Book Reviews

This forum is to jibber and jabber
User avatar
Rusty
Math God
Math God
Posts: 9033
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:58 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Rusty »

Truth of Valor by Tanya Huff - Torin Kerr has retired from the Confederation Marines and moved in with her significant other, a salvage operator with his own ship. However, on their first salvage operation, he is kidnapped by pirates and she is left for dead. They should have made sure because she is coming after them. Another good adventure, one that is a bit different since she is no longer in the service.
User avatar
Rusty
Math God
Math God
Posts: 9033
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:58 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Rusty »

Magic Zero Book One by Christopher Golden and Tom Sniegoski - A great magician passes away and his protege discovers that the magician had a few secrets, including a son hidden away in a pocket dimension. The son has an affliction otherwise unknown in this world which relies heavily on magic. The son is an unmagician - he neither possesses nor is affected by magic. A pretty good start to the series.

Agent of Change by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - The first book in the Liaden universe focuses on the relationship between a Liaden assassin/spy/scout named Val Con and an ex-mercenary named Miri who is trying to evade a mafia type organization. Plenty of action, some alien turtles and a very nice start to the series.

Deep Wizardry by Diane Duane - Nita and Kit venture into the ocean and partake in a ceremony to keep the Lone One from gaining power and also to protect sea life. Nita's parents get suspicious of their absences and Nita has to decide whether or not to inform them of her and Kit's wizardry.
User avatar
Rusty
Math God
Math God
Posts: 9033
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:58 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Rusty »

High Wizardry by Diane Duane - Nita's sister, Dairine, becomes a wizard, though her manual turns out to be a computer rather than a book. She turns out to have an incredible amount of power and her quest takes her to distant planets and an encounter with the Lone Power.

A Wizard Abroad by Diane Duane - Nita's parents are concerned with how much time she is spending with her partner, Kit, so they send her to Ireland to spend 6 weeks with her aunt. However, she finds that she is in Ireland because she is needed there to help battle ancient forces that are rising up.

Both books are solid entries in a pretty good series.
User avatar
Rusty
Math God
Math God
Posts: 9033
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:58 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Rusty »

The Wizard's Dilemma by Diane Duane - Nita's mother is diagnosed with cancer and isn't given long to live. She searches for a way to use her wizardry to save her mother's life, but comes up against the Lone One who tries to tempt her to give up her wizardry for a chance to save her mother.

Carpe Diem by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - The third Liaden book picks up where the first book left off. Val Con and Miri survive an encounter with an enemy, but are only able to jump to an underdeveloped and interdicted world. They land there and mingle with one of the communities there, making friends and surviving as they try to find a way to get back to their homeworld. Meanwhile, a plot against Clan Korval by the Department of the Interior starts to unfold. Just as good as the first two books.
User avatar
Rusty
Math God
Math God
Posts: 9033
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:58 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Rusty »

Huh. I guess I haven't updated this in a while. Well, here goes.

A Wizard Alone by Diane Duane - Nita and Kit have to help an autistic child who also happens to be a wizard. The boy has trapped the Lone One in his mind, but is also trapped himself.

Wizard's Holiday by Diane Duane - Dairine applies for a wizard exchange program without permission. Nita and Kit get to travel to a world on the opposite side of the galaxy in her place. While there, they help a race that has been stuck at the same level of development for millenia due to their 'victory' over the Lone One. Meanwhile, Dairine gets to help three wizards who come from to visit Earth as part of the exchange program. One is a prince on his homeworld, another is a giant caterpillar type alien whose family runs "The Crossings', a major galactic transport hub and the third wizard is shaped like a Christmas tree. Hijinks ensue, but a threat appears that could wipe out life on Earth.

Wizards at War by Diane Duane - The Lone One has initiated activity in a distant part of the galaxy that is causing wizardry to fail, starting with older wizards. It is up to Nita, Kit and their friends to track down the cause and put things to rights.

A Wizard of Mars by Diane Duane - Kit has been enamored with Mars for quite some time, but a discovery is made that starts to shed light on what happened there long ago. Ancient wizards are resurrected and their troubles from the past lead them to threaten life on Earth.

I have enjoyed all of the Young Wizards books so far. A tenth book has been in the works for quite some time, but no release date is in sight.

Betrayal by Julian Stockwin - Kydd becomes part of a plan by Commodore Popham to attack Buenos Aires and try to take it for the British crown. They are initially successful, but the success is shortlived and many soldiers are captured. While the book was well written, I did not enjoy this book as much as other recent entries in the series.

Caribee by Julian Stockwin - Kydd returns to the Caribbean for the first time in over a decade. The last time he was here, he was still just a petty officer. The escape from the troubles in South America is refreshing and there is new opportunity to be found here. However, an old nemesis from the past also returns and could pose a threat to Kydd's societal aspirations. This book was a lot more fun than Betrayal and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I won an advance copy from a contest in the author's blog.

Infinity Ring 5: Cave of Wonders by Matthew J. Kirby - Dak, Sera and Rik find themselves in Baghdad on the eve of the Mongol invasion in the middle of the 13th Century. They need to fix a break in time that sees the works of Aristotle destroyed as the Mongols loot the city and ransack the House of Wisdom, a great library in the city. They try to avert the invasion or at least save the library, but run into enemies at a number of turns. I enjoy these historical adventures. They remind me of Voyagers!
User avatar
Rusty
Math God
Math God
Posts: 9033
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:58 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Rusty »

Another month, another batch of books that I've neglected to update.

False Memory by Dan Krokos - A girl named Miranda wakes up with no memory of how she got there or who she is. She wanders into a nearby shopping mall and discovers that she has abilities that are not common to regular people. She also starts to discover more about her background and why she has lost her memory. This is a fast paced and entertaining book and the start of a trilogy.

Plan B by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - Clan Korval puts Plan B into effect as Val Con and Miri are hunted by the Department of the Interior. The pair were stranded on a planet for months, but now make their way to Lytaxin where they meet Miri's Liaden relatives and find out more about her past. Korval's main trading ship arms itself for war and Korval's First Speaker tries to track down her foster brother. Meanwhile, Lytaxin suffers an invasion from the hostile Yxtrang. Another solid entry in the Agent of Change sequence in the Liaden universe.

False Sight by Dan Krokos - The second book in the trilogy provides answers for a few mysteries, but uncovers a few more. Miranda has discovered that she and several of her rediscovered friends were raised to be weapons against normal humans. They rebel and go on the run as they search for answers and a solution to their problems, which include taking needed medication in a timely manner. Then they run across doubles of themselves and discover there is much more to their story. Another fast paced and entertaining entry.

Local Custom by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - This book covers an earlier period wherein Val Con's father is the Delm of Korval and is yet unmarried. His cousin, Er Thom, is being pressured to wed for the good of the clan. Er Thom, though, is hung up on a regular human woman whom he met several years earlier. Er Thom leaves Liad in search of Anne Davis and discovers that she has a son that he fathered during their brief relationship years earlier. Then things get complicated. This is essentially a romance and comedy of manner and is lots of fun as well.

Scout's Progress by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - Now it is Daav yos'Phelium's turn for romance as he meets a talented mathematics professor named Aeliana. She is a bit odd in her interactions with others due to the abuse (both physical and mental) that she has suffered at the hands of her brother, the heir to their clan. She is also brilliant and starts to come out of her shell thanks to her relationship with Daav and other friends that she makes. However, her brother will not give up too easily. Another first class book in the Liaden series.

Spirit Animals 1: Wild Born by Brandon Mull - The start of another book series that ties into a card game and online game. In this book, we are introduced to a world where every child is given a chance to bond with a spirit animal, but few are chosen. Now, four fallen animal gods have returned to the world just as a new threat to the world is looming. Not a bad book, but not nearly as good as Mull's other series, such as Fablehaven and the Candy Shop War.

I Dare by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - The final book in the Agent of Change sequence returns to Val Con and Miri on Lytaxin as they are fighting off the Yxtrang invasion and gaining a few new allies. Val Con's father returns after a long absence where many thought he was dead. Much of the book deals with Val Con's cousin, Pat Rin, as he seeks to execute his part in Plan B and hide from Korval's enemies. In doing so, he sets himself up as a boss on the planet Surebleak and unites much of the planet in the process. A nice conclusion to the sequence.

Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - This book takes place nearly 300 years earlier than I Dare and focuses on a boy who is the son of a major trading family. He does a service for the head of a Liaden trading clan and ends up becoming her apprentice and later foster son. We get to see his experiences as he is trained to become a licensed Liaden trader. A bit of a departure from the action/adventure of the Agent of Change cycle, but nicely done.

Crystal Soldier and Crystal Dragon by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - This duology goes back to the origins of the Liaden Universe as the Spiral Arm is being destroyed by the enemy, humans who long ago improved themselves and left their humanity behind and who seek the destruction of all humanity. A partnership is formed between courier pilot/smuggler Cantra yos'Phelium and M. Jela Granthor, an M Class soldier with the rank of captain who is on a mission that includes liberating the equations of a scholar named Liad. The origins of Clan Korval, the planet Liad, the Yxtrang, Jela's Troop and much more are explored here. I liked the first book more than the second, but overall they were pretty good.
User avatar
Rusty
Math God
Math God
Posts: 9033
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:58 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Rusty »

Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - This Liaden book starts the tale of Theo Waitley, who was introduced at the end of I Dare. She is the half sister of Val Con yos'Phelium, Delm of Korval, but she grows up on the planet Delgado and is unaware of this relationship. Delgado is a planet of scholars and her mother and father are both popular and successful professors. Delgado is also very concerned with safety and has designated Theo as a person who is clumsy and a potential danger to others. However, she is still growing into her abilities and and coordination, a condition that her father is aware of since it runs in his family. He sees her as having the potential to be a great pilot one day.

Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - Theo's story continues as she moves off of Delgado to attend a school for pilots on another planet. Tensions are building between Terran and Liaden society, though, and Theo is caught in the middle since she has a foot in both worlds. She eventually attains her pilot license and gains experience in the field.

But We Are Not of Earth by Jean Karl - This was one of my favorites as a kid and I decided to reread it again. In the distant future, four bright but challenging kids grow up in an underground facility that acts as an orphanage. All of their parents died or disappeared while on missions. They get a chance to pilot a top of the line ship for an experimental program and find an earthlike planet in a distant sector of the galaxy. A quick read and one that I still like.

Mouse and Dragon by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - The story shifts back to the time of Aeliana Caylon and Daav yos'Phelium and continues from where the story left off before. Aeliana's brother has been cast out of his clan and Aeliana's mother tries to asset control over her daughter to force her back into the household. She wants nothing to do with that, though, preferring to find her own way as a courier pilot. Eventually, she realizes that she must decide whether to build a life with Daav or find another solution.

Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by CS Forester - Short stories detailing the early years of Forester's naval hero. I didn't like these stories as much as the later books when I initially read them, but I like them a lot more now upon rereading them.

Ghost Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - Theo's story continues as she gains custody of the sentient ship Bechimo. Theo is a first class pilot and has been doing courier duty, but she has enemies that she is unaware of. She also learns more about her father's past and the whole other life that he had before moving to Delgado.

The Year of Shadows by Claire Legrand - Olivia's mother left the family several years earlier. Now, finances force Olivia and her father and grandmother to move into the dilapidated music hall where her father is trying to keep his failing orchestra alive. Olivia and a friend encounter several ghosts in the old music hall and discover that they can actually help the ghosts move on. However, there are also more sinister ghosts called shades, and they make things a lot more dangerous for everybody. A very entertaining novel that moves at a nice pace.

Dragon Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - Theo and Bechimo are given a new trade loop by master trader Shan yos'Galan. They accept on a trial basis to see if the loop will be successful and if this is what they want to do. Theo hesitates when Bechimo wants her to complete a bonding ritual to become the official captain and puts off the decision acting instead as first pilot. The trip has its successes and challenges as Theo's enemies try to gain custody of Theo and her ship. A nice continuation to the series.

Necessity's Child by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - This story takes place on Surebleak and centers around Syl Vor yos'Galan, youngest child of the house. He decides that he wants to attend the local school that his parents are helping build. This will allow him to socialize with other children his age as well as help his parents make the school a success. There is another story intertwined in the narrative, but Syl Vor's relationship with a local girl named Kezzy is the more interesting of the two tales.

Now I'm all caught up with the Liaden novels except for the latest book which was just released last week. There are also a couple of volumes of short stories that I will get to eventually.
User avatar
Rusty
Math God
Math God
Posts: 9033
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:58 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Rusty »

Trade Secrets by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - The latest Liaden book continues the story of Jethri Gobelyn, a human trader who has been adopted by a Liaden clan. It was nice to see his story continued and elements of the story tie in to the main story that has been explored in other books. Now I have to wait a while for the next book in the series.

Between Worlds ed. by Robert Silverberg - This anthology contains 6 stories, some of which are better than others, though I did like 5 out of the 6 stories. Stephen Baxter tells a tale in his Xeelee universe and Walter Jon Williams returns to his Dread Empire's Fall series two years after the trilogy ended. Robert Silverberg, Nancy Kress and Mike Resnick also have entertaining stories.

Infinity Ring 6: Behind Enemy Lines by Jennifer Nielsen - Dak, Sera and Riq travel to London in 1943 to try and fix another time break, one which could alter the course of World War II. They end up having to travel to Spain and Germany in an attempt to put time back on the correct path. A pretty quick read and interesting, though highly improbably of course even without the time travel.
User avatar
Rusty
Math God
Math God
Posts: 9033
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:58 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Rusty »

The House of Hades by Rick Riordan - The latest Percy Jackson book finds Percy and Annabeth in Hades trying to escape while their friends in the normal world are trying to get to the gate to Hades to open it so that the two can get out. Another fun ride.

The Royal Ranger by John Flanagan - The last book in the Ranger's Apprentice series takes place 15 or so years in the future. Will is a top notch ranger, but is still affected by the death of his love, Alice, in a fire a year or two earlier. He takes on an unexpected apprentice in the form of Princess Madelyn, a tomboy who has been getting in trouble with her parents. The pairing of the two works to bring Will out of his gloom and to instill some discipline in Madelyn. A very good read.

A Talent for War by Jack McDevitt - The first book in the Alex Benedict series sets up the rest of the series. Alex inherits a lot of money from his uncle and uses it to try and discover what his uncle was investigating. This leads him to rent a spaceship and go searching for something that could rewrite the history books and lead to a great advance in interstellar travel.

Bastion by Mercedes Lackey - The final book in the Collegium Chronicles finally leads to a few answers about where Mags came from. He and his friends head to a former bandit hideout to spend the winter and also to try and keep the assassins off their trail.

Polaris by Jack McDevitt - The second book in the Alex Benedict series now has Chase Kolpath 'narrating'. It takes place a number of years later and Alex is now set up as a sort of antiques dealer who will search out and acquire rare pieces for his clientele. Chase works as his assistant. A few items from the Polaris come up for sale and this leads to several mysteries. The Polaris was a ship where the crew disappeared without a trace 60+ years earlier. Alex and Chase set out to solve the mystery and find out what happened to the crew, but it could lead to their lives being in danger.

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss - A scribe wanders into an inn while on his way to chronicling the life of a noble. He realizes that the innkeeper is the famous hero Kvothe, who many people think is dead. Kvothe has many songs and tales written about him and is a legend. Kvothe agrees to tell his story to the Chronicler, but cautions that it will take three full days. The first book is an account of the first day of storytelling and covers the period from Kvothe's becoming an orphan, surviving on the street for several years and eventually making his way to The University where he enrolls as a student, thus achieving one of his lifelong dreams while still only 15 years of age. Many things happen along the way in what is a very nice start to a trilogy.

Nowhere to Run by Jude Watson - The first book in the new 39 Clues series starts with a new threat to the Cahill siblings. They are being targeted by celebrity magazines and portrayed as irresponsible youth who like criminal and otherwise bad behavior. However, the threat goes much deeper than that as their foe appears to have consumed the serum that the Cahill family has been trying to protect for centuries.

Divergent by Veronica Roth - In a future version of Chicago, people are divided into 6 groups - Erudite (intellectuals), Candor (who always tell the truth), Amity (peaceful farmers), Dauntless (brave warriors), Abnegation (selfless individuals who serve the greater good) and the Factionless who do the drudge jobs. Beatrice and her brother are both 16 and take the tests which will determine which faction they have an aptitude for. Beatrice's results are not what she expects as she is shown to be Divergent, which could be very dangerous for her if it becomes known. She chooses Dauntless and begins her training, which is also very dangerous, but for different reasons. A good start to the trilogy which will become a movie in March.

Earthfall by Mark Walden - Sam has been surviving on his own in London for the past 18 months since an alien invasion turned most humans into mind controlled slaves. For some reason, he is immune to this power and he finally comes across a small band of people who are also immune and have a resistance of sorts. He joins their group at their underground base and begins training with them. The truth behind the invasion eventually comes out in what is a nice, quick read.
User avatar
Rusty
Math God
Math God
Posts: 9033
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:58 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Rusty »

geez, I haven't updated this since December? I need to get in here more often than that.

The Wise Man's Fear by Patrick Rothfuss - The second book in the trilogy about Kvothe was just as much fun as the first book. Kvothe continues his studies at the University, but circumstances eventually force him to leave and take a position with a rich patron in a distant city. He has other adventures along the way and learns many things, but there is still a lot of territory to cover in the third book. Hopefully it will be out soon. This book was long, but addictive.

Seeker by Jack McDevitt
The Devil's Eye by Jack McDevitt
Echo by Jack McDevitt
Firebird by Jack McDevitt
- These are the latest four books in the Alex Benedict series. Alex solves a number of historical mysteries (well historical from his vantage point some 9000 years in the future). These involve a world that is in danger of destruction from strong radiation, ships that are stuck in a time jumps after they go missing and more. Well written and entertaining science fiction mysteries and I'm looking forward to the next one.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Allegiant by Veronica Roth
- A dystopian trilogy about a society in Chicago a couple of hundred years in the future after some calamity has vastly thinned out the population. The residents of the city are divided into a variety of factions - Erudite (brains), Dauntless (fearless), Candor (truthtellers, even if it hurts), Amity (peaceful farmers) and Abnegation (civil servants). Tris comes of age and her testing shows her to be Divergent, one who doesn't fit into a single faction. She plays a lead role in the eventual battles between factions and the factionless. A good trilogy and one that is being made into a movie series that starts soon.

Lieutenant Hornblower by C.S. Forester
Hornblower and the Atropos by C.S. Forester
Hornblower and the Hotspur by C.S. Forester
Beat to Quarters by C.S. Forester
Ship of the Line by C.S. Forester
Flying Colors by C.S. Forester
Commodore Hornblower by C.S. Forester
- I'm continuing my audiobook revisiting of the Hornblower series, a naval fiction series that takes place during the Napoleonic Wars. I've read the series several times and still love it. Hornblower rises from a penniless Lieutenant circa 1800 to a Post Captain, knight and eventual Commodore a dozen or so years later. He has plenty of adventures from the Caribbean to South America to the Mediterranean and the Baltic while also being held prisoner in Spain and in France.

Replay by Ken Grimwood - A man dies in 1988 and wakes up back in the 1960s where he is a college student. There doesn't seem to be a reason for it, but he is replaying his life and is able to make plenty of changes, including accumulating vast wealth. This does not come without problems, though. When he eventually reaches the point where he died in the first timeline, he visits doctors to try and make sure it doesn't happen again...but to no avail. A very entertaining book that raises a few interesting questions.

Here's Looking at Euclid by Alex Bellos - A nonfiction look into a variety of topics in mathematics by a reporter who also happens to have a degree in mathematics. Bellos writes in a very open and accessible style that should be entertaining for the layman as well as for people like myself who have a mathematical background.

The Neverending Story by Michael Ende - The story of Bastian Bux and his adventures in relation to Fantastica (Fantasia in the movies). I loved the movie and that led me to the book back in the 1980s. It was a good read then and is still a very well written and entertaining book.

Futuredaze ed. by Robert Silverberg - A collection of science fiction tales. Some were better than others, but it was still a good book.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green - A cancer patient romance between 16 year old Hazel, who needs breathing help due to problems with her lungs that are controlled for now, but will probably get worse in the future, and Gus, a cancer patient in remission who lost part of one leg to cancer. They meet through a support group and find that they have a similar sense of (gallows) humor. A very funny book that takes a serious topic and makes it work. The book can be touching at times, too, and will be coming to theaters in June.

Omnitopia Dawn by Diane Duane - A near future science fiction book about a popular MMORPG universe that is about to roll out a big expansion, but is in danger from hackers and other companies which want to see them fail. This world features a new 'real feel' system that allows some users to experience the worlds like they are really there. Inventive and filled with possibilities. Unfortunately, the sequel was supposed to be out in 2011 and is not currently scheduled. Hopefully it will come out some day.

39 Clues - Breakaway by Jeff Hirsch - The latest 39 Clues book continues the adventures of Amy and Dan Cahill, the leaders of a very rich clan spread over the world. They are under attack from a new foe who controls the media and is using it against them as well as sending paid goons to arrange an accident for them.
User avatar
Psychotic_Carp
Your Administrator
Your Administrator
Posts: 6066
Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2004 3:17 pm
Location: Trying to disable the MCP
Contact:

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Psychotic_Carp »

You need to get more people to come read your reviews!
Image
User avatar
Rusty
Math God
Math God
Posts: 9033
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:58 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Rusty »

While that would be nice, it helps me to be able to look back at what I read previously so the mini reviews help me at times.
User avatar
Rusty
Math God
Math God
Posts: 9033
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:58 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Rusty »

Paper Towns by John Green - Quentin has lived next door to a girl named Margo since they were little, but they move in different circles. One night, shortly before graduation, Margo enlists Q's help in completing a list of activities she wants to do in one wild night, including getting even with her cheating boyfriend. Later, Margo disappears/runs away from home and Q tries to decipher the clues that she left behind. Q, along with his best friends Ben and Radar, work on tracking down Margo and eventually go on a road trip to try and find her. I didn't like this book as much as Green's other books, though it was still good. The opening with the pranking and checklist of activities was fun, though.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green - Colin is a former child prodigy who is now approaching the end of high school and is concerned about maybe being a failure with his best years behind him. He only has one friend, Hassan, who helps him figure out when things are 'not interesting' since Colin has a tendency to go off on tangents. Colin also has a thing for girls named Katherine and has recently been dumped by his 19th Katherine. Colin and Hassan decide to go on a road trip from their home in Chicago and end up in a small town called Gutshot, Tennessee. It turns out to be just what they needed. This was a fun book and even has Colin working on a mathematical formula to predict the length of a relationship.

Looking for Alaska by John Green - Miles is bright, but doesn't fit in very well at his school, so he gets his parents to agree to send him to the boarding school in Alabama that his father attended for high school. Miles ends up rooming with a boy nicknamed "The Colonel" and also befriends a girl named Alaska who hooks them up with cigarettes and a boy named Takumi. They are often engaged in a rivalry with the Weekday Warriors who go home on the weekend. The book is essentially told in two parts, starting 130 or so days before a significant event and the other half in the days/weeks/months following. There are plenty of potentially inappropriate parts for young adults, but it is a very good book.

The Iron Empire by James Dashner - The conclusion to the main cycle of the Infinity Ring series as the action shifts back to the time of Plato and Alexander the Great. There is another book scheduled for this summer, but this was a good conclusion to the main threads of the series.

Lord Hornblower by CS Forester
Hornblower During the Crisis by CS Forester
Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies by CS Forester
- These three books finish up the Hornblower series. In Lord Hornblower, Hornblower is in France when Napoleon regains power for 100 days. He has to escape from forces loyal to Napoleon. In Admiral Hornblower, the stories take place between 1821-1823 and are novella length tales that cover an assortment of themes. Hornblower During the Crisis contains the beginning of the final Hornblower novel which Forester was working on at the time of his death. It serves as a decent story in and of itself, but also would have set the stage for Hornblower's activities as a secret agent and events leading up to Trafalgar. There are also two short stories to round out the volume.

Dauntless by Jack Campbell
Fearless by Jack Campbell
Courageous by Jack Campbell
- These are the first three books in the Lost Fleet series. It starts with Captain Jack Geary watching a video of the murder of Fleet Commander Admiral Block by the fleet's enemies. The Alliance Fleet had traveled deep into Syndic territory and had been trapped. Along the way, they recovered a survival pod that had kept the legendary Blackjack Geary alive in suspended animation for the past century. Geary has to take control of the fleet since his date of commission is nearly 100 years earlier than any other fleet captain. He gets them out of the immediate trap, but has to find a way to escape the enemy forces and get the fleet home to Alliance space. Geary also finds that ship tactics have devolved a lot since his day. Tactics now mostly consist of throwing ships at the enemy and pounding it out until one or the other is victorious. He is appalled at that and does his best to change the mindset. This has been a pretty entertaining science fiction series so far. There are three more books in the first series and then two follow up series.
User avatar
Rusty
Math God
Math God
Posts: 9033
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:58 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Rusty »

Valiant by Jack Campbell
Reckless by Jack Campbell
Victorious by Jack Campbell
Dreadnaught by Jack Campbell
- These are the last three books in the Lost Fleet series and the first book in the sequel series, Beyond the Frontier. After many battles in a number of star systems, Captain Geary finally gets what is left of the Alliance fleet back to Alliance space, only to have to fight one last battle. Geary is promoted to Admiral and put in charge of the First Fleet. The First Fleet is sent off to explore the frontier of Syndic space and to learn what they can about the alien race or races that are on the boundary. There are several plots that he has to try to avoid, including one to put him in charge of the Alliance and others to keep him away from the seats of power. Plenty of entertaining battles and exploration as the series progresses. Definitely a good miltary scifi series.

Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle - Three interconnected tales that take place during a blizzard that strands people in a small town. The stories are essentially young adult holiday romance tales, though told with plenty of humor and a bit of adventure as the teens venture out into the snowy town at all hours of the night and day.

The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison
The Stainless Steel Rat's Revenge by Harry Harrison
- Slippery Jim DiGriz is an extraordinarily gifted criminal in a distant future where criminal behavior is rare. He is recruited into the Special Corps where he will deal with special situations, including a battleship that is being constructed on the sly and a series of successful planetary invasions by the residents of a militaristic planet. The stories are told with plenty of wit and DiGriz is a likeable as well as capable agent who uses his talents to good ends, though not always to the liking of his boss. I loved this series when I discovered it back in the early 80s and it is just as entertaining now.

Geektastic - A collection of stories about geeks, nerds and so on in their native environment. Some stories were better than others, but overall the collection was pretty good. The first tale features a couple of cosplayers who hook up at a convention. The catch is that one of them is a jedi apprentice and the other is a klingon.

Terminal by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams - The final book in the Tunnels series starts with the Styx invasion of the United Kingdom in full swing. Will and Elliot end up on the inner world after having survived a nuclear blast inside the earth. They eventually make it back to the surface to rejoin their friends in battling the Styx and their latest weapon, the Armagi. A number of plot twists here and there, especially at the end, but a decent end to the series. Not everyone will be happy with the fate of a variety of characters, but it did bring things to a close. Earlier books in the series were more entertaining, though.
User avatar
Rusty
Math God
Math God
Posts: 9033
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2004 4:58 pm
Location: Michigan

Re: Book Reviews

Post by Rusty »

Invincible by Jack Campbell
Guardian by Jack Campbell
Tarnished Knight by Jack Campbell
Perilous Shield by Jack Campbell
- The second and third books in the Beyond the Frontier series keep the action going with Blackjack's fleet locating a couple of new alien races, one friendly and one not so friendly. They bring the friendly aliens back home to the Alliance, fighting battles against enemies along the way, and then on to Earth.

The Stainless Steel Rat Saves the World by Harry Harrison
The Stainless Steel Rat Wants You by Harry Harrison
The Stainless Steel Rat for President by Harry Harrison
A Stainless Steel Rat is Born by Harry Harrison
The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted by Harry Harrison
- Jim DiGriz travels through time to ancient Earth in order to save the future from the criminal mastermind known as 'He'. He also saves the League from both the Gray Men and from a coalition of alien bugs with a huge armada. Then he helps end a dictatorship on a remote planet. The latter two books tell tales of a young Jim DiGriz from the start of his life of from on Bit of Heaven to his apprenticeship under the Bishop and eventually thwarting a group of slavers and also a planetary invasion. The Stainless Steel Rat series continues to entertain with a nice mix of humor and adventure.

Sky Raiders by Brandon Mull - The first book in the Five Kingdoms series starts on Halloween where a group of middle school students visit a haunted house and find that the people there are really slavers from another dimension. One of the boys manages to avoid capture and follows them his friends through the tunnel between worlds. He eventually is captured and sold as a slave, but this is just the beginning of his adventure which will take him across all five of the kingdoms and spaces beyond. A very nice start to the series. I haven't been disappointed by one of Mull's books yet. I still like the Candy Shop Wars and Fablehaven series more, but this series is off to a good start.

Hunted by Maggie Stiefvater - The second Spirit Animals book follows the search for the second talisman and includes more encounters with the bad guys, who now have spirit animals of their own. A pretty good, quick read.

Conquest by Jonathan Connolly and Jennifer Ridyard - Earth was taken over 20 years earlier by an alien race very similar to humans, though with more advanced technology. They now rule the planet through a mix of Military and Diplomats, two groups that are at odds with each other and are about equal in power. There are still a number of pockets of resistance who make life difficult for the invaders, especially in Scotland where the story takes place. The story follows the daughter of the planetary military governor and her friend. The girl was the first of the aliens who was actually born on Earth. She and her friend befriend two human boys while outside the castle that serves as the alien headquarters. When the Diplomats seize power from the Military, it leads to a number of battle and revelations and a few surprises that set up the next couple of books nicely as a larger picture emerges. A decent start to a trilogy.

The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Rick Yancey - Alfred Kropp was born exceptionally large. He stood over 6 ft tall and weighed over 200 pounds by the time he was in 6th grade. He is the target of bullying at his school, but does not fight back due to his gentle nature, even though he is fairly powerful. His mother died when he was young and he never knew his father. He lives with an uncle and his life becomes more complicated when he and his uncle are hired to steal a sword, one that turns out to be the legendary Excalibur. Then things get even more complicated. A fun adventure with a somewhat unique protagonist.

The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel - Will Everett's father is helping lay the final pieces of track that will connect the eastern part of Canada to the western shores of Canada back in the late 1800s. An avalanche and an encounter with sasquatch lead to a drastic change in their fortunes. Several years later, Will and his father are aboard The Boundless, a massive train that is 7 miles in length when it's 900+ railway cars are tallied. One of the cars is a funeral car that includes a number of treasures and a group of villains have a plot to get inside. There are also a number of circus performers central to the story, including a girl that Will falls for pretty hard. In a way, this is like Oppel's Airborn, but on a train. It is a fun adventure, though doesn't quite reach the levels of the Airborn series.
Post Reply