Ever since I saw this book, and saw the beautiful pictures in it, I just had to have it. I couldn’t find it anywhere during our trip to England last year, so when I was ordering some books online I just had to include this book. Just looking at it is great. A gorgeous hardcover, red under the dust cover, filled with gorgeous page-filling old black-and-white photographs that are just a bit eerie. All it is missing is a reading ribbon.
It is the story of Jacob. He loves his grandfather, Abe, who tells amazing stories about the orphanage in Wales where he lived in his youth, just before World War II. He shows Jacob photographs of the amazing children he lived with, children who are peculiar. A girl that floats. An invisible boy. A strong girl. And many more. Jacob enjoys the stories until he grows too old to believe them. But when his grandfather suddenly dies, and Jacob is dealing with the loss, Jacob goes to Wales to find out the truth about his grandfather’s past. And his life, and how he sees the world, is never the same again.
Like the previous books I just read, this book is written as a part one of a series, and it shows. It introduces us to this version of earth where peculiar children live. There is a big adventure, but it ends on a cliffhanger. But, all in all, that is the only downside to this wonderful book. The characters, especially the children, are great and magical. The world created is (at least to me) original to me. I cannot wait for the next part, and I hope it will be as beautiful as this one. Four out of five stars.

Another classic (yet not very old) science fiction story, pretty fast paced and full of speculative science about space travel.
John Perry is 75 years old. His wife has died, and he does what many 75-year-olds do in the USA in the future; he sign up for the army. No regular army though, the Colonial Defense Forces, those forces that protect the human colonists out in space, who only take senior-citizens as recruits. Nobody knows what happens when they leave, all they know is that they are dead to earth, and they assume that their bodies will be fixed up, otherwise, why would take on old people with all their pains and aches? When John arrives in space he finds out what they really do, and what he really signed up for.
The story moves pretty fast, covering some essential scenes told by John Perry himself. Through his stories we learn about the earth as it is in the future. About human colonization in space. About medical and technical advances. About aliens, and about future warfare. It never goes really in depth, and maybe some parts could have been longer, but it is a really fun read, very nice science fiction. Four out of five stars.

This is one of those books that I have seen recommended by employees at some of the book stores I often go to. In my resolution for 2012 to start more good series, this is one, part one of the The First Law series by Joe Abercrombie.
It is the story of Logen, fighter from the North. Of Bayaz, First of the Magi. Of Jezal, lazy nobleman. Of Glokta, tortured torturer for the inquisition. All live in a world where the Union is under threat of war from the North and South, and under threat of corruption and laziness from inside the country itself. The land has known magic, but that was a long time ago, and few people believe that the stories about the First of the Magi and the Maker are more than myths. The story follows the different characters chapter by chapter, watching them all come together in the end.
The story reminded me a lot of A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, because of the different characters that are being followed, the political intrigue, the thread of supernatural beings, the violence… The book was clearly a part one, setting up the characters, gathering the group (I want to say fellowship here, although I am not sure about this group’s goal). When the book ends, the story continues. It is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does make me wish I already had book two on my shelves to read next. Anyway, another great fantasy story without too many fantasy (some magic, no dragons or elves) and intrigue. Four out of five stars.

After loving Dune I couldn’t help myself and I went right to the second part in the Dune series, Dune Messiah. It’s twelve years after the ending of Dune. The jihad of the Fremen is raging through the universe, leaving billions death and the Guild and Bene Gesserit are noticeably less influential than they used to be. I can’t say much more about the plot without spoiling the first book, but the main issue is a plot to kill Paul and return the Guild and the Bene Gesserit to their former greatness.
This book is so much more philosophical than the last one, which makes me think that I may need to read this again in a couple of years. It is a great continuation of the previous story, expanding the story and the universe. A great sequel, four out of five stars.

This is one of the books from my father’s collection. I have had it on my shelves a couple of years now, but now, with my new reading resolution to read more award winners, I had to read it. The book was originally published in 1965, my edition is the Dutch translation from 1978.
The story is that of the Atreides family, a noble family living in the galaxy. It is 20.000 years in the future, and while mankind lives among the stars on strange planets, the society is strangely backwards. Computers and robots have been outlawed, instead the society has mentats, humans trained as computer replacements, The Guild takes care of mathematics, and the order of the Bene Gesserit who try to control the mankind by long (loooong) term breeding projects. The galaxy is ruled by an emperor, has many noble families, a guild and the landsraad all influencing politics and daily life. Anyway, the Atreides are lured in a trap by the Harkonnen family and given the planet Dune or Arrakis to rule. From Arrakis comes the spice/melange, essential for life everywhere, very expensive, hard to get and addictive. The Atreides try to survive the trap. Meanwhile, several prophecies and plans come to head with Paul Atreides, the son of the Duke, who turns out to be a lot more special and powerful than everybody thought.
When reading Dune I kept being reminded of the science fiction of Iain M. Banks. The book isn’t science fiction in the sense of technology. Yeah the people travel through space, but have no robots, computers, technology, longevity etc. Daily life itself is very backward, with nobles and an emperor and without democracy or equality. Banks has some books like that, more focussed on the story and how it comes together than trying to impress the readers with what he thinks of the future. Dune hardly shows its age (excluding robots and computers was a smart move) and is a very good story still. Five out of five stars.