Review: The Last Jedi: Star Wars

The Last Jedi: Star Wars by Michael Reaves

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



When this book came out, I had just finished [b:Shadow Games|9993620|Shadow Games (Star Wars)|Michael Reaves|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320464709s/9993620.jpg|14888432] and wasn't really impressed. So I asked on the book page why I should read this book.
One of the authors, [a:Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff|247692|Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1226025599p2/247692.jpg], responded very nicely and encouraged me to read the book. I thought that was great.

So I read the book. It was ok. On par with the other Coruscant Night books. If you enjoyed the other Jax Pavan books, you'll like this. I certainly enjoyed I5 the most, just like the other books.



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Review: Galactic Odyssey

Galactic Odyssey by Keith Laumer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Absolutely love this book. Not a great tome, not some epic quest. Just a rousing adventure story of a man saving the woman he loves.

I had forgotten just how short this was. But that allows Laumer to give us the quick details and then move on. He allows us, the reader, to fill in the gaps. Instead of being a blowhard, Laumer trusts his audience enough that he doesn't have to write out every single detail of the entire adventure.

And that kind of attitude and writing, they are refreshing every once in a while. Clear the synapses, let the old noggin' rest from cogitating on the latest foundation stone by [a:Brandon Sanderson|38550|Brandon Sanderson|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1201547425p2/38550.jpg] or [a:Steven Erikson|31232|Steven Erikson|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1219169436p2/31232.jpg] or some such. It is quick, neat and precise writing.

Definitely a good once a decade book!



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Review: Arms-Commander

Arms-Commander by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Another half decent book by Modesitt. I've enjoyed the Recluse books, and this one is as good as any of them.
A bit of man-hating, but considering that Modesitt has created a world of nothing but evil 'men', not surprising.
And thank goodness, we don't get bloviated descriptions of every meal :)



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Review: The Scourge of Muirwood

The Scourge of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Absolutely loved this. I'm a sucker for happy endings and this delivered in spades.

Lia had to overcome many trials and tribulations and yet she continued on. Not whining. Not complaining. Not cursing. Not apathetic. Not with an attitude of futile resistance.
It was a real joy to read about a character that you wanted to emulate. Haven't had that in a while.

The story does wrap up nice and neat. As it should. This is the world after ours and our world's issues are over.



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Review: A Plague of Demons & Other Stories

A Plague of Demons & Other Stories by Keith Laumer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Even though I put this on my "Short Story Collection" shelf, the first story, Plague of Demons is a novel unto itself.

Stories about space and man as either the mental underdog who overcomes all or the mental tyrant.
Not quite dystopia, but a bleak outlook even in the encouraging stories.



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Review: Forge of Darkness

Forge of Darkness by Steven Erikson

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Well, I've put up with Erikson long enough. I'm done.

A whole world awash in hopelessness and despair.

I long for a power to wash away the worst that is in us,

War is a shout against futility, hostage, but its echo never last long

I no longer desire to immerse myself in this type of philosophy. There is Goodness. There is Hope. There is Love. There IS Meaning and Reason to Existence. Men can be Changed from their brokenness. There is a God who Cares and Who has taken Responsibility. There is Joy and Happiness and Greatness in Life.

And now I bow out.



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Review: Firestorm: Destroyermen

Firestorm: Destroyermen by Taylor Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The war gets bigger. More characters. More technology. More tactics.

Lots MORE blah, blah, blah. One whole page described a plane taking off. Telling me every single boat's name in a fleet. Describing how the gun/bullet combo of THIS gun is different/better/worse than THAT gun/bullet combo. It wore thin.

But those who love mil/sff probably ate it up.

I enjoyed the story. Lots of fighting with new twists to screw things up. At the end lots of things happen that open up this world even more. I do feel that Anderson is moving ahead a little too fast. I just hope he doesn't let the story snowball out of control. Because I am really liking this overall storyline.



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Review: Gunslinger Girl Omnibus 6

Gunslinger Girl Omnibus 6 by Yu Aida

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



For a "final" volume, this was sad. By sad, I mean pathetic, even by anime/manga standards.

I knew that most of the girls would have to die, to make the story end. But we never find out what happens to the 2nd gen cyborgs.

I would have felt better about the series if Aida had shown the Welfare Agency being wiped out at their headquarters, instead of just preparing for it. It left things extremely unsettled.

This really felt like a pen-ultimate volume. But as is the case with many manga, the author doesn't know how to end it, and so they don't. When I first got into anime, I thought they ended most anime the way they do because of some sort of cool "eastern philosophy" thingy. Now I realize they are just lazy and can't be bothered to wrap things up.

And most of the time, that doesn't bother me. But for this manga, it really did. I think some of that was because I wanted the sacrifices the girls had made throughout the series to be given the honor and respect they deserved. Instead, they are discarded like ragdolls...



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Review: Mother of Demons

Mother of Demons by Eric Flint

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This started out great. From the alien viewpoint. Reminded me a lot of Zahn's Conqueror Trilogy.

Then it seemed to turn into either historical info dumps, or else evolutionist biology. Either way, boring.

The mother of demons is the historian of the human group. Who is tormented by guilt that she must show the younglings the secrets of warfare in order for them to survive.

So, while it was enjoyable, nothing in it made me want to read more of Mr. Flint's writing.



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Review: The Accidental Sorcerer

The Accidental Sorcerer by K.E. Mills

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Why [a:Karen Miller|87306|Karen Miller|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1263471699p2/87306.jpg] feels the need to write as another author, I don't understand. But that is truly neither here nor there.

Loved this book. A fast paced fantasy thriller about a lowgrade magician who magically gets bumped up and who has to deal with some serious problems.

Lots of magical'iness, a little angst, a little romance, lots of action and bam, you have this book. Almost more of a prequel, as I believe the series is called "Rogue Agent" and that aspect doesn't come into play until the very end of the book.

I just hope the series can stay powered up...



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