The Jinn-bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu

September 11, 2023

The Jinn-bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu

Shantiport is a major city that is slowly crumbling into decay due to flooding and political factions. Everyone who lives in Shantiport is trying to find a way to get out, except Lina, who loves the city and wants to save it. When she and her brother Bador, a monkey bot, find a magic lamp complete with jinn who will grant their wishes, they decide to punish the man who killed their father while also saving Shantiport. What could possibly go wrong? Be careful what you wish for.

A retelling of the Aladdin story from 1001 Arabian Nights, which the author tried to marry to Murderbot but not successfully. The first half of the book is some amazing world building, but the second half dragged and I started skimming. The jinn is amusing since before he will grant a wish, he goes through the user agreement and other legalese that we are all familiar with. If you are a hardcore fantasy reader, you may enjoy this but it wasn't for me. I suggest reading Martha Wells' Murderbot series instead.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Dystopian city

Witch King by Martha Wells

May 4, 2023

Witch King by Martha Wells

Kai (short for Kaiisteron) is the witch king, a royal demon. He wakes trapped in a glass coffin in an underwater structure, where he manages to overpower his captors, take one of their bodies, and then free his companion Ziede. They have no idea how long they have been asleep, who imprisoned them, where they are, or the state of their world. They travel to Kai's underground home kingdom for answers, then search for Ziede's mate Tahren. Tahren was supposed to attend a coalition summit but never showed up. 

High fantasy is not usually my thing, and this is high fantasy (I usually prefer urban fantasy or steampunk, where magic and fantasy are layered over the real world). But I love Martha Wells' Murderbot series so I thought I'd give her latest novel a try. In essence, it's a search for a missing person while trying to discover who is working against them. The timeline moves back and forth from the present to 60 years ago when the main characters all met. Lots of characters, names, locations, often confusing. At the end, we are left wondering what is going to happen so some of the characters who have been with the main characters throughout the book (such as Raman and Tenes). Martha Wells began as a fantasy writer and then branched out into sci fi, so this is a return to her roots. Readers of pure fantasy will love it, but others will find it confusing.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The new Murderbot novel, coming out later this year - I can't wait!

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

September 19, 2019

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Rosemary Harper needs a fresh start, so she scams her way into a job as a clerk on a tunneling ship, the Wayfarer.  The crew turns out to be a collection of oddballs (the aliens are strange, but so are the humans) who depend on each other for – well, everything.  Rosemary learns that real family aren’t necessarily the people that you’re related to.

And one of the crewmembers appears to be in love with the ship’s AI, Lovey.

An absolutely great read!  Terrific world building, complete with an assortment of alien races, characters that you fall in love with and wish they were your friends, minute attention to detail that makes the story come alive.  Yes, there is a little inter-species sex but it’s tasteful and not graphic at all. You may cry a bit after the ship is attacked in Toremi territory (the small angry planet of the title).

Great fanart of the Wayfarer crew by SebasP

From the left:  Ohan, Ashby, Sissix, Rosemary, Dr. Chef, Kizzy, Jenks, Corbin

This is science fiction for people who don’t read or enjoy science fiction, not for the hardcore sci fi reader, and it's the first book in the Wayfarer trilogy.  I would put it in the same category as The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell; All Systems Red by Martha Wells; Ready Player One by Ernest Cline; The Martian by Andy Weir; and Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor.  I can't wait to read the next book.