Review: Orconomics

Orconomics by J. Zachary Pike
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

July 14, 2024 –
35.0% "If your science fiction novel features all the worst parts of modern capitalism, then you have a dark dystopia.
If your fantasy novel does it, then you have a parody.
I do find this entertaining. Very solid worldbuilding. The idea of healing potion addicts is at the same time amusing, and sobering."
July 15, 2024 –
45.0% "I have a strong desire to see the corporate heads of the Hero's Guild roll."
July 16, 2024 –
64.0% "From the very first, I kinda wanted to tell Lurana and Jen to just fuck and get on with it.

Troll smitten with an elf! Forbidden love! I think that the troll would have had less resistance if he'd negotiated with the bard.

Completely salty that I like this so much. If I were in this game, I'd be plotting to kill off some corporate execs."

July 20, 2024 –
100.0% "Finished this weekend. My main thoughts:

I'm reminded quite a bit of Drew Hayes' "NPCs" series. A little bit of Baldree's "Legends and Lattes." Being a gamer, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, despite predictable plot twists.  Will probably add it to Bedtime Reading.


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Review: How to Sell a Haunted House

How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I feel as if Hendrix threw the "horror kitchen sink" at this book - creepy dolls, exorcisms, ghostly possession, generational curses.  Some high and low spots, some definite Stephen King-style gross-outs.  Trying hard to show the reader exactly how screwed-up the protagonist's family was.

Our mystery book club chose this for June discussion.  I look forward to telling them that this was just as much a mystery as every other book chosen - more than most.

Possible spoilers below:

Review: Another Fine Myth

Another Fine Myth by Robert Lynn Asprin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The "Myth Adventures" series centers around Skeeve, a lowly magician's apprentice, and Aahz, a demon. It's pure silliness of the best kind, full of swords and sorcery, magic and mayhem -- but mainly, con artists.

Asprin makes heavy use of adverbs, especially when his characters are speaking. Skeeve, or Aahz, or anybody really, always says something "drily," or "sarcastically," or "menacingly." The -ly really gets a workout.

These stories are kept short and simple, and they evoke strong cartoon-like images. Lots of fun, signifying nothing.

I read this for Bedtime Reading from March to May, 2024

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Review: I Shall Wear Midnight

I Shall Wear Midnight by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't know what to say that hasn't already been said here. We always loved Discworld, and this arc was (in my never-humble opinion) the best.

I read this for family and friends on a Bedtime Reading stream in 2023

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Review: Contact

Contact by Carl Sagan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Chosen for discussion by Midtown Sci-Fi Fantasy Book Club on Jun 23, 2024.

One might expect Sagan to write a dry story, but his characters seem well-developed.  One might expect him to write a heavily scientific story, full of skepticism, but the central theme of this book is spiritual.  Even with the evangelical character, Sagan is granting benefit of doubt - he actually believes what he's preaching. More benefit than I would give. In fact, Sagan underplays the fanatic. In my experience, they are the most close-minded bunch.

Sagan's optimism also displays itself in the story.  The world becoming more peaceful after learning that there is intelligent life elsewhere? More likely, we'd tear ourselves apart.  Then again, he didn't live to see Trump.  

I found the debate over whether to build the machine amusing.  I'm fairly sure that the entire message would show up on Wikileaks.  It would be a matter of which billionaire did it first.  Again, Sagan wrote this prior to today's Internet and today's billionaires.

I do wish that we could have had AdNix.  Would have made such a difference in reigning in capitalism.

The ending is where we really see Sagan's spiritual side.  When I first read it, I was also much younger, and more open to such things.  "The creators of the universe left us messages" felt good then, but today it feels like a literary cop-out.  It might even reinforce the idea that we live in a simulation, if written today.  We even see the union of science and religion, as Ellie and the evangelist come close to hooking up.

I'm still not sure what possible difference it makes that Ellie's step-father was her bio father? He was a real jerk, and Ellie had good reason to hate him apart from the fact that he was not the lost Dad.  

Overall, I'd have given this five stars in the early 90s.  Today, only three.

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Review: Nettle & Bone

Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Selected by Midtown Sci-Fi Fantasy Book Club, discussed on November 19, 2023.
Generally liked by the group.

I appreciated the witch character the most. She actively tries to discourage the young woman from her quest, in true hermit fashion. And, of course, I always like creative problem-solving.

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Review: Chain-Gang All-Stars

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was chosen by Midtown Sci-Fi Fantasy Book Club for discussion on February 25, 2024

This is one case where the audiobook experience lacked a bit, but it was due to the format of the audiobook rather than the narrator. Specifically, it was difficult to tell when a footnote was being read.

And this book is rife with footnotes. The author is telling a cautionary tale here, and part of it is to relate the events of the story to actual historical events, so that by the time the reader has finished, realization dawns that we are far too close to making this dystopian future come about. I've said it many times: the profit motive has no place in prisons or healthcare.

Readers may liken this story to The Running Man. Gladiatorial combat in this future is theoretically voluntary, and also theoretically, it's possible for a fighter to earn their freedom. Of course, it is de facto quite impossible to win, and the prisoner's choice in the matter is equally small.

I only worry that some people will consider the story an instruction manual.

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