Review: Bio-Weapon

Bio-Weapon by Vaughn Heppner

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I feel like I am reading some sort of train wreck with these books. I don't particularly "like" them, but I KNOW I am going to be reading the next one :-)

More fighting between the Social Unity and the Highborn with politics inserting itself and ruining everything. And our main character is stuck in the middle, again.

I think part of why I don't care that much for these is that both the S.U. and the Highborn are both entities that a normal human wouldn't want. And from the actions, or lack thereof, from the outer planet confederation [I can't remember if it was even really named], it doesn't seem much better.

So I am reading a survival story with no good options.



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Review: Control Point

Control Point by Myke Cole

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



I was REALLY looking forward to this book. Big Vin Diesel looking guy on the front and X-MEN splashed all over it. Guns and magic.

And then I read it. And by page 40 came my first disappointment:
Oscar Britton is a black man.
Now, it is not what you think, at least if you're not just a liberal leaning judgmental douchebag.
The cover of the book showed the main character as white.
I was disappointed because the author didn't stand up for his character. I know that many covers don't portray what is in the book, or do distort it, but this was just sad.

I read about a character who is supposed to be a Lt. in the military. Being a Lt means he was supposed to have some experience under his belt.
What I got was a hot head who couldn't, or even worse, refused to think about his actions and what they would mean and their consequences.

Oscar KILLS his dad because he runs home when his powers manifest. Instead of thinking, or even being afraid of hurting others, he puts himself first. Oscar Britton is the true form of the Selfers. I can understand him not trusting the SOC, or even running, but the actions he took deliberately put other people into danger.

Then, after that, even when he is given the opportunity to train and learn about his power, he just keeps reacting. When he frees the psycho chick, and she kills everyone around and turns on him, he acts surprised. Well DUH!

I guess I couldn't stand the fact that EVERY major decision Britton makes is simply a reaction based on either only his emotions, or incomplete data or both.

It was really more like reading about a young teenager than a grown man in the military.



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Review: The Mysterious Affair at Styles

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



While I enjoyed the overall plot and threading of the plot, I simply could not get over Hercule Poirot hiding information.

While it is explained in the end, the idea of hiding information about murder is just anathema to me. What if Poirot had been killed, or hurt or damaged in some way? Then all of his hiding of info would have been worse than useless!

So I am going to continue to read mysteries, as they are a different genre. But if this evasive selfishness is a standard part of the characters, then I don't know how long I'll keep with Christie.



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Review: Defiant

Defiant by Mike Shepherd

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I enjoyed this book the most of the series so far.

2 different storylines that are almost 2 separate sub-plots. One about bringing political unity to some Hawaiin like world and the second about Princess Kristine saving her world from the Peterwalds.

I did not see the death of Tom coming at all. But since he'd gotten married, he was no longer a potential love interest to Kris, and hence his literary value went down to zero.

The battle at the end was pretty good. I'd like to see the Peterwalds get a direct bloody nose instead of the indirects that have been happening. Oh well, I'm sure it is coming.



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Review: Rising Tides: Destroyermen

Rising Tides: Destroyermen by Taylor Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The Grik get a rest from the spotlight [still in the story though] and instead we deal more with the British People, the Twisted Catholic Kingdom and some adventures due just to nature happening.

Anderson hops between story lines with a deftness that didn't make me wish he would stay on the particular line I was reading, I was ok moving from one line to another. Which I am usually not a fan of.

This world is just so big and cool that we constantly get new adventures and I like that...




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Review: Warriors of the Storm

Warriors of the Storm by Jack L. Chalker

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



It is interesting to see Chalker explore different worlds that the Master Computer has set up.
Not much else to say really.



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Review: Whipping Mek

Whipping Mek by Brian Herbert

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



If you are going to write a short story, then you need to be able to write well.

And Herbert pretty much expels a mass of putrid pap and counts on fan loyalty for the rest.



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Review: The Farthest Shore

The Farthest Shore by Ursula K. Le Guin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



2012 Review:
Definitely much slower, more esoteric and less action'y than the previous books.
Hints of prophecy and greatness while focusing on the mortality of humanity.


2005 Review:
Ged is old, and fulfills prophecy and saves the world. But it isn’t action, more ideas.



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Review: Star Wars: Tales from Mos Eisley Cantina

Star Wars: Tales from Mos Eisley Cantina by Kevin J. Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is what Star Wars should be like.
A bunch of tight stories that are actually enjoyable to read. Each story had its own unique plot, but they all centered around the Cantina and so had a larger overall theme.
Some were better than others [the Wolfman story was just plain stupid imo], but the good ones were just plain fun.

And Star Wars should be fun!



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Review: James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



A good story about a young boy who leads his new set of friends through dangers and adventure and safely leads them to New York City where everything turns out just right.



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