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June 02
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Mikolaj
gave  to:
Black Powder War (Temeraire, #3)
by
Naomi Novik
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my rating:
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read in May, 2009
Mikolaj said:
"Moves the story into a typical chasing-all-over-the-map-for-plot-tokens mode, but stays lots of fun, with a mixture of skullduggery and large scale warfare advancing the global plot as well as fleshing out some of the sketchier parts of the universe....more
Moves the story into a typical chasing-all-over-the-map-for-plot-tokens mode, but stays lots of fun, with a mixture of skullduggery and large scale warfare advancing the global plot as well as fleshing out some of the sketchier parts of the universe. The connection to the previous book (or rather, lack thereof) stretches credulity somewhat, but it's still a rollicking good read.(less)
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May 31
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Mikolaj
gave to:
Throne of Jade (Temeraire, #2)
by
Naomi Novik
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my rating:
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read in May, 2009
Mikolaj said:
"There's a tradition in some corners of yanking the world out from under the characters' feet in book 2 of a series, and I haven't quite decided how I feel about it. Here, luckily, the new world is fascinating (and, you know, dragonporn), and vaguelly...more
There's a tradition in some corners of yanking the world out from under the characters' feet in book 2 of a series, and I haven't quite decided how I feel about it. Here, luckily, the new world is fascinating (and, you know, dragonporn), and vaguelly Clavellesque (if rather less credible). Lots of fun once again, though the Munchkin-like ending does detract a little.(less)
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Mikolaj
gave to:
Red Mars (Mars Trilogy, #1)
by
Kim Stanley Robinson
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my rating:
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read in May, 2009
Mikolaj said:
"Read this years ago and didn't much like it. Re-read since it was free on Kindle and I had a long flight, and was surprised at just how enjoyable it was. Strong characters, fascinating world-building and reality-defying secessionist heresies worthy o...more
Read this years ago and didn't much like it. Re-read since it was free on Kindle and I had a long flight, and was surprised at just how enjoyable it was. Strong characters, fascinating world-building and reality-defying secessionist heresies worthy of Heinlein. Also can keep one distracted for hours. Really enjoyed it, and might just read the rest of the series now.(less)
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May 13
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Mikolaj
gave  to:
Settling Accounts: Return Engagement (Settling Accounts, Book 1)
by
Harry Turtledove
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my rating:
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read in May, 2009
Mikolaj said:
"Dreary. Like most of these types of book, there's a plethora of individual stories unfloding in different places at the same time. Unlike the better exemplars, there's very little co-ordination between them in timing or pace. Also, it's alternative h...more
Dreary. Like most of these types of book, there's a plethora of individual stories unfloding in different places at the same time. Unlike the better exemplars, there's very little co-ordination between them in timing or pace. Also, it's alternative history, which, as I may have mentioned a time or six, I generally have no truck with. Still, I did manage to get all the way through it, albeit rolling my eyes at the caricatured characters (can't risk any confusion between good and evil!), and I suspect that if I knew a little more about wartime history and personalities, I might have been squirming even more. Nonetheless, probably a book that people who like this sort of book will like.(less)
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May 05
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Mikolaj
gave to:
His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1)
by
Naomi Novik
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my rating:
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read in May, 2009
Mikolaj said:
"Inhaled it, loved it. Charmingly juvenile dragonfic, featuring a loving exploration of man and beast in a tangy alternative history military broth, without any of that unnecessarily complex plot or character development malarkey. I'll be reading the ...more
Inhaled it, loved it. Charmingly juvenile dragonfic, featuring a loving exploration of man and beast in a tangy alternative history military broth, without any of that unnecessarily complex plot or character development malarkey. I'll be reading the rest just as soon as my Kindle can download them.(less)
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Mikolaj
gave  to:
Dying Inside (Paperback)
by
Robert Silverberg
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my rating:
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read in May, 2009
Mikolaj said:
"A thoughtful exploration of what life with a superpower would be like. Unfortunately, the answer is "dreadful", a theme that's explored with a clarity and perception that is, frankly, depressing. Well written, but much better suited for bei...more
A thoughtful exploration of what life with a superpower would be like. Unfortunately, the answer is "dreadful", a theme that's explored with a clarity and perception that is, frankly, depressing. Well written, but much better suited for being deconstructed than read for enjoyment.(less)
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Mikolaj
gave to:
Hide In Plain Sight (The Three Sisters Inn Series #1) (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense)
by
Marta Perry (Goodreads author)
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my rating:
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read in April, 2009
Mikolaj said:
"Moderately awful. Written with a strong Christian ethic which undermines the main suspense element in the plot (knowing that it's a religious-affiliated imprint is basically a spoiler). Thematically simple and with straightforward archetypes for char...more
Moderately awful. Written with a strong Christian ethic which undermines the main suspense element in the plot (knowing that it's a religious-affiliated imprint is basically a spoiler). Thematically simple and with straightforward archetypes for characters, it won't stretch anyone's brain.(less)
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Mikolaj
gave to:
The Wild's Call (Kindle Edition)
by
Jeri Smith-Ready
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my rating:
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read in April, 2009
Mikolaj said:
"The best thing that can be said about it is that it's short. Basically YA, and simple for the genre, mixing hints of post-apocalytism with spirituality. It's too plebeian to be terrible.
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Mikolaj
gave  to:
Use of Weapons (Paperback)
by
Iain M. Banks
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my rating:
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Mikolaj said:
"Relatively approachable and very enjoyable Banks, and one of the more expository novels on the Culture. Written in an episodic style, not always chronologically ordered, and with threads of mystery unravelling throughout, it can be a little difficult...more
Relatively approachable and very enjoyable Banks, and one of the more expository novels on the Culture. Written in an episodic style, not always chronologically ordered, and with threads of mystery unravelling throughout, it can be a little difficult to start on, but it's very worthwhile.(less)
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March 13
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Mikolaj
gave to:
Storm from the Shadows (Honorverse: Saganami, #2)
by
David Weber
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my rating:
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read in March, 2009
Mikolaj said:
"Yay, more Weber! He does the things he does very well, though I'm not totally comfortable with the shift from the usual lead character. So far my fear that he can only write a single character has not been entirely borne out, but I'm not convinced ei...more
Yay, more Weber! He does the things he does very well, though I'm not totally comfortable with the shift from the usual lead character. So far my fear that he can only write a single character has not been entirely borne out, but I'm not convinced either way. Still, great fun, and it's interesting that he's diverging from the usual structure in so many ways - overlapping timeline, cliffhanger ending, etc.(less)
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