Saturday my wife and I made a Barnes & Noble run. I meant to blog about it at the time — I really did — but I started reading one of them first, and, well, I made it to work but that was about it.
The first book I got was Jack McDevitt’s Seeker, which I had never heard of. That’s the one that kindly informed me, Saturday night, that I would not be doing anything nonessential until I finished it. I bought it based on the cover quote, from Stephen King: “The logical heir to Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke.” That’s the kind of recommendation I can get behind. Seeker is a wonderful book, set in my favorite type of sci-fi world — a far-future setting in which mankind is spread across the stars. I’d say more about it, but what I’ve said already pushes my spoiler limit. I am, shall we say, really funny about spoilers.
Which brings us to the second book I got, Terry Pratchett’s Making Money, which I am now reading. If I had realized buying it that Making Money was a direct sequel to Going Postal, I would have bought that instead. Pratchett is one of the authors I’ve neglected the thorough reading of in the past; I was only recently introduced to him via Monstrous Regiment, and I was delighted to find that it stood very well on its own. Making Money does as well, but even so it is a testament to Pratchett’s skill as a storyteller that I didn’t immediately put it down until I got a copy of Going Postal. The fact that it shows the same characters and refers occasionally to events from its prequel would normally cause me to do so in a hurry, but Pratchett’s skill overcomes my obsessive need to avoid spoilers at all costs. Overall, I’m quite enjoying the book.
Since I mentioned them in both previous paragraphs, I’ll say a few more words about spoilers. I dislike them, and I consider a lot of things spoilers — or at least spoiler-ish — that most people wouldn’t. When I say I’m picky about spoilers, I really mean it. I avoid reading back cover copy whenever possible for books and movies. My ideal situation, going into a book, movie, or series, is walking in blind with no idea of what I’m in for. I love that.
I had more that I meant to say, but I think I’ll leave off there for now. In summary: I heartily recommend McDevitt’s Seeker, and I will be looking for more of his work. Pratchett is an amazing storyteller, but read Going Postal before Making Money if you don’t like spoilers. Finally, I really, really don’t like spoilers.
Live long and prosper.