A much better month: eleven books read in May.
De Jaren Pep — Ger Apeldoorn
A great looking coffee table book about one of the most important Dutch comics magazines ever published.
The Ship Who Sang — Anne McCaffrey
A reread of a childhood favourite. Not a success I’m afraid.
Fly by Wire — William Langewiesche
Recommended by Alex, this is the story of the airliner that landed on the Hudson back in 2009 and how it was able to do it.
Velveteen vs the Junior Super Patriots — Seanan McGuire
This is basically superhero fanfiction as done by a professional writer. Available for free online.
Undertow — Elizabeth Bear
Hard science fiction adventure in which luck plays a large, quantum mechanical role.
Velveteen vs the Multiverse — Seanan McGuire
The second book in this series takes a darker turn, as McGuire works out the consequences of the world she has build.
The Dark Griffin — K. J. Taylor
Interesting fantasy novel from a writer who takes her inspiration from “George R. R. Martin and Finnish metal”. May actually be slightly subversive.
An English Affair — Richard Davenport-Hines
A very readable account of the Profumo affair by somebody not hesitant to judge the various participants in it and who is somewhat sympathetic to the alleged villains of the affair.
The Blue Place — Nicola Griffith
Goddamn I hate the ending. A hardboiled detective, first in a series, starring an American-Norwegian-Brit “rangy six footer” lesbian ex-detective, this was a brilliant novel but that ending…
London Falling — Paul Cornell
Fast paced, very readable London urban fantasy.
Peace Keeper — Laura E. Reeve
More military science fiction.
Russ Allbery
June 8, 2014 at 9:20 pmYes, the ending.
But that’s why you read Stay, which is one of the best books I’ve ever read.