JASON

An interesting peek into some of the current far right lunacy.

Fair play to Harry, some guts needed to infiltrate these groups.

Excellent collection of science fiction short stories. Only one I didn't entirely gel with but as a whole a really decent collection which definitely evokes the Bradbury style of short stories.

I only ever read this first volume back when it was huge but I remember loving it at the time, still do. Going to continue with the rest this time.

There's a bit of snobbery when it comes to Mark Millar's over the top violence, and yes it probably does appeal to kids who just want to see something nasty. This would be pretty dull though if he didn't also write decent characters.

First read of the year.

So much fun. Grandma Bridgette is the best.

My first read of 2021 and my favourite for some time.

Simply told but just an incredible wartime escape story that's been more interesting than some novels I've read the last few years.

Read this one every year though I don't tend to add books I know I've read plenty.

This time round it was the audiobook read by Tim Curry which I'd give a four star I think. Remarkably understated performance for Tim Curry which is probably why I enjoyed it. Still looking for the perfect audio version but this is pretty good and thankfully the character voices weren't ridiculously over the top.

Kind of a modern day John Wyndham tale, with obvious similarities to Chocky.

I enjoyed it, reminded me of the sort of British SF I enjoyed growing up.

Fast becoming my favourite new author for short, dark and twisted tales.

The geek banter was maybe a bit much for me personally, but the creepy images more than balanced it out.

5

I have

I have

This was so much better than I expected.

I had expected it might lose something in translation but I didn't even notice. It was both dark and funny, reminding me of the whole Joe Abercrombie style of writing that seemed to gain popularity not that far back.

I love short stories and they were exactly the sort I like, not neatly tied up episodes with happy endings, but short glimpses of a different world and a world that fascinated me at that. I enjoy the mystery of stories like this that don't tell you everything but build a world at the same time.

Definitely moving onto the next and might even give the novels a go.

Forgotten how much I liked this book, more didactic essay than novel but no worse for it.

My favourite book this year by far, and one that just happens to contain zombies. Like other great post-apocalypse novels though, the setting is incidental to the characters and their story. It's a book about people and the zombies are just a part of their life rather than brain munching hordes jammed into every scene.

It'll probably be overlooked by lots of people because it goes that one step farther than things like ‘The Road', which is a shame since it really is a beautifully written novel. There are a few strange decisions like not using quotation marks, and the technology and food seems a little too well preserved but that aside it really is a great read.

This was not a novel of great writing or intricate, clever plots. I listen to audiobooks often though and sometimes I'm just too tired for a complex tale and I want something easy to listen to. This fits the requirements exactly, it's full of tropes, the plot is obvious from a mile off but it's like watching your favourite old cheesy SF show. It's like comfort listening, sometimes I just want space battles.

Hadn't planned to read this, I'm far from a royalist. I do however have a burning hatred for a good chunk of the printed news media in this country and I'm interested in anyone speaking out against them.

It's not a bad read, and almost completely unlike the way it's been portrayed in the media, but then why would you expect the very media it is taking a swipe at to give an accurate assessment of the book? Still, lots of people do and the people who could learn a little from it won't read it and will continue to be spoonfed by a business that sees and treats them as useful idiots.

It was worth a read but sadly it will change very little.

Alice in Sunderland: An Entertainment by Bryan Talbot (2007)