Polostan by Neal Stephenson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Re-Read 10/6/26:

Getting myself prepped for the sequel with a re-read. Really enjoying Dawn/Aurora's tale, the tragedy and the sense of fun. But like Stephenson's other historical novels, I'm even more impressed by his sense of milieu. For example, young Patton and the early days of what tanks might become, side-by-side with horses and their continued cultural significance. Shown, not told.

And, of course, there are some really great cameos of the science world of the 1930's as a perfect mirror to Stephenson's other historicals.

I'm really excited for the new book.



Original Review:

Polostan is definitely one for Stepensonstans. While I'll never call this one a top 4 for his copious awesome-making bibliography, Neal definitely delivers on a wickedly wild alt-history ride taking us through great spycraft-grooming from the Lenin's revolution to the United States, from Bonnie and Clyde to Montana gunslingers to DC revolutionary activity to the Chicago Fair to the first glimmers of the science that will lead to the Atomic Bomb. Let's not forget the gangsters, the Gilded age, and Comrades, galore!

Seriously, this is a tour-de-force of funky fun, written like a cyberpunk (hello Stephensonstans) meets historical greatness. Of course, this just reminds me of Neal's other historical trilogy, but this hits closer to home, with all the great walk-ons of the age.

It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's smart and wild and insanely political.

Not OUR political, mind you, but let's just say the 1920's and 1930's have a LOT in common with today.

Well worth the read!



Personal note:
If anyone reading my reviews might be interested in reading my own SF, I'm going to be open to DM requests. I think it's about time I get some eyes on them.

Arctunn.com

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The Cat Who Walks Through Walls by Robert A. Heinlein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I first read this back in the day, I was REALLY enthusiastic in how it combined SO many different fascinating characters from all over his other books in a timey-wimey reality-breaking kind of way. It was something of a capstone to a long career of fascinating people. Especially after Number of the Beast and Stranger in a Strange Land and, of course, Time Enough For Love, and Moon is a Harsh Mistress, this one really revels in not only deep-seated nostalgia, but a love of pure adventure, easygoing sexuality, and the deepest love of all: for myth.

Not traditional myth, but the myth that we, as readers of the fantastic, bring to the table when we think about the things we truly love and geek out about. Which, if you are a fan of Heinlein, means that Lazarus and Hershaw and Manny ALL deserve a place in the pantheon not just for OUR love of them, but for the author's love of them. And that goes the same for the Oz books and Barsoom.

So who is the quantum cat who's walking through walls? None other than the World As Myth.

I will mention one thing: something like 5/6ths of the novel is pure adventure. The last bit is truly WILD, however. Wild the way Job was wild at the end. So, if you LOVE time travel craziness, becoming as free as the free love and turning into a true SF spaghettification of characters, you're going to go nuts for this.

Heinlein, that old courageous man that he became in his old life, really just put his writing chops on the line and let it ALL hang out. Damn, old, spry curmudgeon. To think he was right at the end of his life, dying at 80, and yet he was still this young at heart, too.

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Azarinth Healer: Book Six by Rhaegar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Still very fun. Is she massively overpowered at this point? Yep! But not god levels. Just able to trounce most of her enemies now with a few small exceptions which make for great conflict-resolution.

Her friends are fun as hell, too. I love that one particular dangling thread getting picked up again. And her friends are no slouches. That's a good thing, indeed, because she NEEDS peers. Badly.

One really notable fun bit: to think that SWIMMING IN LAVA is NURTURING and HEALING after a particular fight. I couldn't stop chortling.

It's quite easy for feel and see just how much more powerful she's getting. Solid as hell.

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Azarinth Healer: Book Five by Rhaegar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One thing I'll give these books: for someone who likes to fight quite this hard, she sure as hell has absolutely no problems making friends with monsters of alllllll types. It's actually rather funny. Almost like the series is trying to teach me to pick fights with everyone I ever see just so I can get closer to them all.

It's soooo close to fantastic advice. Right? At least, the novel really proves the concept. So, that's good enough for me! Demons, necromancer kings, asshole elves, almost lovecraftian fae, ancient beings that snuff out suns, elementals... it just doesn't matter. If she can punch them, she can be a TRUE friend and they'll be TRUE friends to her.

So heartwarming.

And on top of that, we've got MASSIVE amounts of leveling and healing going on. Quite amusing.

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Azarinth Healer: Book Four by Rhaegar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's nice, if not being THE boss, then A boss. It's fun being stronger than all your friends and most of your enemies after being just barely able to handle them before.

It's a time to visit friends, touch grass, trounce low-level enemies that are plaguing her friends, and get voted in as not only the richest moneybags in a town she helped found, but people even give her veto rights. Like fools. Because she's gone in two seconds to be an insane battle maniac. But she's makes a huge name for herself. For being insane for resistance building.

You know, hurting yourself in the worst ways possible to level your skills. Like an insane person. And doing it everywhere that everyone fears.

Fun stuff.

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Azarinth Healer: Book Three by Rhaegar
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After the admittedly dark dealings and tragedies of the previous novel, doing a good job with characterization and recouping and growing as a person, we now go back to the roots of the series and strike off solo again. All to level hard and fast. And make a few new friends on the way.

This is still a good LitRPG. Lots of skillups, undead bashing, and dungeon delving. Fun for exactly what it is.

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Azarinth Healer: Book Two by Rhaegar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm very impressed by how solid this LitRPG has become. The speed of development of powers and levels has really taken a drop after 200, but that's all for the benefit of actual story and character development.

It was great to see her joining the Shadow's Hand guild, getting training, learning to work as a team. And the big reversal was surprisingly epic in scope. No spoilers, but I was glued to my seat.

I won't say that the quality of writing improved since the first novel, but the pacing definitely did. I find it very easy to like every member of the team. And that includes our punchy-healer hero, of course. :)

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