A Man with One of Those Faces - Caimh McDonnell
The book where it all begins. We meet Paul, Brigit, Phil, Jimmy Stewart and Bunny. Paul has one of those faces that puts people in mind of another person. However, this leads Paul, and Brigit into a whole host of trouble. In extricating themselves from some extremely dangerous situations they solve a decades old kidnapping.
In this book, Bunny is a minor character, but he just would leave the poor author alone. Bunny whispered in Caimh's ear, letting him know there were other stories to be told. He also wouldn't stop waving his hurl around in a rather intimidating fashion. Not bad for a fictional character!
In this book, Bunny is a minor character, but he just would leave the poor author alone. Bunny whispered in Caimh's ear, letting him know there were other stories to be told. He also wouldn't stop waving his hurl around in a rather intimidating fashion. Not bad for a fictional character!
The Final Game - Caimh McDonnell
Paul is a friend of Dorothy. Or rather, he was a friend of Dorothy. She is dead, and believed she was going to be murdered. In a hilariously vicious video-will she set up a 'Hunger Games' competition to decide who gets her fortune. The players are Paul and the 'Leeches' (her description of her family). Each player has a co-player.
For the duration of the game, none of the players are allowed to leave the hotel or its grounds. Paul and Brigit play the game, and at the same time investigate Dorothy's death. On the outside, they are assisted by Jimmy Stewart and Phil.
Deccie, childhood friend of Paul and Phil, and annoyer of Brigit, is a radio talk show host, loved and hated in equal measures. During the night, his apartment is entered. When he wakes the following day, Deccie is confronted with the messaged 'Deccie must die' in red paint on his sitting room wall. Bridget, Paul, Jimmy Steward and Phil set out to keep Deccie safe and to solve the case.
The Bookshop Below - Georgina Summers
Every magical bookshop needs an owner. Prior to Chiron's death, he names Cassandra his heir. She sets out to restore Chiron's rundown bookshop, and to get her life back on the right tracks. In the process, she learns magic is disappearing, and who killed her former mentor, Chiron.
However, this is story that never really takes off. It lacks direction and oomph. We never learn about the nature of the magic. There's no world building. We're not drawn into to like the characters, and there's pitifully little character development.
The premise is excellent, but the execution is lacking.
However, this is story that never really takes off. It lacks direction and oomph. We never learn about the nature of the magic. There's no world building. We're not drawn into to like the characters, and there's pitifully little character development.
The premise is excellent, but the execution is lacking.
All Systems Red, Artificial Condition - Martha Wells
A security unit (sec-unit) hacks its governor module and starts thinking for itself. All it wants to do is watch space operas. Sec-units are a melding of human and technology, but classified as 'inventory'. This particular sec-unit has partial memories of slaughtering a group of miners, and for this reason it has named itself 'Murderbot'. The book is the first in a series of diaries composed by Murderbot.
This book is just over three hours long, but creates a rich universe. It's peopled by humans, augmented humans, sec-units, sex-units, bots and AI constructs. There's Alliance and non-Alliance worlds, different forms of government, big business, and small communes.
'The Bookshop Below' rambles on for thirteen hours, and does not create such a compelling world, nor interesting characters. In addition, Murderbot has a story arc. It learns more about itself and the universe in which it lives.
A security unit (sec-unit) hacks its governor module and starts thinking for itself. All it wants to do is watch space operas. Sec-units are a melding of human and technology, but classified as 'inventory'. This particular sec-unit has partial memories of slaughtering a group of miners, and for this reason it has named itself 'Murderbot'. The book is the first in a series of diaries composed by Murderbot.
This book is just over three hours long, but creates a rich universe. It's peopled by humans, augmented humans, sec-units, sex-units, bots and AI constructs. There's Alliance and non-Alliance worlds, different forms of government, big business, and small communes.
'The Bookshop Below' rambles on for thirteen hours, and does not create such a compelling world, nor interesting characters. In addition, Murderbot has a story arc. It learns more about itself and the universe in which it lives.
Books finished this month: 5
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