Cuba - Super Extra Grande - Yoss

I love his book. It's funny and witty, and Im absolutely in love with the universe it's set it. With 7 species all discovering FTL travel around the same sort of time and all of them heading out into the milky way to start exploring and colonising. The fact that FTL development was discovered as a breakthrough in isolation goes against what other authors do, where technology in general is hugely advanced at the same time. But what I love about Super Extra Grande is that it mirrors exploration from 300 plus years ago with the French, British, Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish all building boats and exploring the world. They had abilities to travel faster than before, but hadnt improved communications to cover the new distances they could travel. This premis has really stuck with with, more so than the other ideas in the book.

It's only a fairly short novel, with only one thread, but that makes it a really enjoyable read, nothing heavy, just indulgent fun. I was quite worried about this book, as I'd read a couple of reviews mentioning how masoginistic Yoss is. And was put off early on in the story when one of the female aliens has 6 boobs. And I guess the main female characters are hopelessly in love with the main character, and obviously they have a three way relationship. So maybe the books is the best book for promoting strong female characters. But now every book has to do that either. Accept it for what it is, and what it isn't.

Canada (French) - A Strange Manuscript found in a Copper Cylinder - James De Mille

How I found the book:

I found this book in a super cool sendcond hand book stall by the canal in a large gentrified courtyard near Camden Market in London. Now I know French Canada isn't a country in it's own right. But my other half is half French and and would love to visit the French parts of Canada and the French parts of the USA also. So for this project i'm happy to split Canada and French Canada. And this book looked very intriguing due to is age, having been published in 1888! And i'm becoming quite the fan of 19th century science fiction.

The Physical Book:
The book did stand out to me, as i was just browsing the uber cool, gentrified second hand book store. The store was frequented with young hip dudes, with wispy moustaches, bad haircuts, pisspoor tattoos of cartoon characters. These dudes were probably on dates, trying to impress their partners, who had equally bad haircuts and awkwardly worn clothes. Impressing each other and trying to find old copies of Kafka, and dismissing digital books and audio book, as they dont have the 'same vibe'. After picking the book aftering being struck by the authors name. A quick look at the inside cover told me it was Canadian, and a quick google lead me to French Canada, so it was a easy purchase.

The Story:
It was a proper old school adventure sotry, with shipwrecks, canabalistic tribes, dinosaurs, love triangles and flying beasts. But their is also a touching love story interwoven with all the adventuring. There is some deeper satirical content dealing with greed and desired to better ones self at the cost of others. I raced through the book and when I only had about 30 pages left I had no idea how it was going to end, and was concerned the ending was going to be aweful. But the ending fitted with the rest of the book, and was nicely wrapped up, but with the possiblilty of more. But the book was published postumously so there was no sequal.

How canadian:
I'm not sure, it had a definate first world feel to the story with plenty of 'By Jove' comments made by the characters. I guess it felt more British to me. But i don't really know much about Canada

Conclusion:
I really enjoyed this, and was a great example of a 19th century science fiction adventure story. I hate making camparisons when writing about books, but I think I prefered this to some Jules Verne stories. Jules Vernes ideas and stories were more exciting. But the all the lengthy sciencetific explainations. Read it, enjoy it!

Canada - The Apollo Murders - Chris Hadfield

Just ordered after listening to a review on the Science Fiction 101 podcast.

Took this book on holiday with me, and polished it off in a few days. Avery technical and exciting book.

USA - Planetory Agent X - Mack Reynolds

USA - Planetary Agent X - Mack Reynolds

 

USA - The Demolished man - Alfred Bester

 

USA - Rendezvous with Rama - Arthur C Clark

I haven't read any Arthur C Clark for a while, and I was read for a big hitter. Rendezvous with Rama has been on my periphery for ages, and then I picked up a copy from a charity store for a few pounds, and it made it's way to the top of my 'to read' pile. Clark is just such a great writer, everything is just so smooth and relaxed, you just want to keep on reading despite needing sleep, or to go to work, or eat, or have poo.

Looking back, not really much happens in the book, not great adventure or journey, but each chapter is so engaging. It's quite the opposite of the old phase 'great than the sum of its parts'. There are loads of concepts that are clever and come across (to a layman like me) scientifically sound and plausible. I did hear they are making this into a film. Not sure why, or how. But i'm looking forward to it!

 

United States of America - Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

There are dozens and dozens of Sci-fi titles of my bookshelf and in my audio books library, but Fahrenheit 451 is that book they made me want to read more and more and more Sci-fi. It's dark and weird and disturbing and above all else; thought provoking. It always makes me question roles in society and society itself. It's a classic of Sci-fi and a book that belongs on any book shelf.