Bart's Bookshelf » Sci-Fi Experience

Sci-Fi Experience 2009: The Wrap-Up

Darren — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:54:11 +0000

January and February are Sci-Fi Experience months, and encouraged by Carl’s invitation to participate, I eagerly signed up!

I managed to get through a good few books, and managed to find a new favourite author in John Scalzi. My only real disappointment, was that I didn’t get to read, Speaker for the Dead. I’ve got a couple of mooches waiting to arrive (one since Dec) and one that somebody beat me to, so unfortunately could not get hold of a copy in time.

And not forgetting the Out of This World mini challenge weekend, where I got to read some of the best short stories the genre has to offer.

Here are the novels I read:
Thankfully, as you can see by my ratings, there wasn’t a dud among them

The Last Colony by John Scalzi **
Parasite Positive/Peeps by Scott Westerfeld
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Old Man’s War by John Scalzi

** It’s not going to quite make it under the wire and be competed during the experience, but as this is not a traditional challenge, I think the fact that I have started the ‘experience’ of reading it means it can count!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Darren — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:26:35 +0000

When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold.

Last year when I was really starting to find my feet in the book blogosphere, this book was starting to get some serious coverage, and very complimentary comments, and these only gained momentum, for it’s US release date last October.

Well here in the UK, we’ve had to wait until this year to get our hands on it, and see for ourselves if it could live up to the hype.

The premise initially seems to be a mix of Battle Royale, Lord of the Flies and Big Brother, and yes it is a mix of those things, but it has it’s own very clear identity as well.

Set during an unspecified time in the future, the world is a very different place, and when North America collapsed, the state of Panem rose in it’s place. Life wasn’t easy, and when the original 13 ‘districts’ attempted to rebel, and were defeated with District 13 completely destroyed part of the surrender terms, required each of the remaining 12 districts to send two of they young people to the Capitol each year. To take part in the Hunger Games, a brutal (and televised) fight to the death, where only one person can survive and return home, with much needed food for their district.

Sixteen year old, Katniss Everdeen, has had to look after her family ever since her father died in a mining accident, some years previous, and when the unthinkable happens and her twelve year old sister’s name is drawn out of the hat, at the Reeping ceremony as the female representative for her district, Katniss, immediately volunteers to go in her place, and she is joined by the bakers son, Peeta Melark.

Before she knows it, she is being whisked off to the Capitol, where she and Peeta are styled, coached, tested and trained, before being dropped into the gaming arena, and the seventy-fourth Hunger Games begins.

I could go into the plot much deeper than that, as really you could learn that from reading the cover, but, this is one of those books where it is much better discover the plot and the frighteningly ‘real’ dystopian world, Suzanne Collins has created.

In his cover blurb, Stephen King, states:

“Constant suspense… I couldn’t stop reading.”

And he couldn’t be more right, if this book doesn’t make my top books of the year list, then I have some bloody good books to read between now and December, this is a powerful page-turning adventure story that will linger long after the last page is turned.

[rating:95/100]

Other Views and Opinions:

The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi

Darren — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:14:50 +0000

No one noticed the rock.

So, begins The Ghost Brigades, the excellent sequel to, John Scalzi’s, Old Man’s War, and there’s no gentle start to this one, we are launched straight into the action, with little or no exposition (at least at the start – although it does come in spades later, and its for this reason I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as OMW).

Once again, the ‘meat’ of the book follows a raw recruit, this time, Jared Dirac, though his training and out into his first battles. Those who know their earth bound philosophers and The Colonial Union’s naming conventions, will realise of course, that Jared, is not training to be a normal Colonial Union soldier, but as a member of the secretive Ghost Brigades. It’s also clear that he isn’t even a normal member for them either.

You see, Jared has been created with the consciousness of the traitor, Charles Boutin, with the hope that they can find out just what his plans are. When this plan appears to fail, Jared is sent to the Ghost Brigades, and a character from the first book, Old Man’s War Jane Segan is assigned to watch over him.

And then one day Jared starts to remember…

Yes, as I hinted at earlier this book contains a little too much exposition at times, which then affects the pacing, but this is only a really minor niggle, Scalzi continues to ‘build’ an interesting and complex world, that hints at future storylines, some of which will be told and some of which won’t be, (this is a good thing as it’s good to know the world does exist outside of the 300 or so odd pages of the book.)

But the book’s real strong point once again, is the characters, and the narrative. All of the main characters (new and old) are all interesting to get to know further – as are many of the more minor characters, and much of the ever present humour in the series comes from their interactions and banter.

Which leads to the story’s central strength which is the journey of Jared Dirac from, ‘new born’, to a member of the Ghost Brigades, while also learning is also partly the traitor Charles Boutin, through the person he is at the end. (And no, I’m not going to say, who or what that is, you’ll have to read the book to find that out!)

Another fun and thoroughly entertaining read.

[rating:88/100]

Other Views and Opinions:

Stainless Steel Droppings

Review: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Darren — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:22:09 +0000

It was a pleasure to burn.

Thanks to the Decades ‘09 challenge and Carl V’s Science Fiction Experience, I this week read one of those books that can be defined as a ‘classic’.

I thinks most people know the basic plot of this book, so I’m going to be lazy and quote from the blurb:

Guy Montag was a fireman whose job it was to start fires…

The system was simple. Everyone understood it. Books were for burning…along with the houses in which they were hidden.

Guy Montag enjoyed his job. He had been a fireman for ten years, and he had never questioned the pleasure of the midnight runs nor the joy of watching pages consumed by flames…never questioned anything until he met a seventeen-year-old girl who told him of a past when people were not afraid.

Then he met a professor who told him of a future in which people could think…and Guy Montag suddenly realized what he had to do!

What’s most frightening about this book, is that whilst reading it, you can easily visualise the series of baby-steps it would take for the nightmarish dystopian future Bradbury portrays in this book to come true.

Of course this, is mostly due to the quality of Bradbury’s writing, to make the improbable look possible. As with All Summer in One Day, the short story I read last week, the book also contains some fantastic descriptions, that helps really make the story as fascinating thing to read, as it is frightening.

Some of the things he predicted 50 years ago, are surprisingly accurate: massive televisions that dominate the living room; ‘reality’ style television programmes, and ‘seashell’ listening devices, that cut you off from the rest of the world, are just a few of the things that you will recognise from modern living.

A very enjoyable, and thought provoking read.

If they give you ruled paper, write the other way. —Juan Ramón Jiménez

[rating:75/100]

Other Reviews:

Out of This World Mini Challenge [Sunday]

Darren — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:05:21 +0000

Carl from Stainless Steel Droppings, is hosting the Out of This World mini-challenge this weekend as a part of both the Sci-Fi Experience and the challenge in Dewey’s memory. The idea is just to read at least one Science Fiction short story over the weekend. Carl even provides a link to a fabulous online resource to find them!

All Summer in One Day by Ray Bradbury

No one in the class could remember a time when there wasn’t rain.

On the planet Venus the sun only shines for a couple of hours each day, nine year old Margot whose family moved to the planet when she was four, is an outsider to the rest of her class, and when their teacher leaves leaves for a few moments, they decide to pull a very mean prank on her.

My Thoughts:

For such a short story it contains incredible descriptions:

She was a very frail girl who looked as if she had been lost in the rain for years and the rain had washed out the blue from her eyes and the red from her mouth and the yellow from her hair. She was an old photograph dusted from an album, whitened away, and if she spoke at all her voice would be a ghost. Now she stood, separate, staring at the rain and the loud wet world beyond the huge glass.

And as Rusty says, it’ll make you hate bullies even more. 4.5/5

Read the story online, here.

They’re Made Out of Meat by Terry Bisson

“We’re supposed to talk to meat.”

Two aliens on a recon mission, discuss the race they have been sent to investigate.

My Thoughts:

This entirely dialogue driven short story, is very funny 817 words. 4/5

You can download a free version of this story (in several reader formats) from ElectricStory.com.

After the Coup by John Scalzi

“How well can you take a punch?” asked Deputy Ambassador Schmidt.

Lieutenant Harry Wilson, a Colonial Defence Force’s space technician is coerced into fighting a goodwill exhibition match against a little known alien race.

My Thoughts

A fun and speedy return to the world and characters of Old Man’s War for me. Weird aliens, spaceships, witty dialogue, naked fighting, diplomacy, what more could you wan out of a sci-fi short story?! 4.5/5

Read the story online, here.

Out of This World Mini-Challenge (Saturday)

Darren — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:15:39 +0000

The Cold Equations by Tom Godwin

He was not alone.

In the year 2178, EDS pilot, Barton is taking a spacecraft toward the planet Woden, carrying on board serum for six gravely ill men. But, Barton makes a discovery which will create a moral dilemma of the highest order.

My Thoughts:

About as powerful a short story as your likely to read. 4/5

Read the story online here. [Note: Avoid reading the first paragraph! As it gives the ending away! If you spoil yourself, it’s your own fault!]

Through Thy Bounty by Lucy A Snyder

I stare down at the naked body of the boy on the butcher block, as my mother’s nightmare washes through me.

Human prisoner and talented chef must prepare delicious meals for her captors the Jagaren. The more delicious the meal, the more comfortable her cell for the night. Only one problem, each meal feature one main ingredient, other humans.

My Thoughts:

Gruesome, really gruesome. But also very entertaining, with a killer ending. 4/5

Read the story online here.

The Nine Billion Names of God by Arthur C Clarke

"This is a slightly unusual request," said Dr. Wagner, with what he hoped was commendable restraint.

“The Nine Billion Names of God” follows three employees of a computer company as they sell, deliver and maintain a relatively large and fast computer to a group of Tibetan monks. The monks want the computer to help them print out all the possible names of God.

My Thoughts

Well it wouldn’t be right to read at least one of the masters classics at some point during the Sci Fi Experiences, and taking a look at one of his short stories works for me. The Best Science Fiction blog, praised it for it’s ‘nice surprise ending’ and while I saw it coming from about half way through, it was a satisfying one. Most Enjoyable.

Read the story online, here.

Old Man’s War by John Scalzi

Darren — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:17:18 +0000

I did two things on my seventy-fifth birthday. I visited my wife’s grave. Then I joined the army.

It’s Sci-Fi Experience time and the first book too make it to the top of the reading pile, is one I’d seen warmly received and commented on all over the place since I joined the book blog-o-sphere, enough times that a few weeks ago – and in anticipation of reading some decent Sci-Fi this January and February – I mooched a copy of Old Man’s War by John Scalzi.

Old Man’s War, tells the story of 75 year old John Perry, who after a few years of mourning his beloved wife, visits her grave one last time, then heads over to the recruitment office to sign up, and head off to war.

The Colonial Defence Force, defend humanities interests out there in the universe, and defends them vigorously, the mortality rate is high. The CDF place a lot of value in the attitude and experience gained from decades of living, and once you join up and leave earth, you can never return.

Rumours of science and medical abilities far beyond that on earth, and the prospect of simply being young again – even if your life expectancy may even be shorter that it would be by staying on earth, is such a tantalising prospect that the CDF is never short of volunteers.

At first I was worried, when he advancements that allow a 75 year old to go to war are revealed. My first reaction was to roll my eyes. Because, well, at first glance it appears to be an easy way to allow the author some wriggle room with his book title, but I was pleased to find, that even though, Perry, may be physically young again, the fact that he and the other recruits still are 75 years old maintains it’s importance and prominence throughout the book.

One thing that can sell almost any tale to me, is when an author gets the interaction between friends, absolutely spot on.

Friends, banter with each other, insult each other, drop sarcastic comments any chance they get, and in a lot of books this would be superfluous and would get in the way, thankfully that is not the case here, Scalzi’s dialogue, is not only, snappy, but it is often used to impart information that drives the story along, it is also fantastically witty, I’ve not chortled so much in reading a book in ages (and remember that two of my recent books have been Pratchett’s!).

It’s a fast paced thrill of a read and the techno-babble mumbo-jumbo that might scare non Sci-Fi fans away, is kept to a minimum. And for the most part you won’t even notice it because you’re having too much fun to care.

Very much looking forward to the other books in the series.

[rating:90/100]

Other Reviews to Consider:

Stainless Steel Droppings

Giveaway!

I somehow managed to mooch two copies of this one So I’m going to hold my first giveaway away of the year! If you’d like to have a chance to read the book yourself, then simply say so in the comments below. It’s that easy! I’ll draw the winner on Saturday 24th!

Carl’s Sci-Fi Experience

Darren — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:51:08 +0000

I can happily sign up to this one in the full knowledge that it is most certainly not another challenge!

Carl describes it thus:

As I said last year, this is an experience and not a challenge. There are no reading lists, book requirements, etc. I do not argue about what is or is not considered ’science fiction’. Nothing about this two month period of science fiction celebration should cause anyone to feel obligated to participate…

…This is simply a time to experience how exhilarating science fiction can be.

I’ve never really dipped my toes that much into reading Sci-Fi (certainly not in comparison to how much I enjoy similarly based TV and films anyway) and seeing as I have recently read and enjoyed Ender’s Game and hope to receive the sequel Speaker for the Dead, any day now from bookmooch So I’m going to be reading at least one anyway.

I’ve also been convinced to give John Scalzi a go, so hope to dig into Old Man’s War as well.

Another one that I’m certainly intending to read in ‘09 anyway so may push it up the reading list, is one of Iain M Bank’s sci-fi novels, I’ve read a number of his (and I use the phrase very lightly! ; ) “normal” novels and really liked them (particularly The Wasp Factory), so it’s about time I’d tried his other stuff as well.

Find out more here.