Steven Wu's Book Reviews

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I read at least several dozen books a year, focusing on speculative fiction but (especially in more recent years) with a healthy smattering of other genres. I began writing reviews in 2001 to record my thoughts, and also to keep track of what I've read.

Best Books I Read (By Year)
2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006-2008

New Review: Warbreaker
November 11, 2009 (8:03 PM) ( link )

Added a review of Brandon Sanderson's Warbreaker (not recommended).

Just in time for Sanderson's most recent book -- The Gathering Storm, Sanderson's continuation of the Wheel of Time series -- comes my review dumping on his most recent standalone fantasy. I probably would have rated this higher had I reviewed it right after reading it, since it has a certain shallow appeal. But a little bit of distance has made it clear just how far below the Mistborn Trilogy this fell. Very disappointing.

New Review: Revelation
November 7, 2009 (4:26 PM) ( link )

Added a review of CJ Sansom's Revelation (recommended).

I've read all of Sansom's mystery novels so far, but this is the first one I've reviewed. I regret the omission in part because I don't think Revelation is the best of the series (that would probably be the second or third), although it is still a superb novel. Never mind, though. I will certainly read everything that Sansom writes.

New Review: Heart-Shaped Box
October 22, 2009 (11:55 PM) ( link )

ADDED a review of Joe Hill's Heart-Shaped Box (not recommended).

Sorry I've been gone for a while, but work has been crazy. This review of Heart-Shaped Box will be the first of several cranky reviews that cover a particularly barren period of reading for me.

I recently did something twice that I rarely do: set aside a book before finishing it. The two books in question -- The Gift of Rain, by Tan Twan Eng, and Shadow Country, by Peter Matthiessen -- were both so dull after about 100 pages that I couldn't justify forcing myself through their remaining bulk. And that's saying something.

New Review: The Six Directions of Space
August 23, 2009 (7:07 PM) ( link )

Added a review of Alastair Reynolds's The Six Directions of Space (recommended).

As usual, I'm a little bit behind in my reviewing. Sorry. I've really been unconscionably busy at work -- a combination of procrastination, court deadlines, and emergency projects will do that!

In the meantime, let me just say that I've finished two excellent novels recently: CJ Sansom's Winter in Madrid, and Robert Graves's I, Claudius. Both were surprises, in their own way, but both very much rewarded the time I invested in them.

New Review: The Servants
August 9, 2009 (9:07 PM) ( link )

Added a review of Michael Marshall Smith's The Servants (not recommended).

I've been working for a while on a review of CJ Sansom's most recent Shardlake mystery, Revelation. Sansom's Shardlake series is one of my favorites, but I was still pleasantly surprised to discover that his non-Shardlake works are nearly as good. I should be finishing Winter in Madrid this week, and I'll put up some thoughts on that when I can.