Hugo best novel nominees 2013
Jun. 13th, 2013 08:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
naathI read books...
I have thoughts about books; these thoughts are trying hard not to be spoilers but maybe they are.
Have a cut
2312
Kim Stanley Robinson
I found this a compelling read (as in "hard to put down"); but also in some places very irritating (eg he uses "bisexual" to mean "has functioning ovaries and testes"; fine as a concept but THIS WORD ALREADY MEANS SOMETHING PICK A DIFFERENT ONE). Expansive world-building and exploration; some interesting concepts.
BLACKOUT
Mira Grant
This was eligible this year? I read it last... anyway; the third in a trilogy (all three Hugo nominated). Bloggers of the Zombie Appocalypse do less blogging and more investigative journalism. I *adore* these books (I'm not normally a Zombie fan either); and Grant has my vote. I suspect they are a bit Marmite though.
CAPTAIN VORPATRIL'S ALLIANCE
Lois McMaster Bujold
Ivan is an idiot; watching him be an idiot for a whole book was a bit less fun than I might have hoped. Also he's more fun when you aren't in his head.
REDSHIRTS: A NOVEL WITH THREE CODAS
John Scalzi
I like the idea, a lot. The execution is decent. And yet... it didn't really grip me like a grippy thing. And I recently hoovered up all of the OMW universe books; so it's not as if I hate Scalzi.
THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON
Saladin Ahmed
Eh. This just. Failed to grab me. I have no idea why. Oh I am such an awful useless reviewer. It's nice to have a fantasy world that isn't Ye Olde Englande (resemblance to actual Medieval/Early Modern England close to nil; at least I can't spot the infelicities in Ye Olde Caliphate on account of my ignorance) and it's nice to have a Hero who isn't a Strapping Knight In Armour rescuing a Damsel In Distress. And some ethical grey areas around the edges. But still... not grabbing me; sorry.
I have thoughts about books; these thoughts are trying hard not to be spoilers but maybe they are.
Have a cut
2312
Kim Stanley Robinson
I found this a compelling read (as in "hard to put down"); but also in some places very irritating (eg he uses "bisexual" to mean "has functioning ovaries and testes"; fine as a concept but THIS WORD ALREADY MEANS SOMETHING PICK A DIFFERENT ONE). Expansive world-building and exploration; some interesting concepts.
BLACKOUT
Mira Grant
This was eligible this year? I read it last... anyway; the third in a trilogy (all three Hugo nominated). Bloggers of the Zombie Appocalypse do less blogging and more investigative journalism. I *adore* these books (I'm not normally a Zombie fan either); and Grant has my vote. I suspect they are a bit Marmite though.
CAPTAIN VORPATRIL'S ALLIANCE
Lois McMaster Bujold
Ivan is an idiot; watching him be an idiot for a whole book was a bit less fun than I might have hoped. Also he's more fun when you aren't in his head.
REDSHIRTS: A NOVEL WITH THREE CODAS
John Scalzi
I like the idea, a lot. The execution is decent. And yet... it didn't really grip me like a grippy thing. And I recently hoovered up all of the OMW universe books; so it's not as if I hate Scalzi.
THRONE OF THE CRESCENT MOON
Saladin Ahmed
Eh. This just. Failed to grab me. I have no idea why. Oh I am such an awful useless reviewer. It's nice to have a fantasy world that isn't Ye Olde Englande (resemblance to actual Medieval/Early Modern England close to nil; at least I can't spot the infelicities in Ye Olde Caliphate on account of my ignorance) and it's nice to have a Hero who isn't a Strapping Knight In Armour rescuing a Damsel In Distress. And some ethical grey areas around the edges. But still... not grabbing me; sorry.