Books most popular in the United States●Science Fiction

Release date: 2018-09-18 $9.99

Comments

1. Phenomenal story - I will avoid all manner of spoilers and simply say that this book is the optimistic counter-response to the dark forest explanation of the Fermi paradox. A fantastic journey that manages to not only tread new science fiction ground, but also engage in deeply interesting world building. I highly recommend all read this.
2023-03-06

2. A Great Tale - Imagine the roles were reversed and humans are the invading force over sentient beings that evolved BECAUSE of humans. How imagine the fear, the base level programming of humans, the attempt to save humanity and not knowing a thing about the other side. Imagine how evened a species must be to not only understand their creators, but use the very thing they created against them…to ultimately save them. This is a world-class story and clearly an award winner for a reason. Highly recommend this to anyone who loves sci fi, but has a keen interest in understanding what humans are all about.
2023-03-02

3. Webs - Give it time and you’ll soon realize it’s a book about what you think it’s about. You might put it down and think about reading something else. I promise you though this is a book about a lot more than creepy crawlers and has some really really fun things to think about and a few interestingly constructed comments on humanity. I absolutely loved this book.
2021-08-01

4. The smartest sci-fi book I’ve ever read (too smart for me) - Children of Time is a great book in the same way that Schindler’s List or : A Space Odyssey are great movies. They’re no doubt classics, extremely well thought out, depicted in an almost visionary way, and unappreciated until they’re over and you think back on them; but throughout the experience they become often boring and hard to follow. Children of Time suffers from this same problem: great book, if you can get through it. And you really have to be paying attention in order to fully understand it (which I wasn’t). But I still respect, appreciate and recognize it for everything it does. As I said, it does get a little boring and hard to follow, I got kind of tired of learning about all the anatomy and culture of the ants and spiders, but I understood why it was necessary. Children of Time excels pretty much everywhere, but has an especially unique approach to contrast. It puts a heavy focus on evolution, specifically accelerated evolution as one of the storylines follows the indigenous species that have evolved through human uplifting hundreds of years ago (there’s a little more to it, but I’m keeping it basic here, I’m not joking when I say the story is complex), which is why all the anatomy and culture are so important. During which, its portrayal of non-human main characters is so good, you almost forget that they’re not human. At the opposite end of the spectrum, another storyline has you following the few humans remaining in the galaxy as they begin to descend into barbarism out of desperation to survive while searching for a new home planet (again, there’s a little more to it). I love the multiple storylines and how they ultimately converge, the concept of human meddling and mortality, and the sense of what it means to be left behind in the grand scheme. With the sheer complexity of its story, the themes it tackles, and the uniqueness in which it does it, Children of Time is highly ambitious and epic in its scope and time-scale. Definitely check it out if your up for some heavy reading.
2019-06-28

Release date: 1997-07-20 $9.99

Comments

1. Yes - What I didn’t like was the false advertising by other people saying Dana started to accept slavery, which she did not she just accepted her circumstances that she would be treated as one. She did not accept slavery itself. I loved the book though, the portraying of the relationship between house slaves and field slaves. The portraying of the stereotype called “The Mammy”. I also loved how the author portrayed how easily you become the time era you’re raised in. Rufus was not born racist, and I found the little boy hilarious in the beginning chapters and it was a journey to see him become just like his father in the end. The author portrayed so many dynamics of this time perfectly, and the fact that the center relationship was interracial and didn’t take a racist turn like expected was the cherry on top. /
2023-02-13

2. Simply amazing - This book has took control of me and brought me into its world, I couldn’t stop reading it as if it was a movie in front of me! Each chapter left me wondering and wanting more, definitely a book I would recommend! When I realized the book was written years ago, it tripped me out more how much I related to the book. The series introduced me to the book but the book has made me not care much for the series. All in all I would say I definitely enjoyed this book.
2022-12-29

3. Great read - I watched the tv adaptation of this book after the recommendation of a friend. It only has one season so far which I binged in a day and a half, and which left off on a total cliffhanger. When I learned that the show was based on the first few chapters of this book, I bought it immediately. I had to know what happened. The book did not disappoint at all. I couldn’t put it down and finished in days. Highly recommend this read, very entertaining but also makes you think.
2022-12-28

4. Amazing - I have always been someone who proclaims that I do not like sci-fi. This book definitely changed that. Not only in its ability to pass on history, but also in the way it connects to a lot of the struggles Black Americans continue to go through. I really loved this book, and I hope everyone who reads this has at least part of the love that I will always have for this book.
2022-09-08

5. Kindred - A fascinating exploration of the human relationship between owner and slave under exceptional circumstances. Dana, an African American woman in and her White husband Kevin are transported back to - circa , to rescue a white son of a slave owner from dying; under different circumstances at different times. Through records in Dana’s family Bible, she learns that Rufus, the slave owners son, is likely her ancestor, father of the first listed name, Hagar. Their relationship begins with Rufus as a year old which opens their relationship before adult prejudice hardens. Rufus recognizes that Dana helps and saves him by traveling from another place and time. Though Rufus has power over Dana because of race, he knows she alone saves him from dying creating ambivalence and anguish between them. Kindred is a remarkable exploration of the interplay between human connection and the overlay of slavery.
2022-06-16

6. Thought provoking - A great answer to those of us who believe we could’ve been courageous enough to overcome a system to which all involved were a part, products of their environment. Timeless enough that it could’ve been written today. In addition, it even helps to explain why there continues to be a great divide between blacks and whites (and even within races) while the relationship between Dana and Kevin serves as a symbol of hope…
2022-05-21

7. GENIUS - It took several attempts for me to get into this book. I believe it’s not the book sometimes the reader isn’t ready for it. When I was open to receive it I could not put it down. It was more than a journey it will always remain with me. Some books are great you enjoy it and that’s it. Then there are other books that become a part of shaping the person that you are.
2020-02-16

8. Fantastic and chilling journey. - Although the device is simple and never clearly explained, it serves extremely well given the author's gifted writing style to deliver the reader into a gripping first person account of slavery in the s. Realizing the jarring impact on the reader, she eases one into this alternate world with initially brief introductions, followed by more meaningful and personal interactions with the people of this now distant time. By not overdoing the descriptions of emotion, and avoiding attention to self pity, and focusing on the protagonists effort to preserve her humanity, the narrative becomes increasingly haunting and compelling. Highly recommended for all interested in an empathetic and gripping story that will bring even the most skeptical reader along for a difficult and enjoyable experience.
2015-12-26

9. Time travel/historical fiction book at it's best! - I finished my reread of Kindred and I still love it as much as the first time I read it. The main character, Dana, is a black woman who lives in the 's and is tethered to her white slave owner ancestor, Rufus. Every time Rufus' life is in danger she is pulled through time to save his life and ensure her own existence. The following lines from Butler's novel perfectly discribes Dana's dilemma through out the book: "[The slaves] seemed to like [Rufus], hold him in contempt, and fear him all at the same time. . . . I had thought my feelings were complicated because he and I had such a strange relationship. But then, slavery of any kind fostered strange relationships.” Dana's journey to understand the lives of her ancestors, both slave and slave owner, make this book an engaging read.
2013-10-24

10. Riveting and phenomenal - This novel kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I read it in a matter of days and found myself ignoring other responsibilities of my life to continue reading. The writing is excellent and Butler did a phenomenal job portraying the emotional and physical pain of the characters to the reader. This book was recommended to me by a friend and I regret that it took over a year for me to get to it. I was hooked within the first pages. The novel begins and gets right to the point. If I have anything negative to say about this novel, it would be that the ending was somewhat anticlimactic in relation to the rest of the novel. Aside from that, I have no complaints. So glad I read this. I would recommend it to anyone who has ever been curious about experiencing life through the shoes of another person, perhaps in another time.
2013-05-24

11. Loved it! - I started out reading book because my high school aged son is reading it. I wanted to be able to discuss book with in hopes of better comprehension for him as he struggles in reading. Anyway, I started reading the book and found that I didn't want to put it down. I love the way Butler throws you into history then back to present times. The struggles Dana has through her journeys makes one wonder wether they would have her strength, endurance, and intelligence to adapt and survive. Great read, I just hope the many teenagers reading this book enjoy it, too.
2012-09-20

12. Amazing!!! Five stars! - Butler confronts the issue of racial diversity in a beautifully written narrative of a modern th century African American women. The plot is historically correct, and is not too dramatically written. Readers get a feel on slavery, and life of the protagonist transitioning from a modern life of freedom, to an enslaved enclosed existence. I have no words to describe this fantastic book, but to stop reading this review and read this book!!! -CN
2012-06-02

13. Must read!! - My daughter was required to read this for her college lit class. She told me a little about it and I decided to download it and read it. I am generally not one who just loves to read, but I could not stop reading this book. In fact, I read it in a little longer than day. Every page I read drew me in and made me want to read another. Excellent story! I just finished it and now I am sad it's over! I want more!!
2012-01-15

Release date: 2014-11-11 $11.99

Comments

1. Good but overly scientific at times - Great book, would recommend. The only issue I had was the overly complex physics that the author goes into great detail about. If you are interested in the physics at all then you’ll love this book, I was not so it started to drag at times. Still a fantastic book, amazing premise, and great plot. / would recommend
2022-07-08

2. Lot of hype, but missed the mark for me - Was excited to give it a try having heard and read so much hype hailing it as such a groundbreaking work. Some interesting concepts, but the translation comes out awkward and makes for ponderous reading. The plot is complex (not in a good way) and difficult to follow and the characters are generally quite flat. Some plot elements require a real suspension of disbelief that took me out of the story. I slogged all the way through to the end but am not inclined to read the other two books in the trilogy.
2022-04-25

3. Mediocre at best (spoilers in this review) - Other people seem to love this book. I found it to be completely unconvincing. At a certain point I simply wasn’t able to buy the basic premise of the book. The entire plot hinges on there being a very advanced, technological civilization on a planet with a completely chaotic environment. I find it unbelievable that any life could evolve on such a planet much less advanced, intelligent life. So, given the ridiculous premise of the book I am generously giving it two stars - well written but stupid.
2021-06-24

4. After reading the book and comments - This book was in no way intended to appease the small minded. The idea of science fiction is to explore the “what if” not the “it is” and expound upon what may be possible in that realm. As mentioned in the author’s note, we are all cuffed to reality and the laws that govern our existence whether it be political, religious, or physical laws of the universe, but that does not mean that we cannot be free to dance in our chains. Secondly, this story was not meant to challenge only one issue of philosophy, ideology, scientific limitation, or thought, but rather an entire plethora of thought provoking concepts and perspectives can be captured from page to page. If you are looking for a single straight line narrative, it is not found here. Several complex narratives of love, science, science fiction, history, politics, morality, and human philosophy combine together to create a story that otherwise would not stand. I only give it four stars, as times it was a little rough to follow and a little dry, but with a little work, it came to be a very satisfying story.
2021-05-26

5. Pretty Good! - I thought this was a good book, if unworthy of the adulation it has garnered. Like many translated works, I thought the prose was a little stiff. The translation is full of interesting political, historical and linguistic notes. I also found the narrative to be somewhat chaotic, with its huge scope and shifting perspectives. I thought it was ultimately depressing. I didn’t find any character to be heroic or sympathetic. It seems they, and humanity itself, were all just fodder for the more powerful malign forces present in every circumstance. It has lots of great ideas and scientific insights, but I think I will skip books two and three.
2021-04-17

6. What the heck? - I can’t help but think these reviews are fake. I’m a casual sci-fi reader and after pages of no plot, no character depth, and a whole lot of switching around between undeveloped characters and disconnected montages, I give up. It’s torture. Maybe something is lost in translation but it’s like the positive reviewers and negative ones are reading two completely different books.
2021-03-20

7. The Three Body Problem - This brilliant sci-fi work from China has been translated into English. The Chinese author Cixin Liu has created an epic that includes the cultural revolution, plenty of cool physics, an amazing computer game, nanotechnology, first contact and the threat of alien invasion. It will become a classic of the genre in the west as it is already in the east. Look forward to the rest of the trilogy.
2017-01-20

8. Best Sci-Fi novel from China. - I have had the privilege to read the original Chinese version. This is the first book of a book series. The start is a bit slow but gradually it leads to the climax and opening of book . The imagination of Liu is far-fetched. The scientific theory and storytelling skill are solid. I don't know about the English translation but when I read the original book series, I was deeply engaged. I hope they did a good job translating it and bring it to the global audience. Looking forward!
2015-08-19

9. Best Chinese Sci-Fi in years - Huge amount of information and imagination packed into one story. Beside the wonderful sci-fi elements, the book portrays vividly the unique cultural and social status of a special period of China. From my point of view, the concept of "by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future" from Cloud Atlas is explained here ever better. If you want to read one book and get to know Chinese science fiction, this is the one to read.
2015-04-30

Release date: 1989-05-26 Genre:Sci-Fi & Fantasy $3.99

Comments

1. Tedious - Stories told of a sojourn of semi interesting characters on a disjointed quest. Mindless details of what? Having read Dune, Foundation and Lensman series I expected something on that level and finished feeling that I had been bated into purchasing another book in order to have any sense of completing a story. There is no “hero’s journey “. No character the reader can identify with. Just a feeling that maybe I should not have spent the time reading this book.
2021-07-06

2. Overrated - What he tries to do in this book doesn’t work. If you’re going to make the narrative confusing and fractured, that’s fine, but it needs to come together at some point. Also the motivations of the characters were rarely clear and they didn’t always do stuff that was in character for them. Very disappointing for a book that I was told by everyone is one of the best sci-fi books of all time. I have no idea what the hype was about. It felt like a college student got high on LSD while reading Neuromancer, went to a Writing class that same day, vomited on the Canterbury Tales and tried to paint what dripped off into a novel.
2020-10-28

3. Enjoyed overall, didn’t enjoy ending - This was well written and interesting. Has all the hallmarks of a great book and a great Sci-fi book. However, I had no clue that it was pages of character building and background, ending in a cliffhanger. I wasn’t expecting that and was let down by that. Otherwise fascinating and fun.
2020-07-31

4. Meh. Don’t waste your time. - Bought and read this book because it had won a Hugo and was on many lists for good science fiction. Tbh I don’t know why. It has maybe four or five very good moments and by moments I mean paragraphs. The concept is interesting but the execution is bad and the plot is so full of holes and bizarre forced situations. Even looking back on it now the premise feels a bit half assed. Won’t go into to detail but it’s like some sort of hybrid monster story combined with space opera elements and then a structure where each section is a different characters personal story. All in all it’s really half baked. Love science fiction but for every neuromancer there’s hyperions and I just don’t like this kind of Corny half realized boring work. Aside from one or two little moments this book was a chore to finish and tbh I stopped half way through the consuls story and looked up the ending (spoilers it’s also got a cheesy half baked buy the next book in the serious ending because idk even know why the story is strangely stagnant) because I couldn’t endure another cheesy forced and bizarrely detailed Sex scene. / just read something else or even a better book again. Best part was private investigator lamia story, but then again that’s already a book and movie ;) that he just copied. Seriously who gave this a Hugo? Also even more points taken off for questionable homophobia and usage of the word f@ggt AND ALL OF THOSE GOD AWFUL CRACKPOT SEX SCENES.
2019-07-02

5. Amazing Find - I’m a lifelong sci-fi fan. I don’t understand why it took me until my th year of life to discover this series. It’s remarkable. It’s complicated. The characters are very well written. The emotions feel real. This book is a very good set up for my favorite sci-fi series. Is it difficult for you to imagine how John Keats’ poetry and life can relate to the political struggles and survival of the human race on hundreds of worlds millennia from now? Grab a copy of Hyperion, and let the fantastic journey begin.
2018-11-13

6. Waste of time - While it's obvious a great deal of thought went into creating the universe this book is set in, that to me is table stakes. Great fiction requires a compelling plot and characters on top of a thoroughly vetted stage, and equally great storytelling to weave it all together. The storytelling here is lazy. Separate, unrelated subplots are exposed, and you plod through them just to get to the resolution. But guess what? There is no resolution, no explanation. Nothing. The story ends just before the climax. A huge waste of time.
2014-09-30

7. Quite smart - Simmons is obviously quite intellectual, I felt like I learned so much "reality" that beyond my knowledge base...that the writing often transitioned into fiction without my notice. Is it possible to not just adore that snuggly little Shrike....hugs. Just bought the next book of the cantos. Only negative us authors name misspelled in "about the author" and that's worse than they treated Silenus. Boo digital editor!!
2014-07-12

8. Great series - This book is the first in a series but the series should really be just one long book. So to judge just this one book is hard to do...I have read the series and don't think about the individual books like I do with the Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan, for example. So my star rating is for the whole series. It is really a great story. And the end (of the series) which is great, really caught me off guard.
2013-03-17

9. One of the great imaginings of the future - If you're on the fence, get through the first couple of chapters and it all opens up. Simmons view of the future is startlingly easy to imagine yet still inventive. This book focuses on the individual stories of its characters--like Canterbury Tales--within a greater overall plot to which each person plays a role (it just will take more than this first book to reveal). Someone referenced this to me as "Sci-fi for grown ups." I was cautious at the start but soon found myself plowing through the series. Great book.
2013-02-01

10. Words or Less - The detailed, unique universal construct makes this novel shine. Yet, all that luscious background cannot hide the weakness of the story. Or I suppose I should say “stories.” This is Sci-fi Canterbury Tales. The entire novel reveals the history of the characters chosen for this specific mission. The individual stories are good enough, but after the fourth, I found myself skimming. It’s too unrelated. Too eclectic. And then comes the end … rushed, abbreviated, truncated, and nonsensical. All this sound and fury leading to nothing. Huge disappointment. And in some ways, a waste of my time.
2012-08-20

11. Horrible - The download contained only readable pages. The rest (?) were lost to 'formatting errors'. I paid a reasonable price and got the Prolog and Epilogue for my money. Given no way to request a refund, iBooks is becoming a real rip-off. This is not the first book that I've had this problem with. I'm becoming an ex-iBooks customer.
2012-05-18

12. Hyperion - Easily the most imaginative and compelling sci-fi series I have read. If Steven King 'is in awe of Dan Simmons" there must be something to his writing. Be warned though, "Hyperion" is only the first quarter of the story. The 'ending' which in my opinion was great, serves to whet ones appetite for the next three in the series, "Fall of Hyperion", "Endymion", and "RIse of Endymion." I couldn't get through them fast enough, and was sad that there isn't more. Besides his vividly imagined worlds and characters, Simmons is particularly interesting to read because all of his stories have a classic literature aspect to them. In the case of "Hyperion" it is the poet Keats and his life that are a key part of the story. I find this aspect of Simmons writing elevates the storytelling to a higher level, and probably sends many of his hardcore sci-fi fans to the broader horizons of the classics.
2012-04-18

13. Hard to read at first, and the ending is a MAJOR letdown - This book is written as though the author purposefully wants to make you stop once or twice an hour and use a dictionary to look up a word he just used. In order to balance out the "high brow" feel of it he throws in an occasional cursing character or sequence in an apparent effort to balance out his book. Once you adapt to his style of writing and actually get interested in the story it does indeed move along well with only a few spots (about one per "tale") where you will want to put the book down. The action, I must admit, is done well and was enjoyable. Those times however, were few and far between. The main reason I gave it one star? The ending was the most anti-climactic thing I have ever read and was obviously done in such a manner as to force you to buy the next book. The main plot of the book (the pilgrimage to the temple) NEVER finalizes! Without spoiling it, I think I can safely say if you want to know how it ends, watch the last few minutes of Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket." This book ends almost VERBATIM in the same manner; right down to the singing. To summarize, I will never buy another book by this author and warn you (the consumer) to not waste your money. In fact, I've already deleted the book from my devices and once this review is finished I will be deleting it from my computer as well. Considering the size of my "hardcopy" book collection and my affinity for reading, that should tell you just how bad this book really was.
2011-07-19

14. Great book, disappointing edition - Having read this book many years ago, I thoroughly enjoyed it a second time around. The eBook edition is atrocious - the publisher should be ashamed to release a classic book riddled with typos. Was this book scanned by faulty software, and not even checked by the publisher? This is a sure way to turn off people new to the eBook scene. Random House, please address!
2011-04-20

Release date: 2010-04-01 $9.99

Comments

1. Classic - Ender’s game has been a book I have reread since I was years old. I never will forget picking it up as a child. I have just finished reading it another time and it never fails to disappoint me. One of the best sci fi books written. A must read, even for those who don’t enjoy sci fi. This is a book for the ages.
2022-06-15

2. Read this for a book report or th grade - It was AMAZING!!! Not only did I enjoy the plot while reading this novel, I noticed certain symbols and events that were real, are real, or that relates to societies current life. As someone who is undergoing a spiritual awakening, this book proved some of my points. This was a very interesting read, that I would definitely recommend! Enjoy the book!
2020-08-14

3. Quarantine Approved!! - I’m a flight attendant but I have underlying conditions of Heart Disease. So I have to stay home. I don’t care for TV shows, so I was soo happy a friend introduced me to the Enderverse! I’m on the third book now, I’ve adapted a LOT of the vocabulary in to my day-to-day. If you’re reading this review and debating on reading this book... Stop Now and buy it!
2020-04-24

4. Excellent Read - I read this book because it was on the Marine Corp Commandant’s Read List and couldn’t put it down. It was an excellent read and an easy one as well. I highly recommend it, but be careful. I’d start reading it on a day where you have nothing to do because I got sucked into it and couldn’t put it down.
2019-03-22

5. Still my favorite.. - I read this book when I was years old, after having purchased it based solely on the back cover from a Scholastic book fair. It rapidly became my favorite book of all time, and I recently gave my daughter a copy of it to read. she made it halfway through the book the first night. She is and enthralled with the book as I was. First Warning: DO NOT WATCH THE MOVIE BEFORE READING THE BOOK. While the movie is excellent based on its own, in comparison to the book it can't hold a candle. There is way too much inside Ender's mind that a movie cannot recreate, although it made a fair attempt. Also, the storyline is slightly different (minor side story items anyway). Second Warning: IF YOU KNOW A SMALL CHILD WHO IS SUPREMELY SMART, YOU WILL NOT LOOK AT THEM THE SAME. Nothing quite like watching a small child in a book DESTROY his enemies with good reason when they are larger than him. This is something the movie never quite captures... You have to remember that when Ender is winning, and ends up winning a war, he is .... His first victories start showing at .. I love this book. I have the iBooks copy, two paperback copies, and am seriously contemplating purchasing the audio book as I LOVE this story. From to my current age of , I have read the entire series numerous times, but the book that started it all is the best. Always will be.
2015-11-06

6. A Well Told Tale - I enjoyed Ender's Game. I've been reading science fiction since I was and have read pretty well all the classics and then some for years. This is right up there with some of better alien invasion stories. That being said, it's a very human story that concentrates on child psychology, brilliant children specifically, and their relationships with the adult world. Ender is a heroic figure as one would expect, and a genius. I loved the little twist at the end. Also, the paperback edition that I read has the first chapter of the next book in the series- Ender's Shadow.
2015-10-02

7. Amazing - Ender's Game is one of my favorite books. Orson Scott Card has written a fantastic story mainly surrounding two separate stories: the story of Ender working up the ranks in battle school and a story on Earth focusing on his siblings, Valentine and Peter. It's a book that's nearly impossible to put down and really delves into the character of Ender, who's incredibly complex and compelling. The only thing that I have a gripe with this book for is the final chapter. I understand that this book wasn't originally supposed to be made and was only made as a prequel to Speaker for the Dead, but the final chapter seems so rushed compared to the rest of the book, and the characters act so differently than they had otherwise that it almost feels like the author originally wrote the book as a separate adventure and added in the characters like Ender and Valentine late into development. While the final chapter is rushed, the overall book is extremely enjoyable, and Speaker for the Dead is fortunately nothing like the final chapter of this book. ./, would book again.
2015-09-02

8. Ender's Game - At the time that I read this book, I was reading it solely for a literature circle activity in my Language Arts class. As I got deeper into the book, it became too interesting to stop reading and I spent long nights reading this book. As I followed Ender through his journey from a recipient of Peter's torture to being a speaker for the dead, it made me realize that we had shared qualities. This was definitely a great book that made me see new things about myself that I never saw before.
2015-01-04

9. Ender's Game - This is by far the best book. It has so much action in it. I just love Sci-Fi and action books. By far the best one. Can't put it down. I have already read the book five times and on my sixth. Plus the movie is the best ever. It has so much action in it and Sci-Fi in it to. Andrew is the best character ever, all the characters are awesome. Nothing can beat it. Best ending too. Ecspecially where he finds out it wasn't a simulation it was real. Also the end where he finds the aliens where there base is. His dreams lead him there, because he killed the whole planet of aliens in the simulator but it was real. It looked like they tried to make peace, but he still went on with attack. He would have done differently if he knew it was real, because it looked like they tried to make peace. He then blew up there whole planet, because he thought it was fake simulation again it was real. The aliens looked like they were trying to make peace.so he went out to look for a alien where his dreams lead him. He found a alien, and wants rescue them.
2014-07-19

10. A Simply Good Read - When you read some of the harsher reviews, you will see repetitively that many people whom are fans of Harry Potter, Hunger Games, etc... Do not appreciate the Enders Game. However, I personally have read many, many science fictions, as well as fantasies. I absolutely love this book and am already starting the second. I would also like to point out that even if you are not a usual science fiction reader, this book may be an exception. I honestly hope you give this marvelous book a try, especially the teens and young adults. Please, also, read it with an open mind. You can interpret many meanings from a one-of-a-kind, best seller like this. You rarely ever find good books like this in modern day...Enjoy!
2014-04-01

11. A great science fiction books out there - Enders Game is a book that has just enough mystery and action to keep you reading for hours. Ender Wiggens journey across the universe seams like it you were there yourself the way Mr. Card has made it seam. From Peter and Valentine to help and harm Ender he can be quite a merciful human. You won't regret it for a minute
2014-03-17

Release date: 1991-05-01 $3.99

Comments

1. Legends is the real canon! - This book is amazing. It’s a great starting point into the wonderful EU (legends). Grand Admiral Thrawn is such a compelling character, and if you only know him from Rebels, you don’t know him at all. He is a cold tactician who knows our heroes’ every move, and I find that extremely fascinating. Zahn provides a great in-depth look into the brand new characters, as well as the familiar ones we love. I’m not gonna waste your time any longer, buy this book!
2022-04-06

2. Great entry point - I’m a long time fan of the films, comics, and shows. However, I’ve never gotten into the novels until Heir of the Empire. Not only is it well written because of the familiar characters and placement of the story I didn’t feel totally loss. I’m extremely excited to read next part of the trilogy.
2021-12-23

3. Amazing - This book is amazing! It introduces you to so many great characters like Mara Jade and Grand Admiral Thrawn while it also has many old characters too like Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, CPO, R-D ect. It also has such an interesting plot line! It is very hard to put down. I would definitely recommend it!
2016-06-24

4. Zhan the Man!! - That this is being ignored as far as movie production, is an utter shame. THIS continued the universe that made us sit in awe. I read everything that came after this in the timeline, save for the xwing series. I only did so because of the pictures Mr. Zahn painted in my head. I'm thankful for all the fun, from Heir to Scoundrels, and all the in between, I had a blast! The characters, old and new, the environments, and all the story and action one would expect or hope for after freeing a galaxy far, far away.
2016-01-17

5. "Star Wars" Done Right - The Thrawn Trilogy is perhaps my all-time favorite set of books, and it's really bittersweet rereading them in . Disney has a treasure-trove of characters and plots here that trump anything they and their authors and screenwriters have come up with to date. The fact that they've largely ignored this masterpiece is depressing. "Heir to the Empire" is an amazing entryway into the Expanded Universe, providing a mix of new and compelling characters (Thrawn, Mara Jade, Talon Karrde) and growth of the Original Trilogy characters we love interacting in an original storyline. While it may feel like a slow burn at times, it perfectly sets the stage for its two sequels. If you love "Star Wars" and want to read it done right, you've come to the right place.
2015-12-28

6. Past canon still reads great - This book is responsible for the Star Wars revival in the s, giving it a plethora of high praise from all around. However, reading the novel in gives a different vibe. I read this book in prep for The Force Awakens, just to see what the expanded universe was like post ROTJ before it was erased. Zahn is a great author and the writing is superb. Grand Admiral Thrawn and Mara Jade are definitely characters that stand out in the novel and I wish could make it back into the new expanded universe. Apart from those two characters, the story follows the original film cast and also deals with the struggling New Republic and the defeated Empire fighting for dominance in the galaxy. I enjoying the majority of the book with the exception of Leia’s storyline and the Jedi Master clone that is introduced only to play a small part in the overall plot of the book. A very interesting and fun read for those curious about the old expanded storylines, but not a recommended story for new readers.
2015-05-04

7. I enjoyed this book. - I remember when this book came out. It sparked a lot of excitement about Star Wars again. Zahn did a great job capturing the essence of the Star Wars characters, and creatively introduced many new characters and places in a manner that felt natural with the Star Wars universe. It is an easy read. The story intrigued me and kept me turning the pages. I recommend this book to any Star Wars fan.
2014-02-20

8. Forced - The characterizations are trite. The ideas are clunky. Everything is a gratuitous reference to something from the original movie trilogy. The writing is painfully amateurish and overt. Get ready for some serious adverbs, because everything is a Tom Swifty, e.g. "Han said grimly." If you can't tolerate the writing of a -year-old, this book is not for you. If you can get past the embarrassing flaws, you'll find the plot is okay and reasonably well-pursued, but only if you're desperate to find out what happened to Luke, Leia, Han, Chewy, and Lando after Return of the Jedi.
2014-02-09

9. My favorite Star Wars book to date - As a teen, I loved the Star Wars saga, and the whole Thrawn Trilogy is by far my favorite book. It shows a much more intriguing enemy than all others. Rather than winning or fighting by brute strength and numbers, we actually see a character who is methodical, calculating, and cultured. I remember eagerly reading wanting more. I truly hope that Episode will be based off this book trilogy!
2013-10-29

10. Incredible Addition to the Star Wars World - These three books make an amazing addition to Star Wars. I truly wish more authors (and George Lucus) would take a good look at them. I have actually read quite a few SW books over the years but I keep coming back to these. The pacing and content will keep you very interested, Zahn stays true to the characters which is almost unheard of in the SW world and it is very exciting. By far, one of the very best sequel stories (in books and movies) ever, do not pass this one up.
2013-10-03

11. Best star wars novels!!! - I read one bad review on here that made me really want to write this: I read this series in High schools, the prequels were not released yet, and as any star wars fan who got sick of watching the movies over and over, had to pick them up. There are times when the story slows down a little in this first book, but believe me when I say it's all build up and all worth it. The action, intrigue, the complexity of the original star wars films are all evident in this series. The characters start together and split into their own stories, and converge brilliantly. Constantly makes you wonder what's next? I recommend anyone who doesn't like it to give it another shot and at least finish the first book, if you it doesn't make you want to pick up the other two, then perhaps star wars really isn't for you.
2012-08-10

12. Waste of time - Ok I grew up on Star Wars and really enjoyed the movies as a child. As an adult I thought Lucas would have done a service to his fans by making movies that followed Jedi and thought the idea of prequels was just redundant. So after watching all movies again I still felt like I wanted or needed more of the story so I was led to this series of books! I didn't even finish the first one and I deleted it and the rest of them off of my wish list. The writing was weak, story was drawn out and it just never developed or captured my interest. I was really excited but was seriously disappointed.
2011-08-29

Release date: 2019-01-01 $1.99

Release date: 2019-05-14 $9.99

Comments

1. Tough read compared to first book - It is a good story, but kept repeating the same character information over and over each time they came back. Either like having to reread the date profile before you go every date. And you are on date number now. I get it, you like octopus. Or like a sophisticated toddler who does not shut up by saying the same thing over and over. I get it, I know who this character is…. Or to much that I forgot who was who. It took a lot of will power to finish this book. Loved the st book!!!!.. second felt like required under grad reading of the required elective you don’t want take but have to take to get the degree. But…. I will reserve the third book.
2022-11-30

2. Not up to level of CoT - While Children of Time is a favorite of mine, having read it twice, this story just doesn’t carry the same level of fascination for me. It’s a big epic with intriguing creatures and a vast scope but it bogs down, becoming muddled toward what I found to be a rushed and lightly sketched ending. Can’t recommend, but read CoT for an exciting, creepy treat.
2021-09-10

3. Knocked it out of the park again - They did it again. Another stellar book. I still think about this and children of time years later. I think this has surpassed End of Eternity as my most recommended book. The detail and creativity of the writing and the obvious amount of research put in to these books is phenomenal.
2021-08-01

Release date: 2020-04-14 $9.99

Comments

1. The Last Emperox rather fizzles out - Not a great conclusion to the -part series. By Scalzi’s own afterword he seems to struggle finishing stories and just bangs them out in the middle of the night. The Last Emperox felt this way in the end - banged out and slapped together with duct tape with lots of loose strings hanging outside the strips of tape. A very messy package. An unsatisfying conclusion to an otherwise interesting human universe described in the first two books that obviously kept me coming back for more.
2020-11-14

2. The Last Emperox - Very childish book, barely young adult reading level. I only read it to find out the end of the story, a failing of my own. The author’s clumsy excuse for turning in his book late was a thinly veiled elitist rant against our current President. Have your free speech, etc. etc. but I no longer need to pay for your drivel.
2020-04-17

3. Awesome series ending - I cannot believe John Scalzi pulled it off. This is an awesome ending to an awesome series. I should have more faith considering I have reread Lock In and Head On over a dozen times ( this is slightly influenced by living in the DMV where they are set ). John Scalzi really understands that each end is just another beginning and there are no HEA but there are truly good people out there ( This can also be seen in his Old Man's War series). I blame his background as a Cinema Critic and a journalist. Two careers that expose you to the best and worst of the human species. And I blame Kristi and Athena. From my experiences with marriage and family, Kristi and Athena put up with Scalzi 's crap, so us lucky readers can get the sanitized Scalzi. And let us be real here, a steady stream of awesome books. That was . hours were I did not have to think about my crises. And now I get to REREAD the book - fun activity with this many plot and character surprises.
2020-04-14

Release date: 2012-07-24 $12.99

Comments

1. Mesmerizing! - A beautiful story of what hope looks like amongst struggle and hardship. The tale is told by Lauren Olamina as she slowly loses her family but develops her means to survive without losing herself as she is challenged by one trial after the next. You will feel for her and all whom she feels for. An emotional read. Loved it.
2019-12-27

Release date: 2021-11-30 $9.99

Comments

1. A satisfying conclusion - If you’ve made it this far you’ll be satisfied by the ending. Doesn’t quite reach the heights of Tiamat’s Wrath, which is the best in the series in my opinion. But it’s a good and fitting sendoff - the authors clearly knew where they wanted to go and executed a solid plan to get there, and their writing skills clearly improved throughout the series (particularly noticeable when comparing books - to books -). / instead of / for me because there were some plot points that I felt conflicted with the series’ in-world logic a bit, but nothing fatal that kept me from enjoying the ending.
2022-04-26

2. No Dutchman ending here. - A lot of series end a good run with an abrupt or misplaced ending, or they dwindle down into endless postscripts, or just get flat out abandoned before the last act by authors not up to the task they’ve built. None of that for the Expanse, please and thank you. The authors managed to pull everything together, make a suitable ending, and resolve and explain just enough to make it all feel worthwhile, without getting ensnared in endless appendices or spin-offs. Things feel resolved, and there are things left to consider, or ponder, but nothing left feeling undone. An excellent ride, I thank our pilots for getting us there comfortably, safely, and quickly. I’ll see you again among the stars, I think. I look forward to it.
2022-01-28

3. Not very good - The series has lessened in quality with each release. This is the last book, so you’ll buy it anyway, but the story is near incomprehensible and the characters one dimensional. Lots of side stories that add nothing to the plot. The authors had so little to say that they simply repeated parts of the story exactly, just from another perspective, without adding a thing to the story. It’s dull, overly long, and with an ending that makes little sense. What a dud.
2022-01-16

4. An Emotional Ride - This is the last book of The Expanse series. While all things must eventually end, I am saddened to say goodbye to the crew of the Rocinante. There were sacrifices great and small throughout this entire series, but the final sacrifice was an emotional whirlwind of great magnitude. I do not want to reveal the story to those who want to experience the book for themselves, so I can only say that I recommend this book to the fans of this series. Saying it is a “must read”, is a tremendous understatement. It would be very nice if each of the surviving characters stories could be told to the end of their lives, and influences on the worlds in which they ultimately meet their stories ends. It would make an interesting novel or a series of short stories. The end of this epic story leaves me in an emotional turmoil. It feels like losing people we know and love. It feels like we are saying goodbye to our family and not knowing what to do next; if we can make ourselves do anything at all. If you are a fan of the series, this book is unquestionably a must read. If you are not yet a fan, pick up a copy of “Leviathan Wakes” to start your journey with the crew of the Rocinante. You will lose yourself in the story of mankind’s expansion into the solar system, and beyond into the Universe.
2022-01-06

5. Epic ending to a fantastic series - An epic ending to a fantastic series. If you're an expanse fan, it's a can't miss. If you're not an expanse fan, go back to Book - Leviathan Wakes and start there, and you'll likely as not end up a fan of the series before long. As usual, there's a fair amount of foreshadowing without giving away what is actually going to happen. Subtle hints you don't catch the first read and go back a second time in a row to catch what you missed the first time. My only regret is it's the last one of the nine. Nice job, Daniel and Ty, and I hope you both keep the James S.A. Corey pen name alive in the future.
2021-12-09

Release date: 2015-12-08 $1.99

Release date: 2020-09-01 $12.99

Comments

1. Thalias and Patriarch Thoorak … brilliant - Skywalkers and caregivers are an interesting, separate twist - Thalias, the Mitth, and Patriarch Thoorak offer a Thrawn storyline depth that’s simply a wonderful ‘hook’. On to the second in the series, I hope to run across more. Excellent Thrawn read!
2021-11-06

2. Indeed, this is bad - My first foray into the Star Wars expanded universe was not Zahn’s Original Trilogy, but that Trilogy absolutely stole my heart, mind, and imagination as a year old. I read everything Zahn wrote for Star Wars (and a good bit of his other works as well). I haven’t read much of the new generation of SW books since Disney bought the rights. After feeling let down by the recent movies and even the much adored Mandalorian show, when I saw that Zahn was tasked with a new trilogy about Thrawn, well, nostalgia was doing its thing. Two hundred pages in (digitally) ... I can’t bring myself to keep going. This is dull writing. This is bad writing. It’s an endless train of “Zahn-isms” like “indeed, dryly, I presume” and more. The thrill of Thrawn in the Heir to the Empire series was the mystique and subtly and hardness that we as a reader caught in glimpses from the several well-defined and written side characters. Here, he’s somehow politically naive, yet savant-level in tune with literally everything else in the world. We’re somehow too close to him; too much of him is exposed to us; yet I still have no idea who he is. In other words, he lacks any dynamic. Beyond that, the scenes are a chore to get through. I barely understand or care about anyone’s motivations, wants, or desires. Unfortunate, as I really want Star Wars to be as good as my childhood memories of it are.
2020-10-31

3. The best of the new Thrawn books. - Freed from the limitations of operating in the Empire, this prequel to Thrawn’s adventures for Palpatine showcase a new side to the blue-skinned commander. Glimpses of the political structure to the Ascendancy are definitely a highlight, and watching Thrawn outmaneuver almost every obstacle is simply a delight. I couldn’t put the book down!
2020-09-21

Release date: 2012-12-21 $8.99

Comments

1. A wonderful story & series - Zoe’s Tale is a wonderful alternative viewpoint of the previous book, through the eyes of John’s and Jane’s adopted daughter Zoe. It has also thoughtfully, filled in a number of blanks left open previously; in a very imaginative and entertaining manner. If you enjoy or just mildly love science fiction, then this book and series is a definite must read. Enjoy! JAO
2022-01-14

2. Last colony redux - I loved the first three books. So when I finished the third, I simply bought the fourth without bothering with a preview or reading the reviews. I should have bothered. This is just the third book rewritten. I kept reading, hoping for a new storyline to branch off. But it didn’t. Just the same story slightly rewritten from the point of view of a child. I’m not planning to read the next book in the series.
2021-12-19

3. Good but not the best one in the series - I enjoyed the new perspective to many of the stories and events and adding a young person’s perspective and struggles did make it feel different. However, it felt more forced at times and many of the events were not as enjoyable because they were about events that you already were aware of. Only a few unique ideas. Still was good.
2020-10-31

4. Are you kidding me?!?!?! - This isn’t Book it’s Book .. The author is basically forcing you to reread Book but from Zoe’s perspective. My assumption is that his publisher was pressuring him to put something out and he was suffering from writers block and as a result we were left with this garbage. It’s going to be awhile before I read anything by Scalzi again. What a waste of money!!!!
2020-01-19

5. Good in its own right - I admit to not caring enough about Zoe to understand why she needed a book. By the last chapter I did and it is one of the better books I've read in quite some time. I ended up caring about the characters more, becoming more emotionally invested in the story than expected (especially because it reflects the previous book). It is very well written and very few authors can do what John Scalzi has done with the story. I recommend it.
2017-06-21

6. Scalzi becomes a teenage girl - Loved this story. I was a huge fan of Scalzi until I read Redshirts. I took a break after that until Zoe caught my interest again. Only after reading the notes at the end did I learn there were other parallel books to the story, so you don't need to read them to appreciate this tale. The best thing about it is the voice: its written in the first person of a teenage girl. It wasn't easy to capture the intelligence, courage and humor of the character, and still explore the implications of her connection to an alien race. As someone who works extensively with teenagers in my real life world, I found her voice to be incredibly authentic. Kudos to Scalzi!!
2013-02-02

7. Another amazing book - I loved this book. It seems to that each of the books in this series have just been better than the one before. Which is really hard to do, since each of the books is truly great in its own right. I loved reliving the events of The Last Colony from Zoe's perspective and learning more about such a critical character. I loved this book and the whole series and I hope John Scalzi will takes us there many more times in the years to come.
2013-01-22

8. Zoe's Tail Another Perspective - I real enjoyed this book. A few years ago I read the Old Man's War series and couldn't put them down. As I read Zoe's Tale I kept thinking that I've read this story before but not quite the same way. I really enjoyed the characters quirky banter and the development of the relationships with family and friends. If you didn't read the other books of the Old Man's War series before reading this book you will enjoy recognizing key ideas from the different stories as you explore the period and universe, from another perspective.
2011-09-11

Release date: 2015-08-11 $11.99

Comments

1. 科幻的巅峰 - 大刘作品中的世界观总是十分奇特与令人震撼的，这部书也是一样。但和大刘其它大多数作品不同，这部书当中包含着十分多的哲理——和一些社会现实。你甚至分不出谁才是书中的主角——这样的一个世界就十分真实了，不会像有些书，情节是不错，但读起来感觉世界上就只有主角团那几个人一样。《三体》的三本书都是绝伦的，我很倾佩刘慈欣的想象力与语言表达能力，我愿意称这个系列为“世界科幻小说的巅峰”。 总的来说，这本书的情节就是“既在意料之外，又在情理之中”的。
2021-09-11

2. I couldn't put the book down - Three Body Problem started the series well and Dark Forest ended it well. Once the clinax hits ai couldn't put the book down and I kept wanting to know more of wbat would happen. This is a great book and ended the series well. A lot of people say the third book is great but I think where this book ends was perfect and another ending would just not necessary I recommend this, made me feel bad for rhis society and that is how you know it was a good book because it makes you feel for the people in this world.
2021-04-10

3. Profound, strange, discouraging, and hopeful. - Not to mention an intricately plotted story that is mixed with lyrical passages of often stunning beauty--a story that relies on suspense not to string you along but to actually deliver something "profound, strange, discouraging and hopeful" all at the same time.
2017-06-13

Release date: 2023-03-07 $14.99

Comments

1. Phenomenal - Sam Maggs, I am about to buy every book you have ever written—this book was BEYOND amazing. As a JFO fan, I can see how much work went into this. The way each character is organically focused on and gets their own time in the spotlight is amazing. I don’t remember what line it was, but towards the end, an exchange between Greez and Cere made me burst out sobbing. Everyone in this story has a stake and I loved getting to spend time with each and every one of them. Also this book is mad funny. “Cere-ious” and “Blorp (that’s what Greez said his name was)” had me laughing in the first ten minutes. Also the gratuitous amount of times Greez’s salt obsession was mentioned got a chuckle out of me. No spoilers in this review but getting inside of Cal’s psyche was a delight. Him and Merrin’s parallelism (and juxtaposition) might’ve been my favorite part. I don’t know though. There’s a lot to love about this book. But yeah. The storytelling is top notch. I do not say this lightly, but after cramming this entire novel from pm-am, it might be my favorite Star Wars novel now. It’s definitely top three. If you’re a JFO fan and you’re anxiously waiting for Survivor, read this immediately!
2023-03-07

Release date: 2019-03-26 $11.99

Comments

1. Decent… - The story was not bad. The prose was irritating to me at times, and that is quite possibly because of my age: there are italicized words ALL OVER THE STORY. Also, in an attempt to sound “stream-of-consciousness-like,” there are these incredibly long sentences with breaks and tangents and parenthetical sub-thoughts that make it seem like I’m reading what we believe a twenty-something OUGHT to sound like.
2022-12-15

2. Award Winning Introduction to Teixcalaan - “A Memory Called Empire” is the first book in the Teixcalaan Series by Arkady Martine. It’s a very well regarded work, having received the Hugo Award for best Novel in , and was a Nebula Award Finalist. It’s a sweeping space opera, that focuses on the relationship between the independent Lysel Station, and the Teixcalaan Space Empire. The story follows Mahit Dzmare, the ambassador from Lsel Station to the Teixcalaanli Empire, as she investigates the death of her predecessor. We see this complex colonial society through her eyes. She is a well-regarded “barbarian” who has always been fascinated by Teixcalaan literature and poetry. As soon as she lands, she meets her cultural liaison, Three Seagrass, who helps her navigate the complexities of Teixcalaan government and society. She soon finds herself in the midst of plots and schemes that will impact not only her, but the foundations of the empire itself. Needless to say, this is a great book, and an impressive start of a new series. The world-building is complex and unique. Definitely different than most space opera. Culture is key in this empire, and it draws the reader in as the story unfolds. Next in the series is “A Desolation Called Peace” which reportedly picks up the story shortly after the events of this novel.
2022-04-10

3. From an Ancillary Justice fan - I’m a huge fan of Ancillary Justice and I picked up this book because it sounded up my alley. A Memory Called Empire has many wonderful attributes - its characters, setting, world, politics, cultures, and writing are all superb. However, and I don’t doubt that I could be missing something, I think there’s too many loose threads on the plot and too little thematic cohesion for my taste. There’s just so much stuff that it’s hard to connect it all thematically. This book gave me a lot of little ideas to chew on, but no big moral dilemmas or concepts that were given much depth.
2021-06-11

4. Good.... Not Great - I read alot of Sci-fi & Fantasy. Was excited about this novel due to the hype. It’s a good novel, not ground breaking IMHO. I dig how the plot is established early & continues to sustain throughout the thread. The character dynamics are strong yet unsurprising as things evolve. Its a slow plod the first half, maybe even /rds. Picks up substantially the last third, although the bigger story is in novels to come. Ultimately don’t regret reading it, yet not sure I’ll read Desolation Called Peace.
2021-03-19

5. A great intrigue - A murder mystery disguised as science fiction. Enjoyed watching the story unfold alongside the protagonist. For a book so focused on customs and language, I would have enjoyed more time on the culture of The City and how this civilization came to be for the benefit of the reader (but I get that protagonist already knows all this already.) My one complaint is the naming convention made it easy to confuse all the natives, you might need a white board to keep them straight.
2019-04-25

Release date: 2019-01-01 $13.99

Comments

1. A Great Read if You Enjoy The Halo Series - There’s a lot of interesting info you learn about the Spartan program and what makes them so special. It’s stuff you wouldn’t have known about just by playing the games. Fair warning though: this book is considered secondary cannon, meaning what happens in the games takes precedence over certain events that take place in the story.
2021-06-02

Release date: 2019-01-01 $1.99

Release date: 2011-06-15 $9.99

Comments

1. Leviathan Awakes - I like detective novels and science fiction and this novel has both. The period of time is when humans have thoroughly settled the solar system but have not moved on to other star systems. There is political rivalry among Earth, Mars and the Kaiper Belt and the rivalry is also reflected in the characters. The characters figure out how to work together in the end.
2021-08-25

2. A fantastic space-opera - James Corey did an excellent job writing Leviathan Wakes. James seamlessly weaves writing in the style of traditional science fiction with grungy noir and elements of horror. This book features a rich world with interesting characters wrapped up in galaxy-wide problems. Highly recommended.
2021-08-01

3. Read it fast, then disregard most of it - I liked the vision and scope of it. I liked the surreal alien nonsense. I did not care for the characters or dialogue. It’s better if you skim past all that and just enjoy the vivid future that the book conjures. Whatever else happens in the next few hundred years, I’m sure people won’t become so boring.
2021-01-21

4. Awesome read, hard sci-fi at its best - Couldn’t put it down. Currently cruising through the sequels. I love hard science fiction, my favorite novel ever is Ender’s Game and in my opinion the expanse is on par with that. My only complaint is it legitimately makes it hard to go back and enjoy softer science fiction that doesn’t feel nearly as real
2019-08-17

5. Slow start, strong finish! - Started off slowly with confusing timelines and what I first thought were uninteresting characters. But the story really took off once the main characters were united and I found it difficult to put the book down. It turned into a four hour reading marathon to the finish. Great job! '-D
2017-08-05

6. Epic Space Adventure - I started out watching the show on the SyFy channel and really liked it. Then I started reading the first book in the series, and I don't know if I'm gonna go back. The best description I've seen has compared The Expanse to both Game of Thrones and Battlestar Galactica. I can't do any better than that.
2017-02-01

7. Refreshing SyFi for me! - The TV Mini Series is now running and it’s struggling for an audience. It’s an example of telling stories at the same time. Reminds me of Froto & The Rings vs the cavalier friends trying to stay alive until the ring is destroyed! I loved one and hated the other, but somehow it worked. Anyway that’s my take in The Expanse, somehow that was more successful in the book. A bigger budget would have helped! Thanks for listening.
2016-01-16

8. New bench mark! - I was speechless after the first chapter of the first book in this series. I’ve been reading since I was in the forth grade and even recently started writing a book. The Expanse series sets a new bar - best most well written book I have read in years if not ever. I hope the upcoming TV series can rise to the standard of the page.
2015-10-25

9. Enjoyable - Good book. Liked the characters, enjoyed the plot. My only gripe has more to do with the book publishers. Why is there a couple of hundred pages on other crap appended to the book? I was reading the final pages of the book thinking there was much more story... And poof it was over and just stuff I did not want or choose to read tacked on....
2015-05-31

10. Page-Turning Space Opera/Detective Story! - A page-turning rollicking space opera set entirely with the solar system! The story is told from two character's points of view: Miller, a hard-boiled detective from Ceres (a colonized dwarf plant in the asteroid belt); and Holden, a ship's Executive Officer/Captain originally from Earth. Both become involved in the story of Judy Mao, who is a renegade daughter of a very wealthy family. The story has elements of a detective novel, military science fiction, and of course a space opera. This is the first book in the "Expanse" Series, which will soon be adapted for television by SyFy. I wanted to read it before this occurs, so I can compare the two, and have a good background in the source material. I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. The setting of the book is unusual in that the solar system has been colonized and developed, but human interstellar travel hasn't yet become a reality. There are essentially three powers in the solar system: Earth, Mars (which has been colonized and is being terraformed); and the Belt and outer planets. These three are in uneasy opposition, until the events in the novel bring them into conflict. As war is about to break out and threaten human existence, an even greater potential threat arises from Saturn's Moon Phoebe. Julie Mao becomes the thread that connects the characters and events and brings them together to a stunning conclusion.
2015-02-24

11. Not a quick read - I can usually finish off a sci fi book in a few days, but this one made me work a little harder for it. The author does a very convincing job of developing the "Belter" characters, who have a pidgin-type dialect that makes the dialogue somewhat thick at times. Overall, it's a good read, and bridges the gap between near and distant future, which is isn't common in sci fi. In terms of morality/ religion, it's neutral without ignoring the subject entirely.
2015-01-12

12. Excellent space opera - We tend to take the vastness of space for granted when reading sci-fi that takes place across an entire galaxy. This book brings it right into humanity's back yard and presents that same vast scope. Combines an element of sci-fi thriller/horror with epic scope and great character development. Excellent read.
2012-10-10

13. Words or Less - Hmmmm. Can you penalize a sci-fi novel for being too easy? This novel is enjoyable, but in the end there lacks any real challenge. The pacing, plot, characters, mysteries, etc are well done. Even expertly crafted at times. But nothing about this story seems to really stretch beyond sci-fi archives. Nothing jumps out as unique. So, while it’s a good book, and well written, I think it fails to shake things up enough. It leaves you with a “been there, read that” feeling.
2012-08-13

14. Space opera in the Solar System! - I really enjoyed this book. I was a little dubious about the idea of big space opera that takes place only within our solar system, but I was won over pretty quickly. There's action and Big Ideas and suspense -- all the good stuff! I can't wait for the sequels! I hope they're as good as this one!
2012-04-08

Release date: 2017-12-05 $11.99

Comments

1. A rushed mess of a story - I love The Expanse series. I’ve read every book and watched the series on television. I waited so long with great expectations for this seventh book only to be let down and disappointed. It started off great, as usual and put me right back into the fold with Holden and his crew. These characters are why the series has been so good. However, separating them and then falling away from their storylines was a huge mistake. Holden, the main character and heart and sole of the books was barely even in the story. By the end, the book had jumbled the story line into a big rushed mess and confused me as to what had just happened. It was as if the writers just wanted to end it quickly because they had a dinner date to get to. Totally killed the thrill of the Expanse story.
2018-03-18

2. Boring - The worst in the series. This book is slow and filled with by stories that don’t advance the plot. New characters are shallow and incomplete. The authors finally fall into the trap of telling half a story to get more book sales. The series has been getting slower and thinner and now its dropped to a waste of time. Skip this one altogether.
2017-12-19

3. The Empire Strikes Back - I noticed some parallels between this first book of a new Expanse trilogy and the Star Wars film. I won’t include spoilers of exactly how. The title references the fact that after the fall of Babylon, the new power was Persia with it’s capital Persepolis. The new power here is Laconia and it’s proto-molecule enhanced ruler Winston Duarte, the leader of the rouge Martian fleet that disappeared beyond the gates in an earlier book. Of course Holden and the crew of the Rociante are once again at the center of the action. But some years after the events of Leviathan Wakes, the crew is starting to show their age and is on the edge of dissolving until events force them to reunite. The strength of this series is always the superb characterization, rich, complex D characters. Even the “villains” believe their cause is noble, it’s just that their noble end justify their questionable means. And of course, power corrupts and absolute power, well, you know where that’s going to end up. As if that’s not enough, the entities who killed the proto-molecule builders are evidently still around and not taking kindly to someone trying to rebuild their empire. All in all this is a must read for any SF fan.
2017-12-10

Release date: 1992-05-01 Genre:Sci-Fi & Fantasy $5.99

Comments

1. waste of time lol - If I didn’t know any better, I would have thought this was written by some self inserting weeb on tumblr or Twitter. The author wastes your time with info dumps and focusing on things that will never be important or brought up again. Which is why I was like “what…THATS IT?” When I realized I read the last page. I give it two stars for characters and humor. Though at some point the comedy just disappears. Even though it wasted my time, I don’t regret reading it. Just wish I didn’t buy it. I had to force myself to keep reading at % of the way and double secret force myself at %.
2023-03-07

2. Review from an ancient perspective - Few of the concepts that are the foundation of our real and current use of tech existed when this book was printed and released. In , the only people using the internet at all were building it. I have a print copy of the first email I received in …from researchers in Antarctica. Mosaic was just a thought, and Netscape and Google were inventing spiders. I can’t emphasize how much this book influenced all that followed. Especially the relationship to hardwired language. It’s interesting to read comments from people who are likely approaching their ’s, who can’t see why nerds like me recognized the info on language as the key to many puzzles unsolved at the time. I bless Stephenson’s ability to create an entire cosmos that became real because he shared it, and it was good.
2023-02-22

3. Excellent Ideas - This book was quite fun, silly, and informative. The author dives into the basic concepts of language and how that parallels to our current understanding of computer science. There are references to ancient sumarian concepts, and exciting ideas about how the future of humanity will play out. All in all a terrific read
2022-09-13

4. issues of current times not foreseeable almost years ago when the book was written. - Very imaginative with great character development and unexpected twists. Theories on ancient languages and direct input brain short circuiting add a very bizarre mysticism. Recent disregard for law and order, unchecked immigration/invasion and power hungry technocrats carried to ultimate outcomes.
2021-12-15

5. Snow Crash - The book was interesting. My only problem with Neal Stephenson's books is that he leaves large plot holes and introduces complex relationships and then tosses them as if they aren't important to the story. It is as if he wants to create a "freaky ride" but never knows how to finish the story. Maybe this is one book out of a series and I missed it. But this book takes a lot of patience.
2015-07-28

6. Great, and yet not his greatest - I like Neal Stephenson’s writing a lot. He does a great job of digginf into contemporary ideas and stretching them just a bit (in this case, into the future) to achieve some fun and intelligent entertainment. He does someting similar in Cryptonomicon (also recommended) and Anathem (his best, as far as I’m concerned). His dramatization of history (Baroque Cycle, Mongoliad) is also top notch. Snow Crash is a “virtual reality” type of novel in the sense that some of the critical action occurs in a virtual world. It is more compelling than other such novels (notably Neuromancer) because the technical framework is believable (and, in fact, only a slight extrapolation from the technology at the time this book was written — two decades ago — and almost within reach today). Another core idea of the novel revolves around the notion of the human brain as a computational device… and that is worked out well too (without trying to explain too much).
2014-05-30

7. First Stephenson book you should read - Neal Stephenson’s writing style isn’t for everyone. “Snow Crash” is the best book for you to sample and decide if Stephenson is your kind of author. It doesn’t have nearly as many of his signature excesses and tangents as his other books. That’s usually the hangup that people have with his writing style. As such, Snow Crash is a fast paced, fun ride with a good taste of things to come if you keep reading his works. Stephenson didn’t learn how to write a good denouement until his novel “Anathem”; expect a finale that is terse and possibly leaves you wanting a little more. Despite its quirks, I love this novel and have reread it a few times. If you enjoy “Snow Crash” I recommend “Diamond Age” as an immediate follow up.
2014-04-23

8. Cell walls - I can forgive a lot, but I just don't understand how a SCIENCE fiction book can screw up the basic components of cell biology. Plants cells have cell walls. Humans cells do not. I'm pretty sure that's th grade life science. Interesting dystopian world otherwise. Perhaps this is our deregulated future.
2012-08-29

9. classic - While some of the ideas in this book will seem dated, many have actually been invented! Great action packed novel that feels like a sci-fi movie. I'm keeping my paper back copy for my kids to read one day. This book got me reading again in highschool after a long time. I would recommend this to anyone who hates reading or has a subborn youth who doesn't enjoy reading.
2012-01-27

Release date: 1995-12-01 $7.99

Comments

1. Exciting book - Still have more questions than answers, but with this book I felt close to Endymion, a regular man caught up in extraordinary circumstances. The chase scenes are exciting and the different worlds traveled to were exciting and wanting to know exactly what happened to the population of the planets is mysterious and fascinating “The Void Which Binds” is fascinating to me, it’s not a theme I’ve really come across before in science fiction. I enjoyed this book much more than the first two as the characters are caught up in something they do not yet understand completely and are still learning and growing. All three books have some powerful poetry. I’m excited to read the final book to get some answers to questions posed in all three of the books. I’m hoping that in the final book it comes together in a way that makes sense. With this book the authors writing style shines.
2023-01-31

2. Creeped out by the subtle pedophilia... - I wanted to like this book more than I did. But the ick factor was too hard to ignore. Why did the author have to devote words to describing a year old’s naked body? Gross. Apart from the subtly disturbing hints of Aenea & Raul’s future as lovers, I liked the book because it satiated my desire for more of the rich Hyperion universe. I was especially glad that Martin Silenus made an appearance, albeit a brief one. He was by far my favorite character from the previous Hyperion books. This book introduced some interesting new characters; in particular, I enjoyed Captain de Soya. It becomes clear early on that he has good intentions and is simply caught up in a scheme that is greater than himself. I wondered if his constant resurrections were going to make him go insane and turn him into a “real” antagonist, but in the end he was just a decent human being. It would have been an interesting turn of events if he had gone insane due to the cruciform, however. I’m on the fence about reading the th book. Aenea’s character was never that interesting to me (I actually found her somewhat annoying), but perhaps the story is better with her as an adult. At least then the ick factor would be gone.
2019-01-13

Release date: 2023-01-31 $9.99

Release date: 2021-01-05 $12.99

Comments

1. Fantastic introduction to a new era of Star Wars lore - Lots to unpack here. Several likable and believable characters. Respect for existing Star Wars lore. An interesting villain group that still needs some more exploration of their motives. The story itself is nice, even though part I is the best part of the book. If you like Star Wars, though, there’s a lot for you here. I’m still a bit confused by the timeline in Part II, there are several events that feel impossible to have happened in parallel. Overall though, a great read. Highly recommended if you plan on getting into the High Republic era material.
2023-01-04

2. Disappointing - Honestly I’m not sure what I expected… I’ve heard good and bad about this book, but it ended up being a disappointment on both fronts. The story itself just feels bland, and the prose is a little on the juvenile side. The dialogue was passable at best, but it was also stilted and lacked personality. Every Jedi character feels completely interchangeable and most characters felt underdeveloped. And lastly the plot of the story was unremarkable with bland world building. Ultimately I’d say this book was pretty bland, but it’s not the worst thing I’ve read. I doubt I’ll even remember most of it a month from now. It’s disappointing to see this lack of quality from something like Star Wars…
2022-01-05

3. Phenomenal - Absolutely fantastic! As a fan of the previous legends content I was nervous about the new canon, but this book recaptures the mystic nature of the Jedi and their wonder. I found myself unable to put it down. Chapter after chapter only leads to a drive to understand the intricacies of all that’s happening in the wider scheme. The events felt real and the descriptions make you feel like you can touch what’s happening. I absolutely recommend it!
2021-12-14

4. Interesting, and exciting! - I found the story to be very reminiscent of / and it tackled something new in Star Wars. It’s a personal preference for some but I enjoyed how the book switched narratives, felt like a Star Wars movie. Would love to see this adapted into a film or show! Already have the second book ready :)
2021-11-03

5. So good I’ve read it twice - Charles Soule kicks off the High Republic with a top notch story. I absolutely loved this book, so much so that I’ve read it twice already. The audiobook is great at well. Marc Thompson is a ridiculously talented voice artist. If you’re looking for where to start when it comes to The High Republic, look no further. Yes, there are a lot of names and characters, but once you get the swing of it, this book gets grooving. It feels incredibly cinematic. I wish they would turn this into a movie.
2021-09-05

6. Great story but too choppy - I really loved this story and the start of new Cannon but the close of the story was too chopped up. I understand building suspense but there were too many chapter breaks picking up another story line. It felt like the frustration you get watching a good TV movie with too many commercials breaking up the pace. That all being said, I'm excited for where the series will go next!
2021-08-21

7. Great Star Wars read - This was a well-paced introduction to a new time in the Star Wars universe. The reveals feel earned and with an appropriate amount of Deus ex machina for Star Wars through luck and The Force. It’s interesting to meet the new characters and especially to see the Jedi Order at a height of capability we haven’t previously seen. It’s fascinating to think about what we might get to read or see that will bridge this time to the time of the The Phantom Menace and the movies.
2021-05-25

8. First Star Wars book I've ever read that really felt like a movie! - I wasn't sure what to expect coming into this book. What I got was something that truly felt like a Star Wars movie in literary form. I know, there are novelizations of all of the Star Wars films—but those _better give me that movie feeling; they're adapted from screenplays, after all. This, though ... I could see the movie in my mind's eye—not just a splinter of it, but the whole thing!—and this book barely pauses to let you catch your breath. There are characters I can't wait to read more about—mostly Jedi—and I must say, the ending left me pounding my chair-arm in frustration at having to wait Yoda-knows-how-long for the sequel! ... There's another book in the series, but it's by a different author, so I'm not expecting many of the same characters to be involved. In any event, Lucasfilm has definitely won me over with this new Star Wars era. We are all the Republic!
2021-03-16

9. Amazing - I love Star Wars and reading Star Wars books too. I normally enjoy ones with more action than suspense but this book was just amazing. So suspenseful and so many different story arcs that it kept things interesting and when things changed perspectives it was always so much fun. Almost all the characters had good stories and the book just keeps going and going and going. I loved it /
2021-03-02

10. Brilliant!! - Although there is a very divided fan base towards today’s Star Wars, it take a real fan to embrace all the stories that are brought to life for our entertainment. It surely takes courage to branch out into an area which will surely take a lot of critique. With that said, I found this novel to be brilliant, refreshing and intuitive. I felt especially connected to all characters based off of their introductions along with the escalation of the story. I cannot wait to read the additions to this story.
2021-02-23

11. Fun intro to a new chapter - I thought this was a thoroughly enjoyable, fun, and entertaining adventure story. Checked off a number of boxes for Star Wars fans. I think it also does a very serviceable job of introducing this new storytelling initiative, set in the High Republic era, while not being too heavy on the exposition and keeping the plot and action moving along at a good clip. At the same time, I’m definitely looking forward to future stories that will be told in this era, and there are some very interesting ideas and characters that are introduced but not entirely fleshed out in this first chapter—which is part of the job of a launch title. I’d highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a fun read. My appetite for future stories is whetted, and I can’t wait to see where the stories lead!
2021-01-31

12. Painfully Sterile - I really wanted to like this, but this story just has zero heart. With all of the terrible things going on, you just aren’t drawn in to care. Throwaway characters repeatedly meet their demise within pages of introduction, and you get half-way through the book, with no idea who the main characters are. Reading this along side Justina Ireland’s A Test of Courage, which is infinitely better, even though it is aimed at a younger demographic.
2021-01-27

Release date: 2022-03-15 $2.99

Release date: 2019-09-10 $9.99

Comments

1. DNF - Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir got a lot of hype as “lesbian necromancers in space” (or maybe that’s “in spaaaaaaace”). Evidently that wasn’t enough for me. I got up to chapter and stopped. I found it impossible to care about any of the characters. Gideon was simply annoying and whiny. And the “in space” setting made no sense whatsoever in terms of physical logistics. The story structure would have made much more sense as a secondary world on a single planet, maybe doing the physical isolation via islands? Instead it was “in spaaaaaaace” and didn’t work at all for me. And, although this isn’t the author’s fault at all, I’m utterly bewildered by the publishing dynamics of which books are promoted as overtly queer and which are left to languish in hints and implications. Gideon gets it, but lots of other books with more central and more implicit queer content don’t. Some day I will give away my gorgeous first-edition, black-deckle-edged hardcover copy of Gideon the Ninth to someone who loved the book and will appreciate it properly.
2021-02-14

2. Incredible Work of Horror/Fantasy/SF - “Gideon the Ninth” defies conventional description. It is the story of an orphan girl raised in the Ninth House. This House is an incredibly gothic and dying establishment that exists to watch over the Locked Tomb. Gideon hates this hideous place and dreams of leaving to become a soldier in the Imperial Cohort. She is trying to realize her plan when a call comes out to all the Nine Houses to send a Necromancer and a Cavalier to the Emperor’s home world, and undertake a challenge. Harrow, the Reverend Daughter, and Gideon’s nemesis, is the Necromancer of the Ninth House. However, the Cavalier makes his escape rather than go. Gideon is then the only remaining choice. In the decaying ruins of the Imperial Palace, the best the Nine Houses have to offer are presented with tests and mysteries. They have to discover the darkest secrets of necromancy, and vie with each other to win the darkest of prizes. The reader is thrown right into the deep end of this story, and I had to just accept that there was much I had to take at face value. Some is explained later, some is not, but the story carries you along with it regardless. This book also does not explain why that magic (necromancy at least) exists along side space craft and other aspects that one expects from Science Fiction. Animated skeletons and space shuttles exist together in this book. However, these issues are put aside as one becomes engrossed in the characters and the story. It is a gripping narrative, in a very different setting.
2020-03-25

Release date: 2022-03-15 $0.99