Review: Startide Rising

Startide Rising by David Brin

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I initially read this back in the mid-90's when I was young and impressionable and enjoyed it.

It was kind of a "meh" read this time. Of course, it being hinted that dolphins, humans and chimps all get it on together back on earth did not help.



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Review: Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This was a much sillier book than its predecessor. And I loved every word.
This was Dahl "in spaaaaaaace......". Over the top situations, stupid adults, smart kid, crazy creatures. The only way it could have been better is if it had been served with melted caramel covering.





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Review: The Son of Neptune

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



To sum up this book, Percy Jackson kicks Jason's ass, period.
Not literally, but in a characterizational way [and yes, I made up that word just for this].
To be fair, I've had a whole series to find out about Percy Jackson, and 1 book about Jason.



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Review: Dragon Strike

Dragon Strike by E.E. Knight

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I was boreder and boreder. And for me write those words, you better believe it.

Knight has almost lost me on his Vampire Earth series and has just about lost me on this series as well. How can someone have such cool overall ideas and then bore me to death?



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Review: Ninja High School Pocket Manga #5

Ninja High School Pocket Manga #5 by Ben Dunn

My rating: 0 of 5 stars



This wasn't about Feeple and the hot babes fighting over him.

It was about vampires and Professor Steamhead! I HATE steamhead stories. They are so pointless...



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Review: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Dahl at his absolutely'ist bestist!

However, as an adult reading this, Dahl truly does make a horrifying situation. A family on the brink of starvation, death to exposure by elements, etc.

And then everything is better. The journey is fun, fantastic and rollicking.



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Review: The Island of Dr. Moreau

The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



On one level this is just an old horror story about a mad scientist run amok. An island, the scientist, his weak willed helper, the shipwrecked narrator and of course, the monsters. Who aren't just monsters and that is what makes this a horror story.

On the other level you have a deeply disturbing humanistic philosophical tale about what makes a human. Wells' outlook is one of his times; the emerging materialistic/evolutionistic viewpoint that wants man to be no more than an animal and that we are just a rung on a ladder.

A disturbing story on both levels.



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Review: The Secret Adversary

The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This book really should have been called The Accidental, Inept, Irrational & Stupid Amateur Detectives Get Lucky, Beyond Belief!.

I have come to realize that mysteries just can't win for me. The characters are either cold hearted professionals or bumbling amateurs.

So I enjoyed this for what it was.



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Review: The Sailor on the Seas of Fate

The Sailor on the Seas of Fate by Michael Moorcock

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I completely, thoroughly enjoyed this novel.
3 connected stories that deal with murder, spirits and magic. Nobody is safe from Elric and Stormbringer, nobody.

We get to see the first real hints of how Stormbringer might not be just a sword and how Elric is becoming reliant on it.

On the down side, we get some extremely slimmed down existential philosophy, but thankfully nothing like on the scale of [a:Steven Erikson|31232|Steven Erikson|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1219169436p2/31232.jpg].

The blend of pathos, eros and good old horror are perfectly balanced with the heroic element of good vs evil.



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Review: Star Wars: Tales of the Bounty Hunters

Star Wars: Tales of the Bounty Hunters by Kevin J. Anderson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Unfortunately, these sets of stories are no longer canon, thanks to episodes 1-3 and the stupid Clone Wars tv series.

However, on their own, these stories were just as good, if not a touch better than the previous Tales book [[book:Star Wars: Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina|353479]].

The first story, about IG-88, was the best in my opinion. Robots are always cool and killer robots are wicked cool.



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