I’m a bit behind on my updates, so this is a longer than usual list, which includes — gasp! — actual non-fiction! Some good SF, lots of Warhammer, critical thinking, and an intellectual tour de force cleverly camouflaged behind frequent use of the f-bomb. It’s been a good month for reading.
Hammer of the Emperor (Omnibus), Parker, Lyons and Soulban. A cut above the typical mil SF/space opera genre, this collection offers varying settings, missions and characters. Some actual character development takes place, everything is pretty well-written, and there is some nuance and texture to the stories. Longer review here on the site. Read-again factor: Yeah, I can see that.
Deathwing, Neil Jones and David Pringle, eds. This is vintage Warhammer originally published in 1990. Monastery of Death by Charles Stross is a strong contender for favorite--and I had no idea he’d written anything for Black Library--although it’s a close call with the fascinating Lacrymata by Storm Constantine. Some of the other stories were weaker, but overall it was a fast, satisfying read. Read-again factor: When the Emperor wakes up.
Slightly different title, but apparently the same book.
Image: Goodreads.
Lessons From Critical Thinkers, Albert Rutherford. A relatively quick 175 page tour through historic thinkers of note, starting with Socrates and Aristotle through to Richard Paul and Linda Elder. This was very thorough, but not riveting reading. It’s also very densely packed with information, so it could be easy to overload on it. Still, solid. Read-again factor: Potential reference tool.
The Art of Thinking Critically, Albert Rutherford. Another relatively quick one, this promises to help you “ask great questions, spot illogical reasoning, and make sharp arguments.” Unlike Lessons, it’s organized around topics. Reasonably well-done but a bit stiff. Read-again factor: Potential reference tool.
What Doesn’t Kill, K.C. Sivils. This book, part of a three part prequel series, has every trope in pulp fiction, transplanted into a gleaming sci-fi future with plenty of seedy underside. Two mysteries in one, our hardboiled interstellar gumshoe sorts out a murder in deep space, before heading to track down a planetside serial killer. Entertaining and well-written with a classy afterword. Read-again factor: One-and-done.
The Forever Soldier, Annie Reed. A collection of short stories set in various unhappy futures. Reed ably explores several strains of the SF: a twist on military sci-fi, time travel, unpleasant surprises at the end of the galaxy, and two takes on the end of the world. These are not the most uplifting stories, but are nicely crafted and absorbing. Read-again factor: If the world ends a third time, maybe.
Not actually so much about hope, but 100% worth reading.
Image: Goodreads.
Everything is F*cked: A Book About Hope, Mark Manson. Will get its own longer piece. Manson, who swears like a sailor and must read absolutely prodigious amounts, takes us on a profane but insightful tour of why things are f*cked, how they got that way, and why the answer to all this isn't actually hope. Very well written—look, anyone who can make Nietzsche fun has something going for them. Read-again factor: F*cking A, yes!
Cult of the Spiral Dawn, The Greater Evil, and Fire Caste, Peter Fehervari. Warhammer 40K. These and Requiem Infernal probably deserve their own post. This is really good writing, laced with smashing action and dark, nuanced tones. Spiral Dawn shows us the dark reality of a seemingly benign cult. The Greater Evil shows that it's not just humans having a rough time in the universe. And in the same vein, Fire Caste is a sort of "Heart of Grimdarkness" -- or maybe "Tau-pocalypse 40K". Lots of darkness to be plumbed here, lovingly crafted by an excellent writer. Read-again factor: I could do the whole series, right now.
The Sin In The Steel, Ryan van Loan. The overarching themes of this book is knives, sorcery, larceny and the benefits of...literacy. Seriously. Also touches on why emotional immaturity mixes poorly with skill with knives. Interesting setting and decent plot but the characters didn’t grow on me. I wound up liking the whole thing less than I’d liked the snippet that got me to order it. Read-again factor: Uh...maybe?
Only in SF do you get a radiator grill on fighter plane.
Image: Goodreads.
Double Eagle, Dan Abnett. First in the Sabbat Worlds series of W40K books. This was a revisit of something I read a year or two ago. It improved with time. Under the usual Warhammer miasma of implausible and energetic action, chaos, incompetence and suffering was a look at how people respond to pressure, suffer trauma, and struggle to meet the demands of both duty and love. Ends with an unexpected twist that reaffirms humanity. Read-again factor: Just did.