Reading Journal
 | The Runabout by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Finished on Jul 4, 2024 Science Fiction. Copyright 2017, 190 pages. Book 6 in the Diving Universe. This story follows the events taking place in the normal timeline related to "The Falls". A fascinating return to the dangers of diving wrecks in the Boneyard. 4/5 stars. |
 | The Falls by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Finished on Jul 2, 2024 Science Fiction. Copyright 2016, 392 pages. Book 5 in the Diving Universe. A very engrossing murder mystery that takes place in and near a Fleet Sector base. The characters and events are outside of the normal plot, but related to the following two books. Love this one! 5/5 stars. |
 | House Of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski Finished on Jun 23, 2025 Horror. Copyright 2000, 709 pages. A layered, annotated manuscript documenting a mysterious movie no one seems to remember about a hallway to nowhere found by new homeowners in their Virginia house. An interesting reading experience told with chaotic typography and endless footnotes. 3/5 stars. |
 | Empery by Michael P. Kube-McDowell Finished on Jun 15, 2025 Science Fiction. Copyright 1987, 325 pages. Last book in "The Trigon Disunity" series. The final confrontation (on paper) between humanity and the Mizari... but not how I thought it would go. I was bored until page 200, then it got mildly interesting. So much talking and meetings in this series. I can only recommend the second book which can actually stand alone. 2/5 stars. |
 | Use Of Weapons by Iain M. Banks Finished on Jun 8, 2025 Science Fiction. Copyright 1990, 441 pages. Part of the "Culture" books. The story of an operative of the Culture specializing in soldiering and mayhem. I didn't really like the character but he was very interesting. The writer interspersed the main plot with chapters of back story running in reverse chronology. Very curious! I wonder if the surprise reveal at the end makes the book itself a weapon wielded with effect against the reader. 4/5 stars. |
 | Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King Finished on Jun 3, 2025 Fantasy. Copyright 2003, 714 pages. Book #5 of The Dark Tower series. Continuing the journey of Roland's Ka-tet toward the Dark Tower with a stop in Calla Bryn Sturgis to aid a community about to be attacked by mysterious Wolves. A discovery there allows a series of side voyages back to New York City. Overall a very engrossing series of events, yet a new character and the ending left me worried for the direction of the series. 3/5 stars. |
 | The Conjurer by Luanne G. Smith Finished on May 15, 2025 Fantasy. Copyright 2021, 241 pages. The finale of The Vine Witch series. After focusing on Yvette in book two, this volume illuminates the story of Sidra, the jin murderess. It also concludes the events that started in a magical prison in book one. An entertaining story and exploration of the different types of magic in this world. 3/5 stars. |
 | Murasaki by Frederik Pohl, Poul Anderson, Greg Bear, David Brin, Nancy Kress, and Gregory Benford Finished on May 15, 2025 Science Fiction. Copyright 1992, 290 pages. An experimental novel by six science fiction authors to create and write stories in a shared world. This is a very curious idea and results in an interesting story about human exploration of a double world with multiple alien indigenous species. 3/5 stars. |
 | The Wild Shore by Kim Stanley Robinson Finished on May 10, 2025 Science Fiction. Copyright 1984, 371 pages. Book #1 of the Three Californias Triptych. A look into the lives of Americans living a simple life in a seaside valley on the Pacific Shore some 75 years after the sudden, explosive end to American civilization. The first published novel by the author. A compelling, yet depressing dystopian story (or is it ultimately utopian?). 3/5 stars. |
 | Symbiote by Michael Nayak Finished on Apr 25, 2025 Science Fiction, Horror. Copyright 2025, 425 pages. The start of a new series about a bioweapon unleashed on a Chinese station in Antartica that spills over to the American South Pole base. A combination of "The Thing" and "Last Of Us" in which an ancient extremophile is released on the surface as an evil experiment without considering that the organism may have its own agenda. Also a fantastic look at life in the utter isolation of the south polar cap. 4/5 stars. |
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