Books Read 2013

January 6, 2013
Blackbirds (Miriam Black 1) - Chuck Wendig
Miriam is not the typical private-eye/good Samaritan with special powers found in many urban fantasy series. Her gift has (so far) been truly a curse. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
January 10, 2013
The Black Prism (Lightbringer 1) - Brent Weeks
High fantasy with a few interesting twists. The magic system is based on the light spectrum with each primary color representing a different flavour of magic. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
January 19, 2013
Mockingbird (Miriam Black 2) - Chuck Wendig
The action is fast paced and explicit and the superb character development makes what happens to primary and secondary characters matter. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
January 28, 2013
Little Brother (Little Brother 1) - Cory Doctorow
This book is going to deservedly win some awards. I have not read anything that presents the erosion of civil rights in the US as well as this book. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
February 9, 2013
Jack Glass - Adam Roberts
The first story is an incredible tale of a locked room murder told from the inside out. The gritty story is a masterpiece. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
February 11, 2013
The Dirty Streets of Heaven (Bobby Dollar 1) - Tad Williams
The world-weary gumshoe/angel Bobby Dollar wasn't particularly endearing as a protagonist. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
February 12, 2013
Captain Vorpatril's Alliance (Miles Vorkosigan 15) - Lois McMaster Bujold
If you have read the rest of the series you are going to enjoy this. If you haven't then you should start from the beginning. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
February 22, 2013
The Blinding Knife (Lightbringer 2) - Brent Weeks
The second book fleshes out the magic system admirably and firmly embeds it into a religious and political context. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
February 23, 2013
Sharps - K J Parker
... fun adventure tale that focuses on political intrigue set in an intricately designed feudal world. A fencing team is sent on a diplomatic mission. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
February 25, 2013
Leviathan Wakes (Expanse 1) - James S A Corey
It is a space opera set only within our solar system. Corey is writing a series that spans the sub-genres of planetary to galactic space opera. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
March 6, 2013
Throne of The Crescent Moon (Crescent Moon 1) - Saladin Ahmed
The middle eastern theme is authentic without being stereotypical. There is a bit more character development than plot development. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
March 7, 2013
Shadowmarch (Shadowmarch 1) - Tad Williams
This is classic high fantasy, with court intrigue, swordplay, magic and mythical races. It took a while to plod through. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
March 13, 2013
The Twelve (Passage 2) - Justin Cronin
The book's action and character development is just as good as the first book. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
March 15, 2013
The City's Son (Skyscraper Throne 1) - Tom Pollock
Although there is murder and rape portrayed in the novel it scans more as a Young Adult novel than a gritty mature offering. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
March 18, 2013
Timeless (Parasol Protectorate 5) - Gail Carriger
Alexia Tarabotti travels to Egypt with her precocious, preternatural, daughter Prudence, her werewolf husband Lord Maccon, and her hat-crazy best friend Ivy. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
March 19, 2013
In the Mouth of the Whale (The Quiet War 3) - Paul McAuley
Three varieties of post-humans, Ghosts, Quicks, and Trues, seek their destiny in the Fomalhaut system while a human from the far past is on its way to change everything. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
March 26, 2013
The Troupe - Robert Jackson Bennett
... this is definitely a classic example of American Gothic, hitting every note of sin, self-destruction, and evil embodied in supernatural creatures. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
March 27, 2013
Ex-Heroes (Ex-Heroes 1) - Peter Clines
Lots of fun to read. Essentially the fun of a comic book with the depth of a decent genre novel. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
April 5, 2013
Ex-Patriots (Ex-Heroes 2) - Peter Clines
The Los Angeles enclave is found by, perhaps, the last military outpost. Clines maintains the quality of writing found in the first book. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
April 6, 2013
The Fractal Prince (Quantum Thief 2) - Hannu Rajaniemi
This is the sequel to The Quantum Thief. We learn more about the fate of the Earth and the nature of the politics among the most powerful beings created by the virtualization of life. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
April 12, 2013
No Hero - Jonathan Wood
In the end it is a fairly good read but not nearly as good as... (more)
(AmazonIndie)
April 15, 2013
Caliban's War (Expanse 2) - James S A Corey
The sequel is a logical continuation of the first book. picking up the story a year later. With the introduction of more fascinating characters we have a book that is just as gripping as the first. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
April 29, 2013
Libriomancer (Magic Ex Libris 1) - Jim C Hines
The magical system is based on pulling objects out of books. This leads to a healthy amount of fan service for sci-fi/fantasy fans. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
May 2, 2013
14 - Peter Clines
14 is a great sci-fi/horror novel. By the time the monsters come out of the proverbial closet... (more)
(AmazonIndie)
May 10, 2013
The Killing Moon (Dreamblood 1) - N K Jemisin
The magic system was interesting but not particularly fleshed out. One draws lifeforce energy from dreamspace or somesuch. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
May 12, 2013
Illegal Aliens - Nick Pollotta
This is a disappointing example of humor in sci-fi and fantasy. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
May 20, 2013
London Falling (Shadow Police 1) - Paul Cornell
I really enjoyed this new British urban fantasy offering. The gritty realism of the police... (more)
(AmazonIndie)
May 22, 2013
The Way of Kings (Stormlight Archive 1) - Brandon Sanderson
(AmazonIndie)
May 27, 2013
Words of Radiance (Stormlight Archive 2) - Brandon Sanderson
(AmazonIndie)
June 2, 2013
Judgement Night (Bureau 13 1) - Nick Pollotta
I enjoyed Judgement Night much more than the first Pollotta book I tried. Bureau 13 is a secret American organization... (more)
(AmazonIndie)
June 15, 2013
2312 - Kim Stanley Robinson
An interesting vision of future Earth and the solar system populated by genetically modified humans. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
June 21, 2013
The Signal and the Noise: Why So Many Predictions Fail-but Some Don't - Nate Silver
Silver's main thrust is that the kind of statistical modelling the general public is often exposed to suffers from poorly understood raw data being run through overly idealized models. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
June 27, 2013
The Blue Blazes - Chuck Wendig
Mookie Pearl is an underworld enforcer, both criminal and supernatural. When family gets involved he must strike out on his own to battle a threat that could destroy all New York City.
(AmazonIndie)
June 30, 2013
Shadow and Betrayal (Long Price Quartet & 1) - Daniel Abraham
An omnibus edition of A Shadow in Summer and A Betrayal in Winter, the first two books of the Long Price Quartet series.
(AmazonIndie)
July 2, 2013
Pandora's Star (Commonwealth Saga 1) - Peter F Hamilton
(AmazonIndie)
July 4, 2013
The Long War (Long Earth 2) - Terry Pratchett; Stephen Baxter
(AmazonIndie)
July 6, 2013
Judas Unchained (Commonwealth Saga 2) - Peter F Hamilton
(AmazonIndie)
July 8, 2013
The Dreaming Void (Void Trilogy 1) - Peter F Hamilton
(AmazonIndie)
July 10, 2013
The Temporal Void (Void Trilogy 2) - Peter F Hamilton
(AmazonIndie)
July 20, 2013
The Evolutionary Void (Void Trilogy 3) - Peter F Hamilton
(AmazonIndie)
July 25, 2013
This Immortal - Roger Zelazny
Some old school sci-fi (1965) from a great author. This Hugo award winner is a bit dated in terms of characters and relationships but introduces some innovative sci-fi ideas whenit comes to alien "invasion".
(AmazonIndie)
August 13, 2013
The Ocean at the End of the Lane - Neil Gaiman
Young Adult.
(AmazonIndie)
August 20, 2013
Doughnut - Tom Holt
Some interesting parallels with Ready Player One by Ernest Cline but with the classic Holt sense of humor.
(AmazonIndie)
August 26, 2013
The Eerie Adventures of the Lycanthrope Robinson Crusoe - Peter Clines
Decent enough but the old timey language became tiresome. Ending petered off. The Cthulu stuff remained frustratingly unexplored as well.
(AmazonIndie)
September 4, 2013
Kill City Blues (Sandman Slim 5) - Richard Kadrey
Sandman Slim escapes from (ruling in) Hell but has to keep fighting, this time he must prevent the Older Gods from returning.
(AmazonIndie)
September 6, 2013
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making - Catherynne M. Valente
Young Adult.
(AmazonIndie)
September 10, 2013
Raising Steam (Discworld 40) - Terry Pratchett
(Published 2013)
(AmazonIndie)
September 18, 2013
Wicked Bronze Ambition (Garrett, P.I. 14) - Glen Cook
Garrett P.I. is getting older and TunFaire is becoming a more law-abiding city but there is still room for some adventure. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
September 20, 2013
Ex-Communication (Ex-Heroes 3) - Peter Clines
A great continuation of the series. Zombies, superheroes, and zombie-superheroes... this series can do no wrong. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
September 21, 2013
Boundary (Boundary 1) - Eric Flint; Ryk E Spoor
(AmazonIndie)
September 25, 2013
Happy Hour in Hell (Bobby Dollar 2) - Tad Williams
(AmazonIndie)
September 30, 2013
Codex Born (Magic Ex Libris 2) - Jim C Hines
The book hits all the marks: sound character development progressing from the first book, fast paced action with enough grit to keep it interesting without getting gory. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
October 3, 2013
Necessary Evil (Milkweed Triptych 3) - Ian Tregillis
The action is fast paced and Tregillis skillfully ties up all plot lines with a neat and satisfying ending. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
October 3, 2013
Hide Me Among the Graves - Tim Powers
... is a great take on vampires set in a very believable mid-19th century England. (more)
(AmazonIndie)
October 4, 2013
The Family Trade (Merchants' War 1) - Charles Stross
(AmazonIndie)
October 5, 2013
The Hidden Family (Merchants' War 2) - Charles Stross
(AmazonIndie)
October 6, 2013
The Clan Corporate (Merchants' War 3) - Charles Stross
(AmazonIndie)
October 7, 2013
The Merchants' War (Merchants' War 4) - Charles Stross
(AmazonIndie)
October 8, 2013
The Revolution Business (Merchants' War 5) - Charles Stross
(AmazonIndie)
October 9, 2013
The Trade of Queens (Merchants' War 6) - Charles Stross
(AmazonIndie)
November 17, 2013
The Rithmatist - Brandon Sanderson; Ben McSweeney
Definitely a YA novel. First of a series. Sweet romance stuff similar to the Alcatraz series but without the silliness or metatext-play. A quick read.
(AmazonIndie)
December 1, 2013
Steelheart (Reckoners 1) - Brandon Sanderson
Definitely a YA novel. First of a series. Sweet romance stuff similar to the Alcatraz series but without the silliness or metatext-play. A quick read.
(AmazonIndie)
December 20, 2013
The Republic of Thieves (Gentleman Bastard 3) - Scott Lynch
(AmazonIndie)

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