Book Reviews - The Bleeding Cool Literary Reviews

[Mad_Man_Moon]

Taking more cues from DrNate's Collected Edition Reviews thread than my weekly comics reviews threads that it was based on: This thread is to post reviews on the books that you're reading.

I think limiting yourself to a paragraph is harder with a book (or collection), but do whatever you like, format as so, if possible:

Title - Author - Rating Out Of 5
Amazon Link(s) Where Possible

Review goes here.

[Mad_Man_Moon]

House Of Suns - Alastair Reynolds - 4/5
Buy it from Amazon and watch the BC quoiffers grow!: UK | US

This is a pulse pounding read that gathers so much momentum leading to the ending (although I'm used to Reynold's endings, by now) that just about does it justice.

Whilst I would say that the two most complete works of his have been the non-Revelation Space novels Century Rain and Pushing Ice, I would still curry my favour (should that analogy/saying read 'flavour'?) to the RS books as my favourites, and that still stands. Also; whilst I'd push anyone toward the brilliance of "Chasm City" as the most accessible of the RS books, I still prefer the core trilogy.
Still, this is as good as those non-RS books. The narrative pulling us between two threads with seeming grace that belies the obvious differences between the two. Although one thread is only brought to the fore every now and again it's importance is never lost. It never outstays its welcome, either.

The other thread is split, but only in perspective, thus giving us more than one way that we're approaching the story from.

This is the work of someone at the top of their artform, and it shows. Not a single beat is missed, and the tempo is perfect. Reynolds brings you into his worlds with an ease that could be seen as disconcerting, if you take a step back from a first read, but it should just re-assure you that you're in good hands.

I love Reynolds and make no secret of that, but think that sometimes the endinhs can seem a little rushed. I think that this corner has definitely been turned.

Really hope for some more on this particular bent, as the door is open for more from the House Of Suns universe.