16. Dueling

Congratulations and good luck! Alien Clay and Wounds are two of the best books I read last year!

Congratulations! Will buy the day it’s out in the U.S.!

Now that you mention Hugo I can’t unsee it with the uni students at the barricades. Can’t believe I missed that the first time.

The layering of POV sections feels rich and authentic. It is similar to Andor — gradually showing the nature of the empire through the perspective of bureaucrats, middle management, and those in the path of expansion. And I love the acceleration the mosaics, which always signal trouble is coming.

I feel exactly this every time I look at them, especially if I have been away or busy. And certainly any time I spend time on my phone around them. Just an acute sense that there won’t be enough time with these particular versions of these people.

Reading now and beginning to suspect that certain actors’ repeat appearances on these lists may involve more than you simply liking their work.

Just started today but these are perfect so far.