Bookstooge's Reviews On the Road

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn (Thieves' World #2)

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: Tales from the Vulgar Unicorn

Series: Thieves' World

Author: Robert Asprin, Editor

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 299

Synopsis:

A continuation of the Thieves' World anthology, where we get novellas to short stories about various characters and their adventures in the grubby city of Sanctuary.

My Thoughts:

This stuff was ok. Kind of a like a Forgotten Realms but in one city instead of multiverse and short stories instead of trilogies or series.

My only sticking point is that no character is really likable. You have some slightly sympathetic ones, but none that you want to cheer for. It really is a collection of scummy people. There are 10 books in this anthology series, we'll see how long I stick with it :-D

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1256930/tales-from-the-vulgar-unicorn-thieves-world-2

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Firehand (Time Traders #5)

Review:

Title: Firehand

Series: Time Traders

Author: Andre Norton, P.M. Griffin

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 282

Synopsis:

Ross Murdock and Co head to a world that in the future opposes the Big Brains and win. The Big Brains burn the world in the past and Ross must prevent that from happening, all the while hiding Earth's involvement.

And he gets involved with some chick.

My Thoughts:

This was a disappointment. Who ever P.M. Griffin is, this collaboration did not work for me, at all.

This was a bloody romance. I don't have a problem with those, but I do when it is completely different from the previous FOUR books in the series. I enjoyed this as a standalone story, but not as a part of the Time Traders.

I don't know if I want to read any more. I believe the rest of the Time Traders are collaborations as well and this one just turned me right off.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1255456/firehand-time-traders-5

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

I am a Cat (Classic)

Review:

Title: I am a Cat

Series: -----

Author: Soseki Natsume

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: Japanese Classic

Pages: 678

Synopsis: Spoiler Ahead!

Written at the turn of the previous century, this critically acclaimed Japanese masterpiece show the Japanese to themselves from the unbiased viewpoint of a cat who belongs to a lazy teacher.

The observations of said cat end when he walks into a water jar and drowns.

My Thoughts:

I found this entertaining for the first 200 pages. After that, it became very tedious. Part of that is the cultural and historical divide. I don't have the necessary background/heritage to find amusing what Natsume is mocking. It would be like an aboriginal bushman reading Dicken's The Pickwick Papers and finding parts amusing, but not the whole. That is how I felt for most of this book.

Then you have the long discourses by the Cat, which Natsume makes no bones about using as a mouthpiece. Dialogues and rants about Japanese life in 1900. Not enjoyable. Ever hear someone go on and on about a subject that you don't care about while they feel passionately against it? It is grating and tiring.

For the last 25% of the book, I'd read 5% [about 30+] then go read another whole book. It was really that hard.

I am glad I read this however, as broadening my literary horizons [classically speaking] is never a waste of time. It also helps with a worldwide perspective, as certain ideas and thought patterns are completely foreign to me. And at the same time you see that people are people no matter when or where they lived. We are all human.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1254583/i-am-a-cat-classic

Monday, September 14, 2015

The Cutthroat (Warlord #2)

Review:

Title: The Cutthroat

Series: Warlord

Author: Jason frost

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: Action/Adventure

Pages: 269

Synopsis:

Captain Awesome Sauce is hot on the trail of the Bad Guy, so that he can rescue Awesome Sauce Jr. Tagging along is Hot Girl Wife Replacement. Sadly, Ye Olde Pirate Crewe forces them to detour and take part in their swashbuckling Adventures of Olde.

A lot of people die and Awesome Sauce and Replacement Wife keep on truckin'.

My Thoughts:

Brainless action with a new brand of California Pirates. Nothing really stands out. Except the pathetic sex scene. Beyond being gratuitous, it was just a joke.

This is just Men's Action. What more can you say?

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1254104/the-cutthroat-warlord-2

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell (Cosmere Novella)

Review:

Title: Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell

Series: Cosmere

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SFF

Pages: 65

Synopsis:

An innkeeper, who doubles as a secret bounty hunter, must make one last big score to save her inn, her daughter and her adopted granddaughter. Problem is, she's got a gang to catch, a slimy traitor who is threatening to expose her and take her inn AND she has to deal with spirits who consume you if you run, draw blood or light a fire.

My Thoughts:

Enjoyed this little read. The main story takes place in one night, with desperation and determination coming from the main character in every word Sanderson writes. And it has a happy ending.

I love it when an author can write a concise, fully fleshed story, get me invested, leave me feeling like I had a good time and does it all under 75pages. It takes skill and I for one appreciate such skill, probably just as much as I appreciate the story itself.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1253339/shadows-for-silence-in-the-forests-of-hell-cosmere-novella

Friday, September 11, 2015

Sixth of the Dusk (Cosmere Novella)

Review:

Title: Sixth of the Dusk

Series: Cosmere

Author: Brandon Sanderson

Rating: of 5 Battle Axes

Genre: SF

Pages: 65

Synopsis:

A low tech world has been contacted by a space faring race. But what can one anti-social trapper do, especially when his own people are against him?

My Thoughts:

A thoroughly enjoyable story [it is listed as novella, but to be honest, it doesn't seem that long to me, more like a long "short story". Ha]

I could sympathize with the main character, in his attitude and his outlook on the passing of what he knew. I also think Sanderson did an excellent job of giving us a full story without falling into the trap of trying to tell us everything. This was an exercise in precision and he performed perfectly.

I think that the whole Cosmere thing [Sanderson has his own multi-uni-verse and every story takes place in it, even if they aren't connected] is just a marketing ploy but since it doesn't adversely affect anything, I don't have any problems with it.

And getting a short dose of Sanderson is always a good thing. Sometimes one doesn't want 500-900 pages, just a taste.

Original post: Bookstooge.booklikes.com/post/1251561/sixth-of-the-dusk-cosmere-novella