Well written and well read, this is a fine story. While it is not entirely unpredictable, the author leads us through the tale like an extremely profi...moreWell written and well read, this is a fine story. While it is not entirely unpredictable, the author leads us through the tale like an extremely proficient tour guide. And while we may anticipate where the tour is taking us, the journey there is a wondrous experience.
I am looking forward to the release of Book 4.(less)
Though I still question why the story of the Heavenfield is presented as three (soon to be four) separate books, it is an engaging tale. The author ha...moreThough I still question why the story of the Heavenfield is presented as three (soon to be four) separate books, it is an engaging tale. The author has a decent way of leading the reader down his chosen path without revealing too much of the story in advance. There are still areas that have not yet been explained, and I am intrigued enough to continue on with the the books - and that is a major characteristic of a good tale.(less)
This was an excellent podiobook. It was a straight read, with minimal sound effects and no voice actors other than the author. My only dissappointment...moreThis was an excellent podiobook. It was a straight read, with minimal sound effects and no voice actors other than the author. My only dissappointment is that book one isn't really a standalone book as I had thought, but rather an introduction to the story.
The sound quality was good, and the author's voice was pleasant to listen to. I am off to listen to Book Two.(less)
If you're a fan of the Eve Dallas "In Death" books, this one is a must-read. While many in the series are good books, very few of them have impacted m...moreIf you're a fan of the Eve Dallas "In Death" books, this one is a must-read. While many in the series are good books, very few of them have impacted me the way this one did.
I've been told over and over again that I should give this series a shot, since I do have a real affinity for urban fantasy, and Butcher is supposed t...moreI've been told over and over again that I should give this series a shot, since I do have a real affinity for urban fantasy, and Butcher is supposed to be one of the precursors into that genre.
Well, all I can say is that I'm glad that I listened. This was a great deal of fun, and a good introduction to a character that I'm already planning to follow.(less)
Wow. I hesitated to read this book at all. You see, I am about to publish my own post apocalyptic novel in a similar vein, and didn't want anyone to t...moreWow. I hesitated to read this book at all. You see, I am about to publish my own post apocalyptic novel in a similar vein, and didn't want anyone to think I had in any way been influenced by another work. As I approached the final editing phase on my book though, my editor suggested that I should read "One Second After".
As I began to read it, I was a little worried. Forstchen's developement of the EMP and its afteraffects was very similar to what I had researched and written, and the more I read, the more I feared that whether or not I had read his book, people were bound to see similarities. Eventually I realized that any writer who researched the actual effects of an EMP on our electronic infrastructure would come to the same conclusions, and I began to relax.
As I read more, I began to tense up again - though this time for a completely different reason. William Forstchen is a passionate writer, who has given us a frighteningly realistic look at the aftermath of an EMP strike on our civilization. The author draws the reader into his dark, and often heart-wrenching, tale of one community's struggle for survival. I found myself at times shuddering, and at others choking up, at the sacrifices made by these characters.
Extremely well written! Anyone interested in thought-provoking fiction that is only a few steps removed from reality, do yourselves a favor and buy this book. Then think about it... a lot.(less)
It's been a long time since I read any military SF, but this was the right one to jump back in with. The author has a real gift for writing fast-paced...moreIt's been a long time since I read any military SF, but this was the right one to jump back in with. The author has a real gift for writing fast-paced action scenes, and moves the plot along at such break-neck speed that you are almost startled when you reach the end.
**spoiler alert** As indicated in the blurb, this novella is set in Lowell's fascinating "Golden Age of the Solar Clipper" universe. And as always, he...more**spoiler alert** As indicated in the blurb, this novella is set in Lowell's fascinating "Golden Age of the Solar Clipper" universe. And as always, he delivers a wonderful story. I've been a fan of his for a few years now, have listened to all of the Trader's Tales books (more than once), and have read the Kindle versions of those that are currently available. I've also listened to the audio versions of "South Coast" and "Ravenwood", as well as some of the other works he has voiced - so as such, my review may be viewed as a bit slanted (though I would point out that if it weren't for his talent, I would NOT be a fan - so how's that for circular logic?). As such, I jumped in with both feet when I learned of this novella, and was NOT disappointed.
To do a proper review, I suppose I have to release at least one spoiler, so if you're the type of reader that doesn't want to know anything at all about the story, then stop reading now.
Still here? :)
All right, you have been warned.
"A Light in the Dark" is the story of the origin of Odin's Outpost, a place briefly (and tantalizingly) mentioned in the one of the Trader's Tales novels. I'm embarrassed to admit I don't remember which one, but I recalled the reference, and was happy to find this follow-up. As with all of Lowell's writing, the setting is well described, characters are well developed (especially for a novella - where space is limited), and the prose in general is quite well done. As I said, the man is a very talented writer.
My only criticism at all is there were a couple of places where the editing fell through and pulled me briefly out of the story. However, now that I try to remember where this occurred, I can't for the life of me do so. Obviously, it wasn't all that jarring, eh?
For readers who are interested in a further exploration of the universe that helped shape Ishmael Wang, or those who want to dip a tentative toe in to see what all the fuss is about - I heartily recommend "A Light in the Dark". I consider it 99 cents well spent.(less)
I don't often have time for the typical fantasy novel. This one however, was pretty atypical. In point of fact, it read more as a mystery novel that h...moreI don't often have time for the typical fantasy novel. This one however, was pretty atypical. In point of fact, it read more as a mystery novel that happened to take place in a fantasy setting, than as a typical fantasy. Yes, there was a little magic, and there were references to elves and dwarves, but for the most part it was a murder mystery that gradually progressed into an action adventure.
Additionally, the audio book was greatly enhanced by the vocal talents of Nathan Lowell. All in all, well worth the time.(less)
This review is for the Kindle version of Full Share. -- Full Share is Lowell's best yet. While I have already enjoyed it in the audiobook version, I w...moreThis review is for the Kindle version of Full Share. -- Full Share is Lowell's best yet. While I have already enjoyed it in the audiobook version, I was tickled to find it was out in ebook format and grabbed it as soon as I found out. This verion is both better and worse than the audio version; better because the written version allows the reader to use more of his own imagination in visualizing the worlds the author has created; worse because you see some of the editing mistakes made in the book.
Because of that, I was momentarily torn in my rating decision, not sure whether to give it a four or five star review. However, this book brought such depth of emotion that I had to go for the five stars.(less)
"Half Share" is the second of Nathan Lowell's "Solar Clipper" stories, all of which are based on the beloved character of Ishmael Horatio Wang. Ishmae...more"Half Share" is the second of Nathan Lowell's "Solar Clipper" stories, all of which are based on the beloved character of Ishmael Horatio Wang. Ishmael is one of those rare literary characters that connects with the reader on a level that transcends the boundaries of real and unreal. The more you read of "Ish", the more you know about him as a person, until you almost feel you know him as you do a cherished friend.
In "Quarter Share" you met Ishmael, the lost young man, learning to cope with the loss of his mother, and the life with which he had grown up. In "Half Share", Ishmael begins to come into his own, adjusting to, and even thriving in his new life aboard the Lois McKendrick. His growth in character is extremely well written, drawing the reader into the setting so smoothly that you will find yourself "seeing" the various ports of call through his young and innocent eyes, that nevertheless see things as they are, and not necessarily as you want them to be.
Lowell is a masterful storyteller, and the ONLY things I found wrong with this novel were a couple of minor editing errors that momentarily pulled me out of the story. I think the only reason I even noticed them is that the story is otherwise so very well done and compelling that these missteps seemed to contrast like a couple of small black stains on an otherwise pristine white background.
Finished this great novel last night. I try not to gush like a fanboy when I talk about Lowell's books, but I must admit, it's difficult. You see, I'm...moreFinished this great novel last night. I try not to gush like a fanboy when I talk about Lowell's books, but I must admit, it's difficult. You see, I'm already well familiar with all of the "Tales of the Golden Age of the Solar Clipper" stories, having repeatedly listened to them in audio form on my iPod. But they are simply fantastic stories, and I had to get them in written form as well. "Quarter Share" is the first in the series of novels about Ishmael Horatio Wang, who begins his career as a spacer serving aboard the solar clipper "Lois McKendrick" in the far flung future of 2351.
Ishmael's story is not a shoot-'em-up, explosion every chapter, story of thrilling adventure. It is a coming of age story, in which the main character is the personification of "everyman", and is written so well that it is impossible not to relate to him. You will laugh and cry with him, and in the end, you will feel proud to have known such a person as Ishmael Wang. That is how completely Nathan Lowell draws you into his stories. (less)
Just finished Scott Sigler's "Blood Is Red". I'm not used to reading Scott's short stories, having only read or listened to his novel length work befo...moreJust finished Scott Sigler's "Blood Is Red". I'm not used to reading Scott's short stories, having only read or listened to his novel length work before this, so this was a new look into the twisted em-effer's mind. :)
As with any other anthology, some stories were better than others. Often this had as much to do with my personal preferences as anything else. The first short ("Red Man") is an interesting take on punishment, and the repurcussions thereof, but it seemed pretty tame for a Sigler tale (he even mentions in his Author's note that this is "one of the few stories where someone doesn't get shot, blown up, turned into something nasty or have their fucking face eaten..."). You gotta love him for the honesty, if nothing else. };^)
I found the second story, "Wolf", to be a facinating story, told from the (admittedly anthropomorphicized) point of view of a wolf pack. And "Iowa Typhoon" was more like the off the wall, and a bit gruesome Sigler that we've all come to know and fear. :)
I think my favorite of the bunch isn't really a short story at all, but rather the opening chapter of a novel he hasn't completed - the sequel to "EarthCore", which was the absolute first podiobook I ever listened to. As such, it holds a special place in my heart. Besides that, it's just a freaking awesome story!
From one twisted freak to another - well done Scott!(less)
Ascend was the conclusion of Amanda Hocking's Trylle trilogy, and there were plenty of good and bad elements to it. On the good side, we finally get t...moreAscend was the conclusion of Amanda Hocking's Trylle trilogy, and there were plenty of good and bad elements to it. On the good side, we finally get to see Wendy take a proactive roll in what is happening around her. The character growth was very satisfying, and it was good to see the story become less about what happens to her, and more about her taking the reins and making things happen. However, there are still points at which you want to shake her and scream "What the hell were you thinking? Didn't you see the obvious?!?"
While it was a decent enough story, the ending felt rushed, and some of the decisions made were somewhat unbelievable and very dissatisfying. Add to that the fact that Hocking still needs an editor, and the result is a likeable enough story, but one that still falls short of its potential.(less)
Hocking does indeed get better with this sequel in the Trylle-ogy. The plot begins to unwind, placing the characters in more difficult situations. Unf...moreHocking does indeed get better with this sequel in the Trylle-ogy. The plot begins to unwind, placing the characters in more difficult situations. Unfortunately, the characters still need some work. They still seem a bit unrealistic, completely reactive, rather than proactive. Perhaps I expect too much of characters in a YA book, but I don't recall being so naive at the age of seventeen.
There are also still several SPAG problems with the book, though nothing that is so terrible that it kept me from enjoying the story - and that is ultimately the mark of a winning book for me. While the book would be well served by having an editor go over it, I believe the affordable price more than compensates for having to put up with some SPAG.
All in all, a considerable improvement over the initial book in the series. Here's hoping for some character growth in the last book of the series. (less)
Finished Michio Kaku's "Physics of the Impossible" - Definitely not a simple, no-brainer, no gray matter necessary, read. Michio Kaku nevertheless doe...moreFinished Michio Kaku's "Physics of the Impossible" - Definitely not a simple, no-brainer, no gray matter necessary, read. Michio Kaku nevertheless does an excellent job of taking complex topics in physics and bringing them to us in layman's terms. From a writer's perspective, this is an invaluable source of background information. I highly recommend it.(less)
I read this as part of the "Fiends" collection. While horror isn't something I read that often, I had heard Cooley's take on the genre during an inter...moreI read this as part of the "Fiends" collection. While horror isn't something I read that often, I had heard Cooley's take on the genre during an interview, and it sounded more like my own. You see, I prefer psychological horror to today's gore-based "gross out" horror, and Cooley espoused the same view. After reading "Closet Treats" I am not disappointed.
"Closet Treats" explores the happenings around Trey Leger and his family. Trey suffers from a mental psychosis that sometimes causes him to hallucinate things - horrible things. As a result, he is never quite sure if the things he sees happening around him are real, or simply the result of his mind twisting reality.
Then things get worse when neighborhood children begin disappearing...
Cooley weaves his way through the various views of reality, and causes the reader to question what is actually going on right up to the climax of the story. More importantly, he deftly avoids the easy cliches that many authors would have used, instead taking the difficult road through the minefield of viewing the world through the eyes of a protagonist who truly doesn't know whether or not to trust what he sees.
I highly recommend this one for anyone who wants to read good psychological horror.(less)
I picked this one up because of all the hype about Amanda Hocking, and how she's blazing the trail for self-publishing. I figured it was worth seeing...moreI picked this one up because of all the hype about Amanda Hocking, and how she's blazing the trail for self-publishing. I figured it was worth seeing what all the hoopla was about. At first, I was afraid I was going to be disappointed. "Switched" starts out a bit slow. It is a YA, teen angst-y story about a girl who, on top of having to deal with her very confused feelings about herself and the mysterious "bad boy" kid at school, discovers that her psychotic mother who tried to kill her when she was six, wasn't all that psychotic at all (well, except for the minor issue of trying to kill her). Dear old Mom had claimed for years that Wendy wasn't really her daughter, and that her "real" baby had been a boy. Well, it turns out Mom was right.
Wendy finds out that she is a Trylle - not even human, and things go downhill from there.
As I said before, the story starts pretty slow. In fact, it isn't until almost halfway through the book that the character begins to grow into more than a cardboard cutout of a stereotypical teenage girl, wrapped up in her feelings to the exclusion of common sense. Additionally, there are some pretty blatant typos that pulled me out of the story and had me shaking my head. However, once the story does pick up, it does so quite well, and by the time I reached the end, I was immediately ready to pick up the next in the series (and have already done so, in fact).
While I give this one three stars, I view this book as an introduction to the world that Hocking has created, and have every hope that the next book will launch itself directly into the meat of the story that she so obviously has it in her to tell. I fully anticipate that the next book will keep me engaged as the last third of the first one did, and find myself quite eager to tear into "Torn", the next book in the series.(less)
As with all of the "Walker Papers" novels, this is a fantastic read. Each book in the series is better than its predecessors, with this one obviously...moreAs with all of the "Walker Papers" novels, this is a fantastic read. Each book in the series is better than its predecessors, with this one obviously being the best so far.
If I can be nit-picky here, there are minor editing problems in the book (in point of fact, in several of the books in the series) that seem to consistently get missed by both Murphy and her editor; editing problems that tend to momentarily shock me out of the story. For instance, "these ones" is NOT proper grammar, but it has been used repeatedly throughout the series. If it were only used as part of character dialogue, I could overlook it as part of Murphy's character building. Unfortunately, it gets used in the narration, as well.
However, while this does bring me out of the story for the second or two that it takes me to shake my head, the rest of Murphy's writing, as well as the story itself are so strong that I immediately jump back in with both feet. Additionally, I think the only reason the few errors I find bother me so much, is that in general the overall writing is SO compelling and strong.
C.E. Murphy is a wonderful author, and I eagerly await the next story in the series.(less)
The Second Ship is a fun read. It is young adult SF faintly reminiscent of the old TV serial "Roswell". In no way am I implying that the author took a...moreThe Second Ship is a fun read. It is young adult SF faintly reminiscent of the old TV serial "Roswell". In no way am I implying that the author took any of his ideas from said show. I mean only that the book has some base similarities: three teens who are learning to cope with and use their "extrahuman" powers, the covert group working against them, and other setting similarities that simply cannot be avoided, considering the subject matter.
It is a fun, if less than challenging, romp through a young-adult adventure, filled with varying levels of intrigue, teen angst, and sometimes surprisingly insightful glimpses into the maturing teens' views on the geopolitical ramifications of releasing new technologies into modern society. (Wow! There's a mouthful! }:^) ) While this is a promising start on an obviously larger story, it is a young adult novel in which the author writes to the younger end of his target audience - a young adult novel that emphasizes the "young" in its description. All in all, I liked the novel. It is a good story, with decent characterizations, plot, and mechanics. I would highly recommend it for the twelve to fifteen year old reader.(less)
It’s taken a little longer to post this review than I expected it would. That’s mainly because I wasn’t able to stop after reading Suzanne Collins’ fi...moreIt’s taken a little longer to post this review than I expected it would. That’s mainly because I wasn’t able to stop after reading Suzanne Collins’ first novel in this series. “The Hunger Games” is the first in the trilogy that carries over into “Catching Fire” and “Mockingjay”. It’s the story of Katniss Everdeen, a seventeen year old girl who becomes a tribute in the Hunger Games, a twisted gladiatorial competition in which two tributes from each of Panem’s twelve districts are forced to participate. It is an annually televised “reality show” wherein the twenty-four tributes are forced to battle each other to the death in an acres-wide arena filled with deadly terrain, genetically engineered flora and fauna, and mobile traps designed to move the action along for the viewers when things get too boring.
The setting is a dystopian future in which global warming and wars have decimated much of the world, and a corrupt government has taken its lessons from ancient Rome – distract the populace with enough blood to entertain them, and remind them of who’s in charge. At the same time, keep them impoverished and oppressed, convinced that they’re lucky to receive the dregs left behind by the Capital.
By the end of the first book, Katniss realizes that she’s become a pawn in a plot that is much larger than the Games. She learns to play for the cameras, and the hearts of the viewers, and through them, perhaps change the very fabric of her society. I won’t give spoilers here, but I will say that even though the story is written as a young adult novel, it is darker than most YA fiction I’ve read, and entertaining enough to keep this fifty year old kid engaged. It alternates between multilayered plotlines that are in places rather simplistic, and in others quite thought-provoking.
Since this review is specifically for the first book, “The Hunger Games”, I won’t go into the other two books in the trilogy. I couldn’t do so anyway without spoiling some of the plotlines of the first book. All I will say is that Suzanne Collins is an author I will be supporting by buying more of her work. I highly recommend this entire series. I give it four out of five stars.
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