The Alchemist was not what I had expected. Not in the least. It was a book that my wife recommended to me. And it was, at times, a painful read. It waThe Alchemist was not what I had expected. Not in the least. It was a book that my wife recommended to me. And it was, at times, a painful read. It was also a book that, I think, everyone should read.
The Alchemist is kind of like one of Aesop's Stories, but for adults. It follows an unnamed young man as he follows his dreams and finds his happiness. Along his way he meets a king, a thief, a merchant, a woman of the desert, an Englishman, and an Alchemist. On his journey he is robbed, he is threatened, and more, but rather than view himself as a victim, he views himself as an adventurer searching for treasure.
The story itself is fairly straight-forward, but the story is not really the point of the read. It is the message. The Alchemist is a book about finding your passion - being fearless about pursuing your dreams. "There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure." And we should not fear because "when you really want something, the universe conspires in your favor."
Some may consider the message within the book to be trite, but I found it to be inspirational. Four and a half stars out of five....more
World War Z is the story of the Zombie Apocalypse told from the perspective of a documentary ... a story told via interviews with the survivors and viWorld War Z is the story of the Zombie Apocalypse told from the perspective of a documentary ... a story told via interviews with the survivors and victors of humanity's great war against the undead. It is a marriage between Ken Burns' Civil War PBS mini-series and The Walking Dead. Just on the face of it, it shouldn't work. But it does work.
So much ZA literature is formulaic and uninspiring. WWZ's approach is unique. It is also ambitious. We're not following a few desperate survivors. Instead we're watching the whole world. The story covers the entire span of the campaign against the undead. The reader witnesses the first outbreaks in China, the gradually spreading threat, the first chaotic outbursts of mass violence, the collapse into chaos and instability, and then, finally, the long march to victory and recovery. All of these stories and vignettes are told in 4-5 page segments that break up the text and generally keep a good flow going.
On the whole the story seems well thought out. The author clearly has spent more than a little time thinking through the implications of a zombie war. How effective will, for example, high explosives be against an enemy that is immune to high-pressure shock? Or what about stealth bombers and tanks? Our assumptions about fighting an enemy need to be re-calibrated, and the author does that.
The main negative for me was that the stories were somewhat inconsistent. Some dragged along while others wrapped up all too soon. There were so many segments that I wanted to see more of. (It makes me wonder why the author didn't created short stories around a world that he crafted so well.) The book as a whole also dragged along at the end. As the war winds down so do the stories. The drama is gone. This is understandable, but it just seemed to go on for too long for me.
Final note: reading this book made me cringe at the thought of what the movie could've been. Just imagine Ken Burns' take on the Zombie Apocalypse. That would've been epic.
Living in a secure bunker designed to withstand a nuclear blast seems a pretty good deal when the Zombie Apocalypse breaks out. But what if the promisLiving in a secure bunker designed to withstand a nuclear blast seems a pretty good deal when the Zombie Apocalypse breaks out. But what if the promised five years of food for fifty people turns out to be much less, and there's the same story with fuel and other necessities?
Facing a shortage of food, fuel and meds, Vivian and company find themselves planning and executing daring trips into nearby Las Vegas to secure food, fuel and medicine. In the city they find the supplies they are looking for, more survivors and, of course, an endless horde of zombies.
I really liked the first book in the series. This one not so much. First, the book ends in a classic cliff-hanger. Without going into the details, I find this to be a cheap shot. Yes, leave some things unresolved, but don't leave someone dangling off of a cliff - which is more or less what the author did. Next, the romance aspects of the story really began to overwhelm everything else. I was tired of the tension between Vivian and Axl. (I was especially tried reading about his "stormy" eyes). There were also some real implausible things that happened in the story - especially focused on one of the survivors they pick up in Vegas. I found myself shaking my head and saying "no freaking way." It more than stretched my willingness to believe. (I probably have a greater chance of being struck right now by lightning while at the same time a shark is eating me (I live in Ohio and it's October) than what happened.)
Two and a half stars rounded down to two. Some of the fun of this series went away. Zombies good, the rest meh....more
Savage picks up somewhat on the heels of the author's earlier book, Ravage. It's the near future and, of course, the remnants of humanity struggle to Savage picks up somewhat on the heels of the author's earlier book, Ravage. It's the near future and, of course, the remnants of humanity struggle to survive a never ending tide of zombie hordes. The outbreak happened about a year ago, and the survivors are picking up the pieces and just trying to survive.
Anna, a veterinarian from the last book, has gathered a new band of about a dozen souls around her. They've found a new home on a gated pier that juts out into the ocean near a remote town. The zombies are few and far between, and those zombies that they find are mostly slow and clumsy shamblers - easily out fought and out maneuvered.
The band has a rough hierarchy. Garfield leads the foraging parties. Anna leads those at the pier. It is, of course, when the band splits that the action begins. They make contact with an armada of ships loaded with survivors. The ships are lead by the megalomania who released the virus in the first place. Conflict inevitably ensues and before you know it things are blowing up left and right - of course attracting hordes of zombies.
I have a love hate relationship with zombie books. I love the idea of stories chronicling the inevitable zombie apocalypse, but almost without fail, they disappoint. Savage is no exception. Why is that? No originality. As with innumerable other books, the worst enemies are the other survivors. Yawn. I want a spark of something different, something else. This book did not deliver.
That's not entirely true. There was Poppy; Poppy delivered. Poppy is a nine year old little blonde girl who really tugged at my heart. She kept me interested far longer than I otherwise would've been.
Two stars out of five. It was OK. Not bad, not great. A solid ZA type of book, but not something to write home to mom about unless she is really, really into zombies. (If you want to read a good Zombie book try The Girl with All the Gifts or Rot & Ruin. Both excellent.)...more
Ten years or so after the Roman invasion and conquest of Britannia, the Britons are still fighting. Although the Romans have co-opted some tribes, andTen years or so after the Roman invasion and conquest of Britannia, the Britons are still fighting. Although the Romans have co-opted some tribes, and propped up puppet kings in others, the proud warriors of Briton and the shadowy Druids will not submit.
Into this cauldron of seething resentment and open hostility is dropped the good natured Optio from Gaul, Figulus. The Gaul is tasked with protecting a client king that Rome is propping up over a tribe of Britons. He and his men are training a new cadre of warriors to serve as body guards for the puppet king. Unfortunately, Figulus is challenged at every turn - not enough support from his superiors, hostility from the natives, treachery from an unexpected source, and a fanatic Druid who is stirring up trouble. Of course, being the hero, Figulus staves off one disaster after another and comes out on top.
The book was fun. To be fair, I like historical fiction focused on the Romans. They are quasi-civilized and you can almost imagine yourself living in the time. Figulus, as a Gaul rather than a true Roman offered a slightly new twist which was nice. As with most Scarrow books, the writing is good, and the action is quick, so there is much to like. There is, however, some stuff to not like. I did not care for the multiple (well, two) near miraculous rescues that Figulus had. The author should never rescue his main character(s). The other thing that bugged me is the nature of these little books. Rather than package them up as one big novel, they are released in short novellas. Just give me the whole damn book, thank you very much!
III stars out of V. If you like your Roman fiction, go for it....more
A story about half-naked women oiled up and forced to fight in the arena for the entertainment of the masses. Throw in some 'close' relationships betwA story about half-naked women oiled up and forced to fight in the arena for the entertainment of the masses. Throw in some 'close' relationships between the women and you have yourself the recipe for a solid B-movie. Heck, I'm not sure why I even picked up the thing. (Maybe a bourbon soaked bad decision?)
Talk about exceeding expectations. I was ready for something else entirely. This book delivered. Gladiatrix is the story of a young Spartan woman, Lysandra, who is the only survivor of a shipwreck. Rather than being sold as a common slave or, worse, to a brothel, she is sold to a gladiator training school specializing in the exotic market of the gladiatrix. After initial despair, she comes to accept her place and indeed thrive in her role. Her Spartan upbringing make her stand out.
In the gladiator school, she comes to find friendship and even love; however, her rise to prominence also brings other, unwanted attention. Sorena, the fierce Dacian, the Gladiatrix-prima and leader of the tribal peoples, takes an instant dislike to the talented Spartan. This enmity is not-only fueled by the hostility of the non-Mediterranean peoples towards the Hellenes and Romans. It is also strengthened by the unexpected relationship between Lysandra and Sorena's second. Throw in the Roman Governor's desire to throw magnificent spectacles, the greed of the ludus owner, the lust of Nastasen, a Numidian trainer, and you have yourself a seething cauldron of turmoil. The whole mix comes to head with a climactic (and somewhat predictable) struggle between Lysandra and Sorena in the arena. Again, half-naked, the two women go at it with calculated savagery before tens of thousands and an Imperial envoy.
Reading over the other reviews of this book, I noted that some felt that Lysandra showed no growth or development. She was always an arrogant Spartan. I disagree. I think she showed considerable growth. Yes, she is arrogant, but she is also self-sacraficing. She is kind to Veria, the little slave girl. She is meek when she needs to - begging the ludus owner. She even goes to a dinner with the Roman Governor knowing full well what might be expected of her. She does this for her fellow gladiators. There is even growth and change with her rival, Sorena, who truly feels remorseful and tries to bury the hatchet. It is only Lysandra's grief driven rage that continues the feud.
In a book with lots of good stuff, there are some troubling parts. I think the book is needlessly titillating. Yes, I get it. The women are all hot and sweaty, in ridiculously good shape and close to death. At times, I thought it was overplayed. Next, the violation of Lysandra was pretty bad and, again, needlessly graphic. Sex in a book generally = fun. Rape = not fun. Yes, it does happen and may be necessary for the story, but please keep it as sketchy as possible. And, to be clear I'm not sure the Spartan's violation was completely necessary to drive the story. We could've just stopped at abuse, thank you very much. (This doesn't even touch on what happened to the unfortunate brothel worker that Nastasen brutalized).
IV stars out of V. Well worth the read if you enjoy your historical fiction set in Pax Romana....more
Jake Moran is in San Antonio when cholera breaks out. Down on his luck and desperate to get out of town before the disease really takes hold, he signsJake Moran is in San Antonio when cholera breaks out. Down on his luck and desperate to get out of town before the disease really takes hold, he signs on to a wagon train heading west to California.
The trip promises a fortune in gold. It also promises a world of trouble. The route to California goes right through the heart of the Comancheria. Because of the cholera, the company's departure is unexpectedly hasty. Not all the wagons have made it. They will be passing right through the heart of hostile Indian territory with a scant company of settlers. Worse yet, the company financier, Tyler Hampton is an ego-maniacal blowhard who jealously guards him authority - even if it puts the company in danger.
The story is good, but it feels as if it is from a different time. The settlers are all uniformly good. The Comanches are the bad guys. Definitely not something that would be a mainstream publication today. Think a John Wayne movie instead of a Clint Eastwood movie. Regardless, the book is fun and enjoyable.
Three stars out of five. Read if you enjoy your westerns....more
After an interlude of several years, the crisis is finally here, on Earth. The Polseen are invading Earth. Millions of carnivoristic, voracious aliensAfter an interlude of several years, the crisis is finally here, on Earth. The Polseen are invading Earth. Millions of carnivoristic, voracious aliens land on Earth to capture human cities and towns, use our resources and, oh yeah, eat all the people. Fortunately, the combined armies of the world given access to futuristic technologies and weapons are here to stop them! And foremost among those armies is none other than the US Army.
Gust Front focuses on the invasion of North America by the Polseen - specifically the Richmond to DC area. The first half is the build up to the invasion and the second half is the invasion itself. Throughout the whole thing, I felt like someone was slapping me on the back saying "'Merica! Fuck yeah!" I have nothing but respect for the US military, but this whole book felt as if it was written by John Jingo - not John Ringo. At every turn, the Americans were better fighters, thinkers and etc. It was just a bit much.
The book itself was just too much - too long, too much gun love, too many cardboard characters, and so on. The whole point of a book like this, I think, is to revel in the actual business of fighting aliens - not dwelling on Mike's last tropical vacation to the Florida Keys with his wife and daughter. Too much time was burned, I think, on this nonsense rather than just opening a can of whoop-ass on the Polseen.
Two stars out of five. The combat is fun, but not fun enough to really overcome the other problems with the book....more
I picked this book up for free, and was in the mood for a good zombie story. It started off promising enough. DaWhat has been read may not be unread.
I picked this book up for free, and was in the mood for a good zombie story. It started off promising enough. Darlene is a young woman (mid-20s) who finds herself swept up in the imminent zombie apocalypse. Civilization is crumbling around her. Fortunately, her father taught her how to take care of herself. She has a Desert Eagle (basically a .50 cal hand cannon) and knows how to use it. This and her natural pluck and determination make her a survivor. So far so good.
If the story had stayed on the rails, we'd have a pretty good story. I like a good zombie survival story and it's good to see a strong woman as the lead character. Unfortunately, this book goes down some very dark roads.
For a strong female lead, Darlene certainly winds up clad only in her underwear, topless, or buck naked an awful lot. Seriously, do the zombies have some sort of alarm system that notifies them when our heroine is changing clothes or something?
Now you may be telling yourself as a red-blooded male with a healthy appreciation for the female form, maybe that's not so bad. A buxom half-naked young woman running around gunning down zombies; what's not to like? Rape. Rape is something not to like. Darlene finds herself repeatedly at the mercy of some nasty dudes. Sure, she kills them, but really? Plus, it's just not something that I'd prefer to read about.
But, Mr. Matt, you may be thinking, rape does happen. Imagine a post-apocalyptic world. Order has broken down. Surely bad characters would be taking all sorts of liberties with people. True. I imagine that they would. And, I guess, it might be something that could appear in stories about those post zombie worlds. Maybe I am over-reacting and being a prude?
Nope. You almost had me. I almost fell for your line of thinking and then the other shoe dropped. The other thing I just can't handle are the zombies (the male ones) sprouting ... um ... aroused ... uh ... boy parts and ... um ... doing ... stuff ... to the hapless females that they run down. You gotta draw a line somewhere and zombie rape seems over that line.
1 terribad star out of 5. Long story short, this train wreck of a novelette goes from slightly salty to highly questionable to absolutely over the line. If I could give it fewer stars, I would. ...more
The Killing Floor Blues picks up where the last book left off. Faust wakes up to find himself in a maximum security prison for a murder he did not comThe Killing Floor Blues picks up where the last book left off. Faust wakes up to find himself in a maximum security prison for a murder he did not commit. Someone using some pretty powerful magic set him up. That's the first problem. And it's a big one. Here's the thing. His second problem is a pretty big one too. He doesn't remember the trial. It was only a day ago that he was arrested and now he's being sent away for life. A powerful hex is convincing everyone that he knows and meets that he did, in fact, go through six months of investigation and trial. Faust needs to solve both problems to get out of prison.
Inside the prison, Faust is forced to deal with the tensions of the prison politics - both among the prisoners and with the guards. Worse yet, something weird is going on. Prisoners in this max security prison are disappearing - specifically prisoners with no family or real social connections - people exactly like Faust. He just keeps getting dealt bum cards.
On the whole the book was good, but a bit of a let down based on the other Faust books. The mysteries are unraveled. Faust being Faust, he uses his wits and magic to save his neck and bust out of prison. (In a particularly cool scene he actually crafts and uses the Hand of Glory as part of his escape plan.) The rub was the actual 'danger' in the prison. The author would have his readers believe that an unscrupulous Warden has corrupted his entire staff and is running for profit death matches on a weekly basis. I'm not buying it. Too far fetched.
And the trilogy draws to a close. Half a War did exactly what I expect out of the conclusion of a series. It brings all the story lines to an end. It And the trilogy draws to a close. Half a War did exactly what I expect out of the conclusion of a series. It brings all the story lines to an end. It answers questions. It feels satisfying.
Like the other books in the series, Half a War focuses on a new character. In this case, the young Princess Skara. Her grandfather's kingdom, Throvenland, is caught up in the war between Gettland and the High King. Very early in the book, her grandfather is slain and, penniless and without support, she finds herself begging for aide from her land's nominal allies. Throughout the book Skara uses her wits and her femininity to win over allies and followers. By the end of the book she is without a doubt the major force in the Shattered Seas. And it all feels genuine. Let's hear it for a strong woman who truly has an iron will and a heart of gold.
Again, like the other books, Yarvi plays a prominent role - as does Thorn. Yarvi increasingly slips into his role as Father Yarvi, the Minister. And in this role he increasingly channels another of Abercrombie's characters - Inquisitor Glotka from The First Law. Yarvi is a softer version given the YA nature of these books, but he is brutal and devious. He manipulates things behind the curtain and leaves a trail of dead bodies and toppled kingdoms in his wake.
Finally, the story also, I think, brought to a close the mystery of the Elves. When Yarvi journeys into Strokholm to retrieve Elf weapons it is clear that the story takes place in a post-apocalyptic Earth - probably the Baltic sea. (Take a look at the map: http://thewertzone.blogspot.com/2015/...). There is the mannequin that they encountered. The radiation sickness of the crew. The pills that the companions took. And the weapons themselves.
The weapons turn the tide of the war, completely destroying the massive host that the army that the High King built. And with the army destroyed, Yarvi finally gets his revenge against the two people that killed his father. Nicely done.
Half the World picks up the story a few years after the events of Half a King. Crows are circling the embattled kingdom of Gettland. The High King andHalf the World picks up the story a few years after the events of Half a King. Crows are circling the embattled kingdom of Gettland. The High King and Grandmother Wexxen are moving against her. The power of the Golden Queen and their faith in the Old Gods are a threat, and if they will not submit, they must be made to submit.
To my pleasant surprise, it does not pick up the story of former Prince (and erstwhile King) Yarvi. The ruthless Yarvi is now Father Yarvi, Minister to his Mother and Uncle. Instead, this story focuses on Thorn, a young woman (sixteen-ish) who is touched by Mother War. Thorn, who always had a close connection with her warrior father, wants to follow in his footsteps. She wants to stand in the shield wall. She wants to avenge her father's death at the hands of Grom-gil-Gorn.
Rejected by the trainer of warriors, Thorn falls into the hands (or plans) of Yarvi. Father Yarvi brings the young woman on his quest to find allies for the besieged kingdom. Their travels take them across the length and breadth of the lands. Down the river and to the seat of the Empire itself. Along the course of their journey Thorn's skills are hones to a deadly edge and she ultimately saves the mission, winning the allies that Gettland desperately needs.
The change of focus from Yarvi to Thorn was, I think, just what the series needed. We had had just about all the growth and development we would get out of Yarvi. A continued focus on Yarvi might get us more plotting and more subtle moves, but that is not what YA fiction is all about, is it? YA stories are coming of age stories. Tales where a youth is thrown into the world without structure. The young person responds to the crisis by discovering that they can, in fact, contribute. They are the shapers of their own destiny - not passive vehicles. A focus on Thorn allows us to follow this young woman as she goes through this transformation.
What makes this story so much fun are the host of supporting characters around Thorn. There is Yarvi, of course, but there is also Brand. Brand is a young man (sixteen-ish) who is likewise rejected from the warriors. Yarvi scoops him up too and he joins the long journey south where he serves as the love interest for Thorn. Outside of Brand and Yarvi there are a number of other supporting characters, from grizzled warriors to mysterious old ladies. There are even people from the first book who show up briefly. These characters make the whole world more believable.
On the note of the love story between Brand and Thorn. I found this at first endearing and then annoying. I can only take so much of the nonsense where she misinterprets everything he says and does and therefore throws up a calloused exterior to protect herself - and he is doing exactly the same thing. Seriously. These two sixteen/seventeen year olds are travelling with one another side-by-side for well over a year. I'm pretty sure that they would've hooked up without half of the non-sense.
I continue to think this whole story takes place in a post-apocalyptic Earth. The Elves who broke God are nothing more than the pre-breaking humans. My conviction was only increased when Skifr kills several steppe raiders with an Elf relic that she holds up to her shoulder and spits smoke and fire. "Six strokes of thunder rolled across the plain and six men were left ruined and burning and the rest of the Horse People ran squealing in terror." The mysterious weapon also spat out smoking metal bits after spitting fire and thunder. Sounds like a rifle to me. Abercrombie drops loads of hints along those lines, but I still am not 100% convinced. We'll see. Hopefully book 3 will reveal all.
Four and a half stars rounded down to four. Too much of the silly tension between Thorn and Brand. Even so, a good, fun story....more
Wolfe and the Terran fleet engage in a desperate last stand defense of a frontier system against the horrible Phage. Despite their courage, one by oneWolfe and the Terran fleet engage in a desperate last stand defense of a frontier system against the horrible Phage. Despite their courage, one by one the human star ships are knocked out. It is only a matter of time before the millions of innocents on the besieged planet are wiped out. And then, suddenly, a host of busty Amazons riding unicorns come bounding in to the stellar system riding across a sparkling rainbow bridge. The fight is fierce, but with Edward and Jacob helping out, the terrible Phage are defeated and the system in saved! Yay!
Not really, but kinda-sorta. I'll be frank. This book kind of pissed me off. I really liked the first book. I was tempted at times to give it five stars. It was original. It held together well. It surprised me. This book was the complete opposite. It was linear. It was predictable until the end, and, at the end, it committed an unpardonable sin. I could almost see the author's hand intervening in the story to save Wolfe and the human system. It was cheap. It was easy. It ruined the story.
I like stories that hand together logically. I like stories that feel internally authentic. Sure, there are gravometric generators and warp drives, but those fit within the story. A last minute save from left field is complete BS and knocked this story down. Two very sad stars out of five. This easily could've been three and a half stars - fun, and enjoyable, worth reading. Now? Not so much....more
After the resolution of Cibola Burn, I thought surely the series was due for somewhat of a step back. Nope. The Expanse delivers again! Holden, BurtonAfter the resolution of Cibola Burn, I thought surely the series was due for somewhat of a step back. Nope. The Expanse delivers again! Holden, Burton, Nagata, Kamal, and all the rest are back ... and so is the tension that the author has managed to keep at a high pitch over five books. Impressive.
Holden and company return from New Terra and split up - each pursuing some personal, somewhat hidden agenda. The break up of the company leaves Holden morose and struggling. His crew had become his family, and he misses them - all of them. As a reader, I appreciated the break up as it allowed for character development. The crew sometimes felt as if they were part of the background when compared to Holden's monopolization of the lime light. Now, we get to learn the backstories of Nagata, Burton and Kamal.
Of course, it wouldn't be the Expanse if we weren't learning about those backstories in the midst of all hell breaking loose. A rogue force is working in the shadows to destabilize the existing power structure. Holden and his crew once again manages to find himself at the center of things, but it was nice that it wasn't all about Holden. For a change he is in the background. My two favorite narratives in this volume were Burton's and Nagata's.
The crisis itself is well done. Without revealing more it is something that generates a strong reaction. I genuinely didn't see it coming, but when the first hit happened, I instantly knew what was afoot. And despite the fact that the crisis at first seems straight forward, I appreciate the fact that their is still, lurking in the shadows questions and hints of darker motives. Plots within plots. I like that.
Four and a half stars rounded up to five. My only wish is that I want the author to get to the point. I'm worried that I am looking at a Wheel of Time series here - one that just never ends. Given where the story is at the end of book five, I struggle to understand how it can be wrapped up quickly....more
Just when I thought I was getting tired of the Expanse ... Cibola Burn takes humanity through the mysterious gates built by the protomolecule, to a thJust when I thought I was getting tired of the Expanse ... Cibola Burn takes humanity through the mysterious gates built by the protomolecule, to a thousand habitable worlds. The new worlds promise a rebirth for humanity. No more population controls, no more crowded, polluted planets, no more scraping a subsistence living in an air pocket on a planetoid. A thousand Edens await; however, as Detective Miller reminds us, you gotta watch the doors and corners.
Just because humanity made it to a new Eden, it doesn't mean that we left humanity behind. On New Terra, the very first post-solar colony, two factions are squaring off: belter refugees and a corporate, UN sanctioned expedition. The refugees are jealous and protective of their rights as squatters. The RCE expedition is jealous and protective of their rights as granted by the UN charter. When as act of terrorist vandalism accidentally kills hundreds, real trouble ensues. Murtry, the driven security chief of RCE, finds himself the nominal head of the RCE faction and he will be damned if he allows this group of squatters to trample on the UN Charter. Smelling trouble, the UN and OPA send in a mediator - Holden.
Through all of this I kinda thought we were tapping a dry well. The book was interesting, moved along at a decent clip, but kinda, well, dull. Not much was happening. And then everything started happening. Detective Miller was back as an incarnation of the protomolecule, probing, exploring, investigating. Where did the beings that created the gates go? What happened to them? His investigations actually awake the planet's defense mechanisms. Suddenly we have life or death struggle both in space and on the planet.
Not only is the RCE fighting the colonists, but the planet itself is striking against humanity. In a very cool twist, life as we know it on Earth and New Terra are incompatible. And why shouldn't they be? Evolution took a very different direction on each planet. A small, microscopic organism discovers that humans make the perfect hosts and multiply like mad in their eyes, blinding everyone ... everyone except Holden.
All of this finally comes to a head in an alien structure where we finally catch a glimpse of what it was that destroyed the protomolecule's civilization.
Four stars. The book started off slow - too slow for my tastes - but ended with a gripping tension. These books continue to entertain. Each has a mystery that more or less drives the entire series. With each book, more is revealed of the mystery. Very cool, although I am starting to wonder where exactly the entire series is going. I feel like I am just getting to the real punch. What will happen when humanity finally bumps into whatever it was that killed off the protomolecule's creators? How will that resolve? At the pace the series is moving, are we looking at the SF equivalent of The Wheel of Time series?...more
The mystery of the protomolecule seems to be finally unraveled at the end of book two. The alien artifact hi-jacked Venus to build a massive ring out The mystery of the protomolecule seems to be finally unraveled at the end of book two. The alien artifact hi-jacked Venus to build a massive ring out beyond Uranus; however, questions remain. What is the purpose of the gate? What does it do? Earth, Mars and the OPA send what remains of their navies along with premier scientists, spiritual leaders and even artists to investigate. With Holden there too trouble starts almost immediately.
Clarissa Mao, the daughter of Jules-Pierre Mao and the owner of the now defunct Mao-Kwikowski Mercantile, has a new identity. She has a new identity and manages to get an assignment on one of the star ships heading out to the ring. There, she arranges an intricately complex plot to frame Holden. She wants her revenge. She wants Holden to be discredited and ruined, just like he did to her father. When the plot comes to a head, Holden is forced to flee through the ring and out of the solar system. Determined to bring him to justice, first the OPA and then Earth and Mars follow him.
In the gate, Clarissa Mao is still working towards her final revenge. She sneaks on board Holden's ship in an effort to blow it up. And, to make matters worse, there is a mutiny and counter mutiny on the OPA's massive ship, the Behemoth. The once and future captain of the Behemoth, freed from his captivity, is set on a plan to save all of humanity by destroying the gate itself.
Inside the gate, the humans find themselves trapped by an odd field that negates the laws of physics as we know them. As the tension mounts between the OPA, the Mars, and the Earth, the oddities get increasingly restrictive. Ships find themselves unable to move. Although no one except for Holden seems to notice, the ring itself appears to be acting to minimize threats. And each perceived threat is met by harsher measures. What will happen if the humans do something drastic - like firing a giant laser into the ring?
Clearly, there is a lot going on in this book. Almost too much. It is almost a Rube Goldberg machine of a plot. Clarissa, a young woman in her twenties, builds and executes an amazingly complex plan to destroy Holden. Worse, when it all comes apart, after all the lives that she has cost, she finds herself forgiven by the very people that she set out to destroy. It all comes full circle when the story in some ways becomes a morality tale: the redemption of Clarissa Mao. It's all just a bit much. Awesome, but overly complex.
Four and a half stars rounded down to four. Close to going up to five, but I just couldn't do it. There is much to like in the story. ...more
A young girl on a Ganymede space station is kidnapped. Shortly thereafter the fragile peace between Mars and Earth is broken when a mutated human attaA young girl on a Ganymede space station is kidnapped. Shortly thereafter the fragile peace between Mars and Earth is broken when a mutated human attacks and single-handily destroys not one but two squads of Space Marines. Distrust between the two powers runs high and it is not long before that erupts into a shooting war. Both suspect the other of nefariously plotting to turn a secret supply of the protomolecule into a weapon of mass destruction. Meanwhile, back on Venus, the protomolecule is busy transforming the planet - building something. It is in this simmering stew of distrust and tension that Jim Holden is tossed into. Chaos ensues.
This book was not as strong as the first. Partly, I think, this is due to the fact that a lot of mystery has been taken out of the equation. I know that the protomolecule is an artifact of an alien civilization. I know that it is programmed to hijack organic matter. I know that bad people in faceless corporations are willing to bend the rules to make a quick buck off of this terrifying thing. I know that unscrupulous scientists want to study it. If they can only crack the code they can fundamentally transform human evolution. The only mystery left is what exactly is happening on Venus, but that is pretty much left out of this story.
Caliban's War is largely more of the same. An unscrupulous corporation has sold a sample of the protomolecule to a rogue element of the UN military. They hope to develop it as a first strike weapon for use against Mars. Unfortunately, people keep forgetting that they just can't contain or control it. Things go awry and all hell breaks loose. Toss in Jim Holden, the quest for the little girl, and his urge to share everything with everyone and you have bedlam.
Three and a half stars rounded down to three. A little long. Too much focus on politicians. Felt like a bit of a rehash of the first book. Did like the ending, however. That perfectly set up the next book and went a long way to unraveling what the heck was happening on Venus. What is intriguing to me is mystery. There was not enough of it in this book.
The author, I think, is ingeniously lazy. In a way it is brilliant. The premise of the Destroyermen series is that a mysterious vortex has pulled a deThe author, I think, is ingeniously lazy. In a way it is brilliant. The premise of the Destroyermen series is that a mysterious vortex has pulled a decrepit WWII era destroyer, the USS Walker, into an alternative world where evolution has taken a different path.
The Americans are plopped into the midst of an existential conflict between the voracious, raptor-like, carnivorous Grik (bad guys) and the peaceful, mammalian Lemurians. Captain Reddy and the crew of the Walker, of course, side with the furry Lemurians and, thanks to their powerful ship, they turn the tide of war against the Grik. So far so good.
But what is an author to do? If the Walker remains unchallenged, the series will wrap up pretty quickly! The Grik's wooden hulled ships and primitive weapons (crossbows, etc) can't stand up to the powerful Walker and her explosive shells, her machine guns, and her crew armed with Browning Automatic Rifles, Thomson guns and other fire arms. The solution to this terrible author's problem is simple: have the vortex bring in someone new.
And there is the problem. The mysterious vortex is the gift that keeps on giving. Every time the author wants to do something or shake up the story line, the solution is "oh yeah, the vortex brought this too!" Case in point: the Catalina, the Japanese Battlecruiser, the American Sub. I bet that throughout the series the author continues to use this mechanism to shake up the story. I cant wait to discover that another vortex also somehow brought in an aircraft carrier!
I'm being overly harsh, but this strikes me as being fundamentally lazy. The author has free reign to willy-nilly pull in whatever he wants in order to strike whatever line he needs to. I much prefer books of this vein where the door swings open only once (see Harry Turtledove's Videssos series for an example). Much better, I think is to build your world, admit some new people once and then you are done. No more transfers. Yes, I know that technically the PBY, the submarine, and the Japanese ship came through in that one transfer, but the author keeps doling out that information. Every book I learn that someone else came through.
Layered on top of this is the extraordinary industrialization of the Lemurians. They went from basically semi-civilized tree people to smelting cannons in what feels like a blink of an eye. And some of the Lemurians adapt so quickly to this new world that they more or less become Americans. Too much. Too fast. I can't buy it.
Still, author laziness aside and super-fast development aside, the book is still fun. The battles between the Grik and the Lemurians/Americans are fun. You just have to wade through a host of eye-rolling moments to get to the good stuff.
Two and a half stars rounded down to two. After reflection I just can't give this three stars. But here is the odd things. I can see myself reading that fourth book down the road somewhere. I kind of want to know what happens next; however, I have other books to read before I get there. ...more
In Crusade we rejoin Captain Reddy and the crew of the Walker. They have forged an alliance with the mammalian Lemurians against the predatorial, rapaIn Crusade we rejoin Captain Reddy and the crew of the Walker. They have forged an alliance with the mammalian Lemurians against the predatorial, rapacious Grik. After saving the sea folk, the Humans and Lemurians turn to rescue the land-based Lemurians. A captured Grik ship leads them to believe an all out assault is going to be made on the unsuspecting city-states. Sure enough the Walker and an armada of Lemurians arrive to lift the siege and smash a Grik fleet.
Crusade suffers from second book syndrome. I predicted three stars before I even cracked it open. In the first book everything was new and there were questions all over the place. Where was the crew of the Walker? Who were the good guys? How would they survive, especially in the face of the Grik menace? By book two these questions are answered. The Walker is in an alternate world where evolution took another path. They will survive by forging an alliance with the Lemurians. They will defeat the Grik by converting to a total war footing and arming the Lemurians with cannons. In this book it is about watching the predicted story line unfold. There is a surprise in the story that adds a bit of a spark, but for the most part the story unfolds as expected.
Does this all mean that the book is bad? Nope. It was a fun read. It just wasn't cracking with originality. It's a fun book and a fun series; however, the Destroyermen series just doesn't rise to that next level in my mind. Good, but not great, brain-candy. Three stars out of five....more
Thunder Below is the story of the USS Barb. The Barb roamed the Eastern Pacific between 1943 and the end of the Second World War. In her wake, she lefThunder Below is the story of the USS Barb. The Barb roamed the Eastern Pacific between 1943 and the end of the Second World War. In her wake, she left a slew of sunken, broken Japanese ships - including a carrier. The Barb and her crew truly revolutionized submarine warfare. Under the direction of her captain, Gene Fluckey, the Barb didn't merely lurk under the waves waiting for a hapless ship to pass slowly in front of her torpedo tubes. Fluckey kept the Barb on the surface, actively seeking out the Japanese and only submerging when needed to make a fast get-away.
The success of the Barb and the other US subs is, in hindsight, painfully clear. The tonnage sunk by the allied submarines was astronomical. Unlike their German counterparts, the Americans and English had the technology edge on the Japanese. By the end of the war, the Barb was fielding rockets and primitive homing torpedoes. The Japanese, by contrast, didn't even have radar in many cases. This edge gave the allies a huge advantage. Combined with the mass of ships, planes, troops, and subs pressuring Japan, the conclusion of the war was a foregone conclusion - regardless of the bomb.
Told by the captain, the insight into the experience of a wartime submarine was good. It was the strength of the book. The detailed, section by section recounting of daring raids, cat and mouse games with Japanese frigates and destroyers, and torpedo runs were excellent. There were simply, well, a lot of them. It was almost too much. I wanted to see a little more strategy, or a little more personal stories and they just weren't there. The book felt a bit like a captain translating his after mission reports into a book. It works, it's just a little military-ish.
On a closing note, one thing that blew my mind was to realize that the average age of the Barb's crew was 23. Twenty-three! I don't even want to think about what I was doing at 23. This entire generation of young men (and women) was engaged in a titanic struggle that is beyond anything that following generations have experienced. I can't even really wrap my mind around this and how it affected and colored the generation - and future generations. I mean, people today get outraged by the death of a handful of civilians due to any military action. Yet, in the 1940s, the allies (the good guys) fire bombed German and Japanese cities, and indiscriminately sank any German or Japanese ship they encountered. And then they turned around, disarmed and went about their lives. Fluckey even writes about wanting to cause as much damage as possible so as to bring about a quick end to the war.
Three stars out of three. Parts were two stars, parts were four stars so I settled on three.
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