Eric Appelbaum

I went into Annihilation hoping to find a palette cleanser between longer reads. I started off reading before bed, embraced in the darkness, immersing myself in the oppressive and haunting atmosphere. What I found in that darkness was something that demanded my attention. That next day I was drawn to it, with a need to reach the end of this tale.

Jeff VanderMeer's prose is not one to be glossed over. There is a subtlety and thoughtfulness that slowed down my reading, for I feared otherwise I was missing out on what this book had to offer.

As I sit here writing this, I'm still pondering over Annihilation. How do I feel? What fears and introspection did I find in myself from this horror? Do I like what I found therein?

Ending with more questions than answers is what punctuates Annihilation. I'm not sure if the curiosity that drove me to finish this book can continue to drive me into the rest of the Southern Reach in the hope I'll reach those answers.

Wow, what a book. Howling Dark has me completely rethinking how I felt about the first book in Christopher Ruocchio's The Sun Eater series. What I had expected to be this hard sci-fi space opera has taken a turn for the more mystical, the more mysterious, and frankly the series is so much better for it. It brings an identity and character to the world that had been lacking previously. This is definitely a series where a 1 book litmus test isn't enough to understand whether or not it's for you.

Hadrian Marlow starts to shed his optimistic idealism from Empire of Silence, and you see the beginnings of the Hadrian Marlow who killed a sun and the Cielcin with it. The events Hadrian experiences over the course of Howling Dark and how he changes from them are as gripping as they are heartbreaking at times. Its a credit to Ruocchio that I felt many of these emotions right along with him.

The surrounding cast also come into their own. Hadrian's sense of purpose allowed me to get more attached to the surrounding cast. In Empire of Silence, Hadrian felt like a passenger for much of the book, and the people around him just passing scenery. It required future Hadrian to indicate who was important, who was worth being invested in. Howling Dark is different, these are the people Hadrian chose to be around, and it is that choice that brings gravity the events of the novel therein.

To talk of themes; due to the nature of The Sun Eater series as a future of Earth sci-fi, it draws heavily on the classics. It helps to be well read, though Ruocchio does provide some helpful explanations given that Hadrian Marlowe is writing for an audience who might not be as familiar or educated with Classical English as he. True to his melodramatic self, Hadrian waxes poetic, drawing the parallels between his own situation and the classics, which gives a very interesting take to some of the sci-fi themes the genre is known for.

The plot progression of Howling Dark has a clearer through line, even if some of the changes and events are much more drastic. Where this novel takes you is an absolute treat, and I can say that I must see where Ruocchio brings this story to it's conclusion, because even though we might know where it ends, the journey is well worth it.

My first Discworld novel, Mort, has shown me exactly why Terry Pratchett is so beloved. His writing simply oozes witticisms with every line. I found myself chuckling page after page and excited to read more. The concept is so unique. Mort and Death were fantastic to see together. It has indicators that this is an early work, some of the characters' progression left me a little unsatisfied, especially the women. However, knowing there are 40 other works I have left to enjoy, I can't wait to see what else Terry Pratchett has cooked up in Discworld.

The 6th entry into the DCC universe, The Eye of the Bedlam Bride is a showcase of the full breadth of Matt Dinniman's style he's been come to be known for in DCC. While this book included some aspects I dislike, such as the way he chooses to hide information, it also showcased some of the best. "Bedlam" is an apt word, as Matt Dinniman is able to write scenes of absolute chaos, capturing them in a way where I can feel Carl's panic. Scenes and details of action on the periphery fly by as Carl does not have the capacity to focus on everything around him. But the picture is always painted so well that I seldom feel more lost in the action than Carl himself.

At times I felt myself dissatisfied with the direction some events were unfolding and how certain parts of the floor were being utilized; however, by the end everything felt right. Everything has its purpose. Looking back, I see how the way this floor was designed lent itself to the narrative that was told. One of the things that I think is done outstandingly is how the Dungeon exists as a tool of storytelling: by the AI, by the Borant Corporation, and by Matt himself.

I'm excited for the emotional rollercoaster yet to come. We are set up for one hell of a ride in the next book.

The best entry to DCC yet, This Inevitable Ruin highlights my favorite parts of Matt Dinniman's writing. This book spends very little time with the foot off the gas, with so many twists and turns. I laughed, I cried, and I was anxious for all of our beloved characters.

Matt Dinniman finally started to include some other perspectives with interlude chapters in this book, and they are oh, so satisfying. I've been wanting some non-Carl perspectives and the execution of that in this book was fantastic. I loved how more side characters were able to get time in the spotlight.

The quality of this book is a bump above the previous entries and has me very excited for the future (and eventual ending) of DCC, and as always the ending of this book has me waiting eagerly for the next one.