Please Don’t Judge My Book by Its Cover

How many times have you seen the cover art for an anticipated book and wanted to scream? How many books have you passed over because of that terrible cover, only to find out later that it actually is a quality read? This is the long way of saying that I generally loathe cover art for SF books. It really makes me want to hurl, preferably all over those Harlequin romance wanna-be covers.

Yes, I often choose not read books in public because of the silly cover art; or I’ll choose a book with relatively benign cover art to avoid those accusing glances from the guy sitting next to me on the plane; sometimes I just leave the jacket at home.

Why is the cover art so bad? Is it because publishers think their audience demands these types of covers? Do people actually want them – am I alone in my cover-art despair? Look at the European versions – while they are often bad, they are almost universally better than we get here in the US. Is there a conspiracy among the literary elite, the proverbial ‘Ivory Tower’, to keep SF from gaining any respect by dressing it in ridiculous clothing? Am I just searching for excuses for my insecurities?

Now, I know that while I rant on this, things are actually getting better. There are actually ‘epic fantasy’ series out there without dragons and maidens and other clichés on the cover. You can pick up a ‘space opera’ that doesn’t have some strange looking planet with a spaceship gracing its cover. Some of the latest ‘urban fantasy’ and ‘magical realism’ have truly great art on the covers, often creepy at that. Are publishers and cover artists finally getting it? I really hope so.

I’ll restrain my desire to douse the SF section in my local bookstore with gasoline, light it, and cackle maniacally in the flickering light from my soapbox, for now anyway. But, please, any of you who can actually have a say in this matter, stop insulting my intelligence with such truly terrible and juvenile cover art.

Politics in Fantasy: When Diplomacy Fails Will No-God or Evil Monkey Prevail?

Fight! Come quick, we’ve got a real-life rumble going on! Quick!

SLAM! Oooo…that’s going to leave a mark. SMACK! He didn’t just do that! SCHZAAM! What? Holy literary elitist, blogger!

Anyway, it’s fun to follow. First, author Jeff VanderMeer wrote this essay on politics in fantasy. Then author R Scott Bakker wrote this essay in response. Now the comments have moved to VanderMeer’s blog and the back-and-forth really takes off.

I haven't yet read any of VanderMeer's novels, but from reading his blog, and what little I know of Bakker, these seem like two guys who'd get along quite nicely. At some point in the exchange, it has become less about critical response on their opinions and degenerated into personal attacks (if still intellectual in nature). In short, it's a pissing contest, and while both seem to know that they should call it off, I get the sense that they are preparing for the next round on off screen.

So, being the peacemaking kind of guy I am (and since I reside in Arizona), I have the perfect solution as a self-declared moderator (not to be confused with moderation). Tequila! Yes, tequila will solve this issue once and for all. Either they will become best friends, kill each other, forget everything about this, have a fun story that begins “When I woke up in the Mexican jail…”, or just miss the toilet.

I suppose that however it turns out, it’s been an entertaining read.

The Warrior Prophet by R. Scott Bakker

The Warrior Prophet is the second book in Bakker’s landmark trilogy, the Prince of Nothing. As I wrote in my recent review of book one, The Darkness That Comes Before, this series has received much hype and critical acclaim. It deserves every bit of this, and more.

Bakker picks up the story where The Darkness That Comes Before leaves off; the Holy War is beginning its long march to liberate the holy city of Shimeh. Kellhus continues to learn from those around him and gains the trust of Mandate Schoolman Drusas Achamian and Conriyian Prince Proyas. Cnaiür’s prowess in war and knowledge of Kianese tactics proves valuable to both Kellhus and the Holy War itself, in spite of long held prejudices.

Great, tragic, and lucky battles ensue. The revelation of the skin spies remains largely in secret, but forces the hands of the Scarlett Spires into action. Kellhus’s influence continues to grow as he becomes a threat to the Great and the Holy War itself.

The brilliance of Bakker’s writing reveals itself in the simplicity of its presentation. By no means does this imply these books are simple. Logic and philosophy are the tools of Kellhus and a means with which Bakker creates immense depth and humanity to his characters and world. Religious parallels infuse the story and raise important questions about good, evil, damnation, redemption, and the origins of it all. However, Bakker is not heavy handed in his presentation of such important and often controversial issues. The story and its characters pull us in, and hold on with a tenacious grip.

Yes, I’m on the Bakker bandwagon, and loving it. He has lived up to and surpassed the hype, marking his place with the likes of the new generation of epic fantasy and fantastic literature. Bakker simply must be read. However, there is one important warning: the world Bakker has created is decidedly male. The books are in no way anti-woman, but the cultures of Bakker’s world are, and this can be difficult to stomach at times – of course that’s probably the point.

On my 10-point rating scale where 5 is a take-it or leave-it novel that is not recommended, and 10 is unsurpassed, The Warrior Prophet rates an 8.5. Recommendations from me don’t come much higher than that.

Related reviews: The Darkness That Comes Before, The Thousandfold Thought, and The Prince of Nothing Trilogy. Interview.

God’s Speed Robert Jordan

James Oliver Rigney, known to countless fans as Robert Jordan, has sent Locus a tragic letter regarding his health and he confirms it at his blog. Rumors have abounded for years that RJ has cancer and will be unable to finish his goliath series, The Wheel of Time. It appears that there is some truth to those rumors, though it was unknown until now. RJ has a rare blood disease that will require chemotherapy and bone marrow work. Long-term survival prospects are possible, but he has to beat the odds.

Of course my thoughts and prayers go out to RJ and his family, and I hope for a speedy and full recovery. As many others are saying, it seems that he's got the right attitude for recovery.

Interesting how a medical tragedy for a man I’ve never met helps put things in perspective. What’s the origin of my sadness for RJ – is it my selfish desire for him to finish his series, or genuine care for his well being? I hope it’s the latter, but I’d be lying if I denied the former. Health first, writing later. Good luck Mr. Jordan, and know that the thoughts and prayers of many people world wide are with you.

Satellite Television: an Allegory?

I received a notice from my home owners association not long ago, and for once, it wasn’t a bad notice. A local satellite distributor was offering a discount rate on digital satellite TV good until 2008, with no installation or equipment fees, and no penalties for leaving after 1 year. Now, I’m a basic cable kind of guy. I need basic cable, but not much more. However, this offer represents a saving versus the basic cable I have, plus much more product. This was an offer I wasn’t going to let pass me by.

So, the installation comes and goes, and I’m happy to have the new system (it takes much better advantage of the sound system I already have in place). Part of this offer is the usual hook to get addicted to more products – all the Stars channels for free for 3 months. And of course, a free preview of the HBO and Cinemax programs for an undetermined amount of time.

So, my Saturday afternoon and evening becomes ‘stare at the boob tube’ time (my wife was away at a conference all day and into the evening, after which she went strait to bed). I watch various movies and such on the ‘free’ previews – National Treasure, Catwoman, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Sin City, Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban, Spider Man 2, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, some of those Cinemax ‘after dark’ programs, etc.

I couldn’t help but notice a bit of a parallel between some of the reading I’ve done, discussed, and the content of various genre message boards. National Treasure = The DaVinci Code (or any formulaic, surficially entertaining but shallower than the average puddle, book), Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is self representative, Catwoman and Sin City = comic books, Harry Potter and LotR as themselves, and Skinemax = vampire erotica?

I further think on things, and begin to appreciate more why I generally prefer reading to watching TV. You see, even with all the new channels and options, some time soon, it will feel like there is nothing interesting on TV (I need not discuss TV’s destruction of imagination). This is not a problem I have with books. There is always another book I want to read.

I did not watch TV on Sunday.

The Darkness That Comes Before by R Scott Bakker

Not since my introduction to A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin or The Malazan Tale of the Fallen by Steven Erikson has a new ‘epic fantasy’ series been recommended so highly. So, does Bakker live up to the hype? Yes. The first installment in the Prince of Nothing trilogy, The Darkness That Comes Before, earns Bakker the right to be named with the likes of Martin and Erikson, in the new breed of ‘epic fantasy’. I can only hope that the remaining installments, The Warrior Prophetand The Thousandfold Thought, continue the trend – and the hype indicates this is so.

Bakker takes the traditional ‘epic fantasy’ model and molds into something familiar, yet strikingly new. There is a young man of noble lineage from a far corner of the world seeking his destiny, sort of. There is a dark lord that threatens a new apocalypse, maybe. A seasoned warrior of unquestionable loyalty faithfully follows our prince, kind of but not really. A wise sorcerer guides our prince to his destiny, umm…not quite. Beautiful maidens are rescued and complete the characters, or not. All the usual players are present, but roles differ.

The Mandate School of Sorcery protects ancient, coveted secrets and guards against the return of the Consult – nonman followers of No-God who destroyed ancient civilization. However, the Consult has remained silent for centuries and only the Mandate even believe in its existence. Now a holy war is brewing and Mandate Schoolman Drusas Achamian must negotiate a fine line to stay alive and answer the most important question: Is the Consult involved.

Dûnyain monk Anasûrimbor Kellhus journeys south at a mysterious summons from his long absent father. His training of the mind allows manipulation of common men with little effort, and his training of the sword allows removal of obstacles with ease. Warrior-chief of a warrior society of the steppe, Cnaiür survives treachery in a great battle. Cnaiür discovers Kellhus at a scene of carnage and a connection is realized, Cnaiür knows Kellhus’s father. He joins Kellhus in his quest into uncertainty.

Bakker’s characters are flawed and simple determination of good guys versus bad guys remains illusive. Philosophy abounds with central characters of a monk and a sorcerer of schooling and the back-drop of holy war and Bakker achieves surprising depth in a story that is relatively easy to read.

What makes The Darkness That Comes Before difficult to rate is its clear place in a larger work – but a single part of a whole. So…on my 10-point scale, where 5 is a take-it or leave-novel that is generally not recommended and 10 is an unsurpassed novel, The Darkness That Comes Before rates 7.5 to 8. This is a must read for any fan of the genre, and a read that can capture fans traditionally opposed to ‘epic fantasy’.

The Darkness That Comes Before is part one of the Prince of Nothing trilogy – a very important distinction. While the end is not a cliff-hanger, it is in many ways an arbitrary ending without any resolution. This book is a beginning, but the good news is that this is a completed trilogy, not another unfinished series, and I look forward to its resolution.

Related reviews: The Warrior Prophet, The Thousandfold Thought, and The Prince of Nothing Trilogy. Interview.

The Bonehunters by Steven Erikson

The Bonehunters is the sixth and latest volume of Erikson’s anticipated 10-volume series: The Malazan Book of the Fallen. For those not familiar with Erikson’s series, my advice is become familiar with it – in my opinion, it is the best ‘fantasy’ series out there. The books have everything: action, epic battles, gods, magic, demons, beasts, humor, truth, lies, death, destruction, despair, hope… And through it all, Erikson anchors the story in superb characterization of both the powerful and the men and women in the trenches, the expendable.

The story picks up where House of Chainsleaves off after Shiak’s rebellion. Pursuing Leoman of the Flails and the remnant of the rebellion, the 14th Army is in bad shape. Can the Bonehunters survive and grow into their name as a showdown typical of Erikson awaits at Y’Ghatan, a place famous for feeding on Malazan blood? Are the handful of veterans and old guard enough, will they survive?

Other threads are in action and approach yet another convergence. Mappo and Icarium suffer a major blow – will Icarium’s wrath be unleashed once more? Apsalar continues in service to the House of Shadow with the skills of a god and a broken heart. Who are her targets, and what role do her new companions have to play? Cutter and company journey to Otataral Island and into ambush. The Master of the Deck reveals his power; the Edur Empire becomes known to the Malazan Empire; Karsa is Karsa.

For me, The Bonehunters began at a crawl as I struggled to recall all the players – a reread of the other books is recommended, as Erikson brings many arcs towards another convergence. There is no repetitive back-story here, however, momentum continues to build and the book became almost impossible to put down.

New revelations occur as our understanding of the world, the rules, and the ‘real fight’ grows. Questions above are answered and left unanswered, new questions, old questions, new and old players in the game, confused, conflicting, hidden motivations abound – Erikson weaves an intricate, yet raw masterpiece.

As I’ve come to expect from Erikson, commentary relative to our own world abounds. Real and perceived inequities, religious and other fanaticism, torture, war and peace – Erikson paints a truly cynical view. Yet, his characters are not without hope; they continue in spite of the apparent pointlessness to it all…I’m more curious than ever to see how Erikson will conclude this epic, tragic tale.

Ultimately, I am still undecided on where The Bonehunters fits in with the rest of the series. Part of me believes it may be the weakest book of the series so far – which still leaves it superior to most SF out there. The humor seems forced at times, especially in the beginning, and not the effortless banter of some of the other books. Another part of me believes that rating these books against one another is an exercise in futility, missing the point.

My fully admitted bias in favor of Erikson makes this book difficult to rate; on my 10-point scale, where 5 is a take-it or leave-it book, and 10 is unsurpassed, I rate The Bonehunters at 7.5-8. Other efforts in the series rate as high as 8.5 or 9, and none below 7.5. While the story somewhat stands alone, The Bonehunters is an installment in a greater work, and it should be treated as such.

So, after my thrillingly exhaustive read of The Bonehunters, I’ll end with but one of my many questions: Steven Erikson, who is your Gumble?

A Review of the Reviews

• Ben Aaronovitch: Midnight Riot/Rivers of London  7.5; Moon Over Soho 8; Whispers Underground*** 7.5
• Joe Abercrombie: The Blade Itself 8.5; Before They Are Hanged 7-7.5; Last Argument of Kings 8.5; The First Law Trilogy 9; Best Served Cold 7.5; The Heroes 9; Half a King 9
• Daniel Abraham: Shadow Twin 8; The Dragon's Path 8-8.5; Leviathan Wakes 7-7.5
• Katherine Addison: The Goblin Emperor 9
• Lou Anders (ed.): Fast Forward 1 7.5; Swords & Dark Magic 7.5
• A.A. Attanasio: The Dragon and the Unicorn 4
• Rachel Bach: Fortune's Pawn 7.5; Honor's Knight 8; Heaven's Queen 8
• Iain M. Banks: The Player of Games 7.5
• Kage Baker: The Anvil of the World 7; The House of the Stag* 6.5-7
• R Scott Bakker: The Prince of Nothing Trilogy 9; The Darkness That Comes Before 7.5-8 The Warrior Prophet 8.5; The Thousandfold Thought 8-8.5; Neuropath 8; The Judging Eye 9; The White-Luck Warrior 6
• Peter S. Beagle (ed.): The Urban Fantasy Anthology 8
• Elizabeth Bear: New Amsterdam* 8; Range of Ghosts 7.5-8; Karen Memory 9
• Bradley P. Beaulieu: The Winds of Khalakovo  7.5
• R.S. Belcher: The Six-Gun Tarot  7.5
• Robert Jackson Bennett: City of Stairs 9
• Lauren Beukes: Zoo City 7.5
• Susan Jane Bigelow: Broken 8
• Alex Bledsoe: Wisp of a Thing 9; The Hum and the Shiver 8
• Lila Bowen: Wake of Vultures 8.5
• Richard Bowes: From the Files of the Time Rangers 7.5
• Marie Brennan: A Natural History of Dragons 9
• Maurice Broaddus: King Maker 6.5-7
• John Brown: Servant of a Dark God 7
• John Burdett: Bangkok 8 8/10; Bangkok Tattoo 8.5; Bangkok Haunts* 8
• Tobias Buckell: Crystal Rain 8; Ragamuffin 7.5; Tides from the New Worlds 7.5, Arctic Rising 8-8.5; Hurricane Fever 8
• Jesse Bullington: The Folly of the World 8
• Gail Carriger: Soulless 7.5
• Jonathan Carroll: Sleeping in Flame 7
• Beth Cato: The Clockwork Dagger 7.5
• Mark Chadbourn: World's End 8.5; Darkest Hour 8.5; Always Forever 8
• Blake Charlton: Spellwright 7
• Ted Chiang: The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate* 8
• Wesley Chu: The Lives of Tao 8
• Michael Cisco: The Traitor 5
• Ernest Cline: Ready Player One 9
• Myke Cole: Shadow Ops: Control Point 8.5; Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier 8.5-9; Breach Zone 9
• Suzzane Collins: The Hunger Games 9
• James S.A. Corey: Leviathan Wakes 7-7.5
• D.M. Cornish: Foundling 7.5
• Justin Cronin: The Passage 8.5-9
• Richard Dansky: Firefly Rain 7
• Stephen Deas: The Adamantine Palace 6.5-7
• Charles deLint: The Little Country 6-7; The Riddle of the Wren 6-6.5; Medicine Road 9.5; Eyes Like Leaves 6.5; Someplace to be Flying 8.5
• Jason Denzel: Mystic 7
• Gardner Dozois: Shadow Twin 8
• Gardner Dozois (editor): The New Space Opera 6
• Hal Duncan: Vellum 9.5; Escape From Hell! 9
• David Anthony Durham: Acacia 7/10; The Other Lands 8/10; The Sacred Band 8.5/10; The Acacia Trilogy 8.5
• Umberto Eco: The Name of the Rose 7.5
• David Louis Edelman: Infoquake 8
• Kate Elliott: Black Wolves 9
• Stephen Erikson: The Bonehunters 7.5-8; Reaper's Gale 7.5; The Lees of Laughter's End 8; Toll the Hounds 8.5; Dust of Dreams 7.5; Crack'd Pot Trail 9; The Crippled God 8.5; The Malazan Book of the Fallen 9; Forge of Darkness 8.5; Willful Child 8.5
• Ian C. Esslemont: Return of the Crimson Guard 7/ Stonewielder 7.5; Orb Sceptre Throne 6.5-7; Blood and Bone 7; Assail 6.5
• S.L. Farrell: A Magic of Twilight* 7; A Magic of Nightfall 7
• Magnus Flyte: City of Dark Magic 4.5
• Ty Frank: Leviathan Wakes 7-7.5
• John M. Ford: The Last Hot Time 9
• Richard Ford: Kultus 5.5
• Alan Dean Foster: Sagramanda 6.5
• C.S. (Celia) Friedman: Feast of Souls 8
• T. Frohock: Los Nefilim 8
• Gregory Frost: Shadowbridge 7.5; Lord Tophet 7.5-8
• Felix Gilman: The Half-Made World  8
• Max Gladstone: Last First Snow DNF**
• Christopher Golden: The Chamber of Ten 5.5***
• Alison Goodman: The Two Pearls of Wisdom (AU), Eon: Dragoneye Reborn (US), and Eon: Rise of the Dragoneye (UK) 7
• Daryl Gregory: Pandemonium 7.5
• Kate Griffin: A Madness of Angels 7.5-8; The Midnight Mayor 7.5-8; The Neon Court 7.5; The Minority Council 7.5
• Jon Courtenay Grimwood: The Fallen Blade 6.5
• Joe Haldeman: The Forever War 8.5
• Pete Hamill: Forever 9
• Laurell K. Hamilton: Guilty Pleasures 6-6.5
• Lian Hearn: The Emperor of the Eight Islands 8
• Kevin Hearne: Hounded 7.5, Hexed 7.5***, Hammered 8; Tricked 7.5; Trapped 7.5-8; Hunted 7; Shattered 7.5; Staked 8
• Robert Holdstock: Mythago Wood 8
• Jason M. Hough: Zero World 8 
• Stephen Hunt: The Court of the Air 6
• Kameron Hurley: The Mirror Empire 7
• Anthony Huso: The Last Page 7.5
• Charlie Huston: Already Dead 8; No Dominion*** 8; Sleepless 9; Half the Blood of Brooklyn*** 7
• Alexander C. Irvine: Buyout 8.5
• N.K. Jemisin: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms 8, The Fifth Season 9
• K.V. Johansen: Blackdog 7-7.5
• Robert Jordan: The Gathering Storm 9; Towers of Midnight 8; A Memory of Light 9; The Wheel of Time 8
• Graham Joyce: Smoking Poppy 8
• Theodore Judson: The Martian General's Daughter 7.5
• David Keck: In the Eye of Heaven 5
• Jasper Kent: Twelve 9
• Julia Knight: Swords and Scoundrels 8
• Elizabeth Kostova: The Historian 8
• Jay Kristoff: Stormdancer  5.5-6
• Jay Lake: Mainspring 8; Green 7
• M.D. Lachlan: Wolfsangel 6.5***
• Margo Lanagan: Black Juice 7; Tender Morsels 7
• Joe R. Lansdale (ed):  The Urban Fantasy Anthology 8
• Ursula K. Le Guin: The Left Hand of Darkness 8.5****
• Ann Leckie: Ancillary Justice  6.5
• Tim Lebbon: The Chamber of Ten 5.5***
• Stina Leicht: Of Blood and Honey 9; And Blue Skies from Pain 8.5
• Karen Lord: The Best of All Possible Worlds 8.5
• Scott Lynch: The Lies of Locke Lamora 7.5 Red Seas Under Red Skies 7.5-8; The Republic of Thieves 8.5
• Gregory Maguire: Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister 6.5
• Nick Mamatas: Move Under Ground 4-9
• George Mann: The Affinity Bridge 7
• John Marco: Starfinder 6
• Ari Marmell: The Conqueror's Shadow 7.5-8
• George R.R. Martin: Shadow Twin 8
• Lee Martindale: The Folly of Assumption 7
• J.M. McDermott: Never Knew Another 8
• Ian McDonald: Brasyl 7.5; The Dervish House 7.5
• Carole McDonnell: Wind Follower DNF**
• Edward J. McFadden (ed.): Jigsaw Nation* 6-6.5
• Patricia A. McKillip: Riddle-Master (or The Riddle-Master's Game) 8****
• John Meaney: Bone Song 8
• China Miéville: King Rat 6.5; The Scar 8; Kraken 8.5; Embassytown 8
• Michael Moorcock: The Metatemporal Detective 8.5
• Christopher Moore: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal 7
• Richard K. Morgan: Altered Carbon 8
• Haruki Murakami: Kafka on the Shore 8
• Linda Nagata: The Red 8.5
• Vera Nazarian: Dreams of the Compass Rose 7
• Emma Newman: Between Two Thorns 6
• Mark Charan Newton: Nights of Villjamur 7
• Naomi Novik: His Majesty's Dragon 7.5; Uprooted 9.5
• Peadar Ó Guilín: The Inferior 7
• Nnedi Okorafor: Who Fears Death 9
• K.J. Parker: Sharps 8.5
• Vicki Pettersson: The Scent of Shadows 6.5
• Holly Phillips: The Engine's Child 6.5-7
• Ricardo Pinto: The Chosen 6.5
• Daniel Polansky: The Builders 8
• Tim Powers: The Anubis Gates 7.5
• Terry Pratchett: Sourcery 5; Unseen Academicals 7.5
• Kim Stanley Robinson: Red Mars 8.5
• Chris Roberson: Set the Seas on Fire 6.5-7
• Justina Robson: Mappa Mundi 7/10; Keeping it Real 6.5
• Margaret Ronald: Spiral Hunt 6.5-7
• Patrick Rothfuss: The Name of the Wind 8; The Wise Man's Fear 8-8.5; The Slow Regard of Silent Things 8
• J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows* 8
• Michael Rubens: The Sheriff of Yrnameer 4
• Rudy Rucker: Postsingular 5
• Brian Ruckley: Winterbirth 6.5-7; The Edinburgh Dead 8
• Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Diving into the Wreck 8
• Edward Rutherfurd: Sarum 6.5
• R.A. Salvatore: The Orc King 5
• Brandon Sanderson: Mistborn: The Final Empire 7.5; The Well of Ascension 8-8.5; The Hero of Ages 9; The Mistborn Trilogy 8; The Gathering Storm 9; The Way of Kings 8.5; Towers of Midnight 8; The Alloy of Law 8; A Memory of Light 9; The Wheel of Time 8; Words of Radiance 8; Shadows of Self 7.5
• Andrzej Sapkowski: The Last Wish 8
• John Scalzi: The Android's Dream* 7; Old Man's War* 7; The Ghost Brigades* 7; The Last Colony* 7.5; Zoe's Tale* 8; Agent to the Stars* 7
• Courtney Schafer: The Whitefire Crossing 8
• Ken Scholes: Lamentation 8, Canticle 8-8.5; Antiphon 7.5
• Ekaterina Sedia (ed.): Jigsaw Nation* 6-6.5
• Joel Shepherd: Sasha 8
• Norman Spinrad: The Druid King 5-5.5
• Jon Sprunk: Shadow's Son 7.5
• Patrick St-Denis: Speculative Horizons 7.5-8
• Brian Staveley: The Emperor's Blades 7; The Providence of Fire 9; The Last Mortal Bond 7.5
• Neil Stephenson: Snow Crash 7.5
• Matthew Woodring Stover: Heroes Die 8.5; Blade of Tyshalle 8.5-9; Caine Black Knife 8; Caine's Law 9
• Jonathan Strahan: The New Space Opera 6; Swords & Dark Magic 7.5
• Michael Swanwick: The Dragons of Babel 8.5; Dancing With Bears  8.5-9; Bones of the Earth 8
• Sam Sykes: Tome of the Undergates 7
• K.J. Taylor: The Dark Griffin 5.5
• Melanie Tem: The Man on the Ceiling 6
• Steve Rasnic Tem: The Man on the Ceiling 6
• John Twelve Hawks: The Traveler 8
• Ann VanderMeer (ed): Fast Ships, Black Sails 4.5***
• Jeff VanderMeer (ed): Fash Ships, Black Sails 4.5***
• Jeff VanderMeer: City of Saints and Madmen 8.5; Finch 9
• Brent Weeks: The Way of Shadows 6-6.5
• Scott Westerfeld: Leviathan 8
• T.H. White: The Once and Future King 6
• Fran Wilde: Updraft 7
• Sean Williams: The Crooked Letter 7-7.5
• David J. Williams: Mirrored Heavens 5.5-6
• Tad Williams: Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Trilogy 7; The Dragonbone Chair 6.5-7; Stone of Farewell 7-7.5; To Green Angel Tower 6.5-7
• Neil Williamson: The Moon King DNF**
• Connie Willis: D.A. 8*
• Terri Windling: The Wood Wife 8.5
• David Wingrove: Son of Heaven  8
• Chris Wooding: Retribution Falls 7
• Hiroshi Yamamoto: MM9 7.5
• Charles Yu: How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe 8

Audio Books

• Ian Caldwell: The Rule of Four 2
• Chistopher Moore: You Suck: A Love Story 7.5
• John Scalzi: The Sagan Diary 6
• Dustin Thomason: The Rule of Four 2
• Jules Verne: Journey to the Center of the Earth 5.5

Series

• The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and finished by Brandon Sanderson
• Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
• The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie, 9
• The Prince of Nothing Trilogy by R Scott Bakker, 9
• The Acacia Trilogy by David Anthony Durham, 8
• The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson, 8
• Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Trilogy by Tad Williams, 7

Kids Reviews

• HiLo by Judd Winick

* Originally reviewed at BookSpotCentral.

** Did not finish

***Mini-Review

****Originally reviewed at SF and Fantasy Masterworks Reading Project

A Review of the Reviews

• Ben Aaronovitch: Midnight Riot/Rivers of London  7.5; Moon Over Soho 8; Whispers Underground*** 7.5
• Joe Abercrombie: The Blade Itself 8.5; Before They Are Hanged 7-7.5; Last Argument of Kings 8.5; The First Law Trilogy 9; Best Served Cold 7.5; The Heroes 9; Half a King 9
• Daniel Abraham: Shadow Twin 8; The Dragon's Path 8-8.5; Leviathan Wakes 7-7.5
• Katherine Addison: The Goblin Emperor 9
• Lou Anders (ed.): Fast Forward 1 7.5; Swords & Dark Magic 7.5
• A.A. Attanasio: The Dragon and the Unicorn 4
• Rachel Bach: Fortune's Pawn 7.5; Honor's Knight 8; Heaven's Queen 8
• Iain M. Banks: The Player of Games 7.5
• Kage Baker: The Anvil of the World 7; The House of the Stag* 6.5-7
• R Scott Bakker: The Prince of Nothing Trilogy 9; The Darkness That Comes Before 7.5-8 The Warrior Prophet 8.5; The Thousandfold Thought 8-8.5; Neuropath 8; The Judging Eye 9; The White-Luck Warrior 6
• Peter S. Beagle (ed.): The Urban Fantasy Anthology 8
• Elizabeth Bear: New Amsterdam* 8; Range of Ghosts 7.5-8; Karen Memory 9
• Bradley P. Beaulieu: The Winds of Khalakovo  7.5
• R.S. Belcher: The Six-Gun Tarot  7.5
• James Bennett: Chasing Embers 6
• Robert Jackson Bennett: City of Stairs 9
• Lauren Beukes: Zoo City 7.5
• Susan Jane Bigelow: Broken 8
• Alex Bledsoe: Wisp of a Thing 9; The Hum and the Shiver 8; Long Black Curl 8
• Joanna Max Brodsky: The Immortals 7.5
• Richard Bowes: From the Files of the Time Rangers 7.5
• Marie Brennan: A Natural History of Dragons 9
• Maurice Broaddus: King Maker 6.5-7
• John Brown: Servant of a Dark God 7
• John Burdett: Bangkok 8 8/10; Bangkok Tattoo 8.5; Bangkok Haunts* 8
• Tobias Buckell: Crystal Rain 8; Ragamuffin 7.5; Tides from the New Worlds 7.5, Arctic Rising 8-8.5; Hurricane Fever 8
• Jesse Bullington: The Folly of the World 8
• Gail Carriger: Soulless 7.5
• Jonathan Carroll: Sleeping in Flame 7
• Beth Cato: The Clockwork Dagger 7.5; Breath of Earth 8.5
• Mark Chadbourn: World's End 8.5; Darkest Hour 8.5; Always Forever 8
• Blake Charlton: Spellwright 7
• Ted Chiang: The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate* 8
• Wesley Chu: The Lives of Tao 8; The Deaths of Tao 8
• Michael Cisco: The Traitor 5
• Ernest Cline: Ready Player One 9
• Genevieve Cogman: The Invisible Library 7.5
• Myke Cole: Shadow Ops: Control Point 8.5; Shadow Ops: Fortress Frontier 8.5-9; Breach Zone 9
• Suzzane Collins: The Hunger Games 9
• James S.A. Corey: Leviathan Wakes 7-7.5
• D.M. Cornish: Foundling 7.5
• Justin Cronin: The Passage 8.5-9
• Richard Dansky: Firefly Rain 7
• Stephen Deas: The Adamantine Palace 6.5-7
• Charles deLint: The Little Country 6-7; The Riddle of the Wren 6-6.5; Medicine Road 9.5; Eyes Like Leaves 6.5; Someplace to be Flying 8.5
• Jason Denzel: Mystic 7
• Gardner Dozois: Shadow Twin 8
• Gardner Dozois (editor): The New Space Opera 6
• Hal Duncan: Vellum 9.5; Escape From Hell! 9
• David Anthony Durham: Acacia 7/10; The Other Lands 8/10; The Sacred Band 8.5/10; The Acacia Trilogy 8.5
• Thoraiya Dyer: Crossroads of Canopy 5**
• Umberto Eco: The Name of the Rose 7.5
• David Louis Edelman: Infoquake 8
• Kate Elliott: Black Wolves 9
• Stephen Erikson: The Bonehunters 7.5-8; Reaper's Gale 7.5; The Lees of Laughter's End 8; Toll the Hounds 8.5; Dust of Dreams 7.5; Crack'd Pot Trail 9; The Crippled God 8.5; The Malazan Book of the Fallen 9; Forge of Darkness 8.5; Willful Child 8.5; Wrath of Betty 7
• Ian C. Esslemont: Return of the Crimson Guard 7/ Stonewielder 7.5; Orb Sceptre Throne 6.5-7; Blood and Bone 7; Assail 6.5
• S.L. Farrell: A Magic of Twilight* 7; A Magic of Nightfall 7
• Magnus Flyte: City of Dark Magic 4.5
• Ty Frank: Leviathan Wakes 7-7.5
• John M. Ford: The Last Hot Time 9
• Richard Ford: Kultus 5.5
• Alan Dean Foster: Sagramanda 6.5
• C.S. (Celia) Friedman: Feast of Souls 8
• T. Frohock: Los Nefilim 8
• Gregory Frost: Shadowbridge 7.5; Lord Tophet 7.5-8
• Felix Gilman: The Half-Made World  8
• Max Gladstone: Last First Snow DNF**
• Christopher Golden: The Chamber of Ten 5.5***
• Alison Goodman: The Two Pearls of Wisdom (AU), Eon: Dragoneye Reborn (US), and Eon: Rise of the Dragoneye (UK) 7
• Daryl Gregory: Pandemonium 7.5
• Kate Griffin: A Madness of Angels 7.5-8; The Midnight Mayor 7.5-8; The Neon Court 7.5; The Minority Council 7.5
• Jon Courtenay Grimwood: The Fallen Blade 6.5
• Joe Haldeman: The Forever War 8.5
• Pete Hamill: Forever 9
• Laurell K. Hamilton: Guilty Pleasures 6-6.5
• Lian Hearn: The Emperor of the Eight Islands 8
• Kevin Hearne: Hounded 7.5, Hexed 7.5***, Hammered 8; Tricked 7.5; Trapped 7.5-8; Hunted 7; Shattered 7.5; Staked 8
• Robert Holdstock: Mythago Wood 8
• Jason M. Hough: Zero World 8 
• Stephen Hunt: The Court of the Air 6
• Kameron Hurley: The Mirror Empire 7
• Anthony Huso: The Last Page 7.5
• Charlie Huston: Already Dead 8; No Dominion*** 8; Sleepless 9; Half the Blood of Brooklyn*** 7
• Alexander C. Irvine: Buyout 8.5
• N.K. Jemisin: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms 8, The Fifth Season 9
• K.V. Johansen: Blackdog 7-7.5
• Robert Jordan: The Gathering Storm 9; Towers of Midnight 8; A Memory of Light 9; The Wheel of Time 8
• Graham Joyce: Smoking Poppy 8
• Theodore Judson: The Martian General's Daughter 7.5
• David Keck: In the Eye of Heaven 5
• Jasper Kent: Twelve 9
• Julia Knight: Swords and Scoundrels 8
• Elizabeth Kostova: The Historian 8
• Jay Kristoff: Stormdancer  5.5-6
• Jay Lake: Mainspring 8; Green 7
• M.D. Lachlan: Wolfsangel 6.5***
• Margo Lanagan: Black Juice 7; Tender Morsels 7
• Joe R. Lansdale (ed):  The Urban Fantasy Anthology 8
• Ursula K. Le Guin: The Left Hand of Darkness 8.5****
• Ann Leckie: Ancillary Justice  6.5
• Tim Lebbon: The Chamber of Ten 5.5***
• Stina Leicht: Of Blood and Honey 9; And Blue Skies from Pain 8.5
• Stephen Leigh: The Crow of Connemara 6.5
• Ken Liu: The Grace of Kings 8.5
• Karen Lord: The Best of All Possible Worlds 8.5
• Scott Lynch: The Lies of Locke Lamora 7.5 Red Seas Under Red Skies 7.5-8; The Republic of Thieves 8.5
• Gregory Maguire: Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister 6.5
• Nick Mamatas: Move Under Ground 4-9
• George Mann: The Affinity Bridge 7
• John Marco: Starfinder 6
• Ari Marmell: The Conqueror's Shadow 7.5-8
• George R.R. Martin: Shadow Twin 8
• Lee Martindale: The Folly of Assumption 7
• A. Lee Martinez: The Last Adventure of Constance Verity 8
• J.M. McDermott: Never Knew Another 8
• Ian McDonald: Brasyl 7.5; The Dervish House 7.5
• Carole McDonnell: Wind Follower DNF**
• Edward J. McFadden (ed.): Jigsaw Nation* 6-6.5
• Patricia A. McKillip: Riddle-Master (or The Riddle-Master's Game) 8****
• John Meaney: Bone Song 8
• China Miéville: King Rat 6.5; The Scar 8; Kraken 8.5; Embassytown 8
• Michael Moorcock: The Metatemporal Detective 8.5
• Christopher Moore: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal 7
• Richard K. Morgan: Altered Carbon 8
• Haruki Murakami: Kafka on the Shore 8
• Linda Nagata: The Red 8.5
• Vera Nazarian: Dreams of the Compass Rose 7
• Emma Newman: Between Two Thorns 6
• Mark Charan Newton: Nights of Villjamur 7
• Naomi Novik: His Majesty's Dragon 7.5; Uprooted 9.5
• Peadar Ó Guilín: The Inferior 7
• Nnedi Okorafor: Who Fears Death 9
• K.J. Parker: Sharps 8.5
• Vicki Pettersson: The Scent of Shadows 6.5
• Holly Phillips: The Engine's Child 6.5-7
• Ricardo Pinto: The Chosen 6.5
• Daniel Polansky: The Builders 8
• Tim Powers: The Anubis Gates 7.5
• Terry Pratchett: Sourcery 5; Unseen Academicals 7.5
• Rob Reid: Year Zero 7.5
• Rick Riordan: The Lightening Thief 7.5
• Kim Stanley Robinson: Red Mars 8.5
• Chris Roberson: Set the Seas on Fire 6.5-7
• Justina Robson: Mappa Mundi 7/10; Keeping it Real 6.5
• Margaret Ronald: Spiral Hunt 6.5-7
• Patrick Rothfuss: The Name of the Wind 8; The Wise Man's Fear 8-8.5; The Slow Regard of Silent Things 8
• J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows* 8
• Michael Rubens: The Sheriff of Yrnameer 4
• Rudy Rucker: Postsingular 5
• Brian Ruckley: Winterbirth 6.5-7; The Edinburgh Dead 8
• Kristine Kathryn Rusch: Diving into the Wreck 8
• Edward Rutherfurd: Sarum 6.5
• R.A. Salvatore: The Orc King 5
• Brandon Sanderson: Mistborn: The Final Empire 7.5; The Well of Ascension 8-8.5; The Hero of Ages 9; The Mistborn Trilogy 8; The Gathering Storm 9; The Way of Kings 8.5; Towers of Midnight 8; The Alloy of Law 8; A Memory of Light 9; The Wheel of Time 8; Words of Radiance 8; Shadows of Self 7.5
• Andrzej Sapkowski: The Last Wish 8
• John Scalzi: The Android's Dream* 7; Old Man's War* 7; The Ghost Brigades* 7; The Last Colony* 7.5; Zoe's Tale* 8; Agent to the Stars* 7; The Collapsing Empire 8
• Courtney Schafer: The Whitefire Crossing 8
• Ken Scholes: Lamentation 8, Canticle 8-8.5; Antiphon 7.5
• V. E. Schwab: A Darker Shade of Magic 7.5
• Ekaterina Sedia (ed.): Jigsaw Nation* 6-6.5
• Joel Shepherd: Sasha 8
• Norman Spinrad: The Druid King 5-5.5
• Jon Sprunk: Shadow's Son 7.5
• Patrick St-Denis: Speculative Horizons 7.5-8
• Brian Staveley: The Emperor's Blades 7; The Providence of Fire 9; The Last Mortal Bond 7.5
• Neil Stephenson: Snow Crash 7.5
• Matthew Woodring Stover: Heroes Die 8.5; Blade of Tyshalle 8.5-9; Caine Black Knife 8; Caine's Law 9
• Jonathan Strahan: The New Space Opera 6; Swords & Dark Magic 7.5
• Michael Swanwick: The Dragons of Babel 8.5; Dancing With Bears  8.5-9; Bones of the Earth 8
• Sam Sykes: Tome of the Undergates 7
• K.J. Taylor: The Dark Griffin 5.5
• Melanie Tem: The Man on the Ceiling 6
• Steve Rasnic Tem: The Man on the Ceiling 6
• John Twelve Hawks: The Traveler 8
• Ann VanderMeer (ed): Fast Ships, Black Sails 4.5***
• Jeff VanderMeer (ed): Fash Ships, Black Sails 4.5***
• Jeff VanderMeer: City of Saints and Madmen 8.5; Finch 9
• Brent Weeks: The Way of Shadows 6-6.5
• Scott Westerfeld: Leviathan 8
• T.H. White: The Once and Future King 6
• Fran Wilde: Updraft 7
• Sean Williams: The Crooked Letter 7-7.5
• David J. Williams: Mirrored Heavens 5.5-6
• Tad Williams: Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Trilogy 7; The Dragonbone Chair 6.5-7; Stone of Farewell 7-7.5; To Green Angel Tower 6.5-7; The Heart of What Was Lost 8
• Neil Williamson: The Moon King DNF**
• Connie Willis: D.A. 8*
• Terri Windling: The Wood Wife 8.5
• David Wingrove: Son of Heaven  8
• Chris Wooding: Retribution Falls 7
• Hiroshi Yamamoto: MM9 7.5
• Charles Yu: How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe 8

Audio Books

• Ian Caldwell: The Rule of Four 2
• Chistopher Moore: You Suck: A Love Story 7.5
• John Scalzi: The Sagan Diary 6
• Dustin Thomason: The Rule of Four 2
• Jules Verne: Journey to the Center of the Earth 5.5
• Chuck Wendig: Star Wars Aftermath Trilogy 5

Series

• The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and finished by Brandon Sanderson
• Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson
• The First Law Trilogy by Joe Abercrombie, 9
• The Prince of Nothing Trilogy by R Scott Bakker, 9
• The Acacia Trilogy by David Anthony Durham, 8
• The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson, 8
• Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Trilogy by Tad Williams, 7

Kids Reviews

• HiLo by Judd Winick

* Originally reviewed at BookSpotCentral.

** Did not finish

***Mini-Review

****Originally reviewed at SF and Fantasy Masterworks Reading Project