DNF I wanted to give Terry Pratchett a try. So many people like his work I just could not get into this book, at all. The writing wasn't terrible, butDNF I wanted to give Terry Pratchett a try. So many people like his work I just could not get into this book, at all. The writing wasn't terrible, but nothing special. The story was uninspiring and unoriginal to my eye. It's really just a matter of taste, and it didn't suit mine. I might try another book, another time. .-30- . ....more
2.3 ⭐ I was confused by this book. I read the first two in the series and thought they were decent space opera, especially #2 Barrayar, which I quite l2.3 ⭐ I was confused by this book. I read the first two in the series and thought they were decent space opera, especially #2 Barrayar, which I quite liked. Then I read this one and it was as if Bujold had phoned it in. Tissue thin unlikable characters, lucky coincidences piled on top of each other, sappy dialogue. It wasn't until I read Bujold's helpful appendix on the chronology of her books that enlightenment occurred. Although this is chronologically #3 in the series , it was the second novel she wrote. Barrayar was her eighth book. She got better. Which gives me hope some of the later volumes will be readable. This one almost wasn't, imo. -30-...more
3.2⭐ The second book in Martha Wells' Raksura series about her sarcastic, carnivorous, shape-shifting, flying, lizard people. Yes, it's a guilty pleasu3.2⭐ The second book in Martha Wells' Raksura series about her sarcastic, carnivorous, shape-shifting, flying, lizard people. Yes, it's a guilty pleasure but a well written one. Our hero, Moon and his adopted family the Cloud Indigo Court of the Raksura, have made it back to an ancestral home, a giant Mountain Tree. But someone has stolen the tree's heart seed and Moon and his gang must engage in a quest to get it back. It's fast paced, with decent dialogue between the characters and some well staged action scenes. Wells might not be on the level of Tolkien or LeGuin but this is better than most of the other fantasy series I've tried. I will eventually read the complete series, no doubt. -30-...more
3.1⭐ While I'm a sucker for these WWIII stories, good ones are few and far between. This author can string together a fair tale at least, though heavy 3.1⭐ While I'm a sucker for these WWIII stories, good ones are few and far between. This author can string together a fair tale at least, though heavy suspension of disbelief is required. It kept my interest until the end, that's something. OK beach book....more
To date, this is the worst book of 2020. I managed to make it one quarter of the way through before gagging to a halt.
Xenophobic, jingoistic and h0.5⭐
To date, this is the worst book of 2020. I managed to make it one quarter of the way through before gagging to a halt.
Xenophobic, jingoistic and hugely derivative tale of a sneak attack on the US by China with Russian cooperation(?). The characters are stiff and unbelievable, the dialogue is inane. Never is a coherent explanation offered for the attack(there's a scene about red and blue lines on a map and China's Manifest Destiny, and some talk about an undersea gas field, that's it). All the Chinese technology was either stolen or copied from the US; none of the American technology (up to and including refrigerators and toilets) works because all the microchips were made by the Chinese (who are secretly the Cylons, it appears).
One of its blurbs compares this book to Tom Clancy. This is nothing like Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising from the Cold War era, which was a well plotted and competently written story along similar lines (except Russians instead of Chinese do the invading). Even after all these years, Clancy's is the far better book.
In summary, there's no redeeming value to this book whatsoever. Rather, it's disturbing due to its stealthy, "yellow peril" xenophobia (despite its efforts at disguise with a sympathetic Chinese American character-not fooling anybody)....more
Not one of Campbell's best; 3 fairly pedestrian novellas. The first story is a scifi retelling of the battle of Rork's Drift (called " 1.8⭐ Rounded up
Not one of Campbell's best; 3 fairly pedestrian novellas. The first story is a scifi retelling of the battle of Rork's Drift (called " The Rift," get it?), with aliens replacing Zulus, to nobody's benefit. Second is your basic interdimensional displacement story, with a U.S. cavalry troop shifted to alternate, Conan-ish Kansas. The third is a very mediocre court martial drama, one of Campbell's preachiest stories yet (and that's saying a lot). Overall Rating: Boring....more
So far this is the patchiest of the Peter Grant books, a series noted for its loose ends and dangling participants (characters that p2.5 ⭐ Rounded up.
So far this is the patchiest of the Peter Grant books, a series noted for its loose ends and dangling participants (characters that pop up and disappear almost randomly). Still, enjoyable, lightweight entertainment. Mildly surprising twist at the end....more
March 07/20 3.0⭐ One of the better books so far in the Peter Grant/Rivers of London series ( which I am currently binge reading). This one has our magicMarch 07/20 3.0⭐ One of the better books so far in the Peter Grant/Rivers of London series ( which I am currently binge reading). This one has our magical detective facing off against the arch villian of the series, the Faceless Man, in the final showdown. I still have my usual complaint that Aronovitch's plots are too busy and cluttered with nonessentials and that can be frustrating. But the stories are imaginative and the dialogue is funny and entertaining. I also like the glimpses of London myth and history the author provides.The conclusion is satisfying and hints of more adventures ahead for our heroes.
Dec 19/22 Winter reread, to take my mind off the frigid weather. I'm going to leave the rating alone, in this case but it is one of the better books in the series. If I did give into temptation I'd probably bump it up a star (3.6⭐)
June 24 2023 Summer reread, to take my mind off...whatever. Life. It always works!...more
The second of the Peter Grant/Rivers of London magical mysteries. Already a bit formulaic but with enough sharp dialogue, originality and vivid de2.5⭐
The second of the Peter Grant/Rivers of London magical mysteries. Already a bit formulaic but with enough sharp dialogue, originality and vivid description that; Who cares?
This book features the introduction of Grant's nemesis the Faceless Man, more river goddesses, jazz vampires along with other fantastical beings and where to find them. He also throws in some modestly graphic sex, to liven things up.
My main criticism of this series remains, the plot's so cluttered with side bars, red herrings and loose ends it distracts from the main story. Also, Aronovitch takes the long view of character development; three or four books for a recurring character (if then), minor characters come and go like a revolving door. Still, it's entertaining and imaginative, albeit very lightweight but I know I'll be back for more....more
Pleasantly diverting trifle, part of Aronovitch's magic police of London series. While his wor3,4⭐ Updates rating and review,
First read February 2020
Pleasantly diverting trifle, part of Aronovitch's magic police of London series. While his world of magical cops and robbers is entertaining on the whole, it's too cluttered with loose ends and red herrings to be satisfying the way Rowling or Tolkien or Le Guin are (but to be fair, very few writers are, obviously). It's just too busy and could use tighter editing.
While I appreciate the effort to meld police procedural with wizards and wands, the book's clogged with cop acronyms that add nothing to the story. I do like that Aaronovitch, like Rowling, refuses to tone down or apologize for his Britishness to North American readers; helps to make his stories distinctive. Aaronovitch is also pretty good with "cheeky" banter, along the lines of a Doctor Who episode (for which series he was once a writer).
Still, better than average urban fantasy, with engaging characters, Just short of 4 stars,...more
Updated. Removes Starred Rating. Just couldn't finish. The writing isn't very good but that hasn' t stopped me in the past. Suspension of disbelief reqUpdated. Removes Starred Rating. Just couldn't finish. The writing isn't very good but that hasn' t stopped me in the past. Suspension of disbelief required = heavy. Mainly it's just a case of seen it all before, again and again. Stories of mass disappearances/alien abductions go back to the venerable Phillip Wylie (at the very least). Tag that with the chosen-to-save-humanity riff and you've got this book. After getting half way through, there was no incentive to finish; didn't care how it ended....more
THIS AUTHOR IS NOT MICHAEL CONNELLY THE MYSTERY WRITER OF HARRY BOSCH AND LINCOLN LAWYER BOOKS!!!!
I made that mistake so you don't have to.
I would hTHIS AUTHOR IS NOT MICHAEL CONNELLY THE MYSTERY WRITER OF HARRY BOSCH AND LINCOLN LAWYER BOOKS!!!!
I made that mistake so you don't have to.
I would have given this zero stars if I could, after managing to wade through about 10 chapters. This is a Trumpian fantasy about a United States brought low by a North Korean EMP attack (?) and now in the grips of evil " socialists" but being reclaimed by freedom fighters. It's an updated version of the Turner Diaries that doesn't bother to hide it's racism towards Arabs and Muslims. Goes without saying the plot is stupid, the characters wooden and unbelievable. Do have to say though, that the book lives up to it's title....more
**spoiler alert** Crazed right wing fantasy, written by a lunatic (either Clancy or his ghosts). The plot is riddled with mistakes in geography, polit**spoiler alert** Crazed right wing fantasy, written by a lunatic (either Clancy or his ghosts). The plot is riddled with mistakes in geography, politics, reality. It's completley unbelievable and more importantly, it's completley uninteresting. Save:your time;your money; yourself....more
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