With a plot that hinges on an examination between the differences between faith and religion, this thirteenth Discworld novel is contains less outrighWith a plot that hinges on an examination between the differences between faith and religion, this thirteenth Discworld novel is contains less outright humor than previous books I have read and a lot more wry observations. This is a thinking reader's book.
My favorite character? Probably the copper roofed library, haven to philosophers and proof against random thunderbolts. Okay, if it has to be a speaking part, I choose Didactylos. "It's a funny old world, and doesn't contain enough to drink.”
Book club choice, read as an audiobook. Bill Nighy narrates the author's footnotes (there were maybe 6 in the whole book?) and Peter Serafinowicz voices Death (a somewhat minor part in this story). That leaves the majority of the book to Andy Serkis, the famed motion capture portrayer of Gollum and others. He also has a pleasing voice and used a variety of accents for the various characters.
I really enjoyed the story, and can hardly believe it's been more than two years since my last Discworld read. I was planning on reading Feet of Clay, to continue the City Watch series, and may return to that plan soon....more
Book #4 is complete, the story really isn't. Book 5 (or even a follow-on novella) would be an excellent opportunity to have a The Bully of Barkham StrBook #4 is complete, the story really isn't. Book 5 (or even a follow-on novella) would be an excellent opportunity to have a The Bully of Barkham Street moment, showing this story from the other side. Alas, it was not to be.
Fewer characters than the previous 3 books to watch, and one main story - a heist, or at least an RPG adventure. The tech is greatly improved from the previous 3 books also. No particular explanation, but that's fine - roll with it. I liked the story.
What didn't I like? First and foremost, the blurb. I understand civil war is exciting, but it doesn't even start until halfway through the book - and definitely isn't the main story here. I try to avoid blurbs that give away the story, but that was freaking difficult when "civil war" was the first two words, and often in caps.
The rest is likeable enough, though the characters are awkward at times. Would definitely make for a fun film. Overall rating - somewhere closer to 3 than 4. The series so far has two 3s and two 4s -
Was prepping for book 5 due to a friend suggesting it may be the next book club book - but he relented (another friend has only read the first book - that's a lot of catch up!). Will read book 5 sometime in the future, and probably not as an audio book....more
A mostly spectator Dr. Jones tangles with magic mumbo-jumbo on a vengeance quest that also has some coins tacked on. Author Martin Caidin gets to writA mostly spectator Dr. Jones tangles with magic mumbo-jumbo on a vengeance quest that also has some coins tacked on. Author Martin Caidin gets to write about more flying machines.
There is a lot going on here - King Arthur and the confederate south and for some reason the Vatican? Like the previous book, Indiana Jones digs into the explanations; unlike the previous book, he ends up resorting to magic and primitive batteries.
Comparing this book to the previous, it does feel like it was written as an Indiana Jones story (see my review of Indiana Jones and the Sky Pirates to compare), but he seems a bit superhuman here. The previous book was technologically plausible, this one too often resorts to a magic girdle. In both books, the author has plenty to say about flying, and that matches his background as a pilot.
I've had Marooned on my reading list (and in a stack of paperbacks) for a while, and I plan to read that soon....more
A group story led by Indiana Jones, it feels a lot like the role playing adventure it was adapted into 3 years later. The first of two additions to a A group story led by Indiana Jones, it feels a lot like the role playing adventure it was adapted into 3 years later. The first of two additions to a series of prequel novels, which to that point had apparently been more closely tied with Young Indiana Jones.
Martin Caidin did a lot with planes, from flying to writing manuals and other books on the subject. This is a main focus for the bad guys here (group acronym - "EVIL") and the modified Ford Trimotor that the good guys fly. The additional main character Gale Parker is well l written and complex, and I understand she returns in the next book. Finally, an author's afterword details some of his sources - there is good history to this fiction.
The writing was just okay. It was irritating to hear inner thoughts from two different characters on the same page. Other reviews have criticized Caidin for writing a very un-Indy like Jones, and I can see some of that. I wonder if he had a story mostly written and then edited to make it an Indiana Jones story when the franchise came calling.
For me, I liked it. Very hard to find, but I'm glad I read this before tackling our book club choice and the sequel, Indiana Jones and the White Witch. 3½ stars....more
Released six years after the first novel in the series, this is the first time the Slow Horses officially "go live". I didn't enjoy this one as much aReleased six years after the first novel in the series, this is the first time the Slow Horses officially "go live". I didn't enjoy this one as much as the second novel in the series.
The beginning of this novel also has a drift through introduction to the building, which is wonderfully replicated at the end. The writing is very poetic - the reader can feel the oppressive heat of a London summer. Many different focuses here, which feels broader than the previous books' focus on Lamb and Cartwright. We also see the friction between Taverner and Tearney more clearly.
Despite the events of that previous novel, the Horses feel less like a team at the start of this. Maybe that's on me, expecting an Impossible Mission Force. There are certainly more guns in this book. I liked the second novel (Dead Lions) better, but that may be the historical aspect. Aspects of this novel feel like a setup for a larger confrontation in a future novel.
All that said, I can't rate this book (or series so far) less than 4 stars. Herron's next novel in the series was published just a year later - a year of breakout success for the author. At this point the series runs to 9 novels and a collection of stories, with no sign of slowing down....more
Third book completes the series, at least for now. Liked it and the series - but will repeat the caution to read all three books together. I honestly Third book completes the series, at least for now. Liked it and the series - but will repeat the caution to read all three books together. I honestly believe the author wrote one book and then published as three.
Yes, I know the series has two more books, one published this year. The author waited three years between books 3 and 4, so I think I might also :)
This book did close most of the open threads, which was nice. The space battles were well described, and the analysis of the defenses was cool. Big topics (the immortality of Bob, considerations of genocide, and colonization) and their impact are a focus here. Mostly hard science - but what's with antigravity?
No problem with FTL communication (a sci-fi staple) but the idea of field-effect plates lifting a city takes us beyond the hard science, which takes away a star for me. For that matter, now that I think back to the earlier roamers and probes, I don't know when the author introduced their "flying" aspect, which is subsequently taken for granted.
Will I read book 4, 5, and beyond? Very likely - this is good escapist fiction.
PS For book 3, I gave up on the audiobook (~8 hours) in favor of just reading the ebook (<3 hours). Will likely do the same for future installments....more
A solid follow up - really enjoying the series and the characters. This one has a historical focus for an extra dose of awesome.
I think this one startA solid follow up - really enjoying the series and the characters. This one has a historical focus for an extra dose of awesome.
I think this one starts faster also. Apparently the author wrote this to be accessible for anyone who hasn't read the first book - the cat introduction gives a solid feel for the characters, and for those who did read the first, a great brief reminder. In the first book, Lamb was a sleeping (farting) giant until roused; here he is pursuing his own mystery throughout.
Love the idea of a cold war sleeper, and this plot angle really kept me reading - finished the book in a day. I could definitely see rereading this (with the knowledge of the ending) to examine the choices. I also look forward to watching the second series of the television program. I did watch the first series after reading the first book, and while I didn't picture Gary Oldman as Lamb, Jonathan Pryce is the perfect David Cartwright.
Young wizard must go on a perilous adventure. He encounters the wisdom of adults and learns more than he thinks he does.
This was a fun read, and I espYoung wizard must go on a perilous adventure. He encounters the wisdom of adults and learns more than he thinks he does.
This was a fun read, and I especially liked the growing relationship with his familiar. Seeing this interesting world through young adult eyes adds to the adventure, at least for this adult reader. I wish this had been around to read out loud to my kids, now grown.
Also loved Defensive Baking, and suspect I would like most of what this author has written. Highly recommended!...more
This is from the middle of a line of Star Trek Original Series novels, and is definitely one of the better entries. The prologue is fairly poetic, froThis is from the middle of a line of Star Trek Original Series novels, and is definitely one of the better entries. The prologue is fairly poetic, from many characters point of view. It is set after the original series, referring to the events of at least one episode, and is somewhat cataclysmic in scope. It was also a fun and quick read!
Chapters alternate between a Vulcan perspective history and current events, first on the enterprise and later on the planet. Despite being Spock's World, McCoy has the best parts of the narrative. Knowledge of Spock's former fiancee is kind of important, though we are getting hints of that in the newest television series, Strange New Worlds.
Earth trends of the late 1980s also factor in, as the Enterprise has an electronic Bulletin Board - for the younger of you, that's a kind of forum. The starship BBS hasn't appeared in books before or since, that I know of. Still, it was an excuse to bring in different opinions - and an AI.
Other trends related to our time include religion and corruption and racism - and all this on Vulcan. I joked with a friend that this book was Vulcan Brexit. This of course doesn't match with other books about Vulcan written before and since, and the same with Sarek's history. Another problem was the Vulcan history parts - starting with cosmological, they were sometimes interesting but rarely seemed connected to the present narrative. I think I see what the author was doing there, but it needed to be a bit more obvious.
This was a fun and quick read, and one of the better novels in a series of 80+ (though I've only read 40+ of these so far). Recommended!...more
One of hundreds of short stories expanded to a full novel, which slightly altered and greatly expanded the original text. The result is a widely acclaOne of hundreds of short stories expanded to a full novel, which slightly altered and greatly expanded the original text. The result is a widely acclaimed work and a lasting legacy.
The first part of the novel is the original short story (Guardian Angel, 1950), expanded slightly (adding both reference and foreshadowing). The original ending (the reveal of Karellen) was moved to section two and the emphasis reduced. I've read other author's short stories expanded, and they often change little. Clarke has kept the first part and built on it to a full novel, not just one quick scene.
The novel was released in 1953, and this was a frightening time. The Soviet Union tested their first atomic bombs and the US was involved in the Korean war. At any time, either power might have resorted to atomic weapons, in that theater or the world at large. The peace provided in this story was science fiction but also a global consideration.
One of the things I like the most about this is that the author gives this managed earth a lot of consideration. Changes in society, the rise of art, and this colony in the Pacific provide a thought experiment, a lot of what science fiction was all about. Jan's audacity and method is also interesting - what a singular human he turns out to be.
Read this decades ago as a youth (along with much of Clarke's catalog); read again in 2024 with a book club. Looking forward to also checking out the 2015 mini series....more
This is a necessary sequel, finishing the story of the first book. I think it's slightly better than the first book, and it closes all the threads.
TheThis is a necessary sequel, finishing the story of the first book. I think it's slightly better than the first book, and it closes all the threads.
The ending of the first book was pretty harsh, with a technology essentially ending free will. This book has our main character navigating evil alternatives to find the best path. It is more heart than hacker or hunter that get her through. She gets a lot of help from her friends, who end up the stars of this story. Much like the game Warcross is supposed to be.
Yes, there's hardly any Warcross in this book either. If the first book has globe spanning reach, this one could be set in a single new location - the institute. Some nice plot twists, even if they invalidate a line from my previous review. It is quite an assumption that simple lenses could cause the far reaching effects described, but that's part of the story.
As before, props to the author for diversity that isn't just added on. The plot twists were interesting, completed in this book, and it was a fairly quick read. Minus points for requiring two books to tell the tale. In the end, the same good reads rating - I liked it - though the second book is slightly better than the first....more
Short version, liked it but not as much as the first one. Girls get the nod here, but the storylines aren't as strong.
Leading with the best part, we gShort version, liked it but not as much as the first one. Girls get the nod here, but the storylines aren't as strong.
Leading with the best part, we get more on Gwen and a lot of new characters Brit. Not a typo - it's complicated :) The description of Atlantis is well thought out and interesting - Meyer continues to enjoy world building. The parody of masculinity is pretty thin, and Barbie did it a lot better.
Bringing back Jimmy from the first book was understandable, but it wasn't the best pairing with the Atlantis storyline. The two narratives meet only at the very end of the book. Having glanced at the third book, I can understand why we needed this, but it does feel pretty forced.
My mission to find a physical copy of the second book failed, and Seattle second-hand bookstores are not doing well. From the author's website, it looks like his focus was more on the audiobooks anyhow. Will chat with my friends who audio'd the first book - not sure if I should go listen to that or just dive into the third book next.
This young adult novel is the first of two parts, and doesn't stand alone at all. A future with no AI is refreshing :) but in general this story has aThis young adult novel is the first of two parts, and doesn't stand alone at all. A future with no AI is refreshing :) but in general this story has a lot of flaws.
Inevitably, I must compare this to Ready Player One. It is more of a young adult novel (with missing family!), but covers a lot of the same ground. Dirt poor start is the same, though I get a much better feel for the world and society of the Stacks. The virtual world of the Oasis is much better described than here, where it seems to be mostly non-participatory watching except for this game Warcross.
This story also felt Hunger games-ish at times. Our hero is a hacker and hunter, and hired right away by the hunk / tech bro. Romance here is as unlikely as in the Hunger Games (and come to think of it, RP1 - what does Samantha see in Wade?).
I don't have a major problem with the plot twists, but I do with the rather sudden ending and required second book. If I had read this when published, I would have DNF'd the series rather than wait. Today though, I will pick up the second half at the library, if only for closure (and possibly a beer).
Other complaints - the game is not fully described - there is only one match! The rest of the world is not described. Hacking - well it is described as either pulling up a window and looking (kind of a cool superpower) or "typing furiously"... which means what?
Overall a book not worthy of the lavished praise, IMHO. Props for STEM main character and diversity in general, and I will read something else from this author. Otherwise, will see what the second (and final) book brings to this experience....more
Murder of a child at a Halloween party. Poirot collects other unexplained deaths in the area... and then connects them all, with few clues available tMurder of a child at a Halloween party. Poirot collects other unexplained deaths in the area... and then connects them all, with few clues available to the reader. Now why are they celebrating Halloween in Venice?
Have been reading very early Poirot, and will say it is refreshing to read the fully developed character. This is also contained in the series of Ariadne Oliver, mystery writer. I'm unfamiliar with her, but this is the 7th book, and several (all?) have Poirot as well. Will get to it eventually.
The early Poirot have clues, much like their near contemporary Holmes books. This... did not have so many. Collecting multiple mysteries together was fun. I liked the book (read for a book club), but will be happy to return to books of a century ago. Next up - Poirot Investigates, published in 1924....more
Fantasy, start of a series, and satire/commentary on economic theory. It also has some good world building and interesting characters. I really liked Fantasy, start of a series, and satire/commentary on economic theory. It also has some good world building and interesting characters. I really liked it, and will read the next book.
Let's start with the characters. This is a fantasy RPG group of heroes, hired to slay the bad guys and collect the treasure, as we gamers have been imagining for 50 years. The main character is a dwarf berserker, his companions are a thief who became a bard, a reckless fire mage, a silent weapons master, and more - all FRPG tropes. Party friction and learning are shown, along with some fairly interesting fight scenes.
The twist here is that a group of investors are making money on the heroes in various ways - futures on their treasures, costs to equip, contracts and more. I'm sure some of this relates back to economic theory, but I am not versed enough to spot those references. The nods I did spot were the names of the various investors, related to real world entities. Goldson Baggs Group, Lamia Sisters, Citistate, and J.P. Gorgon among others.
Race and class come into play here, with our main character eventually a spokesman for the various "shadowkin" downtrodden, most of whom want to earn their papers to become Noncombatant Paper Carriers. These NPCs (another RPG term) can live in peace with the "lightlings", plying a trade and making money. The orcs (of the title) are among these - they are seeking the return of special stones stolen by the elves (now the Elven Marbles, in a nod to early British archaeology). Other than that, the role the orcs play is minor, with their title role more valued for the pun, alas. Better forms of humor show up in the narrative also.
Importantly for the first book in a series, this comes to a complete end - very much appreciated by this reviewer. I liked the characters and their interactions, and the world that the author has created. I did not listen to the audiobook; I understand it is well done. When I closed the cover a few weeks ago my gut impression was 4 stars out of 5, but in writing this review I can't recall anything specific I didn't like. Perhaps that is because I've read some mediocre stuff in the meantime - not sure. For now, I'll rate this book 5 stars....more
More humor than fantasy, suspension of disbelief is helpful. That said, the premise makes you think. I enjoyed the characters (nearly all male) and moMore humor than fantasy, suspension of disbelief is helpful. That said, the premise makes you think. I enjoyed the characters (nearly all male) and most of the situations. Quick read, will dig into the sequel.
I have to compare this to the Spellsinger series - both were humorous fantasy, and multiple books released over a relatively short time. Foster's characters are slightly better (a wisecracking otter! a Marxist dragon!) and the world has actual magic. The magic here is technology, as the world is apparently running in a computer program (another theme for this year's reading). Meyer's writing in this book is better than Spellsinger, though some of the dialog is a bit sparse.
Though Spellsinger was written in the early 80s, I have to give the nod to Foster's female characters. This novel's Gwen is mostly in the background. Balancing that, the first book of Spellsinger stops well short of the end of the story - the sequel was already written, and needed. Off to Be the Wizard comes to a nice ending, while also leaving open the door for a sequel.
I have high hopes for the series from this once-local author, and I hope I can find the sequels in local used book stores (as they were published here in Seattle)....more
Multiple threads collapsing into one, because everyone wants the MacGuffin - the Eye of Tiros. Our hero has no choice but to find it.
The reluctant prMultiple threads collapsing into one, because everyone wants the MacGuffin - the Eye of Tiros. Our hero has no choice but to find it.
The reluctant protagonist travels from the Tiger Nomads to find his betrothed, who he has never met. But that's not the story, of course, it's the friends he meets along the way. Oh, and the crime he is accused of. Why did he visit the roughest tavern in town? Why was he waylaid by rogues and thieves, yet came out with more money than he started with?
So he and his friends come together, and he taps into some of his inheritance - a mysterious bag of unexplained. This is where the story really shines, the party aspect. Maybe old Tolkien had it right.
The villains are very two dimensional, and in the case of the golden ones, the villainy makes zero sense. The battle scenes for the individual party are good, but the major battles at the end are confusing to read - and not the way battle is confusing anyhow. The ending of the book also comes all in a rush. Characters also refer to magic levels, which breaks the fourth wall somewhat.
Beyond that fourth wall is Dungeons & Dragons. From a D&D standpoint (this was the last of the Greyhawk Adventures, and TSR was involved), this book is a mess. The "wizard" character goes from nothing to expertise in a very short time. The two major items make little sense - what exactly does this Eye of Tiros do? What magic powers this collar - and what are it's parameters? And again, I must bring up the gold dragons.
I haven't read Rose Estes other D&D books, but I understand this is one of the best. Looking forward to discussing with the bookclub. For me, this was 2½ stars out of 5....more
The first half is more idea driven than plot driven; characters can be hard to follow in the first section especially. Once you realize this is governThe first half is more idea driven than plot driven; characters can be hard to follow in the first section especially. Once you realize this is government investigation into the life of a captured traitor (serious "The Prisoner" vibes), the characters start driving the story. By the end (and now in real time), the plot has taken off. In other words, a really good novel if you stick with it!
Released in 1975, John Brunner's story is way ahead of it's time. Samples include the internet, hackers and self replicating network worms, a "plug-in" lifestyle, computers prevalent in homes (and manipulated by the government), and a thin-skinned president using the army to make war on his domestic opponents.
This is the last of a quartet of Brunner books connected to future looking non-fiction of his time. In this case, it's Toffler's Future Shock, which I read decades ago but mostly forget. I've recently read Stand on Zanzibar, which is connected to Erlich's overpopulation thesis, and need to read The Sheep Look Up, which is connected to Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. I really like forward looking science fiction stories; the examination of future predictions is some of the most interesting reading for me....more
Alternating chapters provide an internal dialog of Han and Leia's feelings and thoughts but zero action until around chapter 40 - and even then it's pAlternating chapters provide an internal dialog of Han and Leia's feelings and thoughts but zero action until around chapter 40 - and even then it's pretty sparse.
It was nice to see some insight into the immediate post-emperor universe, including viewpoints of both sides. I liked the descriptions around the ice world, technological and environmental.
Unfortunately, the main plot (and all the action) happened because of an implausible series of events and situations, and some very un-Han and -Leia like moments. Belief was very hard to suspend in this case, and the book just wasn't fun. I didn't think it was a particularly good romance, either....more
