Shadows of Self / Brandon Sanderson

Shadows of Self
(Mistborn 2.2)
by Brandon Sanderson

copyright 2015
read in November 2016

rated 7/10: well worth reading

A continuation of the steampunk era of Mistborn. Can be read alone -- though it helps to have read Mistborn 2.1, The Alloy of Law. An enjoyable book but not as good as other Sanderson books.

Shadows drifts into the over-the-top end of young adult fantasy: more heroic action, more moral philosophising, more emotional suffering for the hero. Nothing wrong with that. Just a bit too unsubtle for my tastes.

More unstoppable villains. More close conversations with the gods of this world. More power to the hero... Where can it go next ?! Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden had this problem: each book had to top the previous; each book required more emotional turmoil, more threats to friends, to keep the hero human.

Will our Mistborn hero need the same comic-book histrionics, in order to stay apparently human? Maybe. Maybe not.

It's funny, really. There are inserts -- occasional illustrated pages -- from one of the local broadsheets. This broadsheet includes the continuing saga of Gentleman Jak, the ultimate hero. Jak is incredibly handsome, a dapper dresser and superb fighter. A ridiculously over the top satire of everything heroic. And the hero of Shadows is looking more and more like Jak.

It's still an enjoyable book. No matter what direction Sanderson takes his hero -- I will enjoy reading about it.

It -- Shadows of Self -- is just not as excellent as other Sanderson books. Good, but not excellent. Not for me, anyway.

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08 May 2019: I reread this book And find...

Issues are raised and, lightly discussed. Issues of possible relevance to a young adult reader, less relevant to an oldie like myself, firmly mired in my own opinions.  Yet I'm glad to be reminded of these social and personal issues, it does make me *think* again :-)

My comparison with Harry Dresden? Totally misplaced. This time I go to Wikipedia -- to find that Shadows is one of a pre-defined set of four books. The characters may -- will -- grow but not just to increase the "excitement" of each book. There is … a cunning plan.

Better yet, I have just read The Hero of Ages -- last book of the prequel series. Suddenly -- all the characters and references to past history, make sense! Yes, now I can see how the story is building... and I like it :-) 

Yes, it could be read alone, but... If I were reading this book for the first time -- and had just read the prequel trilogy -- I would happily rate Shadows as, eight out of ten.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
====

"Omne ignotum pro magnifico est" … Tacitus: Agricola
   

The Final Empire / Brandon Sanderson

The Final Empire
(Mistborn 1)
by Brandon Sanderson

fantasy

copyright 2006
read in November 2016

rated 8/10: really quite good

What can I say? Another great novel by Sanderson. Another book in a series -- yet the book is complete in itself. Another set of likeable characters doing gung-ho stuff to save their world :-)

The copy that I read is a tenth anniversary republishing. So there is room at the front for an introduction by the author. Why has Mistborn been so successful? he wonders. Because, he suggests, Mistborn upends many of the established fantasy tropes. And because each book is a complete novel on its own.

Yes, each book is a complete novel. A novel worth reading on its own Each book may be read alone, with no prior knowledge of the series. Yay !!

It's more that ten years since I first grew annoyed at continuing fantasy sagas. My annoyance gelled with a standard story of science world, fantasy world at odds. There's a promised saviour. By the end of book one there are hints that the hero will become the saviour. By the end of book two it is clear that the saviour will be the child of the hero. By book three... the promised saviour is so many generations into the future that I swore off reading any more of that series. It's like the fees to an insurance broker: while money flows in there is no intention to ever end.

Sanderson knows how to end a story. At the end of *each* novel the reader is well satisfied -- yet still hoping for more.

More recently, I read a book set in the middle of a fantasy epic. There were three or four threads following three or four different sets of characters, rotating characters with each chapter. Very little actually happened... In the worst case, two characters spent all of their chapters travelling. From one unknown point to another named yet unexplained point. Why? No idea. Interesting? Not at all.

Oh and one more small positive point for Sanderson: Lots of fantasy books begin with a prologue. Perhaps that's one of the fantasy tropes...? Sanderson is able to begin with a prologue -- which actually relates to the story! A. May. Zing. And, Well done.

Time to read more Mistborn :-)

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
====

"Omne ignotum pro magnifico est" … Tacitus: Agricola
   

The Dragon Round / Stephen S. Power

The Dragon Round
(1 of who knows how many)
by Stephen S. Power

fantasy

copyright 2016
read in November 2016

rated 2/10: unreadably bad

From the last page of this book: "Why would someone write a book for kids without a dragon?" The author's reply, "Why would someone write a book for anyone without a dragon?"

My question is, "Why would anyone write a book with no ending?!"

There is nothing on the book to indicate that this unfinished story is just the start of an unending saga. There is nothing inside. There is nothing at the end of the book to indicate that there is no end.

Absolute and utter rubbish.

Do not buy this book. Do not read this book. Do not support an author and a publisher who believe that they can sell "chapter one" as a book.

This book is an absolute rip-off.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
====

"Omne ignotum pro magnifico est" … Tacitus: Agricola
   

Luna New Moon / Ian McDonald

Luna New Moon
by Ian McDonald

science fiction

copyright 2015
started reading in November 2016

rated 5/10: readable, but only if there's nothing else

I've read about 40 pages. Just over ten percent of the book. Less than ten percent if you consider that I have been skimming the last ten of those pages.

This book is awful.

There are thousands of characters. Thrown at the reader pell mell, catch the names if you care. After a very short while while I gave up caring.

Out of those thousands of characters -- not one is likeable. Most are dislikeable. Some are extremely dislikeable -- and they seem to be the main characters. Even the I'm-so-cute-in-my-frilly-dress little girl -- is not cute. Just sickeningly sweet.

A small number of characters are just miserable. Still not likeable. Just so miserable that I don't want to know how much more miserable they will get to be. The vast majority of the characters are under constant threat of destruction -- physical, emotional or economic -- because just a few -- nasty -- people have the power of life and death over the less powerful.

It's the vicious Moon Mafia.

Oh, sure, it's all family and honour and respect -- until a knife is pulled and a throat is slit. The reality is war and murder and literally cut-throat business. Anything less than instant obedience is disrespect, which leads to punishment. Family or not.

Forty pages in and this book is confusing and nasty.

Enough.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
====

"Omne ignotum pro magnifico est" … Tacitus: Agricola
   

Shift / Hugh Howey

Shift
(Shift, Wool 1)
by Hugh Howey

science fiction

copyright 2013
read in November 2016

rated 6/10: read to pass the time
... or, possibly 8...

What's that ?! I can't even provide a rating for this book ? That's because it suffers from a common problem:

This book is not a complete novel.

This book is a prequel to a series of novellas. The novellas were published as "Wool". (Don't ask me why.) Shift now sets the scene for those novellas. Also in the pipeline is a book which wraps up the series. How do I know all this ? I read it in Wikipedia...

The book itself gives no indication that it is an INCOMPLETE story. Nothing on the cover. Nothing inside. A possible hint on the inside back cover, where two other books are advertised. I wouldn't mind so much if this story were complete in itself. It is not.

Okay, I'm thinking, this is a standard book of a closed society. Then its scope expands and I begin to think, okay, this is quite clever. Then it expands in a different direction ! What happened to that rather interesting side-story ?! How does this new story relate ?!

Nearing the end... It looks as though all will be revealed, all will be wrapped up... But no ! The several side-stories are incomplete. The main story is incomplete. What has happened ?!

Oh, I think, having read Wikipedia. This is a prequel.

So all those side-stories are just introductions to the several later novellas. Worse yet, there is an entire third book in which the end is finally revealed... Perhaps.

This -- Shift -- is quite a good book. I suspect that the complete series, three books, would be quite good. Perhaps even worth rating as an eight. Yet the book has been published as a stand-alone book. As a story with no end.

As it is published, Shift is rated six. Read to pass the time. No better.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
====

"Omne ignotum pro magnifico est" … Tacitus: Agricola
   

Mostly Void, Partially Stars / Joseph Fink, Jeffrey Cranor

Mostly Void, Partially Stars
(Welcome to Night Vale vol 1)
by Joseph Fink, Jeffrey Cranor

copyright 2012-13
read (a bit) in November 2016

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

That is not a definitive rating. I read just a few episodes. I may read more. If I do -- and if I change my opinion -- I will update this review. What I read was, okay. Entertaining. Quirkily humorous.

A bit like Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe. But with less plot. Or no plot at all. Or, perhaps, a plot which starts slowly ?

My first -- and, so far, only -- impression is that this is like the radio "serials" of twenty, thirty years ago. Like Chicken Man. And that space hero series. And the Guide... except that Guide did develop into a story.

Of the very few episodes that I have read, Night Vale appears to be a series of surreal comic sketches. Linked by common characters and common locations. With no sign of any developing -- continuous -- story.

I may be wrong! To find out, I may read more. Right now, I feel that I have read all that I want to read. And, after all, I read only for my own enjoyment.

I have enjoyed the episodes that I have read so far. They are funny, in a weird way. Funny because they are surreal. Funny because, for example, you do not expect the PTA to be interrupted by a ravaging dinosaur. Did you laugh out loud at the unexpectedness of that last sentence? Then read the book :-)

It's the sort of humour that works best in small doses. As an occasional podcast, for example... As a book to be read from cover to cover? No.

I'll dip in a bit further. If there is a developing story -- something that makes me want to read more -- then I will update this post. Otherwise, I'll just read a bit more. To pass the time. Harmlessly. And perhaps with an occasional chuckle.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
====

"Omne ignotum pro magnifico est" … Tacitus: Agricola
   

The Alloy of Law / Brandon Sanderson

The Alloy of Law
(Mistborn, 1 of a new cycle)
by Brandon Sanderson

fantasy, young adult

copyright 2011
read in November 2016

rated 7/10: well worth reading

This is a by-the-numbers action fantasy for young adults. And yet... Sanderson makes those numbers really sing and dance!

The magic is great fun. Not new, I guess, since there are already three Mistborn novels. But new to me.

The characters are likeable stereotypes with strong moral values. And strong right fists, for fighting evil :-)  The love interest is... well... This is book one of a series, so the hero has two women and he is stuck with the one that he doesn't love.

There are a bunch of villains -- and a major plot thread -- left intact for future books. Yet this book wraps up very nicely. We are introduced to a reasonably small number of major characters. We meet and defeat a major villain. We are introduced to the villain for book two. Better yet, this villain is not just an extra, to catch our interest. Meeting the villain is a logical part of the wrap-up of book one.

This book can be read as a complete novel on its own. It stands alone -- yet leaves me wanting to read more. It makes me want to read the original trilogy, perhaps even before I read more of this second series.

The Mistborn world is imaginative and developing. Alloy is enjoyable but not a great book.

It won't open your eyes to any deep mysteries of science or humanity. It's just well worth reading. For an enjoyable and imaginative romp in an interesting world.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
====

"Omne ignotum pro magnifico est" … Tacitus: Agricola
   

Seveneves / Neal Stephenson

Seveneves
by Neal Stephenson

science fiction

copyright 2015
read in November 2016

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

This is hard science fiction: lovingly detailed descriptions of the applied science, cardboard characters, paper-thin plot. If you read Arthur C. Clarke purely for his science predictions then this book is for you. Read it to pass *a lot* of time.

I like a bit of story. Well, okay, there is a bit of story... Just a bit. Enough that I read to the end. Little enough that I am unimpressed.

True to its science fiction genre, Stephenson takes a what-if and explores it. What if the Moon were to explode? Well, people try to survive. Humanity separates into distinct groups. The groups meet each other and... That's it.

This is hard science fiction. No reader will care what happens *after* the various survivors meet...

Well, unfortunately, I care. Yes, they survived. That was obvious, right from the start. So what?! Will humanity survive? Or will the various groups wipe each other out? No idea... Though it does look as though there will be  a few centuries of war...

In fact, there's a whole lot of war, in the one group which is followed. Depressing, really. The Moon explodes, humanity is almost exterminated, the few survivors attempt to kill each other. Oh well. Realistic, probably.

Then there's that annoying title: Seveneves. Written, on the cover, as SeveNeves. My best guess is that it is SeveNeves in an attempt to hide what would be obvious -- a major point of the plot, two thirds of the way through -- without that deliberate mis-typing.

Look, if the title gives too much away -- look for another title. The Day the Moon Blew Up, for example, would only spoil the surprise of page two. (Sorry for that spolier.)

So there's a gradual build-up, with lots of scientific detail. If that's what you like then this is a great book. The use of Lagrange Points is explained so clearly that I finally understand why they are so often used. On the other hand, one character travels -- slowly -- through several rooms on the space station, just so that we can have each room and its purpose explained. In detail.

Then the action builds up. Battles, heroics, strong use of science. I'm thinking, This is better! Next chapter... an entire chapter which could be summarised as, She flew from the Earth to orbit. Sigh.

The book is easy enough to read. Just skim over the bits that don't interest you: the scientific detail or the actual story. Don't expect character development. Don't hope for shared danger to bring humanity together. Be pleasantly surprised by the rather interesting ideas on societal development.

It's not a "bad" book ! Just too much science and not enough fiction.

Although...

When it's obvious that humanity will need to rebuild from a very small number of survivors. When it's obvious and clearly stated that rebuilding of humanity will depend on having as many working wombs as possible and just a few jars of mixed sperm. Why is the space habitat loaded with more men than women ?!

Okay, there are more men than women in the astronaut and science fields. (True or false, I can live with that assumption.) Then every racial group is allowed to provide... wait for it... one male and one female! Come on! What about two females and one test-tube?! The actual selection is secretly rigged... Yet still, no-one thought to send up more women than men! Sheesh.

We only meet one of these couples. They are expected to spend a year in training, several years just surviving as unskilled passengers. (They will spend a few years in sardine tins, while the science and space crew save their bacon.) Then these passengers will spend the rest of their lives breeding like rabbits.

So (a) Why are the selected couple on their mid-twenties?! For weight and adaptability and time available for breeding -- teenagers would be better. Or even pre-teens, with just a few supporting adults. And (b) Do you believe that not one baby was born in those first few years ?! Wow!

Stephenson has written a good science primer. With just enough action and plot development to class it as a novel.

To me, a lot of it is interesting. But then, I subsequently read Wikipedia on Lagrange Points and epigenetics. Unfortunately there is too much science primer. And not enough science fiction novel.

Read it to pass a *lot* of time. If that's what you want.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
====

"Omne ignotum pro magnifico est" … Tacitus: Agricola
   

The Tiger and the Wolf / Adrian Tchaikovsky

The Tiger and the Wolf
(Echoes of the Fall: book 1)
by Adrian Tchaikovsky

fantasy

copyright 2016
read in November 2016

rated 8/10: really quite good

The first book that I read by Tchaikovsky was set in a world of insects. Well, of people who had evolved from insects. At the time I thought, This is brilliant! He has merged the characteristics of insects, with "human" characteristics -- in an entirely believeable fashion.

This time Tchaikovsky has merged animals with humans. The characters are "were", with the ability to change between human and animal. Once more, he has done it so very, very well. A vast improvement on the usual werewolf stereotypes.

There are many characters, based on a range of animals. For a while I believed that there were several "heroes", until one emerged as the definite, central character. Okay, the true hero (heroine) was obvious right from the start. But I have grown accustomed to -- and annoyed by -- fantasy books which offer a tangled soap opera rather than a clear story.

The Tiger and Wolf story is clear. It is a clear story of one person's attempts to decide just who she is. There are plenty of strong support characters. Many of those characters have their own depth, motivation and internal conflicts. The book has just one main character.

For a while, though, the story is too convoluted. The heroine feels that she has spent too long just running from her enemies... and she is right. As the reader, I also begin to tire of the constant running, from one place to another. From one group of people to another. Is this all, I wonder, just a way to introduce all the characters for the next few books?

Finally, though, it comes together.

In the final, this will save me, scene, there are two parts. The supreme monster spirit appears and I think, yeah, well, nothing unexpected there. But the heroine has already tamed her internal demons -- in a much smarter, a very human, fashion.

This book is really quite good. It has a beginning, a middle and an end -- a complete story. It is clearly just the first of a series -- with just enough hints to raise interest in book two. Yet it can be read on its own. And thoroughly enjoyed.

A good start to a series. A good book on its own.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting / Problems? Solved.
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"If all the world's a stage, the director deserves a pay cut." … per Ginger Meggs