From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written


Highlights and Lowlights - July 2025

Books are rated using a very primitive rating system:
rCL+rCY are good, and more rCL+rCY are better
rCL-rCY are not good, and more rCL-rCY are worse

IrCOm happy to answer questions about anything here.

Highlight: Both the Liaden and the Culture

Lowlight: PoseidonrCOs Wake - Reynolds [PoseidonrCOs Children #3]


July 2025
( +++ ) Ribbon Dance - Lee & Miller [Liaden #26]
( ++ - - - ) PoseidonrCOs Wake - Reynolds [PoseidonrCOs Children #3]
( + - ) VampirerCOs Kiss - Summers [Legion of Angels #1]
( ++ ) HunterrCOs Death - West [Sacred Hunt #2 of 2; Essalieyan #2]
( ++ 1/2 ) HunterrCOs Oath - West [Sacred Hunt #1 of 2; Essalieyan #1]
( ++ 1/2 ) One Good Dragon Deserves Another - Aaron [Heartstrikers #2;
DFZ #2]
( +++ ) Excession - Banks [Re-read Project #2; Culture #5]

Now Reading:
Long work - Station Eleven - Mandel
Collection - The Collected Stories of Arthur C Clarke
(Tor 2001 edition, https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?301215 )

===========================================
July 2025

( +++ ) Ribbon Dance - Lee & Miller [Liaden #26]
Yet another fine entry in this excellent series. After the previous two wide-ranging and far-implicating entries, this presents a less stressful return to a smaller scope, focusing on the trader ship Dutiful Passage
(Shan, Priscilla, Padi, rCa) and its mission to forge new trade routes for Clan Korval. This one picks up on Colemeno, almost immediately after
Shan and Priscilla used their respective skills to save the planet. Padi
is the main protagonist here, and we see how she navigates both the
emergence of her talent(s) in the magical/ambient atmosphere of
Colemeno, and her growing role as a trader.

( ++ - - - ) PoseidonrCOs Wake - Reynolds [PoseidonrCOs Children #3]
Ugh. While I have greatly enjoyed the numerous other Reynolds books I
have read, this trilogy rCo esp this book rCo was ultimately disappointing, even aggravating in spots. Sad to see such wonderful settings and ideas
be squandered in the face of an entire fleet of unlikeable characters - childish, smug, Dunning-Kruger champions with the emotional intelligence
and maturity of 12-year-olds. There were also a surprising amount of repetitive conversations and general yak yak yak that made things drag.
Of course, the settings and tech and science were really cool.

( + - ) VampirerCOs Kiss - Summers [Legion of Angels #1]
Series starter. Not much of interest here. Plot holes and character inconsistencies really got in my way. The setting is our Earth in modern times, but where the past had gods and demons fighting a war during
which they unleashed magic and monsters (vampires, witches, werewolves,
rCa) as weapons. In the aftermath of the war, the Earth has been rendered almost desolate, leaving only a few cities, a lot of wastelands, and
monsters (who are only mostly confined to vast walled territories). Leda
is a bounty hunter who decides to join the Legion of Angels in the hopes
of gaining the magic and power needed to rescue her kidnapped brother. Meh.

The Sacred Hunt Duology
( ++ ) HunterrCOs Death - West [Sacred Hunt #2 of 2; Essalieyan #2]
( ++ 1/2 ) HunterrCOs Oath - West [Sacred Hunt #1 of 2; Essalieyan #1]
Note: Michelle West also writes as Michelle Sagara. The Essalieyan
series has at least 16 books.
This duology is basically one long novel, and thatrCOs how I read it. ItrCOs
a series starter, initially set in Breodanir, a remote kingdom in the Essalieyan Empire, far from the center of power Averalaan. Secondary
world, medieval-type setting (regarding tech, society, structure), with
magic, gods, and some talent-born humans (mage-born, maker-born,
healer-born, etc). Large cast of characters. Though this is definitely
up to West/SagararCOs standard high quality, I think this is simply a case
of the focus and direction not agreeing with my personal tastes. IrCOm not sure IrCOm interested enough in this world to continue reading.

( ++ 1/2 ) One Good Dragon Deserves Another - Aaron [Heartstrikers #2;
DFZ #2]
Very enjoyable. As the most junior, and only rCLnicerCY dragon in the Heartstriker clan, Julius is fortunate to still be alive (where rCLnicerCY means he actually cares about some beings and issues that do not
directly contribute to his rise to power). His power-mad clan-leading
mother has shunted his magic and some of his dragon powers, and will
openly use him as a pawn to achieve her goals. At the end of #1, Julius
and his human-mage partner Marci had just started their spirit-removal
company in the Detroit Free Zone (DFZ). Here in #2, they get dragged
into plots-within-plots not only involving his clan, but also other
heavy hitters in the DFZ. We learn a ton more about dragons, magic,
spirits, and other aspects of this world. IrCOll read #3.

( +++ ) Excession - Banks [Re-read Project #2; Culture #5]
This was a highly enjoyable re-visit to the Culture universe. I was
shocked that not one iota of this re-read came back to me as I read it.
Not one thing. For the most part, BanksrCO Culture books can be read as standalones, though some familiarity with the Culture may help with some
of the later books. This one has three parallel threads that ultimately
come together (of course!) over the last 1/3 of the book. As with
most/all of the Culture books, there are simply tons of neat settings
and ideas in here.

Now Reading:
Long work - Station Eleven - Mandel
Collection - The Collected Stories of Arthur C Clarke
(Tor 2001 edition, https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?301215 )

Tony
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

In article <1072gun$cvn$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:

Highlights and Lowlights - July 2025

Books are rated using a very primitive rating system:
rCL+rCY are good, and more rCL+rCY are better
rCL-rCY are not good, and more rCL-rCY are worse

IrCOm happy to answer questions about anything here.

Highlight: Both the Liaden and the Culture

Lowlight: PoseidonrCOs Wake - Reynolds [PoseidonrCOs Children #3]

July 2025

Two overlaps for me this month.

( + - ) VampirerCOs Kiss - Summers [Legion of Angels #1]
Series starter. Not much of interest here. Plot holes and character >inconsistencies really got in my way. The setting is our Earth in modern >times, but where the past had gods and demons fighting a war during
which they unleashed magic and monsters (vampires, witches, werewolves,
rCa) as weapons. In the aftermath of the war, the Earth has been rendered >almost desolate, leaving only a few cities, a lot of wastelands, and >monsters (who are only mostly confined to vast walled territories). Leda
is a bounty hunter who decides to join the Legion of Angels in the hopes
of gaining the magic and power needed to rescue her kidnapped brother. Meh.

I will say I never construed the background history exactly as you do,
but at any rate, you can't think about it too hard at all. I found
these fairly entertaining popcorn books, like the Weather Warden ones,
until about the time Leda achieved her main goal by leveling up enough
to free her captive brother. At that point they kind of went off the
rails, and the most recent one (review coming hopefully) was actively bad.

( ++ 1/2 ) One Good Dragon Deserves Another - Aaron [Heartstrikers #2;
DFZ #2]
Very enjoyable. As the most junior, and only rCLnicerCY dragon in the >Heartstriker clan, Julius is fortunate to still be alive (where rCLnicerCY >means he actually cares about some beings and issues that do not
directly contribute to his rise to power). His power-mad clan-leading
mother has shunted his magic and some of his dragon powers, and will
openly use him as a pawn to achieve her goals. At the end of #1, Julius
and his human-mage partner Marci had just started their spirit-removal >company in the Detroit Free Zone (DFZ). Here in #2, they get dragged
into plots-within-plots not only involving his clan, but also other
heavy hitters in the DFZ. We learn a ton more about dragons, magic,
spirits, and other aspects of this world. IrCOll read #3.

Yes, I enjoyed this series a good bit as I think I mentioned. The only downside is that this early in her career Aaron tends to overexplain her
magic system.

Tony

Thanks for doing these! I am way backlogged on mine. I was going to
do some on vacation when I had plenty of time, but then, it was "hey, vacation!" Soon hopefully.

I meant to comment on your last batch that I seemed to fall out of
Anderson when he quit with the Technic timeline.
--
columbiaclosings.com
What's not in Columbia anymore..
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From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 8/7/25 11:48 PM, Ted Nolan <tednolan> wrote:

In article <1072gun$cvn$1@dont-email.me>,
Tony Nance <tnusenet17@gmail.com> wrote:

Highlights and Lowlights - July 2025

Books are rated using a very primitive rating system:
rCL+rCY are good, and more rCL+rCY are better
rCL-rCY are not good, and more rCL-rCY are worse

IrCOm happy to answer questions about anything here.

Highlight: Both the Liaden and the Culture

Lowlight: PoseidonrCOs Wake - Reynolds [PoseidonrCOs Children #3]


July 2025

Two overlaps for me this month.

( + - ) VampirerCOs Kiss - Summers [Legion of Angels #1]
Series starter. Not much of interest here. Plot holes and character
inconsistencies really got in my way. The setting is our Earth in modern
times, but where the past had gods and demons fighting a war during
which they unleashed magic and monsters (vampires, witches, werewolves,
rCa) as weapons. In the aftermath of the war, the Earth has been rendered
almost desolate, leaving only a few cities, a lot of wastelands, and
monsters (who are only mostly confined to vast walled territories). Leda
is a bounty hunter who decides to join the Legion of Angels in the hopes
of gaining the magic and power needed to rescue her kidnapped brother. Meh. >>

I will say I never construed the background history exactly as you do,

Whoops! Then I undoubtedly mis-interpreted or over-interpreted something.

but at any rate, you can't think about it too hard at all. I found
these fairly entertaining popcorn books,

I like the phrase "popcorn books", and also the reminder that comes with
it. Thanks.

like the Weather Warden ones,

I should try those some time.

until about the time Leda achieved her main goal by leveling up enough
to free her captive brother. At that point they kind of went off the
rails, and the most recent one (review coming hopefully) was actively bad.

Bummer.

( ++ 1/2 ) One Good Dragon Deserves Another - Aaron [Heartstrikers #2;
DFZ #2]
Very enjoyable. As the most junior, and only rCLnicerCY dragon in the
Heartstriker clan, Julius is fortunate to still be alive (where rCLnicerCY >> means he actually cares about some beings and issues that do not
directly contribute to his rise to power). His power-mad clan-leading
mother has shunted his magic and some of his dragon powers, and will
openly use him as a pawn to achieve her goals. At the end of #1, Julius
and his human-mage partner Marci had just started their spirit-removal
company in the Detroit Free Zone (DFZ). Here in #2, they get dragged
into plots-within-plots not only involving his clan, but also other
heavy hitters in the DFZ. We learn a ton more about dragons, magic,
spirits, and other aspects of this world. IrCOll read #3.

Yes, I enjoyed this series a good bit as I think I mentioned. The only downside is that this early in her career Aaron tends to overexplain her magic system.

Tony

Thanks for doing these!

For 30+ years, I've greatly benefitted from this newsgroup, and I
figured this is a small way I could give back.

And thank you for your reviews/synopses, by the way.


I am way backlogged on mine. I was going to

do some on vacation when I had plenty of time, but then, it was "hey, vacation!" Soon hopefully.

I meant to comment on your last batch that I seemed to fall out of

Anderson when he quit with the Technic timeline.

Yeah, I feel largely the same. I've got myself into a box with Anderson
at this point. As I was newer to his works -- and having read some of
his better works based on recommendations here -- I grabbed up as many
of his books as I could find at used book stores. At this point, many
years later, I have a decent-sized pile of Andersons left, but I can't
say I'm enthused about reading any of them.

Tony


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