My Picks of the Year 2008

I reviewed 34 books this year, plus one audio book, which is a fair amount for me considering the blog was only a minor outlet until July/August time (I only reviewed 8 books in the first half of the year).

I've had the pleasure this year to read so many great books, to have contact with both great publishers and authors and, of course, everyone that reads and comments on the blog - it's a great feeling to know that people actually do read what I post and comment on the blog, whether they agree with me or not. I'll look forward to more of this in 2009, but more of that in my new year post coming up later in the week ;)

Putting time into the blog is one of the most rewarding things I could have done. I've discovered that there are so many books out there that I never really got around to as a casual reader of sci-fi and spreading the word about these great stories puts a smile on my face. While looking back at the books I've got around to this year there are some that really stand out, and that's what this post is here for: the books that I've enjoyed above all others and would recommend without hesitation - in short the books I think you should read. I've only included what was released this year in my top 5, but there are a couple of special mentions at the end. So, without further ado...

1. The Temporal Void by Peter F Hamilton (Pan Macmillan) (review) (interview)
Although this wasn't the book that got my highest rating this year, it is by far the most deserving of the top spot. As the second part in a trilogy it had the benefit of all the set up in place from The Dreaming Void, but also in the tight spot of having to carry a lot forward for The Evolutionary Void. It carried everything off exactly as it should have done and is the only book that I've re-read this year and was even more rewarding the second time around. Peter F Hamilton is back at his best with the first two books of the Void trilogy and the mix of hard sf and the fantasy style sections of the Void play off each other perfectly. If you haven't started this trilogy yet you are missing out o some of the best sf out there - I'm just hoping that the wait for the conclusion isn't too long!

2. Kethani by Eric Brown (Solaris) (review)
Possibly the 'softest' of all science fiction I read this year, but by far the most profound. I can't say much more about it that I didn't put in my review - check it out for the full breakdown on why you should read it!




3. Vault of Deeds by James Barclay (PS Publishing) (review)
This was an absolute blast from cover to cover - the humour is spot on and it also takes the typical fantasy stereotypes and mocks them thoroughly! Not only will it put a smile on your face throughout, but if you look past the witty dialogue you'll find a setting with so much depth and promise. Here's hoping James Barclay comes back to this setting in the not too distant future :)

4. Space Captain Smith & The God Emperor of Didcot by Toby Frost (Myrmidon Books) (review, review)
Toby Frost has been my find of the year - both of these books are excellent sci-fi with humour running throughout - I found these especially good because they are set in a fully realised universe, the sort I love. What Toby does is bring witty dialogue and great prose along with a typically British approach. Must reads.

5. The Gabble and Other Stories by Neal Asher (Pan Macmillan) (review)
The king of weird, wonderful and gruesome alien creations, Neal Asher hits all the right spots with this collection of short stories set in his Polity universe. I love Neal's stuff and his short fiction is always guaranteed to entertain - it's through his collections that I got really hooked and found some of the best ideas I've seen in science fiction today.

Honourable Mention 1
Old Man's War by John Scalzi (Pan Macmillan, 2007) (review)
Although this wasn't published this year I only discovered the excellent Scalzi in July and have since gone on to read both The Ghost Brigades and The Last Colony. I'm aiming to get Zoe's Tale soon enough as the prose John Scalzi delivers makes the pages turn like nothing else.


Honourable Mention 2
Crystal Rain by Tobias Buckell (Tor, 2006) (review)
Another great author I only discovered this year and one I plan on keeping track of in the future. With a unique combination of Caribbean culture and space opera this is a fresh take that I really enjoyed.




Disappointment of the Year
House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds (Gollancz) (review)
I've read quite a few things by Alastair Reynolds and I've come to expect some high quality stuff, but this just didn't hit he spot at all. A real shame :(

Review | Orphanage by Robert Buettner (Orbit)

40 years in the future and the alien menace, the slugs, are killing humanity one shot at a time. Launching asteroids from their bases on Ganymede they are wiping out anything in their way, not to destroy the planet but to clear it of humans so they can move in and make it their own. With the population of Earth doing all they can to continue surviving amidst the devastation, a troubled youth, Jason Wander, finds himself signed up to the army.

With training relying on old equipment and methods that were established during the wars of the 20th century the army is woefully under prepared. Relegated to helping the survivors after the impacts they have little to look forward to, at least until a mission to Ganymede is announced and humanity can look to the day when they can fight back.

As Wander begins his training he finds himself causing unintentional trouble for his squad during exercises, making him far from the most popular recruit. With deployment coming through he finds himself more involved in the world changing events than he bargained for, leading up to the mission to Ganymede. But not all volunteers are accepted for this mission, only those that have lost everything - the orphans - are chosen. And so rests the fate of humanity.

I'll start off by saying what will become very obvious when you start reading Orphanage - it is very reminiscent of Starship Troopers in the general storyline - Robert Buettner himself says on his site that Orphanage is a literary homage to both Heinlein and Haldeman. It is because of this comparison that I can't but help to make is both good and bad. The familiarity makes Orphanage feel like a book that I've read and enjoyed before and one that I've returned to with a good feeling. On the downside, the feeling of sameness made me question the abilities of the author to come up with something original. Luckily though, despite my initial hesitation, Orphanage turned out to be a great read!

The basic premise of the story means that we get a close look at our main character, Jason Wander, and as it is told through the first person we get inside his head and see his motivations and feel his fears. This is what really worked in Orphanage - Jason Wander. He is a character that is very identifiable, coming from a humble background and not the instant hero that is shown in many stories these days. I enjoyed reading through Wander's eyes and the emotion, perspective and humour that Buettner injects into the character and story are all pitched just right. All other characters also fit in nicely adding to the sense of camaraderie that is expected for a story that has such a strong military aspect.

The science behind the story, while giving the plot everything it needs to move forward nicely, doesn't have too much depth or explanation. This isn't a bad thing at all, sometimes a book needs to take this approach to ensure that story is enjoyed without being sidetracked by world building. The main reason it works so well is because this is a story told in the first person, and if Wander had started spewing all the technological details of every piece of equipment he used it would soon become unbelievable and frustrating. For what Orphanage is - a well constructed, action packed story - Buettner has aimed it just right.

All in all Orphanage is a nice, easy read, giving plenty to keep the pages turning and an enjoyable story. I'll be picking up the rest of this series as soon as I can - there is a whole lot of promise here!

Interview | Marianne de Pierres

Marianne de Pierres, an Australian author of science fiction, is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. I discovered her last year when I read a great review of Dark Space and promptly went out to buy it. Since then I've read both Dark Space (review here) and the second novel in her Sentients of Orion sequence, Chaos Space (review here). This is turning into a great space opera and full of plenty of action, intrigue and political maneuvering, just what I like!


Marianne took some time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions, which I am very grateful for - I know she had been hard at work completing Mirror Space (book 3 of the Sentients of Orion). Her earlier novels, the Parrish Plessis books are on my to-buy list as I've heard a lot of great things about them. You can visit Marianne's website here and also check out that of her publisher, Orbit, here. Also, courtesy of Orbit, there is an extract of Chaos Space up on their site - just have a look here.

Anyway, enough of my rambling, here's the interview!

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Many thanks for taking the time out of your undoubtedly busy schedule to answer a few questions. First off, could you tell us a little about yourself and how you came to write - and why science fiction?

I’m the daughter of wheat and sheep farmers from Western Australia. Being the youngest by a quite way, I spent a lot of time alone reading and imagining because my siblings had already left home. I had an amazingly free, uncluttered childhood which at the time I thought was boring – but now I truly appreciate. It all came to a nasty end when I was sent to boarding school at twelve. Anyway, the reading habit stayed with me through the ‘BS’ years – and offered me escape. It led, in time, to the desire to emulate the things I loved to read. Not much different from any other writer I guess. Science fiction writing seemed like the ultimate mountain to climb (and still does). I wanted to take that journey and enjoy the view along the way.

What sort of books have influenced you and your writing?

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly because I’ve read so differently at different ages. My young teen years were filled with pulp, ‘boys own’ adventure novels and Zane Grey. Then in my later teens and early twenties I alternated between literary fiction and historical novels. Late twenties I experienced a fantasy glut and became entranced by mainstream saga’s like Kristin Lavransdatter. In between there was some weird slipstream stuff... and of course ... Carlos Castenada. My latter years have been almost exclusively SF. Given those shifting tastes I’ll just mention a few authors that stand out for me: Sigrid Undset, A.C. Clarke, Ian MacDonald, DH Lawrence, Jean Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Anya Seton.

I must admit that I've yet to read the Parrish Plessis series (it's on the list though!), but how have those first books helped you as a writer?

From the point of view of the writing craft, I guess I got a good look at the merits and downfalls of writing in first person. Three books in the first person viewpoint of a very intense, volatile character was an interesting experience.

In terms of building a readership the series has been great. Parrish is a colourful anti-hero who attracts a lot of fan art and some fan fiction – she even has her own message board called Parrish’s Patch. Because of Parrish, I’ve had a lot of reader interaction. Personally I don’t think you can ask for much more than that – other people getting enthusiastically caught up in your fictional world and characters. The downside is that fans don’t want to let go and let you try other things – it meets resistance. I understand why, but a writer has to be able to grow and experiment.

You're also a part of the wRiter on the Rise group, has this helped you grow as a writer by having feedback like this?

ABSOLUTELY! I can’t begin to describe how much my writers group has helped me improve. If you surround yourself with calibre writers you get forced along with them. A bit like competitive sport – if you play with the best, you learn to be better.

We meet every 12 – 18 months, each bringing a novel to be critiqued. It’s a fascinating and exhausting process. It’s also been a great gift to see some truly stunning novels form and refine like Margo Lanagan’s Tender Morsels and Richard Harland’s upcoming YA novel Worldshaker.

With a role playing game spawned from Parrish Plessis and some truly spectacular fan art on the forum, do these give you a boost?

I never fail to be astonished and cheered by the response I get from readers to the Parrish books. I love the fact that I’ve written something that has stirred their creative impulses. Right now, a group in Western Australia are creating a Parrish animation, and I’m currently in film negotiations for Nylon Angel. I truly believe she’ll make it to the big screen at some stage – she’s that kind of girl!

With the change of sub-genre with the Sentients of Orion series, how much of a difference is there writing space opera? Any pros or cons?

Sentients of Orion has given me a chance to be a whole lot of different people and visit some exotic and weird places - better than a holiday really. Much as I love Parrish, her world was tawdry and downright loathsome at times. Writing Sentients has been like growing wings. With Space Opera you can go anywhere, be anyone. I love that but it’s also meant juggling a number of balls over a number of books and I’d be lying if I didn’t say how demanding that is. One the greatest pleasures in writing this series has been weaving the character’s storylines so that they fall in and out of each others lives. Manipulating fate is unbelievably cool.

Without giving away too much can you briefly outline Dark Space and Chaos Space?

That is so tough – they are complex books that resist simple, concise explanation. So I’m going to cheat by giving you my series pitch and a link to chapter samples on my website.

God is discovered alive and well in the Orion constellation; and its/his/her name is Sole. Scientists and academics and believers are overjoyed. But it takes a pregnant, eccentric noblewoman and a larrikin misogynist to unravel the real reason for Sole’s sudden appearance and stop the sentient species of Orion committing genocide in their effort to win Sole’s favour.

*** Put more directly … if you like intrigue, and ideas, and sexual tension then these might be the books for you***

Chapter link for Dark Space: here
Chapter link for Chaos Space: here

Personally, I found Dark Space to be a very slow build up that paid off hugely in Chaos Space - was this always the plan?

Yes, although in retrospect it may not have been such a smart thing. Some readers found the narrow focus of Dark Space belied the space opera tradition and were not happy. However, my idea was to start with an intense focus on a couple of characters on a single world, in the first book, and then let the story blossom into a grand adventure and intrigue that spreads across the Orion constellation. That fitted with the ‘chaos theory’ theme – drop a stone in a pond... I *think* that those readers who have gave me the benefit of the doubt with Dark Space - trusted me, if you like - have been well satisfied. My editor at Orbit, Darren Nash, has been amazing to work with – I don’t think there’s been a single editing point that I’ve disagreed with him on over four books.

What can we expect from the next two in the series?

The canvas expands yet again in Mirror Space as Mira travels to Post-Species space and then I start the process of reeling things in, in the last novel, Transformation Space. Aside from tying up the story threads for the characters, the last novel is very much about the SOLE entity and its part in the whole storyline – it tackles the really BIG questions.

Your film script 'Stalking Daylight' has been optioned and your alter ego, Marianne Delacourt, is publishing a new series next year - you sound like a very busy person indeed! What else will we be seeing from you in the near future?

I set some goals for this year and am happy (and a little surprised) to have achieved them. The Stalking Daylight script is a long term SF project and gives me a chance to work with colleagues Lynne Jamneck and Enchanter producer, Matt Carter. I always wanted to write a film that achieved the same type of suspense as Pitch Black, so that’s where we’re aiming. The paranormal, humorous crime series is LOTS of fun – written by me in my spare time as counterpoint to some of the tragedy and seriousness of the Sentients series. In Australia it will be released by Allen and Unwin and you can follow its progress at the Marianne Delacourt blog: http://taratasse.wordpress.com/. The series pitch goes like this:

Tara Tasse should be just another unemployable, twenty-something, private school girl but she can see people’s auras. The trouble is, auras sometimes tell you things people don’t want you to know. When Tara reads crime boss Johnny Vogue’s aura, she’s sucked into an underworld ‘situation’ that sees her running for her life. Tara Tasse is Triple F. Funny. Fast. Feisty.

I’ve also written a very dark, gothic teen fantasy entitled Burn Bright which needs a little more work but I hope will be out in the next year or two.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Nice to chat with you, Mark. Have a wonderful 2009. Keep up the good work – the industry needs intelligent reviewers like you.

Once again, many thanks for your time - I look forward to catching up with Parrish and eagerly await the next book in the Sentients of Orion!

Review | Kéthani by Eric Brown (Solaris)

The Kethani are a peaceful alien race that make first contact on Earth in the early 21st century. White columns mysteriously appear across the globe at the same time causing questions and confusion. Shortly after all the world governments informed everyone of the arrival of the Kethani and the gift they have bought humanity: immortality. The stories contained within this collection are focused on a group of friends living in a small village in Yorkshire and the effects that the coming of the Kethani have on them and their lives.

I will be honest - when I picked up Kethani I wasn't aware it was simply a collection of short stories. This threw me a little, but after starting to read it and getting through the first story I was hooked and couldn't have been happier about the format. Speaking of the format, Kethani is made up of 10 stories (only one of which is original to this collection) along with a new prelude, coda and linking sections adding a little more to make it feel like a linked story rather than separate shorts.

All of these sections are told through the eyes of Khalid, our main character of sorts, who does a good job to give an overview that is just right. As for the stories, to use Khalid's words:

"Over the course of the next fifteen years I came to know a group of people in the village of Oxenworth who became dear to me. It is through the eyes of these people that I wish to tell the story of how the coming of the Kethani affected the lives of everyone on Earth. Much has been written about the gift of the elusive aliens, and I cannot claim that what follows is in any way original. What is special about this document, I think, is that it concentrates on the small-scale lives of the ordinary, everyday people during this unique time of change."

Each of the stories is focused on one of the group of friends and give a little more towards the overall arc about the Kethani. We learn about how the Kethani operate on Earth, how wary many people are to their promises, how the prejudices of many can have a startling effect on other peoples lives, and we learn what sort of contact the Kethani have with humanity. In essence Kethani is an examination of humanity from different perspectives and how people deal with something that at first appears too good to be true. It also looks at how we deal with death, and how different the perspective is when it can be overcome, something that it does quite effectively on a few occasions.

What you won't find here is a wide screen space opera that examines the Kethani and what happens out among the stars, but you will find a collection of stories that make you stop and think, not just about what Eric Brown is saying, but about your own views and beliefs. Kethani is a truly stunning collection that will have an enduring effect on me. This is without a doubt one of the most heartfelt, emotional and profound books I've read in a long time and is thoroughly deserving of anyone's time. Highly, highly recommended.

Review | The Real Story by Stephen Donaldson (Gollancz)

I picked up the recent Gollancz release omnibus of the Gap 1 & 2, The Real Story and Forbidden Knowledge, as I was interested to see what the series would be like. I decided to tackle The Real Story on its own first, hoping that what I found would give me enough of a taste to go forward with the rest of the series. I'm not sure whether this one is representative of the whole series though, it certainly reads like a stand alone story.

Gap drives are the way to travel between stars, but there is a very dangerous side effect - a small amount of people suffer from Gap sickness, something that can cause them to act irrationally and dangerously to the point of inadvertently killing those aboard their ship. Zone implants (a highly illegal technology that allows a person to control anothers actions by a simple remote) are used to control those that suffer from Gap sickness, or just used by the unsavoury to use others as slaves.

When Angus Thermopyle returns to the station with Morn Hyland apparently working for him, many are suspicious of what happened - how does someone like Angus attract and keep someone as beautiful as Morn. Nick Succorso is one in particular that appears to be involved, his interest in Morn sparking fury in Angus. When things go wrong after an excursion the authorities of the station try and pin down pirate activity to Angus, and when Nick also returns things go from bad to worse. Now we hear the story of the events leading to Angus' demise, the Real Story behind the rumours.

As I said earlier, this reads like a stand alone novel, not the first part of a 5 book series - this was perhaps the most surprising thing I found and it threw me slightly off. It's clear fairly early on that this is the case as the ending is given to us and we embark on the journey to discover the truth. The journey itself though, that is where we get to explore the character of Angus and the setting to expect in the future novels.

Angus' character is one that I didn't like that much - actually I despise him - but the story was an interesting look into someone that cares for nobody and uses force and brutality to get what he wants. He doesn't really have any redeeming qualities and his shortsightedness leads him into his downfall. Morn is a character I sympathise with more than anything else, being forced to do many things, some of them pretty degrading and disgusting. Although we see her character change throughout the story, it's all done through Angus' eyes and therefore we don't find out what makes her rick - a shame really as I'd like to see more of her. Nick has even less page time, relegated to the nemesis of Angus if for no other reason than the way he look sat Morn.

So The Real Story is Angus' story - not the most pleasant but all in all a decent enough read. As it pretty much ties up the loose ends I'm interested, if not a little cautious, to see the direction it takes from here. The afterword by Stephen Donaldson cleared up quite a lot regarding the story and made the big picture a little clearer and without it I doubt I would even consider going forward with the series.

Review | Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan (Gollancz)

Takeshi Kovacs is ex-Envoy, trained with conditioning that will transfer with regardless of what Sleeve he's in. After being made an offer of work that he can't refuse he's re-sleeved in body that will turn heads while he carries out his investigation: did Laurence Bancroft commit suicide or was he, as he believes, murdered?

Originally from off-world he is now on Earth, an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar rules and a job that isn't made any easier by those facts. When he starts digging where the police turned a blind eye he finds things that less than reputable people want left alone. With past acquaintances becoming involved and complications arising because of his sleeve, Kovacs finds trouble at every turn until the truth finally comes to light.

I've heard so much about Richard Morgan in the past few years but I've never found myself drawn to any of his work. I picked this one up a couple of months ago and kept on wondering whether or not I should try it. I was quite pleased that in won the poll, I doubt I would have got around to it anytime soon otherwise. So after finally reading it was it as good as I had heard? Well, I can certainly see why Morgan's work is looked upon highly and I'm glad I've now been exposed to it, but it wasn't the amazing read I was expecting.

Altered Carbon is told entirely in the first person, and this can make or break a book in my opinion. If the author hits the right note then it's a joy to read and can give the events a much more personal feeling. This is what we've got here, the perfect balance between story, history and world-building. Following the events through Kovacs' eyes allows the story to unfold and revelations to come at the right time, never once out of place. I liked Kovacs as a character too, which obviously helps enormously!

The other characters are all well suited and the relationships and motivations of each are well fleshed out. The history that we glimpse during the novel shows us just how multi-layered these characters are, how much development has gone into their history and the connections between them. For a book with a first person perspective I was impressed with the effortless way all of this was conveyed. I was given plenty of time with these characters and, although being Kovacs gives a limited view, Morgan was able to get each of the characters across in an unbiased way.

There also wasn't as much action in here as I was expecting, although when it kicked in I was very pleased with the flow of the narrative, the descriptiveness and the detail - enough, but not over the top. The same can be said about much of the story, the richness of the world Kovacs finds himself in is always felt underneath the story and situation. The world-building is also very impressive, but Morgan never reveals that much detail about events and history of this future world. I was a little disappointed with this - I love the in-depth construction of a future society - but with sequels already out there for me to pick up I'm hoping more will be revealed through reading them. If not, doesn't matter, it's a personal preference that in no way effects the story or the outcome of Altered Carbon.

One of the main technologies in Altered Carbon, sleeving, is a great plot device. Essentially it enables the transference of consciousness from one body to another and can mean immortality for those rich enough to keep their minds backed up regularly and clone bodies available should the worst case scenario happen. As this is what the plot revolves around it is refreshing to see a good look at this process and the effects it has on all the characters.

At the end of the day I went into this book with expectations based on what I'd heard about Richard Morgan and his writing and didn't quite find what I thought it would be. Is this a bad thing? Not at all, and putting my expectations aside Altered Carbon is a great novel, one that I'm glad I picked up.