Geek of Oz

Allow me to take up a minority position on a sci-fi book you've probably not read. Revenger  is the latest yarn from noted British author Alistair Reynolds. It reads as an ungodly fusion of the best bits of Firefly , Pirates of the Caribbean  and The Aeronaut's Windlass . Or, rather, it reads like the best bits, but thrown together into a blender full of drywall and beige paint, mixed at setting 11, then served beside a glass of milk and a Woolworths rocket salad. Which is to say, in flowery terminology, it is really disappointing because it is so very, very boring. I'm honestly a bit baffled as to why critics have raved about the book over on Goodreads. Normally I avoid other detailed opinions on books until I've good and digested the 600 pages of sci-fi/cyberpunk/epic fantasy/Brandon Sanderson masterwork which I've just read. This time, though, I made an exception. I read reviews during my time with Revenger – which took nearly three weeks of stop...