Chris A. Jackson's Blog, page 11
July 28, 2011
Silent War should have stayed silent…
The Silent War by Ben Bova
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Rather disappointing in the characterization department, and the story seems to be stilted. Bova writes clean, crisp, hard SF, but when the characters aren't right, that's not enough. A lot of incoherent thought and action. I also find it difficult to buy that a raving maniac could ever reach the position of CEO of the biggest corporation and, and richest man in the solar system.
One thing he nailed, however, is the idea that if and when...
July 14, 2011
Brother Odd, predictable but worth the read.
Brother Odd by Dean Koontz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This third in the series is another solid hit. Better than number two, but still not quite the caliber of the first in the series. The end of this one is a little predictable, but there is some solid plotting and the banter is some of the most entertaining I've read anywhere.
Koontz has really done his research, I'll give him that. His detail oriented quips are priceless and their delivery is so dead pan that it leaves me gasping. The only ...
July 7, 2011
Forever Odd misses the mark, but not by much.
Forever Odd by Dean Koontz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Not quite the same star-quality as the first in the series, but a good, solid read. The action sometimes takes on a "oh come on!" quality, when things just go too right for the hero. More interaction with the bad element would have been welcome, not just the big unanswered question mark of who, why, how and what if. Too many unanswered questions, and a little too much coincidence.
Having said all that, I am now reading the third in the...
July 1, 2011
Dean Koonts Scores with "Odd Thomas"
Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A truly awesome read. Best book I've read in more than a year! Koontz prose is like magic, and he gets a good handle on making Odd just odd enough, though, if there is a fault with this character, it's that he's not "odd" enough. Too suave and cool… but it still works wonderfully. He is loveable and real, just selfish and selfless enough, and you feel so very sorry for him.
This story is "Sixth Sense" when the little boy grows up. No...
June 29, 2011
Blood Bound, by Patricia Briggs
Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Good story, though the main character is just a little too perfect to be really loved… and she seems to be loved by everyone, and in fact has three hunky guys (two werewolves and a vampire, actually) virtually fighting over her affections, which is a bit much. The writing is solid, with few real errors in plot or characterization, but there are some simple mistakes that a good edit should have caught. The ending was somewhat...
June 26, 2011
Scimitar Sun takes the Gold At ForeWord BOTY Awards
Scimitar Sun, second in the series of Scimitar Seas novels has won the Gold Medal in Fantasy at the ForeWord Reviews, Best Books 2010 awards. Scimitar Moon, took the gold medal last year, so that's two in a row!
This year I was nervous, however, because I knew another great Dragon Moon Press author P.G. Holyfield was in the competition. And as it turns out, he took the Silver Medal for his highly acclaimed novel "Murder at Avedon Hill". Congratulations to P.G! We had a little side bet, so i...
June 14, 2011
When The Hero Comes Home anthology on Kindle
The soon to be released (the hard copy debut will be at GenCon in August) When the Hero Comes Home anthology, published by Dragon Moon Press, is available on Kindle.
I am really excited to be included in this anthology, and special thanks go to the editors, Gabrielle Harbowy and Ed Greenwood. Some wonderful people contributed, and I feel privileged to be in their company. Here is a sneak peek of the cover, including a full list of contributors.
The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul, Douglas Adams
The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul by Douglas Adams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
As always, Douglas Adams keeps me in stitches. The non sequitur roller coaster ends, as his work usually does, with the soft pop of a soap bubble, rather than the deafening crash of cymbals…
And there are penguins…or at least thoughts about penguins…
View all my reviews
May 13, 2011
Monkeewrench: stock and trade Murder Mystery
Monkeewrench by P.J. Tracy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I am not a huge reader of stock and trade murder mysteries, so I don't know a lot of the conventions that are typical of this genre. I enjoyed the story, liked most of the characters, though I got a little tired of the stereotype "lonely good cop with fat loveable partner" of which there are two in this story. Also, there is no single star protagonist, which bothers me. I want a focus, and this just won't let me decide who I'm rooting for.
April 6, 2011
Ysabel, a wonderful contemporary fantasy with a YA feel.
Ysabel was a wonderful read, with well thought out and "real" characters that you will fall in love with. The story is simple and complex at the same time, and is what most contemporary fantasy wishes it could be. None of the intelligence-insulting flash bang that has inundated the genre, but honest to goodness story telling, with a real YA feel, though it is not marketed as a YA novel (thank you).
Kay does go a little thick with his quirky little humor quips occasionally, and his...
