2011 Book Review #7: The Translated Man and Other Stories

Title: The Translated Man and Other Stories
Author: Chris Braak
Genre: Lovecraftian police procedural novella, plus 3 short stories in the same universe
Thingummies: 4

Synopsis: Coroner Beckett is slowly dying of a horrific disease and the hallucinogenic drugs used to treat it. But he's not about to let drug overdoses or the fact that his fingers are slowly turning invisible prevent him from doing his job. Someone must keep the steampunk underworld of his city safe from those who dabble in heretical sciences. With press gangs roaming the streets and the constabulary composed mostly of criminals, his only help is a blind echolocator, an overeager nobleman, a mathematical prodigy, and a boss who puts Frankenstein's monster to shame. Someone out there is trying to provoke species riots in the war-worn city. Worse, they're dabbling in Aetheric Geometry. And the last time that happened, half the city was destroyed...

Thoughts: ( So, what did you think? )

2011 Book Review #8: Majician/51

Title: Majician/51
Author: Mike W. Barr
Genre: Woeful attempt to give Area 51 the Da Vinci Code treatment
Thingummies: 1

Synopsis: Dr. Ross Gardner has everything he ever wanted: a fascinating job studying the downed alien spacecraft at Area 51, a super hot wife, even a victory at the company baseball game. But when he discovers that the mysterious symbols on the craft are actually alchemical sigils, he gains inexplicable mystical powers, loses all traces of common sense, and learns an important lesson: if you're a geek and you think a woman's too hot to be interested in you, you're right. She's actually an overemotional, treacherous lesbian stripper who was totally hired to betray you.

Thoughts: ( So, what did you think? )

Also

Snow, again? Really? Sky, we're going to have words.