Scan barcode
nedhayes's review against another edition
Not a bad update to the paranormal spy novels.
I still think Tim Powers' "Declare" is the masterwork here... but Charles Stross is playing to a slightly different article, and it works!
I still think Tim Powers' "Declare" is the masterwork here... but Charles Stross is playing to a slightly different article, and it works!
danielwestheide's review against another edition
4.0
Charles Stross is an enormously versatile author. From near future to hard SF or parallel universes, he excels in all of them - not a single bit less in the unique genre mix of Lovecraftian spy thriller that he pursues with the Laundry series.
"The Fuller Memorandum" is the third book in this series about Bob Howard, who is working for the Laundry, a super-secret branch of Her Majesty's Secret Service that is responsible for dealing with all kinds of occult threats.
People keep saying that it is darker and lacks the humour of the two previous books. The former is certainly true, but I have to disagree with the latter. "The Fuller Memorandum" is so full of nerd and geek references and jokes that it really made me laugh out loud and often.
While the plot was not as tantalizing as in the previous books, it was still highly entertaining and kept me reading on far longer than I intended to a couple of nights. I would recommend reading "The Atrocity Archives" and "The Jennifer Morgue" first, though, not only because they are awesome, but because they give important background information that is not fully explained again in "The Fuller Memorandum".
"The Fuller Memorandum" is the third book in this series about Bob Howard, who is working for the Laundry, a super-secret branch of Her Majesty's Secret Service that is responsible for dealing with all kinds of occult threats.
People keep saying that it is darker and lacks the humour of the two previous books. The former is certainly true, but I have to disagree with the latter. "The Fuller Memorandum" is so full of nerd and geek references and jokes that it really made me laugh out loud and often.
While the plot was not as tantalizing as in the previous books, it was still highly entertaining and kept me reading on far longer than I intended to a couple of nights. I would recommend reading "The Atrocity Archives" and "The Jennifer Morgue" first, though, not only because they are awesome, but because they give important background information that is not fully explained again in "The Fuller Memorandum".
ashryn's review against another edition
3.0
I find these novels a tad repetitive - in that he explains the background too often and in quite similar words - but for all that, I enjoy them, and keep drawing parallels between my public servant experiences and Bob's. Maybe don't read them all one after another though.
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
Boy HOWDY! This series is science fiction/urban fantasy A.W.E.S.O.M.E.!! I need to get all of these to the top of my Simply Audio wishlist ASAP!
I think I find it easier to listen to the thrill-ride that is The Laundry, that government agency that protects England from the things that go bump in the night. Each book is meticulously told, with intricatre detail that I might get lost if reading in print. But listening to the story, I can go back to the previous track and have Gideon Emory tell me again. I let him pronounce the (to me) rather unpronounceable terms, plus I get the creepy atmosphere of the story listening to Gideon's versatile voice.
This one is grim, a thriller with scenes that had me scrunching up my nose and wincing in horror. It's a bit difficult to 'splain, so I won't. You can read the synopsis as well as anyone. Just know that it is superbly told and I can't wait to listen to more from the series.
Big ol' definite recommend.
I think I find it easier to listen to the thrill-ride that is The Laundry, that government agency that protects England from the things that go bump in the night. Each book is meticulously told, with intricatre detail that I might get lost if reading in print. But listening to the story, I can go back to the previous track and have Gideon Emory tell me again. I let him pronounce the (to me) rather unpronounceable terms, plus I get the creepy atmosphere of the story listening to Gideon's versatile voice.
This one is grim, a thriller with scenes that had me scrunching up my nose and wincing in horror. It's a bit difficult to 'splain, so I won't. You can read the synopsis as well as anyone. Just know that it is superbly told and I can't wait to listen to more from the series.
Big ol' definite recommend.
mermahoney's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
4.25
A series of increasingly disturbing events. I <3 Bob.
joepasaran's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
the_weirdling's review against another edition
3.0
Good story, though not great. It's filled with lots of techie-speak and references. I am sure it would be loved by someone who's into it. They'd surely love it. It was lost on me and would sometimes distract. I could tell he was making a joke, but I wasn't in on it. I guess I wasn't the target audience, inspire of loving Lovecraftian stories, which this clearly is. 3.5 stars.
emlo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Didn't enjoy this as much as Jennifer morgue. I kept forgetting who the subsidiary characters were and I found the plot a bit confusing. Plus too much horror for me and not enough of Pinky and Brains.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Torture, and Child death
imakandiway's review against another edition
funny
tense
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
3.75