Helpful Score: 3
Entertaining, quick read... an Edgar Award winner.
Helpful Score: 3
Wonderful! Had me laughing out loud in places. If you've ever been to a comic book or science fiction convention, this book is a must read.
Helpful Score: 2
Dated but cute.
Helpful Score: 2
One of the funniest books I've read in a long time.
Lori S. (GroovyGlitterGirl) -
Helpful Score: 2
More wacky satire in a short whodunit fashion! I love Sharyn McCrumb's wit and often find myself reading parts of it outloud to my husband just to share a giggle :)
Helpful Score: 2
A good, quick read, likable characters.
Helpful Score: 1
I have very mixed feelings about the book. I can't decide whether I like it or hate it. It's a clever premise. It is a murder mystery set at a science fiction convention. The title of the book (and it's a great title) is also the title of a book written by a minor author invited to the con; he is our protagonist. However, the author's agent/editor/girlfriend seems to be voice of this book's author, Sharon Mccrumb. And she's annoying.
And this is where my mixed feelings mostly come in. She seems to have a very cliche view of con-goers, incredibly judgemental about what losers they all are. The geeks are all superfically characterized. At the same time, I had to admit I'd met con-goers like those portrayed. Thus I was constantly bouncing back and forth between offense and laughter.
As for the tale itself, I liked the premise. It was a fairly interesting read (I don't normally read murder mysteries), and they way the killer was brought to light at the end (through a Dungeons and Dragons game) was a great idea. Unfortunately, the events at the very end of the game when the murderer is revealed led me to roll my eyes. I didn't buy it. I think that the suspension of disbelief was lost because of the weak characterization. We as readers had not been given a deep enough understanding of the murderer - or any of the characters, for that matter - to accept what was then told us about what he did and his motivation.
So... mixed feelings. Clever premise, fairly good read, but weak characterization, which damages the entire story.
And this is where my mixed feelings mostly come in. She seems to have a very cliche view of con-goers, incredibly judgemental about what losers they all are. The geeks are all superfically characterized. At the same time, I had to admit I'd met con-goers like those portrayed. Thus I was constantly bouncing back and forth between offense and laughter.
As for the tale itself, I liked the premise. It was a fairly interesting read (I don't normally read murder mysteries), and they way the killer was brought to light at the end (through a Dungeons and Dragons game) was a great idea. Unfortunately, the events at the very end of the game when the murderer is revealed led me to roll my eyes. I didn't buy it. I think that the suspension of disbelief was lost because of the weak characterization. We as readers had not been given a deep enough understanding of the murderer - or any of the characters, for that matter - to accept what was then told us about what he did and his motivation.
So... mixed feelings. Clever premise, fairly good read, but weak characterization, which damages the entire story.
Helpful Score: 1
Fun book!
Lorraine T. (mysterylover) reviewed Bimbos of the Death Sun (Jay Omega, Bk 1) on + 318 more book reviews
Some time since I read this one, but remember it as a fun read and know Sharyn McCrumb as a fine writer, so recommend it.
Sheryl S. (bibliocat) -
Classic SciFi!
Don't let the title put you off. This was a very enjoyable light read. Very funny but with a nice suspenseful build-up before revealing "who done it" at the end. A different Sharyn McCrumb from the Elizabeth McPhearson series but still with the humorous look at quirky human behaviour. Worth the read!
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
This is really a great little mystery. I often tell people it is one of my favorite mysteries.
There is a sequel called "Zombies of the Gene Pool" which was written years later. Unless you feel you must read sequels, you should avoid it, as it is very boring and quite unlike "Bimbos."
There is a sequel called "Zombies of the Gene Pool" which was written years later. Unless you feel you must read sequels, you should avoid it, as it is very boring and quite unlike "Bimbos."
For one fateful weekend, the annual scince fiction
and fantasy convention, Rubicon, has all but taken
over a usally ordinary hotel.
Now the halls are alive with Trekkers, tech nerds,
and fantasy gamers in their Viking finery-all of them
eager to hail their hero, bestselling fantasy author
Appin Dungannon: a diminutive despot whose towering ego
more than compensates for his 5'1" height... and whose
gleeful disdain for his fawning fans is legendary.
#1 in the series.
and fantasy convention, Rubicon, has all but taken
over a usally ordinary hotel.
Now the halls are alive with Trekkers, tech nerds,
and fantasy gamers in their Viking finery-all of them
eager to hail their hero, bestselling fantasy author
Appin Dungannon: a diminutive despot whose towering ego
more than compensates for his 5'1" height... and whose
gleeful disdain for his fawning fans is legendary.
#1 in the series.
For one fateful weekend, the annual science fiction and fastasy convention, Rubicon, has all but taken over a usually ordinary hotel. Now the halls are alive with Trekkers, tech nerds, and fantasy gamers in their Viking finery--all of them eager to hail their hero, bestselling fantasy author Appin Dungannon: a diminutive despot whose towering ego more than compensates for his 5'1" height...and whose disdain for his fans is legendary.
Hurling insults and furniture with equal abandon, the author proceeds to alienate ersatz aliens and make-believe warriors at warp speed. But somewhere between the costume contest and the exhibition Dungeons & Dragons game, Dungannon gets done in. While die-hard fans wonder they'll go on and hucksters wonder how much they can get for the dead man's autographs, a hapless cop wonders, "Who would want to kill Appin Dungannon?" But real question, as the harried convention organizers know, is "Who wouldn't?"
I believe this is Sharyn McCrumbs first published title...and as you read, you can understand why McCrumbs is so published. Good story which won the Edgar award.
Hurling insults and furniture with equal abandon, the author proceeds to alienate ersatz aliens and make-believe warriors at warp speed. But somewhere between the costume contest and the exhibition Dungeons & Dragons game, Dungannon gets done in. While die-hard fans wonder they'll go on and hucksters wonder how much they can get for the dead man's autographs, a hapless cop wonders, "Who would want to kill Appin Dungannon?" But real question, as the harried convention organizers know, is "Who wouldn't?"
I believe this is Sharyn McCrumbs first published title...and as you read, you can understand why McCrumbs is so published. Good story which won the Edgar award.
For one fateful weekend, the annual science ficion and and fantasy convention, Rubicon, has all but taken over a usually ordinary hotel. Now the halls are alive with Trekkers, tech nerds, and fantasy gamers in their Viking finery-all of them eager to fail their hero, bestselling fantasy author Appin Dungannon: a diminutive despot whose towering ego more than compensates for his 5' 1" height...and whose gleeful disdain for his fawning fans is legendary.
Hurling insults and furniture with equal abandon, the terrible, tiny author proceeds to alienate ersatz aliens and make-believe warriors at warp speed. But somewhere between the costume contest and the exhibition Dungeons & Dragons game, Dungannon gets done int. While die-hard fans of Dungannon's seemingly endless sword-and-sorcery series wonder how they'll go on and hucksters wonder how much they can get for the dead man's autograph, a hapless cop wonders, "Who would want to kill Appin Dungannon?" But the real question, as the harried convention organizers know, is "Who wouldn't?"
Hurling insults and furniture with equal abandon, the terrible, tiny author proceeds to alienate ersatz aliens and make-believe warriors at warp speed. But somewhere between the costume contest and the exhibition Dungeons & Dragons game, Dungannon gets done int. While die-hard fans of Dungannon's seemingly endless sword-and-sorcery series wonder how they'll go on and hucksters wonder how much they can get for the dead man's autograph, a hapless cop wonders, "Who would want to kill Appin Dungannon?" But the real question, as the harried convention organizers know, is "Who wouldn't?"
