# Book review

This book review is about Marrow, the first book in the Great Ship cycle by Robert Reed. The story is set in a universe where humans found an abandoned spaceship and converted it into a train for public transportation. The story spans several thousand years and is about treachery, mischief, evolution, and religious sects. The book is compared to Ringworld by Larry Niven but is not considered better. The review is written by a sci-fi enthusiast who was intrigued by the author's popularity in China.

This is a review of the 5th book in the 'Dungeon Crawler Carl' series, 'The Butcher's Masquerade' by Matt Dinniman. The book continues the DnD adventure set by aliens trying to make a show of their harvest of our planet and its main protagonist Carl. The review states that the book is just as good as the previous ones, with new revelations, death of significant characters, new ordeals, and unexpected twists. The author plans to write 7-8 books in total, and the story steadily proceeds to its resolution with enough secondary lines and twists to keep its reader excited and entertained. The series is recommended for those who enjoyed the first two books and are looking for a well-paced story with believable world-building.

This book review is about Analog Science Fiction Magazine (11-12/22). The magazine contains mostly science fiction short stories, popular science articles, book reviews, and fandom notes. The editor does a good job selecting stories for an issue. The magazine is recommended for anyone who wants to stay in touch with modern science fiction tendencies.

The Gate of Feral Gods is the fourth book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman. The book continues the story of the protagonist and his cat surviving in a DnD world, which is actually an entertainment show for cruel aliens. While the book retains the general narrative of the previous ones, there is a significant development in the second half that gives it a new twist. The book is well-written with a decent amount of drama, some jokes, and a real love for DnD. The author plans to write 7-8 books in the series, and the sixth book will be published soon.

The book is an experiment with new forms aimed at a younger generation. The novel is set in an alternative future where aliens have established rules for humans after stopping a world-scale nuclear conflict. The book contains references to sex, computer games, mobile phones, and Marvel universe. The protagonist mainly speaks and acts like an old grumpy geezer. The author is a big supporter of Russian aggression to Ukraine, making it unlikely that his books will be translated and officially published in English.

Chasing the Phoenix by Michael Swanwick is the second book in the Darger and Surplus series. The book is a mix between a Victorian comedy and a postcyberpunk postapocalypsis. The story follows two tricksters and rogues with no extra human abilities, who have moved to China after creating a ruckus in the Dukedom of Moscow. The author's worldbuilding skills are excellent, and the book is a good read, although the references to Chinese culture are subtle.

The third book in the "Dungeon Crawler Carl" series, "The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook" by Matt Dinniman, continues Carl's dungeon crawl on the 4th level. The new location has a lot of unique rules and tricks, making the game mechanics more complex. The audio version of the book is also very good, with numerous sound effects that immerse the listener in the atmosphere of the world. The author is meticulous in tracking all the stats, items, and other game details, and is not afraid to return to a previous chapter and change it to twist the final plot even more.

Book 2 in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman follows the adventures of protagonist Carl and his companion Princess Donut on level 3 of the dungeon. While the book adds more details and character development, it also becomes more complex. The book is tragic yet funny, unrealistic yet logical, and full of magic and melee wrapped into an ultimate space opera setup. Recommended for those who enjoy controversial requests.

In this book review, the author discusses Blake Crouch's "Recursion", a sci-fi thriller about a scientist trying to cure Alzheimer's disease who discovers something unexpected that will change humanity. While the book is well-written and paced, the plot is more philosophical than scientific and the ending is weak. Overall, the author recommends the book as a good way to pass the time.

This book review is about "There are Doors" by Gene Wolfe, a standalone novel about a man who enters a parallel world in search of his disappeared loved one. The book is written in a dense, complex, and erratic narration, almost dream-like. It is not a science fiction or adventure novel, but rather a science fantasy. The review recommends the book to those who enjoy old school fiction without spaceships and blasters or knights and dragons.