The Prefect by Alastair Reynolds

Another Revelation Space novel this one is set in the fabulous Glitter band of Yellowstone when it is at the height of its power and influence. It is half detective novel and half space opera. Tom Dreyfus is a cop. One of the prefects tasked with keeping the peace in this collection of independent asteroid habitats and in particular with protecting the integrity of the democratic voting system which governs the band. What starts out as a straight forward vote tampering case legend out to have much more serious consequences as a malign super-intelligence makes a bid to takeover the entire Glitter band. Great Sci Fi Entertainment as can be expected from Reynolds.

Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie

Set shortly after the end of the First Law Trilogy this is another delicious tale of treachery and revenge from Abercrombie. The main protagonist is a mercenary general who's reward for vanquishing all rivals to the Duke of Talins bid for a Kingdom is for her brother to be murdered and herself mutilated and left for dead. She vows revenge on the duke and his cronies who perpetrated the evil deed. This is a stand alone novel but there are plenty of tie ins with the previous First law books. Good Stuff.

Black Man by Richard Morgan

Sci Fi novel from the writer of Altered Carbon that shares the same gritty feel even though it is not set in the same story world. The main protagonist is a genetically modified "He-Man" who was bred and trained to be a super soldier before public unease about genetic variants led to him and his like being ostracised and exiled to Mars.
Contains lots of pithy stuff about the nature of humanity and about the changing needs of society as we moved from hunter gatherer society into more organised groups.

Pretty good with a solid sci fi detective story underpinning Morgans musings.

"Before they are hanged" and "The Last Argument of Kings" by Joe Abercrombie

I read Book 2 and Book 3 of the First Law Trilogy sequentially so I am including both of them in one post. At first glance the story and setting of Abercrombies books seem to be pretty standard Fantasy fare. Embattled Kingdom , Heroic warriors, Ancient Wizards, Unspeakable Evil, Invaders from across the seas and all that. Abercrombies beautifully twisted and warped characters are what raises this more than a cut above however. You start out thinking you are reading Terry Brooks but pretty soon you realise this is closer to George Martin r indeed even China Mieville. Deliciously nasty stuff. Highly recommended.

Replay by Ken Grimwood

Every time Jeff Winston dies he is transported back to a young version of himself and gets to do it all again but with memory of his previous existences intact.

This 1998 winner of the world fantasy award preceded Groundhog day and takes a more serious look at the theme of time looping. A dominant subtheme is overwhelming sense of loss felt by loopers. It is however very well written and an enjoyable read.

The Horse Soldiers by Harold Sinclair

This novel is a fictionalised account of a famous Union Cavalry raid during the American Civil War. It was made into a film starring John Wayne back in the 1950's but I managed to get my hands on a recent reprint published in 2001.

This is a terrific read. Even though it is highly fictionalised (all the characters names are changed) it does lean heavily on the facts of Grearson's heroic raid . Apart from being well written and a great read it also gives a great flavour of the this the first modern war. Highly recommended if you can get your hands on a copy.

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

First novel in Joe Abercrombies "First Law" trilogy. This is shaping up to be a really entertaining fantasy. A country facing invasion on several fronts that is rendered impotent through a combination of a weak doddering monarch, a corrupt government and foolish class prejudices. The dangers are even more extreme than first appears however and the legendary first Magus decides after centuries of isolation to once again take a role in world affairs only everybody is so caught up in their own petty jockeying for position that nobody cares to recognise him. The story is peopled with some great characters including a superb twisted inquisitor who has devoted his life to causing pain and suffering in others after his once glittering military career was cut short by two years of persecution in an enemies dungeons.