One of my resolutions for this year is to write more.

So far, I’ve done a shitty job holding myself up to that. I have been having a hard time coming up with something to write about. Naturally, writing about other people’s writing is much easier than writing something original. So here are my thoughts on some of the books I read in 2025.

February

Elder Race

Adrian Tchaikovsky

This was the first book (novella?) I had picked up in a while (probably 6 months). It was a great segue back into reading. The plot was easy to follow, and the characters were moderately interesting.

One of the main themes was along the lines of “science that is too advanced to comprehend is magic”. This is something I greatly enjoyed from the Eragon series as a kid, and I liked to see the author explore more of it.

I don’t remember too much else, but it is definitely a worthwhile read, especially if you’re looking to get back into reading. I look forward to reading more of Adrian Tchaikovsky, and I have Children of Time on my reading list.

4/5

A Life in Parts

Bryan Cranston

Again, another easy read. Having enjoyed Bryan Cranston’s performance in Breaking Bad, I wanted to read this book to get the inside scoop on his life. I was pleasantly surprised with the reflective tone of the book.

It is a good reminder of the role of Luck and consistency in getting yourself to have a life you enjoy. It was also really interesting seeing how Bryan prepares to act, by putting himself in the shoes of the character he is emulating.

A light read, definitely worth reading if you are a Cranston fan.

3/5

March

Infinity Gate

M.R Carey

This is the first of a 2-part series, called the “Pandominion”.

I only picked this up because it was one of the few Sci-Fi books with an interesting cover available at my local branch of the Schaumburg Library. I ended up being pleasantly surprised.

This book attempts to do a lot - it ropes in Autonomous robots, the multiverse, machine sentience, and intergalactic civilization (except its interdimensional), all of which are the subject of so much sci-fi writing. While this is a lot, I never felt like the book was trying to do TOO much (well, most of the time).

The world-building in this series is pretty good for how short it is. I could really feel for the characters once I got deep enough into the book. Also space-marines with hive mind drugs are pretty darn cool.

4/5

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his years of pilgrimage

Haruki Murakami

This is about as Murakami as it gets. A “strange” main character with some psychological issues. He meets a woman. Said woman catalyzes the plot. And so on.

I liked this book because it is rather mundane compared to Murakami’s other work (IQ84, Norwegian Woods). Tsukuru, the main character, was mostly relatable, and I liked the fact that the book was able to maintain its ethereal tone. The protagonist attempts to reconnect with old acquantainces to discover something about his past - and while it changes nothing about who he is, the discovery changes his self-image. This was a nice touch.

It struggles with trivializing female characters - but that is sort of expected with Japanese literature of this theme.

Highly recommend checking it out. Especially if you feel “mundane” about yourself.

4/5

Echo of Worlds

M.R Carey

This book is a conclusion to the Pandominion. It drags out a bit longer than its predecessor but there are some really satisfying combat sequences. I wasn’t particularly happy with the choice of the ending, but the build up to the climax was really good.

This books builds upon to the foundations of sentience, robotic hive minds, and also explores some of the implications of an “infinite” multiverse.

3/5 - Worth reading if you read part 1.

** SPOILER ALERT **

My main gripe with this series, is that the author talks about how small perturbations lead to cascading branches of the mutliverse. This leads to some discussion on how you may travel to another universe, and end up in a desert or even inside a wall. I would’ve liked to see the author flesh out implications of perturbations in planetary velocities and orbital paths. Where is the frame of reference centered???

Three Body Problem

Cixin Liu

I am SO glad I read the 3BP. I had a great time reading the series (shoutout to Max for the elite recommendation).

This book does a lot of the work establishing the setting for parts 2 and 3. It has the “least” happen compared to the other books, but this exposition is much needed. I liked the VR world that depicts the plight of the TriSolarians. It’s good stuff. The slow-burn it takes the scientist to figure out what keeps happening in the video game is quite peak.

This was my first time reading translated chinese literature, so I had a tough time keeping track of the names. But that is not really a reflection of the writing (I had a similar problem reading a book set in an Aztec setting).

5/5 - Would recommend reading

The American Spirit

David McCullough

This is a set of transcriptions of David McCullough’s speeches at different events. It’s short but a good reminder of classical values. This was my first introduction to David McCullough, and is an excellent medium for me to witness his appreciation for history.

If you’re trying to get into American History, and want to sample what an author has to offer, reading this is a great way to do that.

4/5

April

The Pioneers

David McCullough

I picked this up to try to learn more about the history of the midwest. I got about a quarter through and ended up quitting. While the trials and tribulations of Reverend Manneseh Cutler were quite intriguing, I wanted to finish up the Dark Forest before I moved out of Schaumburg. So I ended up putting this down, but I do intend to pick this back up again.

The Dark Forest

Cixin Liu

This is my favorite book in the 3BP. Da Shi making a return was a nice surprise.

Luo Ji being who he is is a bit strange. I think Cixin Liu can get a bit weird when it comes to writing women, and you see WAY more of this in Book 3. But overall, a very very satisfying read.

The ending is also really juicy, and worth the buildup. I really like the concept of wallfacers and wallbreakers. I would read book 1 just to be able to follow along for book 2.

Also Zhang Behai ends up being one of my favorite characters from the series. His conversations with his father left an impression on me.

5/5

May

Deaths end

Cixin Liu

Ohhhhh man. A good way to conclude the series. The first 2/3rds of this book are peak. Epic space battles, lots of plot twists and time jumps. A good space opera. All of this builds towards a conclusion worthy of the series. But then the author tries to do too much :(

I would’ve been perfectly happy with a grim ending. But they tried to do a bit too much in the last 100 pages, and I got lost.

I found this book to have strange representations of maternity and femininity. These are probably my only gripes with an otherwise satisfying conclusion to the saga (the 4th book doesn’t count).

4/5

First Person Singular

Haruki Murakami

To be completely honest, I remember reading this compilaiton of short stories, but I remember very little of what actually happens.

There was one about a man climbing up a mountain to go on a date??? And another about a jazz album. Nothing memorable.

1/5

Hyperion

Dan Simmons

I have a confession. This was my second attempt at reading this book. I tried to read it for the first time back in 2024. I never got through it then, and my guess is I was out of practice. This year though, I came prepared.

This doesn’t read very much like science fiction. It’s very DOOM-esque, with a lot of religion and fantasy sprinked in. I particularly enjoyed the setting of the book, and I like to imagine it’s settings as a cross between Pandora in Avatar(the movie), and the DOOM video game.

The ‘mystery’ around the Shrike is what hooks the reader in, and man is it good. I am yet to read the conclusion to the series, and the Endymion series (together they make the cantos).

5/5

July

We

Yevgeny Zamyatin

For someone who hasn’t read 1984 yet, I found this book to be a fun read. Eugene (Yevegeny) does a good job revelaing D-504’s state of mind to the reader. I could very well follow on and introspect his emotional state, and it was fun.

4/5

August

Hail Mary Project

Andy Weir

Fun stuff. Reads like its targeted for a YA audience. A wholesome and uplifting read :)

3/5

Neuromancer

William Gibson

This was good. I can see why people deem this genre-defining (the genre being cyberpunk). Epic heist, epic computer stuff, and some interesting AI stuff.

I don’t entirely remember why Wintermute (sounds like a gum brand xD) orchestrated the entire heist. But the setting remained consistently excellent for the entirety of the book. I need to read the entire “sprawl” trilogy.

4/5

September

1776

David McCullough

This book gets super into detail about the events leading up after 1776.

I had no idea that George Washington felt this “cooked” for most of his early campaign against the English. Mr McCullough does a wonderful job describing the battle strategy and planning that goes into the battle for Boston.

At the time of writing this, I head to Boston for the weekend. It’s going to be my first time visiting and I am hoping I am able to better appreciate the freedom trail.

The latter half of the book does drag on a bit. But I do appreciate learning more about the involvement of Nathan Greene, Henry Knox and the likes. The Siege of New York and the perceived role of “providence” was also quite interesting to read about.

3/5

October

Snowcrash

Neal Stephenson

Interesting plot with interesting characters. Reminded me of when I read Ready Player Zero.

Insanely verbose. I have been told that is general how Neal Stephenson tends to write. I need to try out a few more of his books (Diamond Age, I’m looking at you).

It was about okay.

3/5

December

Unworld

Jayson Greene

This was a short novella. The premise was interesting, but the story really centers on grief instead of science fiction. It is an interesting concept, and I feel like it had potential for more sci-fi exposition and world-building. It asks some interesting question.

Overall, a satisgying read - and impressive given this is the first publication from Jayson Greene.

2/5

Bobiverse: We are legion

Dennis E Taylor

I had a lot of fun reading this book. I one-shotted it on a 19 hour journey from Chicago to Mumbai. I really like the protagonists, their relationships and the entire setting / premise for the book.

There are a lot of references/easter-eggs that make this book so rewarding to read as a nerd. I read parts 2 and 3 of the series in 2026, and enjoyed them as much. It is a distillation of the space opera from the Three Body Problem and I loved every single combat scenario.

Shoutout to Max for another peak recommendation.

4/5