Sampling Some Steampunk

I just finished up a couple very good books, completing my 22nd book of the year this morning. Read while the rain pounded the skylight off our bedroom; a glorious Saturday morning.

I needed something new. I've only got one other book (Isaacson's biography of Einstein) going. I considered 10 or 12 novels. I settled upon George Mann's The Affinity Bridge. I chose it for three reasons. One, it's a TOR title, and they've published several of the last science fiction books I've read that I've really enjoyed. Two, I was in the mood for a good steampunk/cyberpunk novel. Three, the story was very different from what I've been reading.

After knocking out the first couple chapters, I found myself thinking some of the writing stilted. Almost clumsy. So I gave a look at the Amazon reviews. Not good. I just dumped $26 on this hard back, and I'm afraid it's going to suck. I should have read the Amazon reviews first. Lesson learned.

That said, I'll keep going. Maybe it'll get better.

I almost bought Neal Stephenson's The Big U. I hope I don't regret passing it up.