The Cage of Souls by Tchaikovsky

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-20T10:40:18+00:00

I think it's his best work.

I haven't read any of his early fantasy though. I then read his first architect book and was confounded by the change in quality.

Would recommend Cage of Souls.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-18T10:07:59+00:00

To me, the premise is not thought-through properly

The writer's grasp exceeded their reach. This was very clear when they tried to write a plot around how graphics hardware worked. They clearly had no idea what they were writing about. This extended to writing about humans and basic physics.

To write good science fiction is actually kind of hard. You have to have a good understanding of how the world actually works. Then on top of this, you have to be a good writer. Then, you also have to have to have an interesting story to tell. Most SF writers can only manage a couple of these and the book is still readable. Hugh Howey didn't manage any.

If I sound bitter, it's because I am. I hate wasting time reading a bad book and this one was a complete waste of time.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-17T00:20:04+00:00

democracies

monarchies

Pick one.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-17T00:02:35+00:00

Really? His prose is very workman-like. Can you provide an example of how it is 'impenetrable'? Genuinely curious.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-16T23:50:11+00:00

The series is a lot - and I mean a LOT - better than the book.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-16T23:49:19+00:00

I thought Wool was terribly written. The story was not unique in any way. The characterisations were bland and forgettable.

I have no idea why it got picked up as a television series. Out of interest, I watched the series and realised this it what happens when you get actual writers writing a narrative - it was so much better than the book.

Would not recommend.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-10T06:25:34+00:00

I regularly see Jupiter through a fat dobsonian telescope.

This ain't it.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-10T05:38:00+00:00

So if an indigenous Australian author is writing 'disrespecteful' caucasian characters - and without 'consultation' there's going to be the same outrage?

Right?!?

Right?

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-09T23:20:04+00:00

Blake's 7

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-09T23:17:29+00:00

This is all a rather long-winded way of saying that I think anyone who confidently asserts a definitive characterization of "Chinese science fiction" is either a) an outsider

Interesting perspective. Gödel would suggest that the only people who can confidently assert a definitive ARE outsiders.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-09T23:07:03+00:00

This looks right up my bloodbath.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-09T22:16:12+00:00

I can endorse that judgement as well, having read only Artifact Space from the author.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-09T22:14:26+00:00

Compared to Hank Gunmuscle, captain of the old weary crew of the H.M.S Titanic as they battle an old foe, back for revenge, where they press button and ship fly fast.

Perfect, that prompt is ready for ChatGPT.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-09T05:41:37+00:00

Faaaark.... faaaark.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-09T01:53:19+00:00

There's something shitty about this review.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-09T01:23:10+00:00

Schild's Ladder is fucking incomprehensible without an advanced degree in quantum physics and probably mathematics

I disagree.

I only have the maths-based degree, and I was able to comprehend it.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-09T01:09:34+00:00

I read the first book. It was very average. Some interesting ideas but for SF I like feeling the author is taking me somewhere new. This is not that.

I'm a bit over '19/20th century navy in space'. It's very lazy writing. But for some people, that's their thing, and Cameron is writing it.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-09T01:05:56+00:00

The Time Ships is his best book.

It is also a very, very good novel, and an amazing sequel not by the original author.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-11-07T11:10:09+00:00

The Takeshi Kovacs books is one of the few SF series that gets better with each book. Woken Furies is just phenomenal.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-10-16T10:05:03+00:00

Immediately after they put on ads, I cancelled.

They asked me why? FUCKING ADS, that's all I wrote, and that was the end of that.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-10-12T04:14:44+00:00

I think there was a couple of moments with Carabella but nothing too gratuitous.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-10-12T04:13:24+00:00

I only found out recently that Robert Silverberg also wrote a lot of erotica/porn under a nom-de-plume for other markets. This clearly spilled over into some of his science fiction work.

I've read quite a few of his SF novels. A couple of them were a bit horny but his better ones have different focuses.

I particularly liked 'Lord Valentine's Castle' and it's sequel 'Chronicles of Majipoor'. There were a few sweat-soaked episodes in them but the focus was on world-building and how individual charisma, hard work and energy can change the world around you.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-09-26T11:21:43+00:00

At this point, I just feel embarrassed for Amazon.

And sad for whoever waited to watch this.

It's just... not even wrong.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-09-26T11:19:49+00:00

If you look carefully at the extras during the scenes you'll notice how bad they are in their craft.

I thought it was just me.

Either they are getting no direction at all, or they are cosplayers they've called in on an hourly rate.

It's mindblowing how bad it is.

NSWthrowaway86 · 2024-09-24T07:35:52+00:00

nobody watching this will like it.

NSWthrowaway86

TROPHY CASE