Liked it, look for other books from this author ( )

I haven't been reading much science fiction lately...so much of it seems derivative and cliché and, quite frankly, boring. Therefore, it's a good feeling finding an author who seems fresh and original.

I read Buckell's Crystal Rain last year—this book is the sequel, moving the conflict from a single planet, "Lost Colony" type of story, to the wider, interplanetary backdrop of a space opera. There's something of Reynolds in his plotting and and maybe a hint of Cherryh in his aliens, but his voice seems quite unique to me. One of the interesting things is that a lot of the background in his stories is based on Aztec and Caribbean cultures. It doesn't come across as a gimmick, just a natural part of the story. The larger events of the plot in both of the books aren't particularly surprising; the details of the paths to get there are intriguing and exciting.

With well-drawn characters, good plots and plenty of action, this is fun science fiction. The third volume has been published...I'm looking for it. ( )

http://www.lonelymountain.net/books/m... ( )

Sequel to Crystal Rain, heavier on the Space Opera end of the mix than the previous book, with shadings off into cyberpunk. Whereas Crystal Rain felt very male-centric (despite the presence Dihana, the Prime Minister of Nangada), here we get to follow a kick-ass woman warrior around. A kick-ass woman warrior whom I adore.

Ragamuffin is far more philosophic than its swashbuckling predecessor. The human diaspora has not fared well in space, and in most places is under the "protective" knuckle of powerful non-human societies. Various bodies of humans have developed different responses: some choose the prosperity and mobility of becoming alien bits, some choose the highly-restricted freedoms of reservations, some claim the status of enforcers of alien power structures (self-justifying their actions as being a net benefit to humanity), and there are revolutionaries and personal resistances of many shapes and motivations. Who shares your motivations enough to be trustworthy? Anyone? And in the absence of trust, who shares your motivations enough that they might allow themselves to be mutually used?

Centered on the character of Nashara, a woman who has been reengineered into a super weapon for use against Humanity's alien overlords, you essentially have a spare chase novel about the flight to get her into position to wreak havoc on the "Benevolent" Satrapy and their Human running dogs. If nothing else I give Buckell points for tighter plotting as compared to "Crystal Rain." ( )