Lovecraft: A Life, by S.T. Joshi

H.P. Lovecraft by S.T. Joshi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The biography of Lovecraft by S.T. Joshi is not a book for the meek or semi-committed. It is a hefty tome whose density of text is truly astounding; don’t be fooled by it’s length of 700+ pages, it feels much much longer.

It is not often that I find a book that is both incredibly interesting and a challenge to work through. There is just so much information compiled by Joshi on Lovecraft’s life, combined with astute analysis of his works, philosophy and even a brief examination of the field of analysis of his work and events in publication following his death; evens that led to his being misrepresented and misunderstood for more than thirty years.

It is not a happy read. Lovecraft’s philosophy is sobering and his lifestyle is, quite frankly, heart-breaking. From his disastrous marriage and residence in New York to his impoverished last years in Providence, where he subsisted on 30c for food a day – worrying even during the great depression.

Joshi provides a sympathetic view of this complex and misunderstood giant of 20th century literature whilst pulling no punches whatsoever. In particular his racism, which has been well documented in the past, is examined many times throughout the biography without apology, but also without the overblown hysteria common to much of the earlier commentary.

This biography supersedes and perhaps makes irrelevant the earlier work by L. Sprague de Camp, but it is difficult to conceive of any biography replacing this one, at least without some major new evidence being unearthed. Any fan of Lovecraft who wishes to understand the work and life of the man can do no better; the analysis of his work alone with change the way you forever read the stories of Lovecraft.

Those Who Fight Monsters, edited by Justin Gustainis

Those Who Fight Monsters: Tales of Occult Detectives by Justin Gustainis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My full review on this book is available on Shock Totem, at Shock Totem – Those Who Fight Monsters

Flag in Exile

Flag in Exile by David Weber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a Sentence: Honor, sidelined from her own navy in disgrace for duelling and killing a peer of the realm, retreats to her adopted world of Grayson to find that there are just as many dangerous enemies waiting for her there.

Recommended: To anyone who has loved the series so far.

Review: Throughout this series Grayson has grown from what could easily have been a simple two-dimensional society of patriarchal sexists to a fully realised participant in the series universe. This book gives Weber a chance to delve deeply into the conspiracies rooted on that planet who wish to see the clock turned back and the progressiveness that Honor has become a symbol of rejected and destroyed.

This book includes some excellent political sequences, though action-lovers will not be disappointed. The finale leaves us with Honor once again facing her enemy down in person, this time with sword in hand.

Series Info: The Honor Harrington Series (as of Sept 2011)

1. On Basilisk Station

2. The Honor of the Queen

3. The Short Victorious War

4. Field of Dishonor

5. Flag in Exile

6. Honor Among Enemies

7. In Enemy Hands

8. Echoes of Honor

9. Ashes of Victory

10. War of Honor

11. At All Costs

12. Mission of Honor

Field of Dishonor

Field of Dishonor by David Weber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Over the last three novels we’ve had the opportunity to see Honor Harrington grow into her commands and thrive under pressure. She is a hero to the common people, the first ever female Steadholder on Grayson and only living recipient of that planet’s highest decoration. She has been promoted to the house of lords and received her monarchs personal thanks on four separate occasions over as many years.

Honor has risen through the ranks meteorically on the back of her ability, determination and steadfast dedication to duty. In return, she has Manticore’s thanks, command of the most prestigious battlecruiser in the fleet, and someone to share her life with.

She has enemies too however, and they have not forgotten the damage she has done to them simply by being who she is. In Field of Dishonor, they will take everything that Honor holds dear from her, and leave her with no choice; away from the front-line at last but drawn into a conflict that, for her, has no silver lining. Even a victory will cost everything, failure will cost her life.

Prador Moon, by Neal Asher

Prador Moon: A Novel Of The Polity by Neal Asher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Prador Moon is the first Neal Asher novel i’ve yet read and although it was certainly a rollicking action fest that hit all the marks; man-eating crabs, check, insanely powerful weapons, check, kick-ass but dark military protagonist, check, hilariously awesome ending, check… It didn’t hit the right notes for me and i’m at a loss to explain why. It did seem somewhat rushed, somewhat distanced from the action, whereas most of my favorite space-opera (Reynolds, Moon, Banks…) tend to be very close in to the protagonists, so that may well be part of it.

Regardless, it was a well designed story in a well detailed universe and I enjoyed it enough to look forward to reading the next in the series.

Marque and Reprisal (Vatta’s War #2), by Elizabeth Moon

Marque and Reprisal by Elizabeth Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Marque and Reprisal, the second book in the Vatta’s war series, is where the overarching conspiricy gets kicked into high-gear, once again with Kylara in the middle of it. A combined, interstellar attack on the ansible communications platforms and the entire Vatta family leaves ships exploding in dock and the family headquarters in ruins, with most of the executive dead. Kylara herself is once again forced to deal with pirate attacks, mercenaries, an disgraced cousin, the loss of her family and a strange package from an old friend at space-force.

Teaming up with her cousin Stella, Kylara once again has to show why she is more than a simple trading captain, and it will fall to her to carry on the family name.

This book is full of all the action and intrigue you would expect from the first book, but amplified and shot up with combat drugs. It is a great continuation of the series.

Trading in Danger, by Elizabeth Moon

Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I started listening to this book simply because I wanted something light and space-opera’y to listen to while I worked, that wasn’t going to be too distracting. That’s not what I got, but I wasn’t at all disappointed!

This, the first book in the Vatta’s War series, tells the story of Kylara Vatta, a young scion of the famous Vatta Trading House and disgraced space-force military cadet. Robbed of her dreams of the military life, Kylara accepts a position as captain aboard a small family trade vessel scheduled for the scrap yard and takes off on her first voyage, and this ship’s last.

She has a well-trained and experienced crew to keep her out of trouble and safe and a milk-run for her first voyage, however an opportunity for more profit leads her to stray off course and straight into the middle of a war. The fast paced action takes us from decision to decision as Kylara tangles with mercenaries, pirates and ICS – the interstellar communications monopoly who responds to any challenge with an iron fist. In the meantime, behind the scenes, events are set in motion that will change Kylara, Vatta Trading, and the known universe forever.

A highly entertaining a recommended story.