First book of the year that I DNF'd. It sounded good- supernatural, set in Scotland, young women disappearing and apparently murdered, lots of moody, First book of the year that I DNF'd. It sounded good- supernatural, set in Scotland, young women disappearing and apparently murdered, lots of moody, sinister setting- all things that should have been appealing.
The problem was, it was just so terribly slow reading. Lots of drawn out detail and mood-setting that dragged the action down. And the dialogue didn't help. It's written in Scots dialect, and while it is done well, it just dragged an already slow story down more when I needed to stop to parse what the heck the speaker was saying. Add to that I figured out the Bad Guy almost as soon as he came onstage, I knew the final victim and why they were chosen, and pretty much knew how the story would end, and it just didn't work for me.
That said, if the dialogue doesn't tie you down, the Frankenstein's-monster-esque plot was one of the things that kept me reading as long as I did. It just wasn't enough to hold me through the whole thing....more
This is the sequel to Wendig's 2019 "Wanderers". "Wayward" takes place five years after the events of the first book, and we find Benji, Marcy, Shana,This is the sequel to Wendig's 2019 "Wanderers". "Wayward" takes place five years after the events of the first book, and we find Benji, Marcy, Shana, and the rest of the sleepwalkers and shepherds living in Ouray, CO, the town that they were led to for safety from the global pandemic and collapse of the world as they knew it. They are building a community and a new life. But the rest of the world is still out there, and it's not all pretty. Self-proclaimed president Ed Creel is calling together his supporters to an army of insurrectionists. They rely on violence, cruelty, and terrorism to push their claim to become the new order. And Black Swan, the AI intelligence that envisioned and executed the pandemic and subsequent world order collapse, is still in Ouray, and has its own agenda for the future. Benji and Shana are sure that what Black Swan wants is not what the world needs, any more than Ed Creel's dictatorship is. They discover a possible "cure" for Black Swan, and set out on a quest to make sure that the future of humanity is truly human.
At around 800 pages, this sequel clocks in even longer than the first novel. And there are points where I felt there could have been some paring down of the story and wordiness, but never to the point that the plotlines got buried. After some initial set-up, the story tends to alternate along several plotlines, switching back-and-forth along the way. This can tend to get confusing and even annoying when a favorite character's journey is paused to make way for another. But Wendig manages to keep the flow moving well. It helps that the majority of his characters- the ones we really care about- are all rounded and, if not all likable, they are, at least, able to keep the reader invested in all their stories. There's a lot of bleak and darkness here, but it is post-apocalyptic horror-ish, so that should be expected. But there are glimmers of light and goodness sprinkled in, as well. This isn't a complete doom-and-gloom future. There is possibility and hope if everyone can somehow manage to work together.
There's violence, loss, and desolation a-plenty, and fans of post-apocalyptic stories with strong characters and twisting, interweaving plotlines should find these two (yes, you need to read "Wayward" first) to be quite good reads....more
"The Stiehl Assasin" is the second to last entry in the Fall of Shannara quartet. In this segment. Druid Drisker Arc has managed to free both himself "The Stiehl Assasin" is the second to last entry in the Fall of Shannara quartet. In this segment. Druid Drisker Arc has managed to free both himself and the Druid keep Paranor from the exile imposed by rogue Druid Clizia Porse. Reunited with his student (and possessor of the Ohmsford family legacy Wishsong magic) Tarsha Kaynin and the druid's protector Dar Leah, he sets out to thwart Clizia's plans to install herself as leader of a new Druid order and aid the invading Skaar nation in conquering all of the Four Lands. Complicating things are Tarsha's troubled brother, also in possession of Wishsong magic and now, the Stiehl, a powerful weapon that he intends to use to destroy all those he feels have wronged him. Starting with his sister.
Okay, yes, we all know the formula here. It is a typical Brooks Shannara story. Heroes on a quest, villians out to thwart them at every turn, and the fate of the entire world (as they know it) hanging in the balance. Many of the character types are familiar because they have occurred in all the stories across the almost 40 book series. But, also in typical Brooks fashion, there is are surprises along the way, continuing worldbuilding, and plenty of action. The Skaar are a formidable enemy who seem almost invincible, so there is still tension to be had here. The book does end on a cliffhanger, but is still satisfying. With one more to go in this ending to the Shannara saga, this sets that end up very well.
Note: Brooks has announced that he will be writing more in the Shannara world, but only to fill in gaps in the past, not moving forward....more
In this scifi thriller/murder mystery, we enter a world dealing with the aftermath of Haden syndrome, a global pandemic that was not much more than a In this scifi thriller/murder mystery, we enter a world dealing with the aftermath of Haden syndrome, a global pandemic that was not much more than a flu for most people afflicted, but left 1% of the world's population "locked in"- that is in a physically paralyzed state but with full mental abilities. In other words, the Hadens (as they are called) are conscious and aware, but unable to move or speak. They are also able to temporarily enter the consciousness of an integrator, an unaffected person who allows the locked in consciousness to use their body to experience the world. A locked in person can also use a threep, an android personal transport. Chris Shane is a Haden FBI agent paired with agent Leslie Vann to solve a murder in which an integrator is the chief suspect, leaving things a bit complicated because if he was hosting a Haden (he doesn't remember), the identity of the guilty party is a bit muddy. As Shane and Vann dig into the crime, they discover a lot more than just a murder. There are things happening in the Haden world, leading to corporate greed, an emerging virtual world, and a burgeoning cultural change.
Like all of Scalzi's stories, this one has its share of political and social commentary woven into the story. But it also has his complex and compelling characters, a few clever and unexpected plot twists, and his signature snappy dialogue. There is a decent amount of action and danger, humor, and a satisfying ending. Yes, there are some slippery spots along the way, a few sliding into cliché, and some areas that could have been explored more fully, but all in all, this is another fun, engaging, relevant, and entertaining read from one of the best scifi writers out there today....more
In this thriller by Dan Brown, Susan Fletcher, mathematician and cryptographer, is called in by her boss at the NSA to help track down the key to a coIn this thriller by Dan Brown, Susan Fletcher, mathematician and cryptographer, is called in by her boss at the NSA to help track down the key to a code implanted in the nation's supercodebreking computer- one even the TRANSLATR can't break. The code was developed by a former NSA employee who wants the organization to reveal the existence and purpose of TRANSLATR, he and his mysterious partner will release the code to the world at large, essentially making the secrets of the NSA available to anyone. Susan's fiancé is sent to Spain to retrieve a ring that is supposed to contain the passcode to disable the virus but by the time he gets there, the ring is gone. He begins a race to find the ring and code, pursued by an assassin determined to also find the code- and kill anyone in his way.
As with most Dan Brown books, that's the bare minimum of the story. But much more detail would get into spoiler territory. The story is, as with most of Brown's novels, much larger and complex than a simple paragraph can detail. There is a lot of intrigue and betrayal, twists and turns that complicate everyone's missions and ideals, and a decent helping of Big Brother is watching. Characters are decent, if a bit stereotypical. Setting isn't the main focus of the story, with much of it in the European locales quick and not overly detailed. The NSA headquarters are much the same- you get enough to follow your way around, but this is not a story that leans on worldbuilding. There's a fair bit of action on all fronts, a few deaths, and a lot of "this is not what it seems". In other words, a typical Dan Brown thriller.
I did enjoy the book. It's fast-paced, has a ripped from the headlines feel (even though it is set in 1996), and there is enough real life detail to make the fictional parts plausible. Those who enjoy action thrillers with national security implications will probably enjoy it, also....more
The cover describes the book being “On light pollution, night ecology, and the ancient rhythms that sustain life.” That’s a decent description of whatThe cover describes the book being “On light pollution, night ecology, and the ancient rhythms that sustain life.” That’s a decent description of what this book is about. It was written by a Swedish scientist who specializes in ecology, bat vision, and light pollution. He is affiliated with Stockholm University. The book begins with anecdotes from Eklöf’s years of work studying the night vision of bats. He talks about being out in the dark, with very little accompanying light, and the way the night changes both your vision and the way you think. He talks about his research into bats, birds, and insects, and how our human compunction to light up the night (for our benefit) hurts the wild creatures that depend on low or no light to live out their lives. There is some technical talk interspersed throughout, but nothing that is not easily understood by a non-scientist. The best parts, though, are the anecdotes. Stories from his and others’ experiences living among the creatures of the night. He demystifies the darkness, something most people know very little about. He also takes some of the fear out of the dark, turning it instead into just another part of the cycle of life. He also points out the effect that increasing light pollution has on the natural world around us, a world already in peril from human interference. From insects who depend on bioluminescence to find mates (and are confused by street, house, and city lights left on at night), to bats unable to find enough insects to eat because the light keeps those night-flying insects from coming out, to migrating birds who fly mainly at night and are confused by brightly lit cities that throw them off their paths, to the effects that the constant barrage of light has on us (sleep disturbances, hormone imbalances, added stress), Eklöf makes a convincing argument for turning off the lights when the sun goes down. ...more
Tesla Crane, heiress and talented engineer, is on her honeymoon on a luxury space liner traveling from the Moon to Mars. She and her new husband are tTesla Crane, heiress and talented engineer, is on her honeymoon on a luxury space liner traveling from the Moon to Mars. She and her new husband are traveling under assumed names in order to try to gain some privacy. Along for the trip is Tesla's adorable service dog, Gimlet, a West Highland White Terrier. Tesla suffers from chronic pain due to an accident years ago on a project she developed- an accident that not only left Tesla permanently injured but where people died. It left Tesla with not only the wrecked spine, but ongoing PTSD. When a passenger is murdered, suspicion falls on Tesla's new husband, and the security force on the liner aren't interested in hearing anything different. When a second body is discovered and all the passengers on the liner are accounted for, Tesla decides it is up to her to clear her husband's name and stop the body count from rising.
This was a fun book. It is in the vein of a light-hearted murder mystery in the vein of The Thin Man movies. There's some humor, some romance, some sleuthing, and a good bit of drinking. Yes, Tesla, once she decides she needs to toss her alias aside, does throw her name, connections, and money around a bit in order to make sure she gets what she wants, but it didn't seem that far off from what someone in her position would do. A fortune and a well-known name go a long way toward getting things done, in our world and this future one. The "police" here do seem a bit underwhelming in their abilities, but again, they are the security on a luxury liner full of rich folk on holiday, not actual detectives. Most of the characters are quirky and odd. Gimlet is adorable and manages to steal any scene she's in. The plot is pretty straightforward with a few twists and suspenseful moments, but nothing too convoluted or bloody. The setting is quite nicely done, with accurate touches like the lag in communication time from the liner to Tesla's attorney on Earth.
It's a quick, fun read that does require some suspension of disbelief to enjoy fully, but if you can do that, it's also an enjoyable romp. If you liked the Thin Man stories, you will probably enjoy The Spare Man. ...more
Leda Foley is a travel agent with a difference. She is also a psychic and has an uncanny knack for knowing when to change a client's travel plans, whiLeda Foley is a travel agent with a difference. She is also a psychic and has an uncanny knack for knowing when to change a client's travel plans, which she does for returning from a trip detective Grady Merritt. When Merritt's plane explodes before take off, he decides to follow up on why Leda changed his flight suddenly and without his asking for it. When he discovers her admittedly quirky psychic talent, he enlists her help in an off-the-books investigation on a cold case murder that he can't let go of. Leda decides to help him, if only to try to ease a little of the guilt she feels at not being able to gain insight into the murder of her fiancé three years before. Joining in the improbable cast of characters helping to solve the two cases, which seem to be connected in some way, are Leda's bestie, Niki, Niki's boyfriend (who works at the bar where Leda performs Klaivoyant Karaoke, and several other of Leda and Niki's equally colorful friends.
Priest is probably more known for her steampunk, fantasy, and horror stories. I have read several and since I enjoyed them, I decided to pick this one up, although it is a bit of a departure from her usual fare. It did not disappoint. It's a fun, quirky, lighthearted romp through a mystery that may not be the most deep, dark plot ever, but still delivers in more ways than one. Leda and her friends definitely put the 'fun' in dysfunctional, and Grady makes the perfect straight man for the Lucy and Ethel vibe that Leda and Niki give. There's plenty of humor, enough action and suspense, and the plot twists just enough to keep you guessing at which of the suspects actually did it.
This was a fairly quick read, but an enjoyable one. Fans of light, cozy mysteries with odd characters and a good dose of humor would likely love it. I did!...more
