Browsed by
Tag: Sci-Fi

Book Review: Rogue Protocol (The Murderbot Diaries, #3) by Martha Wells

Book Review: Rogue Protocol (The Murderbot Diaries, #3) by Martha Wells

Cover art by Jaime Jones

Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Murderbot Diaries (Book #3)

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 150 pages (Kindle Edition)

Word count: 32,400 words

Published: 7th August 2018 by Tordotcom


An action-packed story and Miki turned Rogue Protocol into a pleasant surprise for me, despite my preliminary disappointment.

“There needs to be an error code that means “I received your request but decided to ignore you.”

Read More Read More

Book Review: Artificial Condition (The Murderbot Diaries, #2) by Martha Wells

Book Review: Artificial Condition (The Murderbot Diaries, #2) by Martha Wells

 

Cover art by Jaime Jones

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Murderbot Diaries (Book #2)

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 149 pages (Kindle Edition)

Word count: 32,400 words

Published: 8th May 2018 by Tordotcom


Artificial Condition offers one great new supporting character to accompany our beloved Murderbot.

“I would defer to your expertise in shooting and killing things. You should defer to mine in data analysis.”

Read More Read More

Book Review: The Fall of Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #2) by Dan Simmons

Book Review: The Fall of Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #2) by Dan Simmons

Cover art by Gary Ruddell

The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: Hyperion Cantos (Book #2 of 4)

Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera

Pages: 676 pages (Kindle Edition)

Word count: 184,000 words

Published: 1st March 1990 by Spectra


Utterly awesome. This book was phenomenal in every way. The Fall of Hyperion is a riveting sci-fi epic with heart, intensity, unpredictability, and gigantic scope.

“It’s hard to die. Harder to live.”

Read More Read More

Book Review: Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett

Book Review: Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett


Above the Circle of Earth by E. Stephen Burnett
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Above the Circle of Earth is a standalone work of science fiction that explores an aspect of the expansion of the human race into space that we don’t often contemplate: the mission field. Imagine a world that is edging closer to a utopia from a secular perspective, but in which those who practice one of the current world religions find themselves relegated to preserves. These preserves are seen as a blessing by many in these faith communities, as it provides them with protection and insulation from the outside world. But how does this effect the Great Commission? We as Christians were commanded to “go ye therefore,” so should we be content to stay in our own insular bubbles because it’s safe and inoffensive to the outside world? And what about when planets beyond Earth begin to be populated? Do we let entire worlds of people live and die without ever hearing the Gospel of Jesus? When we neglect to share our faith out of fear, do we realize the blood that’s on our hands?

Read More Read More

Book Review: The Left Hand of Darkness (The Hainish Cycle, #4) by Ursula K. Le Guin

Book Review: The Left Hand of Darkness (The Hainish Cycle, #4) by Ursula K. Le Guin

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: StandaloneThe Hainish Cycle (Book #4)

Genre: Science Fiction

Pages: 367 pages (ebook edition)

Word Count: 92,000 words

Publish date: March 1969 by Ace Books


The Left Hand of Darkness is a great example of a book conveying big themes in a small package.

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

Read More Read More

Book Review: Brand of Light (The Droseran Saga, #1) by Ronie Kendig

Book Review: Brand of Light (The Droseran Saga, #1) by Ronie Kendig


Brand of Light by Ronie Kendig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Brand of Light is completely unlike anything I’ve ever read. For one thing, it’s such an interesting blend of medieval fantasy and space opera. I’ve never encountered quite this mix of the two. It is also among the edgiest Christian fiction I’ve read. Kendig takes this story to some dark places, but she does so with a respectable amount of tact and grace. You know that some horrible things are happening, but she never revels in descriptions of that darkness. Instead, even when things seem to be at their most hopeless, she finds a way to shine a light into that darkness. If this first book is any indication, the Droseran Saga can hold its own against any sci-fi in the general market.

Read More Read More

Book Review: The Nightmare Virus by Nadine Brandes

Book Review: The Nightmare Virus by Nadine Brandes


The Nightmare Virus by Nadine Brandes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned at the end of the world, it’s that hope is stronger than despair.”

The Nightmare Virus is exactly the kind of book I’ve been hungering for without being able to describe. This is fast-paced, high octane dystopian science-fantasy with incredibly high stakes and some captivating allegorical themes. The writing flowed wonderfully, there was a ton of believable character development, and the faith element mattered deeply to the plot. The story itself was fantastic and, while I could draw some comparisons to other stories I’ve loved, it also felt wholly unique. It felt familiar and true while still being a story unlike any other I’ve experienced. I loved everything about it.

Read More Read More

Book Review: Disquiet Gods (The Sun Eater, #6) by Christopher Ruocchio

Book Review: Disquiet Gods (The Sun Eater, #6) by Christopher Ruocchio

This review is a copy of the transcript of my video review on Disquiet Gods

ARC provided by the publisher—Baen Books—in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art illustrated by Kieran Yanner

Disquiet Gods by Christopher Ruocchio

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Sun Eater (Book #6 of 7)

Genre: Sci-fi, Space Opera, Science Fantasy

Word Count: 290,000 words

Pages: 704 pages (Hardcover edition)

Published: 2nd April 2024 by DAW Books (US) & Head of Zeus (UK)


This book… What a penultimate installment. Disquiet Gods is a festival of epic science fantasy masterwork cranked to maximum level.

Read More Read More

Book Review: The Dregs of Empire (The Sun Eater, #5.6) by Christopher Ruocchio

Book Review: The Dregs of Empire (The Sun Eater, #5.6) by Christopher Ruocchio

Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art illustrated by John Barry Ballaran

The Dregs of Empire: A Tale of the Sun Eater by Christopher Ruocchio

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Sun Eater (Book #5.6 of 7)

Genre: Science Fantasy, Sci-fi, Space Opera

Pages: 332 pages (Kindle edition)

Published: 14th November 2023 by Christopher Ruocchio (Self-published)


The Dregs of Empire is the finest companion novel in The Sun Eater series so far.

“I am not afraid to die… because I know this is not the end for us. We are all of us trapped in an endless cycle of life and death and rebirth. What matters is what we do within that cycle. Right understanding. Right thought . . . Right speech.”

Read More Read More

Book Review: The Failures (The Wanderlands, #1) by Benjamin Liar

Book Review: The Failures (The Wanderlands, #1) by Benjamin Liar

This review is a copy of the transcript of my video review on The Failures

ARC provided by the publisher—DAW Books—in exchange for an honest review.

Cover art by theBookDesigners

The Failures by Benjamin Liar

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Wanderlands (Book #1 of 3)

Genre: Fantasy, Science Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Sci-fi, Post-apocalypse

Pages: 544 pages (Hardcover edition)

Published: 2nd July 2024 by DAW Books


The Failures is an extremely ambitious, mind-bending, and meticulously constructed debut novel.

“If we are truly just cogs, and part of some great machine, then it must run poorly indeed.”

Read More Read More