Book Review: The Old Genie Hottabych by Lazar Lagin

The Old Genie Hottabych by Lazar Lagin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Full of Communist teachings and propaganda using a well known fairy tale. This is an amusing modern Russian Fairy Tale from the 1950's, propaganda and all. A Humorous twist on the traditional Genie in the lamp tale, appearing in communist Russia.
Reading this translation of the Russian children's book today is both eye-opening and amusing.

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Book Review: The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution & Future of the Human Animal by Jared Diamond

The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution & Future of the Human Animal by Jared Diamond

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Once again Jared Diamond tells a fascinating tale of the Human Animal. Though many of the concepts are Guns, Germs an Steel, this is a much easier read focusing on the evolution of mankind.


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Jared Diamond

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Books Review: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Book 1

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this book because of a recommendation, At first I was unsure about this series sounding too much like a typical YA angels and paranormal romance, but this is not that, it is true urban fantasy, with a twist on myth and angels, attention to details and though romance is a theme, it is tied in with the story not the only story.

Laini Taylor

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Book Review: Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines -Book 1 of Magic Ex Libris

Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines

Series: Magic Ex Libris, Book 1

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

New and unique, Libromancer is a great new Urban Fantasy, that had me laughing and turning pages! Magic, books, libraries and the Upper Peninsula, what more could I want in a book? Because it is set in the Upper peninsula of Michigan, I am unsure of the "urban" in the Urban Fantasy label, more like "As Far From Urban it gets Fantasy" would suit better.
Clever, comic elements do not limit or hide the strong characters, unique and well developed magical system and page turning plot!
See this review By Patrick Rothfuss, who described it much better than I can.

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Jim C. Hines

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Book Review: Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi

Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My general opinion on the updating or re-writing of classics is why mess with a good thing, usually that opinion bears out in new works failing badly. In this case I am wrong.
Scalzi has successfully managed to modernize and re-tell H. Beam Piper's story of little fuzzy and make this classic tale more relevant to a current audience, while staying true to the original story.

In some ways he not only succeeded in capturing all of the impact, charm and story of the original, but was able to surpass it.

"Fuzzy Nation" has earned it's spot on my shelf next to my much read copies of "Little Fuzzy", "Fuzzy Sapiens" and "Fuzzies and Other People".

Visit John Scalzi's award winning Blog Whatever.


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Book Review: So Long Been Dreaming: Postcolonial Science Fiction and Fantasy

So Long Been Dreaming: Postcolonial Science Fiction and Fantasy by Nalo Hopkinson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Nalo Hopkinson (Editor), Uppinder Mehan (Editor), Karin Lowachee, Devorah Major, Nnedi Okorafor, Eden Robinson, Opal Palmer Adisa, Celu Amberstone, Wayde Compton, Andrea Hairston, Maya Khankhoje

I really enjoyed reading "So Long Been Dreaming" many stories in this anthology push the boundaries of what we are familiar with in a fantasy or Science Fiction world, the authors have taken risks in exploring the issues raised, and in the fascinating look at colonizing, colonized, and colonizers.

Like any anthology some stories in this collection were fantastic, some were great, and many were good. Some of the stories felt like they ended to soon,or were rushed, and perhaps they are snippets of fuller stories to come by these amazing authors.

Though I am a life long Sci-Fi Fantasy, speculative fiction reader it is a treat to be introduced to a wide range of writers looking at SF/F from a different viewpoint.
It is always a treat to read new authors I have not discovered yet. I will be adding many of the authors from this anthology to my to-read list.

Links:
Nalo Hopkinson
Nnedi Okorafor

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