The Mammoth Book of SF Wars

The Mammoth Book of SF Wars  edited by Ian Watson and Ian Whates is an anthology of military science fiction, from new and not so new authors.

Surprising thing about this anthology is the range of stories, the military aspects is present throughout the stories but it is not all big armies fighting other armies, but a lot about about the impact war has on the participants.

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The Last Watch

The Last Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko is the sequel to the brilliant Night Watch Trilogy and that is really what is being reviewed here.

A confession, I am not a fan of Dark Fantasy- vampires, etc, leave me cold (no pun intended) but the Night Watch Trilogy is something different and when this book came I was pleased. The books are set now but there is a battle going on between forces of light and dark, starting in Moscow. The interesting point for me in the books is that these forces are essentially a difference of philosophy about how power can be used acceptably. The books are inventive and refreshing in there spin on Good and Evil; and the scarily neutral officials of the Twilight Watch who the overseers who maintain the balance. The Night Watch are the forces of Light who prosecute the forces of the Dark for infringements of the mutually agree code of conducts for each side; the Day Watch is the dark forces equivalent.

If you are looking for a good read, these are worth reading but start with the Night Watch. Do they appeal to Twilight Fans?... I don't know, but they are worth a try.


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Great North Run

Great North Run by Peter F Hamilton is another great read from one the band of great 'newer' British sci-fi authors we are lucky to have at the moment. The story is set 130 years in the future in Newcastle, UK and off-world; transport gates exist for instant travel and the economy is effected by reliance on fuel. Initially the book revolves around a murder, and evolves into a story about the effect human society going out to the stars.

Ok, sounds like quite a few other books? Yes and no, the effect of human venturing out into the stars is not new, that is standard stuff, but the book has various levels to it .

The personal level of the detective leading on the murder investigation who is pragmatically dealing with conflicts of interests between doing his job and his 'patron' from an interstellar corporation lead by a group of clones of there founder (one of who is murdered). A woman who is accused twenty years of a similar murder, but has a complex past. The corporation and its family dynamics. Who or what is killing the members of this family. Eventually leading up to some morality issues about settling a new planet and what sentience is.

Hamilton has produce a relatively long book, don't let this put you off, the pacing is fast, the multiple strands of the story running parallel, with flashbacks at appropriate points keeps you engaged and the story itself is good. Flashbacks in some books can be annoying but I was surprised that when I want to know a bit more backstory it came along quite soon after (perhaps I easily pleased!). Characters in the book are people you feel for, and their actions are understandable.

Another good book and if you have read some of his other books then I think you will like this.

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Ack-Ack Macaque

Ack-Ack Macaque by Gareth L Powell is a story you can't put down. Part adventure story, part alternative history with a dash of sci-fi. The original short story was in Interzone magazine in September 2007, and was voted the most popular story of the year (I agree with that).

This though is not an extended version of the short story but a full-length story in it's own right, with the cigar-chomping, talking, fighter-pilot monkey fighting the 'bad guys' in both the virtual and real world. A world where Britain and France are a Commonwealth, with fascist forces who want to 'improve humanity' as well a talking monkey.

This is not a deep, very philosophic book, it is what it sounds like it is - a good adventure with sci-fi elements and a good enjoyable read. The book (definitely on the Kindle version) also includes the original story as well as a bonus.

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Pathfinders

Pathfinders - The Golden Age of Arabic Science by Jim Al-Khalili as the title suggests is mainly a book about the misconception that the 'Dark Ages' produced little scientific advancement may be partly true for european science but possibly not by science in the Near- and Middle East.

Early parts of the book have quite a bit about his personal connection to this topic coming from Iraq originally- possibly a little too much of it; but it does help to make the book more accessible. The contributions of various scholars during this Golden period are highlighted, suggesting that directly or indirectly, scientists during and since the European Renaissance were heavily influence by the works of earlier Islamic scholars (as well as Greek and Indian).

The book ends with some discussion about why there has been a decline from this golden age in the science output in Islamic countries and some suggest some reasons. The book ends positively about the future in these countries and with some issues for the western countries to consider though about religions dictating scientific research. Science as a gradual process, that builds on the work of others comes through as a strong theme.

It is a good read, with some interesting insights. Another book (and accompany video) that I would highly recommend is 1001 Inventions (see links below) - I liked it so much I bought a friend a copy and lent my copy of the Pathfinders book.


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