Yoon Ha Lee's Ninefox Gambit

[extrapenguin]

So, after this being a thing recced to me by like 10 squillion people and every Worldcon panel ever, I inhaled it in one sitting. It is now past 21, and I have yet to eat dinner, but: so worth it!

It's military science fiction where the basis of the military tech is interesting, the battle scenes are well-written, there's an intrigue component going on simultaneously, and it's got casual bisexuality! It's pretty much exactly what I wanted from Iain Banks' Use of Weapons, and resembles Ann Leckie's Ancillary Justice in some ways. The best way I could describe it is Ancillary Justice meets one of the Vorkosigan saga's Admiral Naismith books. The cultural stuff in Ninefox Gambit feels innovative enough, and it's certainly got a fresh take on things. I'll add the sequel, Raven Stratagem, onto my birthday books wishlist.

Comments

[hamsterwoman]

Yay, you liked it! :D

It reminded me on Ancillary Justice, too, but the touch towards Vorkosiverse meant I liked it even more than I had the Radch books.

I was worried I might not like The Raven Stratagem as much because I'd most adored the Jedao-and-Cheris get to know each other/work together dynamic, but RS was just as much fun and just as quick a read, and now I can't wait for book 3!

[extrapenguin]

Me, too – it had the touch of ... improvising plus high-action, I suppose, that I really liked in the Vorkosigan stuffs.

I, too, adored the Cheris-and-Jedao dynamic, and I'm glad that the sequel will be just as satisfying on that front. I can't wait to see what happens in RS.