Kriptonomicon

By Assorted, inc Gaiman, Lee Child, Colin Cotteril, Margaret Maron and other apparently well known crime writers (I didn’t, but I’m no afficianado).

Asked and received this for Xmas (another one down!), and was rather looking forward to it what with the Movie(s) and the fantastic TV reinvention (is there anything, it would appear, Gattis can’t do?). Read about it from Gaiman’s blog, and was intrigued by the idea of Lee Child writing a Holmes mystery.

I found it a bit hit and miss, to be honest. It did expose me to a new society of Holmes fan’s that I’d never known about. The author’s I’ve listed above were the only stories I really enjoyed; I suspect I didn’t actually like the premise of people writing characters in the style of Holmes, as I wanted more Holmes stories (like Gaiman’s wonderful ‘A Study in Emerald‘). Cotteril’s was particularly good at the books stated aim, though, in a very unexpected way – the art reminded me of 1980′s ‘Dragon Warrior’s – in a good way!

by Michael Dempsey

Not sure how I came across this; I could have sworn it was via my usual source, Scalzi’s ‘Big Idea’ column, but I can’t find it there, so obviously not. Was given it for Xmas (book three down!), and was rather looking forward to it, following a post of ‘drabble’ style stories on, I think, subterranean press’s site, where he was features and I really liked his style.

Unfortunately, I was left with mixed feelings. I love the ideas in the book, the scope, the concepts, but I found the execution a little stilted at times. It came across to me to be something of a first novel, and perhaps in need of better editing – a case of trying to cram too much in, perhaps, and I admit to having some issues with suspension of disbelief in the macguffin.

I’ll certainly be checking out his next book, though. Very promising.

By Charles Dickens

Actually yes, I had read this before.. Also, actually, it turns out I hadn’t.

In conversation with the Esteemable Mrs Kript, I mentioned that I had a couple of copies, one in a childrens edition, and one in a gorgeous leather bound never-meant-to-be-read edition, and she asked me which version it was, which led to my finding out about the penguin classics versions, and why specific editions are recommended, which I’m embarrassed to say hadn’t occurred to me. Fortunately, her degree in Literature trumps my A level, and she bought me a copy of the title …and other Christmas writings for Xmas, which I just finished the titular story, and aim to read at least one more of each Xmas as a new tradition.

My reading was also informed by watching Sue Perkins ‘Mrs Dickens’ over the festive period, which I’d had some knowledge of due to, again, conversations with A. while she was reading a biography of the same a few years back.

Its safe to say the the original has been much monkeyed with (apart from the Muppet version, which I will hear nothing against!), and it was richer and more interesting in its first edition.

By William Gibson
The first of my Christmas haul (actually completed a couple of days ago!). I’d been looking forward to this for ages, but kept putting it on xmas and birthday lists, and not justifying the hardback purchase (and then not the kindle – which for a long time was the same price as the hardback!), so was very much looking forward to it when I did get it.

Its certainly worth the wait, although I’m going to have to go back and reread ‘Spook Country’ to make sense of a lot of the last third, I suspect. It had a lot of the dreamy feel to it that spook country did, unsurprising when you consider that it features Milgram, but spilling over I found into Hollis’s character as well. I wonder if this was actually the same in pattern recognition, which is my perfect read for long haul flights as it captures the slight disassociation with the world you get from jetlag, as experienced by the main protaganist. Gibson’s interest in fashion (I read a comment on Stross’s blog that he designs his own clothes as a hobby) is unashamedly revealed here, and far more integral to the plot than in Pattern Recognition.

A few niggles; the love interest appeared tacked on rather suddenly, although convincingly enough woven in from that point on. Also, there is a tech howler that is so absurd that I wonder that he didn’t ask any of his more technical friends (given that Doctorow recommended the hi tech phone for Milgram (yes, Madhatter, the Neo is officially cool!), its doubly shocking. All I’ll say is taser and networks, and leave it for the reader to get to that point and go ‘he didn’t?!’ ).

Finally, I do think that we should stop referring to Gibson as a science fiction writer (for this trilogy at least), as the books are most definitely set in the now. While he does do so excellent futuristic touches, its just regarding that tech that, in his own words, ‘isn’t evenly distributed yet’, such as the blimp drones controllable via the iPhone (big in all the gadget shops/sites this year, and which I now really fancy!). Given I’m reading this a couple of years after original publication, this is impressive, but not science fiction per se.. Discuss.

I’m amused to suspect may be falling under his definition of ‘mall ninja’ though – I enjoy reading EDC sites, and reviews of quasi-military gadgets, which are no more than upmarket versions of existing tech, and unlikely to be actually used by military/law enforcement. I wonder how much of his reading of urban fashion being driven by military design and now vice versa is true, or his opinion, rather than the background to the book.