My kid devoured this book today. She only stopped for meals. If you have kid in that 3rd grade level that likes reading and unicorns I think this is a surefire hit.

Punycorn - Andi Watson (2023)

#Cosobooks

Always one of my favorite panels of Sandman (and it was in the first few books of the whole damn series!)

As spoken by Lord Morpheus aka Dream and the titular "Sandman".

Neil Gaiman is a unbelievably talented and I am grateful of his existence.

#Cosobooks

"There are many dangers here, child. Many. Many ugly things you're going to have to do. It will be a great contest for you. And you're gonna think: How do I win? And the answer is--so long as you are alive, you are winning. The only hope you should have is to see the next day and the next. Some here will whisper of liberty--but you can't be free if you aren't alive."

So. Effin. Good.

Excerpt from Foundryside (2018) - Robert Jackson Bennett

#CoSoBooks

https://www.amazon.com/Foundryside-Founders-Robert-Jackson-Bennett/dp/0525573844

What's the consensus on sharing passages from a novel to social media? Not major spoilers, but like really good passages or quotes?

Is it an insult to author? Is it copyright infringement or looked down upon?

Cause I really need to talk about two passages to someone, heck, ANYONE, from Foundryside.

#CoSoBooks

I can't say that I have read it yet, so I can't say if the actual story is good or not. However, this was the first page I saw when I opened Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli. Gotta say it's pretty effin awesome. Can't wait to read the whole thing. Flipping through the book to check out the art and Max really outdid himself on this one.

Battle Born: Lapis Lazuli (2020) - Max Uriarte (Terminal Lance creator and writer)

#CoSoBooks

One day I am gonna stop gushing about Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett - but today is not that day.

If I didn't have parenting duties this would have been a binge book that I finished in a day.

I think the slow burn is better for this book because while the material itself is light fantasy fare, the actual *way* the book is written, the clever call backs, the way Bennett world builds is just superb.

#CoSoBooks

^^^

So I got a Kindle Paperwhite for father's day and I looked up this book and the first book in the series: Foundryside.

My gosh is this book good. I still need to thank the illustrator for piquing my interest but the Robert Jackson Bennett has an amazing gift for punchy dialogue and letting mysteries naturally develop.

I *HIGHLY* recommend Foundryside and I hope Shorefall is just as good.

#CoSoBooks

Neil Gaiman - American Gods
#CoSoBooks

American Gods is a the most mature book I've recommended so far. It is a full on rated R experience. Full stop. Expect sex, violence, swearing and all the other stuff that makes being an adult tolerable.

But don't let that warning scare you away, American Gods is a book that will stay with you long after you put it down. Gaiman has knack for putting an idea on paper in a way that you have an epiphany about it weeks, sometimes years later.

1/2

Chindi - Jack McDevitt

#CoSoBooks

This is probably one of the more divisive books I will recommend. It's a love/hate relationship for this book.

This book is the 3rd book of a larger series, I cant speak to the all of the series but Chindi is one of my all time favorites and Omega is really good.  Chindi scratches that itch for space exploration that few books do. The sense of wonder and imagination and atmosphere make up for some inconsistencies in pacing IMO.

1/2

What would happen if you took a PG-13 rated version of Game of Thrones, Highlander, Ancient Greek Mythology, and a splash of unexpected Sci-Fi, and threw them all in a blender?

You'd get this series The Book of Swords by the late, great Fred Saberhagen.

These books move at an extremely brisk pace and are a teenagers dream as far as books filled with action set pieces like Hollywood movies.

These books stand the test of time. It's mind blowing that they were first written in '83.

#CoSoBooks

Next Sci-Fi entry for #CoSoBooks is The Icarus Hunt, by Timothy Zahn.

Timothy Zahn does space opera like few can.  He wrote a bunch of Star Wars books that are considered best in the extended universe (now these books are no longer canon) but I think The Icarus Hunt was one of his strongest books.

The story is self contained and follows a "Han Solo" in all but name. The most important part is that it has an *extremely* satisfying ending which makes it all worthwhile.

One if my all time favs.

#CoSoBooks

At the request of my friend @Klaatu_Veratta_Nectarine, I'm going to start throwing out some recommendations for great sci-fi books suitable for mature teens and up.

The first book is Warship (2015), by Joshua Dazelle.

To a Sci-Fi vet, warship isn't revolutionary, but it's *very* entertaining. If you ever say the 2003 BSG reboot, you know the general plot, mysterious threat out of nowhere, one ship and its captain fight for humanity. Warship is part of the Black Fleet Trilogy.