hugo – Made by Mikal

Network Effect

Post author:mikal
Post published:January 27, 2025
Post category:Book

I'm not really sure why, but I found it harder to get going on this book than the others in the series. It might have been that I was also reading a particularly good non-fiction book at the same time, or it might have been that the premise for these books is starting to wear a bit thin. I'm unsure. That said, while the start of the book covers familiar territory, the overall story rapid diverges into new things and I found it quite readable once I build up some momentum. In the end, I enjoyed this book and would definitely read it again sometime.

The Three-Body Problem

Post author:mikal
Post published:September 24, 2022
Post category:Book

I'm torn about this book -- the premise is interesting, the world is novel, and the book is well written. The book has a strong environmental theme, with a focus on the environmental impact of Chinese economic development during Mao's cultural revolution. However, despite all that the book didn't "grab" me. I think perhaps its because there is a lot of effort spent describing things which ultimately don't really matter -- like weather or not the desktop PC being used by one of the characters is the current model or not. Or perhaps its because I didn't actually like any of the characters -- none of them is what I would call a nice person. Or perhaps this is an artifact of the book having been translated from Chinese, and perhaps different stylisting expectations or some such? Either way, I don't think I'll finish this trilogy.

The Calculating Stars

Post author:mikal
Post published:April 6, 2020
Post category:Book

Winner of both a Hugo, Locus and a Nebula, this book is about a mathematical prodigy battling her way into a career as an astronaut in a post-apolocalyptic 1950s America. Along the way she has to take on the embedded sexism of America in the 50s, as well as her own mild racism. Worse, she suffers from an anxiety condition. The book is engaging and well written, with an alternative history plot line which believable and interesting. In fact, its quite topical for our current time. I really enjoyed this book and I will definitely be reading the sequel.

Hugo nominees for 2018

Post author:mikal
Post published:April 15, 2018
Post category:Book

Lifehacker kindly pointed out that the Hugo nominees are out for 2018. They are: The Collapsing Empire, by John Scalzi. I've read this one and liked it. New York 2140, by Kim Stanley Robinson. I've had a difficult time with Kim's work in the past, but perhaps I'll one day read this. Provenance, by Ann Leckie. I liked Ancillary Justice, but failed to fully read the sequel, so I guess we'll wait and see on this one. Raven Stratagem, by Yoon Ha Lee. I know nothing! Six Wakes, by Mur Lafferty. Again, I know nothing about this book or this author. So a few there to consider in the future.

Starship Troopers

Post author:mikal
Post published:October 1, 2013
Post category:Book

I saw the movie a few years ago, and so I read this book on a whim. Its very different to the movie. The book is interesting, although it does have a tendency to slide into rants about the moral responsibilities which come with having an electoral franchise. The book is also very pro military in its stance, although that's fair enough (an author without an opinion would be a boring author). Overall, I thought this book was an enjoyable read. Update 2013: I last read this book almost exactly four years ago. Its still a good read, and I didn’t find it as ranty as last time. I do think this is a better story than the movie, as it has more depth. Overall a good read, if not a particularly deep one.

Red Mars

Post author:mikal
Post published:December 21, 2011
Post category:Book

This is another book on colonization. To be totally honest I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second, and I rather thought the book dragged on and could have done with a more vigorous editing. There are sections which are deeply descriptive, but it doesn't progress the story. Overall, I was a little disappointed.

Speaker For The Dead

Post author:mikal
Post published:October 14, 2011
Post category:Book

This is the second book in the Ender's Game series, and is better than the novelized Ender's Game, although it is impossible to beat the short story version. Ender has grown a lot over the time between this book and the last, and the story is compelling and believable. I really enjoyed this book.

Rendezvous With Rama

Post author:mikal
Post published:February 7, 2011
Post category:Book

This is a classic book, so I expected a lot from it. I was a little disappointed to be honest. The book is slow, although interesting. There chapters are all very short as well (around four or five pages), which is a little odd. There is a lot of potential with this concept, and I feel this book could have gone a lot further.

Ender’s Game

Post author:mikal
Post published:November 10, 2010
Post category:Book

I've read this book before, many years ago. I figured I should re-read it, given how much I love the short story. Unfortunately, I think the short story is better than the novelization. The novel tends to try to explain too much, although the last chapter is a worthy addition. I'm sure I'll still read the rest in the series though, as there is more to see in this universe.

The Last Colony

Post author:mikal
Post published:November 9, 2010
Post category:Book

All of the Old Men's War books (Old Man's War and The Ghost Brigades) have started slowly and built up to a climax. That's been good because its given some time for background which makes the second phase of the book all the more fully formed. This book is the same, although I think the introduction is more long winded than previously, and the whole thing gets wrapped up surprisingly quickly. Overall a good book, but not as good as the previous two.