Robert Appleton's Blog - Posts Tagged "romantic"
Books I've Read Recently
For whatever reason, the first half of 2011 was my busiest reading period ever, by a long, long way. Plenty of re-reads, a lot of first-try authors, and some bona fide masterworks. Science fiction dominated, but I managed to squeeze in a few historical, romantic, horror and adventure books in there as well. Here's a selection (in no particular order):
Dune by Frank Herbert (SF, Novel) - Brilliant, epic worldbuilding. A SF triumph.
The Mauritius Command by Patrick O'Brian (Historical Fiction, Novel) - Book 4 in the Aubrey/Maturin series. Excellent as always.
Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card (SF, Novel) - Sequel to Ender's Game. Much more mature and complex. Ingenious story, but not quite as compelling as EG.
The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale by Christine Bell (Steampunk Romance, Novella) - Wickedly funny time travel story with heroine I'd like to read more of.
Barsoom Series 1-4 by Edgar Rice Burroughs (SF/F, Novels) - Yearly re-read of first three, plus Thuvia, Maid of Mars for first time. Phantom bowmen are sublime creations, but overall Book 4 not as memorable.
The Sevenfold Spell by Tia Nevitt (Fantasy Romance, Novella) - Offbeat, irreverent reimagining of Sleeping Beauty fairytale. Bawdy and funny, with a big-hearted heroine. Charming.
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook (Steampunk Romance, Novel) - Big, brassy steampunk adventure with a tempestuous romance and some clever worldbuilding. Not sure about the nanotech, though. Excellent writer.
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (Steampunk, Novel) - Grungy, grimy steampunk horror that improves as it goes. Top marks for author vision. Not one of my favourites but very solid.
Blue Galaxy by Diane Dooley (Space Opera Romance, Novella) - Firefly-esque SF with a fast pace and a wildly unpredictable heroine. Fun stuff. Ms. Dooley has a nice feel for space opera.
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke (SF, Novel) - Another intelligent, provocative future tale from Clarke. Ingeniously wrought, but ultimately one to admire rather than love. My reaction to the ending was extremely ambivalent.
Next by Michael Crichton (SF Futuristic, Novel) - Cluttered but always interesting eugenics story. Crichton's tone is nicely satirical at times, and full of his cautionary touches.
At the Mountains of Madness by HP Lovecraft (Fantasy/Horror, Novella) - Imaginative, atmospheric and creepy as hell. Set in the ruins of an ancient, long-dead civilization in the mists of Antarctica. Lovecraft builds an air of dread on a massive scale. Loved it.
People of the Mist by H Rider Haggard (Adventure, Novel) - Typical Haggard adventure. In other words, a joy to read and soak up his eloquent prose and pulpy derring-do. Classic stuff.
Dune by Frank Herbert (SF, Novel) - Brilliant, epic worldbuilding. A SF triumph.
The Mauritius Command by Patrick O'Brian (Historical Fiction, Novel) - Book 4 in the Aubrey/Maturin series. Excellent as always.
Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card (SF, Novel) - Sequel to Ender's Game. Much more mature and complex. Ingenious story, but not quite as compelling as EG.
The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale by Christine Bell (Steampunk Romance, Novella) - Wickedly funny time travel story with heroine I'd like to read more of.
Barsoom Series 1-4 by Edgar Rice Burroughs (SF/F, Novels) - Yearly re-read of first three, plus Thuvia, Maid of Mars for first time. Phantom bowmen are sublime creations, but overall Book 4 not as memorable.
The Sevenfold Spell by Tia Nevitt (Fantasy Romance, Novella) - Offbeat, irreverent reimagining of Sleeping Beauty fairytale. Bawdy and funny, with a big-hearted heroine. Charming.
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook (Steampunk Romance, Novel) - Big, brassy steampunk adventure with a tempestuous romance and some clever worldbuilding. Not sure about the nanotech, though. Excellent writer.
Boneshaker by Cherie Priest (Steampunk, Novel) - Grungy, grimy steampunk horror that improves as it goes. Top marks for author vision. Not one of my favourites but very solid.
Blue Galaxy by Diane Dooley (Space Opera Romance, Novella) - Firefly-esque SF with a fast pace and a wildly unpredictable heroine. Fun stuff. Ms. Dooley has a nice feel for space opera.
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke (SF, Novel) - Another intelligent, provocative future tale from Clarke. Ingeniously wrought, but ultimately one to admire rather than love. My reaction to the ending was extremely ambivalent.
Next by Michael Crichton (SF Futuristic, Novel) - Cluttered but always interesting eugenics story. Crichton's tone is nicely satirical at times, and full of his cautionary touches.
At the Mountains of Madness by HP Lovecraft (Fantasy/Horror, Novella) - Imaginative, atmospheric and creepy as hell. Set in the ruins of an ancient, long-dead civilization in the mists of Antarctica. Lovecraft builds an air of dread on a massive scale. Loved it.
People of the Mist by H Rider Haggard (Adventure, Novel) - Typical Haggard adventure. In other words, a joy to read and soak up his eloquent prose and pulpy derring-do. Classic stuff.
