Tuesday, April 27, 2010

April '10

DISCWORLD: JINGO
-T. Pratchett-282-epub
-fantasy- an island pops up between Ahnk-Morpork and Klatch and things get unsettled. Vimes, Carrot, Vetinari and several Klatchians manipulate things to make everything work. And Vimes get "Duke'd", much to his horror. Oh, and Nobby gets in touch with his feminine side and that is really the only funny part of the book.

DOOM: KNEE-DEEP IN THE DEAD
-D. Ab Hugh-180-epub
-game novelization- Oh My Word! This just about has to be the worst book, grammar, plot, characterization, that I have ever read! It was basically reading the game with some token things thrown in, like conversation, love interest, duty, despair and hope. It was just plain horrible. Continuity was almost nil; to call the characters cardboard cutouts would insulting to cardboard. The game is awesome, this novel, not so much. I can see why someone would read this first one, because they are into Doom, but after getting through this trainwreck, I don't see how the next 3 books were ever published. I certainly won't be reading them!

STAR WARS: DEATH TROOPERS
-J. Schreiber-138-epub
-fantasy\horror- the first foray into the Star Wars universe that is outside the typical fantasy/action genre. A prison ship goes derelict next to a dead star destroyer. Turns out there is some sort of plague, genetically engineered zombie ceator thingy and just about everyone buys the farm. Han Solo and Chewbacca are in the prison ship and they and 2 others escape. I guess this was supposed to be creepy and scary, but it came across as hack to me. Telling me that a corridor seems to go on forever, instead of making me feel the character's terror, makes me feel like they are a complete idiot. Nothing in the story interested me, and having Han and Chewie thrown in for a connection came across as very weak and lame.

ROBOTECH: INVID INVASION
-J. McKinney-135-epub
-scifi-the first in the New Generation trilogy. Scott is the only survivor of the doomed Mars Expedition to survive the re-invasion of earth. This book mainly deals with the gathering of the group as they start their way to Reflex Point. The book offers a whole lot more info in regards to the Sentinels and Hunter's Fleet and hints at things already taken place affecting this time and place.

ADMIRAL'S GHOST
-NB. VanYoos-UNFINISHED-epub
-scifi-a drug runner dies and is united with some weird alien who possesses bodies to experience life. T/he/y end up as some Admiral for some aliens. Not fast paced, not really engaging, plus it crashed my 505. So that was the deal breaker.

ELVEN WAYS: THE DARK FERRYMAN
-J. Rhodes-UNFINISHED-epub
-fantasy-simply couldn't get back into the world created in The Four Forges.

DRESDEN FILES: STORM FRONT
-J. Butcher-184-epub
-Urban fantasy-in which we are introduced to Harry Dresden, a wizard who is a PI, who also helps out the cops. In this story Harry takes down a big baddy wizard who is breaking the rules while himself under scrutiny from the White Council. Palatable urban fantasy, but I prefer the Codex Alera series alot more.

DRESDEN FILES: FOOL MOON
-J. Butcher-214-epub
-Urban fantasy-werewolves and the like are killing people. Some rogue fbi agents [who nobody knows are rogue yet] set up Harry, a Werewolf and a top mob boss to kill take the fall for the killings. Harry gets the crap beaten out of him and survives.

BORDERLANDS: COVENANTS
-L. Freeman-375-epub
-fantasy-this book was just not long enough. A horse trooper turns out to have magical abilities AND be the kings heir. He knew this and was running away, which is why he was in the horse troopers. Has to prevent a war between the Borderlands and his country of Iversterre while learning to control his magic, avoid being taken over by his former master [who has turned to the dark arts to gain more power], avoid the attentions of a jealous former comrade who is also showing magical abilities and do this all while different factions vie for either his attention, or death. Very well written, gripping action, tense, but never gets dark. It is a great attribute to be able to show bad things without allowing that tone to take over.

BORDERLANDS: KING'S OWN
-L. Freeman-269-epub
-fantasy-Rabbit, the horse trooper/talent user/king's heir, is also named Cyn [kin] of the ruling elf of the Borderlands. Along with Jussom, king of Iversterre, he fights a demon trying to take over a town near the border that wants to precipitate a war. Fresh and intriguing and well done. Highly recommended.


BORDERLANDS: SHADOWS PAST
-L. Freeman-307-epub
-fantasy-Rabbit, with the Royal retinue, is invited to a fief for a possible marriage proposal. Thing aren't what they seem though. Turns out there are several factions, envoys from other countries among them, that want marriage, death, chaos, etc, etc. Good characterization. The only concern I have is "where is the author going?" with the story. I just hope she knows the end of the story.

CODEX ALERA: CAPTAIN'S FURY
-J. Butcher-387-epub
-fantasy-Tavi, now acknowledging his title of Octavian, must try to make peace with the Canim in the face of a Senatorial guard, a Senator who wants glory and the Canim themselves. Meanwhile, Gaius sneaks into Kalare with the help of Bernhard and his wife and lets loose a Great Fury that Kalare is holding. It destroys the capital of Kalare and ends the resistance. Ends with Tavi going with the Canim back to their homeland to help fight the vord and to give him breathing room to learn to deal with his new status as Princep.

DISCWORLD: THE LAST CONTINENT
-T. Pratchett-227-epub
-fantasy-a story about Rincewind and the wizards and a land suspiciously like Australia. Where it never rains. They have to make it rain. This book typifies why I liked the stories about Rincewind the best. Silly, comedic danger, action and nothing more serious than a thunderbolt. Good stuff.

ROBOTECH: METAMORPHOSIS
-J. McKinney-148-epub
-scifi-ugh. This arc, New Generation, of the Robotech saga was my least favorite in the anime and it is tough reading. Boring and slogging. The team is almost at reflex point and the invid simulacrom joins up with them, Ariel. Don't know when I'll read the next one, going to be awhile though.

TEARS OF ARTAMON: LORD OF SNOW AND SHADOWS
-S. Ash-387-epub
-fantasy-a would-be emperor. A young artist, heir to a kingdom and a cursed power. A powerful scullery maid, who must compete with a Foreign Princess. Battling clans who hate each other with absolute hatred. This is the backdrop of the story Sarah Ash begins to weave. Interesting, but to be honest, nothing really stands out to me from this book. I'll finish the series, enjoy them, but probably never re-read them again.

DRESDEN FILES: GRAVE PERIL
-J. Butcher-255-epub
-urban fantasy- a vengeful rogue wizard kills himself to turn himself into a ghost. He has help from the Vampire Court and they all go after Harry. Harry saves the night but starts a war between the White Council and the Vampire Court. A main side character was some kind of Christian Knight Templar, and it really grated how he was used. He was powerful because he believed, not because of WHO he believed in. I'll read one or two more, but this just hits too close to home, with blasphemy and stuff, for me to really enjoy these.

VLAD TALTOS: PHOENIX
-S. Brust-189-epub
-fantasy-one nice thing about a shorter book, you don't get bogged down in anything. Vlad helps save the Empire from invasion and from being torn apart from internal strife, but he also separates from his wife and takes off in exile to start a new life as a "not an assassin".

SHADOWS OF THE APT: DRAGONFLY FALLING
-A. Tchaikovsky-540-epub
-fantasy- whoo! This was good! The wasp empire rolls over an ant city, allows another ant city to invade Collegium [which beats them off with help of allies right the end], Totho [the halfbreed in love with Cheerwell Maker] turns traitor and joins the empire, lots of fighting, lots of cool exploring the world of humans with insect characteristics without being stodgy, dry or repetitive. Tchaikovsky can write. Very well. The story just sucked me in and I in no way felt like I was reading 500 pages. This is what fantasy should be. Engaging, not over the top, telling a large story but not losing sight of individuals while not getting bogged down in meaningless detail, exploring a new world [to the reader] while not being expositional. Highly recommended!!!



MONTHLY SUMMARY
16 novels
2 unfinished novels
4217 pages