Originally posted by fayanora at The fiasco continues

The Hollows Insider by Kim Harrison-I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I'm more than a bit of a sucker for pop fictions guides, especially genre related encyclopedias. I have read the first in Harrison's Rachel Morgan books, and was a bit disappointed in it. Upon finding this at the library, I was hoping this tome would make me want to read more books in the series.

It didn't. It confirmed that many of the relationships that I felt were very predictable in the first book have happened, apparently in varying degrees to what I expected, but regardless it shows this series is even more predictable than Jim Butler's Dresden books (which I think have maybe jumped the shark but it took until book 13 for me there). I will give Harrison credit for fleshing out her world a little bit by providing how spells are made, and some background information on how society functions. Unfortunately, little is added about the series' main characters, too little to get me interested enough to pick up the books even from the library.

Mindworlds by Phyllis Gotlieb-This book started out with so much promise. We are introduced to a rich mix of races, and a setting that appears complex. Unfortunately, I feel Gotlieb loses her narrative for the book's mid-section and it doesn't become more cohesive until about the book's last quarter. Gotlieb's aliens are arguably quite alien, and she crafts cultures that are intricate and believeable, bu she maintains the story's flow pretty much only when the human Ned is in the picture. She loses some focus when she shifts to the other humans (Tyloe and Lorrice), and it comes off as Hasso's story has little to no bearing on events.

A shame because Hasso's story would have made a fine novella on its own. We gain good insight into his mind and Khagodi culture. But, exlcuding his being recruited into trying to prevent a war about to started by the Lyhart, a very powerful race of telepaths, his story has little bearing on everyone else.

Perhaps, the book suffers from, being the third in a shared universe Gotlieb wrote about. In actuality I think it suffers from teasing a complex plot that the author did not pull off.

Marzi by Marzena Sowa-If you're expecting a story Maus or Barefoot Gen you'll be disappointed. Based off the book's pre-publishing publicity I was expecting something more like those two. A story of the writer's growing up during the beginnings and success of the Poland's Solidarity movement. Well, Solidarity appears around the halfway point, and becomes more of a focus towards the end as Marzi's father is one of Solidarity early supporters.

You do get a good view of young girl growing up in Poland during food and clothing shortages, and how she and her family manage to find ways to get through. In addition, you see how families and neighborhoods bonded to deal with these issues.

For those who like humor in their fantastic fiction this book falls somewhere between Good Omens and The Hitchhiker's Guide for me. Hitchhiker was a a bit of a disappointment, and while I like Omens' characters, the overall story and humor fell a bit flat. Co-author David Gerrold is best known for the screenplay The Troubles with Tribbles (and if you need me to tell which television show that was this is not the book for you in all likelihood) Larry Niven for his hard science fiction.

On the science and story front is where I think Niven's influence is most obvious. The science aspects of the book is very basic, but sound. Gerrold's humor, I think he was aiming for Frank Baum like social satire, is at its strongest during the book's mid-point. In looking up notes about the book online I discovered there there are lot of science fiction in jokes, some of which I got (and I just found this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flying_Sorcerers which showed me many of the ones I didn't).

The basic premise is that a human explorer in landing on a planet inhabited by primitive humanoids is deemed a sorcerer and challenged to a duel by the village sorcerer.

In the course of events the human becomes stranded, has a Captain Kirk moment, and then seeks to find a way off planet.
Not a great read, but a light frothy way to end 2011.

I wish I could take credit for what one of my co-workers said this afternoon.

"Chemistry was great! It was the only class where I could blow things up and get away with it."

A December tradition (missed only a couple of times) the past several years has been to read a historical novel. This started with the gift of four first edition Hornblower novels, and this year I decided to read the first of the Sharpe books.

Like many people my first exposure to Sharpe was the movies that ran on my local PBS station. The differences between Cornwell and Sean Bean's Sharpe are rather dramatic. In the book Sharpe is riven with doubt, and not just because of the British defeats in Spain in 1809. There are no early signs of the leader and soldier that Sharpe will become. Whereas Bean's Sharpe never lacks confidence as a soldier. When the book's Sharpe appears to understand that he can lead and fight (well he never questioned he could fight) the transfiguration is rather abrupt.

The depiction of Harper, the Irishman who eventually becomes Sharpe's best friend, suffers from the same problems. Where Cornwell does succeed is in creating the feeling of being in Spain, marching in winter, and the conditions that the British Rifles endured as they are roped into Blas Vivar's scheme to perform a "miracle".

Tags: book reviews

As someone who is pretty much burned out on certain horror tropes of the past decade, notably vampires and zombies, I had people recommend Mick Farren's vampire books to me. While the first in the series was pretty much a straight horror read, albeit one that established the basic rules for Farren's 20th century vampires, I found Darklost not only to be a quicker read but in many ways a more enjoyable one. A darklost is a human who has had their blood taken by a vampire, but not turned into a vampire or killed. But, the book deals very little with the two darklost we meet in the course of events. Instead, I think this is one of the books where Farren started to build his metafiction reputation.

The biggest threat the vampire colony is facing upon its move from NYC to LA is Renquist's mourning over his lover's destruction, and that a new age cult is trying to bring Cthulhu across. Darklost was written in 2000, which I think we can say is before Cthulhu became everyone hack horror writer's plaything, or deus ex machina.

The book crosses over from horror into a science fiction and action movie hybrid. Renquist, at a 1,000 year+ in age, is not only the colony's master, but the one who's dream are the most tied to the race's DNA. While it is a relatively large exposition dump it is in one of Renquist's dreams that we get more knowledge about vampire history and how it is linked to Cthulhu.

It appears that not only were the vampire warriors created by aliens ruling the Earth 15,000 years ago, but that the alien masters knew the vampires were on the verge of rebellion. To quell the rebellion the masters brought in another of their servants Cthulhu.

While very little more than that is revealed about their joint history Renquist, a man who cares little for average humans, decides that Cthulhu cannot come across. At the same time he has to deal with colony politics.

Running concurrently is the story about the Apogee cult, which I considered a thinly veiled broadside at cult religions like Scientology. While most of the APogee characters are caricatures, Orton Ghast is given a little depth. As essentially the cult's number three man (well it could be argued number one) it was he who figured out how to turn crackpot theories and beliefs in a multi-million dollar enterprise. Orton is the most human character in the book.

Among the colony vampires Lupo continues to grown on me. There is just something about a vamp who used to make his living as a mob hitman, and his stoic demeanor that I find charming and amusing. Lupo is the type who could either sit down and have a drink with you and then kill you afterwards.

I feel the story began to take on a tongue-in-cheek approach as it progressed, but not in a bad way. Yes, I know I should read the original Dracula and Interview With a Vampire as vampire fiction classics (and someday I will) but for now I'll content myself with Farren's nosferatu (as they prefer to be called) and his metaficton underpinnings.

Tags: book reviews

Originally posted by write_light at BAD Internet Laws Heading Your Way

It is books like this that reaffirm my faith in Tamora Pierce as a writer (Melting Stones and the Trickster duo unfortunately remain in my memory). While the conclusion to the Bekka Cooper trilogy might be the series' longest entry, I honestly can not think where the book should be shortened.

We pick up three years from the end of Bloodhound. Bekka remains partnered with Tunstall (as Goodwin as selected desk sergeant duty) and the book opens with her betrothed's funeral. What Bekka has not told her friends is that she was on the verge of calling off the wedding. It on the the night of the funeral that Bekka, her scent hound Achoo, and Tunstall are summoned to the King and Queen's summer castle.

The castle's staff has been murdered and the four year-old prince kidnapped. From this point on, told as always as entries in Bekka's journal, the story reads much ike a police procedural. Tunstall's lover Sabine joins the hunt, and we are re-introduced to some minor characters along the way.

I enjoyed Gershom, the Lord Provost, having a slightly larger role at the beginning, probably because he is not a typical Tortall noble of the time. Gershom, like his protege Bekka, is more concerned with the law and justice than titles. The prince's kidnapping is part of the rebellion's plan. The king, in having a new and smarter wife, is starting to tax mages and tell nobles that during tough economic times they have to suffer and do more to help the working class.

No Pierce is not a bleeding heart liberal, but her politics do come through on some social justice issues that are at the margins of her story. While the characters may not be entirely three dimensional, she does a very good job of telling us enough about them to keep me interested.

For long time Pierce readers some things are telegraphed, including the traitor's identity (I had it narrowed down to two, and was pretty certain who it was-can't say I was happy being correct).

Light fantasy (as in using magic has a cost, and magic isn't just saying words and waving a wand). Also, it doesn't romanticize medieval times (by my standards anyway).

This is an expansion of Kage Baker's Company series (which I admit to not having read anything of except for a couple of short stories). The expansion is that the Nell Gwynne stories are set in the mid 19th century. Nell herself runs the most exclusive and high class house of prostitution in London. Unknown to most, including their clients, is that Nell's women are spies for the Gentlemen's Speculative Society a forerunner of The Company. While the Gentlemen push the bounds of science far past tradtitional steampunk, Nell's women are obtaining information from those higher in power.

And, when called upon make the movie James Bond look like an beginner. Sydney Bristow is an amateur. This women, especially Lady Beatrice use their brains and bodies better than just about anyone in fiction. You don't doubt that they will obtain the information (location of a mine of rare minerals-no problem), or device (and while they're at it solve a murder).

Don't expect great characterization (my sole issue really) or explicit descriptions of sex acts. Do expect a fun, breezy ride.

Sometimes I think our first impression of a book, the cover and the time we see it, forms much of our impression of it. I first saw Blackstone when I was on a trip with my older brother. I wanted to buy the book, but I was short of cash. I also new he wouldn't lend me the $$ to buy it. The image of a the man all in black, cloak, hat, the Bow Street Runners, and flintlock pistol always stayed in my head.

Upon finding a copy of this out of print book, and recalling my first impression, I bought it. In trying to detach those earlier feelings from this reading years later is difficult for me. I did enjoy this book, but there were times the writing didn't quite catch how I was responding to the story.

Richard Falkirk is actually Derek Lambert, and Lambert later used this title for another book. In this under 200 page novel (compare to the average paperback out there now) Blackstone is assigned to guard the seven year-old queen-to-be Victoria who's life is rumored to be in danger. Not believing the stories at first, events lead Blackstone to believe that the future queen is in danger.

There is little hiding of Blackstone's former criminal background. His connection to to the criminal Challoner is hinted at, but not fully divulged (probably held for later volumes). Blackstone is not a genius detective, but he is dogged in his pursuit, and loyal to the some of the concepts behind the Runners.

Lambert tosses in a brief historical note at the end. He does a good job of showing the distinction between the classes without taking sides (well not completely taking sides) in doing so.