light fiction for the spring

[snugglekitty]

This week I read T'n'T: Telzey & Trigger by James H. Schmitz and The Family Trade by Charles Stross.



I liked T'n'T better than I had liked the first anthology, Telzey Amberdon. I like the way the female protagonists in this anthology work together. It is a bit formulaic - girl(s) put in peril overcoming the odds through their wits and the underestimation and sloppy planning of the villains - but still definitely fun. I especially liked "Ti's Toys," which is an early exploration of what kind of life manmade humans should or might have. Now we'd probably call them androids or cyborgs. But anyway, I liked it good. Three stars, and I'm looking forward to reading the third book in the series, Trigger and Friends.

The Family Trade, part of the Merchant Princes series, has been compared to Zelazny's Amber books. It does suffer a bit in the comparison, though. Think of it as a cross between Weber and Zelazny. Everyone is trying to use their magical powers to political and financial advantage. Nobody is really worrying about where they're from, what they're for, if they can be enhanced, etc. Also, the difference between worlds, it's suggested, is historical only. In Amber, guns don't work in many parallel universes. In this book, all the technology that works for Earth works for the other reality too. A bit disappointing, if you ask me. The book ended with somewhat of a cliffhanger. Amazon tells me the next two do, as well, so I don't think I'm going to pursue this series, even though I liked it. I want to see the main character come out on top, at least momentarily; not just struggle and struggle. Three stars.

Comments

[monicaboston.livejournal.com]

Have you tried Stross's books in his other world? Singularity Sun, Iron Sunrise--they are very different from the Merchant Princes universe, and I think, better.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

I haven't, actually. Perhaps I'll give them a try. :)