Pathologist, educator, also writes tiny stories and speculative fiction. Scottish-born (hence @mhthaung@mastodon.scot), now lives in London. Reading tastes vary, depending on how much of a break I need from academia. Mainly speculative fiction, some mystery (going through a Golden Age phase), and chunks of science- or society-related non-fiction. She/her.
Plants, Murder and Medical Mysteries by Dr Sandy Primrose is a collection of real-life stories …
Easy to understand overview of forensic botany
No rating
This is a very readable exploration of forensic botany and its applications. It covers various techniques (eg pollen analysis, “deductive” epidemiology, timelines and symptomatology) and presents their use in real-life examples. Investigations include (naturally) murders and other crimes, but also answering more archeological questions such as whether ancient relics are what they are claimed to be.
I have no background in the subject, but the author made it easy to understand.
A Memory Called Empire is a 2019 science fiction novel, the debut novel by Arkady …
A great mix of space opera and court intrigue, with an upbeat tone
No rating
A Memory Called Empire might be my favourite book this year (so far). It took me a while to settle in to the naming conventions, and (as usual) I didn’t envisage the setting too clearly, but overall a great read.
Highlights included the undercurrents of political and diplomatic intrigue, and that uncertainty about whether anyone was genuinely trustworthy. (Or rather, which actors’ motivations happened to align with the main character’s, and which were maybe a bluff…) I enjoyed Mahit’s ongoing sense of being an outsider/other, how she used that role, and the challenges to her loyalties when she didn’t know what was going on.
There’s peril and injury and death, but the tone was generally upbeat. Perhaps that’s not terribly realistic, but since I’m not a fan of grim and gritty, it suited me just fine.
Although I’m picky about which novels I finish, I’ve never been a particularly “analytical” reader. I’ve read each Discworld book as it was released (so you can no doubt guess my vintage). The later ones were thought-provoking beyond simple entertainment, which may explain why they’re so re-readable.
This collection of essays raised issues I hadn’t actively considered regarding the portrayal and role of women in Discworld. I liked seeing how his style matured, and the added nuance and layering of later books.
The essays are short and easy to follow. I’d say they make a good starting point for further, in-depth reading. (Like Twoflower, I may have a tendency to read about things rather than simply experiencing them.)
Young Rhea is a miller's daughter of low birth, so she is understandably surprised when …
Light, unchallenging read in a fairytale world
No rating
I haven’t previously read anything by this author, and this fairytale-inspired story looked interesting.
I came away with the strong impression the book was really written for young readers, though I’m not sure just how young.Part of that was the jokey/cute tone and little asides. This feeling was reinforced by the plot being essentially linear and villain Crevan being unambiguously villainous, absolutely no doubt in anyone’s minds. I still have no idea why he assigned Rhea her various tasks: if it was merely to show her he was the boss, it was a convoluted way of going about it. On a related note, pretty much all the other characters (whether benign or not so much) direct Rhea’s actions and sometimes lent a hand (or paw), leaving her nearly no agency of her own.
A light and unchallenging read in a fairytale world.
It's cold, it's dark and Wiggo is worried about the future of the squad.
When …
Another solid creature feature. Light horror with Bears of Unusual Size.
No rating
Another fast-paced creature feature, as we follow Wiggo, Banks and a rather small team into the frozen North to rescue a team of researchers. This time, the immediate problem is Bears of Unusual Size. There’s no mystical/supernatural element (that I noticed).
In comparison to previous books in the series, the cast of characters here is relatively small, giving the story a more intimate feel. I do like Wiggo as a viewpoint character :) It was fun seeing the team sneak around and improvise to get out of various scrapes.
Pleasant cosy mystery in an unusual historic setting
No rating
I came across Trouble in Nuala while looking for a “straightforward” cosy mystery. That is, one without witches or ghosts or cute pets that help find clues. (Nothing wrong with those, but I fancied something without fantasy elements.) Inspector de Silva’s case fits the bill nicely, set as it is in historic Sri Lanka.
It was an easy read with a gentle pace. There are plentiful descriptions of places and people, as de Silva ambles around (metaphorically) picking up various clues, with ample opportunities for refreshments. I have no idea what police protocols would have been in that time period, and sometimes his methods seemed odd (though I easily accept how a 12th Century Benedictine monk goes about his investigations). For example, I raised my eyebrows at the thought of evidence rattling around loose in the boot of de Silva’s car until he remembered it was there.
Overall, a pleasant …
I came across Trouble in Nuala while looking for a “straightforward” cosy mystery. That is, one without witches or ghosts or cute pets that help find clues. (Nothing wrong with those, but I fancied something without fantasy elements.) Inspector de Silva’s case fits the bill nicely, set as it is in historic Sri Lanka.
It was an easy read with a gentle pace. There are plentiful descriptions of places and people, as de Silva ambles around (metaphorically) picking up various clues, with ample opportunities for refreshments. I have no idea what police protocols would have been in that time period, and sometimes his methods seemed odd (though I easily accept how a 12th Century Benedictine monk goes about his investigations). For example, I raised my eyebrows at the thought of evidence rattling around loose in the boot of de Silva’s car until he remembered it was there.
Overall, a pleasant and straightforward cosy mystery in an unusual historic setting.
Satisfying to see the MC blossom when given the opportunity
No rating
I’ve been dipping into the Tuyo series intermittently and was pleased to come across this one about a character who was rescued/adopted in a previous book. Given the “comforting” feel of the series in general, it was satisfying to follow Tano as he learns about trust, kindness and honour.
The story is told in first person by Tano himself. He’s obviously anxious, still suffering from prior abuse and terrified he’ll put a foot wrong and be rejected. Although we get to see his concerns first-hand as he thinks through what he ought to do now vs his ingrained inclinations for lying and avoidance, his ruminations don’t bog down the pace.
We get to meet various other characters who’ve grown familiar, but the story is definitely Tano’s. I haven’t read the other books recently, and sometimes it took me a while to put faces and roles to names, so to say. …
I’ve been dipping into the Tuyo series intermittently and was pleased to come across this one about a character who was rescued/adopted in a previous book. Given the “comforting” feel of the series in general, it was satisfying to follow Tano as he learns about trust, kindness and honour.
The story is told in first person by Tano himself. He’s obviously anxious, still suffering from prior abuse and terrified he’ll put a foot wrong and be rejected. Although we get to see his concerns first-hand as he thinks through what he ought to do now vs his ingrained inclinations for lying and avoidance, his ruminations don’t bog down the pace.
We get to meet various other characters who’ve grown familiar, but the story is definitely Tano’s. I haven’t read the other books recently, and sometimes it took me a while to put faces and roles to names, so to say. This was especially the case as there wasn’t much description of the people: I guess we should be able to remember them from before.
Overall, highly satisfying to see how the MC blossoms when given the opportunity
2021 Elgin Award winner!
Drawing on Chinese and Mongolian elements, award-winning poet Mary Soon Lee …
Epic fantasy in an unexpectedly appealing poetry format
No rating
I’m not especially a reader of poetry, with the exception of Homer’s The Odyssey, which I have in various prose, free verse and rhyming verse translations. The Sign of the Dragon caught my eye because of the epic scope it suggested. I found it an easy read in terms of both comprehending the language and following the storyline.
I liked the presentation as a set of individual poems which went together to make up a full story. Xau is noble, responsible, larger than life and too good to be true, although he has his moments as a vulnerable human. Similarly, the forces acting against him are irredeemably, grossly evil (other than those that are misled or bewitched). I don’t think such characters would have worked at all well presented in prose. In poetry, we can appreciate the vignettes of Xau’s life and his situations more… symbolically? without worrying too …
I’m not especially a reader of poetry, with the exception of Homer’s The Odyssey, which I have in various prose, free verse and rhyming verse translations. The Sign of the Dragon caught my eye because of the epic scope it suggested. I found it an easy read in terms of both comprehending the language and following the storyline.
I liked the presentation as a set of individual poems which went together to make up a full story. Xau is noble, responsible, larger than life and too good to be true, although he has his moments as a vulnerable human. Similarly, the forces acting against him are irredeemably, grossly evil (other than those that are misled or bewitched). I don’t think such characters would have worked at all well presented in prose. In poetry, we can appreciate the vignettes of Xau’s life and his situations more… symbolically? without worrying too much about realism.
So, despite my not being a reader of poetry, I’ll be watching out for more of the author’s works. Highly recommended.
Penguin reissues a seminal work of cyberpunk fiction from the Hugo Award-winning author of A …
Early cyberspace novella that still has relevance now
No rating
I hadn't come across this author before, and I was (probably) too young for True Names to show up on my radar when it was first published as a novella in 1981. This reissue is accompanied by several essays that were written 10 or more years later, still well before the current date.
The plotline of True Names is straightforward on the surface: a hacker is pressured into attempting to uncover the real-life identity of a more dangerous hacker, which (of course) isn't as straightforward as initially hoped. There are interesting themes of symbolism and trust, and perhaps a sense of assessing people by what they do rather than what they say. I'd say the story has aged rather well.
I dipped into the accompanying essays, and I'm sure I will again. The concepts were a bit "technical" for me to fully appreciate from my non-IT-specialised background, but even so, …
I hadn't come across this author before, and I was (probably) too young for True Names to show up on my radar when it was first published as a novella in 1981. This reissue is accompanied by several essays that were written 10 or more years later, still well before the current date.
The plotline of True Names is straightforward on the surface: a hacker is pressured into attempting to uncover the real-life identity of a more dangerous hacker, which (of course) isn't as straightforward as initially hoped. There are interesting themes of symbolism and trust, and perhaps a sense of assessing people by what they do rather than what they say. I'd say the story has aged rather well.
I dipped into the accompanying essays, and I'm sure I will again. The concepts were a bit "technical" for me to fully appreciate from my non-IT-specialised background, but even so, they were thought-provoking.
What secrets lay beneath Parisian Streets? And who will kill to keep them?
When a …
Fun steampunk mystery/romance with a good dollop of the mystical
No rating
I thank the publisher for a free copy of this book, which I received through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers programme. This is my honest review.
The story is told in third person, past tense, from the points of view of twin sisters Jacqueline/engineer and Angélique/artist/werewolf. The prose was generally tidy, with only a few typos catching my eye. Unfortunately, I tripped up on the first page when Jacqueline (the non-artist twin) seemed to learn the name of a strange artist without an introduction: making me think the twins were telepathic. That first impression took me a while to shake off.
What particularly drew me towards this book was the steampunk setting and hints of a mysterious international plot. I enjoyed the uncertainty over the (non-point of view) characters’ motivations and just whose side they were really on. The technical/logistical stuff was handwavy and convenient, but I was happy not to …
I thank the publisher for a free copy of this book, which I received through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers programme. This is my honest review.
The story is told in third person, past tense, from the points of view of twin sisters Jacqueline/engineer and Angélique/artist/werewolf. The prose was generally tidy, with only a few typos catching my eye. Unfortunately, I tripped up on the first page when Jacqueline (the non-artist twin) seemed to learn the name of a strange artist without an introduction: making me think the twins were telepathic. That first impression took me a while to shake off.
What particularly drew me towards this book was the steampunk setting and hints of a mysterious international plot. I enjoyed the uncertainty over the (non-point of view) characters’ motivations and just whose side they were really on. The technical/logistical stuff was handwavy and convenient, but I was happy not to think hard about plausibility.
The characters didn’t make me feel especially invested in them. Both sisters felt “young” in their behaviour and decision-making. The amount of internal emotional processing was of a level I tend to associate with writing aimed at a Young Adult readership, especially with (tiny spoiler) the absent parent who shows up at the end. Those of you who’ve read my other reviews know I’m not interested in romance. So it won’t be a surprise that I found the (metaphorical, sometimes!) drooling over their love interests a distraction from everything else.
Overall, a fun steampunk mystery/romance with a good dollop of the mystical.
Fun action-adventure with weird stuff and mild horror
No rating
This is an action-adventure story with weird stuff going on. The prose was easy to read, though I noticed a couple of dozen typos: enough to knock me off my stride. There was also a tendency for complex sentences that distractingly fell into similar rhythms.
We get the story from 3 points of view, all of which are in first person. I didn’t always pick up whose viewpoint we had shifted to and had to backtrack a few times.
The plot… well, weirdness happens, and the characters try to deal with it :) No point thinking about plausibility or realism since it’s not the kind of story you want to pick apart that way.
Vienna, 1773. Camilla has a new maid, as usual. But is Anni Nachtigall as demure …
Enjoyable interlude in the Sophie Rathenau series
No rating
In this short novella, Sophie Rathenau investigates her friend Camilla's new maid. The matter isn't purely domestic curiosity since the request comes from Camilla's husband, who is chief of the Vienna police. Sophie navigates Vienna's seedier elements to find out whether Anni Nachtigall is innocent, dangerous or both.
As we'd expect for a novella, the plot is pretty straightforward compared to the author's full-length novels, but I suspect there may be repercussions beyond this single episode. As usual, I enjoyed how Sophie tells her tale with a combination of cynicism, snark and conscience.
Jim Malhaven is a lonely hack reporter stringing along on assignments no one else wants …
Well-plotted hardboiled mystery that never gets too dark
No rating
In this 50s-style story, reporter Jim Malhaven is initially after a scoop (of course). So he investigates a haunted cemetery and rapidly ends up tangled in more trouble than even he realises.
I found this a very easy book to read, with a good pace and an enjoyable voice. We expect a cynical gumshoe, and that's exactly what we get. For my tastes, I found the wisecracking inner reflections a teeny bit overdone, tempting me to skim in places. But that's a very minor point. The clues and plot fitted together nicely (even events which seemed contrived had their reasons for happening and made sense after the fact), and the cast of characters was great fun.
For all the noir setting, there was a pretty light-hearted tone, which I liked a lot. The author ably demonstrates that you don't need grimness and in-your-face violence to achieve that hard-boiled feel.
Shades of Milk and Honey is an intimate portrait of Jane Ellsworth, a woman ahead …
A fantasy of manners that hasn’t quite decided what it wants to be
No rating
I’ve not previously read anything by the author, although I’d put a couple of her books on my wishlist. I decided to start with Shades of Milk and Honey since I was in a fantasy of manners mood.
The prose was easy to read, though some repetitions stood out. In places, the language seemed to stray between period(ish) and more modern.
The setup and environment will be familiar to anyone who’s read Austen—though with the addition of magic, and a reduced level of “formality” compared to what we might expect. I liked the idea of glamour as an additional tool in social interactions, and I’d guess in future books we might see more practical (military?) applications.
Unfortunately, I didn’t feel invested in any of the characters. They did not feel fleshed out. We spend the entire story in Jane’s point of view, and I found her rather tiresome. She was …
I’ve not previously read anything by the author, although I’d put a couple of her books on my wishlist. I decided to start with Shades of Milk and Honey since I was in a fantasy of manners mood.
The prose was easy to read, though some repetitions stood out. In places, the language seemed to stray between period(ish) and more modern.
The setup and environment will be familiar to anyone who’s read Austen—though with the addition of magic, and a reduced level of “formality” compared to what we might expect. I liked the idea of glamour as an additional tool in social interactions, and I’d guess in future books we might see more practical (military?) applications.
Unfortunately, I didn’t feel invested in any of the characters. They did not feel fleshed out. We spend the entire story in Jane’s point of view, and I found her rather tiresome. She was pretty passive and kept belabouring her problems, with a combination of feeling put-upon, gaslighting herself and feeling somehow smugly martyred. OK, the last might have been my imagination, but her ruminations tended to reinforce that impression.
The pacing was sedate until just before the final confrontation, when the tone flipped into melodrama with a rush towards the end.
I came away feeling that the book hadn’t quite decided what sort of book it wanted to be and so it wavered in its direction. Maybe a bit like Jane.
This is my first foray into the world of Achten Tan. It seems like a fascinating place - though admittedly, one I probably wouldn't enjoy visiting. Buildings in bones and giant ants are only the start of it.
Mila's story is a fairly uncomplicated quest to find her magical power. We get to see Achten Tan's various cultures along the way. It's a pretty light read, in many senses, and a refreshing contrast to the grimdark stories I keep tripping over.
I think the book will mainly appeal to younger readers. Generally, the rest of the world takes a back seat to Mila's (and her allies') immediate concerns. For my tastes, there's a bit much of teenagers mooning over each other and blushing, and Mila getting tangled up in her feelings about relationships. The narrative is entirely in first person, present tense, and so we get a running commentary on …
This is my first foray into the world of Achten Tan. It seems like a fascinating place - though admittedly, one I probably wouldn't enjoy visiting. Buildings in bones and giant ants are only the start of it.
Mila's story is a fairly uncomplicated quest to find her magical power. We get to see Achten Tan's various cultures along the way. It's a pretty light read, in many senses, and a refreshing contrast to the grimdark stories I keep tripping over.
I think the book will mainly appeal to younger readers. Generally, the rest of the world takes a back seat to Mila's (and her allies') immediate concerns. For my tastes, there's a bit much of teenagers mooning over each other and blushing, and Mila getting tangled up in her feelings about relationships. The narrative is entirely in first person, present tense, and so we get a running commentary on her thoughts and reactions.
Overall, a fun, fast-paced read in a rich fantasy setting.