Leviathan Wakes

Leviathan Wakes
By James S.A. Corey
New York: Orbit, 2011. 582 pp. Science Fiction

Far into the future, humanity has spread throughout the solar system, colonized Mars, the moons of Jupiter and Saturn as well as the asteroid belt. Tensions between these people have grown as they change and are changed by their adopted worlds.

Responding to a distress call from an abandoned ship, Jim Holden, the first officer of a interplanetary ice-hauler Canterbury, is sent to investigate the Scopuli. A mysterious ship appears and destroys the Canterbury without provocation.

Miller, a detective stationed on Ceres, a major trading hub in the Belt as well as being a hotbed of revolutionary fervor, is asked to track down the rebellious daughter of a major industrial clan. Immersing himself in the case, he discovers her affiliation with the the seditious OPA and tracks her last known location to the Scopuli.

Each man, initially pursuing his own agenda, finds himself enmeshed in a conspiracy surrounding an alien artifact that threatens to destroy humanity even as its potential tempts those who would use it for their own purposes.

This is the first volume in what is anticipated will be a nine volume series. A list of published volumes can be found here. This is a quite entertaining, fast paced read. It combines some hard sci-fi elements with a touch of horror and noir genres as well, resulting in some fascinating world-building. I would recommend this to anyone who loves epic, engaging multi volume science fiction. If you enjoyed this, you might also like John Scalzi's Old Man War series or Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy.

CHW

Red Handed: The Fine Art of Strange Crimes

Red Handed: The Fine Art of Strange Crimes
By Matt Kindt
New York: First Second, 2013. 224 pp. Graphic Novel

In the ten years that Detective Gould has been with the Red Wheelbarrow police force, he has yet to leave a crime investigation unsolved. Even as he wraps up one successful case after another, he is troubled by the sense that he is missing something. As he struggles with a problem he can intuit but not yet fully grasp, a series of seemingly disparate and unconnected crimes are being orchestrated by a person hiding in plain sight. In the process of solving the most difficult case of his career, Gould will face tragedy and question his extraordinary talent for investigation and the very purpose of his profession. This is a wonderfully conceived graphic novel, well written and with excellent artwork. As with his Mind MGMT series, the somewhat rough pencil sketches and the muted colors wonderfully present the characters nuanced emotional states and illustrate action in an understated yet effective way. This is another good example of a graphic novel done right. I would particularly recommend this to anyone who might wish to explore the graphic novel format but are not interested in manga or superheroes.

CHW

Seconds

Seconds
By Bryan Lee O'Malley
New York: Ballantine Books, 2014. 321 pp. Graphic Novel

Katie's life is in a state of flux. After several years as lead chef at Seconds, a successful restaurant she help build from its beginning, she is anxious to start a new restaurant of her own. Hanging out at Seconds while this agonizing process continues, she finds herself canoodling with a co-worker. Shortly thereafter, one of the waitresses is seriously hurt. Katie feels responsible for this, having pulled away the new lead chef. That night she is visited in a dream by a spirit and is presented with an opportunity to erase her mistake and prevent her friend's injury. She does so and soon thereafter discovers that she can undo life decisions again and again. Heedless of the spirit's warnings, she succumbs to the temptation only to discover that with each attempt to make her life more perfect, unintended consequences threaten everything she holds dear.

As with his Scott Pilgrim series, O'Malley crafts a wonderful, funny and engaging story. I love the art, somewhat manga-esque, dynamic but without some of the frenetic qualities often found in that style. This story is a bit more adult (but no less fantastic) in tone and content than the Scott Pilgrim series, sure to appeal to older teens and younger adults both. For graphic novel fans, this is a must read.

For similar reads, I would suggest The Shoplifter by Michael Cho or Solanin by Inio Asano.

CHW

No Country For Old Men

No Country For Old Men
By Cormac McCarthy
New York: Knoff, 2005. 309 pp. Fiction

While out hunting along the Texas-Mexican border, Llewellyn Moss stumbles upon mysterious crime scene, with a number of men dead or dying and pickup trucks riddled with bullets. After examining the results of this shootout, he discovers a large cache of heroin and a satchel containing millions in cash. He quickly grabs the money and flees the scene. Unbeknownst to him, this will set in motion a relentless and ruthless manhunt, with two men tasked by the competing groups behind the apparent drug deal gone bad to track down the man who stole the money and a county sheriff struggling to keep Moss alive and protect his community.

After years of having Cormac McCarthy on my mental TBR list and hearing so many rave reviews, I finally picked up a copy of this book after one of my colleagues said it was one of her all time favorites. I really quite enjoyed this book. It is possibly the most masculine novel I have ever read. While it is set in contemporary Texas, it has the feel of a western, populated with men of few words and much action. Each of the characters are driven to act according to his particular notions of how men are and/or should be. Once set upon a path he doggedly treads it even unto death, with little or no hesitation, circumspection or consideration of self-interest let alone the interests of others. The writing is extraordinarily lean and even Spartan, stripped of even some basic elements of punctuation, reflecting the uncomplicated perspectives of the principal characters. This book is a really page turner and thought provoking examination of the male psyche that nicely avoids being a mere agglomeration of trite alpha male clichés.

CHW

Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family

Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family
by Amy Ellis Nut
New York: Random House, 2015. 279 pp. Non-fiction

In 1997, Wayne and Kelly Maines, after several years of struggling to become parents, adopt twin boys from a distant young relative unable to care for them properly. As Wyatt and Jonas grow up, it became rapidly and clearly evident that the two children were very different people. Wyatt, as soon as he was able to speak, made it clear he felt himself to be a girl and became increasingly frustrated in the body assigned to him at birth. Thus began a difficult journey for a family to adapt to this new and surprising reality, struggling not only with their unfamiliarity with the very notion of being transgender but also with the difficulties in getting school administrators, teachers and others to recognize and accept transgender as a real issue and provide the necessary resources and assistance so that people like Nicole can thrive in their communities. The book alternates between Nicole's personal and legal battles and concise summaries of current scientific research explaining how gender and sexuality develop prenatally. This is a very interesting and thought provoking examination of one person's struggle to live according her true self as a transgender girl.

CHW

Our Man in Charleston: Britain's Secret Agent in the Civil War South

Our Man in Charleston: Britain's Secret Agent in the Civil War South
by Christopher Dickey
New York: Crown Publishers, 2015. 388 pp. Non-fiction

Starting in 1852, when Robert Bunch takes up his assignment as British consul in Charleston, South Carolina, and ending ten years later with the American Civil War in its third  year, this is an account of one person's efforts to navigate treacherous diplomatic waters. As one of the more active and able of Britain's representative's in the United States, Bunch struggles to maintain relationships with leading Charlestonians even as he attempts to defend the rights of British subjects, particularly black British sailors who are often jailed to avoid encouraging discord among the slave population. As Bunch provides his political masters in Washington and London information about the political affairs, he provides a good deal of input and analysis regarding the brutal realities of slavery, emphasizing how this inhumane practice runs contrary to both morality and core British interests. As the war progresses he is regarded with suspicion by influential persons in the North and South, each accusing him of bias in favor of the other. I found this to be a very interesting and engaging look at the American Civil War. By looking at the conflict from the perspective of a single British official, the book sheds new light on a war about which much has been written. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in American history. For other similar books, I would suggest Amanda Foreman's A World on Fire or The Cause of all Nations by Don Doyle.

CHW

Elizabeth: Renaissance Prince

Elizabeth: Renaissance Prince
by Lisa Hilton
Boston: Houton, Mifflin, Harcourt, 2015. 384 pp. Biography

Given the staggering number of biographies of Elizabeth I and histories of the Tudor period more generally, one would have thought there was nothing particularly new or interesting to say on this subject. Quite the contrary. Lisa Hilton, instead of the usual cradle to grave chronology of her subject, examines various aspects of her life and the various influences upon it through the lens of the lessons of Machiavelli's The Prince. While she may not have read the book, the author contends that she applied those principles of realpolitik to the challenges she had to face in Renaissance and Reformation Europe. The author presents some fascinating revisionist arguments and historical precedents about the role of women in court life, how women could wield power and royal authority on equal terms with men and how the role of sovereign could transcend normal gender categories (thus the description of Elizabeth as a prince, not a princess). This was a fascinating and enjoyable book. This is a must read for anyone who enjoys historical biographies in general or the Tudor dynasty in particular.

CHW

Illuminae

Illuminae
by Amie Kaufman
Alfred A. Knopf: New York, 2015. 599 pp. Young Adult

Set in the 26th century, a remote planet's colony, illegally established, is destroyed by a rival interplanetary corporate conglomerate, sending refugees to a warship and science vessel sent to assist the colony. Suffering damage from a battle with the starships that attacked the colony, the defending vessels must flee to the nearest stargate to seek assistance. From there, one of the most engaging and creative novels I have read takes off. Avoiding many of the usual science fiction tropes, this book has political intrigue, a possibly insane AI, zombies, and because this is a YA novel, teen romance. The writing style is quite interesting as well, the story largely presented as a series of interview transcripts, email and IM exchanges, log entries and action reports, etc. Those readers who find salty language off putting will be happy to discover that it is redacted throughout the story.

This is the first volume in the Illuminae Files trilogy. I am looking forward to the next volume with considerable anticipation.

CHW

A Darker Shade of Magic

A Darker Shade of Magic
By V.E. Schwab
New York, New York: Tor, 2015. 400 pp. Science Fiction

Kell is a magician, able to travel across parallel worlds, all of which have a city called London. A native of Red London, part of a world that is in balance with the forces of magic, he functions as a royal ambassador, sent on regular missions to realms he calls White London (a cold and colorless world struggling to retain an iron grip on magic) and Grey London (a world without magic with a mad King George III in the final years of his reign). In addition to his official duties, Kell indulges his passion for smuggling and exchanging curiosities to and from his Red London home. After agreeing a mysterious woman's request to carry a package back home, Kell quickly realizes that he has brought more than he bargained for. Travelling across Londons, he runs into and quickly partners with Lila Bard, a roguish young pickpocket with ambition. While not categorized as a YA novel, it reads as such. The story takes off quickly and is a page turner from start to finish. The milieu is clever and while somewhat lacking in detail, is well placed for further development as the series continues.

CHW

S.P.Q.R.: A History of Ancient Rome

S.P.Q.R.: A History of Ancient Rome
By Mary Beard
New York: Liveright Publishing, 215. 606 pp. Non-fiction

Mary Beard, a Cambridge don specializing in classics, presents a fresh and enlightening history of Rome's first thousand years (approximately), starting with its uncertain beginnings as a refuge for vagabonds, runaways slaves,etc. and ending in 212 CE with the Emperor Caracalla decreeing that all freeborn men within the empire are Roman citizens. In this scholarly and somewhat revisionist work, the author reexamines and reevaluates famous persons, battles and political struggles as well as the more prosaic aspects of Roman society and domestic life. While it is a bit more academic in style, lacking the narrative flow one often experiences in popular non-fiction, this book is very interesting and highly readable. I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in ancient history. If you read and enjoyed The Rise of Rome by Anthony Everett or Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra, this would be a good choice as well.

CHW

Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl: A Memoir

Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl: A Memoir
By Carrie Brownstein
New York: Riverhead Books, 2015. 244 pp. Biography


Prior to her appearances in the fantastic comedy series, Portlandia, Carrie Brownstein was known as one of the founding members of the riot grrl/post punk band, Sleater-Kinney. In this book, starting with her childhood and continuing through the course of her music career, she relates her struggles growing up with an anorexic mother and a closeted gay father. Through music, both as a fan and performer, she was able to find a community where she could overcome her anxieties and find a path to self-discovery and self-expression. This was a fun and entertaining read, witty, engaging and heartfelt but never maudlin or narcissistic as celeb biographies can oftentimes be.

CHW

America's Bank: The Epic Struggle to Create the Federal Reserve

America's Bank: The Epic Struggle to Create the Federal Reserve
by Roger Lowenstein
New York: Penguin Press, 2015. 355 pp. Non-fiction.

Anyone who follows economic and financial news recognizes the pivotal role the Federal Reserve plays in our national economy and as a partner with other nations' central banks. This book explains the extraordinarily improbable creation of the Federal Reserve in the face of vociferous opposition to the creation of a central bank, both from within government circles and the public at large. The book is divided into two parts: the first covering the efforts of key players in banking and Congress to formulate a blueprint for a central bank, following the financial panic of 1907, that would be palatable to a country suspicious of the money power; the second part summarizes the legislative battles fought to get the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 passed. The author does a nice job illustrating both the pressures the new industrial economy was placing on a banking system no longer able to cope against a public highly suspicious of centralized power in general and financial power in particular. While the Fed has cemented its role in public affairs, it has been and remains a locus of controversy and conspiracy (see The Creature From Jekyll Island). This is a highly readable examination of a fascinating period of American history.

CHW

Born With Teeth

Born With Teeth
By Kate Mulgrew
New York: Little, Brown and Co., 2015. 306 pp. Biography

Starting with her upbringing as part of a large Irish-American in Iowa and ending with her reunion with the daughter she had been separated from as a young woman, the author relates her story with verve and not a little dramatic flair. This is rather apropos, given that she began her television career on the soap opera, Ryan's Hope. Readers will most likely know her from her portrayal of Captain Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager and her current work in the Netflix series, Orange is the New Black. While she does relate in some detail the challenges and accomplishments of her work, whether on stage or screen, she focuses her attention on her personal life, family, romantic relationships etc. Her struggles with her decision to put up her first child for adoption, her failed marriage, and her rough and tumble childhood are described with real feeling but stopping short of being maudlin. This is to be recommended for anyone who enjoys a good celebrity biography that provides grace and humor in equal measure.

CHW

Mind MGMT, Vol. 1: The Manager

Mind MGMT, Vol 1: The Manager
by Matt Kindt
Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse Books, 2013. 196 pp. Graphic novel

Two years after the mystery of Flight 815, wherein 120 passengers and crew are afflicted with total amnesia mid-flight, a young journalist attempts to track down an alleged 121st passenger who may have been involved. Maru soon finds herself deeply enmeshed in a global conspiracy involving a secret government agency, Mind Management, and a rogue agent determined to destroy it. This is a fantastic read, quick paced, engaging and very much reminiscent of the X-Files with the super secret agents possessing frightening psionic powers. There is even a Smoking Man. The art is deliberately rough and sometimes whimsical but arresting and conveys real drama. This is the first volume in an ongoing series.

CHW

Ancillary Justice

Ancillary Justice
by Ann Leckie
New York: Orbit, 2013. 409 pp. Science Fiction

While I don't read a great deal of science fiction, I feel I can confidently say this is one of the most marvelous examples of this genre available. The world the author constructs is fascinating, full of wonderful details while still tantalizing the reader by addressing certain aspects obliquely. I loved how the author's use of language nicely conveyed the ambiguity of gender identification and only hinting here and there the ethnic and racial aspects of the characters. The central character, Breq, is just brilliant. She had been an artificial intelligence that ran the starship (indeed, was the starship) Justice of Toren as well as controlling an army of cybernetic troops called ancillaries. Imagine HAL combined with a regiment of borg.  As a result of a mystery surrounding a massacre on a recently conquered world, she is reduced to the existence of a single ancillary body. Twenty years later, she stumbles across the unconscious body of an officer that served on Justice of Toren a thousand years previously. Together they seek out the reasons for Breq's fall and for vengeance.

This is the first of a trilogy, continued in Ancillary Sword and Ancillary Mercy.

CHW

The End of All Things

The End of All Things
by John Scalzi
New York, NY: Tom Doherty & Assoc., LLC. 380 pp. Science Fiction

This is the latest in Scalzi's Old Man's War series, picking up right where he left off from the previous volume, The Human Division. This book is a set of four interlocking novellas, each written from a different person's perspective, as he/she/it struggles in a universe rife with all the drama and conflict a good space opera should have. As it does built on previous novels, those do need to be read in order to properly grasp the ongoing plot developments in this, the Old Man universe. John Scalzi continues to deliver fun and clever books, built upon a wonderfully constructed space opera milieu. As I have read each volume, I have been impressed by the fact that many different characters are developed instead of having every book told from the perspective of a single person, with all others being part of the background or restricted to minor roles. Given that the author has apparently agreed to produce a baker's dozen additional books over the next decade, I daresay we can look forward to more additions to this remarkable series.

CHW

The Affinities

The Affinities
by Robert Charles Wilson
Tor, New York, 2015. 300 pp. Fiction

In dire financial straits and facing the prospect of having to return to his backwater home town and much estranged family, Adam Fisk decides to take a battery of psychological tests to determine if he qualifies to join a revolutionary set of social groups called Affinities. He soon finds himself a member of the Tau Affinity, one of the largest of the twenty two cliques, and soon finds himself prospering due to this new network of like-minded people. As the various Affinities grow in size and influence, their financial and political clout threaten to destabilize states and societies. The plot takes off quickly and the story is a true page turner throughout. The author nicely plays with the themes of identity, the evolving nature of relationships and how social media and technology allow for increasingly specialized social groups to emerge.

CHW

Weapons of Mass Diplomacy

Weapons of Mass Diplomacy
By Abel Lanzac
London:SelfMadeHero, 2014. Graphic Novel

Arthur Vlaminck is coaxed away from academia to join the staff of the French Foreign Minister, Alexandre Taillard de Worms, as a speech writer. In his new job, Arthur struggles to find his place and his voice in a highly politicized office dominated by the big egos and vindictive co-workers, even as crises erupt around the world. The greatest of these are in the Middle East, where the United States is gearing up for a new war.

In this fascinating graphic novel, Diplomat Antonin Baudry(writing as Abel Lanzac), gives a fictionalized account of his time as an adviser to the French Foreign Minister, during the build up to the Iraq War. Revealing the inner workings of government, the absurdities of Arthur Vlaminck's attempts to craft clear statements of French foreign policy, in spite of the ever shifting demands from his boss and the backbiting of his co-workers, are both hilarious and insightful. The satirical aspects are reminiscent of shows like Alpha House, films such as In the Loop or the Doonesbury comic strip.

CHW

The Strangler Vine

The Stranger Vine
By M.J. Carter
G.P. Putnam's Sons. 2015. Fiction

After a famous and controversial poet disappears in the heart of India, two men are sent to locate him: William Avery, a callow junior officer, and Jeremiah Blake, a disgraced former officer of the East India Company scorned for having gone native. So begins a tale of intrigue and mystery, containing elements of Kipling and Conan Doyle, as the two make their way across subcontinent ruled by the British East India Company that little understands the millions of native peoples under their dominion. This is a real page turner, and a story rich in the historical details of the region, full of beauty and squalor in equal measures. This would make a good summer read selection for anyone who enjoys novels with a good blend of historical fact and fiction.

CHW

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
Warner Books, 1988. 296 pp. Fiction

This is one of those classic novels I somehow missed all through my school years. As did millions before me, I enjoyed this book quite a lot. Scout is one of the best literary protagonists ever conceived. Her precocious drive to comprehend her small town existence while struggling with the often baffling and frustrating demands of adults was wonderfully portrayed by the author. The dynamics of her relationships with her brother Jem and her father were particularly interesting. While there is a good bit of sibling tension, Jem never really questions Scout's tomboy nature. Their relationship with their father was fascinating as well, deferential and yet oddly familiar, referring him as Atticus rather than Dad, Father, etc. Her portrayal of small town life is wonderfully complex, acknowledging both the close sense of community while still recognizing the tendency toward insularity and narrow minded provincialism. While this is often required reading for high school or college students, this is definitely a book that should be revisited by adult readers as well.

CHW