Steven C. (SteveTheDM) -
This was the fourth in Stross Laundry Files novels, and the most enjoyable yet, I think. The prior novel, The Fuller Memorandum, suffered from too many strange and confusing settings, and this time the action takes place (mostly) in Colorado, a decidedly more mundane location. Which isnt to say that the storyline was mundane at all, merely that the zany oddball things went on against an easily understandable backdrop. At any rate: better.
The Laundry Files are a set of novels in a world where computational demonology (casting spells by doing math) is a thing, and oh, what a fun thing it is. Bob Howard, our protagonist, is a rising star in a secret British agency called the Laundry, and his dry assessments of world-shattering events along with government bureaucracy mundanities are what make this set of stories fun.
This time, we have new help in the form of external assets, and a return to the evil of the prior book. Reading The Fuller Memorandum isnt a requirement, but it does help to set the stage a bit. Id recommend reading the prior novel first, but its not a true necessity.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
The Laundry Files are a set of novels in a world where computational demonology (casting spells by doing math) is a thing, and oh, what a fun thing it is. Bob Howard, our protagonist, is a rising star in a secret British agency called the Laundry, and his dry assessments of world-shattering events along with government bureaucracy mundanities are what make this set of stories fun.
This time, we have new help in the form of external assets, and a return to the evil of the prior book. Reading The Fuller Memorandum isnt a requirement, but it does help to set the stage a bit. Id recommend reading the prior novel first, but its not a true necessity.
4.5 out of 5 stars.
