We veered off into a new direction with this one. So instead of dealing with the actual dead world, Matt decides to take a leveling-vacation off-worldWe veered off into a new direction with this one. So instead of dealing with the actual dead world, Matt decides to take a leveling-vacation off-world, makes friends, kills a ton of demons, and generally upends the System there.
Pretty standard isekai OR LitRPG for this book. The charms that hooked me on the previous two suddenly went all generic, though. Not that that's a horrible thing. LitRPGs in general ARE pretty boilerplate when you get down to it, but we tend to LIKE what they keep feeding us, so we keep coming back for more.
But really? I'm now just following THIS one for the OP goodness and the continuing characters and the craziness that ensues.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Strangely enough, by the time this book ended, I have to say I liked it even more than the first book. Survivalism has never been so on the edge, so nStrangely enough, by the time this book ended, I have to say I liked it even more than the first book. Survivalism has never been so on the edge, so near the oh-shit-this-is-insane, stakes.
It helps that our MC isn't truly overpowered, or even close to being properly equipped in stuff or stats. The whole VS the System is just so CHEATY, it's easy to root for our guy. An I do.
Now, perhaps we can start growing some shit on this dead world for real. Maybe.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Completed LitRPG story--and it's been wrapped up well.
The humor from the first book is explained away, reasonably, by the very common situational chanCompleted LitRPG story--and it's been wrapped up well.
The humor from the first book is explained away, reasonably, by the very common situational change we all went through in the last few years, Covid, etc, but the core theme of friendship and team still shone brightly.
Also, it is pretty hard to keep up humor when most of humanity has been wiped out, with or without a grand possible reset.
So, it's only fitting there's bloodshed and harder action at the very last, and this one delivers.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
I want to say that I wanted this to be a truly break-out space opera that just keeps going with sharp characters and sharper plot, but in the end, it I want to say that I wanted this to be a truly break-out space opera that just keeps going with sharp characters and sharper plot, but in the end, it was simply a solid story with serviceable characters.
It kept me going well enough, but I was psyched up by others more than should have been warranted.
I've read brilliant space operas and a lot of mediocre or above average types. This one is theoretically character-focused, but certain characters that should have blown me away with intelligence-oddities, such as the spaceship, simply seemed a bit--dull.
I suppose, at least for certain readers who want a post-Chambers read with slightly more meat, this will satisfy you. But I, for one, REALLY prefer cleverer premises, sharper dialogue, and stakes like jet fuel (even if the stakes are close to the chest and limited).
The alternative would be to stick to a cookie-cutter plot, of course, and this doesn't go there. This is a double-edged sword, of course. But in the end? Perhaps I simply never fell in love with any of the characters. Alas.
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Decent conclusion to the 7 book series. Many of the core SFnal concerns that had been building up (fates of main characters, rejuvenation drugs impactDecent conclusion to the 7 book series. Many of the core SFnal concerns that had been building up (fates of main characters, rejuvenation drugs impact on society, politics) were pretty much resolved.
All in all, I just thought this was a pretty decent SF series on the spectrum of light adventure erring on simplicity, competence, and a few reasonable space battles to spice up a character-driven thread.
I won't call it brilliant, but I will call it fairly entertaining. In other words: Not Bad.
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Characters are fleshing out and there's a more diverse plot than before. But really? It's pretty average and not unpleasant. It's certainly not what iCharacters are fleshing out and there's a more diverse plot than before. But really? It's pretty average and not unpleasant. It's certainly not what it began as, and my original fascination for the series has had to undergo a massive transformation.
Still, it's decent. Space opera, social conditions, the question of immortality, control, etc.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Sometimes you just have to have a book that hates on fundamentalist assholes. Sometimes it's even better when you have space opera involved.
Of course,Sometimes you just have to have a book that hates on fundamentalist assholes. Sometimes it's even better when you have space opera involved.
Of course, for all the massive cliches involved, it's always dicey but RATHER clear. My only compliant is that there wasn't a lot of death and destruction. But there WAS a reckoning. I'm just sad that all that had to happen to Bunny. I never disliked her.
Decent installment. Light read even for the subject material.
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The "Serrano" bit is a bit stretched in this book. Sure, it's a glance-off from the third book's events and it has a pretty heavy hint that this poor The "Serrano" bit is a bit stretched in this book. Sure, it's a glance-off from the third book's events and it has a pretty heavy hint that this poor fish-out-of-water hero will MARRY into the Serrano family (thanks to her gumption and heroism), but I can't help but see this as rather a fundamentally DIFFERENT novel from the others.
I didn't hate it, however. If I hadn't expected a continuation of the core Serrano from the first three, I probably wouldn't have had a single gripe.
Either way, these are all fluffy space opera competence-porns designed to make you feel good. In that respect, it works just fine. Space military can-do attitude!
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A couple of really funny scenes to punctuate the ongoing death and destruction of Earth. I was slightly more into this one than the last, but not quitA couple of really funny scenes to punctuate the ongoing death and destruction of Earth. I was slightly more into this one than the last, but not quite as into it as the first.
Either way, I love seeing the horsemen of the apocalypse get taken down. A gun on the moon? That was pretty wild. But nothing beats in-laws and dinner parties.
This is a solid LitRPG with a great ensemble.
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Still a solid, even old-school Mil-SF adventure, with less pew-pew and more competence porn and relationship-building. Of course, the heist-like strucStill a solid, even old-school Mil-SF adventure, with less pew-pew and more competence porn and relationship-building. Of course, the heist-like structure and even the courtroom drama gives it a certain gravitas.
Fun stuff and exactly what I was in the mood for.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
You know, if I wasn't already acutely aware that this was a Steinbeck novel, I would have been reading it, going, "Golly, this reads just like a SteinYou know, if I wasn't already acutely aware that this was a Steinbeck novel, I would have been reading it, going, "Golly, this reads just like a Steinbeck novel."
And not to belabor the obvious, it's not because it IS one, but its because it FEELS mythical, rife with allegory, as clear with characters as a shock of lightning.
I'd also like to mention that this could very well be a full-on fantasy novel, an early 1930's down-to-earth mythical-realism quite apart from either Conan or Lovecraftian lit, and more like Billy Budd.
Indeed, and I haven't done any research to see if this is true, I have a BIG feeling that this was a VERY controversial novel in its day.
Christianity was reactionary and mistrusted, while the very source and wellspring of paganism was glorified in this text. Indeed, the whole legend of the king who is one with the land is VERY alive and well in its pages.
Solid, if unoriginal LitRPG. It's comfort food and I always tend to know (and want) exactly what I get: a feeling of control and progressive power as Solid, if unoriginal LitRPG. It's comfort food and I always tend to know (and want) exactly what I get: a feeling of control and progressive power as a whole world goes to crap.
In this case, the hook is leveling as a monster trainer and the friends (monsters) you make along the way. Cool. And the fights are neat, too.
My only real complaint? The French bits. The clichés abound. It's not too serious, and it's also a bit funny, but it is what it is.
That being said, the writing's fun and that's all I really wanted, anyway.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
A life of erasure, of rendering, of being rendered, of becoming glue--or the memory of wanting the glue that holds a life together.
This near future dyA life of erasure, of rendering, of being rendered, of becoming glue--or the memory of wanting the glue that holds a life together.
This near future dystopia was written beautifully, excruciatingly. It was deeply disturbing even during all the funny, warm bits. But it was hard not for just that, but for the fact that we're all being slowly erased. One. Moment. At. A. Time.
If it doesn't disturb you, then nothing will.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
So, I picked this out of a Netgalley lineup solely on a great cover. I'm not ashamed to admit it--especially after loving the SF much more than I thouSo, I picked this out of a Netgalley lineup solely on a great cover. I'm not ashamed to admit it--especially after loving the SF much more than I thought I might.
Here's the skinny: It's a mystery with a good deal of back and forth between time periods for Verdot and often slipping into the mindset of a sentient ship. The mystery is a murder that Verdot committed and the full reasons for it, plus his escape throughout the Solar System, with TR, the ship, being an unwitting, indeed, very nice sentient ship as an accomplice. The ship isn't dumb, but it has as fantastic a back story as Verdot.
Great characters. But at least to me, I think I loved the deep, very fleshed-out worldbuilding even more. Every community/space station along the circuit is vibrant and feels lived in, fascinating. So much so that I could swear I was on the journey, that this would have made a brilliant, beautiful video game. That lived-in feeling, the full history and complicated life of Skinners, sentient ships of multiple generations, a war, ethical revenge, and even just the fact that everyone limits themselves out of disgust and barely repressed suicidal ideation is exactly the kind of deep, emotional lived-in-ness I love. TR is moving on, checking on all its friends in the circuit who barely survived suicide in the war. It's heart-felt and very positive--and I fell for it all.
Great SF. I will be keeping a strong eye on this author. Highly recommended.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Cool concept for this LitRPG. Very few people are involved. A whole, huge, dead word, an isekai player, a hologram for a snarky guide... versus THE SYCool concept for this LitRPG. Very few people are involved. A whole, huge, dead word, an isekai player, a hologram for a snarky guide... versus THE SYSTEM.
It was quite amusing. Dumb choices, doubling down of dumb choices, massive mistakes on both sides of this little contest of wills, and hilarious outcomes.
Not bad. Not bad at all. And to think that gardening could be so fun/deadly?
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews is be interested in reading my SF (Very hard SF, mind you), I'm open to requests.
Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
Honestly enough, even though the first book had more delicious easter eggs and conspiracy theories turned fact for humor's sake, this one had a more iHonestly enough, even though the first book had more delicious easter eggs and conspiracy theories turned fact for humor's sake, this one had a more interesting core story.
I swear, though, that WE are surrounded by a ton of the followers of the Smiling God, too. Oh god of many teeth.
I'm not sure I really cared for the dichotomy of science vs religion and trying to find a meeting place between the two characters, but they were cute in their way and I'm not complaining overmuch about ANYONE trying to have a meeting of their minds.
This was pretty fun... and DEFINITELY weird in a good way.
Personal note: If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to requests. Just direct message me in goodreads or email me on my site. I'd love to get some eyes on my novels.
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