Paul’s Book Reviews
Eight short book reviews: fiction, science fiction, mystery, thriller, horror, young adult, fantasy.
Paul’s Book Reviews: Thrillers, Nonfiction, Science Fiction
“If democracy came to China they would end up electing idiots, as in America.” —Kim Stanley Robinson, Red Moon Red Moon by Kim Stanley Robinson My thoughts on “Red Moon” are similar to those I expressed in my review of KSR’s previous SF novel of ideas, “New York 2140.” I loved the first half of […]
Paul’s Book Reviews
In this edition of Paul’s Book Reviews: a disturbing memoir, a Cold War spy novel, untaught history, escapist thrillers, a political expose that doesn’t live up to the hype. “When Kiri added the graphic quote she claimed came from David—’Jeannine Bunds had the type of pussy that really hangs onto my dick’—Bill McCollum’s prim mouth […]
Paul’s Book Reviews: Fiction, Thrillers, Sci-Fi, & a Memoir
“It wasn’t for trash, my bookshelves would be mostly empty.” —Paul Woodford, unpublished memoir The Great Passage by Shion Miura Clearly, I’ve been reading too many mysteries and thrillers, where every new object or action introduced into the story comes back later in some significant way. In real life … and Japanese novels … the […]
Paul’s Book Reviews: Science Fiction, Hit & Miss Thrillers
“Am I a person or a weapon?” Borne asks Rachel, in extremis. “You are a person,” Rachel tells him. “But like a person, you can be a weapon, too.” — Jeff VanderMeer, Borne Borne by Jeff VanderMeer The “Southern Reach” trilogy sold me on Jeff VanderMeer. I’ll probably read anything he writes and I’m not sorry I […]
Paul’s Book Reviews
“We are all part machine, Kaaro. Your phone is a polymer under the skin of your hand. You have a locator chip in your head.” —Tade Thompson, Rosewater Rosewater by Tade Thompson A Goodreads friend said this about “Rosewater”: “This book is one of those discoveries that not only is enjoyable for itself; it’s good […]
Paul’s Book Reviews: Vietnam, Old School SF, Radio Days, Tough Guys, Ghost Stories
“Page took the record that was playing on the turntable off without asking anybody and put on Jimi Hendrix: long tense organic guitar line that made him shiver like frantic electric ecstasy was shooting up from the carpet through his spine straight to the old pleasure center in his cream-cheese brain, shaking his head so […]
Paul’s Book Reviews
“like many families, everyone wandered around like children in a funhouse—they could hardly see one another around the corners, and what they could see was completely distorted.” – James Hannaham, “Delicious Foods” Delicious Foods James Hannaham Seems like everyone wants to talk about the most interesting character in the book: Scotty, the personified voice […]