Tag Archives: Sci-Fi

Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Reviews, Sci-Fi

Book Review Dark Matter

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An award winning book by author Blake Couch

Science fiction comes in all shapes and sizes, and some of it is often not set in the Horus Heresy or the 41st millenium. Dark Matter is one of those books – received for Christmas following good reviews I wanted to see whether the hype was justified.

It’s also been made into a show by Apple-TV… but no review of that here as I don’t have access to that particular streaming service.

From the Book

Jason Dessen is walking home through the chilly Chicago streets one night, looking forward to a quiet evening in front of the fireplace with his wife, Daniela, and their son, Charlie—when his reality shatters.

“Are you happy with your life?”

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious. Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits.

Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.” In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible. Is it this world or the other that’s the dream?

And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.

Review

The set-up here is wonderful. It is multi-dimensions done well (at the beginning), and asks that most haunting of questions ‘Are you happy with your life?’. Jason Dessen isn’t sure and keeps thinking about what might have been for he and his wife. Of paths not taken, science not discovered and achievement missed.

But he is about to have the opportunity to see an alternative … and lose his current life. For Dessen is not the only Jason Dessen in a universe of multiple dimensions, and one of his fellow travellers wants to take what he has.

What would you do? If your life were taken away, but you were left in a life that could have been yours? Would you want to go back? Could you settle in to the new reality without others thinking that something was wrong. And if you wanted to get back… how would you even start?

And it’s great… the running through dimensions, searching for the ‘correct’ one with time against him. Jason Dessen is a protogonist deserving of our sympathy… and our support as we hope he can make it home. But what if does? And what will he find there?

And after all this set-up, is the payoff worth it… well … nearly! The temptation with multiple universes is to use lots of them. This is where I dislike where Marvel went (except the Spiderverse, but that was different). Here Blake Crouch almost brings it home, but then he remembers that there must be lots of universes, lots of Jason’s and lots of Jason’s wife… and the wheels rapidly come off.

It’s not a bad ending by any means, the set-up just deserved more.

Verdict

Blake Crouch does a good job here – which is frustrating because the first two thirds of the book he does a fantastic job. I was thinking it was a clear 5 star review… but it all gets a bit over the top and confusing. Almost as if he showed it to a Hollywood producer who suggested a big, bold and mad ending.

Still a worthwhile read, and if you like the Marvel multi-verse you’ll definitely like this more than I did.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

— Declan & Eeyore

Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Sci-Fi

Book Review Feersum Endjinn

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A ‘how is this not a Culture book’ by Iain M Banks

If you’re a reader of science fiction you will have likely heard of Iain M Banks and the Culture series. Feersum Endjinn (Fearsome Engine) is outside the Culture series, but Banks still brings his characteristic style to the novel.

From the Book

Count Sessine is about to die for the very last time . . . Chief Scientist Gad­fium is about to receive the mysterious message she has been awaiting from the Plain of Sliding Stones . . . Bascule the Teller, in search of an ant, is about to enter the chaos of the crypt . . .

This is the time of the encroachment and everything is about to change. Although the dimming sun still shines on the vast, towering walls of Serehfa Fastness, the end is close at hand. The King knows it, his closest advisers know it, and the crypt knows it too; so an emissary has been sent – an emissary who holds the key to all their futures.

Review

Whilst not strictly part of the Culture series, this book certainly has ideas and concepts within it, that readers may associate with Culture or pre-Culture civilisation.

As with many of Banks’ books this is written from the point of view of a few characters with the reader wondering if the stories will converge or if they are simply set in the same galaxy/planet/era… or indeed not. Bascule is a great character here – although I listened to the audio book which circumvents the style of writing somewhat. Bascule is written phonetically which can be difficult to read… but on the audio book that is reflected with a good accent. Perhaps this loses some of the story and the impact the author wanted… but it made it easier to read also.

The reader definitely has to figure it out for themselves, follow the breadcrumbs… and probably consider reading the book a second time. I’m sure I missed a lot.

Verdict

Also in common with the Culture novels there is not necessarily an end here – the point is the story being told by the Chief Scientist and Bascule – and their journey through it. This isn’t a book of battles and violence… nor is it a space opera… in fact I don’t really know what it is… but I can tell you I enjoyed it.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

— Declan & Eeyore

Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Sci-Fi

Book Review Solaris

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A science fiction masterpiece by Stanislaw Lem

Leaving Warhammer and gaming behind again this week, I read Solaris which is a classic of Sci-Fi by Stanislaw Lem. Like many who have read it, I read a translated version.

From the Book

When Kris Kelvin arrives at the planet Solaris to study the ocean that covers its surface he is forced to confront a painful, hitherto unconscious memory embodied in the physical likeness of a long-dead lover. Others suffer from the same affliction and speculation rises among scientists that the Solaris ocean may be a massive brain that creates incarnate memories, but its purpose in doing so remains a mystery . . .

Review

The planet of Solaris shouldn’t exist. The orbit is wrong, the ocean shouldn’t be there and so humanity begins to explore it – and to understand the why.

When Kris Kelvin arrives the study of Solaris has already reached its zenith and – with no new findings in recent years – has fallen out of the academic and public sphere. But Kelvin is there for a different reason – there has been a death of the station on Solaris and he has been asked to visit to find out what has happened.

So begins a classic Sci-Fi novel – and make no mistake this is hard science fiction. There is a lot of explanation (a lot) and not a whole lot of story. The main thread running through is the Kelvin’s long dead love is visiting him on the space station (on the planet), and his attempts to remove her are not very successful…. especially as she appears to be flesh and blood and has all his memories of her.

Where did the facsimile of his love come from, what does she want and could the Ocean be somehow to blame? All good questions and we slowly get some of the answers. But in trying to build such a complex world in a short novel Stanislaw Lem spends a lot of time explaining the research and science behind the planet.

In fact I think almost on third of the book is Kris Kelvin reading through academic papers on the whys and the wherefores of the planet and it’s unique position in the galaxy… which is all very interesting, to the author.

But it’s all a bit dry and doesn’t advance the plot. It definitely shows a lot of thought went into the planet, and the ocean but Kelvin’s arrival and the lives of his fellow scientists feel secondary to the author’s interest in his own creation.

Verdict

Reading a ‘classic’ novel in a genre for the first time can be quite a fraught process. What if I don’t ‘get’ it and the millions of words already written about it. Does it need a second (or third) reading to get to the true nib of the story?

It’s clearly popular and there is a lot of well thought out world building and explanation, but I felt like a lot of it was just info-dump for the new world rather than an exploration of it or an ending for our characters. There was insufficient space in the book to do both and so it falls down a gap between the two aims.

If you are interested in older science fiction (published in 1961) this will probably be on your reading list and I wouldn’t stop you (not least because at 224 pages it’s a short example), but I just couldn’t bring myself to think that any subsequent read throughs were worthwhile – especially having struggled with the first.

Rating: 2 out of 5.

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

— Declan & Eeyore

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Games Workshop, Horus Heresy, Sci-Fi, Warhammer 40k

Book Review The End and The Death, Volume III

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Dan Abnett brings the Horus Heresy story to a close in the final (not really) book of the series.

The End of an Era is finally here. The Emperor and Horus are about to clash and find out who wins, who dies, and who gets to sit on a seat of power for over 10,000 years.. oh the suspense!

But it’s not the end of the journey that matters – what started out 20 years ago has spawned a lot of books, and a lot of stories and for that I am certainly grateful… even if Sanguinius’ Death is still raw after so long.

From the Book

The Great Angel, Sanguinius, lies slain at his brother’s hand. Terra burns as reality itself unravels, and the greatest bastion of civilisation teeters on the brink of annihilation.

Desperate defenders gather, banding against the rabid traitor hordes. The Hollow Mountain, host to the pilgrims of Euphrati Keeler, is one of the last redoubts held by the Dark Angels while the unclean host of Typhus lays siege. Malcador the Sigillite sits ablaze on the Golden Throne, trying to buy his master more time. But time is running out…

Guilliman races across the stars to reinforce the Throneworld. Will he return to ashes, where a Warmaster of Chaos has ascended to godhood, or will the Emperor have triumphed? And at what cost?

Review

How do you tell the end of a story that has been told and hinted at through decades of Games Workshop output? Where the picture of Horus and the Emperor is iconic, and where everyone has an opinion on what happened? If you’re Dan Abnett and the Horus Heresy / Siege of Terra team you spread it out… over 3 books!!

But that is now truly at an end and we can settle down and read the story of the final climatic conflict.

Although, I listed to it on audio book… and I’m glad I did. This is long… long! And the fight between the two great protagonists feels even longer as they fade in and out of realities. Fight with gun, sword, and psyhcic powers. And generally tear each other apart. All whilst Gulliaman approaches Terra. The defenders go on the attack (helped by the Blood Angels being ‘slightly’ upset at the death of Sanguinius. And Oll & John Grammaticus set up the strings of fate, so that they can be / were there at the end. All whilst Malcador dies on the Golden Throne.

There’s a lot! And if anyone can make a fight last a while it’s Dan Abnett… but perhaps there was a point here that an editor should have stepped in and said ‘no’.

Verdict

End End rarely justifies the means, and after so many years Dan Abnett was never going to be able to close out a story which was so old, and so drenched in fable and myth… But… he just took long to do it. The fight sequence between the Emperor and Horus Lupercal is – of course – epic. But it is also too long, involving too many changes of scene and style.

There is not enough about the remaining defenders, but a lot about Oll & John – who are after all ‘Abnett’s characters’… But what about the others?

Guilliman is mentioned at the beginning (perhaps the beginning of the end)… but never again as the fleets clash.

I am left with the feeling that this end isn’t an end… that there is more – and too many open threads. And I’m not alone because after the End and the Death… there is another book – ! Era of Ruin which will tell us yet more. So the End, isn’t even the end.

It’s not a bad book by any means, and I don’t know how to finish a series of such depth but this just took too long. Three novels, could easily have been two and Abnett could have included more from the other characters we have followed throughout the Heresy and less on the fight. But… it’s still a bestseller. And it is an essential addition if you want to finish the story. Let’s face it – if you’ve got this far, you will want to finish.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

— Declan & Eeyore

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Necromunda, Sci-Fi, Warhammer 40k

Book Review Low Lives

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A Necromunda novella by Danny Flowers

Necromunda is back on my reading desk, and this time it’s Denny Flowers from the 2nd Novella Series. With our ‘hero’ Caleb Cursebound.

From the Book

Caleb Cursebound, the Underhive’s ninth-most-dangerous man, and his ratskin partner Iktomi are in hiding, having deposed the tyrannical lord of a Necromundan noble house. Pursued by relentless bounty hunters, the pair descend to the remote mining settlement of Hope’s End, the last place anyone would think to look. They soon learn, however, that all is not well in Hope’s End; the people are being terrorised by a powerful Orlock gang, and in desperate need of a hero. Caleb cannot resist the opportunity to prove himself, but there are those who would see his reputation forever tarnished…

Review

Caleb Cursebound is a rogue extraordinaire. But, he has a problem. He is on the run, and he likes to play as a Hero. Not the best combination in the dark of the Underhive of Necromunda.

After a drink or two (or three) in the tavern of his new hiding place – Hope’s End – he promises to remove a powerful gang of Orlocks from a nearby mine… and when he wakes up the locals remember his promise.

All the while his pursuers – bounty hunters – are getting closer… although also mysteriously ending up dead. Does Caleb have a guardian angel… or something much scarier stalking him and his Ratskin partner – Iktomi.

With the great ‘Wanted: Dead’ in the first Novella series I was looking forward to this one as well. And Danny Flowers did not disappoint. Caleb does have some competencies but also has a lot in common with Caiphas Cain of Warhammer 40k. He is another epitome of the acccidental Hero.

It all unravels quickly and Caleb learns that you can’t please everyone in the Hive all the time (or even some of the time). And often blood (or House loyalties) run deeper than water… although sometime not.

Warhammer 40k is at it’s best when writing about human characters with human flaws. And Caleb certainly joined those ranks… even if he is only still there because of Iktomi.

Verdict

As a writer you can’t waste time in a Novella and every scene and chapter has to have a place. That makes them great fun to read and I often finish a novella wanting ‘more’. Either more of the character, more of the setting, or more of the adversary!

This definitely hits that spot, and is a fun addition to the Necromunda fiction produced by Black Library.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

— Declan & Eeyore

Black Library, Book Reviews, Declan Waters, Necromunda, Sci-Fi, Warhammer 40k

Book Review Wanted: Dead

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A Necromunda novella by Mike Brooks

Necromunda is a classic gaming system and – despite some changes between editions – remains mostly with its roots in old editions of Warhammer 40k. The support from the Specialist Games Studio is also superb with new gangs and models released regularly.

And the stories are great fund also – including this older gem by Mike Brooks from the Novella Series that Black Library produced some years ago.nto a Book Review A Line in the Sand by James Barr.

From the Book

In the teeming hives of Necromunda, from the highest peaks to the lowest depths, life is a constant fight for survival. When an ambush in the Underhive goes wrong, and a Guilder gets killed, an Escher gang suddenly find themselves outlawed. Now the hunters have become the hunted, and everyone is after their blood – enforcers, bounty hunters, even other gangs. With their leader dead, Jarene has to take control and save the lives of herself and her sisters in arms, as well as restoring the honour of their gang. For the fateful ambush was no accident, and the true culprits need to face justice.

Review

Jarene’s gang is (mostly) entirely dead. Caught in an ambush by Goliaths after the death of a Guilder. She has two choices, hide forever or avenge them.

But Necromunda isn’t a Hive that allows people to disappear if the Guilders are after them and so despite her best efforts she is forced to prevent the danger… but who can she trust?

When writing Warhammer 40k novels, I always enjoy reading about things that aren’t from the tabletop. (Or at least not common on the table top). Mike Brooks does a great job here of describing the Underhive, the tunnels, passages and creatures that reside. And the peril of just existing.

The ambush and destruction of the Escher gang is a great start as this would often be the end of a story in Necromunda the game. But here it is a starting point. He captures the rivalry between the Houses of the Hive, but also the competitions with the Houses themselves. So Jarene is left with the fundamental question – who can she trust.

Verdict

As a Novella it is short, but that results in Mike Brooks ensuring the pace is kept high – and there are no spare chapters in here. It is a great story, that brings Jarene’s struggle to the reader in quick, sharp vignettes. As she lurches from one crises to another, as there is no respite in the Hive.

My only critiscm is of Black Library – when these were first relesed the series was great value, with 10 books costing £30, but they are now only available electronically at £5 which seems high. Equally it is a shame they changed the format from paperback to hardback for Novella Series 3 later – but that is a different gripe.

If you are looking for a fun Necromunda story or just love Escher gangers then this is a great story – and a must for the collection.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Check out the full list of Book Reviews we’ve done on Woehammer here

We always encourage people to shop at local bricks and mortar stores, but if your friendly local book store doesn’t have this available, we have a UK Amazon affiliate link & a USA Amazon affiliate link for which Woehammer receives a small commission.

— Declan & Eeyore

Fantasy, Peter Holland

What is The Drowned Earth?

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BOARD GAME GEEK SUMMARY

Rating8.9 (4 Reviews)
Players2
Playing Time45 mins
Age14+
Complexity-.–/5.00

The Drowned Earth is a tabletop miniatures game where brave heroes and villains risk the dangers of the wilds for glorious riches and ancient technology!

Played on a 3ftx3ft table with 5-15 models a side, TDE is a game of dynamic movement, cinematic action and narrative gameplay, where risk vs reward must be weighed every turn.

At the heart of the game is the Dynamic Movement system, where models can leap, climb, jump off buildings and shoot while doing so!

A combination of cinematic action and an emphasis on named characters means that TDE has a very narrative feel: each game tells a story.

On Table Top have produced a great getting started video on Drowned Earth. I recommend these chaps if you ever want a decent introduction of a wargame.

Getting Started with Drowned Earth

Rules & Miniatures

All the rules and miniatures can be purchased from The Drowned Earth website, though I’m sure some FLGS will offer discounts on these prices.

They have numerous starter armies for the game with one for each faction, and the miniatures look great!

Artefacters Boxed Start set for £44.95

Thanks for reading! – Peter

Peter Holland, Sci-Fi, Warlord Games

What is Beyond the Gates of Antares?

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BOARD GAME GEEK SUMMARY

It had been given a rating of 7.6 on BoardGameGeek from 50+ ratings.

Beyond the Gates of Antares invites us to a time when mankind has evolved into new and diverse species: the strangely powerful NuHumans, masters of the Panhuman Concord; the ape-like Pansimians, the greatest warriors in the whole Galactic Spill; and feral Revers primitive Humans driven by a irrepressible lust for adventure and danger. It is a universe where technology and humanity intermix indistinguishably, where human knowledge and endeavour has long since been supplanted by integrated machine intelligence IMTel. Where humans go their technology goes also, protectors, workers, and fighting machines in the form of WarDrones armed with deadly weapons and shielded by energy fields a thousand times more resilient than steel.

Warlord Games’ YouTube channel has produced a series of excellent videos explaining Gates of Antares.

1. Introduction

2. Order Dice

3. Shooting

4. Pinning

5. The Assault Phase

6. Leaders

7. Q&A

If you’re interested in getting into Beyond the Gates of Antares, I can’t suggest you start anywhere else but these excellent collection of videos.

Peter