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songwind's review against another edition
4.0
The Laundry Files are a perfect blend of spy thriller, cosmic horror, and comedy. The Fuller Memorandum continues this trend quite well.
In this installment, Bob Howard gets entangled in the latest moves of a game that goes back to the Russian revolution. We learn more about Angleton, Bob's boss and general scary sorcerer. We get some background on the interaction between the Laundry and their counterparts around the world. And we get more information about Bob's wife Mo, fellow Laundry operator and Combat Epistemologist.
(As an aside, I'd love to read a novel about Mo, possible title: This Machine Kills Demons)
One of my favorite things about the Laundry is that instead of making everything up out of whole cloth, Stross frequently find obscure historical persons or events, and fills in an eldritch background. Not only is it entertaining, but it frequently leads to an expansion of my understanding of real-life history.
In this installment, Bob Howard gets entangled in the latest moves of a game that goes back to the Russian revolution. We learn more about Angleton, Bob's boss and general scary sorcerer. We get some background on the interaction between the Laundry and their counterparts around the world. And we get more information about Bob's wife Mo, fellow Laundry operator and Combat Epistemologist.
(As an aside, I'd love to read a novel about Mo, possible title: This Machine Kills Demons)
One of my favorite things about the Laundry is that instead of making everything up out of whole cloth, Stross frequently find obscure historical persons or events, and fills in an eldritch background. Not only is it entertaining, but it frequently leads to an expansion of my understanding of real-life history.
ithilwen22's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this one. Bob's boss has disappeared, the Russians are sneaking around trying to steal intelligence, and cultists are looking for the formula to awaken a horror. Why? To make Bob's life harder, obviously. Go and read this book.
embereye's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as Atrocity Archives or Jennifer Morgue, but does continue aspects of the story. I'm not sure if the action didn't pick up until near the end or I just wasn't as into it, but somehow I kept feeling bogged down by the background and detail. Not sure what was going on there.
mdelkins's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
spitzig's review against another edition
3.0
Good, but I've read several this series of Stross's. I like how he keeps developing the characters. But, the idea isn't new to me anymore. So, I'm not blown away by the "spy/cthulu/bureaucratic comedy" like I first was.
broonie's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
faileskye's review against another edition
5.0
A return to fun office workplace Lovecraftian shenanigans!
Yes, you read that right, with The Fuller Memorandum, Stross has once again decided to spoof typical workplace drama with his Lovecraft flavor. I wouldn't say it is a satire anymore, which I am sad about. However, it has become a very competent, creative, and entertaining urban fantasy with a twist. I don't actually know what that twist is, but there is something about this series that defies definition and makes me hesitate to even call it urban fantasy.
To the uninitiated: go buy The Atrocity Archives. Really, do it now. This book is a continuation of what happened previously and follows Bob as he gets into trouble. His mouth gets him into trouble most of all, but his competency and ability to get out of sticky (and sometimes hilarious) situations makes him a prime target for gibbering horrors and those that worship them.
This time Bob has to navigate interoffice politics, a missing boss, a growing disaster, and an iPhone. The bits about the iPhone are worth reading every book up to this one just to fully appreciate those jokes. So. Flipping. Funny.
I continue to recommend this book to anyone who has an office job, especially a governmental one. It is funny, entertaining, and quite good all around with its likable characters, relatable protagonist and fun story.
Yes, you read that right, with The Fuller Memorandum, Stross has once again decided to spoof typical workplace drama with his Lovecraft flavor. I wouldn't say it is a satire anymore, which I am sad about. However, it has become a very competent, creative, and entertaining urban fantasy with a twist. I don't actually know what that twist is, but there is something about this series that defies definition and makes me hesitate to even call it urban fantasy.
To the uninitiated: go buy The Atrocity Archives. Really, do it now. This book is a continuation of what happened previously and follows Bob as he gets into trouble. His mouth gets him into trouble most of all, but his competency and ability to get out of sticky (and sometimes hilarious) situations makes him a prime target for gibbering horrors and those that worship them.
This time Bob has to navigate interoffice politics, a missing boss, a growing disaster, and an iPhone. The bits about the iPhone are worth reading every book up to this one just to fully appreciate those jokes. So. Flipping. Funny.
I continue to recommend this book to anyone who has an office job, especially a governmental one. It is funny, entertaining, and quite good all around with its likable characters, relatable protagonist and fun story.
bluestarfish's review against another edition
2.0
Starting with the third book of a series rarely works out that well (although it does seem to be a common feature of a book reading life done through the medium of libraries). The Laundry is a spy branch that deals with the supernatural and our narrator Bob sorts stuff out. I'm not a huge fan of horror either (although there wasn't much in here that was that terrifying) so I might not have been the target audience for this novel...
medium_dave's review against another edition
3.0
I think, for me, the Laundry books have run their course. Especially after The Rook, which took the premise and made it much more fun.
I really dug Jennifer Morgue but found Fuller a slog for the middle 150 pages or so. The beginning and ending were great, but Bob just hanging about, letting things happen to him, eh. The Bond-ness of Jennifer is gone, replaced by office back room bullshit drama.
Is it terrible? No, and it's still written well, it's just that I am kinda done with this. I'm far more looking forward to the sequel to The Rook.
I really dug Jennifer Morgue but found Fuller a slog for the middle 150 pages or so. The beginning and ending were great, but Bob just hanging about, letting things happen to him, eh. The Bond-ness of Jennifer is gone, replaced by office back room bullshit drama.
Is it terrible? No, and it's still written well, it's just that I am kinda done with this. I'm far more looking forward to the sequel to The Rook.
jaipal's review against another edition
4.0
This is book 3 of the Laundry Files. Our intrepid agent, Bob Howard is at it again. Something that starts out as a typical easy operation goes wrong. He is put on leave with pay until it's sorted out but as much as he tries to, trouble keeps on finding a way to spoil Bob's life.
This book has it all, spies, Russians, special forces, cultists, and lots and lots of creatures that most sane people don't want to be near to. Did I mention cultists. They are not sane...and can be inept.
This book introduces teacup and how everyone is trying to stop making tea...except for the cultists. Again, they are not sane...or maybe just plainly passive-aggresive.
The story gets a bit predictable but there are many more fun elements to make up for the predictability. Definitely worth reading but perhaps not as a standalone novel.
This book has it all, spies, Russians, special forces, cultists, and lots and lots of creatures that most sane people don't want to be near to. Did I mention cultists. They are not sane...and can be inept.
This book introduces teacup and how everyone is trying to stop making tea...except for the cultists. Again, they are not sane...or maybe just plainly passive-aggresive.
The story gets a bit predictable but there are many more fun elements to make up for the predictability. Definitely worth reading but perhaps not as a standalone novel.