Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky

 In this second book of The Final Architecture trilogy, Tchaikovsky picks up right where Shards of Earth left off. Both books have interesting characters and compelling storylines.

The Architects have returned after eighty years, following an uneasy, peaceful reprieve for the planets that house the humans and aliens who inhabit them. An Architect is attacking Arc Pallator, a Hegemonic world that contains a vast collection of Originators artifacts. The crew of the Vulture God is on the planet when the attack begins, and Idris is kidnapped once again. This time, his kidnappers want him to use his Intermediary skills to unlock the mystery of unspace and help find the origins of the Architects.

Tchaikovsky does an excellent job of world-building and creating alien cultures. In this fast-paced novel, he advances the main storyline of the series — finding ways to defeat the Architects — and moves into a more cerebral context, exploring the creation of unspace. There is still plenty of action, however, to satisfy even the most ardent space opera lovers. This is a wonderful series, and I'll be sad when it wraps up. 

4.5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky

 

This is the first book in The Final Architecture series, and it's a winner. With an intriguing plot, excellent world-building, and imaginative characters, it kept me reading late into the night.

Idris, as a much sought-after Intermediary navigator, and Solace, a warrior of the Parthenon sisterhood, have survived the Architect war. Now, years later, they encounter one another again when Solace joins the ship Idris pilots in hopes of enticing him to join her and the Parthenon. But Idris, Solace, and the Vulture God's crew, who have found a missing ship that shows evidence of an Architect attack, are suddenly on the run from gangsters and others who may benefit from the return of the Architects. The Architects, moon-sized entities that attack populated planets and reshape them into desolate works of art, have been missing since Idris and other Intermediaries deterred them to end the war. If they are back, it signals the beginning of a new war. 

This is a well-crafted space opera. The story is easy to follow, and the characters and alien species are distinctive. The suspense is riveting, and the action scenes are not overly drawn out. This is the first Adrian Tchaikovsky book I've read, and I can't wait to explore more of his books. 

5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Surface Detail by Iain M. Banks

Banks plays with the creation myth to excellent effect in this ninth book in his Culture series. This, combined with his world-building and unusual pan-humans, makes Surface Detail one of his best books yet. 

 Lededje is an Intagliated. A person whose tattoos cover not just her skin, but extend to her internal organs as well. She is owned by Jolier Veppers, the wealthiest and most influential man in the Enablement. Veppers thinks he has killed her after another escape attempt, but unknown to either of them, Lededje has had a Culture neural lace implant that allows her to assume a new body. 

 There is a war being waged between those who oppose the generated Pavulean Hell and those who see Hell as both a deterrent and a punishment. Journalists Chay and Prin gain access to Hell to report on what happens there, only for Chay to be trapped after they attempt to escape. 

 Vatueil is a conscript whose job is to help build a tunnel to a castle that is under siege. When the tunnelers encounter a deadly gas, Vatueil is one of the few survivors. He switches sides to join the castle dwellers, only to be tortured and, he thought, killed. 

 The book follows these main characters, and I was left wondering how Banks would weave their storylines together. It took over 600 pages, but he did it! There were quite a few minor characters, almost too many to keep track of, but their roles were essential to the main characters, and they did advance the story. I loved the philosophical discussion about Hell and Chay's experiences. The pacing dragged at times, and I felt there were unnecessary f-bombs throughout, but overall, this is another good addition to the Culture series. 

4/5 stars.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Matter by Iain M. Banks

 Iain M. Banks was a master at world-building. He died all too soon, but his books, a legacy that is seeing new life in the US, are amazing in their scope and vision.

When Prince Ferbin sees his father murdered by his right-hand man after suffering an injury in battle, he knows his own life and that of his younger brother are in danger. Thinking of his sister, Djan Seriy Anaplian, who left their planet years ago and became a Culture Special Circumstances agent, Ferbin and his servant flee their home planet in search of her. Meanwhile, Djan Seriy has heard of her father's death and the supposed death of Ferbin, and begins making her way home. The youngest prince, Oramen, who is under the protection of the man who killed his father until he comes of age, has no idea that the man is plotting his death. Now it's up to Ferbin and Djan Seriy to try and save him.

This is the seventh book in the nine-book Culture series and is, by far, one of the most complex stories in the series. I loved the settings and the numerous characters that made this such a great read. With his signature humor, descriptive prowess, and spot-on dialogue, this book captures Ferbin's world and the role Culture plays in the universe, transporting the reader altogether. All of the books in this series are different, but this novel's world-building is exceptional. 

5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks

The Culture space opera continues in this, the seventh, in the Culture series. Banks's humor and intricate plot make this book a standout in the series.

Eight hundred years after the Idiran war, the aftermath, the light from two suns, the Idrians exploded, killing millions, is finally reaching the Culture Masaq' Orbital. To honor the loss of life, a symphony by the Chel composer Ziller will be performed. Ziller does not want to return to his home world, so a former soldier, Major Quilan, himself grieving over the death of his wife in the recent Chel civil war, is sent to convince Ziller to come home. Or so that is said to be the purpose of his visit--Ziller is convinced Quilan was sent to kill him. This creates tension on the Orbital as Ziller threatens to walk out on his own symphony performance. 

I am continually impressed by how well Banks does dialogue.  The back-and-forth between characters is both humorous and excellently written. Additionally, the plotting and pacing are spot-on. The characters are sympathetic, especially Major Quilan, and the clash of wills between the temperamental Ziller and those trying to coax him into conducting his symphony is a welcome sideline. 

I can't wait to read the next book in the series, Matter, to see what Banks does next. 

5/5 stars.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 

Excession by Iain M. Banks

It's a revelation that I hadn't come across Iain M. Banks sooner. My introduction to his work was a serendipitous encounter with an astronomer during a trip to Norway. It seems he's a bigger name in Europe. Nevertheless, I'm overjoyed to have discovered his imaginative and beautifully written series, except for the book Inversions, which I didn't quite finish.

When a mysterious artifact, known to the Minds as an Excession, is discovered, it sparks intense speculation about its purpose and capabilities. Genar-Hofoen, a diplomat from the Culture's Special Circumstances, is dispatched to investigate. His mission takes a series of unexpected turns when he encounters the aggressive race known as the Affront and, later, a former love. Meanwhile, the Minds' insatiable curiosity leads them to overlook caution, triggering a war between the Culture and the Affront. It's up to the distracted Genar-Hofoen to resolve the conflict and solve the mystery of the Excession.

I love this series! Banks is a creative writer whose sense of humor and storytelling ability make the characters and environments come to life. It's an ambitious series that Banks executes with a deft hand. 

5/5 stars.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks

Banks continues to impress me with his intricate plots and interesting characters. In this, the third book in the Culture series, he transforms a character who would typically be a villain into one I rooted for. 

Cheradenine Zakalwe is a fixer for the Culture's Special Circumstances operations. He makes sure the wishes of the Culture are carried out by whatever means necessary. Zakalwe's contact, Diziet Sma, assigns the situations that need fixing, and occasionally cajoles Zakalwe into taking assignments he's not too thrilled about. 

Alternating between events in Zakalwe's past and his current assignment, Banks develops a complex character who is both ruthless and sympathetic. Excellently written and fast paced, "Use of Weapons" is an excellent addition to the series. Unlike many series that continue characters from book to book, Banks's books bounce around in time, and each book, although building on the reader's knowledge of the Culture, focuses on different characters. I find this format satisfying. 

4.5/5 stars. 

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks

I love space operas and discovering new science fiction authors. Consider Phlebas checks both boxes. It has interesting characters, alien cultures, and a seemingly impossible mission—all things I like in a science fiction book.

Hoza is a Changer whose ability to shift his features has allowed him to assume the identity of a pirate captain. He is allied with the Idirans in their war with the Culture and is tasked with finding a missing Mind owned by the Culture. With his rag-tag crew and a captured Culture agent, he sets off to a long-dead world where the Mind is hiding. Hoza goes against the odds to find the Mind and finds himself in a race that puts his and his crew's lives in danger.

This fast-paced, imaginative, and engrossing story was published in 1988. It has stood the test of time and delivers a satisfying look at two cultures at war with plausible situations. I just discovered this author and this series, although I was sad to learn he has since died. However, he has left a catalog of books, and I look forward to reading them all. 

4/5 stars.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Mercy of Gods by James S. A. Corey

 The two authors who penned The Expanse series are back! The Mercy of Gods is a promising start to a new space opera series built on a grand world-building scale with interesting characters and non-stop action.

The humans on Anjiin are caught up in the politics of the moment when the Caryx invade the planet, killing the population into submission and then taking the best and brightest to their home planet. One captured research group is kept intact and given a problem to solve in competition with another enslaved species. The stakes are high: whichever group succeeds lives while the loser dies. Led by the brilliant but mercurial Tonnar Freis, the team must overcome technological obstacles and assaults from the rival research team to solve the problem. Dafyd Alkhor rises above his role as a research associate to understand what drives the bloodthirsty Caryx and see what they need to do to survive long term. Now, he must convince the others.

The Mercy of Gods has an expansive yet complex plot, finely drawn characters, and alien races. It is a fast-paced book full of political intrigue. I especially liked the descriptions of the Caryx and some of the other oddly-configured species. The literary license taken about how these races exist in the same air and gravity bothered me at times, but I was so engrossed in the story that I let that slide.

I am looking forward to many more books about the exploits of Dafyd and his friends. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Orbit, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 6, 2024.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Saturn Run by John Sandford and Ctein

I like a good space opera and am a big fan of John Sandford's murder mystery books, so I was all in when I saw Sandford had collaboratively written a sci-fi book. He didn't disappoint.

It's 2066, and what is presumed to be a spaceship is spotted approaching Saturn by an intern at Caltech. Hoping to keep its appearance a secret, the US government, under the guise of joining an already planned Mars colonization trip planned by China, hopes to be the first country to Saturn to see what is happening. A crew of the best and brightest is quickly assembled, a space station is retrofitted into a galaxy-crossing ship, and the American crew, led by Captain Fang-Castro, settles into the long voyage. Unfortunately for the US, the alien spaceship is spotted leaving the planet, and now the race is on between the US and China to get to Saturn.

What follows is what can be best described as a space thriller. This engaging story has twists, subplots, and perhaps a saboteur. There are sections of hard science fiction that I admit to skimming as they didn't pique my interest, nor could I understand them. The story and characters are excellent and, typical of Sandford's writing, there is humor and great dialogue as the story unfolds quickly. Although he's no Andy Weir, Sandford produces an engaging story in collaboration with Ctein that captured my imagination. 

 4/5 stars.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble