Still Reading

Well I’m 2/5s of the way through Vellum by Hal Duncan and almost 1/2 way through Debatable Space by Philip Palmer. And taking a leaf out of Tia’s book I thought while you wait for a review I’ll give a progress report.

Both are very different books but I’m enjoying both so far. Out of the two Vellum is a more challenging read as it builds up through a retelling, recounting and reinterpreting of myth and fable mixed with reality. Though it’s not as confusing as you think when you first start reading it. I think I’ve just hit the bit where the story really takes off now that all the pieces are in place, though I do expect a few surprises yet.

Debatable Space is turning into a quite a deep and delightful space opera. A motly crew of space pirates have kidnapped Lena in the hope of ransoming her to the Cheo, the leader of the known universe. But Lena isn’t all she seems. Palmer is doing a great job of using back story and changing views to make all the characters rounded.

Of the two Debatable Space is a faster read as there is slightly less thinking involved but it’s unfair to compare them too much as they are completely different in both style and substance.

New books have arrived by various means this week, namely from the shelves of my local supermarket and from the amazingly wonderful ReadItSwapIt. So at some point in the future I hope to be reading:

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. I love Gaiman’s imagination and enjoyed American Gods when I read that. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does on home turf.

Speaking of great imaginations I picked up Garth Nix’s Across the Wall which collections together a novella set in the Old Kingdom along with other short stories. It’ll have to do as I hope for a full novel.

Iain M. Banks is back next month with a new novel called Matter set in Culture. But I’m a little wary of trying get into Banks through a late series novel. I didn’t really get into the first Culture novel. But I’m sure he’s improved since then. So I’m going to try the highly praised The Algebraist.

Speaking of authors I read ages ago I’ve been wanting to read another by Peter James and seeing as I’m also craving a little crime Dead Simple seems like a good place.

Finally, and along the lines of craving. I’m missing Top Gear (a show about cars) though it might be more I’m missing the political incorrectness that is Jeremy Clarkson. So I grabbed a copy of The World According to Clarkson, his second collection of columns from The Times.

That’s more than enough to be getting on with I think.