A good follow-up to the first story, though I didn't feel it was as complete of a story. I'm hoping there will be more in this series; there's a lot oA good follow-up to the first story, though I didn't feel it was as complete of a story. I'm hoping there will be more in this series; there's a lot of interesting territory to explore in this oeuvre. ...more
This book was featured as the Tor free ebook of the month, so I dutifully downloaded it. But then I read the description, and it immediately jumped toThis book was featured as the Tor free ebook of the month, so I dutifully downloaded it. But then I read the description, and it immediately jumped to the top of my reading queue. It's a very short story, so I burned through it fairly quickly. Luckily the sequel is out next month, so I've already pre-ordered it and will burn through it with the same gusto, I'm sure.
The unique and compelling story idea is very well told as we discover and learn along with the protagonist. As short as the story is, it's chock full of surprises, twists and turns. Very enjoyable....more
THE REEF is a sequel to TITLE FIGHT, and one of the novellas that supplement that vast, varied, and deeply diverse Galactic Football League (GFL) seriTHE REEF is a sequel to TITLE FIGHT, and one of the novellas that supplement that vast, varied, and deeply diverse Galactic Football League (GFL) series. The story picks up about two years after Chaiyal North is exiled to The Reef, an ancient, formerly-alive carcass on the edge of known space. Essentially a frontier with accompanying lack of lawfulness, The Reef is a place where people go to escape their past and build a future.
The future that Chai, now known as Lash Kari, builds for himself is less than purposeful, as he wallows in self-pity and dejection until his own choices catch up to him and force him to make deliberate changes to the way he lives.
Essentially a tale of redemption, THE REEF takes Chai on a path he never would have considered for himself, but ends up fitting as well as the championship belt he left behind. Full of new characters, locales and creatures, along with familiar settings and a few recognizable faces, THE REEF is a fun and exciting sidebar to the larger GFL universe....more
A good story, combining a ghost story with a period piece about greed and a cascade of bad decisions. Looking forward to watching the movie based on tA good story, combining a ghost story with a period piece about greed and a cascade of bad decisions. Looking forward to watching the movie based on the story. Lots of great visceral descriptions as well as being well-told in the style and setting of nearly a century ago....more
I was once told “Nobody has only one back surgery.” This was well before I had my first, and when I had to have my second, I confess I felt like a bitI was once told “Nobody has only one back surgery.” This was well before I had my first, and when I had to have my second, I confess I felt like a bit of a statistic. My second surgery was much more serious than the first; I started with a microdiscectomy, then a little over a year later, my re-herniated disc was removed and my L5-S1 vertebrae fused together.
Before I went under for my second surgery, I tried to do as much research as I could to get a better idea of how the process would go. I researched blog posts, youtube videos of people who had done the same thing, and watched clinical animations of the procedures, all with the goal of better informing myself before I went under the knife.
I never did find any specific examples that were the same situation as me, but I got a general feeling of what would happen, what the recovery might be like, as well as some sobering information about how not all surgeries are successful.
I did NOT find anything like this book - a true, honest first-hand account of the trials and tribulations of back surgery from a recovery perspective. I wish I had; there was a lot of good information gathered in one place that I had spent hours and days researching and compiling from various online resources.
This book is very much a diary-style book, and as such feels a little disconnected, especially in the beginning. It hits its flow in the middle, and then peters out again towards the end. Perhaps not surprisingly, this pattern follows surgical recovery as well, so it accurately reflects what you can expect in terms of emotions following recovery. It’s obvious that the author did a lot of research, much like I did, but with some key differences. The first and most major difference is that her research was done knowing she would be more or less on her own after surgery. I was lucky enough to be able to stay with family, and so did not have to endure the research and difficulties of a Rehab Center. The book covers the worst-case scenario of someone recovering from surgery by themselves. Certainly not ideal, but probably inevitable.
Her research is methodical, and she includes incredibly handy product reference links throughout the book. Everything from reacher-grabbers to personal hygiene items are discussed frankly, along with real-user feedback.
It’s a mixed-bag with some things being very specific to her situation - the roommate arrangements, the particular exercises given by Physical and Occupational Therapists, the particular Rehab Center she went to. Other things are generally applicable to anyone - equipment to get, things to bring to the hospital, managing personal hygiene. Sometimes the advice is interesting, but doesn’t apply, but the meat of it applies not only to back surgery, but to other surgery as well.
The differences between her surgery and mine were shocking to me, considering how similar our circumstances were. This very much illustrates the point that, despite whatever the book may say, you should follow YOUR doctor’s orders, and YOUR Therapist’s exercises. This book will give you lots of information about what to expect, but make sure you are paying attention to what you can, cannot, should, and should not do.
As I mentioned, I wish I had read this book before my surgery. This is a heartfelt reference written by someone who is reaching out to offer help to others, knowing that this type of thing is and can be scary - especially if you’re on your own....more
An interesting twist on vampirism. Lots of social and political commentary on discrimination and racism. I've got the v-wars books and hope there is sAn interesting twist on vampirism. Lots of social and political commentary on discrimination and racism. I've got the v-wars books and hope there is some overlap and parallels with characters and/or story....more
Alone is Book Three in the Generations Trilogy. Book One dealt with mostly discovery of what was happening; Book Two dealt with unification of the BirAlone is Book Three in the Generations Trilogy. Book One dealt with mostly discovery of what was happening; Book Two dealt with unification of the Birthday Children to a common purpose. Now Book Three pits the united Birthday Children against their common threat, although it does explore the themes of discovery and unification in a different, but related direction.
This young adult series concludes with a literal bang. Sigler’s work always has a certain cinematic quality to it, and his battles and climaxes in this book are no different. To the great delight of all his fans, it’s finally revealed exactly how this series fits into the Siglerverse - the alternate universe in which all of Sigler’s works exist. It’s been hinted at for a long time, and now it is finally revealed.
I was fortunate enough to read an early draft of the book, and one of my comments at the time was, “That was one of the most satisfying endings I have ever read.” There is definitely a nice sense of conclusion to this trilogy, and even enough of the door left open to be walked through at a later time, if Sigler decides to continue in this direction.
The book is not all fist-pumps and high-fives as one group triumphs over all obstacles, however. There is real conflict here, along with bad decisions, horrible consequences, and a fair load of heartbreak. Sigler masterfully ties plots lines together, providing a conclusion that will resonate will all readers, whether they are excited or repulsed by the dramatic elements that comprise it.
It’s hard to come to grips with this series ending. I would love to see more of these characters, but I guess that’s the mark of a good series, and especially of a good ending....more
This was a really cool story with all kinds of new creative interpretations of ghosts, how they work, and how they fit into the world. Some really cleThis was a really cool story with all kinds of new creative interpretations of ghosts, how they work, and how they fit into the world. Some really clever elements in here. I only wish the story were longer. Which is not to say that it needed to be - the story is complete and self-contained; it just leaves me wanting more of this style, as any well-written book should....more
I want to live in Carter's Cove. And I want to work in Cross-Winds Books bookstore. The former is the setting of Winter Secrets, and the latter is theI want to live in Carter's Cove. And I want to work in Cross-Winds Books bookstore. The former is the setting of Winter Secrets, and the latter is the place of employment of the main character. Let me be clear - I am not a romantic novel kinda guy; this book was way outside my typical wheelhouse. That being said, this was not a gushy romance book; it is a clever love story centered around the concept of courtship at Christmas.
Carter’s Cove is some sort of mystical place that holds magical people, objects, occupations and infrastructure. The entire town is portrayed as a Thomas Kincaid painting come to life, with the kind of small-town beauty that can only be found in a wifi dead zone. This is a town full of people who actually seek each others’ company out, spend time talking and having a good time, seemingly disconnected from the hustle-bustle that drags us normal folks down with our daily grind. In other words, it’s the idyllic spot for a Christmastime love story.
The story is such a simple concept, I can't believe I haven't run into it before. (Again, not a romance story kinda guy) The basic concept for this story is that Molly, the most eligible single woman in Carter’s Cove, has a secret admirer, who leaves her a note and a song each of the days in December leading up to Christmas. It’s an advent courtship calendar! Brilliant!
The suspense builds with each day’s anticipation of the next piece of the puzzle, as Molly struggles to figure out who is her secret admirer. Along the way, we readers get a little extra inside information, which helps us cheer Molly on when she needs cheering, and stand firmly at her side when she needs support.
Obviously (hopefully?), Carter’s Cove is a fictional place, and the author uses my favorite kind of world-building, where the special parts of the place are slowly revealed through small hints and one-off casual descriptions that gradually provide the context for the story. The reader is so casually exposed to the uniqueness of Carter’s Cove that it feels both at-home and familiar.
This is a very cute story of courtship and love, with a lighthearted feel to it that makes it easy to read. It also makes me want to move to Maine and hole up in a cabin in the winter with a warm fireplace and 500 books....more
The long-anticipated fourth GFL novella was well worth the wait. Expanding on a brief introduction in The All-Pro (book three in the Galactic FootballThe long-anticipated fourth GFL novella was well worth the wait. Expanding on a brief introduction in The All-Pro (book three in the Galactic Football League), The Rider follows the struggles of a burgeoning sport's rising star, Poughkeepsie Pete. The fascinating sport that has small riders riding big monsters in games of joust, capture the flag, tug of war and others gets a more fleshed-out treatment here, as we follow Pete and his team of riders as they struggle with day-to-day money issues and the complications of riding literal monsters into mock-combat.
This novella (in category only, as it's pretty much a full-length novel) pulls together elements from many other GFL stories as well as the rest of the Siglerverse, featuring sentients and creatures that have barely been mentioned in other stories. The story follows the closing of the 10th season of Dinolition as the sport's premier rider, Poughkeepsie Pete, has to deal with upstart attitudes, money problems, mount issues, and the ever-present threat of gangster financing.
Once again, Gredok the Splithead features in this storyline. He's such a great character - one of my favorites - and it seems that every appearance in every story adds more and more complex layers onto his personality.
If your appetite was whet by the peek into Dinolition from The All-Pro, this story will satisfy your craving and more. It's also a fine standalone work, with a gripping plot and a bunch of new characters to love. The game wheel is spinning, and we're all hoping it lands on "Book Two" !...more
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