Igniting the Reaches author: David Drake rating: asin: 0441001793 binding: Paperback list price: $5.99 USD amazon price: $5.99

This book is the first in a series loosely based on the career of Sir Francis Drake.

It starts out as a story of traders seeking new trading routes for their goods, but then an "incedent" happens which turns the whole thing on its head. Their principal rival trading state decided earlier to close its borders, and our gang gets caught up in a firefight. This being the straw which breaks the camel's back, Our Heros turn to commerce raiding.

One of the things that throws me is the Mirror Worlds. There isn't a real explaination of it in this book, but as it's a major plot point, I'd like to have seen a better explaination of it.

Old Man's War author: John Scalzi rating: asin: 0765315246 binding: Paperback list price: $12.95 USD amazon price: $9.07 USD

You can find your way into Scalzi's brain, and find out about his other works, over at his blog, The Whatever.

Boundary author: Eric Flint Ryk E. Spoor rating: asin: 1416509321 binding: Hardcover list price: $26.00 USD amazon price: $26.00

What is a paleontologist doing on Mars? Pushing her boundaries. . . .

A delightful romp through one possible very near future.

This book is definately more "hard sf" than either of these authors has done previously, and they are definately stretching their literary boundaries with it. However, if you enjoy hard sf stories, you'll probably like this one. I'm eagerly anticipating the next book in this series, Threshold.

The Shadow of Saganami (The Saganami Island) author: David Weber rating: asin: 1416509291 binding: Mass Market Paperback list price: $7.99 USD amazon price: $7.99 USD

This is the first book in the second spin-off series in the Harrigton universe.

Despite all the eye-glazing political intrigue (which I'm not particulary fond of), there's still enough in the way of interesting interpersonal relationships and 'boots to the ground' action you've come to expect from the Harrington universe.

In The Company of Mind author: Steven Piziks rating: asin: 067157776X binding: Mass Market Paperback list price: $6.99 USD amazon price: $6.99

Lance Michaels Blackstone has it all: his own VR rig, a personal bodyguard, a luxurious mansion...and a horrific monster for a father. One of the richest men in the galaxy, Jonathan Blackstone is surely also one of the sickest. He has tortured and tormented his son all his life, even using him as a guinea pig in illegal medical experiments intended to "improve" him, to turn him into a son his father could love.

But Jonathan Blackstone is not capable of love, and Lance cannot be the son he wants. He hates and fears the father who abuses him, distrusts the mother who does not save him, and must somehow survive by his wits alone in the midst of apparent wealth and comfort. Even more confusing, he begins to lose large chunks of time, find objects in his room he never put there, and hear voices arguing inside his head. And then one of the voices speaks directly to him.... After Lance escapes his father's clutches, Blackstone does everything in his considerable power to get him back. Lance eludes him successfully for some time, coming to terms with his strange life, and capitalizing on the peculiarities that result from it. But when his mother and her friend are tricked into terrible danger, Lance is the only one who might save them. To do it, he must confront his nightmare past and face all the deep secrets buried in his mind.

The Speed of Dark author: Elizabeth Moon rating: asin: 0345481399 binding: Mass Market Paperback list price: $7.99 USD amazon price: $7.99 USD

Corporate life in early 21st-century America is even more ruthless than it was at the turn of the millennium. Lou Arrendale, well compensated for his remarkable pattern-recognition skills, enjoys his job and expects never to lose it. But he has a new boss, a man who thinks Lou and the others in his building are a liability. Lou and his coworkers are autistic. And the new boss is going to fire Lou and all his coworkers--unless they agree to undergo an experimental new procedure to "cure" them.

This book is told mostly through the eyes of the main character, Lou. It was very well done.

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress author: Robert A. Heinlein asin: 0312863551 binding: Paperback list price: $14.95 USD amazon price: $10.17 USD

I recently finished reading this book, reading it for the first time. Quite an interesting and thought-provoking book, if you can get past the fact that it's written almost entirely in slang.