Welcome to Cybermage and this monthly retrospective.

It started with a happy new year and it still is.

Reading wise Ernest Cline‘s debut novel Ready Player One is Best read. All that gaming and 80′s nostalgia was fun. One of the greatest books of 2011 no doubt.  Of this years books I have to say Boneyards is the best read so far. I was a bit disappointing we didn’t get to explore the the mystic field of space ships they found but now I have something to look forward to in the next.

On the surprise side Mecha Corps was way better than expected. Fun military action. I am looking forward to the sequels.

I am happy with all my reading this month to be honest. League of Peoples and Legion of the Damned are series worth reading.

Television-wise  it is a new year too and I have had a look at the pilots. Not too shabby. Still not much space based science fiction, which is a downer. I would love to see the Adjustment Bureau as a serie. At the same time I am afraid Syfy might mess it up. There is also Beautiful People a pilot about a near future society where androids start to become self aware. We have a surprisingly good Swedish series called Äkta Männsikor [eng. True Humans] (SVT) with a very similar story (our androids are branded Hubots btw). But none of the pilots will be out this winter.

The Winter season so far… Chuck, Oh my god. Has left us. Not everyone liked the ending but I did. Too few series get the chance to have a planned exit like Chuck. Kudos to NBC for giving it. My other favorite series Fringe is up in the ratings but still in the danger zone. Newcomer Alcatraz looks promising as does Touch. Non genre comedy series Rob has also caught my fancy. The later maybe because he is a short guy with a tall beautiful wife like I.

/Ove

ps thanks for the 153.000 visits in January ds

Books Read

Click the covers for a larger image and linked titles for reviews.

1. Giant Thief by David Tallerman (Angry robot 2011)
2. Illegal Alien by Robert J. Sawyer (ACE 2012, 1st 1997)
3. By Force of Arms (Legion of the Damned 4) by William C. Dietz (Audible Frontier 2010, 1st 2000)
4. Expendable (League of Peoples 1) by James Alan Gardner (Harper Collins 2009, 1st 1997)
5. Vigilant (League of Peoples 2) by James Alan Gardner (Harper Collins 2007, 1st 1999)
6. Mecha Corps (Armor wars 1) by Brett Patton (Roc 2012)
7. Hunted (League of Peoples 3) by James Alan Gardner (Harper Collins 2009, 1st 2000)
8. Ascending (League of Peoples 4) by James Alan Gardner (Harper Collins 2009, 1st 2001)
9. Radiant (League of Peoples 5) by James Alan Gardner (Harper Collins 2009, 1st 2005)
10. For More Than Glory (Legion of the Damned 5) by William C. Dietz (Audible Frontier 2010, 1st 2003)
11. For Those Who Fell (Legion of the Damned 6) by William C. Dietz (Audible Frontier 2010, 1st 2004)
12. When All Seems Lost (Legion of the Damned 7) by William C. Dietz (Audible Frontier 2010, 1st 2007)
13. When Duty Calls (Legion of the Damned 8) by William C. Dietz (Audible Frontier 2010, 1st 2008)
14. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (Century 2011)
15. Boneyards (Diving 3) by Kristine Katheryn Rush (Pyr) - uk us
16. A Fighting Chance (Legion of the Damned 9) by William C. Dietz (Audible Frontier 2011, 1st 2011)
17. Ganymede (Clockwork Century 4) by Cherie Priest (Tor 2011)

Please see my to be read list and request reviews

Books Received

Click the covers for a larger image

Review copies

1. Autogenesis by David Sikter (Wela Förlag 2012)

Books bought by me

1.  Illegal Alien by Robert J. Sawyer (ACE 2012, 1st 1997)
2. For More Than Glory (Legion of the Damned 5) by William C. Dietz (Audible Frontiers 2010, 1st 2003)
3. Mecha Corps (Armor wars 1) by Brett Patton (Roc 2012)
4. For Those Who Fell (Legion of the Damned 6) by William C. Dietz (Audible Frontier 2010, 1st 2004)
5. When All Seems Lost (Legion of the Damned 7) by William C. Dietz (Audible Frontier 2010, 1st 2007)
6. When Duty Calls (Legion of the Damned 8) by William C. Dietz (Audible Frontier 2010, 1st 2008)
7. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (Century 2011)
8. Faith by Peter Love (Night Shade 2012)
9. A Fighting Chance (Legion of the Damned 9) by William C. Dietz (Audible Frontier 2011, 1st 2011)
10. Boneyards (Diving 3) by Kristine Katheryn Rush (Pyr) - uk us
11. Transmission (Ragnarok book 2) by John Meaney (Gollancz) - uk
12. Blue Remembered Earth (Poseidon’s Children Book 1) by Alastair Reynolds (Gollancz) - uk us
13. In the Lion’s Mouth (January Dancer 3) by Michael Flynn (Tor) – uk us
14. Count to a Trillion (Book 1) by John C. Wright (Tor) - uk us

Welcome to Cybermage and this look at September.

September is a hectic month with all the Fall season premieres and returning shows. That’s my excuse for not reading more and I stand by it. I read eight great books and REAMDE was the best book, easily Neal Stephenson‘s most approachable book for none genre fans. The Recollection was best science fiction with a lot of great ideas. I think I need to make an honorary mention of Armor by John Steakley too, a wonderful military science fiction that deserve to be read more.

New Shows

Person of Interest got a good start. Finch and Reese has interesting dynamics. Two believed to be dead guys fighting crime that is about to happen. Their first case is Anna ‘Handsome’ a district attorney. Surprising twists and a good cast. I like it so far.

A Gifted Man is kind of a genre show too. Mike lives to be a surgeon. One day he has dinner with his former wife. The day after he learns she has been dead for a fortnight. Not so much genre as human interest and drama but I want to watch a few more episodes.

I hold my opinion on Secret Circle for now.

Terra Nova‘s premiere was better than expected. I like where it is going with the mysterious scripts and the conflict with the sixes who are a mystery in themselves. It also has the usual family drama but I like the chemistry of the characters. So just because I liked it is probably going to be cancelled. I am not bitter just experienced.

Some new non-genre shows also premiered and I did watch some of them too. Prime Suspects got a spunky female detective you should check out. The boys club there was a great angle but it felt more British than American. Another female lead to check out is Carrie Wells in Unforgettable. Revenge however is more on the dark side with a female bent on revenge. Cute girls and sinister plans. Was that murder we saw in the beginning the end of the season? I hate knowing things like that. Charlies Angels première was a bit shocking but sexy girls doesn’t make a show, sexy girls, cars and guns though… I expected more humor and banter but that could be the old show talking. Comedy wise I liked Two Broke Girls and New Girl not so much which seems to be the opposite to the general opinion. One episode doesn’t make a show though, a new show deserves at least three episodes.

Returning shows

Lost Girl premiered the first Sunday with an excellent but a bit sad episode. Derek is back sans passion. The carnival people were creepy and Kenzi was hilarious. There is an added tension with this new crooked leader of the light Fae and I am just about to watch yesterdays episode. The lovers conundrum between Bo and Dyson reminds me of Buffy and Dark Angel. I am so looking forward to the rest of the season.

Fringe, my Fringe popped season four with the two Olivias discussing trust. Seems like there is very little of that going on between the two universes and what looked like a doppelganger attack doesn’t help either. The observers want to keep Peter’s disappearance hidden for reasons unknown while the cast keep missing something ore someone wherever they go. The “I need to check her anus” comment from Walter just cracked me up, especially by Astrid’s deadpan reaction.  The new enemies are cool and Peter is definitely around there somewhere. This is a season I am really looking forward to.

Supernatural continues where last season left off. Dean is fixing the car and Sam is fighting the memories from hell while Castiel visits his new flock. The news about god in a raincoat looking sexy is so typical of this show. This season is supposed to be a return to the road movie of the past but so far it has taken a different path than I expected. I did not expect that ending but the on the run Butch and Sundance talks makes sense now.

The wonderful Nathan Fillion returned with Castle. The murder of Becket’s father case grows into a full conspiracy and Castle would do anything to protect Kate even lie to her and she has already been shot once because of it. Nothing stops him from investigating on his own though. Looks like another great season. I know it is not genre but it is Nathan Fillion, which is enough.

The Big Bang Theory returned with the usual fun. I so understand why it was renewed for next year too. That is one of my favorite shows. Two and a Half Men came back without Charlie and the first episode was hilarious.

Finales

True Blood‘s finale Sunday the 12th closed a lot of this season’s plots and laid up for the next. Poor Lafayette but at least the witch is dead. Debbie Pelt survived longer than in the books wonder if the investigation and persecution will go along the same ways as the books though? Do Sookie leaving Bill and Eric leave a spot for Alcid? It didn’t look that way, maybe there is another were for Sookie? I remember a Tiger from the books. Russel is out of the foundation and the vampires are on the verge on civil war. Time for a peace conference? I don’t know. Next season could go many ways It might even be a fae war.

Another genre show bites the dust. ABC Family’s Nine Lives of Chloe King was canceled this month with hints that they would be remaking Beauty & The Beast instead. If you have not seen Nine Lives yet I advice strongly against it. The finale leaves a horrible cliffhanger you will never see the resolution of.

Next month has quite a few genre premieres Merlin, American Horror Story, Sanctuary, The Walking Dead, Once Upon A Time, Grimm and Chuck. It will be a sweet sorrow watching the final season of Chuck.

You can read about Haven and Doctor Who’s finales here

Books Read

Click the covers for a larger image and linked titles for reviews.
   
   

1. Rogue (A Freehold novel) by Michael Z. Williamson  (Baen)
   
2. Armor by John Steakley (Blackstone Audio 2009, 1st 1984)
   
3. War in Heaven (Veteran book 2) by Gavin G. Smith (Gollancz 2011)
4. How Firm A Foundation (Safehold 5) by David Weber (Tor)
5. Reamde by Neal Stephenson (William Morrow 2011)
6. The Departure (Owner Trilogy 1) by Neal Asher (Tor UK)
7. The Recollection by Gareth L. Powell (Solaris 2011)
8. The End Specialist by Drew Magary (Harper Voyager 2011) – review copy

Please see my to be read list and request reviews

Reviews of Earlier Reads

Click the covers for a larger image and the titles for reviews.

1. Debris (The Veiled Worlds 1) by Jo Anderton (Angry Robot) – review copy
2. The Highest Frontier (The Frontera Cycle 1) by Joan Slonczewski (Tor)  - review copy
3. Finders Keepers by Russ Colchamiro (3 Finger Prints 2010)

Please see my list of books pending review and request reviews

Books Received

Click the covers for a larger image

Review copies

1. Zone One by Colson Whitehead (Vintage Publishing) – review copy
   

Books bought by me

1. Rogue (A Freehold novel) by Michael Z. Williamson  (Baen)
   
2. Armor by John Steakley (Blackstone Audio 2009, 1st 1984)
   
3. War in Heaven (Veteran book 2) by Gavin G. Smith (Gollancz)
   
4. How Firm A Foundation (Safehold 5) by David Weber (Tor)
   
5. Stark’s War (Stark’s War 1) by Jack Campbell (Titan Books 2011, 1st 2000)
6. Stark’s Crusade (Stark’s War 3) by Jack Campbell (Titan Books 2011, 1st 2002)
7. Stark’s Command (Stark’s War 2) by Jack Campbell (Titan Books 2011, 1st 2001)
   
8. The Departure (Owner Trilogy 1) by Neal Asher (Tor UK)
   
9. Reamde by Neal Stephenson (William Morrow 2011)
   
10. The Recollection by Gareth L. Powell (Solaris 2011)