Sci Fi Book Reviews – Lee J. Russell, Author

Book review: “Ringworld” by Larry Niven…

First published in the United States by Ballantine Books in 1970, Ringworld by Larry Niven is often listed as one of the “must read” SF books. It won the 1970 Nebula Award, as well as both Hugo and Locus awards in 1971. The book immediately captured the imagination of readers and critics alike because ofContinue reading “Book review: “Ringworld” by Larry Niven…”

Book review: “Colony Mars” by Gerald M. Kilby and “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel…

I recently finished listening to the first 3 books in Gerald M. Kilby’s “Colony Mars” series, and reading “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel in paperback. The stories are quite different… however, I found both to be engaging in some ways, sometimes exciting, but also with irritations that I noticed as I progressed with them. Here’sContinue reading “Book review: “Colony Mars” by Gerald M. Kilby and “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel…”

Book Review: “The Windup Girl” by Paolo Bacigalupi

Originally published in 2009, I was gifted a copy of “The Windup Girl” a couple of years ago and have just gotten around to reading it. WOW! What a fantastic story!And what a perfectly executed piece of writing! On the front cover of my copy there is a quote from Time Magazine claiming that ‘BacigalupiContinue reading “Book Review: “The Windup Girl” by Paolo Bacigalupi”

Book review – “Contain” by Saul Tanpepper…

It is a pleasure to say that “Contain“ by Saul Tanpepper is a good book. It is obviously independently/self-published (despite stating Brinestone Press as the publisher), and indeed a look at the final page shows that it was printed by Amazon in the UK. However, this book is at the upper end of independently publishedContinue reading “Book review – “Contain” by Saul Tanpepper…”

“Extinction Event” by Bryant Benson – short story on 365 tomorrows

I’m an irregular reader of the short fiction on 365 tomorrows. Time is precious and life is short, so a story needs a really compelling theme to draw me in. It feels odd over the Christmas holidays to say that I ‘enjoyed’ this tale by Benson. In 8 paragraphs it steps us through the lastContinue reading ““Extinction Event” by Bryant Benson – short story on 365 tomorrows”

Visiting the first 3 Martian landing sites in H. G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds”…

While I was recently out on a road trip for another reason, I took the opportunity to visit the first three fictional landing sites for the Martian’s cylinders in H. G. Wells’ novel “The War of the Worlds” (serialised in 1897, first hardcover published in 1898). Unlike many ‘classic’ science fiction stories, this tale hasContinue reading “Visiting the first 3 Martian landing sites in H. G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds”…”

Book review: “The Truth Machine” – James L. Halperin

I found James L. Halperin’s 1996 novel “The Truth Machine” a curiously dull-yet-interesting read… an unusual combination. The cover looked exciting and the tagline of “In the Year 2004 The Truth Will Be Told” promised ‘excitement, adventure and really wild things’… to misquote Douglas Adams. Unfortunately Halperin chose to tell the story from the ratherContinue reading “Book review: “The Truth Machine” – James L. Halperin”

Reading through a backlist during the Covid-19 outbreak, I had mixed reactions to these three stories from 1978, 1989 and 1991…

First up was a re-read of “Sigmet Active” by Thomas Page (1978). I had read this around 1982 and it stayed lodged in my imagination ever since — but would it be as good now? The answer was “yes and no”. ‘Sigmet’ is a pilot’s notification of significant meteorological activity. Sigmet conditions make flying veryContinue reading “Reading through a backlist during the Covid-19 outbreak, I had mixed reactions to these three stories from 1978, 1989 and 1991…”

Book review: “Diving into the Wreck” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

I’ve been reading a lot more fiction since my Covid-19 lockdown began on 13th March. My interests are quite varied but I often return to my first love, science fiction – and I’m pleased to say that this 2013 tale from Kristine Kathryn Rusch did not disappoint! I’ve had a soft spot for stories likeContinue reading “Book review: “Diving into the Wreck” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch”

I was determined to finish reading “The Best of Isaac Asimov” before Christmas…

From my earlier blog on 24/12/19: … and I really enoyed it! I have a huge soft spot for early, post-WW2 SF, and this collection, chosen by Asimov, did not disappoint. The book collects 12 stories from 1939 to 1972 that he considered to be good stories spanning three decades of writing: “… two earlyContinue reading “I was determined to finish reading “The Best of Isaac Asimov” before Christmas…”