This summer’s reading has already started off with a bang. From Dave Williams’ rollercoaster ride “The Burning Skies” to China Mieville’s wondrous “The City and the City” I’ve been spoiled. Here’s what I’m reading now and what I’m looking forward to…
Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan’s “The Strain” has one of the creepiest openings I’ve read in a while. A 747 jumbo jet from Berlin lands at JFK Airport in NYC and then goes dark. All but four of the passengers and crew die. No one knows why. Enter Dr. Eph Goodweather, leader of the CDC’s Canary team whose mission is to figure out what’s going on. The story is part CSI and part vampire legend as the book picks up steam. I’m only a little less than one hundred pages in but I’m hooked. It’s nothing wildly original, but a well written and interesting story.
Next on my list is David Gunn, who may or may not be Richard Morgan according to some insider chatter. David’s latest in his insanely violent “Death’s Head” series debuts, titled “Day of the Damned”. The series follows soldier Sven, all seven feet of him with a bionic arm and a sentient gun who is generally the comic relief across a far future setting where three races fight it out. The books are fun, loud and violent reading. Gunn isn’t trying to do anything more than entertain you. I have no idea what this next book is about but I don’t care. It’s David Gunn and Sven. If it’s possible the Death’s Head books are even more gleefully violent and foulmouthed than Richard Morgan. If that sounds like fun to you I suggest you grab yourself a copy. Day of the Damned hits the UK later this month and the US in late July.
“Retribution Falls – Tales of the Ketty Jay” by Chris Wooding has been described in advance reviews as “Firefly meets Steampunk”. The story follows a captain and his crew on the run in a world where airships are the primary means of travel, people carry firearms and swords and lots of mayhem ensues. Most of the advanced reviews I;ve read call the book a fun read. Good enough for me. Look for this one late June.
Later this summer, Karl Schroeder’s fourth Virga novel “The Sunless Countries” debuts. Virga is a world that exists inside a large bubble being policed by posthumans from the outside. It’s full of airships, steampunk castles, dogfights and adventure. It’s a really original world Karl has created and a lot of fun to read. Look for this one in August.
Metatroplis is a shared world taking place after the collapse of US society as we know it. It features stories by the aforementioned Karl Schroeder as well as Tobias Buckell and John Scalzi. It began it’s life as an audiobook but sees print late this summer. Certainly sounds promising enough for a look.
Last but by no means least is Jeff Somers third Avery Cates adventure “The Eternal Prison”. Avery Cates is a hitman in a bleak future. Somers work is fast paced and action packed. Cates is a great character, he truly will not put anyone before himself and finds himself in dire straits in what is the final part of a trilogy. If the first two are any indication this should be a great way to finish off what looks to be a fantastic summer reading season.
[...] originally published in Rescued By Nerds on 2009-06-09 17:35:02This summer’s reading has already started off with a bang. From Dave [...]