Reading Archive: 2010
December
4 Stars to The Tower of Sorcery (The Firestaff Chronicles, #1) by James Galloway
Description
The first book in a unique, scandalously interesting and non-commercial fantasy series. Written by James Galloway purely for fun in the course of many years. Read by fanatical fans for even more fun. It has never been published and it can be found online, absolutely for free, on the author's website (http://forums.sennadar.com). Or download from http://www.weavespinner.net/worlds_of...
Review
Though the story itself was engaging enough, the misspellings throughout detracted a little from the quality. There were also parts where things just seemed to drag a little; but then I've never felt a great deal of affinity for cats. The magic system is not overly complex but interesting enough in its own way, yet the introduction of the Firestaff seems too little, too late. Very good reading, but hopefully there's more to impress.
5 Stars to Forest Mage (Soldier Son, #2) by Robin Hobb
Description
Dark mysticism and primordial natural magic clash with the ever-expanding boundaries of the "civilized" world in the second volume of Robin Hobb's Soldier Son trilogy, Forest Mage. The sequel to 2005's Shaman's Crossing finds protagonist Nevare Burvelle -- the second son of a nobleman and destined for a career in the military -- with his world turned upside down. After surviving a plague that wiped out many of the students and instructors at the king's military academy, Nevare returns home for his brother's wedding, only to learn that he has been medically discharged from the school. The plague usually leaves its survivors skeletally thin, but Nevare, inexplicably, has begun to gain massive amounts of weight. With his family believing he's a glutton, Nevare is disowned by his father and eventually ends up finding work as a lowly cemetery guard in a frontier town near the border with the Specks, a race of dapple-skinned forest dwellers who possess powerful natural magic. But in a world where technology never stops advancing, can the Specks survive? And what does the suddenly bloated Nevare have to do with their struggle?
Review
"I guess funerals are like birthdays. Once you reach a certain number of them, they don't seem so special anymore." this is my favourite of the trilogy, the incredibly gripping progression of the Speck magic and military dissolution makes for very compelling reading. Seeing Nevare's life falling apart so completely and utterly is powerful, and my heart even went out to good old Sirlofty - "I stopped for a moment. I dried my face of the tears that had run unashamedly as we walked together in the darkness. Then, like a boy, I leaned against my horse's shoulder and tried to hug him good-bbye." It was just so ... unfair! Though grim, I think I enjoy this one so much as it bridges Nevare's two worlds so expertly. The Gernian Soldier's Son is warring with the Speck's Great One and, even with a shredded reputation, bereft family and nothing but scorn from his countrymen Nevare persists in trying to be what he was meant to be, right up until the last.
4 Stars to Shaman's Crossing (Soldier Son #1) by Robin Hobb
Description
Nevare Burvelle was destined from birth to be a soldier. The second son of a newly anointed nobleman, he must endure the rigors of military training at the elite King's Cavalla Academy--and survive the hatred, cruelty, and derision of his aristocratic classmates--before joining the King of Gernia's brutal campaign of territorial expansion. The life chosen for him will be fraught with hardship, for he must ultimately face a forest-dwelling folk who will not submit easily to a king's tyranny. And they possess an ancient magic their would-be conquerors have long discounted--a powerful sorcery that threatens to claim Nevare Burvelle's soul and devastate his world once the Dark Evening brings the carnival to Old Thares.
Review
"He'll be shitting through his lips until the morning light!" I'm no stranger to Hobb but things never, ever get old. Each world and character therein is painted so well that we're drawn in, right from the start. "I remember well the first time I saw the magic of the plainspeople," opens this one. And the magic is there, always, mostly deftly woven throughout the story and playing such a subtle yet vital role. As Nevare grows up in the book, so our worldview grows also. We learn what peoples and magics populate this world. unlike the farseer books we're somewhat removed from royalty which Hobb uses to great effect to widen our perception of things and show, more than teach, us about this most unique and interesting of worlds. The second quarter of the book takes us from Nevare's home in Widevale as he proceeds to enter the King's Academy to learn to soldier. Already we have a great deal of information about Nevare's family and the traditions and circumstances of the wealthy, but these are frontier folk when compared to the pomp and wealth of those living in larger cities. Now, at the academy, the political rifts between the old and new nobility surface strongly: into this morass, Nevare is plunged with the mysterious magics of a young ordeal still hanging over his head. I held this book in such hi regard that I gave a copy as a Christmas present to my best friend who very much appreciates good fantasy. The military, the politics and the mystical all play their parts very well indeed. Cracking reading.
3 Stars to The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More by Roald Dahl
Description
Seven stories of fantasy and fun by the fantastic Roald Dahl. Henry Sugar is a man with an amazing talent: he can see with his eyes closed. But will he use his power for good or personal gain? Find out in "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar," one of seven short stories in this extraordinary collection. A clever mix of fact and fiction, this volume also includes the tale of a boy who can understand animals, the magical true story of Mildenhall treasure, and Roald Dahl's own account of how he became a writer (with a wealth of tips for aspiring authors). Included in this volume: - The Boy Who Talked With Animals - in which a stranded sea turtle and a small boy have more in common than meets the eye. - The Hitchhiker - proves that in a pinch a professional pickpocket can be the perfect pal. - The Mildenhall Treasure - a true tale of fortune found and an opportunity lost. - The Swan - a fantastic story about youthful misdeeds. - The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar - in which a modern-day Robin Hood brings joy to the hearts of orphans - and fear to the souls of casino owners around the world. - Lucky Break: How I Became a Writer - an account in Dahl's own words on how he came to be. - A Piece of Cake: First Story - 1942 - Dahl's first story, which tells of how he was shot down over the Libyan Desert.
Review
Almost inevitably, as a child of the 90's before Pottermania swept through our little Welsh valley, I enjoyed many of Roald Dahls children's stories. As an adult, There's something I can't just put my finger on which robs me of satisfaction from many of his short stories - something about the endings which sit ill with me. But it has been a while and, after enjoying the new Fantastic MR Fox movie on Christmas Eve, I thought I'd give these a go today. The Mildenhall Treasure and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar were my favourites of the volume, with Lucky Break close behind. The first, second and forth stories all suffered from "Dahlism" - that inexplicable ennui I feel when ending some of his stories. Closely tied to Lucky Break was A Piece of Cake, which I enjoyed for its historical significance.
4 Stars to Empire of the East (Empire of the East, #1-3) by Fred Saberhagen
Description
In the distant future, society has crumbled. Dark forces now rule the land, keeping all humans under their oppressive thumbs. In the darkness of the shadows and whispered on the winds, there is talk of a rebellion. In the swamps, a small band has formed. Determined to regain their freedom, the rebellion, heavily outnumbered, plans to overthrow an army of thousands . . . with the help of one incredible weapon. It is only a legend, a story left over from the Old World before magic and the wizards came to the land. A weapon of technology. It is the mystical Elephant, and whoever masters it holds the key to freedom, or defeat. One young man, determined to avenge the death of his family, sets out to join the rebellion and find Elephant. What he discovers will change everything.
Review
"What powers of sorcery do you have here? What do battles mean, and warriors' lives, when dead men jump up grinning?" This is quite an enjoyable fantasy with a mix of technology and magic. The magic is rather vague in parts but very clearly powerful, and the technology, though it's called "old", outdates anything of which we are capable at the moment. "the backs of Western men bent hopelessly under the Eastern lash, their babies slain, their women and their lands despoiled. That is the future I see if we reject the power called Ardneh..." as is typical, there's a clash between Good and Evil, but the boundaries aren't set on technology against magic. The cause may be a little more obscure than the average but the sweeping battle scenes intersperced with an obvious humour break things up very well. "Now I have felt him. Listened to him. Whether I believe him is still another question." I have perhaps been spoiled by much longer works by the epics of Brandon Sanderson and Robin Hobb, and worlds with many more characters by the likes of Dave Duncan and Simon Hawke. Though not quite a five star read, this was certainly long enough to get into and gripping enough to keep reading.
4 Stars to Hybrids (Neanderthal Parallax, #3) by Robert J. Sawyer
Description
In the Hugo-Award winning Hominids, Robert J. Sawyer introduced a character readers will never forget: Ponter Boddit, a Neanderthal physicist from a parallel Earth who was whisked from his reality into ours by a quantum-computing experiment gone awry - making him the ultimate stranger in a strange land. In that book and in its sequel, Humans, Sawyer showed us the Neanderthal version of Earth in loving detail - a tour de force of world-building; a masterpiece of alternate history. Now, in Hybrids, Ponter Boddit and his Homo sapiens lover, geneticist Mary Vaughan, are torn between two worlds, struggling to find a way to make their star-crossed relationship work. Aided by banned Neanderthal technology, they plan to conceive the first hybrid child, a symbol of hope for the joining of their two versions of reality. But after an experiment shows that Mary's religious faith - something completely absent in Neanderthals - is a quirk of the neurological wiring of Homo sapiens brains, Ponter and Mary must decide whether their child should be predisposed to atheism or belief. Meanwhile, as Mary's Earth is dealing with a collapse of its planetary magnetic field, her boss, the enigmatic Jock Krieger, has turned envious eyes on the unspoiled Eden that is the Neanderthal world . . . Hybrids is filled to bursting with Sawyer's signature speculations about alternative ways of being human, exploding our preconceptions of morality and gender, of faith and love. His Neanderthal Parallax trilogy is a classic in the making, and here he brings it to a stunning, thought-provoking conclusion that's sure to make Hybrids one of the most controversial books of the year.
Review
Though the ending was substantially predictable, it didn't detract from the warmth and empathy lacing the pages. I still hold that Frameshift is my favourite Sawyer novel but this trilogy, though short, was captivating enough.
4 Stars to Humans (Neanderthal Parallax, #2) by Robert J. Sawyer
Description
Robert J. Sawyer, the award-winning and bestselling writer, hits the peak of his powers in Humans, the second book of The Neanderthal Parallax, his trilogy about our world and parallel one in which it was the Homo sapiens who died out and the Neanderthals who became the dominant intelligent species. This powerful idea allows Sawyer to examine some of the deeply rooted assumptions of contemporary human civilization dramatically, by confronting us with another civilization, just as morally valid, that has made other choices. In Humans, Neanderthal physicist Ponter Boddit, a character you will never forget, returns to our world and to his relationship with geneticist Mary Vaughan, as cultural exchanges between the two Earths begin. As we see daily life in another present-day world, radically different from ours, in the course of Sawyer's fast-moving story, we experience the bursts of wonder and enlightenment that are the finest pleasures of science fiction. Humans is one of the best SF novels of the year, and The Neanderthal Parallax is an SF classic in the making. Humans is a 2004 Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novel.
Review
This second instalment is just as good as the first, perhaps better as the complexities of DNA, evolution and religion are out of the way. Morality is the biggy in this book, and as the earth is now potentially endangered the sequel will hopefully tie things up nicely.
4 Stars to Hominids (Neanderthal Parallax, #1) by Robert J. Sawyer
Description
Neanderthals have developed a radically different civilization on a parallel Earth. A Neanderthal physicist, Ponter Boddit, accidentally passes from his universe into a Canadian underground research facility. Fortunately, a team of human scientists, including expert paleo-anthropologist Mary Vaughan, promptly identifies and warmly receives Ponter. Solving the language problem and much else is a mini-computer, called a Companion, implanted in the brain of every Neanderthal. A computerized guardian spirit, however, doesn't eliminate cross-cultural confusion; permanent male-female sexuality, rape, and overpopulation are all alien to Ponter. Nor can it help his housemate and fellow scientist back in his world, Adikor Huld, when the authorities charge Adikor with his murder.
Review
"But how could that be? How could that possibly be? For Pete's sake, the guy was clearly not a wild man, and he had a funky haircut." This is a delightful little volume from Sawyer and though it contains some religious exposition and a quantity of Quantum Mechanics, it's still quite accessible and a truly fascinating story to boot.
November
5 Stars to The Living God (A Handful of Men, #4) by Dave Duncan
Description
The sorcerer Zinixo had declared himself the Almighty. Now goblin hordes ravish the Impire. Dragons incinerate entire legions. And the slave-sorcerers of the Covin practice whatever barbarities Zinixo requires. It is only a matter of time before the mad Zinixo is almighty in fact as well as name -- unless Rap of Krasnegar can conjure up a miracle . . .
Review
"They said they would rather die where they stood than accept their lives at the cost of their principles. I cursed them for a gang of illogical nitwits. I derided their infantile elvish fancies. And now I understand. Now I sympathize." And amazingly, an ending that fits just as neatly and smoothly as with the first series set in this universe. It was predictable in outline, but in a good, fuzzy-feeling sort of a way that makes you glad rather than with an air of inevitability which sometimes permeates such work.
5 Stars to The Stricken Field (A Handful of Men, #3) by Dave Duncan
Description
Zinixo, the Almighty, may have overthrown the Impire and crowned himself, but there was revolt in the land. Next to Zinixo's, their forces were paltry, but each rebel leader carried the flame of freedom and was willing to go through any trial to save his people and his land....
Review
"Innocent bystanders caught up in one of the worst wars in Pandemia's bloody history had very poor prospects for survival." Undeniably and without any doubt this is the best thus far, but only because the build up (not only in the previous 2 but in the first series as well) is so well woven. In this instalment the characters are more vivid than ever, the action breathtaking and majestic, and it's everything to play for as we head out of the stricken field to meet The Living God.
5 Stars to Upland Outlaws (A Handful of Men, #2) by Dave Duncan
Description
This sequel to "The Cutting Edge" sees Shandie, the rightful Imperor, having escaped the clutches of his enemies, but the power-mad Zinixo has placed a magical substitute on the throne. Enter Colvin - the greatest concentration of magic Pandemia has ever known.
Review
The pieces are falling into place and yet I can't see precisely where everything will end up. Every mid-series book by this man is damn good indeed, though; and this is no exception. halfway there!
4 Stars to The Cutting Edge (A Handful of Men, #1) by Dave Duncan
Description
Beautiful Queen Inos married the loyal stableboy Rap and made him her king. They were very much in love, and they lived happily ever after. Fifteen years went by Rap and Inos were comfortable, secure, and truly happy, raising their family in the little backwater kingdom of Krasnegar, well removed from the hurly-burly of great affairs... But in far-off Hub, the old Imperor's health -- and, some said, his sanity -- deteriorated inexorably. The borderlands were seething, Prince Emshandar -- or Shandie, as Rap knew him -- found himself leading his grandfather's armies into terrible battles where victory and justice hung in gravest doubt. And now the end of the millennium was at hand, ushered in by prophecies of cataclysmic upheaval on a scale never before imagined. All across Pandemia, sensible people tried to dismiss a growing sense of unease as superstitious nonsense. Then a God appeared to Rap and warned him that the prophecies spoke the least of the truth. Devastation was a certainty; total destruction loomed. The very fabric of the world was at risk. And it was all Rap's fault. The lasting in the world Rap had wanted was another adventure. And it might be the last thing he would ever get..
Review
though this book takes place a solid decade and a half after the climactic events of Emperor and Clown, there's no slackening of the pace. Because it's been so long (I finished it in June) it took me a little while to get back in the saddle. But when mounted up and flipping the pages like a good 'un, as it were - the characters spring to life once more and deadly consequences arise from previously positive-seeming actions. Though The Blades are Duncan's masters in my mind, this world is trotting up to be a most perspicacious second.
4 Stars to Die Trying (Jack Reacher, #2) by Lee Child
Description
Alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here In a Chicago suburb, a dentist is met in his office parking lot by three men and ordered into the trunk of his Lexus. On a downtown sidewalk, Jack Reacher and an unknown woman are abducted in broad daylight by two men - practiced and confident - who stop them at gunpoint and hustle them into the same sedan. Then Reacher and the woman are switched into a second vehicle and hauled away, leaving the dentist bound and gagged inside his car with the woman's abandoned possessions, two gallons of gasoline. . . and a burning match. The FBI is desperate to rescue the woman, a Special Agent from the Chicago office, because the FBI always - always - takes care of its own, and because this woman is not just another agent. Reacher and the woman join forces, against seemingly hopeless odds, to outwit their captors and escape. But the FBI thinks Jack is one of the kidnappers - and when they close in, the Bureau snipers will be shooting to kill.
Review
Though they're somewhat formulaic these are certainly fairly enjoyable books. I preferred this one to the first, but whether that's because I'm quite ill and so at liberty to lounge and read I can't say.
3 Stars to The Romulan Prize (Star Trek: The Next Generation #26) by Simon Hawke
Description
Hermeticus 2 is a planet so shrouded in secrecy that few in the Federation even know of its existence. When a Romulan spy learns of the world, it becomes the centerpiece of a far-reaching Romulan plan. On routine patrol near the border of the Neutral Zone, the "Starship Enterprise" TM discovers an advanced Romulan Warbird prototype drifting lifeless in space. Investigating the vessel, Captain Picard is drawn into a plot that threatens the very foundation of the Federation. Now, with time running out, Captain Picard and the crew of the "U.S.S. Enterprise" must stop the Romulans before the deadly secret of Hermeticus 2 overwhelms them all.
Review
It's reassuring to know one can crack open one of the numerous Star Trek novels and be in familiar territory. One day, I'll have read them all, and then where will I be? This was a pretty good one as they go, with plenty of references to other events to ground us in the universe. Hawke's written other Trek material of course and his facts seem plausibly accurate. I have a niggle with the omnipresent almightyness of the Ambimorphs, but that's just a personal grudge. They seem reminiscent of the aliens in the TNG episode Clues (mysterious, very powerful, and high and mighty). this works once, I suppose, and even as an episode stretches our credibility somewhat. A novel where more can be made of things, centring on a species like this, isn't my idea of a superb story. nevertheless the characterisations were very good and the plot well-executed. Worth reading, if the series interests you.
3 Stars to Ark Angel (Alex Rider #6) by Anthony Horowitz
Description
Review
perhaps because this is the first Rider book I've read in a long time, I enjoyed it perhaps more than the blur of the last 5 which I read back to back without stop. the mainstay of this one, I think, is the vivid scenery - outer space, deep see diving, a flaming building. All quite impressively described indeed.
October
4 Stars to Variable Star by Robert A. Heinlein
Description
A never-before-published masterpiece from science fiction's greatest writer, rediscovered after more than half a century. When Joel Johnston first met Jinny Hamilton, it seemed like a dream come true. And when she finally agreed to marry him, he felt like the luckiest man in the universe. There was just one small problem. He was broke. His only goal in life was to become a composer, and he knew it would take years before he was earning enough to support a family. But Jinny wasn't willing to wait. And when Joel asked her what they were going to do for money, she gave him a most unexpected answer. She told him that her name wasn't really Jinny Hamilton---it was Jinny Conrad, and she was the granddaughter of Richard Conrad, the wealthiest man in the solar system. And now that she was sure that Joel loved her for herself, not for her wealth, she revealed her family's plans for him---he would be groomed for a place in the vast Conrad empire and sire a dynasty to carry on the family business. Most men would have jumped at the opportunity. But Joel Johnston wasn't most men. To Jinny's surprise, and even his own, he turned down her generous offer and then set off on the mother of all benders. And woke up on a colony ship heading out into space, torn between regret over his rash decision and his determination to forget Jinny and make a life for himself among the stars. He was on his way to succeeding when his plans--and the plans of billions of others--were shattered by a cosmic cataclysm so devastating it would take all of humanity's strength and ingenuity just to survive.
Review
Quite astoundingly, this reads like pure heinlein. The pros, the style, the characters and the situation are all him. That can't have been easy (Robinson's afterword makes that clear) but the care, attention and love put into this work is sincerely and immediately obvious to any Heinlein fan.
4 Stars to King and Emperor (Hammer and the Cross, #3) by Harry Harrison
Description
Driven by prophetic dreams, the Viking warrior Shef as become the One King, the undisputed ruler of the North. Now he must face the reborn power of the Holy Roman Empire. Rome threatens Shef's fearsome Viking navy with a new invention of unparalleled Greek fire. Unable to defend his fleet against this awesome weapon, Shef travels East in search of new wisdom. His quest leads him to the lavish court of the Muslim Caliph and, ultimately, to the secret hiding place of the Holy Grail.
Review
"Iron Franks, he thought. And Greek fire. It will take more than the courage of the ghazis to defeat those together. Far away, in his sleep, the King of the North felt a pang of warning, a chill that seemed to strike up from the ground beneath his stout-timbered bed and down mattress..." With each new volume in this most interesting of series, new people places, and religions have come into play. Even with my woefully depraved level of historical awareness I can appreciate the detail, the religious nuances and the implications the changes sweeping the world offer. "What harm did it do, what she and he did between them when the nights were cold? The bishop was wrong, thought the priest with the first flare of independence his life had ever known..." This final volume sees the biggest shake-ups yet, and the true grandeur of the series swings into effect as a result. Each big revelation - the use of mathematics, of printing, of calculating and figuring and measurement and writing - all of these things is ushered in on a wave of action so gripping in its intensity that I found it very difficult indeed to stop thinking about it, even when I was doing other things.. I felt a little let down by Shef, toward the end of the book. The fight did seem to go out of him; but more than that, his poise and bravura seemed somehow diminished. To compensate, I suppose the rest of the people - the common folk who'd laboured hard without visitations from the Gods, carried on his teachings. Shef was a great catalyst for them, and if that's how he chose to play it, who am I to criticise? This was certainly a series to get your teeth into, with plenty to ponder and much to think over.
5 Stars to One King's Way (Hammer and the Cross, #2) by Harry Harrison
Description
A craftsman, visionary, and warrior, Shef has risen from slavery to become king of a mighty Viking nation. But his growing kingdom menaces all of Europe, and he has made many powerful enemies. Chief among his enemies are the Knights of the Lance, a fanatical order of soldiers sworn to bring Shef down, no matter what the cost. To defeat Shef, they will go to extraordinary lengths to find the sacred spear of Christ--and resurrect the Holy Roman Empire. Driven by dreams, Shef battles to change the course of history, but even the gods themselves may be plotting against him....
Review
this book has to hold the spot for the best tension generator for quite some time. It leapt from conflict to conflict with masterful skill, and certain parts - Shef's rescue from Queen Ragnhild and the approaching battle against King Kjallak and the Swedish most notable among them - had me so swept up in the story that the howling wind outside could almost have been the driving gusts pushing the ships along the Danish seas. It wasn't all battle and bloodshed, though. the Grind - the great whale hunt - pulled at the heartstrings. Even if not for animal cruelty per se, the sheer majesty of the thing can't help but sweep you in. Then there's the men who have suffered mentally, for all the violence and fighting they've been a part of. Brand and Cuthred, mainly, though there's also a lot of question as to Shef's stability and fortitude. So all of that, combined with the inferences and questions to religion; especially the Way as a middle-of-the-road counterpoint to the banality of Christianity and harshness of Paganism, rounded out this book very well indeed. Lots of typical battle and strife, but with plenty of food for thought, too.
4 Stars to The Hammer and the Cross (Hammer and the Cross, #1) by Harry Harrison
Description
865 A.D. Warring kings rule over the British Isles, but the Church rules over the kings, threatening all who oppose them with damnation. Only the dreaded Vikings of Scandinavia do not fear the priests. Shef, the bastard son of a Norse raider and a captive English lady, is torn by divided loyalties and driven by strange visions that seem to come from Odin himself. A smith and warrior, he alone dares to imagine new weapons and tactics with which to carve out a kingdom--and launch an all-out war between.... The Hammer and the Cross.
Review
Given that I like a great deal of Harry Harrison's work, i'm surprised that I haven't yet read any of his alternative history novels. hadn't, I should say, as I now clearly have. I utterly enjoyed this one, I'll admit. history not being my strong point I'm sure there are many nuances I'll have missed, but even without a grounding in the era it's a fantastic story and an intellectually intriguing experience. The combat was well described, the Vikings richly detailed and the linguistics were just incredible. It was a viscerally brilliant read, not without its share of blood and guts, but never so copiously as to make you feel that's the entire point of the work. With Gods, religions and mysteries aplenty, I'm glad there's more in the series
3 Stars to Hero! by Dave Duncan
Description
1st edition Del Rey 1991 paperback, vg++ In stock shipped from our UK warehouse
Review
In the about the author section at the end of the book, it said that Dave Duncan switched between writing fantasy and Science Fiction. the King's blades are fantasy, of course, as are the pandemia books and the Seventh Sword. The Great Game aren't what I would call sci-fi either; making me think - there's a lot of Duncan I ain't read... This one specifically made me feel a little let down, i'm so used to Duncan's series where the worlds are filled out with more books that things felt somewhat rushed here. it was an interesting story and an even more interesting take on a militaristic Patrol organisation, but I felt that standing alone it wasn't as great a world portrayal as it might have been.
1 Stars to The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee by Sarah Silverman
Description
From the outrageously filthy and oddly innocent comedienne Sarah Silverman comes a memoir—her first book—that is at once shockingly personal, surprisingly poignant, and still pee-in-your-pants funny. If you like Sarah’s television show The Sarah Silverman Program, or memoirs such as Chelsea Handler’s Are You There Vodka? It’s Me Chelsea and Artie Lange’s Too Fat to Fish, you’ll love The Bedwetter.
Review
"Unvisited tombstones, unread diaries, and erased video-game high-score rankings are three of the most potent symbols of mankind’s pathetic and fruitless attempts at immortality. Not to be negative." I don't read nonfiction as a rule. when I do, it has hither to been about people I know a fair bit about to begin with - hence the interest in the first place. Stephen Fry. Roald Dahl. Joanne Rowling, and so on. Having rather listlessly flipped through this morass of what I can only describe as a collection of off-colour commentaries on a life I care nothing for, I can see why... I don't know (or, after this, particularly care) who Sarah Silverman is. Obviously, her brand of comedy is not mine. The most amusing part of the entire book, to me, were the transcription of her father's voicemails. God's comment about murdering his only Son did make me pause for thought, and some of sarah's Human observations can be quite heartfelt and connected. Did I say some? Ok. maybe a few. Perhaps one. two at the most. So few that, glancing back at the table of contents to point one out to you doesn't manage to refresh my memory. Ah, well. I'll stick to fiction until someone I respect pops up, I think.
4 Stars to Sir Stalwart by Dave Duncan
Description
Before They Could be Blades... They Were the King's Daggers. Young Stalwart, known as Wart to his fellow students, is expelled from the academy for King's Blades, only to be plunged into a current of breathless intrigue and danger. Together with Emerald, a former White Sister, Wart must survive sorcery, swordplay, ambush, a chimera, a quagmire, and more, "and" uncover a devious plot to assassinate their king...and prove himself worthy of a place among the King's Blades.
Review
"Food's coming, I don't know any man who can eat like you and stay so thin. If you were my horse I would worm you." It took me a book and a half to get into this world of swordsmen and sisters, but the depth and writing kept me coming back for more and more, until I'd consumed tales and chronicles both. This, first of a trilogy targeted at a younger audience, quite naturally lacks some of the complexity of the others and is considerably shorter than the average. Nonetheless, it's a yarn firmly planted in the universe I've so enjoyed, and so I would deign to read work targeted at kids if it was written in Duncan's inestimable style. I should take care though - the hero's I read about to my children may well end up being ironhall alumni...
4 Stars to Killing Floor (Jack Reacher, #1) by Lee Child
Description
Jack Reacher jumps off a bus and walks fourteen miles down a country road into Margrave, Georgia. An arbitrary decision he's about to regret. Reacher is the only stranger in town on the day they have had their first homicide in thirty years. The cops arrest Reacher and the police chief turns eyewitness to place him at the scene. As nasty secrets leak out, and the body count mounts, one thing is for sure. They picked the wrong guy to take the fall. Although the Jack Reacher novels can be read in any order, Killing Floor is the first book in the internationally popular series. It presents Reacher for the first time, as the tough ex-military cop of no fixed abode: a righter of wrongs, the perfect action hero.
Review
I've been hearing about these books for some time now and so decided to give one a try. I was pleasantly surprised - it managed to be a formulaic thriller with a few twists up it's sleeve. I saw the Picard thing coming a mile off, but completely missed the thing about the glasses. Similarly I missed the garage thing with the apostrophe, which I thought was quite cleverly done. For a novel introducing jack reacher, detail of his life is thin on the ground - though we do get the facts. there are many more to come and I'm sure some will be better than others.
September
2 Stars to The Mask of the Sun by Fred Saberhagen
Description
When Mike Gabrieli's neer'do'well brother Tom disappears shortly after discovering a fabulously valuable Aztec relic, Mike rightly suspects that this time the family's black sheep has got himself into the kind of trouble from which even Mike won't be able to extricate him. But still, Tim is -- or was -- his brother, and Mike must do what he can. For Mike this is the beginning of an adventure beyond imagining, an adventure that will put him in constant peril of his life as he shuttles between past, present and future of an alternate reality, fighting beside the descendants of the Incas as they battle to erase Pizarro's bloody footprints from the New World, and secure the reality of their own existence. But is the "alternate reality" really an alternate, or is Mike actually struggling to erase the very future that gave him birth? The answer lies in the source of all his troubles and his only hope of survival: THE MASK OF THE SUN
Review
I decided to read this as an introduction to the author. where practicable I like to try out a stand-alone story before embarking on a series, to familiarise myself with the author's style and get a taste for how they work. i'm sorry to say that this didn't get my juices flowing overmuch. The idea was an interesting one and the science sort of worked, but the characters seemed very flat and I was pretty much lost as to the point of the whole thing. Knowing me, I've stumbled into some part of a larger whole. Either that, or I'm simply not equipped to handle the calibre of this material.
4 Stars to The Fry Chronicles by Stephen Fry
Description
Stephen Fry arrived at Cambridge on probation: a convicted fraudster and thief, an addict, liar, fantasist and failed suicide, convinced that at any moment he would be found out and flung away. Instead, university life offered him love, romance, and the chance to stand on a stage and entertain. He met and befriended bright young things like Emma Thompson and Hugh Laurie and (after working out how to cheat the university examination system) emerged as one of the most promising comic talents in the country. This is the intriguing, hilarious and utterly compelling story of how the Stephen the nation knows (or thinks it knows) began to make his presence felt as he took his first tentative steps in the worlds of television, journalism, radio, theatre and film. Shameful tales of sugar, shag and champagne jostle with insights into credit cards, classic cars, and conspicuous consumption, "Blackadder," Broadway and the BBC. For all its trademark wit and verbal brilliance, this is a book that is not afraid to confront the aching chasm that separates public image from private feeling. Welcome to "The Fry Chronicles," one of the boldest, bravest, most revealing and heartfelt accounts of a man's formative years that you will ever have the exquisite pleasure of reading.
Review
"There's a lot more to Stephen Fry," my fiancee said to me this morning. Even without context, the sentiment holds. he's an icon. A British icon. something of a legend. What did I like about this book, you may ask? The most interesting part of Moab is my washpot, you may recall, was the honesty - in fact, the daring bullseye of a very lauded publican being so openly honest. quite naturally there's more of the same here, speckled with glimpses into Fry's self image and mindset which are, if not shocking, at least powerful enough to alter one's perceptions of the man considerably. There were certain parts that made me chuckle, of course - and so many little things too numerous to list. The Dorchester events, for instance. Hugh Laurie's digestive system. The Queens' Fellows on co-ed. more and more besides, as I say. Far too numerous to list - you may as well read the whole book. There's also a great outpouring of milieu; Fry's Cambridge years especially fairly ring with a sense of the times. I can only conclude with the thought that I had whilst finishing the final few pages: this is a piece of history.
3 Stars to Neuropath by R. Scott Bakker
Description
Tom's life is not what it once was. His marriage to the beautiful Nora is on the rocks and he now sees his two young children only on her say-so. His best friend Neil has moved to California to teach neurology. He has one success - a book on human psychology. Tom wiles away the time trying to teach bored grad students. But that all changes when Neil comes back into his life. For it seems that Tom's best friend was working for the National Security Agency, cracking the minds of suspected terrorists. Now it is Neil himself who has cracked and gone AWOL - what's more, he has left behind evidence that he has been employing his unique skills on civilians - obsessed with the idea that he can control the human brain. Thus begins a terrifying sequence of events as Neil starts to kidnap and mutilate people with a connection to Tom. He damages their brains and then releases them - often leaving them mad. But only when he gets near his ultimate target does he reveal the full horror of his plan . . .
Review
"You're a machine - a machine! - dreaming that you have a soul. None of this is real!" One of the most bizarre titles in recent memory, I don't know if it's best to think of it as a thriller with disturbing psychological overtones, or a pathologically (and somewhat pornographically) hodgepodge of scary stuff. In the afterword, the author writes "I wanted Neuropath to be a thriller, one that strives to be intellectually as well as viscerally disturbing". Ding, you succeeded. Right and proper. "As bizarre as it sounds, someone is abducting people and screwing with their brains." The book is a broiling pot of disturbed emotions, and for openers, 'screwing' doesn't mean 'messing around with'. There's a great deal of sexual imagery, very little of it positive. "What are you going to believe? A four-thousand-year-old document bent on tribal self-glorification? Your own flattering intuitions on the fundamental nature of things? Some hothouse philosophical interpretation that takes years of specialized training just to understand? Or an institution that makes things like computers, thermonuclear explosions, and cures for small-pox possible?" there's a lot going for the triumphs of science, but there's also a sweeping sense of pointlessness to the whole thing, insofar as the argument of the book seems to be that free will is completely illusory and what we think of as thinking isn't thinking at all. Some of the outcomes here are quite depraved, brutal and horrifying in their intense insensitivity. It's a book for those very keen to face up to reality. For those who can't, best use it as a doorstop.
4 Stars to Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3) by Suzanne Collins
Description
My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead. Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding. It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans—except Katniss. The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay—no matter what the personal cost.
Review
"Because an angry, independently thinking victor with a layer of psychological scar tissue too thick to penetrate is maybe the last person you want on your squad." I complained that the end of the first book was a little too predictable and the second had far too much power in the hands of the Capitol. This one, to me, is as near perfect an end of a series as I've seen. The viewpoint throughout the entire series has been spot on, seeing it through the eyes of the main character really packs a punch. There's a great deal of psychological trauma, of course; and lots of death and sadness, which is perhaps not explored as fully as it could be. On the whole, though, it's a dependably solid end to a stunningly action-packed series.
4 Stars to Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) by Suzanne Collins
Description
Sparks are igniting. Flames are spreading. And the Capitol wants revenge. Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol—a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create. Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest that she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying. In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before . . . and surprising readers at every turn.
Review
"We victors staged our own uprising, and maybe, just maybe, the Capitol won't be able to contain this one." A thrilling second instalment of what's shaping up to be a very enjoyable series indeed. The first book stood alone quite well, but the end of this one leaves us in no doubt that there's more on the way. Almost up until the very end, there's this great feeling of domination by the Capitol, so much that it's hard to see what our rebels can hope to accomplish. Still, there's bound to be something, and hopefully the third and final book will reveal all.
5 Stars to The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins
Description
Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun. . . . In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
Review
"Odds are someone else will kill him before I do. Of course, the odds have not been very dependable of late..." post-apocalyptic stories, young adult ones especially, are difficult to get right. You either end up awed at the world so much that you can't focus on characters or so apathetic about the whole thing because it's so distant from any reality you can conceive of. here, the world is neatly summarised and built upon only as necessary and the focus is very much on the characters, who are detailed and potent. Everything's filtered through Katniss in first person perspective and her life's hardship and trials comes through in every sentence. The action is neatly placed and fast paced, and even though things got a little predictable, it all happened so well that I'm not complaining. This is the first of a trilogy. Rock on!
5 Stars to Immortality Option by James P. Hogan
Description
Titan, Saturn's largest moon, was frozen and lifeless...but only by some definitions! Organic life had never evolved on its barren surface, but somehow Titan had become home to the Taloids, a race of self-aware robots who lived in competing city-states, grew houses and tools, tended their robotic herds, and worshipped a god called the Lifemaker. When humans discovered the Taloids on Titan, they suspected that the robots' sentience had evolved by accident--artificial intelligence gone wrong. But where was the ancient civilization that had spawned them? With no help from the Taloids--who seemed to know nothing of their own origins--Earth's finest scientists were stumped. Then strange blocks of code were discovered in Titan's ancient computer banks. Neither Taloid digital DNA nor the operating system for Titan's robotic "ecology," the code had clearly lain undisturbed for eons. But now, with human help, it was beginning to activate at last...
Review
A superb continuation with characters we've grown to, if not love, at least admire somewhat. Some of the science is a little dry on occasion, but it all fits in so neatly and works with the story so well that it's not a problem. The sheer audacity of card tricks fooling a super artificial intelligence kept me chuckling and chortling, and the pace picked up marvelously toward the end in a similar way to Realtime Interrupt.
2 Stars to Ghost by Piers Anthony
Description
Earth is an energy-starved madhouse of selfish and superficial inhabitants who have depleted its resources. and where spacers are hated as power wasters. But starship captain Shetland's life is dedicated to finding new energy sources for Earth. Navigating a time ship into the void beyond the universe, the search takes him into deepest space and time where he and his crew discover a galaxy-sized black hole, the ghosts of all reality. The most horrifying ghost of all, the ghost of their universe, where his crew are shattered into beings of pure will. And he found another ghost. Alice, the chemist of the Meg II, had committed suicide and now wandered its corridors, lost in a lonely, private hell. The rest of the crew were soon to follow her. Beyond the galaxy-sized black hole at the edge of the universe, another universe waited, a universe of ghosts that would turn Shetland and his crew into ectoplasmic energy-beings. and he must help them to regain their humanity.
Review
I read the short story and found it interesting. As an expanded (all be it conceptually earlier) work I don't think this really has much more to offer.
2 Stars to Hulk by Peter David
Description
a great story line about the Hulk from Marvel Comics
Review
I liked the Hulk film, rather than the earlier Incredible Hulk. Other than that, this was just a so so novel.
5 Stars to The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive, #1) by Brandon Sanderson
Description
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, The Way of Kings, book one of The Stormlight Archive begins an incredible new saga of epic proportion. Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter. It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them. One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable. Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity. Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar's niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war. The result of over ten years of planning, writing, and world-building, The Way of Kings is but the opening movement of the Stormlight Archive, a bold masterpiece in the making. Speak again the ancient oaths: Life before death. Strength before weakness. Journey before Destination. and return to men the Shards they once bore. The Knights Radiant must stand again.
Review
there's no doubt that this is the best book I've read in an age. The hairs on my arms prickled at all the right places, my anticipation peeked at all the high points and my heart sank when things went wrong. I found myself thinking 'oh, that's a good quote, I can use that in my review', then before I knew it I was pages and pages ahead, swept up in the story. Kaladin, most haunted of men, yet most stubborn and brilliant too. he's portrayed very well, the emotional tempest within fuelled so ferociously that we can't but help lock ourselves to him. I found myself speeding up as I hit a chapter from his viewpoint, and even those from his past are expertly placed and written so brilliantly - such that when in the 64th chapter and things are grinding away to the ultimate battle of this volume, I was literally on the edge of my seat. he's a very complex, very powerful character and this really is his book. Shallan is also focused on, of course, her story runs parallel to the main body of action. We learn a lot about her from her own viewpoint sections, but there's this amazing intertwinedness about everything. I liked how shallan was painted, how she was willing to sacrifice anything for her family, but there's this aura of mystery about her yet. then there are the others, the backdrop, the characters who don't feel like second fiddles because they have so much place in their own right. Dalinar, Szeth and Adolin spring to mind. I am glad that there are many mor novels to come in this series, I sincerely hope that a thousand pages is but the tip of the iceberg. Of the writing, I can only say it is excellent. The very world is so unique as to be entirely Sanderson's own, and it's so different from ours that we don't feel the need to try and place things, geographically or technologically. I can honestly say that this is the first book where I regret not being able to see the artwork, as it's not only an important part of the story, but the world is so vast that some geography to look at may have helped some. The battles and magic all feel very natural and smooth, each coming from an appropriate character's view means that it's easy to compartmentalise who can do what, in terms of spirituality. To summarise, whilst this book works and feels very much like a fantasy epic, it's deftly written with such aplomb that one sometimes gets the impression one has a window into a real world far away where all this is happening. Not only do we get to see it from numerous viewpoints and angles and perceptions, but we as readers also gain great insight into the character's motivations and rationales for what they do. not all of them, and not entirely, of course: where'd be the fun in that? There are many questions that remain unanswered, things that have yet to happen, and more information we want on things that have already gone. When I first opened the book and saw the table of contents, complete with parts, interludes, artwork and chapters, I thought I'd be hopelessly lost within a few short pages. But I wasn't. I loved it. There will always be enough in my bank account to cover the next one - I just hope my patience lasts.
4 Stars to I Am Not a Serial Killer (John Cleaver, #1) by Dan Wells
Description
Review
"'Not murderers,' I said. 'Serial killers.' 'That's the difference between you and the rest of the world, John. We don't see a difference.'" this is truly a horrifyingly spectacular fest of a book. it reminded me of something by Thomas E. Sniegoski in tone, but Wells' psychology bumps this one up to a whole new plain. "alone we were just one weird kid who talked to himself and one weird kid who never talked to anyone; together we were two weird kids having a semblance of a conversation. Two wrongs made a right." On one side the protagonist is very Human, but he has "the monster" inside him, threatening to break free. I'm sure it's a recurring theme in serial killers (one is mentioned in the story) but the twist here is that John is just a student. Killers in the media are hardened. This one's far too Human. Much of this book's appeal to me was the intrigue and the gore and the thrill, of course - that's why we read these sort of novels. but also of keen interest was the psychodynamic of the work - John's internal dialogue is most potent and had I read this some years earlier I'm sure it would keep me awake nights. in all, an excellent first offering, neither too long nor too rambling to read in one sitting yet not as short as to allow you to miss the point. The pros are vivid, almost harsh, but very stark and real. And all the more chilling because of their simplicity.
3 Stars to The Wizard of 4th Street (The Wizard of 4th Street #1) by Simon Hawke
Description
First came the Collapse, when the fossil fuels ran out and the world fell into a new dark age. Then, at the height of all the chaos, the legendary Merlin awoke from his long slumber and set the world on a path to using magic as the new energy base. Some fifty years later, society is based on magic use and Wyrdrune, a young New York City warlock kicked out of school for casting spells without a license, reads about an auction of artifacts unearthed in the Euphrates Valley. Among the items up for auction are some enchanted runestones of “unknown properties.” Hoping for a score, Wyrdrune plots to steal them. But at the same time, a streetwise cat burglar known as Kira also tries to steal the stones and the two barely manage to escape together with the loot. Neither of them has much use for the other, but all they have to do is fence the stones and split the take. The only problem is, the runestones won’t stay fenced. They keep magically returning to the thieves. Now, hunted by the authorities, by thugs employed by dealers in stolen goods who think the pair have cheated them, and by a mysterious international hitman known only by the name of Morpheus, the thieves have only one place left to run -- the home of Wyrdrune’s old professor, Merlin, who is the first to realize that the runestones are a key to an immensely powerful and dangerous spell dating back before the dawn of human civilization. And as if that were not frightening enough, the runestones are alive....
Review
I was first introduced to Hawke with the incomparable sorcerer series, and while none of the other material of his I've read has topped that, most of it has been pretty good. I am struggling with this one, though. The idea is quite a novel one and the characters and setting work well, but something didn't quite grip me. I found myself reading and drifting, coming back to it then, before I quite realised, the story was all over and everything had happened. Still there's plenty of leeway for a sequel or two, so I'll probably pick at those at some point and see where things go.
4 Stars to Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré
Description
A modern classic in which John le Carré expertly creates a total vision of a secret world, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy begins George Smiley's chess match of wills and wits with Karla, his Soviet counterpart. It is now beyond a doubt that a mole, implanted decades ago by Moscow Centre, has burrowed his way into the highest echelons of British Intelligence. His treachery has already blown some of its most vital operations and its best networks. It is clear that the double agent is one of its own kind. But which one? George Smiley is assigned to identify him. And once identified, the traitor must be destroyed.
Review
This is a novel of such depth, scope and critical analysis that I cannot possibly hope to offer any insight that hasn't already been aired, chewed over and turned about long since. As a ten-year-old with an interest in the spy genre, I cut my teeth on the BBC radio adaptation of this fine work. It condensed the novel to 2 audio cassettes, and the acting was very good. I recently listened to it again, thus prompting me to dig out my copy of the book. The drama inevitably changes a few things, but remains true to le Carré's story. Irina's diary becomes an audio tape. At the Camden Town house, in the drama, Smiley and Guillam are together with the recording equipment, with Peter in radio contact with his runners. In the novel, Smiley waits alone in the scullery, with Guillam outside. This change deprives us of one of Smiley's rare possible moments of danger, but this is perhaps made up for with Connie's dramatic comments about Bill. In any event, there's no denying that you lose a great deal of backstory without reading the book. The dramatised version is a superb retelling, unlike a movie I suppose there's no great pressure to adapt or modernise but there are necessary sacrifices. What can I say about the book itself, though? the whole plotline is fascinating for an espionage lover. I'm too young to have witnessed the public unmasking of any real Mole's inside British Intelligence, and even if Le Carré's terminology is feigned, the world his spies live in is a far more plausible one than anything Bond had. A few things stood out, though. Having done the drama, seeing guillam's love life was fairly interesting. I also liked the way in which both Smiley and mendel perceived Guillam's comparative youth, and how differently they reacted to it. Also, something about the name Mendel and Bees niggles at me from GCSE Biology class but I can't for the life of me figure out what. nothing to do with charles Darwin, is it? The other interesting point for me, knowing the story in essence but not substance, as it were, was the way in which things were paced. much of the facts are revealed through interview and observation and that sometimes lent a degree of unreality to the story, as if some of the people and things they were saying were a little flat. is this simply because some of the characters were going over material, the details of which had faded in time? or perhaps because, already knowing the story in outline, I was just trying to hurry things along? I can't argue a lack of dimensionality on one hand and prays character depth on the other, can I? But the way in which certain incidents and characters were portrayed were stunningly, intensely gripping for me. Guillam's theft of the files from the circus, Prideaux's testimony to Smiley, and Smiley's account of his meeting with karla were all very vividly done. The pride of max, who seems such a minor character was also quite interesting. But more than anything I thihnk the detail made this book a very rich and rewarding experience for me. The BBC did a television adaptation which i've yet to see - I would submit that it's full of flashback and perhaps difficult to follow with no usable vision. Hopefully with both the novel and drama under my belt I'll manage to get as many nuances as my ears can handle when I eventually get to watching it. Bernard hepton (an actor who has my greatest respect) stars in both the TV and audio recordings, playing George Smiley in the latter and Toby Esterhase in the former. Michael Jayston plays peter Guillam in the television adaptation, and also reads unabridged BBC audio books of the novel, as well as its two sequels. I don't know who else stars in the audio recording, but whoever plays Guillam there also plays him in the radio Adaptation of The Spy Who Came In From The Cold. Information on these recordings is scarce, so if any reader happens to have further information I'd be glad to find out about it.
4 Stars to James Potter and the Curse of the Gatekeeper (James Potter, #2) by G. Norman Lippert
Description
A summer of change brings James Sirius Potter back to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with a new perspective. Confident that last year's adventures are well behind him, James prepares for the more prosaic challenges of schoolwork, trying-out for the Quidditch team, and keeping an eye on his brother Albus and cousin Rose. A new year brings a new adventure, however, beginning with some increasingly worrisome questions about the new headmaster, Merlinus Ambrosius, whose long trek outside of time may have attracted the attention of a horrible entity known to legend as "the Gatekeeper". Determined to prove Merlin's trustworthiness, James finds himself lost in a deepening web of intrigue, deception and secrets that stretches all the way back to the time of the founders. With the Gatekeeper looming, preparing its prophesied human host for a final reign of doom, James, Rose and Ralph forge unexpected allies in a last-ditch effort to stop it before it is too late. In the end, however, all hopes lead to Merlin, and James must face the very real possibility that everything he believes about the new headmaster is, in fact, a carefully constructed facade.
Review
This second instalment gripped me with considerably more vivre than the first. I think mainly due to the reduction of holy cannon reliance and increased distinction of the author's imagination. Where cannon was used, it was used well, embroidered upon, expanded neatly and interestingly, fitted into the game plan with masterful ease.
3 Stars to Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult
Description
In nineteen minutes, you can mow the front lawn, color your hair, watch a third of a hockey game. In nineteen minutes, you can bake scones or get a tooth filled by a dentist; you can fold laundry for a family of five....In nineteen minutes, you can stop the world, or you can just jump off it. In nineteen minutes, you can get revenge. Sterling is a small, ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens -- until the day its complacency is shattered by a shocking act of violence. In the aftermath, the town's residents must not only seek justice in order to begin healing but also come to terms with the role they played in the tragedy. For them, the lines between truth and fiction, right and wrong, insider and outsider have been obscured forever. Josie Cormier, the teenage daughter of the judge sitting on the case, could be the state's best witness, but she can't remember what happened in front of her own eyes. And as the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show, destroying the closest of friendships and families. Nineteen Minutes is New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult's most raw, honest, and important novel yet. Told with the straightforward style for which she has become known, it asks simple questions that have no easy answers: Can your own child become a mystery to you? What does it mean to be different in our society? Is it ever okay for a victim to strike back? And who -- if anyone -- has the right to judge someone else?
Review
This is the first of the author I've finished, and quite an interesting read it was too. Though things did seem a little stunted, the momentum didn't really grab me as the action, in the main, happened fairly early on. it was still quite a gripping read, just to see how things were going to turn out. Certainly I'd look at more of this author's work.
August
0 Stars to Cluster (Cluster, #1) by Piers Anthony
Description
Flint, green-skinned Stone Age native of Outworld, one of the Empire's most remote planets, has just killed the dinosaur Old Snout and saved his tribe. All he wants to do is enjoy his victory -- and his woman, Honeybloom. But the Empire has other plans. The alien envoy Pnotl of Sphere Knyfh has come seeking help from Sphere Sol in a shared galactic‑level crisis: Galaxy Andromeda has discovered the secret of energy transfer and intends to use it to steal the basic energy of the Milky Way Galaxy. Knyfh offers the secret of Kirlian aura transfer on the understanding that Sphere Sol will spread the technology to help create a galactic coalition to find and defeat agents of Andromeda. Sol's highest‑Kirlian individual is Flint, whose Kirlian aura of two hundred, high (though uneducated) intelligence, and eidetic memory make him the ideal agent. His task is complicated, however, by the fact that he is pursued everywhere by a high-Kirlian female Andromedan assassin, turning his mission into a combination of high-tech science, diplomacy, and espionage.
Review
There's always something a little disjointed about Piers Anthony's writing for me. Still, the story was interesting and the style very typical. there's plenty of his I have yet to read, i'm sure.
3 Stars to James Potter and the Hall of Elders' Crossing (James Potter, #1) by G. Norman Lippert
Description
What’s it like to be the son of the most famous wizard of all time? James Potter thinks he knows, but as he begins his own adventure at Hogwarts, he discovers just how much of a challenge it really is to live up to the legend of the great Harry Potter. As if it wasn’t enough dealing with the delegates from the American wizarding school and figuring out the mysteriously polite Slytherins, James and his new friends, Ralph and Zane, begin to uncover a secret plot that could pit the Muggle and the Magical worlds against each other in all-out war. Now, with the help of Ted Lupin and his band of merry mischief makers (The Gremlins), James must race to stop a war that could change the world forever. His only hope is to learn the difference between being a hero and being the son of a hero.
Review
"So this is the Ravenclaw common room. Not an electric light or a Coke machine in sight. We do have a really cool statue, though, and a talking fireplace." While I would hesitate to label myself a cognoscente of the Harry Potter Fanfiction scene, I have certainly read many a fic in my time. Far be it from me to assert that I was ahead of the Potter craze or anything of that nature - no, indeed. I was, however, more than able to appreciate the somewhat unprecedented clearing of an entire day's programming on BBC radio 4, on Boxing Day ten years ago, for Stephen Fry's reading of [Book:harry Potter and the Philosopherr's Stone]. Soon after I had quite cleared the rest of the published works and turned to reading fanfic as an aside to the already copious amount of fiction I already consume. What can I say about this one? It's here, on Goodreads, for a start. Whilst I strive to only read things of a quality (and yes, sufficient length) to ensure there's enough to keep me going, rarely have I seen anything published, even pro forma, in this sort of a way. it also has the distinction of being only the second "Post DH" fiction I have read, the first (and probably only other one I will ever read) was written by someone for whom I have a great deal of respect and who's "post-OOP" fiction tops my best fanfic list. Where to be specific, though... the "Introducing Americans" angle is old, though handled somewhat more gracefully than the female teens who feel it their duty to become Hogwarts students. There's certainly a great deal of change both in the world rowling created and in her style here and I'm not sure the approach works as well, but the plot was at least vaguely comprehensible. There's something of a grit to the thing, the way one might expect were it aimed more at adults; but then the casting of a trio of eleven-year-olds at center stage hardly makes sense. Overall, an interesting extension of the universe, though not having handled any work since the official cannon terminus I'm singularly unqualified to rate it within its niche. I've read some worse and much better of the "Hogwarts era" fic, but then, as I only keep what I like, my collection is naturally slanted to my viewpoint right off the bat. I'll proceed with the series at least, for now I've started it seems silly not to!
3 Stars to Death of a Citizen (Matt Helm, #1) by Donald Hamilton
Description
Somebody opened my coffin that night in the middle of a cocktail party. I'd been all but dead these 15 years, turned into a household pet by a wife and kids. But now the girl whom I'd known by the code name Tina had walked back into my life -- and 15 years of settled, complacent living slipped away. I was back in that time when our world had been savage and alive, when I had been a lethal young animal trained to kill in cold blood -- and she had been my partner. And I knew that I was ready to follow her again to the depths of that private hell we had shared.
Review
Quite why I started to read this I don't know. Fairly average, though the lead seems remarkably able to cast aside his family life in favour of brutality at the drop of a hat. more in the series so we'll see how they go.
4 Stars to The Coming by Joe Haldeman
Description
The Arrival Is Imminent Joe Haldeman's novel The Comingis a tightly constructed near future thriller which begins by recapitulating a classic science fictional motif: the moment of first contact with an alien intelligence. The story begins on October 1, 2054. Aurora (Rory) Bell, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Florida, has just made the discovery of the century. A sophisticated sensing device called a gamma ray burst detector has picked up a message from somewhere beyond the solar system. The easily decrypted message contains two unambiguous words: We're coming. Subsequent analysis reveals that the source of the message is heading directly toward Earth and is scheduled to arrive on the first day of January 2055. A media circus inevitably ensues, as the citizens of Earth attempt to prepare for a wholly unprecedented event. From this point forward, Haldeman focuses not on the alien spaceship but on the social, political, and environmental conditions of a rapidly deteriorating planet. He envisions a 21st century marked by unpredictable weather patterns and geopolitical chaos, a world in which corruption is an endemic element both of private enterprises and governmental institutions. Controversial -- i.e., gay -- sexual practices have been outlawed. The electoral process has become a joke, ushering in a new generation of leaders who are incompetent and uninformed but intensely photogenic. Most significantly, the nations of Europe are flexing their muscles once again, marshaling their forces for an inevitable -- and catastrophic -- global conflict. Haldeman's portrait of the century to come is at once familiar and strange, enlivened by a steady flow of imaginative details: automated traffic control systems, virtual reality pornography, designer drugs tailored to the individual DNA. Haldeman shows us this world from the constantly shifting perspective of a variety of characters. Included among them are Rory Bell, whose initial discovery jump-starts the narrative; Norman Bell, a middle-aged composer with a history of "illegal" sexual behavior; Willie Joe Capra, a sadistic bagman with delusions of grandeur; and a nameless "historian," whose ruminations illuminate the cyclical patterns of violence present throughout recorded history. As always, Haldeman writes with clarity, economy, and wit, skillfully moving his extensive cast toward a climactic moment of revelation in which "hope and caution" predominate. The Coming is both a provocative, cleverly conceived entertainment and a compelling meditation on the eternal human propensity for violent solutions. It is speculative fiction of the highest order and reaffirms its author's position as a modern master of the form. --Bill Sheehan Bill Sheehan reviews horror, suspense, and science fiction for Cemetery Dance, The New York Review of Science Fiction, and other publications. His book-length critical study of the fiction of Peter Straub, At the Foot of the Story Tree, has just been published by Subterranean Press (www.subterraneanpress.com).
Review
Utterly enjoyable, this is a charming little title and the POV shifts are just marvelously executed. Would have been a five but the ending was coming a mile off, but a very neat read nonetheless.
2 Stars to Mindbridge by Joe Haldeman
Description
Jacque Le Favre is a tamer, a member of one of the exploration teams that humankind has been able to send to the stars. His first world is the second planet out from Groombridge 1618, a rather unpromising place until they encounter the alien L'vrai, with its awesome and appalling gift of telepathy.
Review
Weird is the only word that springs to mind when reflecting on what to write here. The story was interesting, the characters vivid enough, but it seems to me at least that the thing was a little short to convey many ideas. It had all the length of a Heinlein juvenile with the substance, or at least intension, of something far more copious.
5 Stars to Tool of the Trade by Joe Haldeman
Description
Nicholas Foley appears to be an ordinary American psychology professor. He is, in fact, a Russian spy, inserted into the United States after World War II, joining the American army, attending American universities, falling in love and marrying an American, but always in touch with his Soviet superiors. All he ever does in the way of spying is turn in the names of people who might be "turned." But then he makes his momentous discovery. He isolates an ultrasonic frequency that causes anyone within earshot to do whatever he is told. A few demonstrations send both the Russians and the Americans after Foley with a vengeance. Eluding both, Foley uses his tool to strike a blow for world peace, as envisioned by a Sixties hippie, his wife.
Review
This is, without doubt, the best and most thrilling espionage story I have read in the last six months. not, perhaps, in the sense of a thriller in the traditional mould; after all, it's clear where the story is heading. The Humanity, the action, the backdrops both US and Russian and the sheer pace of the thing kept me turning pages until the very end. Of course, should the leading nuclear proliferates decide to disarm themselves today, all it would take would be a single terrorist or even a trigger-happy president to annihilate the other. But a happy dream.
3 Stars to The Forever War (The Forever War, #1) by Joe Haldeman
Description
The Earth's leaders have drawn a line in the interstellar sand—despite the fact that the fierce alien enemy that they would oppose is inscrutable, unconquerable, and very far away. A reluctant conscript drafted into an elite Military unit, Private William Mandella has been propelled through space and time to fight in the distant thousand-year conflict; to perform his duties without rancor and even rise up through military ranks. Pvt. Mandella is willing to do whatever it takes to survive the ordeal and return home. But "home" may be even more terrifying than battle, because, thanks to the time dilation caused by space travel, Mandella is aging months while the Earth he left behind is aging centuries.
Review
While neither the ordinance nor the writing was anything out of the ordinary, there was nevertheless something compelling about this story. the 'hops', for want of a better phrase, did provide a fascinating glimpse into a rather divergent potential future. The military stuff was also quite good, though not anything overly new - but this book was originally written quite some time ago. There's more of the same, so I'm told. One day, assuredly.
4 Stars to The Atlantis Complex (Artemis Fowl #7) by Eoin Colfer
Description
ARTEMIS FOWL'S CRIMINAL WAYS HAVE FINALLY GOT THE BETTER OF HIM . . . Young Artemis has frequently used high-tech fairy magic to mastermind the most devious criminal activity of the new century. Now, at a conference in Iceland, Artemis has gathered the fairies to present his latest idea to save the world from global warming. But Artemis is behaving strangely - he seems different. Something terrible has happened to him . . . Artemis Fowl has become nice. The fairies diagnose Atlantis Complex (that's obsessive compulsive disorder to you and I) - it seems dabbling in magic has damaged Artemis' main his mind. Fairy ally Captain Holly Short doesn't know what to do. The subterranean volcanoes are under attack from vicious robots and Artemis cannot fight them. Can Holly get the real Artemis back ---before the robot probes destroy every human and life form? This eagerly-awaited adventure is now out in paperback with a fabulous new cover-look to celebrate ten years of Artemis action.
Review
ah, a new Artemis Fowl is always an excuse to just revert to one's childhood. I went teen-age instead, and was up until gone 5:00 AM this morning listening to nathaniel Parker's narration. bit of a mixed bag here, really. The plot, old enemy comes out of the woodwork and reeks havoc, is nothing new; but it's refreshing that it wasn't Opal this time. Artemis' psychological problems are far more powerful than one would have thought, which sort of leaves the issue of global warming hanging in the balance. There are good things, too, of course. Foaly is much more involved, I don't remember him being above ground and in danger since the first book and his out-and-about attitude adds spice to the story. The banter and language is as always deliciously Colfer, and the issues faced are truly relevant to today's society. whilst listening, I did have a sense; not so much of deja vu per se, more of incredulity. I think my problem was that in the earlier books, the characters were forced to find and rely on each other - i.e. artemis kidnaps short, The LEP attempt a rescue, Mulch gets called in. The pattern is repeated for other books, but there's very much a sense of the characters 'neding' to be where they end up. here, it felt as though the players were simply put together for forms sake, somehow, and whilst the language and description gelled very well, I couldn't help but wonder if all of these people in a situation similar to so many others was perhaps a little too much. the good things, the personalities and the humour, the characterisation and the technology, the whole world Colfer's made - these were very good, but I can't but help feel this was let down by a few niggles. I've already mentioned the feeling of disconnection as to how characters just appear when they're needed. holly's rank seemed to bounce from Captain to Commander with alarming rapidity, and the chapters didn't seem as well thought-out or cohesive as in previous works. Parker's reading suffered also, for although his timing and tone were perfect, some of his voices and pronunciation were a little off, and I am a stickler for consistency. I remember reading somewhere that the Time paradox was going to be "the last Artemis book at least for a while". it's been 18 months or so, but no other Artemis book has made me feel, as this latest instalment did, that perhaps it is time colfer started to wind down the series. This time, the placing and pace seemed a little off. Hopefully the jokes and characters we've all come to love won't ware as thin.
July
4 Stars to The Arctic Incident (Artemis Fowl, #2) by Eoin Colfer
Description
Artemis Fowl wants to find his father, held hostage in Russia; Holly Short wants to find who’s supplying the goblins with human technology; Foaly wants to find out who’s disabled all the LEP Technology and pointed the finger at him. Artemis has received a ransom demand for his father but is captured by the LEP who suspect him of supplying the goblins with dangerous Human technology (batteries). He convinces them he’s innocent and agrees to help them if they help him free his father. Meanwhile, down in the underground world, chaos has arisen. An unknown traitor has stolen forbidden weapons and armed a horde of trolls, setting them loose to wreak havoc on the citizens. Clues lead Captain Holly Short straight to Artemis, and she exacts a small bit of revenge by kidnapping him, just as he once kidnapped her. But soon she learns that Artemis isn’t behind the chaos, and if she’s to have any hope of stopping it, she will need his help. As a result, these onetime adversaries must now join forces—a mix that proves to be both charming and volatile. The world that Colfer creates is as vivid and fantastical as any shire, gotham, or galaxy far, far away in recent memory. Grade: A-.
Review
"We're being led by an idiot with a crayon!" This second instalment of this most successful of series sees our acerbic hero doing something good for a change, rather than attempting to kidnap a fairy and ransom her for gold. Artemis Senior (father to our lead) was missing, presumed dead but has since turned up, himself for ransom. But all is not happy below ground and Artemis has fairy concerns as well as his own to deal with. The humour carries on, the story is as gripping as ever. A very good continuation indeed.
5 Stars to Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1) by Eoin Colfer
Description
Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius, and above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of bedtime stories—they're dangerous! Full of unexpected twists and turns, Artemis Fowl is a riveting, magical adventure.
Review
"Stay back, human, You don't know what you're dealing with." This is of course the first Colfer work I ever read - in fact, I first stumbled upon it completely accidentally at the public library on audio cassette. colfer's absolutely stunning blend of the fairy tale and futuristic technology has gripped me time and time again, and this is easily the tenth reading of this short but massively incredible work. "Let us proceed under the assumption that the fairy folk do exist and that I am not a gibbering moron."
We have Artemis the evil Genius, Butler his servant, and a host of fairy folk whom Artemis is attempting to extort money from. The pros, and, yes, the sublime reading by nathaniel Parker of the audio, gripped me from the very first pages.
Looking back at those days I can still feel the glee of Artemis' triumph at his initial success. I laugh out loud at the quips and the banter. and I always, always look forward to reading the sequels. at time of writing this review the seventh installment of the series is coming out in a few days. truly, I can't wait.
4 Stars to The Hero of Ages (Mistborn, #3) by Brandon Sanderson
Description
"Description contains spoilers for previous book in the series" Who is the Hero of Ages? To end the Final Empire and restore freedom, Vin killed the Lord Ruler. But as a result, the Deepness—the lethal form of the ubiquitous mists—is back, along with increasingly heavy ashfalls and ever more powerful earthquakes. Humanity appears to be doomed. Having escaped death at the climax of The Well of Ascension only by becoming a Mistborn himself, Emperor Elend Venture hopes to find clues left behind by the Lord Ruler that will allow him to save the world. Vin is consumed with guilt at having been tricked into releasing the mystic force known as Ruin from the Well. Ruin wants to end the world, and its near omniscience and ability to warp reality make stopping it seem impossible. Vin can't even discuss it with Elend lest Ruin learn their plans!
Review
A brilliant series all the way through, I cannot fault the pros or the personae, and the plot is so overarching and grand! Some of what fantasy really should be, and no mistake. Of course with everything there is a but - and in this third volume it was the ending. Though there were twists and turns and revelations aplenty that kept me thinking, the ending was a little too pat for my liking. There was a great sense of inevitability to it all, and it was perhaps a little transparent. It must be an incredibly difficult task to plan things out in such exhaustive detail then lay the clues and delicate tendrils of plot for the readers, and it worked for me so, so brilliantly in the first two. perhaps I'm just becoming used to Sanderson's style. Even with all that said, there's no denying that this is a memorable work and a truly enjoyable read for any fantasy fan.
5 Stars to The Well of Ascension (Mistborn, #2) by Brandon Sanderson
Description
"Description contains spoilers for previous book in the series" The impossible has been accomplished. The Lord Ruler—the man who claimed to be god incarnate and brutally ruled the world for a thousand years—has been vanquished. But Kelsier, the hero who masterminded that triumph, is dead too, and now the awesome task of building a new world has been left to his young protégé, Vin, the former street urchin who is now the most powerful Mistborn in the land, and to the idealistic young nobleman she loves. As Kelsier's protégé and slayer of the Lord Ruler she is now venerated by a budding new religion, a distinction that makes her intensely uncomfortable. Even more worrying, the mists have begun behaving strangely since the Lord Ruler died, and seem to harbor a strange vaporous entity that haunts her. Stopping assassins may keep Vin's Mistborn skills sharp, but it's the least of her problems. Luthadel, the largest city of the former empire, doesn't run itself, and Vin and the other members of Kelsier's crew, who lead the revolution, must learn a whole new set of practical and political skills to help. It certainly won't get easier with three armies - one of them composed of ferocious giants - now vying to conquer the city, and no sign of the Lord Ruler's hidden cache of atium, the rarest and most powerful allomantic metal. As the siege of Luthadel tightens, an ancient legend seems to offer a glimmer of hope. But even if it really exists, no one knows where to find the Well of Ascension or what manner of power it bestows.
Review
An absolutely brilliant continuation of the series, the shocking twists and turns just kept on coming. The 47th chapter was my favourite one, but overall the sheer scope and depth to the characters and world is truly incredible.
5 Stars to Mistborn: The Final Empire (Mistborn, #1) by Brandon Sanderson
Description
What if the whole world were a dead, blasted wasteland? Mistborn For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the "Sliver of Infinity," reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler's most hellish prison. Kelsier "snapped" and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark. Kelsier recruited the underworld's elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Then Kelsier reveals his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot. But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel's plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she's a half-Skaa orphan, but she's lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets. She will have to learn trust if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed. Brandon Sanderson, fantasy's newest master tale-spinner and author of the acclaimed debut Elantris, dares to turn a genre on its head by asking a simple question: What if the prophesied hero failed to defeat the Dark Lord? The answer will be found in the Mistborn Trilogy, a saga of surprises that begins with the book in your hands. Fantasy will never be the same again.
Review
not since Robin Hobb has a fantasy author gripped me with such a tome. I have truly adored the Dave Duncan I've been reading of late, but his longest work would barely mar the dust jacket of one of these. The world is stunning - not rich or vibrant but downtrodden and poor. the characters are so much more vivid as a result - combined with the excellent narrative and superb mastery of pace, the story unfolds and keeps you coming back for more. it's a self-contained story in and of itself, but leaves so much of the history and even more of the future open for speculation and further works, of which I tend to partake posthaste.
4 Stars to Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson
Description
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn't like his job, and the immortal who's still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago. Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren's capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people. By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker.
Review
this is the authors latest published work, and I haven't read any of his previous. I can only hope each of his worlds is as unique, interesting and enjoyable as this one. The politics was fascinating, the magic system well thought out and a true breath of fresh air when compared to the wand-waving or heretical chanting of some other books. Game on!
June
4 Stars to Notes to my Mother-in-Law: An Unforgettable and Humorous Memoir of Love, Memory, and Home by Phyllida Law
Description
‘My mother-in-law Annie lived with us for 17 years and was picture-book perfect.’ It took a while before the family realised that Annie was increasingly (as she would put it) 'Mutt and Jeff'. So Phyllida began to write out the day's gossip at the kitchen table, putting her notes by Annie's bed before going to hers. One night as heer husband wandered off to bed he muttering darkly that she spent so much time each evening writing to Annie she could have written a book. 'And illustrated it!' Here it is. It is a book full of the delights of a warm and loving household. Of Boot the Cat being sick after over-indulging in spiders; the hunt for cleaning products from the dawn of time; persistently and mysteriously malfunctioning hearing aids; an unusual and potentially hilarious use for a clove of garlic; and the sad disappearance of coconut logs from the local sweetshop. It's about the special place at the heart of a home held by a woman born in another age. Who polished the brass when it was 'looking red at her'. Who still bore a scar on her hands from being hit by her employer when, as a young woman, she was in service. Who could turn the heel of a sock and the collar of a shirt, and make rock-cakes, bread pudding and breast of lamb with barley.
Review
By turns funny and whimsical, this is a fascinating little read offering compelling and intriguing insights into the time "back then", given that the autthor and the mother-in-law in question hail from an era previous to my own. The patience, fortitude and eternal buoyant optimism of the author shine through in every note penned to her aging mother-in-law, and everything - from the stories about the cat to her parental mishaps - is a delight to read. We listened to the neatly-produced RNIB talking Book version, read by Joanna Mackie, catalogue number 17404.
4 Stars to Colony by Rob Grant
Description
Lifetimes ago, the generation ship Willflower set out, manned by the cream of humanity, on a mission to colonize the stars. But by the 10th generation, things are starting to go badly wrong. The only man who can save the ship is astrophysical Dr Piers Morton. Only he's not an astrophysical engineer, he's not a doctor, he's not even Piers Morgan, and all that remains of his body is his head, his spinal column and absolutely nothing else. Better yet, somebody on board is trying to kill what's left of him...
Review
As a debut solo novel, this was quite compelling. the years of experience co-writing clearly gives an individual a leg up, so that's something to be factored in. Reading solo matter is also a fascinating way to untangle which half of doubled material came from who, of course. Chunks of the humour were very reminiscent of parts of the 2nd Red Dwarf, Better than Life. All that aside, this was fairly good in its own right. the characters were as off as twelve-year-old milk left baking in the sun, but then many of them were insane. The humour was nicely done, not too heavy handed yet with that indefinable, slumming Britishness that works so well. A promising start.
2 Stars to The Nanotech War (Star Trek: Voyager) by Steven Piziks
Description
Throughout Human history, mankind has turned its goals and dreams toward exploration. With wagon trains, ships, satellites and starships, Humanity has chosen to seek out the new frontier, to explore new worlds, and to go where no Human has gone before – even to the furthest reaches of the Delta Quadrant. There, Captain Janeway and the crew of the Starship USS Voyager have discovered many strange and wondrous civilizations… but few as alien as the Chiar. An advanced and scientific people who have made great strides with nanotechnology, the Chiar expanded internally rather than externally. Every inch of their planet is crawling with the tiniest bits and pieces of artificial intelligence imaginable, working in concert as the new lifeblood of this mechanical world. The people themselves are inseparable from their nanites, which layer their skin and provide extra limbs or senses as required. Caught up in a bitter civil conflict, some Chiar will try to take advantage of their meeting with the crew of Starship Voyager. They imagine that their homegrown nanites can harness the incredible power of the deadly Borg, and instead set in motion an experiment that goes devastatingly out of control.
Review
While I can applaud this Voyager title for the character development (the start of Seven and Chakotay's romance was interesting), it's not going to win any awards on that front. the plot, too, held promise, but the nano materials were underplayed and rather pointless, serving only to let the ending come out the way it was supposed to, it seems. Tom's relationship was handled well, though rarely have I seen janeway portrayed as a spare part more than here.
2 Stars to Race Against Time by Piers Anthony
Description
John Smith is a typical teenager living in a world he believes to be America in the 1960s, but the strange behavior he sees forces him outside forbidden boundaries to discover the shocking truth. Reissue.
Review
Though not the first time I'd read this one, I got little more out of it than before. Reminded me of a Heinlein Juvenile in substance (though not tone). The idea has merit, but the characters are so flat as to be relatively transparent.
4 Stars to Wake (WWW, #1) by Robert J. Sawyer
Description
Caitlin Decter is young, pretty, feisty, a genius at math - and blind. Still, she can surf the net with the best of them, following its complex paths clearly in her mind. But Caitlin's brain long ago co-opted her primary visual cortex to help her navigate online. So when she receives an implant to restore her sight, instead of seeing reality, the landscape of the World Wide Web explodes into her consciousness, spreading out all around her in a riot of colors and shapes. While exploring this amazing realm, she discovers something - some other - lurking in the background. And it's getting more and more intelligent with each passing day.
Review
This book impacts on so many levels it's difficult to know quite where to begin. It's garnered much attention from the blind community, as has the sequel, but I wanted to read it without all the hype and so held off until things had quite died down. As a rule, I try not to let portrayals of the blind influence my thinking one way or another. There were certain things that made me pause - the assertion that raising a blind child is overly difficult, for instance. I don't remember my folks going out of their way for me. Of course there were a few 'jawsisms' too, but in all, the depiction seems more flattering than degrading. As to the story itself, there's so many threads to it that it's got something for everyone. I loved it all, from the growing AI to the artistic chimp. I think what I liked most of all was the way in which the AI compared its learning to that of Caitlins newly-found vision, because the blindness thing wasn't a crutch - it was an actual [part of the plot and story. really, this is a science fiction novel, with a philosophical bent as is Sawyer's wont. it just happens to be considerably more Human than the average.
5 Stars to Emperor and Clown (A Man of His Word, #4) by Dave Duncan
Description
A princess and a stableboy? It sounds like the worst sort of hackneyed formula romance. Think again, for "A Man of His Word" may well be the most original fantasy you ever read. The magic is unique and applied in unexpected ways, some of which the late Lester del Rey admitted he had not met in fifty years as writer and editor. The world itself is unique--there are no humans in Pandemia, only imps, elves, gnomes, jotnar, and many more, all of whom you will recognize as "human". With Inos married to the wrong man and Rap dying in a dungeon, obviously the cause is hopeless. Only Aunt Kade refuses to admit defeat...
Review
A true fairy tale ending and an absolutely perfect way to go about it, I must say I didn't quite see how it was going to go. Though in typical Duncan style it made perfect sense and everything's come full circle once again. This is one of the only times I've felt that an ending of Duncan's is 100% spot on, I think. the Seventh Sword was very neatly done, though perhaps a little too obvious, and the Great game ending felt a bit rushed. This was sheer perfection, and very happily so.
4 Stars to Perilous Seas (A Man of His Word, #3) by Dave Duncan
Description
Queen Inos was badly shaken. Rap - loyal, trustworthy Rap - had appeared to her, obviously from beyond the grave. His insubstantial image, the echo of his voice...She stiffened her resolve. She would serve her people, whatever the cost. Rap would have wanted her to. But Rap was alive, armed with a magic word and unwavering resolve to find his beloved Inos and give her whatever help a galley slave could give a queen. Then Kalkor, cruelest of the vicious Nordland raiders, sailed into port in his longship Blood Wave; and Rap's life took a hellish turn for the worse...
Review
Though this book felt longer than it actually was, the threads are coming together with Duncan's typical aplomb. the perspective shift to kade, though short, was very impressively managed. The demonstrable nature of rap's task handed down from an authority figure (not a God but a sorcerer this time) is also quite typical Duncan, though the series isn't over yet and mysteries are bound to await us. we end on a Recessional, after all. next?
4 Stars to Faery Lands Forlorn (A Man of His Word, #2) by Dave Duncan
Description
Inos, the late king's daughter, had been kidnapped through the magic casement even as the Impish legions overrunning her tiny kingdom were storming the castle tower. Now she was a prisoner in a desert land ruled by a dockside whore with a talent for magic and a passion for politics. She little dreamed that the loyal stableboy Rap had jumped through the casement after her. But no one really knew how the magic worked, and Rap found himself not in a desert, but in the steaming jungles of Faerie -- half a world away from Inos! Rap was determined to rescue his beloved queen, and nothing could stop him -- not even the monsters and headhunters of Faerie, or the paranoid machinations of an evil sorcerer...
Review
Ah, joy. I almost underestimated him again, didn't I? read the first one, felt a bit "so so". look where that got me last time! The tension is on, our heroes scattered throughout Pandemia, and alliances forged and broken and who to trust is never a certain thing. We have our young queen, seemingly wedged between the mercies of a calculating sorceress and a rather sultry sultan with her kingdom far away and in the hands of enemies. Then there's the bloodthirsty goblin, who's holding his head high because prophecy has told him he's getting exactly what he wants. Our gestalt continue to seek words of power, and then there's Master Rap, thrown hither and thither, from thief to magician to sorcerer to sailor, all the while trying to find his queen. The politics, the scenery and the power play between the Wardens all serve as excellent fodder, and as the characters wend their way through a world so divided it makes one wonder just where everybody is going to end up and who's going to pull through it all. This book ends on Rap, "bound with ties of friendship" to the sailors, divided emotionally as well as by great distance from where he originally set out to be. and the saga continues!
3 Stars to Magic Casement (A Man of His Word, #1) by Dave Duncan
Description
MAN OF HIS WORD A princess and a stableboy? It sounds like the worst sort of hackneyed formula romance. Think again, for "A Man of His Word" may well be the most original fantasy you ever read. The magic is unique and applied in unexpected ways, some of which the late Lester del Rey admitted he had not met in fifty years as writer and editor. The world itself is unique - there are no humans in Pandemia, only imps, elves, gnomes, jotnar, and many more, all of whom you will recognize as "human". MAGIC CASEMENT In MAGIC CASEMENT the tale begins gently, even slowly, with Inosolan enjoying an idyllic childhood in her father's tiny backwater kingdom, too innocent even to understand that the feelings she shares with her friend Rap are more than friendship. Mystery, menace, and the gods appear in short order, and from then on the story grows in scope and power to straddle the world, and adversity thrusts rapid maturity on Rap and Inos. Populated by unforgettable characters - Aunt Kade, Little Chicken, Doctor Sagorn, and many more - Pandemia is an incredible world of credible people and infinite surprises.
Review
I've made the mistake of underestimating Duncan before, so I won't abandon this series just yet. There seems to be a big world out there of which this is just a part. Traditionally I've never seen the twists in the plot coming. This holds for TV shows too, it's not limited to books - and so any writing transparent enough that even I can see where it's going is cause for pause. But though I latched immediately onto some of the big factors, the story remained unpredictable enough to hold me and the last few pages certainly ramp up the tension. The output from the Casement, which was so underplayed and avoided all the way through, becomes the burning question, and I can only hope that as with the Kings Blades, this series picks up for me.
3 Stars to The Merchant of Death (Pendragon, #1) by D.J. MacHale
Description
Librarian Note: Alternate cover for this ISBN can be found here DENDURON BOBBY PENDRAGON is a seemingly normal fourteen-year-old boy. He has a family, a home, and even Marley, his beloved dog. But there is something very special about Bobby. He is going to save the world. And not just Earth as we know it. Bobby is slowly starting to realize that life in the cosmos isn't quite what he thought it was. And before he can object, he is swept off to an alternate dimension known as Denduron, a territory inhabited by strange beings, ruled by a magical tyrant, and plagued by dangerous revolution. If Bobby wants to see his family again, he's going to have to accept his role as savior, and accept it wholeheartedly. Because, as he is about to discover, Denduron is only the beginning.... Cover illustration by Victor Lee
Review
I'm starting to wonder how I was able to read books without Michael's aid - for yet another recommendation from him propels me headlong into this series. In tone reminding me of Darren Shan, Diane Duane and perhaps even Trudi Canavan, this seems to be the start of quite an interesting collection. I'm in need of one, having finished Rick Shelley's DMC series a short while ago. This book is a fairly typical adventure story with the person-in-a-new-world motif, but as there are a whopping 9 more to go I am sort of hoping that the characters flesh out a little and the stage is expanded. still, the excitement was there and the potential established, so whilst I can't see myself ploughing through these with the haste I might afford Dave Duncan I will assuredly try the next few and see how they go.
May
4 Stars to Colonel (Dirigent Mercenary Corps, #6) by Rick Shelley
Description
A legendary warrior in the Dirigent Mercenary Corps, Colonel Lon Nolan is ready to distance himself from a world of war and death, until he learns that the chancellor of Elysium is coming to Dirigent, hoping to enlist the aid of the DMC against the maruading mercenaries of New Sparta.
Review
hard to believe I've finished these. They weren't anything truly amazing, but it was nice to always fall back on a book where you knew how things would go.
4 Stars to Goblin Quest (Jig the Goblin, #1) by Jim C. Hines
Description
Jig is a scrawny little nearsighted goblin a runt even among his puny species Captured by a party of adventurers searching for a magical artifact and forced to guide them Jig encounters every peril ever faced on a fantasy quest
Review
"you've either got the greatest gift of understatement ever seen in a human, or else you've not the slightest idea what you're talking about." This is a delightful little book, looking at much of the fantasy genre in something of a different light. Jig, the goblin protagonist, is not originally a part of the adventuring party (which holds many of the standard fantasy elements we'd expect, such as the magic user, the warrior etc). he's more a captive, which skews the viewpoint on the adventuring class from the outset. Jig's charity is naturally somewhat limited in that department also, and so the group that sets off on a mighty quest is hardly a harmonious one. "Over the course of Jig's rant, Barius's face had turned red, then purple. Jig watched him curiously. He hadn't realized humans could change color. Perhaps they were part lizard." Jig's only a goblin, and so not very familiar with other species (having lived his entire life underground). He's got Humans, elves, dwarves and dragons to deal with, though: not to mention the odd God. "Jig felt nauseous as he realized that he had a hole passing all the way through his body. And how much blood did he have left? That warm puddle all over the floor, that was him! He needed that stuff to stay inside his skin, not be spreading across the marble and soaking into his loincloth!" Jig's also fairly used to pain, the goblins being something of a rough-and-ready bunch of miscreants. Little prepared him for the hardships he'd have to endure on this quest, though, even though he didn't want to be there in the first place. "He had shouted into the black pit for a while, but nobody answered. The pit absorbed his voice, making him sound small and scared. Which he was, but he didn't like having the fact thrown in his face." The humour reminds me of Simon Hawke, peter David or dave Duncan in their light fantasy modes. This is the first of what I think is a trilogy, so there's more jig to come. Whilst the sarcasm and fun is perhaps not of a standard when compared to some people's work, it's certainly passable and in many instances enjoyable. I really got into it, and will certainly be reading the rest.
3 Stars to Lieutenant Colonel (Dirigent Mercenary Corps, #5) by Rick Shelley
Description
While the Colonial Mining Cartel raids a small planet for its valuable mineral resources, Major Lon Nolan fights to defend the beleaguered inhabitants. Original.
Review
"there is a male equivalent to fluffy chick lit", says a reviewer on Goodreads, about Officer Cadet in particular and the series in general. I'd say she had a point there, at least with the earlier titles, but the complexities bestowed by Lon's rank and family both serve to elevate things above that, in my opinion. Never a series to die for, but the progression is most certainly proving worth the read.
4 Stars to Voyage from Yesteryear by James P. Hogan
Description
An army from Earth battles to regain control over a space colony that has developed advanced technology but has evolved into a society that will do anything to retain their liberty. Reissue.
Review
"Success is like a fart. Only your own smells nice" In this lackadaisically whimsical plodder of a novel, Hogan poses a future where an exploratory spacecraft is sent off with genetic material to seed a planet in war-torn tension-filled times on Earth. Years later when things settle down, a US vessel sets out to see the results of the mission - along with a European and Asiatic craft on their heals, all intent upon converting the Humans that aren't quite Human to their individual belief systems and governmental regimes. Naturally, things don't go to plan and the people of Chiron are happily doing well without external intervention. The Chironian way of life is quite appealing to several of the Novel's main characters and it is a fascinating, if sometimes slow, insight into their lives and the lifestyle of an alienly Human culture.
5 Stars to Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein
Description
One minute, down and out actor Lorenzo Smythe was — as usual — in a bar, drinking away his troubles as he watched his career go down the tubes. Then a space pilot bought him a drink, and the next thing Smythe knew, he was shanghaied to Mars. Suddenly he found himself agreeing to the most difficult role of his career: impersonating an important politician who had been kidnapped. Peace with the Martians was at stake — failure to pull off the act could result in interplanetary war. And Smythe's own life was on the line — for if he wasn't assassinated, there was always the possibility that he might be trapped in his new role forever!
Review
I absolutely love this book - Smithe's pigheadedness and conceit never fails to amuse me, and this has to be at least my sixth reading. I believe Lloyd James reads an audio version, which is very nicely done, but I zipped through it myself this morning whilst feeling ill and sorry for myself. The politics is incredible and the Humanity unsurpassed. I can say without doubt that I'll read it again some day.
5 Stars to Smiley's People (George Smiley, #7; Karla Trilogy, #3) by John le Carré
Description
John le Carre's classic novels deftly navigate readers through the intricate shadow worlds of international espionage with unsurpassed skill and knowledge and have earned him -- and his hero, British Secret Service agent George Smiley -- unprecedented worldwide acclaim.Rounding off his astonishing vision of a clandestine world, master storyteller le Carre perfects his art in Smiley's People. In London at dead of night, George Smiley, sometime acting Chief of the Circus (aka the British Secret Service), is summoned from his lonely bed by news of the murder of an ex-agent. Lured back to active service, Smiley skillfully maneuvers his people -- the no-men of no-man's land -- into crisscrossing Paris, London, Germany, and Switzerland as he prepares for his own final, inevitable duel on the Berlin border with his Soviet counterpart and archenemy, Karla.
Review
As with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy I first heard the radio drama of this one. Recently re-dramatised with a new cast, the differences between the 2 dramas and the book interested me, so I picked it up and dived right in. the story is of course gripping, and le Carré plays Smily and karla to perfection. Age creeps up on everyone, and George has never seemed more Human than in this book, I think. It's weird contrasting the dramas, too - the new one is very much In Smiley's head, taking words from other characters and the narrative and fitting them in so we are in his mind as much as we can be. Ann is used almost as Smiley's inner voice. Contrast this with the old drama where George is played very quietly and powerfully by Hepton and where the demons are not so easily in evidence, and you have 2 very different interpretations of a most excellent work. I was leaning toward at least tolerating the newer version, until they slapped a scene after the fateful "Yes. Yes, well I suppose I did." where George, Peter and Mendel are having an after-action drink. This strikes me as such an unnecessary pretentious way of ending a masterpiece, and when I eventually get around to watching the TV version made so long ago I only hope it ends the way it's supposed to.
4 Stars to Daemon (Daemon, #1) by Leinad Zeraus
Description
Technology controls almost everything in our modern-day world, from remote entry on our cars to access to our homes, from the flight controls of our airplanes to the movements of the entire world economy. Thousands of autonomous computer programs, or daemons, make our networked world possible, running constantly in the background of our lives, trafficking e-mail, transferring money, and monitoring power grids. For the most part, daemons are benign, but the same can't always be said for the people who design them. Matthew Sobol was a legendary computer game designer—the architect behind half-a-dozen popular online games. His premature death depressed both gamers and his company's stock price. But Sobol's fans aren't the only ones to note his passing. When his obituary is posted online, a previously dormant daemon activates, initiating a chain of events intended to unravel the fabric of our hyper-efficient, interconnected world. With Sobol's secrets buried along with him, and as new layers of his daemon are unleashed at every turn, it's up to an unlikely alliance to decipher his intricate plans and wrest the world from the grasp of a nameless, faceless enemy—or learn to live in a society in which we are no longer in control. . . . Computer technology expert Daniel Suarez blends haunting high-tech realism with gripping suspense in an authentic, complex thriller in the tradition of Michael Crichton, Neal Stephenson, and William Gibson.
Review
Michael's truly on form with his recommendations this month. This is Cory Doctorow done properly, this is makers and little brother done properly. A truly remarkable piece of work, an introduction to the techno-thriller genre, with characters, situations and technology as vivid as anyone could wish.
4 Stars to Major (Dirigent Mercenary Corps, #4) by Rick Shelley
Description
The year is 2804 AD. Humanity has colonized the universe. But the authority of the Confederation of Human Worlds is spread thin. Where the Army of planet Earth cannot reach, mercenaries must keep the peace--and the Dirigent Mercenary Corps are the best of the best.Lon Nolan is skyrocketing through the ranks of the DMC, proving time and again that he€™s got what it takes to be one of the most elite fighters in the galaxy. But as his family grows, he grow less certain that the mercenary life is for him. With one kid at home and another on the way, he grows more reluctant to march off to battle.But when duty calls, he must answer. In MAJOR, Nolan is off to the mining planet of Bancroft on a routine security mission. Of course, this is the DMC, so it won€™t stay routine for long ...The Dirigent Mercenary Corps books are classics of military science fiction. Rick Shelley was himself a veteran of the U.S. Army, and his experience and knowledge shine through on
Review
I went into this one expecting another 3 star output, which was perhaps unfair but typical of the rest. Nolan's progression through the ranks of the Dirigent Mercenary Corps has provided interesting, but fairly constantly average, reading. but the addition of Lon's family opens this up to being more than just a series of combat missions in remote environments, and the weight of duty and responsibility on his shoulders adds gravitas to this book. There are 2 more, I believe, and with the ending of this one so up in the air, who knows where they'll end up?
April
2 Stars to The Un-Magician (OutCast, #1) by Christopher Golden
Description
The most dangerous boy in the world? Timothy is a freak, a weakling, an impossibility. He's the only person in existence without magical powers and has spent his entire life hidden on a remote island. When Timothy is finally taken back to the city of this birth, he is fascinated by the current of magic that fuels the world, and mesmerized by the buildings and orbs that hang weightlessly in the sky. But he is also marked for death. Assassins are watching his every move, and the government wants him destroyed. Timothy can't imagine what threat he could possible pose; after all, he wields no power in this world. Or does he?
Review
As with Sabriel I found this offering a little too young and childish to utterly enjoy it. Sniegoski has done it before (sleepper code wasn't much good without sleeper agenda, for instance). Nevertheless I felt little for the writing or the characters and the world comes over as just a little flat.
4 Stars to A Perfect Spy by John le Carré
Description
John le Carre's classic novels deftly navigate readers through the intricate shadow worlds of international espionage with unsurpassed skill and knowledge, and have earned him unprecedented worldwide acclaim. Immersing readers in two parallel dramas -- one about the making of a spy, the other chronicling his seemingly imminent demise -- le Carre offers one of his richest and most morally resonant novels.Magnus Pym -- son of Rick, father of Tom, and a successful career officer of British Intelligence -- has vanished, to the dismay of his friends, enemies, and wife. Who is he? Who was he? Who owns him? Who trained him? Secrets of state are at risk. As the truth about Pym gradually emerges, the reader joins Pym's pursuers to explore the unsettling life and motives of a man who fought the wars he inherited with the only weapons he knew, and so became a perfect spy.
Review
No content provided.
4 Stars to Summer Knight (The Dresden Files, #4) by Jim Butcher
Description
For the 1st printing edition of this ISBN, see here. HARRY DRESDEN -- WIZARD Lost items found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment Ever since his girlfriend left town to deal with her newly acquired taste for blood, Harry Dresden has been down and out in Chicago. He can't pay his rent. He's alienating his friends. He can't even recall the last time he took a shower. The only professional wizard in the phone book has become a desperate man. And just when it seems things can't get any worse, in saunters the Winter Queen of Faerie. She has an offer Harry can't refuse if he wants to free himself of the supernatural hold his faerie godmother has over him--and hopefully end his run of bad luck. All he has to do is find out who murdered the Summer Queen's right-hand man, the Summer Knight, and clear the Winter Queen's name. It seems simple enough, but Harry knows better than to get caught in the middle of faerie politics. Until he finds out that the fate of the entire world rests on his solving this case. No pressure or anything...
Review
"You foil a Faerie Queen, survive your own execution. Get away from certain death. And get stuck up a freaking tree." Harry Dresden always has something on his plate, and this time, it's the fallout from last time. There was lots of action, gore and mystical going on as ever - I liked the bit about aeroplanes too - "you can only breathe because someone built you a really good tin can that has seams tight enough to hold in a decent amount of air". A fun series, although there's a lot of darkness and blood and violence in there too. Not something to keep one up nights, perhaps, or at least not one of my sensitivities - and lucky, too, or else I'd get no sleep at all.
5 Stars to Grave Peril (The Dresden Files, #3) by Jim Butcher
Description
This an alternate cover for 9780451458445 Harry Dresden - Wizard Lost Items Found. Paranormal Investigations. Consulting. Advice. Reasonable Rates. No Love Potions, Endless Purses, or Other Entertainment. Harry Dresden has faced some pretty terrifying foes during his career. Giant scorpions. Oversexed vampires. Psychotic werewolves. It comes with the territory when you're the only professional wizard in the Chicago-area phone book. But in all Harry's years of supernatural sleuthing, he's never faced anything like this: The spirit world has gone postal. All over Chicago, ghosts are causing trouble - and not just of the door-slamming, boo-shouting variety. These ghosts are tormented, violent, and deadly. Someone - or something - is purposely stirring them up to wreak unearthly havoc. But why? And why do so many of the victims have ties to Harry? If Harry doesn't figure it out soon, he could wind up a ghost himself....
Review
Chalk one up for the irony: I was about to say these books are becoming quite formulaic - when the formula goes out the window. Not overtly so, the basic outline is still there. Things are just heating up for harry these days, and I must say the climactic battle at the vampire house was quite, quite incredible, and that is my impetus for the five star rating, I think. A series with far to go and doubtless more surprises to come; this book just cemented those that have gone before for me and made things more real, dangerous and vivid.
4 Stars to Fool Moon (The Dresden Files, #2) by Jim Butcher
Description
Fool Moon continues the adventures of Jim Butcher’s most famous—and infamous—reluctant hero… You’d think there’d be a little more action for the only professional wizard listed in the Chicago phone book. But lately, Harry Dresden hasn’t been able to dredge up any kind of work: magical, mundane, or menial. Just when it looks like he can’t afford his next meal, a murder comes along that requires his particular brand of supernatural expertise. There’s a brutally mutilated corpse, and monstrous animal markings at the scene. Not to mention that the killing took place on the night of a full moon. Harry knows exactly where this case is headed. Take three guesses—and the first two don’t count…
Review
I actually enjoyed this book more than the first in the series, though given that the writing style and predominant characters were the same, perhaps my enjoyometer considered this an extension of the book, rather than a whole new one. the events take place some time after those portrayed events, but it still felt like an add-on. Still, growing familiarity with Dresden and his methods made this one more fun to digest, somehow - though the horror is quite graphic at times. I've enjoyed some werewolf fiction and despised others, but this didn't drone on to the extent that it bored me and was done quite well. the scene in the police station is my favourite, I think, where we get Dresden battling a wolf on the Special Investigations level.
3 Stars to Storm Front (The Dresden Files, #1) by Jim Butcher
Description
As a professional wizard, Harry Dresden knows firsthand that the “everyday” world is actually full of strange and magical things—and most of them don’t play well with humans. And those that do enjoy playing with humans far too much. He also knows he’s the best at what he does. Technically, he’s the only at what he does. But even though Harry is the only game in town, business—to put it mildly—stinks. So when the Chicago P.D. bring him in to consult on a double homicide committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs. But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it. And now that mage knows Harry's name...
Review
"Paranoid? Probably. But just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face." I had heard of but not thought about looking at these books before Michael's recommendation, so there's a big thanks right there. I don't quite know what to make of it, either. I read the page on Jim Butcher on Wikipedia for a little background, and I suppose it's a good thing there are more books. There's a lot of room for Dresden's back story, and ample opportunities for future entanglements. The one thing that perhaps hit a wrong note in this first instalment is the fact that harry Dresden is supposedly the only practicing wizard around, and yet there's no lack of other mystical, magical or otherworldly beings trying to manage their mischief. Still, there's this dreaded White Council that appears to keep an eye on things, and many of the magical folk seem to keep a low profile. The action was gripping, the story line easily followed and the mixture of potions, incantation and magical sense was neatly rounded. he seems like an all-around nice guy, harry: as he says - When things get strange, when what goes bump in the night flicks on the lights, when no one else can help you, give me a call." The sort of wizard you'd want at your back.
3 Stars to Guardsmen of Tomorrow by Martin H. Greenberg
Description
What unique challenges will tomorrow's soldiers face in distant star systems?How will Earth deal with hostile aliens on home soil? How will humanity fight -- and survive -- its future wars? These are just a few of the questions explored in these brand-new, stories by the hottest names in science fiction. From diplomatic duels and strategic standoffs, to all-out, full-scale war, Guardsmen of Tomorrow offers suspense-filled, action-packed tales of battles fought and conflicts avoided, of weapons that can destroy entire worlds, and of men and women dedicated to keeping the peace in a vast and often hostile universe.
Review
A very enjoyable collection indeed.Robin Wayne Bailey's Blindfold is perhaps my favourite of the bunch, though the impetus of disability shining through or being combated is perhaps handled more enjoyably in Dean Wesley Smith's A Time to dream. I found that I preferred the combat as depicted in Wiping Out (a Robert J. Sawyer short) than that of the William H. Keith, Jr offering, but I've never read any of keith before and at least some of the Sawyer (such as the holography) was familiar. For the best ending, I have to pick Paul Levinson's Smart Weapon; surely I have to read more of this person. And for general laughs and some rather stomach-wrenching narrative, it's That Doggone Vnorpt, by Nathan Archer. A mixed bunch, though I've mentioned 6 of the 13 included, and of those I utterly enjoyed 5. "But the heart of space opera hasn't changed," says Larry Segriff in the introduction. He's right about that, I think. I may not agree that it's gotten better; or if things have improved, in more nuanced and complex ways than simply saying "the heart of space opera" can convey. still, I too feasted on heinlein, Dick, asimov and so forth, and therefore got enough out of this volume so that anything else that catches my eye may certainly make it to a shelf somewhere.
3 Stars to Calling a Dead Man by Gillian Cross
Description
When John, an explosives expert, dies in an accident in Russia, his sister Hayley and his friend Annie go there to mourn. Before long they begin to suspect that there is more to John's death than meets the eye, and that certain people are desperately trying to keep them away from the truth. They say that John had been drinking and made a mistake with the explosives. But Annie doesn't believe that, and she is determined to find out what really happened. Their search for the truth takes them deep into the country, following the signal of John's satellite phone. What they eventually find raises as many questions as it answers, and there are no easy solutions for any them.
Review
"Usually it is better not to speak of suffering, even to oneself. But if you never speak - if you never trust anyone - then you die." An interesting twist on the Mafiya taint, and though a decidedly average read it killed an hour or two. the kindness of the Russian citizens, the homage not to generalise, was well handled, and the night in the Church with Hayley and Frosya was quite poignant. Annie seemed rather useless throughout: I'm not averse to disability being shown as it is, but even so. There's almost something missing around the whole thing, as though we should have a book before or after. Who knows, I could be missing three quarters of a series. All that aside, as I say, a nice read to pass the time.
3 Stars to Illegal Alien by Robert J. Sawyer
Description
When a disabled spaceship enters Earth's atmosphere, seven members of the advanced Tosok race are welcomed by the world. Then a popular scientist is murdered, and all evidence points to one of the Tosoks. Now, an alien is tried in a court of law-and there may be far more at stake than accounting for one human life.
Review
I thought this was a short story, and was pleasantly surprised to find a full-blown novel waiting for me instead. Courtroom drama has never quite been my thing, but this was sedate and quiet enough that I enjoyed it, despite the overwhelmingly stentorian black message and the by now standard promulgation of canadian superiority.I thought this was a short story, and was pleasantly surprised to find a full-blown novel waiting for me instead. Courtroom drama has never quite been my thing, but this was sedate and quiet enough that I enjoyed it, despite the overwhelmingly stentorian black message and the by now standard promulgation of canadian superiority.
3 Stars to Starplex (Robert Sawyer) by Robert J. Sawyer
Description
The Aurora Award-winning Science-fiction Classic back in Print! The only novel from its year to be nominated for both the Hugo and Nebula Awards. The giant exploration starship Starplex - crewed by humans, dolphins, and extraterrestrials - embarks on a journey covering billions of years of time and millions of light-years of space.
Review
"The same painting is pretty each time you look at it. The same dish is tasty each time you eat it. shouldn't the same joke be funny each time you hear it?" A neat little novel, heavy on the SF as is Sawyer's wont. he's also a dab hand at the philosophy, though, and even squashed in the Canadian angle. This one was a little different from some of the others I've read, with much focus on the inter-species side of things, very much like a James White novel or series, it seemed at times. with a fascinating view of racial cooperation and a surprisingly captivating plot, it packs a moral punch whilst fixing the fans with their customary dose of hard science.
March
4 Stars to Future Indefinite (The Great Game, #3) by Dave Duncan
Description
Foretold to help the beleaguered natives of Nextdoor overthrow their oppressive godlike rulers, Edward Exeter must destroy the god known as Zath, whose source of strength is in human sacrifice
Review
"It was most fortuitously, was it not, that I was given assignment on the advance team to this campsite and were thus identifying you?" I love Dommie, he's been great the whole series through. What an enjoyable series it has been, as well. A thrilling take on magic and a most delightful way of weaving two worlds together. The ending was a little predictable, but it didn't suffer from that fact. The anticipation and curiosity for the details coupled with the breathtakingly vivid characters make that small issue a complete zero.
3 Stars to Present Tense (The Great Game, #2) by Dave Duncan
Description
Trapped in an alternate reality where he is pressed into military service, Edward Exeter, who has been declared the world's prophesied liberator, is hunted by the evil Pentathon rulers. Reprint.
Review
so, we take up some years after the conclusion of the first book in this trilogy, luckily all the familiar characters (at least from our side of the iron curtain, as it were, are still present). This book has much more of an anticipatory feel about it, though, because we've already got so much stuff going on from the first one. "He plays his part in history and walks away to die." Things aren't quite that dramatic. not yet, at least. the story of Edward's times Next Door are fascinating stuff, all the more interesting are the reactions of those that believe him and those that don't. "Did you say, ‘Another world'? Oh." Mrs. Bodgley pursed her lips and thought for a moment. "How very curious!" she murmured, and returned her attention to the cutlery. As you can see there's quite some acceptance and alacrity going on, which makes things very interesting when you factor in the longing a place like next door could hold for a war cripple. There's still another book to go, though, and it looks as if the God of Death is very much on the cards.
4 Stars to Past Imperative (The Great Game, #1) by Dave Duncan
Description
Edward Exeter, seemingly a golden child of a golden age, has a past spattered with tragedy and blood. His present is marred by the outbreak of the Great War, and it is further stained by the death of his friend, Timothy Bodgley, in circumstances that leave Edward in hospital, implicated as Bodgley's murderer. Strange chains of history and causality tighten on Edward's life: He is the unwilling key figure in an otherworldly prediction of salvation and/or disaster, bound to break the prophecy or fulfill it.
Review
"This is August Bank Holiday weekend, Inspector! England is closed." what an absolutely delightful blend! A superb mix of the English crust with a world of Gods and miracles. The weaving back and forth between worlds zooms up the tension admirably, leaving one in turns desperately frustrated yet so eager to carry on. "The universe ought to be more logical, and an armed geriatric nun was carrying things altogether too far." There are echoes of the Seventh Sword series here, particularly in the ways of the Gods and in some of the supporting characters, but these worlds are very much their own and the gateways between them perilously thrilling. The build-up was handled very well, and if the ending did seem to come at something of a rush, it's evident that there's more to enjoy.
3 Stars to One Step from Earth by Harry Harrison
Description
Nine short stories depict the fantastic adventures of unwitting humans who make use of a remarkable machine to transmit themselves across space and through time
Review
Harrison is an odd one - some of his stuff I enjoy to the point of missing it when it's not there and the rest is so humdrum to me that it may as well not be there at all. But He's given me many an interesting yarn over the years, so I can't complain. Some of the stories in this volume worked better than others, I'd say. though the theme of matter transmission is an interesting one, the angles of approach were sometimes a little too wide for me to enjoy without the action-packed, fast-paced stories I've come to expect from my shorter volumes. the ones I liked best were Pressure, Waiting Place, From Fanaticism or for Reward, and perhaps joint favourite with pressure, heavy Duty (just because of the twist).
4 Stars to The First Virtue (Star Trek: The Next Generation #56, Double Helix #6) by Michael Jan Friedman
Description
The final book in this great saga is set 30 years ago -- stardate 2350 -- when a young Captain Picard commanded a ship called Stargazer and first encounters the deadly foe that late threatens the existence of the Alpha Quadrant.
Review
To complete a complementary series, we have a book that takes us back and back again, to well before the first title. to a time when Picard commanded the Stargazer, a time when jack Crusher was still alive, and to a time before Tuvok under the auspices of Janeway infiltrated the maquis cell headed by Chakotay. We learn in the previous title that Thul blames the Federation in general and picard more specifically for the death of his Son, Mendan, but the only details we have on that insident were that mendan died. not a great deal to go on, so this work steps up to the bar admirably and plugs the gap. it's odd how Picard has appeared throughout this series, but never as the focus. he stands out more in this title than many of the others, but the focus is yet on Crusher, Tuvok, and of course the thallonians responsible for the virus in the first place. This book does well at finishing up, for although the how, what and wherefors of the virus are dealt with previously, the why, and all attendant motivating factors are somewhat glossed over. Of course that opens up the floor for this book, so I'm not complaining! a very enjoyable series to read over a week or so, I must say. So a big thank you to all those authors for that.
4 Stars to Double or Nothing (Star Trek: Double Helix #5) by Peter David
Description
Like a lethal bacillus coursing through the bloodstream of the galaxy, a fiendish master plan has spread death and terror across the 24th century – until two heroic captains risk everything to stamp out the evil at its source! For more than a decade, since the very beginning of the Starship Enterprise's mission, unknown enemies have unleashed a string of deadly biological weapons throughout the Alpha Quadrant, inflicting ghastly epidemics upon the Romulans, the Cardassians, the Bajorans, and even the Federation. Now, at long last, Captain Jean-Luc Picard joins forces with Captain Mackenzie Calhoun of the Starship Excalibur to track down and confront the hidden architects of the plagues – and avenge the deaths of thousands!
Review
In this fifth instalment of the series, Peter David takes the helm and guides us to a thrilling, climactic battle as The General's plans for destroying all sentient life in the federation come to a head. The Double helix virus, so patiently tested, perfected and proliferated through four previous titles is finally ready to be used on something of a larger scale... But, in typical fashion, Captain Mackenzie Calhoun is alive and kicking - and as luck (or at least a covert branch of Starfleet Intelligence) would have it he is sent into the boiling pot with the authority to do what he must to secure the future of the federation. of course it would be a little unfair to let mac have all the fun, so Picard is also undercover, trying to unravel the mystery of the virus from within. Things go horribly wrong for all concerned, as they inevitably must, and David's clearly not done with supporting characters as Sela's "Fire At Will!" does not show Commander Riker's future at its best. Clearly it's a worthwhile effort though, you can see how it works - bring in the Romulan's, bring in Sela. it's naturally unfair to expect the crew of the Excalibur to be left out, so although Calhoun is off saving the universe, that proud vessel (with riker in command) also has its fair share of things to deal with. We finally learn just how daring the scope of the virus is, of course - and what bigger target than the federation in its entirety? the question this book finally answers is simply this: can the virus be stopped? Or will the sixth and final entry in this most fascinating of series show a mop-up effort with the federation struggling to pull itself back from the brink of utter annihilation?
4 Stars to Quarantine (Star Trek: Double Helix #4) by John Vornholt
Description
Like intertwining filaments of Human and alien DNA, a ruthless campaign of revenge has threaded its way through the galaxy, touching billions of sentient beings - and changing forever the life of Lieutenant Thomas Riker. Tom Riker, an identical duplicate of the Starship Enterprise's first officer, is serving as a Starfleet medical courier when he encounters a group of Maquis renegades, led by a former Starfleet officer named Chakotay. A planet in the Demilitarized Zone, now controlled by the Cardassians, has been stricken with the same deadly disease that has plagued the Alpha Quadrant for years, and only Riker can get the medical supplies the Maquis so desperately need. But the Cardassians would rather destroy all life on the planet than risk letting the epidemic spread!
Review
"Meeting a Maquis captain isn't usually considered a great honor." This brilliantly written book charts another instance of the dreaded double helix disease from the unlikeliest of viewpoints - Chakotay, during his time with the maquis. Clearly, the bulk of this thing takes place before Voyager's pilot, and all the usual suspects (Torres, Tuvok, Seska etc) are firmly in place. Seeing the Maquis on Humanitarian work not involving themselves is a far cry from their televised portrayal as well as their in-universe depiction from the federation. We also have Tom Riker, the duplicate of the Enterprise's First Officer created in a transporter accident on Nervala IV. chakotay is quick to spot his potential (The DS9 Defiant incident springs to mind), and the whole crew are thrust into a nasty plague situation on a planet where mixed-breeds (such as Torres with her half-Human, half-Klingon physiology are considered almost royalty). So sets the stage. The writing is very easy on the mind, the story flows very well indeed. With this and the previous we have departed from the medical a little, and it's refreshing to see more action in different fields than just healing people, watching them become reinfected, and so forth. A change for the better, livening up the series and adding back that bit of zest that it didn't quite manage to hold on to thus far. The nuances are very good, the depth of characterisation incredible and the chance to see familiar faces in an unfamiliar time and place is well worth the read. So many wonderful connections are possible with novels, the whole Tom versus Will Riker thing, for instance. it only got an episode on the show, but here the man is panned out in much more detail and the time between his appearances catalogued with gratifying detail. The next story is written by Peter David, I note with anticipation. Another miracle worker with supporting characters and an exquisite craftsman in his own right (with New Frontier). Will we find out who "The General" is after all? will the good guys eventually find a way to stop these plagues, once and for ever? Will we ever know why they were started? Time will tell. Time and two more books...
4 Stars to Red Sector (Star Trek: The Next Generation #53, Double Helix #3) by Diane Carey
Description
Like the biological weapons they employ, a sinister conspiracy has spread across the Alpha Quadrant and across many years of Starfleet history. Now the mysterious menace surfaces again – to strike at the heart of the Romulan Empire. An artificial virus has infected the entire Romulan ruling family. Ambassador Spock must put aside his efforts at unification to summon his old friend, Dr. Leonard McCoy, who discovers that the only hope for a cure lies with a long lost Romulan heir whose blood and tissues have not been contaminated by the virus. But can the heir be found before the collapse of a ruling dynasty throws the entire Empire into chaos?
Review
"I don't mind being dead, but being dead for nothing stinks." So says then Ensign Eric Stiles, unlikeliest of heroes. Eric was sent into a volatile political mess to evacuate an ambassador and an embassy no longer welcome. Things turned rough, and Eric winds up a prisoner with none but a Romulan companion, who despite all the odds, turns out to be one of the best things for him. The two make quite a team. "Look what you and I have done here, with tricks and dirt and screwdrivers. I explain what I'm doing, and you provide the leap of imagination that sends us to the next step." Erric and Zevon part ways when Eric is rescued, but when the deadly manufactured plague strikes once more - this time at the Royal family of the Romulan Star Empire, Eric remembers that Zevon had royal blood too - presumably safe from infection due to his political incarceration. And the race is on, of course - to save as many of the Romulans as possible, to find an uncontaminated source of blood in a still locked-down sector of space, and to see if the strain of time and detention can still bind people in friendship, when years of imprisonment had bonded them closer than anyone could have guessed. I have a love-hate relationship with Carey, I think - I either really enjoy the works or I hate them. more to the former than the latter and this no exception, the story was action-packed and the nuances brilliantly handled. I love the grunt side of trek; the opening scene where the transport and fighters land is superb, the chatter between the crew reminded me quite vividly of Robert A. Heinlein's [Book:Space cadet] - what was his name, Dodson? matthew Dodson, I think. The sort of camaraderie between mat and his mates was quite evident in this scene, and the CST duty with the Lafayette held some of that same magic. "The cough made him seem perfectly mortal and gave Stiles a bit of comfort that otherwise might've slipped on past him." Then there's the hero worship of legends Spock and McCoy - not just familiar faces to us, of course, but legends to the youth of the next generation as well. We know both these men are alive and active in Canon, but it does take a special blend of writing to make them come alive in the 24th century, surrounded by the contrivances of an era for which they aren't generally associated. Reading, it really does feel like the young men in the story appreciate Spock and co as much as we do. "For a brief moment Beverly Crusher stood in awe of this elegant race, so Vulcan in their stature, so human in their passion." and the final layer of complexity to draw your attention to is the portrayal of the Romulans, of course - proud yet vulnerable, embroiled in a political nightmare and ravaged by disease. The first 2 novels in this series had a feeling of build-up but lacked much in the way of making us feel that the universe was about to end. This one would happily sit in as a standalone, yet adds that little bit extra to the disease story. because there's so much else happening, the fact that the virus isn't as centre-stage as it has been isn't a problem, in fact it's something of a plus because it gives us other things to focus on. Still, the virus is the arc - so on we go.
3 Stars to Vectors by Dean Wesley Smith
Description
Gul Dukat rules Terok Nor and all of Bajor with an iron (but compassionate) fist. When Bajorans both inside and outside of his labour camps begin dying of a new disease, his workforce is affected and his management looks bad. Bajoran rebels, convinced that the disease has been inflicted upon them deliberately by the Cardassians, strike back at their oppressors with increasingly desperate measures.But Dukat has an even bigger problem: although it seems medically impossible, the disease that originally targetted only Bajorans may now have begun to kill Cardassians as well. Dr. Katherine Pulaski of the USS Enterprise is allowed to work on Terok Nor to study the virus, which bears a disturbing resemblance to the one that ravaged Archaria III two years before. With the help of a Bajoran resistance fighter named Kira Nerys, will she be able to find an answer before an ailing Gul Dukat is forced to take the ultimate step to protect Cardassia: withdraw from the station and destroy the entire planet of Bajor?
Review
"we can assume that this plague is related to the one we dealt with on Archaria III, It almost seems like a second trial of an experiment. the stakes were escalated. There were three species involved. There was a new method of delivery." Beverly Crusher. So, here we are again, people dying all over the place. This time it's Bajorans and Cardassians, perhaps this plague being one of the few things they've ever had in common. The book is set mostly on Deep space nine, though before it was abandoned by the Cardassians, so naturally it's still called Terok Nor. Our central heroes don't take centre stage in this one - the protagonists are mostly extras, with the exception of Nurse Ogawa and Katherine Pulaski. of course old favourites are there (the Enterprise crew, Kira, odo etc), but it really is Pulaski's show. What a well done show it is, as well - backstory for her thrown in so smoothly that next time I see her onscreen I'll think of her ex-husband, without remembering he isn't canon. There was clearly attention to detail from the screen, as well - vis data and Pulaski, which I always appreciate in a novel. My one quibble is that it's very much a same old story. Plague, possible cure, not a proper cure, scratch heads (and ears), proper cure. Hurrah! seen this before on Archaria, didn't wee, folks? yes, and no, is the answer to that one. As crusher said, the stakes were escalated. One can only assume that the mysterious General of whom we hear vague hints about but don't actually meet is up to his old tricks again. From this latest instalment we can surmise that the General's genetics are increasing in complexity and that next time, it won't be so easy to solve the problem. This book could have gone a little faster, had a little more punch, but as a 'general' rule it portrays the insidious progression of a set of experiments quite well, giving us a glimpse into the Cardassian occupation of bajor en-route. Where we go next - well: i'll find out soon enough.
3 Stars to Infection (Star Trek: Double Helix, #1) by John Gregory Betancourt
Description
Like the twisted strands of mutant chromosomes, an insidious alien conspiracy winds its way through the entire Alpha Quadrant, just as it stretches across several years of Starfleet history - beginning near the very start of Captain Picard's command of the Starship Enterprise!It is only the first year of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D's ongoing mission when a virulent epidemic strikes the populace of Archaria III, endangering the lives of thousands and provoking acts of mob violence against those believed responsible for the spread of the disease. While Data and Natasha Yar team up to uncover the true origins of the virus, Dr. Crusher finds the implacable sickness resists all her efforts to find a cure. The desperate quest for a cure becomes even more urgent when Deanna Troi succumbs to the dreaded plague...again and again.
Review
The first in a series spanning 6 books and perhaps as many authors, Infection throws us right into an epidemic of interesting proportions; very genetically specific ones. i won't go into too many details of the plot, but will note that sometimes this book felt like a trial run itself. "The big question is motive, It can't be racial purity. It can't be the Purity League. In fact, Starfleet has only been able to come up with one possible motive... Practice." Captain Picard. Apart from that, there was a lot of well-executed character interaction. The whole Riker in a beard thing was quite prescient, for instance. Worf and yar were explored well, though not to the detriment of the story; onscreen events (such as Farpoint) were brought in, giving us more of an idea of when this book takes place than just a stardate. I can't quite see jean-luc Picard as an Old Spacedog, I must admit, and Crusher's leaping to conclusions is perhaps a little out of character (though her impetuosity is well-known). There's a lot that goes completely over our heads, of course - the shady General, the net result of the plague, and so forth. presumably because there are more books in the series, and revealing all now would spoil the rest. To sum, a bit short, then, with the action squeezed in but exciting, with the ending feeling perhaps a little forced. The characterisation was well done - even to the slight lack of gelling which characterise later episodes and novels - a hallmark of early TNG, I believe. the writing style will almost certainly vary from title to title, as they are written by different authors. Something to look forward to: keeps a series rolling on.
February
4 Stars to The Jaguar Knights by Dave Duncan
Description
Acclaimed fantasy author Dave Duncan returns to Chivial and the dashing King's Blades -- the greatest swordsmen in the world -- with a new epic adventure of sword fights, magic, romance, and a Blade unlike any other. Sir Wolf is not your typical King's Blade. Sure, he's smart, athletic, a good dresser, and a phenomenal swordsman. But he hasn't been named the King's Killer for nothing, and after years of dark secrets and painful loyalties to a king he cannot respect, all he wants is to be left alone. But when unknown assailants storm a royal fortress and carry off a former royal mistress, Wolf is dispatched posthaste to investigate. Who were these strangers, what were their motives, and who -- or what -- was their sinister cat-faced leader? Burdened by the need to comfort his impetuous younger brother, Sir Lynx -- the only Blade ever to lose his ward and live -- and shadowed by a secretive Inquisitor with her own agenda, Wolf struggles to solve a mystery that threatens the kingdom of Chivial itself. His quest will lead him into lands of danger and discovery unlike any the Blades have ever seen, and to an answer beyond his wildest nightmares.
Review
What an ending. Someone else reviewed and said this one wasn't up to the same standard as the others; I can see why. it is different. But even so, there's a great story there, and anything set in this world with these characters is quite impressive.
5 Stars to Impossible Odds (The King's Blades, #5) by Dave Duncan
Description
Elite warrior swordsmen, they are unequalled in any time or realm . . . The King's Blades The King has decreed that new Blades must be sworn into the service of the Grand Duke Rubin, deposed by a foul usurper and currently on the run. But none of the rough youths being readied at Ironhall possess the seasoning to survive what better, more skilled Blades already have not. Still, two woefully unprepared candidates are approached with an offer of early bonding and probable death: deft but dense, rude Ranter, and eager, impetuous Ringwood . . . with a third, the inadequate swordsman but potentially able spy Bellman, enlisted into their threadbare ranks. Joining the Duke's entourage along with the courageous and prescient White Sister Trudy, the would-be champions must restore a rightful ruler to the throne or die in the process. But before them waits an army of the dead. And the Duke whom the Blades must protect to the last drop of their lifeblood is not the liege they imagined . . .
Review
So I asked for a look into hither too shadowy corners of this most magnificently crafted of universes, did I? yes, I most certainly did, see my thoughts on Paragon Lost. that told the story of Sir Beaumont and Tasha, the then future Queen of Chivial. This work introduces us to the Duchy of Krupina, opening the doors for more political skullduggery. The Krupinese, or some of them at least, seem to have embraced conjuration as Chivial embraces Blades -- and battle is joined. not war, that's far too boorish for the story of a few individuals, be they notable or otherwise. This, an astonishing tale of murder and treachery, of bamboozlement and sorcery and of bluff, counter bluff and shadow - this is the story of Grand Duchess Johanna of krupina. Nobody is ever as they seem, of course, and characters are revealed to be most assuredly what they aren't right to the very end. There's much of the Blade's bindings here too, for Ironhall is lacking when the Blade's of this story are bound, and so neither have completed their training. Fallibility, saving graces and walking dead litter the pages. Five down, one to go.
5 Stars to Paragon Lost by Dave Duncan
Description
Many legends have emerged from the shadows of Ironhall, yet surely none can surpass the greatness and glory predestined for Sir Beaumont—possessor of the purest and strongest of hearts, and a mind as quick, keen, and accurate as his sword. But the day he sets out in the service of the elderly Lord Wassail turns to a black one, and young Beau's journey ends in horror and blood . . . and disgrace. Banished from the King's Blades, he now faces a grim future as a homeless pariah, a creature to be shunned and despised. But redemption can come from unexpected directions and in unrecognizable guises. Approached in secret by the legendary Durendal, now Grand Master of the Order, the dishonored paragon is offered one last chance to win back his weapon and his place among his brothers in arms. But to do so, Beau must ride alone back through the icy gates of Hell . . . and do battle with the Devil himself.
Review
It's late, so I'm afraid my eloquence (as well as my fingers) are unable to keep up with my thoughts. I will say that these books have surprised me, for with every volume the world grows in scope and complexity. This book had much more of the blade-as-protector motif for which I originally held such disdain but now enjoy with unbridled enthusiasm. They've been getting better all the way through - this one gripped me so much that I just sat here for 4 and a half hours and zipped through it, cover to cover. I'll always love The Seventh Sword trilogy: but more books opens vistas of a wider world, allowing for more action, politics and intrigue. With only 2 more books set in this world (that I'm aware of), I wonder just what as yet untapped facet of this spellbinding, heroically monstrous world will be unraveled next?
4 Stars to Sky of Swords by Dave Duncan
Description
The mightiest swordsmen in the realm, are bound by magic to defend their noble wards...to the death. The King's Blades The unloved child of the unscrupulous King Ambrose,Princess Malinda learned at an early age to fight for what was rightfully hers. Now, with the Kings abrupt death, civil war has become her grim destiny. Making her uncertain way through the blood labyrinth of schemesand betrayals, Malinda can trust none but the Blades of the Royal Guard. But the Blades themselves are in grave peril. And the young Queen faces the most crucialdecision of her life: a choice that will either redeem her kingdom from chaos...or bring ultimate destruction down upon it, her Blades, and herself.
Review
As I said in my reflections of Lord of the Fire lands (which is the second of this connected threesome), the only question I had coming out was of the apparent double dying of King Ambros. Superbly spun and masterfully orated, this third installment wraps everything up quite neatly. I'd give it a five star rating, if it weren't for the fact that it was one very short, and two made little show of the blades themselves, who are key in the series. of course given the length factor the amount of onstage presence is perhaps appropriate, so maybe it's only one gripe. Even so, a very thrilling series indeed, full of intense swordplay, mystical magic and daring politics. The rightness of people and actions are turned on their heads (necromancy is generally bad, as is piracy, but both used with laudable results). for a series where you can almost hear the clash of steel and creek of timbers, pick this one up.
4 Stars to Going Solo (Roald Dahl's Autobiography, #2) by Roald Dahl
Description
From the bestselling author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG comes an autobiographical account of his exploits as a World War II pilot! 'Going Solo' tells of how, when he grew up, Roald Dahl left England for Africa and a series of daring and dangerous adventures began. From tales of plane crashes to surviving snake bites, read all about Roald Dahl's life before becoming the world's number-one storyteller. This book is full of exciting and strange things—some funny, some frightening, all true. Here is the action-packed sequel to 'Boy' (1984), a tale of Dahl's exploits as a World War II pilot. Told with the same irresistible appeal that has made Roald Dahl one the world's best-loved writers, Going Solo brings you directly into the action and into the mind of this fascinating man. Roald Dahl was a spy, ace fighter-pilot, chocolate historian, and medical inventor. He was also the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG and many more brilliant stories. He remains the World's No. 1 Storyteller.
Review
"Then you took an exam and if you passed it, the Shell Company gave you a bonus of a hundred pounds, which was a lot of money in those days when a case of whisky cost only twelve pounds." This is Dahl's second autibiographical offering, and while some of the comments may mislead the unwary into thinking he's a mad drunk, it's actually a pretty enjoyable read. I grew up on a lot of Dahl's children's stories, of course - it's odd to see his style of writing put to events more real and vivid than any fiction he's written. I enjoyed both sections, the tales of wild animals and picturesque vistas perhaps more than the dogfights, but it's all an important part of our history as a nation as well as the history of one of our most celebrated authors. there are episodes where you do have to wonder as to a fighter pilots sanity, of course - "Hello goat, I'll bet you don't know the Germans are going to have you for supper before you're very much older" is not the sort of conversation you expect from someone shooting down enemy aircraft. Then, after some reconnaissance and a cup of coffee, "I flew back to Haifa and reported that the landing strip seemed quite serviceable and that there were lots of children for the pilots to play with should we ever have to go there." Pilots, dealing death and destruction, and the only thought to play with the children. of course flying a fighter was a job as any other and it's silly to think the men who survived didn't go on to have (or go back to) families of their own. It's an interesting congruence, I suppose; something Dahl has always been quite masterful at presenting.
4 Stars to Lord of the Fire Lands by Dave Duncan
Description
As unwanted, rebellious boys, they found refuge in Ironhall. . .Years later they emerged as the finest swordsmen in the realm-- The Kings Blades Once bound, a Blade's life is no longer his own. Only death can break the gilded chain of enchantment that binds the bodyguard to the man he is sworn to defend. And never in living memory has a candidate refused the honor of serving his king. . .until now. Young Wasp never intended to be a rebel. Yet, at the sacred ceremony of binding, he follows the lead of his friend Raider, and together they spurn the wishes of King Ambrose himself. Now Raider and Wasp are outlaws hunted by the very Blades whose ranks they were a breath away from entering, and joined together by a destiny that binds them more securely than any knot tradition and sorcery might tie. Amid the turmoil their "treachery" has inspired, Wasp and Raider must undertake a desperate journey into the heart of the dreaded Fire Lands. And the outcome of their terrifying confrontation with dark truth and darker magic in this realm of monsters, ghosts, and half-men will ultimately determine the fate of two kingdoms.
Review
"it seems that the ending of this book paves the way for the beginning of the next", I wrote at the end of my review of the gilded chain, first of the King's Blades. How very wrong I was. In fairness to me, the end was quite open and I did not know that they weren't a series in the accepted sense of the term. "Each book in this trilogy stands alone, but together they make a larger story," according to the author. So what of the lord of the Fire Lands? I found it very compelling, intriguing, and fascinating. I can only apologise for not perhaps dedicating as much of my attention to the political nuances present in the first of the series, for having read this one I'm sure to have missed many. The geography, piracy, codes of chivalry and loyalties are all spot on, with the theme of a Blade's binding coursing through the work as a thread through a tapestry. The perspective also shifted radically between these 2 books - the first focusing on the blades as a group and Durendal in particular, and this work moving the focus to Radgar and the Baelish people. First impressions aren't always what they seem, of course (witness Gerard) but the Bael are not pushovers, by any stretch. The third tale, so I hear, shifts once again, focusing on Malinda. that will be interesting. one question, for anyone who has survived this long. Ambros IV was shot between the eyes by Radgar, yet he died in the first book in a different way entirely, acceding the thrown to Malinda. Book 2 says Ambros died in the twentieth year of his reign, betrayed by Baelish treachery, which fits with the second work but not the first ("My father died in a fire of unknown origin"). We won't dispute the fact that unknown origin is a bit of a stretch, but unless I am getting some characters very muddled up (which is quite possible) I don't understand. That's my only big niggle, though, and this book truly made me look at the first one in a new light. perhaps rereading it will answer my question, or perhaps the third one will tie things up.
3 Stars to A Darkness Forged in Fire (Iron Elves, #1) by Chris Evans
Description
We do not fear the flame, though it burns us, We do not fear the fire, though it consumes us, And we do not fear its light, Though it reveals the darkness of our souls, For therein lies our power. -- Blood Oath of the Iron Elves
Review
I think i'm a bit of an oddity when it comes to reading fantasy. I quite enjoyed this one, the power of trees seems an unusual thing to find - though within the novel the setting makes sense, of course. I was slightly disappointed because the grandeur of the politics seemed to offer a lot more promise than they eventually come up with. The characters were fairly deep and flushed out, and there's room for backstory with many of them (the dwarf in particular, I fancy). Some of the leads were a little underplayed, and I got more out of reading about the grunts and watching the common soldiers do their thing. The line versus good and evil was quite well muddied, which is always useful in a high fantasy, and the writing sweeping and majestic with a great linguistic grounding. I fear that perhaps some of the material would rub a little thin, were it to go on overmuch, but who knows what other surprises and twists are in store in subsequent volumes.
January
3 Stars to Captain (Dirigent Mercenary Corps, #3) by Rick Shelley
Description
Young lieutenant Lon Nolan and his companions in the Dirigent Mercenary Corps journey to the distant planet of Aldrin, a world torn apart by a fierce civil war, only to become caught between two warring colonies and faced with the betrayal of their employer. Original.
Review
They're getting better. A little worrying, the level of homesickness for earth, but with a marriage on the cards things are looking up. Though the title is a little misleading; he's still a Lieutenant all the way through!
3 Stars to Poison and Poisoning: A Complete Compendium of Cases, Catastrophes and Crimes by Celia Kellett
Description
In this fascinating guide to poisons, Celia Kellett provides information and entertainment in equal measure as she explains clearly what all the different poisons are and how they work, giving us all the gory detail of how, by accident or design, they have led to the demise of so many people. From cyanide to the Black Widow spider, and from the Green Mamba snake to botulism, poisons can be found everywhere from the jungle to the refrigerator. Did you know, for example, that the Emperor Napoleon died from arsenic poisoning caused by the green dye used for the pattern on his wallpaper? Or that the Green Mamba's venom is so toxic that a bite is fatal within half an hour? Or that 50,000 people die from snake bites every year in India? Poison is rarely out of the headlines, with recent stories including the murder, by polonium poisoning, of Alexander Litvinenko in London, allegedly by the KGB, "The Horse Whisperer" author Nicholas Evans becoming seriously ill in Scotland after eating poisonous mushrooms, and melamine poisoning in Chinese baby-milk formula. It is a subject that holds a fascination for the general public who (along with budding crime writers, and perhaps the KGB) will want to buy this excellent book in large numbers.
Review
I didn't enjoy this as much as I'd hoped, probably because I read it more for the gastly stories than the scientific data. nevertheless a worthy addition to my shelf and a fascinating (if gory) look at some of the most evil ways of dispatching people I've ever read about.
4 Stars to Rocket Ship Galileo by Robert A. Heinlein
Description
Winner of four Hugo Awards and the Grand Master Nebula Award for Lifetime Achievement. Three high school students formed the Galileo Club to share their interests in science and space exploration. But they never imagined they would team up with a nuclear physicist to construct and crew a rocket bound for the moon. And they never expected to gain some powerful enemies in the process.
Review
Some of these are better than others, but this one held me somehow. I stopped reading briefly to go get a drinnk and got the same suspenseful frisson I had when changing audio tapes the first time I listened to Charles Chilton's Journey Into Space when I was a kid, curled up in the dark, alone and no more than eight years old. Not having had my tastes spoiled by the stunning visual effects of our modern era, I was well able to place myself aboard the Rocket Ship luna with that intrepid crew, and though the story had been originally told in the 1950's, to my eight-year-old self it was new and thrilling. Now I am in my twenties, we've walked on the moon and the cassettes of my childhood had long since been buried in the back of my mind. Still, this book awakened something inside me - nostalgia, I think, mor than anything exhilarating. but it reminded me of what I was, what I had been, the things I'd enjoyed. For that alone, it deserves high praise and extolment, even if only from me.
3 Stars to By My Hands (Medical Suspense Series #1) by Alton Gansky
Description
When one of Rev. Adam Bridge's parishoners is suddenly healed--and subsequently disappears--he launches his own investigation. Who is behind these mysterious healings, and why do the healed patients all seem to vanish? Is this an act of God?.
Review
This is, as I mentioned in my progress update, the first book I've read from start to end with religion as a primary motif. it was described to me as "unusual" by the good friend who recommended it, who also told me I "might find it interesting". Religion is nothing to me - I'm not an active declaimer but by the same token I hold a live and let live ideology. By that, I mean that i'm perfectly happy accepting other people's beliefs - if it is what they believe in. I must confess to great frustration when people come knocking at my door with biblical passages on their lips - I have no problem they believing in what soever they wish, as long as they don't attempt to force those beliefs unto me. "a painful past doesn't mean a painful future; injustice doesn't mean no justice; and fear doesn't mean the absence of courage." I was therefore a little perplexed to find myself agreeing with passages such as that quoted above. Perhaps I had indeed set out, all-be-it subconsciously, to read with a closed eye. Perhaps only as a defensive measure - but closed nonetheless; and that's unfair. Any work deserves an open and unbiased read. So it was with a renewed sense of open-mindedness that I sat back downn to crack on, and started to enjoy the plot. Unexplained healings, kidnapping, emotional turmoil - ingredients for a thrilling book indeed. And it did seem to be going quite thrillingly. The twisted, deformed child seeking healing, the news anchor seeking closure for herself and a story for her viewers, the doctor seeking answers for the inexplicable and the pastor coming to realise his own sceptical nature. I should also have known it was too good to last... "He could pursue nothing between them as long as she refused to consider her need of Christ as her Lord." It's phrases such as this that shake my faith in the Humanity of those who are so devout. "Refused to consider", the wording reads. "Consider" in this context relates to the pursuit of a relationship, and so I can easily see why a firm Christian may choose to only form such a close, emotional bond with someone who shares their values in spiritual matters. my issue comes not from the decision made by the character, but by the attitude it proliferates. I may indeed choose only to have a relationship with one who believes as I do. If that attitude were to creep into my daily life - I'd never get anything done. Thus is the slippery slope as I perceive it, and a failing of many (though by no means a majority) of the believers with whom I associate. But back to the novel. I found it enjoyable as a story, and read it not for the religion but for the story itself. Naturally the climax was steeped in religious circumstance, which detracted a little. I'm afraid though I found it an interesting tale, it isn't opening me up to the one true way any time soon.
3 Stars to Lieutenant (Dirigent Mercenary Corps, #2) by Rick Shelley
Description
The year is 2804 AD. Humanity has colonized the universe. But the authority of the Confederation of Human Worlds is spread thin. Where the Army of planet Earth cannot reach, mercenaries must keep the peace--and the Dirigent Mercenary Corps are the best of the best. Kicked out of the prestigious North American Military Academy, Lon Nolan had only a few choices left to him. He chose the hardest one: serving with the Dirigent Mercenary Corps, an elite fighting squad where respect is earned not in the classroom but on the battlefield. Nolan proved himself on the battlefield on Norbank. But now he’s commanding men of his own, and the stakes are higher. He’s going to learn sooner or later that leadership always comes with a cost ...
Review
Maybe i'm totally imagining things, but it seems as though Lon's broadening his thinking a little here. There are a load more books to go, so who knows. A fairly humdrum, so so sort of a caper - but with realisation of the costs of battle a little, perhaps
3 Stars to Catastrophes, Chaos & Convolutions by James P. Hogan
Description
James P. Hogan stands among the foremost writers of science fiction today, and is renowned for his ability to combine accurate science from the cutting edge of present-day research with living, breathing characters in fast-paced, suspenseful stories. Catastrophes, Chaos & Convolutions gives Hogan's thousands of avid readers both a solid-chunk of high-quality science fiction and a look behind the scenes, as Hogan describes how his work came to be written, with biographical details. Add a dash of science fact articles, often on controversial topics (suppose, for example, that Velikovsky was right and the orthodox scientists wrong), and you have a volume that is an essential purchase for Hogan fans everywhere.
Review
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4 Stars to Minds, Machines & Evolution by James P. Hogan
Description
One of science fiction's foremost writers, James P. Hogan here gives his thousands of readers a generous serving of high-quality SF, along with a look behind the scenes. Read how a young girl raised by robots learned her true destiny. Travel in time to learn that inventors are always misunderstood, even Og, the caveman. Worried about the idea of cloning? Hogan will really have you worrying. And much more.
Review
Hogan is fast becoming one of my favourite science fiction authors. he has views on many an interesting topic which along with some biography were spread through this volume. My favourite stories were "THE ABSOLUTELY FOOLPROOF ALIBI" and "Assassin" (and deciding on the order of those was difficult). In no particular order I also liked "Silver Shoes for a Princess" (for the concept), "The pacifist" (for the humour), "Till Death Us do Part" (for the irony) and "making Light" (for the unfortunate parallels with the standards of todays Health and Safety Executive).#
1 Stars to Descent (Star Trek: The Next Generation Unnumbered) by Diane Carey
Description
The Borg are back -- and nastier than ever. No longer mindless, inhuman drones but cyborg soldiers on a mission to assimilate all intelligent life, their new goal is the complete destruction of the Federation. And in the midst of facing the Borg again, Captain Picard learns that he may be the cause of the change. Commander Data is changing as well. For the first time in his life, Data feels a genuine emotion -- and that emotion is deadly, destructive rage. When it is revealed that the Borg are commanded by an old enemy out of Data's past, Data must choose between his allegiance tot he Federation and the one thing he wants above all else...
Review
Despite the obvious inferences of technological inanity, Data is a very complex, powerful character. Onscreen, this episode was quite powerful because of the way in which emotion takes hold of the android, and despite the terrifying nature of the Borg, the repercussions of their actions were purely transient here. Other episodes, novels and characters deal with the Borg, at other times and places: this work was, or should have been, Data-centric. But just As with the lack of emotional depth in the novelisation of Star Trek Insurrection I came away with a sense of missing something, a sense of "oh, well, that's that and everything's gone back to normal". data's experiments performed upon La Forge reminded me unerringly of the EMH's lack of ethical subroutines in Equinox (which I found equally distasteful). It seems inexcusable that we're so far into the series yet the major character of the novel is treated as no more than a puppet on a string. Where's that vital spark that some other authors captured so well? That was portrayed onscreen to such brilliant perfection?"Nice to meet you - Pinocchio. You're going to be an interesting companion," Riker said. yet the depth of Data is left here to wilt away, disused and seemingly unmissed. Even the post-generations novels spun off into their own universe by the master of ego, William Shatner, had more Data about them than this offering. Of course I have not yet met a trek authhor with the sheer emotional bull's-eye of Jean Lorrah. For depth of character and an almost irreverent glimpse of trek perfection, I'd recommend turning to her TNG novels. I've been saving one of her TOS offerings for this year - perhaps, after wading through this shallow morass I'll give it a go, safe in the knowledge that I won't be disappointed.
3 Stars to Federation World by James White
Description
FIELD TEST The Federation of Galactic Sentients had a mission. As new planets and species were discovered and assessed, the deserving of their populations were invited to move en masse to the fabulous Federation World, a modified Dyson Sphere located in the galactic core. But not all of the Federation inductees were suited to the idyllic life of the World. Martin and Beth were two of the rare ones chosen instead for the demanding job of First Contact. Their training was extensive, but all too soon the two Earth-humans were out on their own with all the amazing technology of the Federation at their command. Martin knew that training was no substitute for experience. In First Contact, his first mistake would likely be his last.
Review
I always enjoy this sort of book. Very Different from Second Ending but with many parallels to white's Sector General series. " Why, Martin raged silently, were intelligent robots so stupid?" as with much of White's science fiction, the technology has massive power but is often quite underplayed. The thought-provoking, logically meticulous quandaries remind me of isaac Asimov's Robot stories. "'Don't worry,' Martin said dryly, 'I'm worried.'" There's also a shade of humour and a light sprinkling of irony throughout the work, though not to excess. The whole federation approach is not something I think I like - I could see the appeal for Sector General as a hospital but gobbling up entire species is a little much for me. still, not a bad read and an interesting enough opener to 2010.