Reamde is a technothriller … published in 2011.

The story, set in the present day, centers on the plight of a hostage and the ensuing efforts of family and new acquaintances, many of them associated with a fictional MMORPG, to rescue her as her various captors drag her about the globe. Topics covered range from online activities including gold farming and social networking to the criminal methods of the Russian mafia and Islamic terrorists.

Stephenson is the darling author of geeks. His 1992 novel Snow Crash often cited as one of the best books of all time.

Snow Crash was ground breaking. But still over-rated in my opinion.

Stephenson is too smart. His plots too complex. Too many characters. Too many dead-end side plots.

The title of this book – Reamde – is a good example. Almost brilliant. But ultimately too cute. Stephenson tries too hard to be quirky, original and unpredictable.

I have similar complaints with Seveneves (2015).

Wanting to be cool, I wish I loved Neal Stephenson. But I don’t.

Red Rising is a 2014 science fiction novel by American author Pierce Brown, the first of his Red Rising trilogy. I did enjoy it..

The critically acclaimed sequel, Golden Son, was released in January 2015.

Sadly it was not nearly as engaging to me as the first book.

The hero in a dystopian future is trying to bring down  a genetically-engineered elite is ruling the universe. A good premise.

But the story wandered. Rambled. I found the plot illogical at times.

The writing is not sophisticated. It seems targeted to teenage boys.

The third novel, Morning Star, was released in February 2016. I’ll skip it.

Best Served Cold is Joe Abercrombie‘s fourth novel …

It is the first stand-alone novel set in the First Law world. …

War may be hell but for Monza Murcatto, the Snake of Talins, the most feared and famous mercenary in Duke Orso’s employ, it’s a damn good way of making money too. Her victories have made her popular – a shade too popular for her employer’s taste. Betrayed, thrown down a mountain and left for dead, Murcatto’s reward is a broken body and a burning hunger for vengeance. Whatever the cost, seven men must die. …

Wikia

The most interesting and entertaining character is Nicomo Cosca , the mercenary from the First Law trilogy. Drunk, eloquent, funny.

Lengthy fantasy fiction series like Game of Thrones are good for me as I spend a lot of time listening to audio. But they are loose, scattered and – very often – have no real conclusion. I suspect George RR Martin doesn’t know how to wrap things up.

By comparison this stand alone novel does have a tight plot. It kept me guessing and surprised right up until the final pages.

I’ll definitely continue to the last 2 books in this series.

I finished the The First Law  series by British author Joe Abercrombie. Now started the first of a series of stand-alone novels set in the same world.

• 1. The Blade Itself (2006)
• 2. Before They Are Hanged  (2007)
• 3. Last Argument of Kings  (2008)

If dislike blood, guts and battle scenes, you won’t like this series.

Sand dan Glokta is a compelling character. A champion swordsman turned torturer in the Inquisition. Who – by the end of book 3 – is running the The Union itself.

Book 1 begins with Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian warrior of the North, falling off a cliff into a river. Book 3 ends with the Bloody Nine jumping out of a window. Into water.

Aside from that nice touch, book 3 is the weakest. As so often happens in lengthy fantasy fiction, the author has problems wrapping things up in a satisfactory way.

Still … I’ve started book 4. It’s got me hooked.

The author has finally begun a new work, by the way.  The Shattered Sea series for young adults.

 

The First Law is a fantasy series written by British author Joe Abercrombie. It consists of a trilogy and three stand-alone novels set in the same world. …

• 1. The Blade Itself (2006)
• 2. Before They Are Hanged  (2007)
• 3. Last Argument of Kings  (2008)

Sand dan Glokta is a fascinating character. A champion swordsman turned torturer in the Inquisition.

Highly recommended.

Review: The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

I’d heard good things about this book. And did find it very well written. Very insightful.

Book 1 of a series.

Amazon

The Neapolitan Novels … a 4-part series by the Italian novelist Elena Ferrante, translated by Ann Goldstein …

… the lives of two perceptive and intelligent girls, Elena (sometimes called “Lenù”) Greco and Raffaella (“Lila”) Cerullo, from childhood to adulthood as they try to create lives for themselves amidst the violent and stultifying culture of their home– a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples, Italy. The novels are narrated by Elena Greco. …