Sir Lancer Recommends – Episode #4

Hello again Dragons and Jetpackers! Welcome to episode #4 of Sir Lancer recommends.

What I have for you this time is a Trilogy, and the start of another trilogy. First I am going to recommend a set of books which I read a couple of years ago. That would be the Night Angel Trilogy by Brent Weeks. I was reminded of this trilogy as I have recently begun read The Lightbringer series by that same author, which is also looking like it will be fantastic.

Review of The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu ( by our member Niles)

1967: Ye Wenjie witnesses Red Guards beat her father to death during China’s Cultural Revolution. This singular event will shape not only the rest of her life but also the future of mankind.

Four decades later, Beijing police ask nanotech engineer Wang Miao to infiltrate a secretive cabal of scientists after a spate of inexplicable suicides. Wang’s investigation will lead him to a mysterious online game and immerse him in a virtual world ruled by the intractable and unpredicatable interaction of its three suns.

This is the Three-Body Problem and it is the key to everything: the key to the scientists’ deaths, the key to a conspiracy that spans light-years and the key to the extinction-level threat humanity now faces.

 

 

The Three Body Problem is a hard science fiction novel by Chinese author Cixin Liu or Liu Cixin, I have seen it written both ways and I am not familiar with the Chinese protocol for names. It was the winner of the 2015 Hugo Award and was nominated for the 2014 Nebula Award, so it had to be good – right? Well, maybe at one time, but as of late it seems as if the awards – all awards – have become politicized and not necessarily the best entry is chosen. But that is a discussion for another time. At the very least, I thought The Three Body Problem deserved at least a chance to prove itself. While I do not think the novel was worthy of an award, I did find it had some merit and well worth the read.   The story takes place in China, and the beginning deals with the cultural revolution of the 1960’s. I must admit that I know very little of China’s history, or what life is like in China at all, and I found the history lesson fascinating. I could not see the relevance of these seemingly disjointed segments, but by the time the novel ended everything fell into place. In fact, the main plot line did not become evident until shortly after the halfway point of the novel. But after the slow start, things picked up fairly nicely and became more interesting to me.   The characters, with the exception of the astrophysicist Ye Wenjie and the police detective Shi Qiang, were flat and one-dimensional. The dialog seemed clipped and at times forced, but I am giving the author the benefit of the doubt due to translation restraints. I can sympathize with Ye Wenjie but cannot justify her betrayal. I feel her logic was flawed by equating a stronger civilization with a superior one. I did like the character of Shi Qiang. He was abrasive and somewhat uncouth, but he was very smart among all the scientists and felt real to me. All things considered, I give this read 4 stars. As someone with a math and science background, I enjoyed the reading the hard science. I can see where it may not appeal to all readers, but I think there are enough other items that will appeal to lovers of the genre. The premise was believable and it was interesting to speculate how humanity would react to another civilization and how the people separated into different camps. I always thought humans would line up to protect their world, but I can see how some people may have become disillusioned with our society. I do not feel this work is worthy of receiving an award, but it still has something to offer sci-fi fans.                                                                 Niles P. Jacobsen

Author Profile – Hugh Howey (Moderator choice BOTM Wool for Septemeber)

Author Name-Hugh Howey

 

Who is he – Hugh C. Howey (born 1975) is an American writer, known best for the science fiction series Silo.

Dalek Cake -A Short but Sweet update on Audreys Baking Expolits

Just a quick image to follow on from previous wonderful scifi baking from Audrey

She has now produced a wonderful and tasty looking Dalek cake.

 

 

I WANT ONE !!!!!!!!

Gemmell Award Short Lists

Following on from our post a few months back the Gemmell award short list were announced over a week ago. Its all based on public vote so take te time to submit your opinion. I’m a big fan of the Gemmell’s as it suits my fantasy taste much more than a lot of other awards and I know who my favourites to win here are. Mild suprise that Robin Hobb missed the cut but it happens. Head to this link to vote http://www.gemmellawards.com/award-voting-2016/

Character Profile – Sam Vimes from Discworld (My Favorite Character)

Character Name –Sam Vimes (Sir Samuel Vimes Duke of Ankh )

Book / Series they appear in –

Sir Terry Pratchetts Discworld , Primarily the Guards series of books but he crops up in several other later books as a background character later on.First introduced in Guards Guards, he is the lead in a lot of the books that follows and at his absolute best in Night Watch.

Review of The Emperor’s Blades by Brian Staveley (Members review by J. Audrey Hammer)

Book one in an epic fantasy of intrigue and empire, for fans of George R. R. Martin and Douglas Hulick.

The circle is closing. The stakes are high. And old truths will live again . . .

The Emperor has been murdered, leaving the Annurian Empire in turmoil. Now his progeny must bury their grief and prepare to unmask a conspiracy.

His son Valyn, training for the empire’s deadliest fighting force, hears the news an ocean away. He expected a challenge, but after several ‘accidents’ and a dying soldier’s warning, he realizes his life is also in danger. Yet before Valyn can take action, he must survive the mercenaries’ brutal final initiation.

Book of The Month Poll July – Members can vote from Here

 Our BOTM polls for next Month are as follows . Get voting. Members signed up on Goodreads can vote from here as well.

Some great choices and hard decisions.

Book of the Month – July 2016 [FANTASY]

Dracula

Book of the Month Review Sci-Fi May – Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein

Definitely an interesting choice for BOTM. To say it was a mixed response would be an understatement but it definitely generated discussion.

Not one I really enjoyed and my review was as follows –

An extremely rare 1 star read for me (my first rating this low in several years.

Hugo Novella Nominee Review- The Builders by Daniel Polansky

The third of our Hugo nomination reviews (this time from me and a short one)

 

★★★★
A missing eye.
A broken wing.
A stolen country.

The last job didn’t end well.