#75 The Android's Dream by John Scalzi

This is a funny SF novel. The good news is the humor doesn't overtake the story and some of the humor is more of the absurd and not of the pun variety. Scalzi does recycle the idea of aliens communicating by scent in this novel but it does make sense since vocalization isn't the only means of communicating out in the world.


I'm sure at some point there might be more stories in this universe just since there was so much info about other races dropped in the story. Or at least I "hope" so.

Finishing my list for 2008

I am behind on doing reviews again. I have 8 more books to add for the year bringing the total up to 83 and if I finish the one I am reading right now then it will be 84 by midnight.

I will be backdating the reviews for the following books so I don't clog everyone's friend page when I do get them done but here is the list of what I had read.

76 Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur
77 Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop
78 Heir to the Shadows by Anne Bishop
79 All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear
80 Embrace the Night by Karen Chance
81 Midnight's Daughter by Karen Chance
82 Welcome to the Jungle by Jim Butcher
83 Moving Targets and Other Stories of Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey

So this year is the most books read since I am keeping track of it. And I know I did reread a few books that I don't count those.

EDIT
Ok the total is now 84, I just finished Queen of the Darkness by Anne Bishop.

Edit the second make it 85 I forgot the audio of The Subtle Knife that I listened to on a car trip with a friend.

#76 Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur

This is the start of a new series for Keri Arthur. Destiny is a dragon, it isn't listed on the back cover but you find out soon enough in the start of the book even if she does have partial amnesia. I liked the story line and the ending does wrap up plot threads so if you don't pick up the next book and there will be one next year you will not be left hanging. Granted the idea that large groups of dragons can live together and not be seen flying around is pushing your luck even if they only fly at dawn and dusk.

#77 Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop

I decided to read these after reading the Mona Lisa series by Sunny and being told that the series cribs heavily from the Black Jewels books. So i decided to find out for myself, and boy were people right. The books were entertaining but I'm glad I got them from the library. And yes I did read the next two books in the series.

78 Heir to the Shadows by Anne Bishop

This is the second book in the series. It was ok and a fast read. It was nice as a second book that it had a good ending and didn't leave you hanging for the third book.

79 All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear

This is an interesting fantasy/science fiction novel that I think is a stand alone novel at least so far. Or I thought it was until I just looked it up and found out there are two more. It seems the end of the world according to Norse mythology will take a lot longer than most people will think. The few survivors of the last battle come together for the final rally of the end of the world. I wasn't super excited about the book while I was reading it but as the story came to a close I got more involved in the story. So I am interested how it will go on in the next book.

80 Embrace the Night by Karen Chance

This is the third book in the series. I like the idea of the books but the more I read the less I like the lead. No matter what Cassie does she never seems to be in control of her life. Granted everyone has kept secrets from her and no one trained her in the uses of her new powers. Hopefully after this book, Cassie will grow into her new position and learn more about it and herself.

81 Midnight's Daughter by Karen Chance

This is set in the same universe as her other books but follows a character that has never been on screen before. I liked this book a lot more than the previous book, maybe because Dorina is a kick ass dhampir vs Cassie as a precog. Cassie and the mages from those books do not show up but several vampires from the other books do show up. This book also links in the short story from On The Prowl anthology.

82 Welcome to the Jungle by Jim Butcher

This is a graphic novel that covers time before the first book. It is just Dresden solving a case for Chicago's finest without anything from the wizard council or the Fey. It gives a good taste of how the books are and introduces new readers to both Bob and Murphy without confusing the readers.

I think I might get more graphic novels to read in 2009. I kind of missed reading them.

#83 Moving Targets and Other Stories of Valdemar by Mercedes Lackey

This is an anthology edited by Mercedes and also has one story by her in it. Her story is a total Scooby Doo story. Fun but a bit silly at times. The stories in the collection were fun and I do appreciate the fact that the anthology comes out in paperback. I have to say that I enjoyed this a bit more than the latest novel she put out.

#84 Queen of the Darkness by Anne Bishop

This is the third book in the series. It wraps up the story arc and rights wrongs. It was a light read but not that I think I would ever reread.

#85 The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman

I listened to the audio of this. The audio has a large cast and the author only reads things characters are not saying in the story. It doesn't suffer from being the middle book in a series at all. I was lucky to have a friend bring me up to speed since I read the first book when it came out over 10 years ago. Now the real decision is do I listen to the third book on audio or read it instead.