THE PLAGUE by Albert Camus

The Plague by Albert Camus My rating: 5 of 5 stars The last time I read a Camus book was 17 years ago, and it was a life-changing experience. Ever since then, I have studiously avoided Camus' writing in case his other novels were similarly affecting. But with the onset of Covid-19 and so many …

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City of Saints and Madmen, by Jeff VanderMeer

City of Saints and Madmen by Jeff VanderMeer My rating: 5 of 5 stars This type of narrative is usually a difficult sell for me. CSM contains a number of shorter stories (novellas and novelettes) which are loosely connected, and weaves a single narrative thread through them. The reason I find this sort of thing …

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Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer

Yet There Are Statues

Too Like the Lightning coverWhen Strange Horizons asked me to contribute to their 2016 Best of the Year wrap-up, I immediately knew my entry would have to discuss Too Like the Lightning, my favorite novel not only of 2016 but of the last decade. The natural question to ask me, then, one I certainly asked myself, is if it’s so great, why haven’t I actually written a review of it? Well, for a variety of reasons I haven’t reviewed much of anything in a while, so with the sequel arriving today it seemed like a great time to both reread Too Like the Lightning and actually write about it this time.

The novel takes place in a future where humanity has flying cars, a moon base, and robots that make full time jobs strictly optional. Humanity is also enjoying lasting world peace, having given up geographic nation states, organized religion, and even gendered…

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Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey My rating: 5 of 5 stars I would describe this book as "masochist woman with slightly magical vagina conquers the world". Note - this is not a criticism. It's well written, amusing, intricate, interesting. It's nice to read a book where people don't have sexual hangups, which is straight faced …

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A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell

A History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell My rating: 5 of 5 stars This book is valuable, not only for introduction it provides into philosophy, but for the compassion and integrity with which it is presented. Bertrand Russell writes, "When an intelligent man expresses a view which seems to us obviously absurd, we should …

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