The Wertzone: New Iain M. Banks Culture novel on its way

The Wertzone: New Iain M. Banks Culture novel on its way: Iain M. Banks is returning to The Culture setting in his new novel, The Hydrogen Sonata. It will be published on 4 October this year

Always a good read.

Read The Naming of the Beasts by Mike Carey

Read The Naming of the Beasts by Mike Carey, the fifth book in the Felix Castor urban fantasy series. The fourth book ended with a huge cliffhanger and I was worried that Carey was going to make a habit of using this overused gimmick from now on. I couldn't have been more wrong.
The Naming of the Beasts ties up a number of loose threads from the previous four books in a conclusive and action-packed way. While the presence of ghosts, zombies, loup-garous, and demons are still a fact of life in this world there is enough closure in this book to make me wonder if this could be the last Felix Castor novel.

This Year’s Nebula Awards Nominations – Whatever

This Year’s Nebula Awards Nominations – Whatever:

Novel

Among Others, Jo Walton (Tor)
Embassytown, China Miéville (Macmillan UK; Del Rey; Subterranean Press)
Firebird, Jack McDevitt (Ace Books)
God’s War, Kameron Hurley (Night Shade Books)
Mechanique: A Tale of the Circus Tresaulti, Genevieve Valentine (Prime Books)
The Kingdom of Gods, N.K. Jemisin (Orbit US; Orbit UK)

The winners will be announced at SFWA’s 47th Annual Nebula Awards Weekend, to be held Thursday through Sunday, May 17 to May 20, 2012

Read The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde

Read The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde and I was not particularly impressed. As a young adult humorous fantasy its a bit light on the silliness. Besides a few practical jokes and a "loveable" quarkbeast with big teeth and a peculiar diet there is little in the way of funny. As a more mature commentary on heartless bureaucracy and corporate greed it is so unsubtle as to be sound preachy.
The world building is a bit strange with everything happening in microcosm in the hundred tiny kingdoms of England, but the scope expands to include the whole world without really dealing with the scaling issues of medieval kingdoms. All told, while not a great book, it is a light romp of a book, not on the scale of Pratchett, Asprin, or Tom Holt, but it was a fun read. I am even looking forward to reading the second book in the series, Song of the Quarkbeast

Read Thicker Than Water by Mike Carey

Read Thicker Than Water by Mike Carey and it does not disappoint. Felix Castor the private-eye ex-exorcist has upped his game and seems to be the guy who specializes in demon control. In this book Castor is implicated the murder of a childhood bully. This leads to a story that really gives Castor much greater dimension. The action liberally interspersed with a plot that spends a great deal of time on Castor's back story.
The more we learn about the nature of the ghosts, zombies, and demons that populate this world the greater the dangers that Fix faces with nothing but his tin whistle.

Read Dead Men's Boots (Felix Castor book 3) by Mike Carey

Read Dead Men's Boots (Felix Castor book 3) by Mike Carey. The series gets stronger with every new book. The writing is sharp, taking on the noir style without leaking over to parody. The books are gritty with a light touch of humour. Many other urban fantasy series depend a great deal on witty banter to be engaging, Carey depends more on a plot that is well crafted. The mystery is well devised - I was in the dark for much of the book.
A good read.

Read Vicious Circle by Mike Carey

Read Vicious Circle by Mike Carey, the second book in the Felix Castor urban fantasy series. This is a much stronger offering from Carey than the first book. The first book starts off slow and ends with a powerful action-packed resolution. Vicious Circle is less stingy with the action and the expanded world is intriguing.
Felix Castor is fleshed out as the classic crime-noir gumshoe in this book and he is well balanced against the supernatural, the police, and the church.

Read Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch

Read Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch. Its the second book in the urban fantasy Rivers of London series. It is a strong follow up to the first book and sets the tone for a great series. Characters in the first book take on greater depth and interesting themes are explored as the fantasy elements of the world are explained in greater detail.
The standard pulp-detective plot line is adequate but it is fleshed out with forays into the personal back story of our hero and the history of magic. As with the first book the descriptions of London and environs is first rate.

Read Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch

Read Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch. The book can also be found under the title Midnight Riot. Urban fantasy set in London. Well written story where the protagonist is a constable instead of the usual outsider. Most of the outsider/secret world rules still apply but the cop on a beat/detective on a case twist makes for a nice change. A good sense of humour, gripping action, and very strong feel for the city and surrounding area make the book well worth the read.