Rating: 
Summary: far future Noir!
Review: thank you Joan Vinge for returning me to one of my favorite
worlds of SF, Tiamat. This sf novel skillfully combines the seedy nature of film noir and dazzling imagination of far future sf as she tells us a gripping story of corruption, murder and intrigue that threatens a interstellar civilization!Hegemonic cop, Nyx Laistree and his partners are vigilante cops who destroy property of criminals who are above the law but one of their raids go wrong and they are all killed except for Tree who loses his memory in the attack. He is suspended from the force and must try to figure out what happen that night.Tree only allies are by-the book sergeant Gundhalinu who hates him and mysterious shapeshifter prostitute with her own agenda.this novel is filled with scenes of deception and characters who motives no one can be sure of. This leads to a thrilling climax and final denoucement against the villians.Vinge's world-building skills are still amazing as she takes us once again to her beautiful world of Tiamat with the ruthless Snow Queen, the honorable Hegemonic police, the sinister crime lord called the source! Gripping entertainment not to be missed!
Rating: 
Summary: A rushed and disappointing entry in Vinge's Tiamat series
Review: The Snow Queen is the jewel in the crown, the book by which Vinge will always be judged. That's what happens when you write a stone classic that is lauded by the likes of Clarke and his ilk. It's also what happens when you win a Hugo award. It's probably not fair to compare this novel to the Snow Queen, but how can you help it? It's set in the same universe and has some of the same characters. The Snow Queen is my all-time favorite science fiction novel. Magical and mysterious, it is an enchanting story with a host of complex characters from an author who excels at world building. But now that she's established her empire, Vinge seems like she's resting on her laurels. Tangled Up in Blue smacks of a novel that she dashed together in the blink of an eye. Even the established characters are half-formed, and only LaisTree has more than two dimensions. While I like the idea of a police procedural with a science fiction setting, it is a hard thing to accomplish and Vinge doesn't quite pull it off. I also don't agree that this is a standalone novel. While I think Vinge meant it to be so, she frequently refers to things (like the Golden Mean) that aren't fully explained here. And while the book contains a happy ending of sorts, you have to suffer through a series of scenes where the guns change hands faster than the speed of light. In the end, Vinge's latest work rings as hollow as the city of Carbuncle in all its dayglo splendor.
Rating:
Summary: Not too tangled, nor too blue.
Review: When someone picks for her novel the title of one of the signature songs of a generation, you expect a little more substance. Vinge creates a pleasant and extremely well-written jaunt into her Snow Queen world, but it lacks any real teeth. This is a great book if you're hooked on the Carbuncle series and would like a little background on the milieu, society and characters. If you're looking for compelling future-fiction, turn to the rest of series or, even better, to Vinge's superb Psion line. Otherwise, Tangled Up in Blue is a perfect read for a cross-country flight--engaging, well-crafted, perfectly paced, but fluffy enough that if the plane goes down mid-book, your last thought won't be "I wonder what's going to happen to Gundhalinu".
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