Science Fiction Book Reviews
And here are three science fiction titles that deserve much more attention than they are getting...
Author: Stéphane Beauverger
Title: Le Déchronologue
Series: None
Genre: Science Fiction - Time Traveling
Original Publisher: La Volte
First published: 2009
Pages: 398 (trade)
Awards: Prix Utopiales 2009 (French novel category)
This is probably one the best pieces of French science fiction I've read in a long time and it's by young and fairly new author Stéphane Beauverger.
It's like Pirates of the Caribbean meets time-travel. This book and I were bound to get along!
The book's true originality and what clearly distinguished it from anything that's ever been written on this historical period in science fiction, is its format and the way it is constructed. The story isn't told chronologically, you have to be an active reader to piece the events back together and yet it tells a lot about the author's talent that it's not too demanding to do so. The reason behind the author's choice to relate his story in this manner is closely tied to the events taking place within the narrative.
The world he is describing is under attack but it's not being attacked by foreign neighbors or other countries: it's being attacked by the past and the future. Time as we know it is completely disrupted and no longer resembles our understanding of time.
This is a fascinating new take on pirates, the Caribbean and well, time-traveling. Highly recommended though sadly not translated in English.
Author: Michael Faber
Title: Under the Skin
Genre: Science Fiction - Alien Encounter
Original Publisher: Harcourt
First Published: 2000
Pages: 320 (hardcover)
French title: Sous la Peau
French Publisher: Points - Seuil
Translation Published: 2005
Translator: Michèle Hechter
I picked up this book thanks to a contributor of the StarshipSofa audio magazine. I am always looking for foreign works that have not yet been translated in French to submit to French editors and this seemed like right up my alley. Unfortunately, I later found out that it's already been translated a few years ago and while I was slightly disappointed at hearing this, I'm glad the book has had the opportunity to be read by a French audience.
"This remarkable book defies categorisation. Under the Skin introduces Isserley, a woman obsessed with picking up male hitchhikers - so long as they're well-muscled and alone. But why? As the novel unfolds and the reason becomes clear, the reader is drawn inexorably into a completely unexpected and increasingly terrifying world."
This an eerie and disturbing book which made ill-at-ease on more than one occasion. It's dark, but not in your usual horror kind of way. Quite the opposite, it's all about what's not being told or described to the reader. It's not light reading, it's not something you feel like reading before turning off the light. It's all about appearances, the human body, the way we perceive ourselves, all linked to gender issues and the codes imposed by Western society.
It's a fascinating read and I'm really glad I was able to get my hands on it.
Author: Tobias S. Buckell
Title: Ragamuffin
Genre: Science Fiction - Space Opera
Series: Book II in the Xenowealth series (see review for Book I here)
Original Publisher: Tor Books
First Published: 2007
No French translation yet. But French rights to Crystal Rain were bought last year. No Publication yet.
"The Benevolent Satrapy rule an empire of forty-eight worlds, linked by thousands of wormholes strung throughout the galaxy. Human beings, while technically “free,” mostly skulk around the fringes of the Satrapy, struggling to get by. The secretive alien Satraps tightly restrict the technological development of the species under their control. Entire worlds have been placed under interdiction, cut off from the rest of the universe.
Descended from the islanders of lost Earth, the Ragamuffins are pirates and smugglers, plying the lonely spaceways around a dead wormhole. For years, the Satraps have tolerated the Raga, but no longer. Now they have embarked on a campaign of extermination, determined to wipe out the unruly humans once and for all.
But one runaway woman may complicate their plans. Combat enabled, Nashara is more machine than flesh, and she carries inside her a doomsday weapon that could reduce the entire galaxy to chaos. A hunted fugitive, she just wants to get home before she’s forced to destroy civilization---and herself."There are not many authors out there who can write entertaining fast-paced space opera stories, tightly built political intrigues and introduce diversity in their cast of characters. Tobias S. Buckell is one such authors and does it all effortlessly it seems. Ragamuffin is smart, fast, serious science fiction but no info dumps. It's refreshing and highly recommended.
Book one, Crystal Rain, hit home because it took place in a Caribbean setting that reminded of my childhood. Book two, Ragamuffin, reminded of why I loved space opera so much.
Also note that, though this is the second book in the series, you may read them in whatever order you feel like. Another smart thing on the author's side: each book is standalone. Sure some characters appear in several or all three books, but you don't have to have read them all to enjoy. That's for all of you who are tired of never-ending genre series.
I'm eagerly waiting for Sly Mongoose (which is the third book and for now it seems final book in the series) to come out in paperback.
Each one of these novels is excellent and highly recommended. It all depends on your mood and what you are looking for.
Author: Stéphane Beauverger
Title: Le Déchronologue
Series: None
Genre: Science Fiction - Time Traveling
Original Publisher: La Volte
First published: 2009
Pages: 398 (trade)
Awards: Prix Utopiales 2009 (French novel category)
This is probably one the best pieces of French science fiction I've read in a long time and it's by young and fairly new author Stéphane Beauverger.
It's like Pirates of the Caribbean meets time-travel. This book and I were bound to get along!
The book's true originality and what clearly distinguished it from anything that's ever been written on this historical period in science fiction, is its format and the way it is constructed. The story isn't told chronologically, you have to be an active reader to piece the events back together and yet it tells a lot about the author's talent that it's not too demanding to do so. The reason behind the author's choice to relate his story in this manner is closely tied to the events taking place within the narrative.
The world he is describing is under attack but it's not being attacked by foreign neighbors or other countries: it's being attacked by the past and the future. Time as we know it is completely disrupted and no longer resembles our understanding of time.
This is a fascinating new take on pirates, the Caribbean and well, time-traveling. Highly recommended though sadly not translated in English.
Author: Michael Faber
Title: Under the Skin
Genre: Science Fiction - Alien Encounter
Original Publisher: Harcourt
First Published: 2000
Pages: 320 (hardcover)
French title: Sous la Peau
French Publisher: Points - Seuil
Translation Published: 2005
Translator: Michèle Hechter
I picked up this book thanks to a contributor of the StarshipSofa audio magazine. I am always looking for foreign works that have not yet been translated in French to submit to French editors and this seemed like right up my alley. Unfortunately, I later found out that it's already been translated a few years ago and while I was slightly disappointed at hearing this, I'm glad the book has had the opportunity to be read by a French audience.
"This remarkable book defies categorisation. Under the Skin introduces Isserley, a woman obsessed with picking up male hitchhikers - so long as they're well-muscled and alone. But why? As the novel unfolds and the reason becomes clear, the reader is drawn inexorably into a completely unexpected and increasingly terrifying world."
This an eerie and disturbing book which made ill-at-ease on more than one occasion. It's dark, but not in your usual horror kind of way. Quite the opposite, it's all about what's not being told or described to the reader. It's not light reading, it's not something you feel like reading before turning off the light. It's all about appearances, the human body, the way we perceive ourselves, all linked to gender issues and the codes imposed by Western society.
It's a fascinating read and I'm really glad I was able to get my hands on it.
Author: Tobias S. Buckell
Title: Ragamuffin
Genre: Science Fiction - Space Opera
Series: Book II in the Xenowealth series (see review for Book I here)
Original Publisher: Tor Books
First Published: 2007
No French translation yet. But French rights to Crystal Rain were bought last year. No Publication yet.
"The Benevolent Satrapy rule an empire of forty-eight worlds, linked by thousands of wormholes strung throughout the galaxy. Human beings, while technically “free,” mostly skulk around the fringes of the Satrapy, struggling to get by. The secretive alien Satraps tightly restrict the technological development of the species under their control. Entire worlds have been placed under interdiction, cut off from the rest of the universe.
Descended from the islanders of lost Earth, the Ragamuffins are pirates and smugglers, plying the lonely spaceways around a dead wormhole. For years, the Satraps have tolerated the Raga, but no longer. Now they have embarked on a campaign of extermination, determined to wipe out the unruly humans once and for all.
But one runaway woman may complicate their plans. Combat enabled, Nashara is more machine than flesh, and she carries inside her a doomsday weapon that could reduce the entire galaxy to chaos. A hunted fugitive, she just wants to get home before she’s forced to destroy civilization---and herself."There are not many authors out there who can write entertaining fast-paced space opera stories, tightly built political intrigues and introduce diversity in their cast of characters. Tobias S. Buckell is one such authors and does it all effortlessly it seems. Ragamuffin is smart, fast, serious science fiction but no info dumps. It's refreshing and highly recommended.
Book one, Crystal Rain, hit home because it took place in a Caribbean setting that reminded of my childhood. Book two, Ragamuffin, reminded of why I loved space opera so much.
Also note that, though this is the second book in the series, you may read them in whatever order you feel like. Another smart thing on the author's side: each book is standalone. Sure some characters appear in several or all three books, but you don't have to have read them all to enjoy. That's for all of you who are tired of never-ending genre series.
I'm eagerly waiting for Sly Mongoose (which is the third book and for now it seems final book in the series) to come out in paperback.
Each one of these novels is excellent and highly recommended. It all depends on your mood and what you are looking for.