Category Archives: Books

Novel Review: Farthing

Michael Chabon’s The Yiddish Policemen’s Union handily won the Hugo for this year’s best novel, and its success among SF and mainstream readers may bring wider attention to the genre of alternate history. Jo Walton’s Farthing (2006) also takes the form of a political mystery, set in a timeline that diverged from ours in the 1940s. In this case, England made peace with Germany, and the Nazis went on to conquer continental Europe. A sequel, Ha’Penny appeared in 2007, and a third book, Half a Crown will be available in late September.

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Novel Review: Old Man’s War

When asked by Ben Bova to explain the difference between a “critic” and a “reviewer,” Spider Robinson replied, “A book critic tells you whether or not it’s Art. A book reviewer tells you whether it’s any damn good.” I don’t know that I consider Old Man’s War art. For fans of military SF, however, it amounts in the balance to a good read. It garnered a Hugo nomination, established Scalzi’s name, and its most recent sequel has been nominated for this year’s Hugo.

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