Monthly Archives: July 2016

Throwback SF Thursday: The High Crusade by Poul Anderson

Posted on July 28, 2016 by H.P.

In the year of our Lord 1345, a big, silvery spaceship lands in a small barony in England.  First contact is tough; one blaster blast from them, and a whole lot of clothyard shafts, lance tips, and sword blows from … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternate History, Book Reviews, Science Fiction, Throwback SF | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

2016 Hugo Awards Ballot

Posted on July 27, 2016 by H.P.

I didn’t wind up reading a lot of the nominees and blogged about even fewer, but I at least wanted to get my votes up.  To be honest, I’ve lost a certain amount of interest in the Hugos.  And despite … Continue reading →

Posted in Sundry | Tagged | 3 Comments

Review of Uprooted by Naomi Novik

Posted on July 26, 2016 by H.P.

Uprooted may be the most perfect fantasy novel I have read since A Game of Thrones.  Or maybe The Lord of the Rings. Uprooted is a finalist for the 2016 Hugo Award for Best Novel, and it has my vote.

Posted in Book Reviews, Fantasy | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Review of Seveneves by Neal Stephenson

Posted on July 25, 2016 by H.P.

The moon blew up without warning and for no apparent reason. That’s a killer opening line.  And not one that Stephenson ever explains.  This isn’t a book about why the Moon blew up; it’s a book about what humanity decides … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Dystopian/Apocalyptic, Science Fiction | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Throwback SF Thursday: Review of The Legend of Tarzan

Posted on July 21, 2016 by H.P.

To my knowledge, I had never watched a Tarzan movie.  Never read a Tarzan book.  Never read a Tarzan comic.  Never heard a Tarzan radio drama (or any radio drama, to be honest).  Never watched a Tarzan TV show.    Which … Continue reading →

Posted in Superhero Fiction, Throwback SF | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Non-Hugo Awards Update

Posted on July 20, 2016 by H.P.

I have been derelict in both my Hugo reading and reviewing (Bad…Bad HP! Bad, wicked, naughty HP!).  I hope to have reviews of Uprooted and Seveneves up next week as well as a post on my very limited ballot.  But … Continue reading →

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Review of Resist by Tracy Lawson

Posted on July 19, 2016 by H.P.

Resist, book 2 in Tracy Lawson’s Resistance Series, builds on the strengths of Counteract.  Careen and Tommy’s budding relationship continues to grow at the same time it generates conflict.  And Lawson’s keen grasp on the idea of liberty and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Dystopian/Apocalyptic | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Review of Counteract by Tracy Lawson

Posted on July 18, 2016 by H.P.

“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” – Ben Franklin The Office of Civilian Safety and Defense confirmed that a chemical weapons attack against the United States is imminent.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Dystopian/Apocalyptic | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Announcing Throwback SF Thursdays

Posted on July 14, 2016 by H.P.

When I was young, with two large and rather obvious exceptions—Lewis and Tolkien—I read contemporary stuff, what I could find in the little mall Waldenbooks where I did most of my book buying.  In early adulthood, my speculative fiction reading … Continue reading →

Posted in Throwback SF | Tagged , | 12 Comments

Review of The Dark Side by Anthony O’Neill

Posted on July 13, 2016 by H.P.

I had the pleasure of attending LibertyCon this past weekend.  While I was there I attended a panel on noir and hardboiled detective fiction.  (One of the panelists was Larry Correia, who wrote the excellent noir fantasy Grimnoir Chronicles.)  I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Science Fiction | Tagged , , | 3 Comments