Charles Stross just won the Hugo Award for Best Science Fiction Novella of 2014 with “Equoid.” To celebrate Stross’ win, I want to recommend three novels in his Laundry series since “Equoid” is a “prequel” to these three novels. For those of you who haven’t read any of the Laundry series, think H. P. Lovecraft meets James Bond. The Laundry is a super-secret British spy agency that deals with X-File-type threats.
The Fuller Memorandum features Bob Howard, a rising spy, who discovers the Laundry has a mole. Plenty of black magic and intrigue in this book! A tele-evangelist attempts to awaken a powerful alien entity in The Apocalypse Codex. Much of the action takes place in Colorado. The Rhesus Chart, just published, involves a magic conspiracy that goes back to the being of the Laundry. Bob Howard has to do some clever detective work to figure this plot out. If you’re looking for some off-beat spy novels, don’t miss Charles Stross’ Laundry series. GRADE: B+ (for all three books)
Those are great covers. Sounds like fun.
Patti, I’ve enjoyed all the Laundry novels. And the covers are great!
I’ve tried Stross several times, but I just can’t get into his books. Something about his writing just doesn’t agree with me.
Bill, I know what you mean about Charles Stross. I’ve struggled with his non-Laundry books. But, somehow, I find Stross’ Laundry books fun.
What Bill said. I tried the Merchant Princes series but I couldn’t get into it at all. This series sounds more like it so may give the first one a try.
Jeff, I tried THE MERCHANT PRINCES series, too, with the same result.