Microviews Vol. 21: Genre-ary Bonanza

And Hoban makes it eleven. Not a bad haul to start off the year. Keeping true to my resolution, here are a bunch more Microviews of what I've been reading.

A Handbook For Visitors From Outer Space by Kathryn Kramer
While the apocalyptic end war rages in the background (or so most people believe), one apple pie American family open the closet to let the skeletons out for a dance. It's an interesting, if slightly laboured, allegory for the Cold War with one clear message: The family that shags together, frags together.
3.5 out of 5 UFOs

The Redeemer by Jo Nesbo
Once again Nesbo rescues Nordic crime fiction from the Larsson abomination with this ripper of a tale that combines The Salvation Army, an assassin from the former Yugoslavia and the best porno-named detective in the business. I gulped down its 560-odd pages in one sitting and burped something better smelling than The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.
3.5 out of 5 Better Tattoos

Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Strip away the techno-hooplah from Asimov's canonical sci-fi space opera and you've got a damn fine novel of political intrigue, espionage, conquest and nation building. This would have made a way more sound basis for a religion than Hubbard's schlocky brain sludge.
4 out of 5 Jedi Councils

The Strangers In The House by Georges Simenon
Hector Loursat, a washed-up lawyer in self-imposed drunken exile, is unceremoniously ripped from his pitiful stupor when a notorious gangster is murdered in his house and his daughter is implicated in the crime. Simenon's great treatise on the reintegration of a recluse, couched around an intriguing murder mystery, is bleak but compelling. Perry Maison, if you will.
3.5 out of 5 Smoking Hermit Beards

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
To paraphrase Samuel L. Jackson when asked about a certain movie involving reptiles and aircraft: "It's MotherF*&^n Brave New MotehrF*&^n World!" Need I say more?
4 Out Of 5 Human Hatcheries

Ridley Walker by Russell Hoban
Rapier head drowned the nirrem pentrubble slang proas and yer infra dam grate spear ants in the vane of Jayjee Ballud, Ants Knee Burchis and Will Yam Golding. Wanna the most fully real eyesed poster pokliptik worlds ever putter pay per with anon forget bull near ate her. Just one too full.
4 outer 5 Sharp Penned Conches