun with a book since Altered Carbon and while the book ends quite satisfactorily, I'm not sure what I'd feel about sequels (should there be any) or more books in series: just like your typical Luc Besson movie, he would've done the world a favour by not making Transporter 2 or 3 (4 and 5 are actually planned out, according to IMDB).

Details:

Verdict: highly recommended 5/5

Author: John Twelve Hawks

Genre: Science Fiction, Noir

Book Length: 320 Pages (Hardcover Version)

Published: October 7, 2014

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Spark-Novel-John-Twelve-Hawks/dp/0385538677

Anime Review: Hanamayata

TL;DR: Hanamayata
+ You get to see the lead character, Naru Sekiya, grow from a super shy girl into someone less so
+ This is pretty much about friendship between middle school  girls
+ Yasakoi (folk dance) animation is pretty nice and fluid
- I'm not really the target audience for this series

I watched Hanayamata after reading Kotaku's Talk Amongst Yourselves recommendation, which is to say I didn't exactly go in blindly.  However, after watching an episode while at the gym, I was ready to move onto another series, out of embarrassment than anything (the entire thing looks so... girly).  However, having soldiered on, I found the story to be pretty inoffensive, perfect for younger audiences (of the female sort, I suppose).  It basically chronicles the budding friendship of five middle school girls and the formation of a Yasokai (traditionally a Japanese Folk Dance, now a freestyle dance).

Animation quality is pretty typical, except for the Yasokai dance sequences (even during practice): it's just very fluid and seems to almost be motion captured.  Probably the highlight

If you're looking for something non-stressful and feel-good to watch, this series is it.

Book Review: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

TL;DR: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
+ Easy to read, straightforward text
+ Low fantasy, with alchemy, magic and pre-industrial tech
+ Buddy-novel cum heist/thievery, interesting cast of characters
++ HATEFUL villains
++ Focused story-telling, relatively fast paced
+ Intermediate world-building
++ Quite Long!
+/- Sans Romance
++ Satisfying conclusion

4/5 Very enjoyable read/listen.  Highly recommended.

With the release of Book 3 of the Gentlemen Bastards series by Scott Lynch, I gave the first book in that series, The Lies of Locke Lamora a go.

Having found the first few chapters an easy read, I switched to audiobook format (so I can listen while driving/walking/taking out kitty poop).  Michael Page did a credible job narrating the book (and he does so again for the next two books), but his characterisations are a bit limited (thus, confusing).

I enjoyed the book's low-stakes (in the greater scheme of things), low-fantasy setting, which focused mostly on Locke Lamora and his buddy Jean Tannen as well as the rest of their gang of thieving, heisting Gentleman Bastards.  While the Gentleman Bastards are far from your troop of white knights, they're quite likable and I did get quite attached.  The villains, on the other hand, are positively hateful while remaining grounded and believable -- no evil for evil's sake here, they're just right bastards.

The book is fairly long, though it moves along in a brisk pace with little padding.  World building is done well and quite unobtrusively, and while the fictional pre-industrial Venice is not that dissimilar from the historic one, with its Italian sounding names and places, it  is quite well fleshed out and believable.

Oh, magic is there, but it is quite low key: it's quite the practical sort, almost like technology, though alchemy and more physical science is quite present.

One thing that's fairly odd about this novel is the lack of love interest(s), unless you count the Bromance between Locke and Jean to be one (purely platonic, I think) or the long distance relationship between Locke and Sabetha (another member of their gang).  It is quite similar to the Lord of the Rings in that regards.

All-in-all, I enjoyed listening to The Lies of Locke Lamora: interesting characters, fleshed out world, despicable villain and a fast pace makes the pages fly.  I'm glad I have two more books to look forward to.  Give it a go if you like your fantasy books less wandy and more gritty.

Book Review: Chaplain's War - Brad R. Torgersen

I've always loved military Sci-Fi (Starship Troopers being one of my all time favourite books). The Chaplain's War fits the mold:  boot camp experience -- check, space marines -- check, monstrous alien bugs -- check, wholescale slaughter -- check.

However, rather than have another gung-ho Johnny Rico bug-squishing super-soldier, you get Harrison Barlow, assistant chaplain.  This sort of reminds me of the the latter parts of the Ender series, which is more of a talkie than a fightie.

The world-building is on the slim side: little to no page-time was given to detailing technologies, weaponry or even alien hierarchy.  I found this to be good, as it didn't get in the way of story progression.  In fact, I finished the book in two days, proof that it was quite a page-turner.

Religion and spirituality plays a big part in the story, though it was never pushy or preachy about it.

All in all, I highly recommend this book:  if you like sci-fi or military fiction, this is perfect casual reading for you.