Book Reviews – Fiction

Books: Non-Fiction, Fiction, Self-Help | Films | Games
Last updated: Apr 20, 2026

Literature

RAuthorTitlereadpub.TagsLnotesShort Review:
Alighieri, DanteDivine Comedy: Hell720031472Play, ItalyEN
AnonThe Bible82000100Classics, Theology, ChristianityENgood
Borges, Jorge LuisLabyrinths1020101964PhilosophyENbestunread
Brown, DanThe Da Vinci Code820062003ThrillerENgood
Buchan, JamesThirty-Nine Steps419991915Thriller, SpyEN
Camus, AlbertThe Myth of Sisyphus720101942PhilosophyEN
Camus, AlbertThe Stranger920101942PhilosophyENbest
Clancy, TomRed Storm Rising720091986ThrillerEN
Boccaccio, GiovanniThe Decameron820211353Fiction, ItalyENunread
Defoe, DanielRobinson Crusoe120031719Fiction, EnglandENunread
Dostoevsky, FedorCrime and Punishment820061866Fiction, RussiaRUgood
Dostoevsky, FedorThe Brothers Karamazov1020071879Fiction, RussiaRUbest
Doyle, Arthur ConanThe Adventures of Sherlock Holmes820031892DetectiveENgood
Doyle, Arthur ConanThe Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes720031894DetectiveEN
Doyle, Arthur ConanThe Hound of the Baskervilles820031901DetectiveENgood
Doyle, Arthur ConanThe Return of Sherlock Holmes720031905DetectiveEN
Dumas, AlexandreThe Three Musketeers720051844Fiction, FranceEN
Evola, JuliusMeditations on the Peaks420151974PoliticsEN
Fleming, IanDr. No520041958Thriller, SpyEN
Fleming, IanOn Her Majesty’s Secret Service520041963Thriller, SpyEN
Fleming, IanYou Only Live Twice520041964Thriller, SpyEN
Fyodorov, Vitaly (Afrika)Notes of a Terrorist620162016Autobiography, War Story, Ukraine WarRUunread
Golding, WilliamLord of the Flies420041954Fiction, EnglandEN
Grisham, JohnThe Firm820081991ThrillerENgood
Haggard, Henry RiderKing Solomon’s Mines720051885Fiction, EnglandEN
Haywire, RachelThe New Reaction220152015Politics, NRxEN
HomerThe Odyssey72012-800Classics, Epic, GreeceEN
Houellebecq, MichelSubmission [2021]720212015PoliticsENreviewedIt was funny reading it almost a decade after Islamophobia peak.
Istvan, ZoltanThe Transhumanist Wager220142013PoliticsENReview on Facebook from 2013:

This must be one of the most overhyped books I have ever read. I really don’t understand all the 4/5 and 5/5 reviews. Two dimensional characters and cardboard cutout villains who speak in multi-page, sleep-inducing monologues; a sophomoric “philosophy” that pretends to be original but is really just Objectivism with a transhuman accent, promoted with all the nuance and subtlety of a sledgehammer by a fanatical and thoroughly unlikable ideologue full of strange and unexplained contradictions (despite his worship of rationalism); in large parts, hilariously technologically illiterate, despite the fetishization of technology.
Kafka, FranzThe Trial220061925PhilosophyEN
King, StephenCarrie920071974HorrorENbest
Kundera, MilanThe Unbearable Lightness of Being920071984PhilosophyENbest
LaoziDao De Jing62010-550Classics, Theology, TaoismEN
Larsson, StiegThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo520102005ThrillerEN
London, JackThe Call of the Wild320031903Fiction, USAEN
MacDonald, Andrew & PierceThe Turner Diaries120081978PoliticsEN
Machiavelli, NiccolòThe Prince820081532Politics, Political EconomyENgood
McCarthy, CormacBlood Meridian920251985Fiction, USAENbest
Nabokov, VladimirConversation Piece, 1945720101945Fiction, RussiaRU
NestorTale of Bygone Years720121113Classics, Epic, RussiaRU
Nikitin, AfanasyA Journey Beyond the Three Seas820201475Classics, Russia, TravelRUgoodunread
Pushkin, AlexanderRuslan and Ludmila819941820Poetry, RussiaRUgood
Pushkin, AlexanderThe Queen of Spades820061834Fiction, RussiaRUgood
Rand, AynThe Fountainhead620101943PoliticsENunread
Remarque, Erich MariaAll Quiet on the Western Front820041929Fiction, War Story, WW1ENgood
Sachar, LouisHoles720021998FictionEN
Shakespeare, WilliamRomeo and Juliet820041595Play, EnglandENgood
Shakespeare, WilliamMacbeth820011606Play, EnglandENgood
Sheriff, R.C.Journey’s End720021928Fiction, War Story, WW1EN
Solzhenitsyn, AlexanderOne Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich620051962Fiction, RussiaRU
Stevenson, Robert LouisTreasure Island420031883Fiction, EnglandEN
SunziThe Art of War52005-500Classics, Military, ChinaEN
Tolstoy, LevThe Death of Ivan Ilyich720041886Fiction, RussiaRU
Twain, MarkThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer520041876Fiction, USAEN
Twain, MarkThe Prince and the Pauper520041881Fiction, USAEN
Unamuno, Miguel deSan Manuel Bueno, Martyr820091930PhilosophyENgood
VirgilThe Aeneid5201119Classics, Epic, RomanEN
Wheatley, DennisThe Quest of Julian Day720031939ThrillerEN
Wyss, JohannThe Swiss Family Robinson120031812Fiction, EnglandENunread

Fantasy

RSeriesAuthorTitlereadpub.TagsLnotesShort Review:
FL-1Abercrombie, JoeThe Blade Itself820112006HeroENgoodThe world-building doesn’t amount to much more than cardboard cutouts of TV Tropes realms – The Union (=The Federation), Gurkish Empire (=The Empire), The North (=”It’s Grim Up North”). The plot is forgettable, and sometimes barely made sense. Yet despite all that, Abercrombie proves that in literature, it is the characters that carry the day: Years on, I still remember the crippled torturer Glokta, the doofy aristo Jezal, and of course the berserker Logen and his band of warriors.
FL-2Abercrombie, JoeBefore They Are Hanged820122007HeroENgood
FL-3Abercrombie, JoeLast Argument of Kings520122008HeroEN
Dahl, RoaldCharlie and the Chocolate Factory820001964Children’sEN
Dahl, RoaldCharlie and the Great Glass Elevator720001972Children’sEN
Dahl, RoaldThe BFG620001982Children’sEN
Dahl, RoaldThe Witches720001983Children’sEN
Dahl, RoaldBoy: Tales of Childhood620001984Children’s, AutobiographyEN
Dahl, RoaldMatilda720001988Children’sEN
Coldfire-1Friedman, C.S.Black Sun Rising [2013]720121991HorrorENreviewedSee main review.
Friedman, C.S.When True Night Falls420121993HorrorENunread
SoT-1Goodkind, TerryWizard’s First Rule320091994EpicEN
Magicians-1Grossman, LevThe Magicians720262009YAEN
Redwall-1Jacques, BrianLord Brocktree720012000Children’sEN
Redwall-2Jacques, BrianMartin the Warrior720001993Children’sEN
Redwall-3Jacques, BrianMossflower819981988Children’sENgood
Redwall-4Jacques, BrianThe Legend of Luke619991999Children’sEN
Redwall-5Jacques, BrianOutcast of Redwall619991995Children’sEN
Redwall-6Jacques, BrianMariel of Redwall719991991Children’sEN
Redwall-7Jacques, BrianThe Bellmaker619981994Children’sEN
Redwall-8Jacques, BrianSalamandastron819981992Children’sENgood
Redwall-9Jacques, BrianRedwall819971986Children’sENgood
Redwall-10Jacques, BrianMattimeo619981989Children’sEN
Redwall-11Jacques, BrianThe Pearls of Lutra819981996Children’sENgood
Redwall-12Jacques, BrianThe Long Patrol619981997Children’sEN
Redwall-13Jacques, BrianMarlfox620001998Children’sEN
Jacques, BrianSeven Strange and Ghostly Tales720001991Children’s, HorrorEN
DM-1Jarvis, RobinThe Dark Portal820001989Children’sEN
DM-2Jarvis, RobinThe Crystal Prison720001989Children’sEN
DM-3Jarvis, RobinThe Final Reckoning720001990Children’sEN
WoT-0.1Jordan, RobertThe Strike at Shayol Ghul720031997Short StoryEN
WoT-0.5Jordan, RobertNew Spring720082004EpicEN
WoT-1Jordan, RobertThe Eye of the World920031990EpicENbest
WoT-2Jordan, RobertThe Great Hunt820031990EpicENgood
WoT-3Jordan, RobertThe Dragon Reborn920031991EpicENbest
WoT-4Jordan, RobertThe Shadow Rising920031992EpicENbest
WoT-5Jordan, RobertThe Fires of Heaven820031993EpicENgood
WoT-6Jordan, RobertLord of Chaos820041994EpicENgood
WoT-7Jordan, RobertA Crown of Swords720041996EpicEN
WoT-8Jordan, RobertThe Path of Daggers520041998EpicEN
WoT-9Jordan, RobertWinter’s Heart420042000EpicEN
WoT-10Jordan, RobertCrossroads of Twilight320042003EpicEN
WoT-11Jordan, RobertKnife of Dreams720052005EpicEN
WoT-12Jordan, Robert & SandersonThe Gathering Storm720092009EpicEN
WoT-13Jordan, Robert & SandersonTowers of Midnight720102010EpicEN
WoT-14Jordan, Robert & SandersonA Memory of Light620132013EpicEN
WoT-14+Jordan, Robert & SandersonAMOL: River of Souls720142014Short StoryEN
WoT-14+Jordan, Robert & SandersonAMOL: A Fire Within the Ways620242019Short StoryEN
DT-1King, StephenThe Gunslinger420081982Epic, WesternEN
BE-1Lawrence, MarkPrince of Thorns [2024]620242011GrimdarkENreviewed
Earthsea-1Le Guin, UrsulaThe Wizard of Earthsea820041968EpicENgood
Earthsea-2Le Guin, UrsulaThe Tombs of Atuan920041971EpicENbest
Earthsea-3Le Guin, UrsulaThe Farthest Shore720041972EpicEN
Narnia-1Lewis, C.S.The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe820011950Children’sENgood
Narnia-2Lewis, C.S.Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia720011951Children’sEN
Narnia-3Lewis, C.S.The Voyage of the Dawn Treader720011952Children’sEN
Narnia-4Lewis, C.S.The Silver Chair720011953Children’sEN
Narnia-5Lewis, C.S.The Horse and His Boy620021954Children’sEN
Narnia-6Lewis, C.S.The Magician’s Nephew720021955Children’sEN
Narnia-6Lewis, C.S.The Last Battle720021956Children’sEN
Lovecraft, H.P.The Call of Cthulhu820121928HorrorEN
GB-1Lynch, ScottThe Lies of Locke Lamora620232006YAENunread
ASoIaF-1Martin, G.R.R.A Game of Thrones1020131996EpicENbest
ASoIaF-2Martin, G.R.R.A Clash of Kings1020131999EpicENbest
ASoIaF-3Martin, G.R.R.A Storm of Swords1020132000EpicENbest
ASoIaF-4Martin, G.R.R.A Feast for Crows920132005EpicENbest
ASoIaF-5Martin, G.R.R.A Dance with Dragons820132011EpicENgood
Twilight-1Meyer, StephanieTwilight320092005YAEN
Pringle, DavidThe Laughter of Dark Gods520252002Grimdark, Anthology, WarhammerEN
Pullman, PhilipThe Firework-Maker’s Daughter820051995Children’sENgood
Pullman, PhilipClockwork820051996Children’sENgood
HDM-1Pullman, PhilipThe Golden Compass920121995Children’sENbest
HDM-2Pullman, PhilipThe Subtle Knife820121997Children’sENgood
HDM-3Pullman, PhilipThe Amber Spyglass720122000Children’sEN
HC-1Reeve, PhilipMortal Engines720142001YAEN
HC-2Reeve, PhilipPredator’s Gold420142003YAENunread
HP-1Rowling, J.K.Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone720041997Children’sEN
HP-2Rowling, J.K.Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets820041998Children’sENgood
HP-3Rowling, J.K.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban820041999Children’sENgood
HP-4Rowling, J.K.Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire820052000YAENgood
HP-5Rowling, J.K.Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix720052003YAEN
HP-6Rowling, J.K.Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince820062005YAENgood
HP-7Rowling, J.K.Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows720072007YAEN
Mistborn 1-1Sanderson, BrandonThe Final Empire1020092006YAENbest
Mistborn 1-2Sanderson, BrandonThe Well of Ascension820092007YAENgood
Mistborn 1-3Sanderson, BrandonThe Hero of Ages820092008YAENgood
Mistborn 1-1.1Sanderson, BrandonMistborn: Secret History820162016YAENgood
Mistborn 2-1Sanderson, BrandonThe Alloy of Law720122011YAEN
Mistborn 2-2Sanderson, BrandonShadows of Self720152015YAEN
Mistborn 2-3Sanderson, BrandonThe Bands of Mourning720162016YAEN
Mistborn 2-4Sanderson, BrandonThe Lost Metal520252022YAEN
Stormlight-1Sanderson, BrandonThe Way of Kings820102010EpicENgood
Sanderson, BrandonThe Emperor’s Soul920122012Short StoryENbest
Reckoners-1Sanderson, BrandonSteelheart720132013YAEN
Reckoners-1+Sanderson, BrandonMitosis520142014YAEN
Reckoners-2Sanderson, BrandonFirefight620152015YAEN
Reckoners-3Sanderson, BrandonCalamity620162016YAEN
Witcher-1Sapkowski, AndrzejThe Last Wish820221993EpicENgood
Witcher-2Sapkowski, AndrzejSword of Destiny720251992EpicEN
Tolkien, J.R.R.The Hobbit920001937Children’sENbest
LotR-1Tolkien, J.R.R.The Fellowship of the Ring1020011954EpicENbest
LotR-2Tolkien, J.R.R.The Two Towers1020011954EpicENbest
LotR-3Tolkien, J.R.R.The Return of the King1020011955EpicENbest
Tolkien, J.R.R.The Silmarillion620021977EpicEN
Yudkowsky, EliezerHarry Potter and the Methods of Rationality1020152015YA, FanFicENbest
Yudkowsky, EliezerDark Lord’s Answer720162016HumorEN

Science Fiction

RSeriesAuthorTitlereadpub.TagsLnotesShort Review:
Eisenhorn-1Abnett, DanXenos620182001SciFi, WH40KEN
Asimov, IsaacI, Robot820101950SciFi, AIEN
Asimov, IsaacThe Last Question1020101956SciFiENbest
Bacigalupi, PaoloThe Water Knife520162015Post-ApocEN
Flood-1Baxter, StephenFlood720142009Post-ApocEN
Flood-2Baxter, StephenArk820142010Post-ApocENgood
Brooks, MaxThe Zombie Survival Guide820092003Post-Apoc, ZombiesEN
Brooks, MaxWorld War Z320102006Post-Apoc, ZombiesEN
RR-1Brown, PierceRed Rising720152014DystopiaEN
RR-2Brown, PierceGolden Son520152015DystopiaENunread
EG-1Card, Orson ScottEnder’s Game620151985SciFiEN
Carter, PaulThe Last Objective620201946Short Story, Military SF, Post-ApocENNot the best sci-fi story, not the worst. Implicit commentary on the futility of war, evidently hates military psychologists, elements of horror towards the end. Interesting portrayal of underground subterrene combat.
HG-1Collins, SuzanneThe Hunger Games820122008DystopiaENgood
HG-2Collins, SuzanneCatching Fire720122009DystopiaEN
HG-3Collins, SuzanneMockingjay520122010DystopiaEN
Connell, RichardThe Most Dangerous Game720121924Dystopia
Crichton, MichaelCongo620101980SciFi, ThrillerEN
Crichton, MichaelJurassic Park820111990SciFi, ThrillerENgood
Crichton, MichaelPrey720102002SciFi, ThrillerEN
Crichton, MichaelState of Fear220122004SciFi, ThrillerEN
Crichton, Michael & Richard PrestonMicro320132011SciFi, ThrillerEN
MR-1Dashner, JamesThe Maze Runner520112009DystopiaEN
Doyle, Arthur ConanThe Lost World720031912SciFiEN
Doyle, Arthur ConanThe Poison Belt720031913SciFiEN
Doyle, Arthur ConanThe Land of Mist220031926SciFi, EsotericEN
Egan, GregPermutation City820221994SciFi, ParadoxENgoodunread
Ellison, HarlanI Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream820211967Short Story, HorrorENgood
Fehervari, PeterGenestealer Cults520212016SciFi, WH40KENunread
Forstchen, WilliamOne Second After820142009Post-ApocENgood
Gibson, WilliamNeuromancer720141984CyberpunkENunread
Metro-1Glukhovsky, DmitryMetro 20331020102005Post-ApocRUbest
Metro-2Glukhovsky, DmitryMetro 2034820162009Post-ApocRUgood
Metro-3Glukhovsky, DmitryMetro 2035520162015Post-ApocRU
Hackett, JohnThe Third World War520021982Alt History, WW3EN
Harris, RobertFatherland820171992Alt HistoryENgoodunread
Dune-1Herbert, FrankDune720151965SciFiEN
Hertling, WilliamAvogadro Corp720152014SciFi, AIEN
Silo-1Howey, HughWool920152012Post-ApocENbest
Silo-2Howey, HughShift720152012Post-ApocEN
Silo-3Howey, HughDust620162012Post-ApocEN
Hoyle, FredA for Andromeda720221962SciFi, AliensENunread
Huxley, AldousBrave New World720051932DystopiaEN
King, StephenThe Stand920071978Horror, Post-ApocENbest
King, StephenCell520082006Horror, Post-ApocEN
King, StephenThe Long Walk820081979Horror, DystopiaENgood
King, StephenThe Running Man720081982DystopiaEN
Kunstler, HowardWorld Made by Hand [2009]320092008Post-ApocENSee main review.
Leiber, FritzA Pail of Air620151951Short Story, Post-ApocEN
Lukyanenko, SergeyKnights of the Forty Islands720121992DystopiaRU
Lukyanenko, SergeyNight Watch720122004Urban FantasyRUunread
Nomad-1Mather, MatthewNomad620192016Post-ApocEN
Nomad-2Mather, MatthewResistance520192017Post-ApocEN
Miller, Walter M.A Canticle for Leibowitz1020061960Post-Apoc, WW3ENbest
Autumn-1Moody, DavidAutumn720012012Post-Apoc, ZombiesEN
Autumn-2Moody, DavidThe City620052012Post-Apoc, ZombiesEN
Autumn-3Moody, DavidPurification620042012Post-Apoc, ZombiesEN
Autumn-4Moody, DavidDisintegration520112012Post-Apoc, ZombiesEN
Autumn-5Moody, DavidAftermath520122012Post-Apoc, ZombiesEN
Autumn-6Moody, DavidThe Human Condition420052012Post-Apoc, ZombiesEN
Orwell, GeorgeAnimal Farm820031945DystopiaENgood
Orwell, George19841020051949DystopiaENbest
Panshin, AlexeiRite of Passage520131968SciFiEN
Robinson, Kim StanleyThe Years of Rice and Salt820132003Alt HistoryENgood
Stephenson, NealThe Diamond Age920151995CyberpunkENbestunread
Stephenson, NealSeveneves720152015Post-ApocENIt took me 2 days to read the first two thirds of Seveneves by Neal Stephenson. It is taking me an excruciating 2 weeks (and counting) to finish the last third. The genetic technology to produce the post-Hard Rain races is just about plausible (I am assuming this book is set in a techno-optimistic version of what 2025-2030 would be like or thereabouts). However, the idea that racial admixture would be low enough to result in the continuance of distinct races even though they spend the first 4,000 years of the Hard Rain scooped up in cramped living quarters isn’t very plausible.
EV-1Stirling, S.M.Dies the Fire820112004Post-ApocENgood
EV-2Stirling, S.M.The Protector’s War720112005Post-ApocEN
EV-3Stirling, S.M.A Meeting at Corvallis920112006Post-ApocENbest
Strugatsky, Arkady & Boris StrugatskyThe Inhabited Island920221969SciFi, DystopiaRUbestunread
Swallow, JamesDeus Ex: Icarus Effect520162014SciFi, CyberpunkEN
Verne, JulesJourney to the Center of the Earth820021864SciFiENgood
Verne, JulesAround the World in Eighty Days1020001873SciFiENbest
Vinge, VernorTrue Names1020081981SciFiENbest
Voinovich, VladimirMoscow 2042 [2018]420021986DystopiaRUreviewedSee main review.
Vonnegut, KurtCat’s Cradle620141963Post-ApocEN
SH-1Weber, DavidOff Armageddon Reef620202016SciFiENunread
Weir, AndyThe Egg820242009SciFiEN
Wells, H.G.The Time Machine920041895SciFiEN
Wells, H.G.The Island of Doctor Moreau820041896SciFiENgood
Wells, H.G.The War of the Worlds820041898SciFi, AliensENgood
CK-3Wingrove, DavidThe Middle Kingdom420111989DystopiaEN
Yudkowsky, EliezerA Girl Corrupted by the Internet is the Summoned Hero?!620172016SciFiEN
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