Fugitive Telemetry, by Martha Wells

We knew from the start that this series was a formula. It's a decent formula that Wells can use to create readable books, but it's a formula, and I really can't give more than 3 stars to it. Formula being said, Murderbot is developing a bit as a character--becoming more assertive and confident, mostly through expletives. It's a nice lightweight read if you're in the mood for that, and I actually was when I read it. So--murder committed, murder investigated by Murderbot, murder solved. There is a window of development that could go somewhere. Murderbot is always worried about the media accounts of SecUnits, which have them going rogue and killing people. Murderbot's support network is very assured that this cannot happen, but then again Murderbot did in fact hack its own governor module and free itself, so it realizes that going rogue is actually possible. That comes forward in this book but is not dealt with. If it becomes a theme around which to build the story then there are some interesting possibilities. Formula books winning awards (Fugitive Telemetry was nominated for the majors and won the Locus) does not speak well for the state of the field.

My Goodreads Review

Klara and the Sun, by Kazuo Ishigura

Kazuo Ishiguro is a literary master, and as many have pointed out this must have cut him some slack. Klara is indeed artificial and made to be a friend. Her thought patterns are circumscribed by her limited experience and come out as a dry, detached voice. This is not new territory--many authors have taken on the perspective of an AI with limited resources. To bring it off you have to have something extraordinary going on that contrasts with the dry telling. This book just doesn't have it. So we have a character study of Klara's owner (the Mother) and kid Jodie who the Friend is for, and her neighbor Rick. There is space in the plot for a lot of tension and reflection on societal trends, but Klara is just not connected enough to society to bring off that commentary. A lot of people like it, but for me it was not engaging, nor was it as interesting a piece of literature as The Buried Giant. His work outside of speculative fiction is in a whole other league, and that will be what he is remembered for. I reluctantly round up 2.5 stars.

My Goodreads Review

She Who Became the Sun, by Shelley Parker-Chan

This is speculative fiction but the speculative elements (the Mandate of Heaven as a physical manifestation, people who can see ghosts) play more of a supporting role. It's intended to be a character-driven story of a girl embracing her will to live, and later to have power. She feels and embraces desire in a culture that tells girls particularly that they should not feel or act on desire.

But in truth, stories of singular people clawing their way to power get wearing, and setting them somewhere other than Europe doesn't help that much. Particularly not setting them in China, which is not common compared to Anglo fantasy settings but really it's been done, a lot.

The action moves along and the characters develop, but I kept looking for something more. The book became something of a grind, particularly since the author took pains to let us know how the most suspenseful parts would turn out. It was all fated.

Ouyang, the eunuch general, is the most colorful of the characters but mainly by way of hyperbolically intense feelings. Overall it's an OK book, but I can't help wanting at least some of my life back.

My Goodreads Review