Still too much early-Heinlein manly men and weepy women characterizations, and I saw the end coming, but at least I didn’t roll my eyes through the _entire_ thing. An improvement!

By using an actor impersonating a political figure gradually coming to understand both the figure and the wider political situation, the character actually showed some believable personal growth through the story. I also found the latter half of the book, which was more concerned with political maneuvering within the circumstances, to be more interest than the more standard “space adventure” feeling of the first half, more interesting. Overall (judging from reading two earlier Heinlein works recently, and my memories of the later works I read when I was younger) it kind of feels like a bridge between the earlier space adventures and the later more political plots.

Upping the stakes with conspiracies, some zombie virus science and military experiments, and a little undead romance. Definitely as enjoyable as the first in the series.

For some reason, I couldn’t get invested in this one. I didn’t dislike it, and it being structured very much like a single-set play was interesting, but I had to work my way through it.

Admittedly, part of the issue may have been that Norwescon came along as I was reading this, so during the first half of the book I was distracted by getting ready, then I didn’t read it for about a week, then the last half was read during post-con crash. Even without that, though, I don’t think my reaction would have changed significantly.

This series continues to entertain, as the filming of a zombie film provides backdrop to expanding the political and scientific worlds of the zombie population. Conspiracies galore!

Kept my interest, though I’ve read other SF dealing with the intersection of religion and SF that I enjoyed more. Almost two separate stories; the first section (the original novella) was the better than the second section that was added later to create the full novel.

The latest in the _Smut Peddler_ series of erotic comic anthologies, which are always entertaining. If you’re into stories about getting it on with artificial beings, this is for you!

As with any anthology, some stories are better than others, but on the whole, they’re all fun, and with some really excellent artwork to boot. Plus, y’know...smut. :)

Finally, a Heinlein Hugo winner I enjoyed! He still has issues with women’s roles (quick example: women make better pilots and are preferred, but do not soldier; men soldier, and can pilot as well if they choose and have the aptitude), and I’m not on board with all the political philosophy — though I will admit that much of it at least makes me think, and the arguments can be at least superficially convincing — but it’s still a good read.

These continue to be fun, as the world and the conspiracies grow in scope. Some things have improved, but some continue to go downhill….