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This was one of the better Star Trek novels set just after the series finale of Deep Space Nine. The novel is a bit confusing to follow as it doesn't go chronologically. For instance, it may start off on Deep Space Nine, then, in the next chapter, ...moreThis was one of the better Star Trek novels set just after the series finale of Deep Space Nine. The novel is a bit confusing to follow as it doesn't go chronologically. For instance, it may start off on Deep Space Nine, then, in the next chapter, go to Garak's childhood, then back to DS9 but at an earlier time. Aside from this, "A Stitch in Time" is well written by the actor portraying Garak, Andrew Robinson. It reads almost like it was intended for the actor to better understand the character, but morphed into a book for consumers. "A Stitch in Time" goes from Garak's childhood years, to his teenage years at a Cardassian academy, to his early adult Obsidian Order initiate years, to his exile living on Terok Nor under Dukat, and finally his return to a shattered Cardassia. If you are looking for a book to more fully flesh out one of the most memorable characters in the franchise, "A Stitch in Time" will certainly do the job.(less)
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Think of this as a book that provides an overview of the various problems corrupting the political and financial systems, combined with solutions on how to fix it. If you are a politically aware reader, many of the issues brought up will seem like o...moreThink of this as a book that provides an overview of the various problems corrupting the political and financial systems, combined with solutions on how to fix it. If you are a politically aware reader, many of the issues brought up will seem like old news to you, such as how the various industries write legislation, how the education system is broken, and how the true monetary cost of many items are not always reflected on the sticker price. Ratigan does provide a few solutions on how to fix the various issues, but these are mostly brief summaries lacking the "nuts and bolts" on getting them done. For those who follow the author, Dylan Ratigan, this book is best described as a review of what he talks about already but with everything in one, easy-to-read source. The book is also written very well and it is easy to follow with Ratigan's writing. The only real downside to this book is it seems too much like an overview without much in the way of actually fixing the problems. A very large portion of the book is devoted to spelling out the issues and explaining them, which Ratigan does quite well, but a small part is devoted to explaining how to repair the damage. This section on fixing the issues is brief and doesn't go in-depth with past attempts to fix the damage, various pitfalls, methods on how to do it, nor examples on how people have successfully done so. Overall, I liked the book, it isn't too dense, is written well, and explains the issues in a way anyone can understand.(less)
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This continues the story of DS9 following the series finale. Think of it as an anthology of the all of Dax's previous lives. Each "life" of Dax has their own personally defining story told within the context of Ezri conversing with Vic in a holosui...moreThis continues the story of DS9 following the series finale. Think of it as an anthology of the all of Dax's previous lives. Each "life" of Dax has their own personally defining story told within the context of Ezri conversing with Vic in a holosuite. Each of the stories is written by a different author and could all be an excerpt of a larger narrative. It would be nice to have an additional book or series that further dives into the lives of Dax, this book truly adds more shades onto an already complex and interesting character.(less)
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An interesting book about a man coming to Paris with no means of support, falls in love, and that starts an interesting journey. It is truly a tale about love, set in a backdrop of debauchery and manipulation.
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Yakuza Moon is an interesting book to read. Essentially, this is an autobiography about a young woman growing up in a yakuza family. At times the book can be painful to read, not becuase it is difficult, which it isn't, but the content seems so gen...moreYakuza Moon is an interesting book to read. Essentially, this is an autobiography about a young woman growing up in a yakuza family. At times the book can be painful to read, not becuase it is difficult, which it isn't, but the content seems so genuine and what Tendo goes through is very painful. The reader will get to see her go from a normal-ish child to a deliquent teenager, spiriling down into drugs, sex, and abuse. Tendo does change, grow, to be more specific, into a complex and hopeful woman in the end, drawing strength on her experiences. This is a book for readers who want to see the family life of a daughter of the yakuza, and how she evolves.(less)
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As a fan of Mass Effect, I've always been interested in the novels. All of them so far have been very well written by Drew Karpyshyn, "Retribution" is no exception. This time, the book follows Grayson, Anderson, and Sanders exclusively. The focus ...moreAs a fan of Mass Effect, I've always been interested in the novels. All of them so far have been very well written by Drew Karpyshyn, "Retribution" is no exception. This time, the book follows Grayson, Anderson, and Sanders exclusively. The focus of the story is on Grayson and what Cerberus has done to him after he was captured on Omega. What follows is a suspenseful story of a man slowly losing his identity to the Reapers and friends who try and get him back, even if his fate was sealed. "Retribution" is a bit more graphic and suspenseful than the other two novels, but is still worth a look. If you are a fan of the franchise, you will not be disappointed with "Retribution."(less)
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A Fist in the Hornet's Nest by Richard Engel is an interesting book. It is essentially a journal about his experiences being a reporter in Iraq and the Middle East in general. The book flows with time, starting as he embarks to Egypt beginning his ...moreA Fist in the Hornet's Nest by Richard Engel is an interesting book. It is essentially a journal about his experiences being a reporter in Iraq and the Middle East in general. The book flows with time, starting as he embarks to Egypt beginning his career, and ending about a year or so after the fall of Saddam. There are stories about how he lived and worked in the region and, more importantly, how he survived. I read Richard's first book "War Journal" before this one. That book easily picks up where this one leaves off and follows the exact same format and writing style. I enjoyed this book quite a bit, the author knows how to write without overloading the reader with easily forgotten facts while maintining an interesting narrative about his experiences. A Fist in the Hornet's Nest can be painful, such as reading about him dealing with the loss of a journalist in the hotel they both worked and lived in, but, it can also be more lighthearted in a way, such as with his experience sampling the local food for the first time or about how he would leave the hotel should it catch fire or be attacked while he slept at night. As with "War Journal" I easily suggest anyone who enjoys this type of writing or interest in the war to read it.(less)
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