The Bookman

The first book I picked up from the Angry Robot Series was to fulfill my current craving for steam punk based literature.

Bookman is an alternate history book about Victorian England, or what should have been vistorian England and is instead a England ruled by Alien Lizard men and terrorised destructive shadowy anarchists who utilise clone like automations to deliver their destructive message. Mix with this Airships, Jueles Verne and a dose of Sherlock Holmes. A mysterious island and pirate Lizards.

The book is fast paced and entertaining, though the plot is thick and obvious in places. Its an enjoyable read but either the Author gave too much and did not know when to stop or it was intended and should have been a small series of smaller books or comics.

Either way you won't be sorry to read it, i personally just found the end drawn out.

Any way Ill let it free at the garden cafe in the coming weeks, so pay attention.

Angry Robot

I mentioned before my want to review books as part of this ongoing theme of stories and bookcrossing.

Speaking to a fellow reader in one of the high street book stores we were discussing how it seems a range of novolas or shorter books more like fast paced easy to read scifi and fantasy are being used to fill the gap between the growing ranks of epic multi novel sets about.

I then found the range of books Angry Robot Books oddly each book is presented as a stand alone entry although some have sequels, the books are tagged almost in a social manner. E.G. Steampunk,airships, lizardmen, alternate history

So far I have read a handful and they are in some cases genius and in others entertaining but always rather refreshing and alternative. As with any series of book sand range of authors some are better than others. But all are worth a look.

Book Cossing - a new release

I mentioned book crossing in my last post, so enjoying the idea I followed up on it. A few articles ago i reviewed Space Captain Smith, and this in mind I set it free http://www.bookcrossing.com/518-7804825 .

As I write this The book as a new owner, I placed it on th shelf an sat with a coffee, a few moments later it was picked up and gone. It has to be said looking at the other books it was not a hard choice. It sat out prodly between P.D.James and Ruth Rendell.

Now the book gets its own story, I'd like to think the person who chose it will do the book crossing thing, but even not it will have a tale to tell.
It as peaked my interest I passed a few words with him as he looked at the book, to me he sounded as though form the southern hemisphere, fearing to insult I will not choose between NZ or OZ for his land of origin. I'd like to think he may be passing through maybe the book will travel, or maybe he is here for a year and the book will travel only as far as the next hostel... Who knows.

I will continue in this way, a book review, a release. the releases will be at the Kitchen Garden Cafe, Birmingham  in the main.