Ack-Ack Macaque

Ack-Ack Macaque by Gareth L Powell is a story you can't put down. Part adventure story, part alternative history with a dash of sci-fi. The original short story was in Interzone magazine in September 2007, and was voted the most popular story of the year (I agree with that).

This though is not an extended version of the short story but a full-length story in it's own right, with the cigar-chomping, talking, fighter-pilot monkey fighting the 'bad guys' in both the virtual and real world. A world where Britain and France are a Commonwealth, with fascist forces who want to 'improve humanity' as well a talking monkey.

This is not a deep, very philosophic book, it is what it sounds like it is - a good adventure with sci-fi elements and a good enjoyable read. The book (definitely on the Kindle version) also includes the original story as well as a bonus.

To read other reviews:

The Left Hand of God

This book by Paul Hoffman is interesting and very dark book, Thomas Cale is the central character, a teenager raised by a violent and harsh religious sect the Redeemers, it appears to be a skilled killer. The story revolves around him and two other boys, plus a girl escaping their 'home' the Sanctuary, being chased, ending up in another city with Cale (no one calls him Thomas) falling in-love, killing quite a few people and... well I won't spoil the ending. What the Redeemers' plans for Cale are is not clear, but intriguing.

It is a good book that is a bit hard to categorise is it fantasy or alternative history? Some names of places are borrowed from real places and there is an Agincourt-style battle. I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book, but by the end I did and wanted to know what happens to Cale.

Three Unbroken

Three Unbroken by Chris Roberson

A war on Mars (or in his case Fire Star) seen through the eyes of three people in different services but the same side, set in an alternative history where China or Celestial Empire became the dominate world power but is at war with an Aztec-styled Mexican-like nation.

The book is presented in relatively short chapters (or hexagrams) with a little bit of wisdom underneath the title (I admit I didn't understand the meaning in all of these).

The pace is quick and the three main characters are likable and the short chapters help to keep this enjoyable book's pace going. I have enjoyed the Celestial Empire stories since reading some of the short stories in Interzone magazine (a podcast of one can be found at: http://transmissionsfrombeyond.com/2010/02/transmission26/ )

Another review on this book can be found at: http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2009/02/review_three_unbroken_by_chris_roberson/

The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man

The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man by Mark Hodder is an interesting book. Richard Burton the explorer as a Sherlock Holmes-style private detective is an great idea, giving the character a reason to be an action hero. What genre to put this book is curious steam-punk or alternative history (a time-traveller had previously changed history), with well-known scientific heroes revealing a darker side or alternative side.


Little touches are good here like good like the foul-mouthed parakeets who pass on messages but add their own insults to the message.I really enjoyed this book, but it is hard (so perhaps best not) to pigeon-hole this book. There are elements of steam-punk, detective story (I keep thinking Sherlock Holmes as this not helped by one of the characters being a Doyle); but also areas traditionally associated with fantasy such as jewels with power.


Well worth a look. I would be interest to know what others think.#