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The important stuff
Jan. 5th, 2009 04:27 pmMost of last year was dedicated to my PhD thesis which meant I've read less books then usual. This are the ones that liked the most:
Jacek Dukaj's Inne Pieśni (Other Songs) - Dukaj once again proves no one can match him on ideas.
Siergiej Łukjanienko's Brudnopis - Czystopis (Draft - Final Version) duology - What would you do when everyone forgot you existed? What if you get superpowers instead? Is it worth losing your life and family? And who is responsible for that? I liked it for the journey of main hero. And the resolution that proves nothing is easy and the fighting evil is much harder then just killing bad guys. I loved the author's self references and making fun of himself and fellow Russian sf authors.
Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn: The Final Empire - The story of revolution and growing up. The bleak, oppressive world build by the leader who was to save it from destruction. I hope to read the rest this year.
Zuzana Minichova's Astralnia - it's a collection of stories both fantasy and science fiction. The stories of how having special talent often just gets you more trouble and how power doesn't really solve problems and illusion of freedom and choice. Beautiful and sad and often cruel but without being violent.
Ted Chiang's Stories of Your Life and Others - The everyday of of people confronted with otherwordly and supernatural, the presentation of science and scientific process, the characters that you really feel for - no wonder he got so many awards.
I haven't manage to read Steven Erikson's Toll the Hounds properly but it managed to make me laugh and break my heart anyway so it gets a special mention.
Jacek Dukaj's Inne Pieśni (Other Songs) - Dukaj once again proves no one can match him on ideas.
Siergiej Łukjanienko's Brudnopis - Czystopis (Draft - Final Version) duology - What would you do when everyone forgot you existed? What if you get superpowers instead? Is it worth losing your life and family? And who is responsible for that? I liked it for the journey of main hero. And the resolution that proves nothing is easy and the fighting evil is much harder then just killing bad guys. I loved the author's self references and making fun of himself and fellow Russian sf authors.
Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn: The Final Empire - The story of revolution and growing up. The bleak, oppressive world build by the leader who was to save it from destruction. I hope to read the rest this year.
Zuzana Minichova's Astralnia - it's a collection of stories both fantasy and science fiction. The stories of how having special talent often just gets you more trouble and how power doesn't really solve problems and illusion of freedom and choice. Beautiful and sad and often cruel but without being violent.
Ted Chiang's Stories of Your Life and Others - The everyday of of people confronted with otherwordly and supernatural, the presentation of science and scientific process, the characters that you really feel for - no wonder he got so many awards.
I haven't manage to read Steven Erikson's Toll the Hounds properly but it managed to make me laugh and break my heart anyway so it gets a special mention.
