Book Blurb: Rogues

Authors: Multiple (See Below)

Year: 2014

Rogues is a collection of short stories by some of the most famous names in modern sci-fi/fantasy literature organized and edited by Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin.  The stories are collected by theme, this one focussing on Roguish characters.

Two of my favorite author’s contributed to this anthology and below are my thoughts on these short stories.  Spoiler alert… they’re awesome.

 

 

The Lightning Tree by Patrick Rothfuss

60 pages

This story is the reason I even picked up the book, and it doesn’t disappoint.  While it doesn’t delve into Kvothe’s story like the Kingkiller Chronicles Trilogy, it does follow a day in the life of Bast, one of the more enjoyable and mysterious characters.  Bast spends much of his day trading answers or favors with town’s children for seeming innocuous tasks that pay off in the end.  Coupled with his dalliances with local women, Bast is brilliantly realized in this short story.

While you’ll enjoy this without reading any of the Kingkiller Chronicles, you won’t fully appreciate it until you’ve read at least The Name of the Wind.

Award for the Story with the Biggest Player in Fantasy: Bast

Also Town with Most Horny Women: Newarre.

A Year and A Day in Old Theradane by Scott Lynch

42 Pages

Scott Lynch is brilliant in world building and portraying characters that thrive on the other side of the law in his Gentleman Bastard Series, and this short story is no exception.  Taking place in the city of Theradane, we are introduced to a band of retired thieves that fall back into one last, seemingly impossible job.  Every snippet of the world that pops up begs for more details and the characters that are introduced make me want a full series to be written around them.

This story has no connection to Scott Lynch’s Gentleman Bastard Series, though it begs for  an entire series to be built around it.

Award for the Most Creative Solution to an Impossible Task: Spoiler

Most Important Lesson: Don’t insult a powerful wizard.

 

Full List of Authors in Rogues Anthology

Authors I’ve Read and Love:

• Patrick Rothfuss
• Scott Lynch
• Garth Nix

Authors I’ve Heard of and Should Read:

• George R. R. Martin
• Joe Abercrombie
• Neil Gaiman

Authors I Probably Should Have Heard Of:

• Gillian Flynn
• Matthew Hughes
• Joe R. Lansdale
• Michael Swanwick
• David W. Ball
• Carrie Vaughn
• Bradley Denton
• Cherie Priest
• Daniel Abraham
• Paul Cornell
• Steven Saylor
• Walter Jon Williams
• Pills Eisenstein
• Lisa Tuttle
• Connie Willis

Book Blurb: The Republic of Thieves (Spoiler Free)

Author:  Scott Lynch

Gentleman Bastard Series:  Book 3

Published:  2013

The 3rd of Scott Lynch’s masterful series, The Republic of Thieves picks up the tale of the master thieves, Locke and Jean after the events of the 2nd book, Red Seas Under Red Skies, leave the pair desperate for answers. While the first two books in the series started off a bit slow, this book takes off running and never slows.

More so than the previous books that were largely self contained tales, Scott uses this 3rd book to set up a unified tale.  He introduces an over-arching mystery regarding the main characters, a nebulous world ending threat hinted on the fringes, and a reoccurring villain that will undoubtedly haunt the main characters in subsequent books.  I personally appreciate that he takes his time to reveal his world and story, not showing us everything in the first, second or even third book, but rewarding those that stick with him throughout.

Scott Lynch continues to write in rare form and I am excited for the four upcoming novels planned for this series.

 

Award for the Book that Finally Introduces the Romantic Interest After Only Hinting at Her for Two Entire Books Already: Oh Sabetha…sigh…

Most Intriguing Frenemy: The Seamstress

Parental Advisory: Strong language, violence and some sexually explicit scenes and dialogue put the entire series as for adults only, although this is nothing if you’re into Game of Thrones.

 

Book Blurb: The Martian

Author:  Andy Weir

Published:  2014

Described as a love letter to science, this book chronicles the story of Mark Watney, an astronaut in a near future manned mission to mars, mistakenly stranded and forced to survive until rescue.  Originally released as a serial on his website, the Martian carefully keeps to accurate science and feasible technology making it the quintessential Hard Science Fiction novel.

The book is told through two perspectives.  The primary perspective is a first person view told in personal logs where Mark’s hilarious gallows humor and accessible scientific explanations immediately draw you into the narrative.  The book then periodically shifts to a third person omniscient view where NASA and Mark’s former crew realize his plight and race to save him.

The recent movie staring Matt Damon and directed by Ridley Scott, is an excellent adaptation that stays very true to the book (minus some iron man suit puncturing nonsense). If you’ve already seen the movie and enjoyed it, the book is still worth your time as many problems that Watney had to overcome were glossed over or cut completely from the movie due to time constraints.  Furthermore, if you enjoyed the scientific explanations in the movie, the book goes into much greater detail while still remaining accessible.

This book is a must read for not only space and science enthusiasts, but for those interested in compelling characters striving to overcome impossible situations.

Award for the Book that Makes Engineering Cool:   Oh yeah…  and botany too, I guess…

Most Homicidal Planet:   Mars

Parental Advisory:  Super strong, though often hilarious, language

PS-If you enjoyed the book and/or movie, there is a great interview of Andy Weir conducted by former mythbuster Adam Savage below: