Bookstooge's Reviews On the Road

Sunday, August 02, 2015

The White Rose (The Chronicles of the Black Company #3)

Review:

This review is written with a GPL 3.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at Bookstooge.booklikes.blogspot.wordpress.leafmarks.com & Bookstooge's Reviews on the Road Facebook Group by Bookstooge's Exalted Permission.

Title: The White Rose

Series: The Chronicles of the Black Company

Author: Glenn Cook

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 343

Synopsis:

The Black Company, fully thrown in with the White Rose, is hiding out in the desert protected by the Rose's null magic field.

Resurrectionists are still hard at work trying to raise the Dominator and the Lady is gathering an unstoppable army to finish off the Black Company and the White Rose.

My Thoughts:

Enjoyed this and Cutter is still an amusing narrator.

A good adventure story that has a semi-happy ending. The Black Company is disbanded at the end, but making one final trip to their origins to drop off the vaunted Chronicles. Cutter and the Lady hook up [no surprise there!] and the White Rose has fulfilled her destiny in dealing with the Dominator.

This very much seemed like an ending to a series. I know there are more, but perhaps this was the original trilogy? If I don't like the next book or 2, at least I liked this trilogy. It was good stuff.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1217846/the-white-rose-the-chronicles-of-the-black-company-3

Saturday, August 01, 2015

Act of War

Review:

Title: Act of War

Series: -----

Author: Dale Brown

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 432

Synopsis:

The United States gets nuked. With the potential for more. A military science geek has been working on a powered exoskeleton for infantry and gets his chance to showboat.

However, sinister forces lurk in the background and may bring ruin and mayhem to all that Americans hold most dear [ie, themselves].

My Thoughts:

This was recommended to me by somebody, but I didn't write a private note on who it was before I added it to my TBR list, so now I can't remember.

So thank you Nameless Person who isn't really Nameless but I Just Forgot.

If you know who you are, please let me know because I really needed this read at this time and I'd like to thank you.

This was flufferific. Nothing but action and mecha and badguys getting their collective asses kicked all over. And the best part? Lots of them are old school commies and commie pinkos! Nothing I like better than a good commie bashing.

The bad was the United States getting nuked. I am NOT a Superman IV kind of guy, but the use of nukes scares me pants-less, like it is supposed to!

My only other experience with Dale Brown is the book Hammerheads, from back in highschool. All I remember about that is some guys with sledgehammers bashing a plane apart, or something. So I don't know if this book is typical or not, but I'll probably get a couple more for when I need some blow'em up action that's easy on the plot.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1217337/act-of-war

July '15 Roundup

The pictures aren't in order as I read the books, but I guess that is just the neurotic cataloging side of me showing :-)

This collage was done at Ipiccy.com with the gunmetal font. I finally signed up, as the last several months I have used them over the other sites that offer free collages. I am using the iphone4 layout, as it allows almost all of the cover to be shown instead of cutting them off at random points.

Not a bad month, as I read 15 books. However, several of those were DNF's. I am thankful to have learned to DNF a book, but I still don't like it. No 5 stars, but I don't expect many of those in a year, so no disappointment there.

Average rating for the month came to 2.96, which since I hover around the 3.02 mark, is exactly average. And I wish I could come up with some witty "average" remark right now, but it is eluding me.

1) Friday's Feast - Don Pendleton - 3 Stars

2) Satan's Gambit - Brian Moses - 2 Stars

3) Requiem for a Ruler of Worlds - Brian Daley - 4 Stars

4) Gabriel's Horn - Alex Archer - 3 Stars

5) Shadow's Linger - Glen Cook - 3.5 Stars

6) The Warlord - Jason Frost - 3.5 Stars

7) Blood and Bullets - James Tuck - 3 Stars

8) Dryad-Born - Jeff Wheeler - 3 Stars/DNF

9) Deathstalker Rebellion - Simon Green - 3.5 Stars

10) The Tejano Conflict - Steve Perry - 1 Star/DNF

11) Operation Odessa - Yoshikazu Yasuhiko - 4 Stars

12) The Fall of Highwatch - Mark Sehestedt - 3 Stars

13) Fathers and Sons - Ivan Turgenev - 4 Stars

14) ATLAS 2 - Isaac Hooke - 3 Stars

15) World's End - Mark Chadbourn - 1 Star/DNF

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1217060/july-15-roundup

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

World's End (Age of Misrule #1) DNF@50%

Review:

Title: World's End

Series: Age of Misrule

Author: Mark Chadbourn

Rating: 1 of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: Abandoned

Synopsis:

The Age of Reason and Science is Over. The Pact between the Forces of Light and Dark has fallen and both return to our world to renew their war.

The Age of Inimical Forces is upon humanity. A time of Heroes and Villains.

My Thoughts:

I really wanted to like this. The idea was just awesome. I love a good Apocalypse!

However, 2 things really kept me from it.

First, Chadbourn's singling out Christianity as the "bad" religion. I'm not denying his examples, but the way it is used is just wrong. Also, Chadbourn makes a very pointed mention of 4 other religions and that they are simply "all connected". It really bordered on the hypocritical and I have no interest in reading an author who is out to bash Christianity.

Second, negating the rules of the Universe because "of Magic" is just ridiculous. It also goes against my underlying belief in an ordered universe because God is a God of order. So this was another philosophical difference and a major one to be honest. Magic can work under another set of rules, but negating the rules of science, well, the sun would go out and the earth would shatter. The Rules that govern electricity govern a whole lot more!

So a swing and a double miss.

If anyone has read further and Chadbourn stops singling Christianity out for his low blows, I'd be interested in continuing but definitely not on my own.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1212701/world-s-end-age-of-misrule-1-dnf-50

Monday, July 27, 2015

ATLAS 2 (Atlas #2)

Review:

Title: ATLAS 2

Series: Atlas

Author: Isaac Hooke

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: 482

Synopsis:

The Super Duper Aliens are back and they want Humanity enthralled.

How do you fight a multi-dimensional being that can take over people?

My Thoughts:

This was too long. That really sums things up. In many ways, the suspense, the tenseness was negated by the almost journal like writing. I much prefer reading from an omniscient narrator viewpoint instead of from the characters' view.

Also, a glossary is so the author can use acronyms to their heart's content without interrupting the flow of the story. If you feel that you'll lose your audience by using acronyms and not explaining RIGHT THAT SECOND, then you're doing it wrong.

I enjoyed the first book, this one was ok. I'll be reading the third, but don't have high hopes. That is sad.

And once again, WHY is this series called ATLAS when the robots called Atlas's aren't much of the story? This story is about the special forces known as MOTHS. While I'm nitpicking, why in the world ATLAS 2? Come on!!!!!!! Show a tiny bit of imagination.

Not a bad book or story, just needs some serious work by a professional. So worth your time if you like military SF and you can pick it up for free. Otherwise, stay clear. It's not good enough to pay money for.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1211530/atlas-2-atlas-2

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Fathers and Sons (Classic)

Review:

Title: Fathers and Sons

Series: ------

Author: Ivan Turgenev

Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: Classic

Pages: 233

Synopsis:

We follow 2 young men, Bazarov and Arkady, as they relate to each other, their fathers and their romantic interests.

My Thoughts:

I was not expecting to like this so much. This book is a snapshot of the changing of a generation and how it can clash with those before. In Russia.

[if you've ever watched Yugioh the Abridged series, you'll know that comes from Bandit Keith and his "In America!" schtick]

Honestly, this was melancholy, romance, young silliness, arrogance and then maturity all rolled into one.

Bazarov is our main antagonist and he does a good job of being an ass for the whole book. He is a nihilist and simply wants to destroy anything and everything, period. He is well enough off that he doesn't have to work and so has lots of time to think and like many introspective young men,his thoughts are centered on himself. That never turns out well and in the end Bazarov gets what is coming to him.

As for protagonists, there didn't seem to be just one and in fact it could be argued that Bazarov is the protagonist as well. Arkady is a young man under Bazarov's philosophical sway until he comes under the sway of Katya, a reserved young lady who is strong as steel but covers it with a modest and demure exterior. The Fathers, of Bazarov and Arkady, don't seem to be strong enough to count as the protagonists as they are afflicted with trying to be their sons best friend instead of their fathers. They typified everything that I associate with Russian men: emotional, philosophical and very melancholic.

I really liked the progression of seeing Arkady and Bazarov mature. Arkady takes on responsibility and finds his place and begins to shoulder the burden that his station in life places upon him. Bazarov lives true to his destructive principles and I was glad to see him die.

To end, thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this book and am now going to have to search out a hardcover copy in a used book store. On amazon, "good" hard cover copies start at $35. That is to rich for me.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1209886/fathers-and-sons-classic

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

The Fall of Highwatch (Chosen of Nendawen) (Forgotten Realms)

Review:

Title: The Fall of Highwatch

Series: Chosen of Nendawen

Author & Artist: Mark Sehestedt

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: 320

Synopsis:

Hweilan is an only daughter in a castle where her mother is despised and she herself is about to be married off for political gain.

However, treachery from within changes everything and Hweilan finds herself on the run with an elf that is distantly related to her.

Then things get bad.

My Thoughts:

This was pretty enjoyable. A case of revenge and encountering a literal Ice Queen, who happens to hate you and your companion.

A good enjoyable tale filled with betrayal, destiny and more enemies and friends than you can shake a stick at.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1207308/the-fall-of-highwatch-chosen-of-nendawen-forgotten-realms

Monday, July 20, 2015

Operation Odessa (Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin #8) (Manga)

Review:

Title: Operation Odessa

Series: Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin

Author & Artist: Yoshikazu Yasuhiko

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Genre: Manga

Pages: 470

Synopsis:

After several books of back story, we are catapulted back into the present. The Federation is making a big push to put Zeon off the earth and back into Space.

The White Base personnel are growing up, coming into their own as a military force.

Amuro continues to grow as a pilot but not much as a man. He's still a pretty whiny teen.

And Char's obsession with him grows even greater.

My Thoughts:

I wasn't real keen on returning to the "present". I found the characters much more likable, interesting and generally all around more engaging in the "past".

However, the story must proceed. Amuro and Char have a really good battle where Amuro starts to come into his own as a warrior. Char's obsession with New Types seems to be affecting his decision making abilities and I can see it bringing about his destruction.

On a side note, I've been wondering how many volumes this is going to be. I still don't know. I see that Vol.'s 11 and 12 are going to be coming out this fall. I think 12 is the last one and I hope so. Who can afford 12 books at $30 a pop? I am slowly collecting these but I have to wait for sales where they go down to 20 or less for a day, then save up my amazon points and snatch one up here and there.

Well, with that being said, these are worth every penny and I'm really glad I saw these at our local library. If I had to wait to read these until I bought them, ha.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1205344/operation-odessa-mobile-suit-gundam-the-origin-8-manga

Sunday, July 19, 2015

The Tejano Conflict (Cutter's Wars #3) DNF@1%

Review:

Title: The Tejano Conflict

Series: Cutter's Wars

Author: Steve Perry

Rating: 1 of 5 Stars

Genre: SF

Pages: Abandoned

My Thoughts:

Due to the inclusion and normalization of homosexuality, I will not be finishing this series.

Which is to bad, because I've been really enjoying these military SF adventures.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1204668/the-tejano-conflict-cutter-s-wars-3-dnf-1

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Deathstalker Rebellion (Deathstalker #2)

Review:

Title: Deathstalker Rebellion

Series: Deathstalker

Author: Simon Green

Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Genre: SFF

Pages: 510

Synopsis:

The first crack in the Empire has appeared. Now it is up to Owen Deathstalker and Company to turn that crack into a full blown crumbling.

And the aliens are wicked bad ass.

Can, and Should, Owen and Co. start a rebellion now? But how can they not?

My Thoughts:

Owen Deathstalker was a very small part of this book. He was the pinky in the handful of characters. Everyone else seemed to play a bigger part than him.

I enjoyed this, but the never ending succession of seat of your pants adventures actually got tiring, as I followed Character 1 through a harrowing adventure and then before I could catch my breath, I was swept up into Character 2's adventure, times 5. It just felt too long.

Whatever.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1202646/deathstalker-rebellion-deathstalker-2