Just finished Iron Council and Agent to the Stars

Iron Council by China Mieville — mini-review

You know. I really wanted to like this and just didn’t. While it is undeniably well-written, I felt like I was slogging through it. It’s unremittingly bleak and yet, I didn’t care about any of the characters. They get killed off right and left and I never cared. The only character that effected me was Ori and yet, when he died I was neither surprised nor moved.

Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi — mini review

I really enjoyed this and read it in pretty much one sitting. It’s rollicking good fun and just plain silly, but also manages to touch on “issues.” I cried twice, which is pretty good for a comedy.

My only issue with it was a plot issue which will only bother a few people. There’s a plot point revolving around making a latex life-mask, but no one in the industry does this. Everyone uses alginate. Even though I had to manually engage that bit of willing suspension of disbelief, I still enjoyed this very much.

Dad, I think you’d like this one.

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