Nathaniel Turner's Blog, page 8

January 2, 2015

Marian Study, Not Marian Apologetics

Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of GodHail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God by Scott Hahn


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I struggled with my selection of a star rating for this book; I vacillate between liking and disliking it. I liked it because it’s very forthright, very dedicated, very committed; I disliked it because Mr. Hahn allowed that dedication to surpass good judgment and good argumentation.


Before I get started with the major things, let me offer up very minor things. First, some people like puns; others don’t....

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Published on January 02, 2015 14:12

December 28, 2014

The Star Wars, but Different

The Star WarsThe Star Wars by J.W. Rinzler


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I have a harder time reviewing comic books than regular books, in no small part because I feel like there’s more to review, but I don’t have enough experience in the genre to do it.


The art in this book was excellent. Certainly evocative of the look and feel of early Star Wars (i.e., McQuarrie) concept art. At times, I thought that the art could have been used for more effective pacing (the story seemed to move far too quickly, and part of th...

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Published on December 28, 2014 22:00

December 18, 2014

The Unpleasantness of the Eccentric Detective

77604Fer-de-Lance by Rex Stout


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I haven’t read many mysteries. It’s not a genre that normally appeals to my escapist philosophy of fiction. Yet as a writer, I have had some interest in hiding details from my readers until the opportune moment–and besides, I try to branch out once in a while.


This book was not quite what I expected. I had heard positive things about Rex Stout’s series before, and the first in that series has certainly been intriguing, but I’m not sure I want to...

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Published on December 18, 2014 21:01

December 12, 2014

Devotional Point of View and Authority

22272729My Daily Bread by Anthony J Paone


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I was given this book as a gift, and–in need of a daily devotional–I gave it a shot. In a lot of ways, Fr. Paone’s work here really delivers. Many of the readings are convicting and encouraging, warning and uplifting at the same time. Frequently, I set the book down, and I was enlivened to face the day with vim and vigor, to turn a phrase.


But the book was not perfect. Fr. Paone frames the book as a dialogue with Christ–a dialogue in whic...

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Published on December 12, 2014 20:10

November 23, 2014

The Minutia Laffite

34407The Pirates Laffite: The Treacherous World of the Corsairs of the Gulf by William C. Davis


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It took me three years to read this book. This was not a series of attempts, starting over again and again, having forgotten what I read before, but a single attempt, in which I laid the book down for months at a time and, taking it up again, resumed where I had left off.


This book was extraordinarily detailed. With those familiar with my progress in the book, I have joked that I wo...

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Published on November 23, 2014 15:47

October 22, 2014

An Acceptable Addition

10119993The Sable Quean by Brian Jacques


My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book didn’t really take me almost three years to read. I read a couple chapters, then reread them, then finally read the book all the way through.


I had a little trouble getting into the book initially, which is uncommon for Jacques’ books (in my experience). Most of his books have great hooks, great characters, and great adventure, right from the start. The problem with this one is that it did not quite feel original enough. The Rava...

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Published on October 22, 2014 19:59

October 10, 2014

A Negative Review of Star Wars: Rebels

I honestly cannot comprehend all the positive reviews for the premiere of Star Wars: Rebels. Everywhere I look, folks are saying what a great triumph it was over all those pre-release haters, and how it’s the best thing since sliced bread, and it revitalizes the Star Wars universe in a way that only Dave Filoni can, and the animation was spectacular, and the writing was brilliant, and…


And I’m baffled.


Because it was none of those things. I thought the writing was bland, the voice-acting was la...

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Published on October 10, 2014 13:57

August 22, 2014

Whence Cometh My Book

I wrote an article about where I got the idea for The Chimaera Regiment, and it was published on the review site Upcoming4.Me:


I often think of the development of my stories as the slow coalescence of an asteroid belt of ideas into a planet of prose. Notion after notion passes through the solar system of my mind and gets caught; eventually, they collide, producing enough mass to draw in other, smaller ideas. Over time, this process leads to something that is worth writing down.


Read more over t...

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Published on August 22, 2014 19:51

August 21, 2014

Stay Tuned for the Stunning Conclusion!

Spoilers follow!

513201The Bacta War by Michael A. Stackpole


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


To be honest, I thought that, of all of the X-Wing novels, this one would survive my criticisms best. I recall it being my favorite, back in the day, and I could remember nothing against it.


Unfortunately, upon reading it, I did find a few things to take issue with. For one thing, all of the innuendo and nudge, nudge, wink, wink that went on in the preceding three books was consummated in this one. There was nothing ex...

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Published on August 21, 2014 21:14

August 2, 2014

Third Time’s the Charm?

Spoilers follow!


513200The Krytos Trap by Michael A. Stackpole


My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The third book in the X-Wing series continues the story right where Wedge’s Gamble left off: Corran is in prison, presumed dead, and Tycho is on trial for his murder. Meanwhile, a virus deadly only to non-humans (and non-Bothans, apparently) is ravaging Coruscant, and Rogue Squadron may be the only hope to save it.


On the one hand, I’m greatly entertained by this book. Rogue Squadron gets back to its roots–running mi...

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Published on August 02, 2014 22:10