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Review: Ready Player One

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Loved this book, it didn't hurt that everything the author wrote about are also things that I love. Wargames is my favorite movie and I was happy to see it have such an important role in the story.


Ok this was my second reading and I still love it, I know that it's a wish fulfillment fantasy, but after just reading the first 6 Elric novels I needed a dose of lighthearted adventure. While I'm a little older then intended audience, I had a blast in the 80's, first video-game system, first computer, first love, so nostalgia was certainly working in the authors favor. But for a first novel Cline did a remarkable job. An underdog hero with a cool friend and love interest and an evil corporation as the villain and all that eighty's trivia.



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Review: Stormbringer

Stormbringer by Michael Moorcock

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The Elric saga comes to close and a very satisfying conclusion with Elric, Moonglum and Stormbringer each playing their parts. A little more thoughtful then the previous volumes and the first since volume one that felt like a regular novel not three novellas tied together. But Moorcock did a fine job of string together the pieces from Books 1 - 5 that are woven into this finale.



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Review: The Bane of the Black Sword

The Bane of the Black Sword by Michael Moorcock

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Book One, I wasn't to crazy with the way that Theleb K'aarana allowed Elric to be released. In past encounters it seemed that the Pan Tang sorcerer was smart enough to kill Elric as soon as he fell into his grasp.
Book Two Elric's great arrogance and thirst for vengeance lands his companions in yet another trap.
Book Three Elric and Moonglum must rise to their greatest challenge so far as the battle a horde of invaders a half million strong.



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Review: The Vanishing Tower

The Vanishing Tower by Michael Moorcock

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Books 1-3 all involve Theleb K'aarna the sorcerer from Pan Tang and Books 1 and three feature Myshella the Empress of the Dawn or the Dark Lady of Kaneloon. Book 3 is another tale of the Eternal Champion. The Elric Saga gets deeper and some story-lines are tied together.



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Review: The Weird of the White Wolf

The Weird of the White Wolf by Michael Moorcock

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Excellent entry in the saga, finds Elric at his darkest hour and the prologue offers hints toward more darkness still to come. Book one Elric at his most Melnibonean and his greatest despair so far. Book two his hopes are dashed again and book three a return to form as he defeats a great enemy and is once again thwarted in vengence.



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Review: The Vanishing Tower

The Vanishing Tower by Michael Moorcock

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Excellent entry in the saga, finds Elric at his darkest hour and the prologue offers hints toward more darkness still to come. Book one Elric at his most Melnibonean and his greatest despair so far. Book two his hopes are dashed again and book three a return to form as he defeats a great enemy and is once again thwarted in vengence.



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Review: The Sailor on the Seas of Fate

The Sailor on the Seas of Fate by Michael Moorcock

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Of the three books that make up volume two of the Elric saga my favorite's were book one and three, two has a good a story but book one ties ties together protagonists of Moorcock's multiverse. While book three sets up the doom that Elric has inadvertently called up his plane of existence as he strives to help another has he doomed his whole world.



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Review: Elric of Melniboné

Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



When I first read this book around forty years ago, I was looking for an epic fantasy like LOTR and I didn't care for this flawed and tragic hero Elric, but now I can appreciate this novel for the great work of fantasy that it is and my favorite Sword and Sorcery series.



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Review: I Am Half-Sick of Shadows

I Am Half-Sick of Shadows by Alan Bradley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Why do I love Flavia

Here's a couple quote of her thoughts about a newborn baby

"Nialia propped up with pillows in the bed holding something in her arm that seemed at first to be a large water rat."

Wicked humor along with details of the British gentry country life circa 1950 and the best female sleuth ever, a plan to capture Father Christmas, and poison those that try to thwart her that’s two more reasons to love Flavia. If you haven’t read the first three books you’re lucky because you can still enjoy all four for the first time.

What’s Daffy got to say “ Books are like oxygen to a deep-sea diver …Take those away and you might as well be counting the bubbles”





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Review: Sea Kings of Mars and Otherwordly Stories

Sea Kings of Mars and Otherwordly Stories by Leigh Brackett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Swords and Sorcery is a favorite genre of mine and Leigh Brackett really knew how to do it. If you read these planetary adventures be aware that Mercury is too hot for life, Mars is too cold and dry and Venus to hot. But Brackett has filled these worlds with characters and adventures that are so entertaining. Short stories and novella’s offer hero after hero including her most famous John Eric Stark. The one short story that almost seems out of place is her science fiction story “The Tweener” that reminded me strongly of Ray Bradbury a good friend of Brackett’s. Bradbury co wrote “Lorelei of the Red Mist” with Brackett and the hero is “Conan” not Howards, but he might as well be.



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Review: The Last Days Of Shandakor

The Last Days Of Shandakor by Leigh Brackett

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Nice science fantasy story about a race about to die and the human who would try to prevent it. Short and touching, it's a good read. While I prefer Brackett's Sword and Sorcery stories, I must say this is one of the most thoughtful stories of her's that I've read.



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Review: Black Amazon of Mars: And Other Tales from the Pulps

Black Amazon of Mars: And Other Tales from the Pulps by Leigh Brackett

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I had forgotten how much I loved S&S before starting to read Brackett this week. Another terrific John Stark novel from Brackett, I've been on a Sword and Sorcery bender this past week and this story stands up to her others quite well, I particular liked the siege and the lead up to the battle.



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Review: Queen of the Martian Catacombs: Planet Stories, Summer '49

Queen of the Martian Catacombs: Planet Stories, Summer '49 by Leigh Brackett

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Leigh Brackett’s John Eric Stark's first appearance is a science fantasy/ Sword and Sorcery set on Mars. Stark is a wanted man who will be given clemency if he can avert a war that would turn Mars into a blood bath.

Much like the Seas Kings of Mars it’s a rousing adventure story that races to a climatic conclusion. This was my first time with John Stark I’m glad that Brackett wrote more about the native Mercurian, whose skin was burned black by the sun a rouge who is always for the native.




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Review: The Sword of Rhiannon

The Sword of Rhiannon by Leigh Brackett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This made me think back to youth when I first discovered Edgar Rice Burroughs "The Chessmen of Mars" my first John Carter book. I loved it and thanks to the SF Signal Podcast on Swords and Sorcery I learned about Leigh Brackett and her legacy of S&S short stories and novels.

This is set on an ancient Mars with multiple races, a time slip, slaves and galleys and an anti hero Indiana Jones. If you like S&S give this a try, I liked it as much as Howard's work and much better then Burroughs.



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Review: All Men of Genius

All Men of Genius by Lev AC Rosen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was a terrific book, combining Twelfth Night, The Importance of Being Earnest, with a dash of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and a hint of Harry Potter.

When the novel started out I thought it was a young adult and a British boarding school invokes memories of Harry Potter but then as the plot evolved the writing seemed to transform to more adult almost a comedy of manners with a steampunk setting.

I saw the action orientated finale coming a long way before it flowered. Once we knew Violet was making a "Gundam" and Violio an army of androids it seemed kind of obvious that she'd save the day but it in no way spoiled the fun of the story, and the all the interesting characters.



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Review: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I'd never pick up a book about Zombies if it hadn't been a group read also the style of the book put me off. I'd perfer a regular story, and while reading I often had the thought that my time would be better spent reading Studs Terkel's WW 2 book that inspired Brooks.

Now that I've finished it have to say that I'm still not very comfortable with that style of story telling but I'm glad that I read it and will seek out Terkel's book as well.



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Review: Black Wings

Black Wings by Christina Henry

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I kind of liked this book, I’d say 2 ½ stars, As I read it I just couldn’t stop thinking of other things that I’ve read that used very similar lines and situations. In the beginning I felt that Madeline’s voice sounded so familiar, she sounded almost exactly like Rachael Morgan from the “Hollows Series” A series that I like a lot. Also the small gargoyle Beezle reminds me highly of the “Hollows” Jenks.

"As Katherine died, she performed a binding to protect you from Ramuell, using her own life force as a sacrifice”
Angels, Fallen Angels and monsters this is like a Christian Harry Potter, mother saves her daughter, but gives up her life.

"It's a nightmare the likes of which you have never known. We are on the verge of a real biblical-style apocalypse here."
Who you call Ghostbusters" all we need it the Gatekeeper.

I found the plot a little confusing at times as I tried to remember who sired whom and what type of angel creature they were the angels in this universe are a randy and potent bunch. Someday I’ll give the second book in the series a try to find out if the author finds more of a voice of her own.




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Review: Naked in Death

Naked in Death by J.D. Robb

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I was actually pretty surprised by this book, I really am not a romance fan and expected to hate the book but so many people recommended that I try it and wow it was a lot of romance and sex. I wouldn't say it was good SF but it was a decent mystery.



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Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn

Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Loved all four books of the Asian fantasy series, and any fans of Shogun are sure to enjoy this series.

...

I just finished rereading the novel and feel very differently from the other people who’ve already posted in the SF & Fantasy Thread. I think this book written by a westerner is very Japanese, I believe that’s why it is paced the way it is. Sure love at first sight is unbelievable but imagine a fifteen year old girl, forced to marry against her will. She is dreading meeting the old man who’ll force himself upon her. Suddenly she’s filled with relief when she sees the young man who she believes is to be her husband, may it isn’t love at first sight as much as relief at first sight.



I don’t believe that good fantasy has to have a twist ending. When Frodo picked up the ring and headed to Mordor, I had no doubt that he’d arrive and destroy the ring but I’ve read and reread LOTR enough times to make it an all time favorite.





Keep reading if you like ninjas and pirates, there’s only four more books to go.





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Bloodshot by Cherie Priest

Bloodshot by Cherie Priest

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The first-person narrative is well suited to this novel. The strong willed smart talking vampire thief read almost like a mystery novel with dashes of thriller thrown in. The most exciting part of the story without giving away any spoilers was just after she received the call about the PDF and what it drove her to do. The weakest part of the story was when she confronted the intruder in her warehouse, I thought she should have been much tougher and less vulnerable then she appeared to be.



There is a second book in the series and I’ll be checking it out, this being one of the most enjoyable urban fantasies that I’ve read. I recommend this book to fans of Kim Harrisons Hollows series, although I enjoy the Hollows series more.





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Click Here For Murder by Donna Andrews

Click Here For Murder by Donna Andrews

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I don't like this series anywhere near as much as I should. I like a good cozy mystery, I love stories about computers, robots, A.I and science fiction and this second novel in the series continues to disappoint me. The A.I. acts more like a little old lady, then the actual mature woman "Maud" who efficiently runs two offices, is a crack shot and the smartest of all the characters. Tim the dim witted P.I. is ok for laughs but worked better as the smitten copy boy in the first novel. I don't think I'll be reading anymore of this series.




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A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley

A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Flavia continues to my favorite heroine, her extraordinary intelligence pitted against her eleven year old naivety often makes for laugh out loud situations. The chemistry abilities she uses to solve her cases and torture her older sisters also add to the fun. The rest of the cast of characters with her father, faithful servant and friend Dogger and even the cook is more rounded out in this third volume of the series. Highly recommended.



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Dragonsong by Anne McCaffrey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Ann McCaffrey's death last week got me thinking about Pern again, so I'm re-reading Dragonsong, the first book in the Harper's series which was my favorite part of the Pern saga when I first read it back in the 70's when I was in HS.

It's a very fast read, not very fleshed out but a decent intro to the more detailed second and third novels.



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Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey

Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I wonder if JK Rowling read Dragonsinger before she wrote the Harry potter series. Dragonsinger reminds me of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. The protagonists are each regarded as inadequate by their families, in Harry’s case an Aunt and Uncle in Menolly’s by her biological parents. Harry however when he reaches Hogwarts finds that he has a special talent for Quidditch and is infamous as the child who survives an assassination attempt as a baby. Menolly not only has her song writing skill and musical ability she’s also the owner of nine fire lizards. Both are protected by the head of the school, Professor Dumbledore and Masterharper Robinton. Both by they’re very existence rub certain teachers and students the wrong way and both are the objects of both envy and prejudice.

For the reasons stated above I’d recommend the Harper Hall series to fans of Harry Potter who may never have heard of the series I’m sure they will find a lot to like.




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DRM is Bad for Books

I think eBooks with drm should be free, they should be given to the people who buy a dead tree version of the book like a digital copy of a movie often comes on the DVD. The free eBook would be for the customer's convenience a searchable easy to carry library. The paper copy would be to insure the customer always has a readable copy even if Amazon goes out of business or decides to upgrade it's readers, like VHS/Beta to DVD and you wind up buying the same movies over again and to a lesser extent DVD to BD. I still have copies of paper books I bought in the 1970's that I still read, will Kindle or Nook or Sony drm eBooks still be readable in 2050 (not that I'll still be around to find out). So before you pick an eBook reader ask yourself if you really want to keep a readable book for life, and go download a .txt non drm book from Cory Doctorow.

Interesting post from Author Charles Stross

The Twitter Book

The Twitter Book by Tim O'Reilly

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I don't get Twitter, after reading this book I understand it a little better but still don't really see the attraction to the service that because of it's limitations (160 characters, no RSS feeds anymore) forces users to learn or guess at abbreviations to understand what people are talking about. I'm not a facebook user either but that's more about privacy concerns then obections to the service. I'm on Google+ because Google already had my info through gmail, blogger, docs, calendar. But I wanted to understand Twitter and this quick read helps with that and to be fair to Twitter and Tim O'Reilly I'm going to try his guaranteed method. Been at it 3 days now and while I not as confused, I haven't really been entertained or as informed as G+ has in the same time frame.

This is from the first chapter

Try it for three weeks or your money back—guaranteed!
People often say that they dip into Twitter once or twice and don't get it. Which is
understandable since the real value of Twitter becomes evident only after you've followed
a few accounts for a while and have absorbed their rhythms.
If you're having trouble seeing what all the fuss is about, try this tactic:
follow at least a few promising accounts, and then for three weeks, log into Twitter daily
(ideally using one of the life-changing programs we describe in Chapter 2), catch up on
messages and click around for five to ten minutes. Every few days, make sure to check the
trending topics (described in Chapter 2). Finally, spend 30 minutes one day running a few
searches (also described in Chapter 2) to see what you can learn from the discussions on
Twitter.
At the end of three weeks, you'll have spent five hours total giving a fair shake to the most
important new communications tool we've seen since email. (If it still doesn't work for you,
pass this book along to a friend.)

If your interested in learning about social media in general or Twitter in particular I'd recommend this book



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Google+ For Dummies

Google+ For Dummies by Jesse Stay

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Informative book would recommend to anyone new to social media and Google + in particular. However because G+ is so new and changing so quickly much of the information has changed since the publication of the book, the author points this out himself through out the book.



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The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag

The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a more satisfying ending that the first Flavia novel and more great fun as the 11 year old protagonist again uses her wits to get even with her sisters, solve a murder and describe in detail the 1950's small village life.



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The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I absolutely fell in love with Flavia, from getting revenge on her sisters to solving mysteries as no other eleven year old could. She reminds me of TV's Temperance "Bones" Brennan, as smart but with better social skills, at least a little better.



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The Paladin

The Paladin by C.J. Cherryh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I read this after I voted for it in the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club poll for December, it looks like it doesn't have much chance of being picked and I a huge fan of CJ Cherryh, Asian culture and ancient warfare. This book didn't disappoint, it really could have been split into two books the first a master/apprentice tale and the second an action packed war story. I'd recommend this book highly to fans of The Tales of the Otori series by Lian Hearn.



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Anansi Boys

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The more Neil Gaiman I read, the more he reminds me of Douglas Adams, not the subject matter or style, rather it's how I feel when I read either one them, just extremely happy. Seeing how Douglas can't write me a new novel I hope that Neil hurries and writes another soon.

Anansi Boys was a terrific followup to American Gods, a bit lighter and with a story web that was extremely interesting and that's what I want when I read, something interesting.



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The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison

The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Terrific start to the series, fast funny and thought provoking all at once



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Predator (Isaac Asimov's Robots in Time, #1)

Predator by William F. Wu

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I may have really enjoyed this book if I had read it when I was 11 or 12, but I still think that the illogical behavior of the main characters would have driven me nuts. For one example early on in the time travel portion of the book the team is afraid of altering the present by such actions as killing vines, breaking branches to mark a trail later in the novel with no regard for the repercussions they start a dinosaur stampede.

The reason I think a younger reader may enjoy it is as a kid I really enjoyed Cowboy in Africa, and the roping and riding of dinosaurs reminded me of it.



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