Books

Reading Diary

Short crits on books read
sci fi this pic means a sci-fi plot

, fantasy

, classics etc
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All comments are personal opinion no more or less.

Alderman, Gill : Memory Palace: (crossover/thro' wardrobe, becomes hero)Interesting but gets a bit blurred and in the end overconfused. Having built up sympathy for the philandering fantasy writer, he does not come to any conclusion and the end sees us following the guy built up as villain Koschei. Frustrating. Crossover sequence with loss of hands, hallucination and blurring of past and present innovative.
Allen, Roger MacBride: Assimov's Caliban: (detective who dunnit, and those infernal robotic laws)Like the other two(which I read first) A fun piece of work, and utterly free from sequel-itis, a common good quality to the series. In retrospect they would create a build up read in the right order, but that is not obligatory for enjoyment.
Allen, Roger MacBride: Assimov's Inferno: (detective who dunnit, and those infernal robotic laws) Intricate plot. However still a lot of fun. Fave line (to a whole room full of people) 'I have come to the conclusion you are all guilty'.
Allen, Roger MacBride: Assimov's Utopia: (detective who dunnit, plus politics and those infernal robotic laws) Very good. Strong and spellbinding.
Anderson, Kevin J: Blindfold: (hidden flaw in society, faking being something you're not)Sci-Fi covers say a lot about the contents. This one came in a retro cover and pretty much the same kind of contents. That old chestnut, telepathy, is covered, where it is created through drugs and used as the mainstay of a justice system. Well written and doesn't deterioate into a slushy romance. If it doesn't have a huge climatic moment it still has clever layers, peeled back at unexpected moments. Good.
Archer, Nathan : STV Raganok: (mysterious signal gets them embroiled in a v.old war)Quite good plot wise but writing only OK
Assimov, Isaac : Foundation & Earth: (search/odyssey type journey plot)First I've read of the series, so found 'Gaia' entire world as an organism concept interesting. (NB living world concept pinched by McCaffrey in PTB series) As a whole compelling, main detraction (to me) being the utterly annoying lead 'Trevise'
Assimov, Isaac : Magic: Lovely set of previously uncollected fatasy stories. Enjoyed those about George and his demon Azazel but alsothe clumsy prince and smelly dragon, hillarious.
Attanasio, A.A. : Dark Shore: (part of series, bad v good struggle, escape)A bad guy with no redeeming features, but has very clever plot twists. Interesting concept of charms(magic with actual units) as currency.
Attanasio, A.A. : The Last Legends of Earth: (one of quasi series, Good v evil but war becomes ambiguous, human race recreated as sacraficial trap) Very magical, well written, inc subplot romance.
Atwood, Margaret : Good Bones: (Short Pieces) Interesting, specially 'Female Body' but not as good as longer works
Atwood, Margaret : Lady Oracle: (isolation and coming of age)Not much to say, class in a glass.
Atwood, Margaret : The Edible Woman: (Relationships and identity)Perhaps not quite on par with other works, but then it is nearly her first. Fascinating, an sometimes a bit close to the bone. Disturbing...
Auel, Jean M. : Earth's Children Series: (Prehistoric fiction : travel, acceptance of self, in society, growth/maturing and love)Wealth of Detail, possibly bit overwhelming at times. Also rather oversexed...love story irritatingly drawn out in Mammouth Hunters. Even so has strong sympathy, deals with so called 'modern' themes of conflicting cultures, racism of sorts.
Auel, Jean M. : Shelters of Stone: (Prehistoric fiction,.5., travel, acceptance of self, in society, growth/maturing and love) Thus the series endeth, a little belatedly. As with its predecessors it is full of a wealth of detail - about crafts and skills, landscapes, fauna and flora, sometimes overwhelmingly so. Unlike her other novels this does stumble a little at first or at least takes a little longer to get involved in, but rapidly gets into its stride. However while its ending is satisfying on some levels, it seems a little too early on others. Ayla's acceptance of her future as a zelandonii or priestess seems a bit sudden considering her constant anxiety about it all through the book, and a rather inexplicable. Furthermore there are several loose unresolved threads that don't feel right left in mystery. Brukeval the quarter clan man who can't accept his heritage and the question as to whether the Others will accept clan as intelligent and human beings. If she'd only kept going just a fraction longer I'd have been happier. Maybe she's secretly got another novel to come out up her sleeve. Still a fantastic novel of epic proportions and a great series.
Austen, Jane : Catherine and other writings: (Penguin collection of mostly early works)Saw this on the shelf with another collection of shorts and thought, what the heck, I've read everything else, might as well be complete. I found it an eye opener, not just as a 'look what she turned into' but for itself. Far more extreme, farcical, surreal and mocking and highly entertaining. Hidden depths.
Austen, Jane : Lady Susan/Watsons/Sadition: (1 unpublished finished novel, two unfinished ones) From three different periods. Lady Susan is rather striking for its deliciously evil central character; but suffers from the letter format (a convention of the time), something even the author seemed to have felt. Of them all Watsons was the most like her best known works. Sadition had some interesting caricatures and on the whole was a lot of fun, like the other two. However, one comes away frustrated most by the missing endings.
B
Baker, Will : Raven Bride: (save the planet/mystic self discovery)It was hard to read this thoroughly but that may have been my impatience at the time. Interesting with a nicely thought out plot. But if I have any perception, a little dense and thick, despite its standard paperback size. Portrayal of the russians was rather masked by phoneticism of russian accents over pidgin english which was hard to read through. Good but not great really.
Ball, Margaret & McCaffrey, Anne : Acorna: (exotic orphan on the run)OK I suppose but really McCaffrey has spiralled down since Pern and the Talent series. Its strengths lie in its themes of child slavery and prostitution. But basically it feels like three men and a baby. My real beef though is with a horrifically stereotypical view of arabic and islamic culture, although she does gloss over this by creating her futuristic obscure cult. Her inevitable romance is bad - ish but not her worst (see City who Fought). I wish I knew why I keep reading them. Probably predictability.
Banks, Iain M : Inversions: (conflict, on a personal scale, mystery person)A gorgeous intertwining of two parallel stories at two ends of a conflict. On the one the King's doctor and assistant. On the other the bodyguard of the usurper tyrant general, and his favoured concubine. It conveys much by simply keeping you guessing, leaving you wondering what else could have been said. Fab.
Banks, Iain M : Look to Windward: (loss, memory, aftermath of war, revenge, suicide)Another spellbinding book from Banks. Unlike Inversions where you wondered if it was a future reduced to the medieval, or just some alternate past, this is obviously science fiction. I'm suddenly struck with writers block in trying to explain my thoughts on it. The characters are immediate and their backstories revealed only in as much as they are needed, in good time and at a good pace. Perhaps all that i can say of it is, READ IT. Very good.
Baxter, Stephen : Flux: (race against time, quest, romance, sacrifice)The idea of minute human beings living in a star seems a somewhat cutesy concept, but in Baxter's hands it becomes simply another of his magnificent xeelee books.
Baxter, Stephen : Moonseed: (race against time, quest, romance, sacrifice)Read as it was, right after Vacuum Diagrams, this was beautifully approachable. Sure there was science but in a good way, stuff you could get yourself round with a minimum of previous study. Perhaps because its timeline is not so far from our own. One could enjoy the 'in joke' style minor references to it. The timescale is also more human. And, (in a more connected way than Vacuum Diagrams) it manages to encompass a not quite cast of thousands with their own parts of the story, woven together. Lovely. Plus the idea of terraforming the moon is delightful all of its own.
Baxter, Stephen : Raft: (escape from apocalpse/collapse)Well here we are at a new location for SB's fave theme, collapsing worlds/universes/societies. The characters however are finely drawn and interesting with the groups of scientist, officer, miner and pilot. Well worth a read.
Baxter, Stephen : Titan: (what if Journey to Titan)Well... he may have learnt from Voyage, in that this is a very much more human book and doesn't stop dead at the landing on Titan, as Voyage does at Mars. It does at times seem to go into too much scientific detail but maybe a science person would say the same of the human detail. A work simultaneously darker and lighter than Voyage. More death, more emphasis on people whose lives were built around one thing, that is now denied them. But at the same time it has a theme of discovery and rebirth. It is also somewhat more fantastical than Voyage which seems more fact oriented. A result perhaps of Voyage's story being more likely to happen.
Baxter, Stephen : Vacuum Diagrams: (Xeelee series, anthol. short stories, overarching connection, quest for knowledge, war, struggle for survival) So far I seem to have read SB in order of more and more fantastical, from Voyage to Titan, to this set of shorts bound together somehow arching along a time line. The stories and over arching connection varies in approachability. By this I mean the point where skipping the more incomprehsible(to me) science overwhelms one's ability to appreciate the story. I have no objection to further future which obligates such science or the science itself. But in Vacuum Diagrams in places the cloud of abstract astro-physics is too thick, a bit much for gcse combined science. Maybe my brother the astronomy/physics bod would have fared better. On the other hand advantage of this collection of brief stories is it gives it a very human, personal view of the 'history'. You are not made to follow all the details of big events, but gain a sense of it all the same, saving SB from going through those scenes played out so often of space wars etc. It captures the personal sense of alienation, and downright differentness very well. One could draw parallels with his over arching pattern to Olaf Stapledon's Star Maker, in a reverse sense. You have a sense of apotheosis at the end of star maker, here, it is more apocalyptic, with humanity and other baryonic life chased out of their own universe. Or so the prediction runs, a possibility to be avoided.
Baxter, Stephen : Voyage: (journey to Mars via 'what if'scenario eg JFK not killed) Built up through a range of viewpoints of main characters. However, like Apollonius of Rhodes' Voyage of the Argo ends abruptly after the landing on Mars(the official plot line), leaving one wondering about the characters' plot culmination which had appeared to be building up. Still extremely good. Could have done without the epilogue 'reality check'. Slight sense faults caused by writing by a scientist not a novelist...but could easily be wrong.
Bear, Greg : Darwin's Radio: (what if scenario, based on controversial vague theories of evolution)What if evolution wasn't gradual and moved in sudden leaps, using a virus hidden in our DNA. What if this was reaction to social stress build up...it could happen now. But how would we react? Fab. There is a slight fogging caused by large amounts of complex biology. But it doesn't mar it too cruelly. The other faint fault is its characters are a little shallow and you wish you could follow any one invidiual for a bit longer. Still, all in all stunning, you are almost convinced by it as a theory!
Bear, Greg : Eon: (Discovery, Quest, Escape, Destiny)The story of what happens when the mysterious 'stone' - an artefact from an alternate future turns up and turns an edgy situation edgier. It is a book that at its start seems to have so much potential but somehow ends up feeling like it pulled its punches. Possibly it's the way all the loose ends seem to get tied up a little too neatly. Or, possibly it's that there isn't enough darkness. There's the pointless soviet invasion of The Stone, and later infighting. But the ww3 nuclear style back home which destroyed earth is somehow left very vague. Further, while describing the new society of the future they meet (The Stone's builders) no-one really seems to be at all concerned by the way they alter minds and personalities, regardless of the advantages. Still a good read but not necessarily as good as it could have been.
Bear, Greg : Legacy: (Quest, Cost of Intervention)Although set in the same timeline and starting in the same place as Eon, it does not stay within it. Olmy leaves 'the way' through a stack to go to 'Lamarkia', a world where some escaping rebellious types went on some 'back to nature' quest. Lamarkia is interesting as it plays out the concept not just of 'lamarkian' borrowed evolution but also people's reaction to it. I liked its somewhat darker edge than Eon, the doomed attempt at colonisation, and, at interaction with this alien planet's ecology. I liked the idea that if an animal learned to talk to a human being it might understand words, but still not be able to communicate, its goals and world view being so different to our own. Worth a lingering read
Bear, Greg : The Strength of Stones: (apocalyptic, quest, what went wrong, search for sanctuary)The concept of living cities is fascinating enough. But when you add in ones programmed to be moral who then chuck all their citizens out for so called sins it becomes stunning. Cool, a story of arrogance and folly. Plotline is hard to place but this does not represent a failing point.
Bear, Greg : Blood Music: (apocalyptic, science gone mad?) Interesting idea, less interesting lead characters. How much it fascinates you depends on how interesting you find that idea. Conscious single cells 'Noocytes'. They start dwelling in their progenitor Vergil, and end up taking over everything. Vergil is not a massively sympathetic character, and its only at the end when the story centres around Suzy, one of the few immune to this 'plague', that it becomes particularly interesting on a human level. Her decision that whatever the benefits of entering the noocyte world and becoming one of them, it would cost her something of her essential self is interesting. Apocalyptic fiction always has its certain thrill, charting the destruction of all we know and mass change, but this one, though fun could have done with a more human centre.
Bear, Greg : Slant: I'm not even sure how one describes the themes of this book, let alone anything else. In a sense it is similar to Brin's Glory Season with its plot that seems about bringing down a stable society. In Brin's work this is accidental, here it is deliberate through the mysterious group of rich men hoping to not only bring down the house but also save themselves simulataneously. Somehow it all works. The characters that are sketched in loving detail and then abandoned, the details of the structure of this future society that are left out or not explained, and simply referred to, all of it works. Maybe these details are previously explained in the sort of prequel book Queen of Angels. I'll have to see. I can't wait.
Benford, Gregory : Furious Gulf: (one of a series, chase theme)Large amounts of science thrown in, particularly at the end where it becomes so much that to a non astronomer/physicist like me it becomes obscuring. However characterisation generally is well thought out. (another scientist?? or a novelist over excited by the science)
Bloombury Classics : Ten: Beautiful collection. Certain preoccupation with the themes of growing old, the past, and death. All perfectly written, nuff said.
Bradley, Marion Zimmer : Lady of Trillium: (Coming of age, passing on of authority,quest)Pretty good but not outstanding. Harks back to Trillium original series in setting and lead. Suffers from two rather grating leads - teacher and reluctant disciple. Also, it really doesn't bring the series on to somewhere new, and thus is a totally pointless sequel. Nonetheless tolerably written.
Bradley, Marion Zimmer : Thendara House: (darkover series, coming of age, plus good v bad prebattle)Having not seen this particular feminist world thing before, came over quite well. It almost didn't insist either party was much good really. Interesting tho'.
Brently, Chaz : Dispossesion: (self discovery, crime mystery)I read this at the same time as one by Herbert and it really showed up its faults. Perhaps not the most fear inspiring book for a 'thriller', but as fiction I found it great. The whole search for missing memorys including why you married someone other than the girlfriend you remember, is well handled. Luke, the fallen angel who is the supernatural element and basic deus ex machina is not over used or overdone. Provided you ignore the devil/lucifer hints associated with that character you have a neatly written plot that seems simple but still surprised me...but then, I'm not a guesser.
Brin, David : Glory Season: (coming of age, self discovery)It takes a little while to come to terms with the fact that a man wrote this book, when having picked it up and read it without paying attention to the author it seems such an obvious subject for a woman. In essence it is like many good sci-fi books, about a concept 'cloning', but not cloning using a test tube. Cloning using altered human genetics and produced via a womb. The creation of a stable society based as ever on the deliberate suppression and sidelining of a minority, here the 'unstable' individuals or 'vars'. It is a society which is wholly believable somehow. The story does give details and creates this framework but then basically bounces from it to write a story within it, exploring its weak points through throwing in a destabilizing element - an alien. Rather like the day the earth stood still, this alien is human like them, if unmodified, unlike the general population. It is slow to start off and a bit of a slog to begin with, but once the twin 'vars' are split up it really gets going. ALthough I feel the rightness of the open ending we don'[t know what Maia will do, her character is so interesting that I'm dying to know what happened to her. You never once question that these women are women, but in retrospect as a female of the species, I do wonder at these women's lack of menstrual cycles and the fact of their endless fertility. Very very good read now.
Bryson, Bill : Notes from a Small Island: (Comedic idiosyncratic view of England, while on tour) Very perceptive, amusing.
Bunch, Chris : Seer King: (civil war, evil powers etc)In a word, crap. At the very least not good at all. It has all sorts of interesting things that don't live up to expectations. It starts Odysseus-like with the character at his lowest, and tells the story in flashback but makes minimal use of retrospective. It has a rather weak love story, hingeing mostly on rather a lot of sex descriptions and the tortured soul of the girl. The guy uses the word cock too much and has some very pc values on women's liberation with no real basis. It wastes an intriguing enemy who kills with a yellow cord garotte too early and goes on too long afterwards.
C
Carey, Diane : STDS9 Dominion War Bk 2 Call To Arms: Nuff said, title over long. Writing is reasonable but nothing exceptional. Storytelling/narrative good. Interesting mix of perspectives
Carey, Diane : STV Captain's Table: Surprisingly good, tho' reading in first person somehow slightly disconcerting at first. Intriguing to see Janeway's character divorced from ship and crew setting. However set up 'mysterious inn on a planet letting only captains in' was a tad annoying.
Chapman, Vera : The Enchantresses: (mock or reconstructed feminine arthurian legends)Billing it as 'just when you thought there was no more to say about Arthurian legend' was unfortunate, because this only proved there wasn't, unlike the delightful Three Damosels. Dealing with Arthur's three somewhat older half sisters it was painfully clear cut. There was the wicked one, the lazy one and the angelic one. There was nothing to surprise you or even really interest one much at all.
Chapman, Vera : Three Damosels: (mock or reconstructed feminine arthurian legends)Beautifully written interlinked together by Lynett/Leonet and Morgan Le Fay recast not just as a less substantial evil persona but also partly useful testing temptress. These are not women who faint though, but strong in their own right. Somehow Chapman creates heroines neither virgin nor retiring without ruining the 'period' (medieval?) theme and sense.
Cherryh, C J : Rider at the Gate(1): (coming of age/rebellion, mystery who dunnit)If you say telepathic horses it sounds like its going to be one for that sort of girl who is obsessed by them. Decieving thought. Confusing intro, only enlightened in retrospect, but well worth the confusion.
Cherryh, C J.: Cloud's Rider(2): (coming of age/whodunnit)Doesn't quite have the opening impact of the original(Rider at the Gate, see above), although its start is equally confusing; partly as I hadn't read the previous book for some time when I got to this one. Basically it continues directly from the end of the earlier book probably seamlessly. That said the plot is good and the book well written. Now if she could get herself to write more engaging openings she'd be perfect. Hugo award or no.
Cherryh, C J : Tripoint: (coming of age, breaking away from family, intrigue, civil war)She seems to like throwing the reader into a new sensation at the start of her books. This time its slowing down from lightspeed, apparently like a horribly hallucinatory wake up from being tranquillised. This book is fascinating for its study of human distortion of character through rape or so called rape, by parental mistreatment(sp. careless mothers) and the study of transformation by love. However these grand themes are ruined by badly thought out plot arcs. It concentrates on the twisted mother through rape at the start. And then it turns into her son's story with his kidnap by his rapist pirate father, which turns out to be good through meeting girl and falling in love.So you get to the end and the mum's story is never wrapped up. Her rage suddenly mysteriously vanishes. Great for son but leaves you confused. Good but could do with some plot work.
Chilson, Rob & Wu, William F. : Refuge & Perihelion: (escape)The basic characters were interesting - the dying Ariel, the man with no memories 'Derec' (plus side kicks Mandelbrot the robot, and Wolnif the lupine girl) The first story, (Refuge)works well with their hiding out in an overcrowded earth. But somehow the conclusion of the whole story in Perihelion falls flat. This deflation is caused mostly by its solution to the Robotic laws with a cop out - making all robots subject to a human infected with nanotech...somewhat like the Borg in ST. I personally much prefer RM Allen's trilogy about the lawless robot Caliban. As a solution, however it mildly reminds me of Samuel R Delaney's Babel-17, only not as good.
Chown, Marcus & Gribben, John : Reunion: (averting disaster as world crumbles)Interesting but feels like children's fiction, possibly due to youthful protagonists, and lack of romantic tention. But still fascinating. THe moon inhabited thanks to comet created atmosphere and society reverted back to superstitious religious based ways. Earth with similar loss of civilisation but retaining some knowledge thanks to an unexplained artificial intelligence - 'Link'. Good but not great
Collins, Wilkie : No Name: (illegitimacy, inheritance, revenge)Possibly overlong for modern tastes, even I had to put it down and come back once. However over all powerful stuff. Interesting look at illegitimacy.
Cooper, Louise : King's Demon: (self discovery, rebellion against tyranny) Um. Good. The story of a girl with no memory and soul invader parasite and her relationship with her rescuer and/or user is intriguing as you wonder who she should be trusting. Somehow the speeding climax doesn't give that sensation ut the turn around from rescuer to user and back again is well described, but possibly the book's weakness.
Cooper, Louise : Troika: (one of Indigo series, in exile/search plot, fix old mistake) Well written
D
Dart-Thornton, Cecelia: The Ill-Made Mute: (Bitterbynde.1., self discovery, quest for answers) Interesting and intriguing concept of a person whose voice, face and memory have been stolen, not even aware of their own gender. However, while something is made of the barrier of silence in a quasi medieval world, the way in which it is eventually got round (she's taught 'handspeak') seems somewhat miraculously fast. More could have been made of its barrier. Very good all the same.
Dart-Thornton, Cecelia: The Lady of Sorrows: (Bitterbynde.2., self discovery, quest for answers)The book splits into two uneven halves - the first half spent in the world of her erstrwhile amor - Thorn, who turns out to be the king, and the second which deals with her life up till she lost her memory. While Dart-Thornton's book is interesting and you do keep wanting to know what happens next, somehow the style doesn't quite engender the kind of intense desire to read the next line that you feel the story deserves. Perhaps the reason is, Imrien/Rohain is just not captivating enough a character. And while Dart-Thornton's reworking of the the Pied Piper of Hamlyn as her back story is impressive it doesn't have that depth of feeling you somehow expect. Ill-Made Mute was a better book somehow, but while I will be reading the last part as and when it arrives. It will be more for completeness than a desire to read another great book. Her works leave you wanting something more. I haven't quite work out what that 'more' is.
David, P, Friedman, M.J. & Greenberger, R. : STDS9 Wrath of the Prophets: (starfleet battles natural disaster) This really comes off a bit too much as an old story rehashed again, despite reusing the departed STNG character of Rho Lauren with Kira. The truce of a turncoat and former rebel in a big cause (plague *again*) has basically been done to death Star Trek style. If you can stand that it is tolerably written though.
David, Peter : ST New Frontier - The Two Front War: (against the odds...) This seems very much pitched at a younger audience than usual, and although it is different, not necessarily better for it. The crew of odd ball new type characters is mildly intriguing...but the Captain (billed as outrageously rule breaking ' no negociations, you can kill the hostages') is really no different than say Kirk or Janeway, or any of them really... This is only a mildly more extreme version of ST captains. Mainly it suffers from its attempt to follow separate plots relating to separate characters in each chapter. This could have worked in a longer book but in such a short one, it is impossible. Bad as it is, most of its faults could have been mended by extended characterisation and plot elaboration. This feels like barebones, over before it has started.
Delaney, Samuel R.: Babel -17: (spy related codebreaking/whodunnit, self discovery)The whole plot is bound by the theme of languages and how much they tell you about the people who use them, as whole societys and as individuals. Hard plot to define but, at its climax, it blows your mind using a new page layount of text to describe the experience of watching an event through two viewpoints simultaneously. Here it is through the understanding given by two language structures, one more complex and incisive. It never goes where you expect it. Sci - Fi at its best, using future to create a story where that setting is key to the plot not just window dressing. Excellent.
Dick, Phillip K.: A Scanner Darkly: Less obviously futuristic it deals in the strange world not only of undercover agents but drug created schitzophrenia and surrealness of loosing your mind(s). Agent begins to see his 'cover' persona as someone else and becomes suspicious of him. The descent into madness is so powerfully written you almost catch it yourself
Dokey, Cameron : BtVS Here be Monsters: (vampires, cosmic balance and dark powers, what else?) Immortal read like a script for a good episode, poorly written into a book. This is more of a piece bad. It doesn't quite get the dialogue right and it has slightly better description, reading more like a book. It opens well but is not as cohesive as it could be. The latest test of courage to prove the slayer is righteous based on facing your fears nearly made a theme of 'what is fear' is wasted. It becomes a formulaic face your fears, Buffy saves the day, mildly improved by a victim getting to stick in the final knife.
Durgin, Doranna: Wolf Justice: (journey/mystery - who's saboteur) A sequel with some small amount of sequel-itis, and I know 'cause I haven't read the first one, but mainly through curiousity engendered to know particulars. The plot is not particularly harmed by reading alone. Speaking of which it is a bit predictable in places, namely the romance bits, usual falls in love with obvious to everyone else character whom he has ignored for most of the book, but most of the rest is well thought out. Doesn't quite end as I expected if that's saying anything.
E
Eggers, David : A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius: (autobiography- ish)Highly compelling, self mocking, and dark piece of work. Pulls you into his somewhat paranoid and fearful world, where youth and fun clashes with dutuy and fear of more loss. In many ways a very dark book to which the preface and acknowledgements are vital to puncturing this mood and any self consequence he has built up in the text after them.
Elliott, Kate : Child of Flame: (Crown of Stars..,self discovery, quest, war, family rivalry)This is a fabulous book, although it has many seemingly disparate threads(probably not so separate if you've read the series up to this point), you are immediatly compelled and comprehend what is going on. This contrasts with say Jordan's Path of Daggers (also good) but whose disparate threads take a while to get into. Makes me want to go and catch up on the rest of the series!
Elton, Ben : Inconcievable: (comedy? about conception)The question mark says it all...oh dear. in a way predicted only by the critical reaction to 'Beautiful Game' this book is really bad. It has many faults, but the overarching one is this: it isn't funny. Not a smile, not a giggle came anywhere near my lips. I can't guarantee there isn't a glimpse of hope because it drove me so mad I kept skipping sections in the hope of reaching something worthwhile. Stuck in a dual diary mode, the woman sounds whiny and in brief moments like a bad Bridget Jones. The guy is equally annoying although you do vaguely side with him. Even the mockery of the BBC isn't funny, Tom Holt's Flying Dutch does that so much better. Don't. Just don't.
Elton, Ben : This Other Eden: I read this one first and was impressed and surprised. Enjoyable mix of humour, future setting, environmentalists, hollywood and consumerism. Fun plot twists
F
Feintuch, David : Midshipman's Hope: (Pauper to prince, Impossible odds plot, one of series)At opening a bit hard to get into, improves rapidly. Perhaps a little too much navy operation detail but not seriously so. In such detail reminiscent of 'Starship Troopers'(nb author?).
Feist, Raymond E. & Wurst, Janny : Daughter of the Empire(1): (intrigue and winning over impossible struggle against all odds, reach for maturity) I read the last in the series(as usual) first but a long while ago and it didn't spoil the enjoyment. How much the japanese style setting does not ring true is not for me to say. However, taken as it is, fiction, has strong believability. I was much attracted by a female lead who is not a honey trap or impossible Xena-esque kick arse girl, nonetheless fighting for her life through the political system. I found it very hard to put down.
Feist, Raymond E. & Wurst, Janny : Servant of the Empire(2): (intrigue and wininng over impossible struggle against odds, reach for maturity,change in system)The intrigue is upped in complexity and the whole of the system itself begins to come into true question (rather than the previous minor twisting) by means of an otherworld lover's influence. This is a gradual theme built up through the trilogy. Stands alone well, and as a sequel. If it has any faults it is that the obviously western based system is the 'cure all' over the 'evil' faux asian system, ie east versus west.
Fforde, Jason :The Eyre Affair(1): (detective, self discovery) Imagine Tom Holt at his best mixed with Ben Elton upgraded to a classier literary level then chuck the whole image out the window. Fforde plays fast and loose with time, literature, love, laughter and something else beginning with 'L'. It is a fast paced fun filled ride to its conclusion. A detective spoof? Murder Mystery pastiche? I don't know and don't care really either. Very very good.
Fforde, Jason :Lost in a Good Book(2): (detective, self discovery,world in peril rescue)More amusement at the expense of literature and time. Thursday Next is simply an excellent character. Well written. In places its literary allusions fly a little too high for me but mostly this is not of great harm to the plot. Great.
Friedman, Michael Jan : STDS9 Saratoga: (Detective: who's traitor)Well thought out character-wise with fun subplot Quark and Shapeshifter.
Fury, Maggie : Dhiammara: (Artefacts of Power, kidnap, rescue, end of the world, time jumping)This book juggles fairy, shapeshifting horses and mages without seeming too ridiculous. But the relationships between the characters leaves something to be desired. Mainly these are between Aurian the focal figure and her son, and her son's father, who is dead and inhabiting her new lover's body. Probably this is a case of that rampaging disease sequelitis. Possibly had I read the whole series in sequence then I'd 'get' these relationships. Plus, I found myself skimming a lot, always a bad sign.
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Gentle, Mary : Architecture of Desire: (intrigue and self discovery in pseudo medieval England, obsession and guilt)Cover and title gives misleading impression of fantasy trash. Actually very well written with intricate characterisation on which the whole plot is based. Woman as warrior not made an issue out of and well handled.
Gemmel, David: Ravenheart: (Rigante series,rebellion,coming of age, sacrifice)Well written with DG's usual flaire, this time mixing magic with a vaguely scottish scene, and early guns. It may be a bit of an 'oppressed people' fantasy by numbers but it's so good you don't care. Derring do, martyrdom, apartheid and tolerance all powerfully dealt with.
Gemmel, David: Hero in the Shadows: (Waylander series,rescue, quest, adventure, mortality)The waylander saga finishes in fine style. And if they let him tie up every single possible loose ends, I personally cannot begrudge such a fascinating character a neat end, finishing as it does a good story at the end of a series of good stories.
George,David & Shimmerman, Armin: STDS9 34th Rule: (semi whodunnit type plot)Better written than the book version of the dominion war, with a better plot. Saves twist till very end line but solution a bit involved.
Golden, Christopher : BtVS Immortal: (henchman trys to help bigger monster break into our dimension and cause destruction) The very bones of the story is the same old formula. The henchman of the day is reincarnating vamp, and as such is interesting, but basically it reads like a script write up, which looses some of the onscreen verve and pace. However this does pick up towards the end. The character dialogue does work, but isn't always integrated into the text properly.
Goodkind, Terry : Temple of Winds: (Sword of Truth.4.,search/quest, interpretation of prophecy, sins of the father, betrayal and forgiveness)Lacking the later book's interest in faith in the self, protocommunistic ideas and altruism, this is still a powerfully well written episode in the tales of Kahlan and Richard. Well worth the reading, even on its own.
Goodkind, Terry : Soul of Fire: (Sword of Truth.5.,search/quest)Another amazing installment. Interesting to read what built up to Faith of the Fallen.
Goodkind, Terry : Faith of the Fallen: (Sword of Truth.6.,losing and regaining of faith, self discovery) Here a book to disprove the stereotype problems with jumping into a series midway. Unlike with Jordan's Path of Daggers, I could follow and get involved in the characters right away. I knew how I felt about them and was involved in their plot developments. Perhaps it was because it started simply with a few and worked its way outwards bringing back (possibly to those follow the series) other familiar characters. To some perhaps the bad guys who were very communist in some ways- all helping others and individuals as nothing to the group's importance, committees, torturing rebels and grassing up- may have been annoying, but I didn't find it too painful. It was an obvious comparison but not annoying, rather I found it interesting from anonther angle. What if the enemy's cause was actually what we see as 'good' trying to be fair and 'help' people. In a way the book helped me think through some issues surrounding helping the disadvantaged. Well worth a thorough reading, becuase I enjoyed this book too much to write a good review of it.
Gorden, Frances : Blood Ritual: ((anne rice esque vamp book)Not sure how good this is as this genre is not my normal read but it did keep my interest. The blind reporter and nun romance was actually alright. But the author invests much into the vamp heiress - the possessed Catherine and then when she is eventually killed off, drops her as if she were a minor character, in a way that is extremely frustrating and annoying. Plus I'm a bit fed up with the predictably stupid way the nun and reporter decide to go back for photos.
Gray, Julia : Ice Mage . Fire Music: (rebellion against oppression)Two stories of Tiguafaya - a country where magic and volcanos are endemic and one of these is twice under threat of persecution. In the first it is the government, in the second the violent Empire, all the while the island itself must be held together as it falls apart. The writing somehow felt youthful and unfinished, suggesting a new writer. But if these are her firsts, I look forward to the matured style as it is still very compelling.
Green, Simon : Deathstalker War: (quest,rebellion,overthrow) You can see why it got forced into a star wars comp. Overthrowing an evil empire and empress, mixed bunch of rebels etc. But really this is nothing like. There's not just lando's switch and return but a whole gamut, some for what is right, some just for personal survival, meshed in a whole lot more distinctive greys than Star Wars' black and white. Addiction, jealousy, despair, torture and destruction, rage, rape and pillage, manipulation, the list is endless. And it keeps surprising you. Wow. Only sting is its tail which over does rubbing in that it aint over, none too subtley plugging the last book.
Gibson, William : Neuromancer: (a-team style mission, quest)Often confusing and sometimes just hard to follow, this is still very well written and well worth reading. I'm still not quite sure what happened, but then someone had to explain LA Confidential to me too. Soemthing about and artificial intelligence trying to organise its own break out, in order to become more intelligent, but another part trying to stop it. A sort of romance, lots of really disturbed people. Hmmm. Yeah. Good.
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Halperin, James L : The Truth Machine: (what if scenario someone invents a perfect lie detector)The near future as it could be. Stuck with a machine who is meant to be totally impartial as a narrator it does rather well, if starting off slowly. The characters are slightly stilted by the narration but the story pulls you along. What if no-one could lie would it built a better society?
ed. Haining, Peter : Flying Sorcerors: Great anthology with some interesting inclusions, eg Arthur C. Clarke, Roald Dahl and an amazingly Pratchett-like (or rather the other way round) P.G.Wodehouse. My pet favourite has to be Harry Harrison's Golden Years of of Stainless Steel Rat or Cordwainer Smith and the alien ducks.
Haldemann, Joe : Forever Free: (escape, conspiracy, discovery)Hmmmm this book had some great ideas going for it...'time travellers' who only went forward in time by travelling really fast away from earth, for whom time passed slower than for earth, finding themselves lost and outcast. 'Man' a sort of race of clones joined by machinery into a group mind. And they were both wasted. The latter because these normal humans attempt to escape. The former is wasted because it never has time to really be gone into. Instead you have this aborted escape journey and cop out with a 'deux ex machina'... 'Oh by the way, the galaxy was actually an experiment by some godlike thing to see what would happen. We're all lab rats.' You could have lived with that if it had been done better but it wasn't so you didn't. Barely readable, but not really worth the effort.
Hamilton, Laurel K : Anita Blake Series: The Anita Blake series is to me the charting of a woman's gradual coming to terms with morality, not in its black and white terms but in shades of increasingly murky grey, who holds on to one thing, those who hurt her or her friends die, protect them at all costs. In some ways it is very unfortunate that this path has been slightly ruined for me by reading them out of sequence. The quality of the individual books does vary. Personally I find the goings on particularly weak in Lunatic Caf�, while Burnt Offerings, Blue Moon and Obsidian Butterfly are my favourites. Overall they do maintain quite a high standard regardless of its weaknesses, and give one an ever changing picture of a grittier, older, tougher and perhaps more interesting but still buffy-esque character. Keep hounding those bad things Anita. We love you
Hamilton, Laurel K : Guilty Pleasures: (Anita Blake.1., animation in the wrong hands) Not sure what to say as I read this after 5&6, but it makes a strong start with not too many introductions. Compelling reading ...enter the vampire.
Hamilton, Laurel K : Bloody Bones, Killing Dance: (Anita Blake.5&6., conspiracy, love triangle, assassination attempt)READ THESE NOW. I picked these up, expecting a BtVS rip off and was pleasantly surprised. It is a lot darker than Buffy, more adult and if a parallel must be made, I would say its more like Faith, older and good, than the eponymous blond heroine. It exudes a somewhat trashy feel but I can't really pinpoint a thing wrong with it. The heroine caries silver bullet uzis, raises zombies, and dates werewolf and vampire with a dark cynicism. Of the two I thought the second was the better. Its intensity borne of the love triangle coming to a head and the overhanging death threat is compellingly dark and also very sexy. I'm off to read the series from the start.
Hamilton, Laurel K : Blue Moon: (Anita Blake.8., ex boyf. in trouble and out of his turf, demon trouble) Well, christmas is coming and the goose got fat. I wanted to see what happened to Richie boy... and after reading this I think the book needs an 18 rating. Phew! But it's all tasteful, and in its place - sex and violence I mean. Anita Blake just keeps on getting more deadly. Keep writing hamilton, cos I'll keep reading!
Hamilton, Laurel K : A Kiss of Shadows: (Meredith Gentry.1., conspiracy, love triangle, assassination attempt) In some ways Meredith's total confidence and lack of concern about who and what she is, makes a refreshing change coming on the heels of a major Anita Blake Fest. However, my main complaint is that while the Anita Blake's series mixes the supernatural and everyday seamlessly, there is a certain jarring sensation with this mixture of modern setting and faerie mystical things. I would suggest this is inevitable with the kind of magics she wishes to include except that the example of Jan Siegel's Dragon Charmer hovers in front of my eyes when I think it, as countering that arguement. It is not quite as believable somehow. However, this is not an irredemable fault and the book is to be highly recommended, perhaps partly as a light hearted companion to AB, but also in its own right. We shall have to see how the series as a whole evolves.
Harrison, Harry: Galactic Dreams: This anthology is not even in quality, some moments are better than others. At its best the stories are niftiliy written with a sometimes quirky humour. Other times it just falls flat. A bit like reading some collections of early McCaffrey work, except her brilliant bits aren't quite as good as the sparkling bits here. A pet favourite is a robot who becomes facinated with human courtship, courts a woman and breaks his heart when she finds out he's a robot. It's not a large volume so it's worth a quick read if you're in the neighbourhood.
Heinlein, Robert A. : Stranger in a Strange Land: (self discovery,world style redemption)I don't think I dare comment far. One of them masterpiece thingys. Not sure it's meant to be a workable plan for salvation but a wonderful and, in its own way, very moral tale of self discovery and salvation without being santimonious...But maybe that's the inclusion of sex as part of the solution (but not really described for those dodgy geezers out there). I loved Jubal's description of modern art, but other than that nothing is stand alone striking. I'll shut up now, as it speaks for itself.
Herbert, James : Others: (investigation,search for bad guy,recompence)In a word, pulpy. The material for the plot is interesting - an underground trade in 'freaks' - babies born with extreme mutations or deformities, and even the depraved holywood actor reborn as one himself. But it is the latter that actually becomes its massive flaw. It's not so much that he has problems dealing with his deformities but that the author can't decide whether he does or not. Of course if he does it spoils the whole punishment of past life arch. If he doesn't then it's very un PC. So you have got a character who doesn't swing between calm confidence and self acceptance and utter depression as one that has total schitzophrenia along those two paths. You could say he's in denial but basically it is horrendously badly written. Basically it seems to me the author got to excited by the 'real' aspects of the book, researching the freak trade and the Hollywood actor and lost the plot. Literally.
Hickman, Tracey & Weis, Margaret : Mantle of Kendis Dai: (search for home, journey, rescue of gadget)Opens that big debate that is mostly ignored in fiction. Do computers/machines think or have souls? If they believe they have free will does that actually mean they do? It does h ave the odd annoying character mainly Lewis, but still very good. Even if it does use the old chestnut, life started in earth. Also has this fun concept of science and magic being about rules in different parts of the universe, which can change.
Hickman, Tracey & Weis, Margaret : War of the Twins: (Dragon Lance Chronicles.2., struggle against the odds)Pretty good, but no more than pretty good. It seems to me there's a lack of emotional depth, not exactly sure how. Just that the punch seems to have been pulled from the love and conflict of two polar natures of the twins and the parallel odd couple of Raistlin and Crysania. I just came away disatisfied not cliff hanger hungry as was meant. The time loop was also not properly exploited. The theme of fate and avoidance of it could have added some useful depths to it all.
Hobb, Robin : Farseer Trilogy: (coming of Age, court intrigue, good v bad)Powerful stuff. Strongest quality is its intense focus through the eyes of lead character. Of the three perhaps the last, 'Assassin's Quest' is the weakest. Suffers from the major climax at end of Royal Assassin, also exposure of hidden puppeteer. Also possibly the result of the slow start up as hero recovers. Almost seems to move in real time. Must be read.
Hobb, Robin : Fool's Errand: (Tawny Man.1., kidnap/search self discovery, aging, mid life crisis(!) and self rediscovery) I had thought that the Farseer trilogy was the last I'd see of the Fitz character(the last book had ended w. seeming finality); and was about to move on to her Ship series, only to see this and rushed to order it from the library. And it was well worth it: The seeming finality of the previous book, read in the light of this, is transformed into a prophecy of what you see here. Full of nuance and contrasts, how people change and loss of youth. Very very good. Go and Buy it, oh and Robin? Hurry up with the next one already!
Hobb, Robin : Golden Fool: (Tawny Man.2., development/changing of relationships/friendships, re-evaluation)Intriguing book. Technically speaking it is 'filler', nothing of dramatic significance occurs, no big explosive event. And yet this chapter in Fitz' re-evaluation and of himself, his path and his relationship with his closest friend 'the fool/beloved' is nonetheless powerful. It is a similar adjustment period to that found at the start of Assassin's Quest, save that that formed part of the final book and was therefore briefer. I am dying for part three and I must get round to reading the Liveship Trilogy, whose people are becoming more prominent in the life of Fitz. Go read now.
Holder, Nancy & Marriott, Jeff : Unseen: The Burning: This is pretty good actually despite the hype I've heard. It reads like a proper book which considering the presence of holder (Immortal read like a script poorly written up) is a good thing. And it does hold your attention as a story. My problem is just that the characterisation is just faintly off. Mainly with Buffy and Angel. Still pretty darn good for btvs fiction which it seems to me ranges between dire and just bearable.
Holt, Tom : Flying Dutch: (humour, chase, romance) Very original. Lampoons BBC and Insurance/banking as a business v.amusingly. Stylistically reminiscent of Terry Pratchett and Ben Elton. Amusing but not side splitting.
Holt, Tom : Open Sesame: (humour, crossover, mystery)By this one(2nd read for me) sense of the generic much stronger. Use of old fairy tales reinvented with characters with minds of their own much like Robert Asprin's Myth series, with added crossover to 'reality'. However as such is very good and worth reading, if only for talking household appliances.
Holt, Tom : Snow White and the Seven Samurai: (humour, crossover, escape, kids muck up stuff and save it)Its a nice concept certainly : a virtual reality/ operating system with fairy tales and their characters in it, then the program gets corrupted. But it doesn't work, mainly because you aren't laughing. It just feels like someone trying to make a corrupted and about to crash computer funny. The mixing of too many fairy tales is not amusing or the conspiracy theory plot and the characters are mostly annoying. Miles away from even Open Sesame...oh dear.
Horwood, William : Journeys to the Heartland: (The Wolves of Time(.?1.), viewpoint of European/Russian Wolves, search plot) Far darker than any other animal viewpoint story I've read. Strong eco 'humanity destroying everything' riff, but fair enough. Does not dominate storyline. Bizzarrely characters somehow remain wolflike without loosing sympathy.
Horwood, William : Seekers at Wulf Rock: (The Wolves of Time(.?2.), viewpoint of European/Russian Wolves, search plot)Starts badly with the narrator's self explanation. But this should not deter anyone as what follows is of a far higher class. The plots general structure of human self destruction and reversion to simpler ways and shamanism is almost a cliché. However the details with interwoven human and lupine storylines with their counterpart good and evil characters is very well written.
Huxley, Aldous : A Brave New World: Scary, perhaps because it is within the realms of the possible, at least physically. Test tube babies, sleep learning, pavlovian pain/pleasure association training, altered babies, cloning. And disturbing how his fictional society is so hard to argue against. The relief of not wanting anything we can't have. But somehow the gentle comfort of that possibility is also made hollow and dangerously static. A society that cannot be rebuilt if drastic change were to occur. Or the fact that life with the only true joys being drug induced. No way to reach beyond and become greater for fear of sinking far, far lower. The joys and dangers of change and free choice. Like I said, scary.
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Jones, Diane Wyne : Minor Arcana: (collection of shorts + novella) Good, fave one the novella 'True State of Affairs'. Courtly love affair at a distance. Also liked story from cat's viewpoint.
Jones, Jenny : The Edge of Vengence: (second of series, crossover thro' wardrobe plot)Basically old plot but well written in a sort of 'seen through a glass darkly' sense eg not quite perfect ending for heroine. Crossover also handled well. Return to home does not mean revertion to past life, affects it.
Jones, J V : A Man Betrayed: (Book of Words.2., escape, mystery, good v bad, plot, betrayal as theme)Read this second after vol3 (below)and was also very good. Possible similarity to R.Hobb if anyone. Sort of literature style 'rich'.
Jones, J V : Master and Fool: (Book of Words.3., pauper to prince, mystery, good v bad, search plot, betrayal as theme) Very good, some nice twists. Woven in a remarkable way despite standard sounding plot. Themes of betrayal and counter betrayal and hidden dark and light in unexpected places well handled. Must be Read.
Jones, J V : Cavern of Black Ice: (Sword of Shadows.1., growing up, betrayal, self discovery) I loved this, its many interweaving threads, all of which fascinated me, and created an intense need to read more. I have to admit it did make me think of Gemmel's work, particularly the rigante series, but in a very very good way. Good writing with interesting heros and heroines. Read now, I know I will as soon as I can order the next bit.
Jones, J V : Fortress of Grey Ice: (Sword of Shadows.2., growing up, betrayal, self discovery) Reading this second installment I have to admit the women of JV Jones are somewhat more fleshed out than those of Gemmel's similar style rigante novels. In style it reminds me of Tad Williams Otherland series in that it has various characters or character groups whose threads run parallel but as yet do not overlap. Its ending does not quite have the right feel for a series with a book to come, feeling somewhat too final although it is obvious some threads are not finished yet. Still would love to know what comes next!
Jordan, Robert : Path of Daggers: (Wheel of Time.8. war, intrigue, love etc)Well I'd like to say this was a good read but I'm afraid it wasn't. Mainly (mea culpa) because I hadn't read much of the books that come before. Thus I spent a lot of time wondering what was going on and who I was supposed to be rooting for and who I wanted to root for. I was just getting involved in the characters (sp. Rand's girlf and Egwene) when it went and finished on me and I wasn't even sure there was supposed to be further story, but I wanted there to be. Well written but too much a part of a series and not enough stand alone qualities to suit me.
Jordan, Sherryl : The Raging Quiet: (self discovery, breaking barriers, coming of age) I felt a bit guilty picking this up as its categorised(at least in our library) as a 'teen' read. But it was good. It was really some of what I'd been hoping for when I picked up Dart-Thornton's Ill Made Mute trilogy. Its deaf boy and stubbornly 'sod what people think' girl are immediatly interesting protagonists. They are intense, vital, and believable, if less magical. For example the story encompasses a gradual creation of a signlanguage, their communication is not instantaneous and feels more believable because of it. The barrier between deaf and hearing, specially if the deaf has grown up wild with no encouragement to comprehend sound is powerful. If the author goes a bit far giving him some rudimentary speech through seemingly conveniently undescribed methods, one forgives it coming after this delving into sign. While reading the book I didn't really percieve what made it a book aimed at teens, afterwards, it was more obvious. The plot, while not a blunt instrument, is fast paced and not exactly full of subtelty, the characters are both 16 years old and coming to terms with coming of age. The girl's family is "evil". They reject her new 'strange' ways and don't believe her, even though she sacrificed herself for them by marrying a man she wasn't interested in just so they could stay in their house. But still a lovely read that I devoured in one tasty gulp.
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Lackey, Mercedes & Norton, André : Elven Blood: (rebellion, rescue, escape)More fantasy that sounds like it's written for kids. Many interesting often used ideas : horrible parents, oppressive regimes, mixed bloods being specially powerful. Nice to read but while dealing with the personal side is attractive at first, sidelining the conflict ultimatly removes any real impact. There is basically very little upfront confrontation, and while I do find big battles can be dull their removal is combined with little actual sense of suffering or oppression. The most dark and interesting character is very low profile and is dispatched too swiftly when she does get some action. Good in a gentle stereotypical way, but basically flawed.
Lawhead, Steven : Byzantium: (quest/coming of age?)Well written fictionalisation of the life of a saint. However the convertion to atheism, and thus also return to faith seemed a bit wooden. Possibly due to lack of personal experience. But states either side very believable.
Lawhead, Steven : Merlin: (Pendragon.2., quest/coming of age, Just post Roman Merlin)Use of retrospective in ingenius fashion. Seems talking way in future, then seems from mid point of story, then the former again. Magical abilities somewhat sidelined. Strong sense of family, history and politics of situation. Worst point? Merlin is of atlantean descent.
Le Guin, Ursula : Four Ways to Forgiveness: (four shorts: betrayal, love and rebellion in a(n) (ex)slave soc.)Neatness of writing. Three similar plots yet very different characters and motivations. Vivid.
Le Guin, Ursula : The Dispossessed: (Selfdiscovery, politics and culture clashes, rebellion)The idea of a noncapitalist socieity withno government, simply an administration to organise work patterns. Brought up not to 'egoise' or show off, the society lives on the edge of starvation and in poverty but somehow mostly content, except for a rare few. Some feel the pressure of their peers, sometimes a stangnatn force, others are simply loners and some mange to exhert more influence than is right. Sevek escapes to Urras only to find his only home is Annares and he must return, maintinaing his loyalty to his Odonian upbringing and sharing his great discovery that will speed up interstellar travell many tiems not with any single one, but all. Beautiful, evocative. Shevek is very sympathetic. Interesting alternating of Urras(present) and Annarres(past). A very believable compelling human story.
Limb, Sue : More Bad Housekeeping: (eternal trials of)Lacks overall plot senses with climax etc, but as orig. newspaper serial not surprising. Good.
Lindholm, Megan : Wizard of Pidgeons: (self discovery, fear, hiding, self defence) Interesting to read something so very different by the same author, with another pseudonymn to go with it. It's not so much that the writing style is exactly different, they are both very vivid, but set as it is in the modern world, rather than a fantastical past, it is less stylised. You wander with 'wizard' and wonder as he does whether he is insane or if it all and all the magical goings on are real. Is he a homeless street beggar and scrounger or is he something more. The end is a little uneven but basically very very good stuff.
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Mann, Phillip : Burning Forrest: (rebellion, self discovery)This book is a bit of a misfit to me. Its kind of pretty good and fairly bad simultaneosly. it has the feel of children's lit, but it also seems to go too deep for that label. It really muffs the 'what if rome never left britain' thing because you just end up feeling like you've got roman britain with the technology upgraded dramatically. It doesn't feel any different, and doesn't really create evil technology/science v nature and magic and mysticism that it wants to. But on the other hand read as is it has some great characters, and is fun to read, just imagine the future tec isn't and you've got a good book.
Mariott, Jeff :Hollywood Noir: (mob drug conspiracy, w.demons)Well the whole demon drug thing's already been done in Angel in the series, but here again we have the 'two heros' problem...it doesn't quite have this problem as bad as Odom's Revenant but it is there. The other guy is another PI, this time one who died and comes back trying to work out what happened and why he's back...it could be angel mark II except with time travel involved. Even so it's still pretty good (unlike revenant) and the characterisation isn't too bad really.
May, Julian : Galactic Milieu serieses(various): Amazing world created, where total telepathic terrans is the aim in order to join an alien federation. Focuses on one main family. Favourite book is the Magnificat, the end of the series about earth entering the Galactic Milieu through the story of Jack the Bodiless.
May, Julian : The Many Coloured Land: (Saga of the Exiles.1., escape, quest, capture, slavery, romance)While this book is as well written and plotted as the Galactic Milieu series, it lacks a lot of the punch and power and empathy of the other series. I can't exactly pinpoint what exactly is missing. Possibly its the main players of the Galactic Milieu - Jack, Dorotea, Rogi, Marcus were so much more appealing. Possibly it's that the overall futility of the whole set up. The whole prehistoric world with its alien oppressors and timetravelling oppressed is, one knows from reading the Milieu series, doomed. This point is the basic plot of the whole book. Depressing. No-one truly wins even after a huge war. Interesting additional detail but possibly not very enthralling unless one is planning to inject a few of the entertaining remilliard clan in the future.
May, Julian : The Golden Torc: (Saga of the Exiles.2., escape, quest, capture, slavery, romance) It has many of the faults of the previous book but still a reasonable read, if not milieu trilogy quality. have this feeling I'm continuing to read the series for completeness with the other rather than just pure enjoyment and entertainment. I will have to see how I feel once I've got through to the end of the final part of the trilogy, which will hopefully include the milieu rebels. Fingers crossed.
May, Julian : Perseus Spur: (Rampant Worlds.1. quest, search self discovery, family rift healing/black sheep welcomed back to the fold to fight new evil, conspiracy and corruption)I have to say I was severely disappointed by this outing by May. While I had not been all too impressed by the Exiles saga it had at least had some quality in its writing that gave it something, not much but still something. This is quite entertaining but it is not at all in the same league. The characters are less delicately sketched and the romance of the lead man and his leading lady is somewhat ludicrously undersketched. She starts out skeptical of him and after a few shocks of finding his cynicism right and a little dange falls into his arms. It just doesn't work. I feel no sympathy and no interest for any of the characters. It was a struggle to actually finish it. Even the aliens weren't that interesting. Not worthy of the author of the Galactic Milieu series.
McCaffrey, Anne : Skies of Pern: (quest, rethinking, conflict in the face of disaster)Somehow a new Pern book has this irresistable pull. In the library I saw this latest installment and despite my awareness of McCaffrey's sometimes patchy quality, I came home with it. As with all her books it wasn't the pits but there is a sense in which this book feels she is scraping the barrel a bit, dragging the series out further than she really has the vision for it. The climactic impact of the meteorite is all well and good but the story drags on too long afterwards. It is nice to have this last installment in that it ties up the loose ends - ie what role will the dragons have in a thread-free pern, but I personally think this was a short story stretched to a novel's length. Not the worst thing I've ever read, it is still easy to read and a reasonable page turner. But it does not match her earlier writings, such as Sassinak, Death of Sleep, her earlier telepath books or the crystal singer series.
McCaffrey, Anne: On the whole it is best to say that this is not exactly high literature but generally gentle slighty romantic sci fi and fantasy. My favourites have to be Talent, Treaty, PTB and the ubiquitous Pern. Her writing is not really very even in quality and there is a sense, the more I read, that this is getting to be a commercially motivated dragging out of a source running dry. Eg the Acorna series. However the Botany series which I've only read one as yet seems to at least have the advantage of an interesting conspiracy style plot, if not up to the written standard of other works.
McCaffrey, Anne & Nye, Jody Lynn:Death of Sleep: (Planet Pirates.2.'to sleep, perchance to dream', quest,romance,etc)For a co-McCaffrey book this is pretty impressive. It shows what she really is worth at her best, with a bit of help. We follow our heroine through the ruin of her life interrupted by planet pirates forcing her into cryo sleep. In so doing the book takes the theme of the disjointedness of sleep. How, on waking one is sure that no time has passed but time has passed, as we find out walking about, and integrates it in a very unMcCaffrey way. It is an adult book, one that uncovers very human loneliness without cutseyness. Sadly the other two parts of the trilogy, co-written with a different author are not as good. Sassinak matches up the least badly, but a brief headway into the last of the trilogy - Generation Warriors - looks even worse. A glimmer of greatness, then, the question is, whose.
Merlis, Mark :Pyrrhus: (destiny/self discovery) Taking a minor part of the Troy myth and recreating it in a modern setting is tricky, and this one just about pulls it off. Taking up the theme of homosexuality and modern attitudes to it. It uses the mythological emphasis on destiny to contrast the idea of heterosexuality as destiny or nature versus personal choices and actual inclinations. As a classisit I find the removal of the ending I learnt about annoying, but myths often have variants, a point the author mentions in his achknowledgements. Personally there is only one moment I don't think is well done. The pivotal end point when Pyrrhus rejects fate should have been dwelt on more seriously instead of running past in 'real time' and moving quickly onto the epilogue. Still very well written, if at times a little too graphic in its homosexual sex depiction for my hetero sensibilities.
Moon, Elizabeth : Serrano Legacy Series: (Serrano Legacy.4., self discovery, corruption, rejuvination, immortality)As a whole the series is most definatly fun and definitely gives a very believable depiction of women as soldiers. What it lacks is the efficiency, drive, and, dare I say it, violence of say the 'Midshipman's Hope' series. It does sometimes seem likea badly rewritten version of that series for girls. Nevertheless it's not a complete disaster by any stretch of the imagination and is still well worth reading even if it is lighter reading than you'd really hoped for.
Moon, Elizabeth : Once a Hero: (Serrano Legacy.4., self discovery, dealing with family expectations)The first three books featured Herris Serrano a rather older character, this brings in new younger blood -Ezmay Suiza. Enter the second hero of the series. In some ways Ezmay is similar to Herris - burdened by family expectations and experiences that she needs to battle against to find herself and her confidence. Rather than a courtmartial for an offence she didn't commit Ezmay battles with the experience of rape and betraying denial of it by her family. Intriguing and fun. A bit too much technical jargon which I floated over/skim read but otherwise a lot of fun. The ending is not handled amazingly well They finish off the battle and get Esmay to psych out the enemy. But instead of ending it there at the right point narratively speaking, they keep going tying up both the romantic loose ends and the award ceremony. A bit too completist for my liking. But all the same good fun.
Moon, Elizabeth : Against the Odds: (Serrano Legacy.7., self discovery, trials and tribs of romance, corruption, spies and who's the enemy) The series ends with a bang! And finally the sometimes dull th reads that in the previous book (6, A Change of Command) seemed mainly dull, begin to make some sense. Better written than A Change of Command but not perfect.
Morwood, Peter :Prince Ivan: (start of series, 'grail' quest) This may be totally derivative, fictionalisation but I can't tell cos I'm not into russian folktale. Well written, action packed, fun characters, slightly topsy turvy stereotypes. This last is temporary, from starting with a heroine on equal terms with the hero, she ends up needing rescue by performance of 'labours'. Fun.
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Naylor, Grant : Red Dwarf/ Better than Life: Found this almost better than watching the TV sitcom, of which I am not I must admit a watcher. Characters seem slightly different to as on TV. Explained stuff I didn't know eg Cat's origins. Fun to see original script.
Niven, Larry : Ringworld Throne: (self discovery, escape, conspiracy, save the world)As with the other book I read in this series I'm not really quite sure what's going on, mainly the fault of not reading my way through the series. But even so fascinating gives a real sense of otherness, the alien while still human and fascinating futuristic mechanical contrivance. At its heart it is still basically a conspiracy type novel. Very good.
Niven, Larry : Rainbow Mars: (time travel, altering the past altering the future, mars) A delight of a book. I've seen Mars in various guises from Robinson's Red/Green/Blue Mars with its political and eco themes, as a goal in Baxter's Voyage and in other books I fail to recall the titles of. Somehow when I think of this one it really doesn't seem to be the key focus. Niven has taken on the timetravel concept and had some fun with it, borrowed other people's martians and let go. In some ways its innocence makes it seem a child's book but that is not a negative thing. A fun and enjoyable read, it doesn't really go back over any ground covered by previous 'mars' books. Get!
Norton, André : Mark of the Cat: (pauper to prince/coming of age plot, reluctant hero undiscovered skills. Budding series?) Well written. Nearly escapes that old chestnut, the character who knows everything.
Nylund, Eric :Pawn's Dream: (crossover, quest/journey, self discovery) Fab. Ordinary Joe finds out about self and is gradually drawn into a back stabbing conspiracy-ridden conflict of similarly magical types. His struggle from pawn/puppet to active party. V.good, fascinating.
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Odom, Mel :BtVSRevenant: (new oriental bad guys, and bad spirits in town trying to takeover) It just about kept me reading but that doesn't make it good. Only Willow's character came of with much feeling in it. The book read like someone who'd been handed a BtVS crib sheet but who had no feeling for it and had never watched a single show. Xander was a particularly bad example. Falling for or drooling over mysterious vengence woman was logical but turning it into a romance with her interested in him too was just ridiculous. None of it had any really feeling other than a story about something else with BtVS characters slotted in. Don't read.
Odom, Mel :BtVSRevenant: (changelings and elves/faeries as bad guys of week)Slightly better than Revenant, at least you don't feel like Buffy characters are a total add on. Readable, just about
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Ed. Palmieri, Marco : Lives of Dax: (living and dying as a symbiotic creature) Just occurs to me, dax and the trill are sort of a pseudo scientific/star trekkian version of reincarnation. How amusing. Anyway actually pretty good. A nice anthology of stories about Dax's varied hosts and an insight into the 'latest' one, Ezri. Gives some interesting detail to the concept behind the trill joined species... Good but perhaps more for a ST fan who wants well written background.
Pasarella, Don :Avatar: (Angel the series.a demon is stalking singles on the internet)The perfect antidote to Odom's Revenant, it was great. It read like a good episode but still felt like a book. Characterisation was good and if the dialogue was occasionally a little off (Angel was a bit too wordy in places) it was fun. The demon was also interesting, being able to appear like your heart's desire allowed for some well thought play on Cordelia and Doyle as well as Angel's pine -ing love for the buffster.
Pascal, Francine :Fearless series: If I felt guilt about reading Raging Quiet, having sat down to read this series, that feels like just the tip of the iceberg. Pascal I was not aware of personally as a name, but when I looked more generally at teen fiction I realised I had always been aware of her work - the Sweet Valley High serieses. And then I felt incredibly guilty. I mean I have some taste and even as a teen I never touched any of the SVH stuff. It was beneath me. Well having never read any I can't tell if I was doing her a disservice there, but if this series is anything to go by I was doing her a disservice as an author, generally in forswearing her. I'm not say Fearless is a series of great subtlety or anything like that. But what it is is a perfect teen series. It has all the those quintessenstially teenage things: The sense of inadequacy, the dreams of being a superhero(although maybe that was just me,) acted out here by our more than natural female lead, the intense emotions, the evil parents (here foster parents), absentee dad(real one) the evil stepmum(the foster mum), the conspiracies (her dad is a spy, her uncle is watching her and hoping to use her as a weapon), the pop culture references (sixth sense), the fast paced plot and brief segments. It's all so teenage it's delightful. It makes no pretences, and has no softer edges. As I have long left teendom there is some nostalgia in reading something like that. Not a wish to do those things again, but certainly a reminscence and sadness that cannot be present to a younger reader. OK so it's trash but it's very very good trash. Or so trashy it's good.
Perrin, Don and Weis, Margaret : Hung Out: (One of series semi detective/spy/A-team plot)Well written although not with a literary style. Actionpacked. Well thought out chapter quotes.
Perry, Anne :Tathea: (quest, journey of self discovery and trial-both physical and mental) When I try to describe this book, the first word that comes to mind is 'sweet'. Not particularly auspicious you might think, but it is well worth reading. It is very inspirational but its evangelical side can be a bit disconcerting, almost naif sounding. This naivete in fact is there tonally throughout the work, making it feel like an old fashioned fairytale. It is not sickly sweet and there is hardship for the lead character, although little direct violence happens to her personally. Well worth reading.
Preuss, Paul : Venus Prime 2: (self discovery, quest/mystery, aliens conspiracy)The heroine, sparta is somewhat like the tv series charachter 'dark angel'. Secret training in childhood. Except she's only supposed to be supertrained and altered physically, not genetically altered. She tries to find the organisation that made her. Characterisation isn't too bad but the plot...lacks something. Fun but not exactly good quality.
Pullman, Phillip :Northern Lights: (Dark Materials.1.,quest, one against the world, saving the world)I'd been advised to read this by several people as being really good. So I gave in. I love the character of Lyra and the plot is also interesting, as is the somehow victorian feel about the writing. It feels like Harry Potter a LITTLE in that the protagonist is a child with abilities she doesn't know about and a family that isn't very close and of course magic of various sorts. Ultimately it surpasses them. The underlying resonance is more adult, dark and subtle. A good book.
Pullman, Phillip :The Subtle Knife: (Dark Materials.2.,quest, one against the world, saving the world)It has to be said it's a slightly unusual experience for me to read a series in order. I do try and mostly manage it but I do quite often read out of sequence. Thus it's nice to have the smooth progression that is found here between volumes one and two. This second installment somehow manages to continue the victorian feel as we enter our own world, where human beings don't all have their own daemons and Will soon to be bearer of said knife lives. The thing I find most frustrating is the question as to whether Lyra's father Lord Asriel is doing a good or bad thing in aiming to attack God. In the book it is gradually set out as a great thing. But perhaps in my biased view as a catholic 1. nothing can harm god no matter how sharp, god has no substance, 2.I really can't see that deposing god is really a good idea. The book gives no impression that god himself(that of the book I mean, not necessarily 'god') is particularly evil. Rather one gets the sense of their 'church' as the evil. In which case would it not be better to destroy that? It is puzzling. We'll have to see how it all turns out. And d'you know? I'm really quite dying to find out. Worth picking up.
Pullman, Phillip :The Amber Spyglass: (Dark Materials.2.,quest, one against the world, saving the world) Interesting finish, and yet, I found the double ending(first Lyra's parents save the day by violence, then Lyra and Will save the world through love) just about tolerable. But to then add on a further ending 'choose between the eventual destruction of worlds and seeing each other again' and being obliged to teach everyone to be more loving was just annoying. Perhaps there was no perfect way to end it but somehow that felt twee, and an imperfect fit and frustrating - do we really need three endings? It held your attention and it was a good read. But not quite as good as the earlier books.
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Rawn, Melanie : Star Scroll: (Dragon Prince.2.,intrigue and sorcery)Read this middle one after the first and last(below) which kind of destroyed the climax building thing and made the focus more the characters development(climax was pretty loose anyway). Hidden wranglings stopped and all that. Suffers a bit from sequelitis but on the whole good. Ditto trilogy as a whole.
Rawn, Melanie : Sunrunner's Fire: (Dragon Prince.3., intrigue and sorcery)I read the Dragon Prince a long while back and possibly this as well, but I didn't regret the repeat show. The whole concept of magic based on light is fun as is the complex political wranglings and struggle for power. Enjoyable characters I guess as much as anything, may leave you with a phobia about mirrors tho'.
Reichert, Mickey Zucker: Prince of Demons: (Renshai Chronicles.2.,end of world, self discovery, quest)Not content with bringing to life my favourite daydream : a people utterly dedicated to fighting (male and females) in the Renshai and invorgating and fictionalising nordic myth and elaborating it Reichert creates the perfect sequel. Sequelitis is not at all destructive, and stands alone really well, much as his other renshai novels do. Nuff said.
Reichert, Mickey Zucker: Children of Wrath: (Renshai Chronicles.3.,end of world, self discovery, quest)Somehow great and bad all at once. the bits on mortal ground Tae/Kevral/Ra-khir and so forth have a somewhat stale feel. Most of this ground has been covered, so, when Kevral gives up her baby, you feel nothing and suspect she'll get it back anyway. Still even this section has its moments, mainly during the testing ground event. On the immortal plain there is still a lot of juice in the old bird, although Colbey's stubborness is a bit of a cliché. The climax fight with Odin is messily written, much like the haphazard tying up of loose ends. Still a good work, but other volumes of the series have gone down better.
Robbins, Tom : Still Life with Woodpecker: Has similarly surreal style to Vonnegurt. Although kept my attention I can't say I really enjoyed it. Makes big play of outlaw as ultimate rebel concept but focuses on bumbling girlfriend of said outlaw. Thus when she gets what I felt was a rather raw deal the plot lost my sympathy and interest. Fun concept of Red heads as aliens or caused by sugar and lust amusing tho'.
Robinson, Kim Stanley: Ice Henge: (conspiracy, rebellion, discovery) Government cover-up and forgetful humans with extended lives combine to create a mystery of a rebellion and a dream of escaping the solar system. Beautiful, leads you in circles and weaves through three different intertwining lives. Well written. Based on Robinson's pet landscape - Mars.
Robinson, Kim Stanley: Short Sharp Shock: (self discovery, quest)Not sure you can categorise this. Small and perfectly formed, it's a bit like an extended dream. It deals with the journey of the memory-less 'Thel' and his equally past-less companion known only as 'the swimmer' as they survive and journey onwards. Surreal but fascinating, it doesn't quite end. You need a bit of time to take it in
Rohan, Michael Scott : Anvil of Ice: (Winter of the World.1., coming of age, good v bad)Good, and although I read it last, well worth it. It has the feel of a prequel in that it is looser and simpler, perhaps relflecting the lead's youth. Good but not necessarily the best of the series. Makes greater sense as beginning of the sequence than standing alone. Very good. As a series overview I have to say it is impressive, if not a stunning climactic as say, May's Galactic Milieu trilogy.
Rohan, Michael Scott : The Forge in the Forest: (Winter of the World.2., struggle against impossible odds, journey/quest)I found the umpteen layers of titles a bit annoying, but other than that hard to fault. I managed to follow it easily despite having missed part one, but does have slight sequelitis. The theme of immortality but at a cost has been done before(eg Gulliver's Travels) but was still fresh here. Perhaps a tad on the generic side but when it comes down to it a v.good read. Will have to see if makes finer sense as a whole series.
Rohan, Michael Scott : The Hammer of the Sun: (Winter of the World.3., love soured/sacrificed, journey/quest, escape, struggle against impossible odds/good v bad/end of world thingy, self discovery)After climatic ending of last was hard to see continuation, but does so, through catalyst of what was side event of last book, romance thing. Yet another disappointment ahead, 'golden homeland' not so golden. Was especially impressed tho' with ending which was not 'total destruction of bad guys, happily ever after'. Interesting god('power') become man end bit of hero - humanist take on jesus theme?
Rowling, J.K. : Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: (self discovery, mystery, conspiracy) Of all the complaints one myight contrive agoinst theis much adored book, the most major is this : too many ghosts. Rowling's work treads ground utterly worn down with storeis about children in schools, boarding or otherwise, and even a few including magic. Bit in the analysis, it is actually not only well writen but also not without subtlety. The popening with the "muggles" relations refusing to face the magical inheritance of their family is very delicate. I was also impressed by Shapes the obvious villain who isn't one. My main grump was Hermione, the obsessively nerdy and irritating girl who ends up being part of the gang. But then boys of that age aren't exactly PC either. I did think it was good but it does not really rise to that magical status of category defying kids lit. It is still a children's book. But still very good.
Rusch, Kristine Catherine : Changeling: (The Fey.?., murder mystery, rebellion, conspiracy) Its basics are over-used enough to make one unmeritably suspicious: a murdered king, an uneasy alliance, fairies as bad guys. There is nothing obvious to shout about except it is so very well written, paced and neatly characterised. Well worth it.
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Sampson, Fay : Star Dancer: Gorgeous, not least for seeing a living version of fragmentary summerican myths I had had to study. It focusses on Inanna the spoilt child goddess and her mortal champion Gilgamesh. Its downside is that neither character is truly attractive, being as they are very self obsessed. Still very good.
Savage, Alan : Ottoman: More semi history than fantasy. Follows soldiering Hawkwood family through generations and allegiences)Moves smoothly thro' generations. Enthralling, also at a historical level, dealing as it does mostly with the far end of the med during the time of Henry VIII.
Siegel, Jan : Dragon Charmer: (whos villain, plot to take over thwarting, quest)Delicious murky disturbing fiction slipping myth and magical occurances into the modern world with very little jarring. While women writing fiction with dragons can often be poor, the dragon itself is somewhat lowkey and not laboured much over, following the twists and turns of the subtler human interaction. The plot remains low key in tone and thus its big climax is not really spectacular, but perhaps more interesting for being so.
Smith, Cordwainer : The Rediscovery of Man: (sf masterworks series, collection of shorts) Wow. Creates a world you are dying to learn about and never quite come to the end of. Beautiful anthology that keeps creating more intriguing questions, by not explaining everything. Truly a master.
Spedding, Alison : Cloud over Water: (Grief and its aftermath, war)If one tolerates the total disregard for anything resembling Alexander the Great's time period, setting-wise (OK, so I'm a classics freak so kill me), rather good. However not really sure it merits the descrip 'subversive'. So it has a female bisexual general, no real sense of distorted or questioning of reality or morals. Also ending a bit abrupt. Like this one ;-)
Spedding, Alison : Streets of the City: (Grief and its aftermath, war)Yet again the supposedly subversive meaning lesbian/bisexaul female lead. Well written all the same although it is never clear what the main character's motivations are, possibly grasping power for fear of those who would misuse it. Reaching the goal and then you loose momentum and interest. Totally anachronistic but fun.
Stapledon, Olaf : Star Maker: (sf masterworks series, self?discovery, journey) Increadible in its scope, beyond a fiction history of the universe as we know it, beyond the multiple creations' end, to the reaching to the divine star maker, the plan of that great creator. If I do not like all his 'conclusions' (I can't see God as having a development from immaturity to maturity). In this work fumbling becomes an asset, confusion a key, rather than an irritation. It leads out of its early start feeling like a space biology catalogue to the spiritual journey of beings to enlightenment. Another great.
Sterling, Bruce : Distraction: (political farce, self discovery) You never laugh but still highly amusing, well written and intelligent. A look at the mess we may be in, in future times. Sci fi without any jargon to get lost in, scientific, or political. Read now.
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Taylor, Jeri : Pathways: (kidnap/trap, escape, sharing stories)This set of background stories to the crew of most of voyager bound together by their entrapment in a prisoner of war camp is surprisingly good. It is a little contrived to get all the stories out but despite this manages to read well both in the personal accounts and in the bridging story around it. Actually worth reading, but perhaps more if you're a ST fan than not, despite the good writing.
Taylor, Jeri : Mosaic: (trapped, mysterious ancient race w. deadly secrets, memories, romance, growing up) Read so shortly after Pathways(above), comparison was inevitable. Here the interludes of backstory are a little more seamless, but at the same time doesn't enlighten us that much. The stories were nice in a that was where she came from, that's who Mark is sort of way. Neither story (the 'present' plot and 'past' sub plot) managed to really interest me enough. The captain's table one about her was much more interesting attepmt at the same idea. Still reasonably readable, if only for the insectoid, and less insectoid 'angel' species.
Taylor, Roger : Caddoran: (escape/chase,rebellion) This was an amazingly good read...considering it doesn't have a punchy climax. You keep wondering if you've missed book 1 but somehow in the end you don't mind. It's a small people's story, haunted and hunted by an evil man's terrible dream and then the smallest victim takes him out. Cool.
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Vonnegurt, Kurt : Jailbird: (mystery, self?discovery, journey) Intriguing the mix of real and unreal. water gate and all these invented character's lives. This time within the realms of possible. It is written in a more continuous less disjointed style that chracterises other works but still very much idiosyncratic. It has his own sense of mood, progression, and plot development. Somehow delicate and beautiful.
Vonnegurt, Kurt : Sirens of Titan: V cool, but stylistically somewhat like Cordwainer Smith. Humourous as well.
Vonnegurt, Kurt : Slapstick/Lonesome No More: Abrupt broken sections style of writing starts of disconcerting. But, once accepted story more the focus. Interesting ideas creation of fake extended families as a combat to problems of poverty etc via official middle name plus a number.
Vonnegurt, Kurt : Slaughterhouse 5: (Dresden and that war thing, timelost adventures of guy during)Clever, mainly focussing on concept of momentary nature of time but also about sense of what the war was like, in an obscure way.
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Warrington, Freda : The Amber Citadel: (Jewelfire trilogy.1. search, conflict, self discovery, romance) When I read this book, the name sounded familiar, now writing this review and seeing I have read her work previously I am even more disappointed by the book than I was before. Sorrow's Light was a powerful book, beside it, this seems just...clumsy. There is so much of interest in this book, and yet is spoiled by poor dialogue and romantic plotting surrounding its heroine Tanthe and her paramour Rufryd. This romance goes through various mistakes from being overly obvious and cliched(hate each other, then fall in love), falling too rapidly for other people. It all seems totally artificial. I don't like to concentrate on a romance when there are interesting stories surrounding them, but this one was so lumpen it was painful, never quite ringing true. Tanthe's crush and eventual envolvement with the playwright Saphaeyender sort of works but makes no real sense. Please also note some badly written sex scenes.
Warrington, Freda : Sorrow's Light: (rebellion, self discovery/improvement, journey)Has all the stereotypes but somehow surpasses them all: Oppressive religious society, wilful daughter out to rebel. The power of it is partly to be seen in retrospective after readnig. Iolithie's journey to discovery for herself and her world moves you despite odd lapses and a faintly irritating rebel without a cause. And when she recreates herself they take the unexpected path, they hand the recreation of her constrictive world to someone else - her husband. Perhaps its key is her husband. His obsessive compulsive disorder, is the catalyst for her journey in search of a cure. Perhaps his ocd is a metaphor for the obsessive ritual without meaning of her society.
Welsh, Jane : Bard of Castaguard: (Book of Ord.2., journey, quest)Well written in a general sense but plot suffers from sequelitis. It doesn't build to a climax and ends badly. It has all the elements but doesn't pull it off. Plus, it has not one but two irritating childlike characters.
Williams, Tad : The Dragonbone Chair: (Memory,Sorrow & Thorn.1., rivalry, escape, search, growing up)Having read no 2 I spent most of this thinking 'ahh that explains a lot'. In its own right it is also fascinating specially the growth of Simon from child to man. Eyes widened to amazing new horizons that are never as you expect, people who are not what they seem ...probably cliched but still retaining freshness here.
Williams, Tad : Stone of Farewell: (Memory,Sorrow & Thorn.2., search)Well written but doesn't really have standalone quality as no actual climax, just cliff hanger. However details intriguing and seems worth pursuing.
Williams, Tad : City of Golden Shadow, River of Blue Fire: (Overland.1&2., kidnap and search, conspiracy)Not content with great fantasy, Williams creates a great and frustrating series about a superreal virtual reality and multiple storylines that interweave around it, inside it and in the real world. You can get a little lost in all the complexity of interweaving groups. The most frustrating part of this is when you have to work your way through a 'meanwhile' section when you want to follow one particular set of people. Other than that irritation is really that they finish in such a cliff hanger way.
Williams, Tad : Mountain of Black Glass: (Overland.3., kidnap and search, conspiracy)Well, I got to the end of this only to go aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!. These cliff hangers are really getting to me. The author has confessed it should really be one impossibly large book but it's still not fair. It starts out the worst of any so far with Florimel's declamation of back history but improves rapidly back to normal standards. It also creates new threads as old ones are killed off. Powerfull but I really wish I was reading the impossibly huge book. I guess I'll just have to wait.
Williams, Tad : Sea of Silver Light: (Overland.4., kidnap and search, conspiracy)An amazing final volume that continues to keep you on edge and a finale that keeps surprising you. Williams, as always packs in enough plot lines and detail to fill several good books and still balances and intertwines them perfectly. Never a dull moment. Each volume has kept up the standard (excepting one brief moment at the start of no3). For some the perfection of neatly tied loose ends may be a flaw but with a book this complex it needed the closure. Unregrettable read.
White, James : Star Healer: Medicine cum vetinarary practises in space with extraterestrials. I guess it's really like a hospital soap set in the future but somehow I just enjoy it anyway. The writing in descrip. and charact. is quite strong, which is perhaps part of the reason. So long as you are not expecting an real substance of plot well worth reading.
Wolverton, Dave : Beyond the Gate: (Golden Queen.2., escape, rescue, destroy corruption)For someone whose supposed great achievement is Princess Leia's Courtship, this is surprisingly good. But then I haven't read the said book, so maybe I shouldn't be judgemental. Fll of fascinating tension and plot development. For a sequel it stands well alone. And having read it I'm kind of planning to read the rest.
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Last updated 21:34 07/12/02