The Obsoletes, Simeon Mills

The Obsoletes

by Simeon Mills

science fiction

copyright 2019

started reading March 2022

rated 4/10: bad but could be read

I read a few chapters. Began to think, ha ha that's clever. Then... ha ha, I bet they're going to...

And good grief. That's exactly what they were going to do. Oh, and it isn't clever. It's nasty with a straight face.

It's possible that the author is trying for a metaphor of modern parenting. Okay.

Unfortunately the book -- as far as I could bear to read -- is unpleasant. Unsympathetic. With no hint of acceptance of the human weaknesses of the non-human metaphors.

I read books for pleasure. This book gave me none.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Gone to lunch. If not back by 5, Gone to dinner." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

The Iron Heel,Jack London

The Iron Heel

by Jack London

dystopia, science fiction

copyright 1908

started reading in March 2022

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

That rating is based on (1) my own (lack of) enjoyment and (2) not having read much of it.

I was completely unprepared for the topic. Not a book that I would normally choose to read. Not a book that I expected from what little I know of the author.

I disagreed with his predictions, though would not dispute the possibilities. A happy ending seemed unlikely. I quickly lost interest.

Possibly, it's a book for the converted.

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

===

"Gone to lunch. If not back by 5, Gone to dinner." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

Planet of the Damned, Harry Harrison

Planet of the Damned

by Harry Harrison

science fiction

copyright 1961

read in April 2022

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

Space flight was so easy back then. As easy as driving a car. But that's not what the book is about.

"What if" a parasite took over peoples' brains. With a few variations on parasitism thrown in to add to the reader's knowledge. And yes, it is interesting.

Beyond that, the story is okay. The author recognises that women can do more than scream and twist their ankles: not quite gender equality but trying. Plus a brief suggestion of a utopia where men and women respect each other's rights. 

The male hero depends on bullets and fists though he also does some thinking. The locals are also treated well: as real people under the primitive exterior.

The final problem analysis is okay... if only the author had waited for The Andromeda Strain. He would then know that a successful virus does not want to kill its host.

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


As Conan says: What does not kill you
does not kill you

Asteroid of the Damned, Poul Anderson as Dirk Wylie

Asteroid of the Damned

by Poul Anderson (as Dirk Wylie)

science fiction

copyright 1942

read in April 2022

rated 4/10: bad but could be read

Is this story supposed to be some sort of allegorical warning? Or is it a simple reflection of the cruel attitudes of the author and his times.

There's an opportunity to gain some understanding of the helpful native. Instead, he is killed. There is an obvious set-up for discovery of some native secret which will allow "the damned" to be saved. But no. The central character sees a weakness and exploits it for his own benefit. What an arsehole. Both the character and the author.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Gone to lunch. If not back by 5, Gone to dinner." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

The Order War, L E Modesitt Jr

The Order War

(part of Recluce saga)

by L E Modesitt Jr

fantasy, fansonly

copyright 1995

part read in April 2022

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

NB 13apr22: I checked Wikipedia. It seems that something does happen... eventually. A character follows his cliché to find -- at the last minute, probably -- that his magic is far stronger than expected. With this sudden discovery of his super-magic he is able to save the world, or whatever.

So I shall read more. It's hard to follow but easy enough to read, just tedious.

If I manage to finish the book, I shall add a note at the end of this review.

====

Okay, this book is somewhere in the middle of a saga. If you have read several preceding books, you may know what is going on.

From this book, all we know is that several people have been sent from one country to another. There are hints -- only hints -- that they are there to provide military aid. That may be true. Certainly, once they arrive they begin to build rockets.

Before whey get there though, they eat several meals, each described in tedious detail. They also do some metal-working, also described in boring detail. Well, "described" is too strong a word for it. Words are thrown round with no explanation. For example, they do some "rough fullering". Oh yeah? Oh, and the metalwork seems to require magic but there is mention of magic being used.

I managed to read 90 pages in the hope that something would happen. Other than eating meals... nothing. Unless you find interest in occasional stick-fighting.

This book is fantasy and fansonly: only suited to fans of the Recluce saga. If you are a fan, well... you have my sympathy.

===

16apr22:

I tried to read more. It is still tedious. I give up. I stop reading. Enough :-(

Or possibly too much.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Gone to lunch. If not back by 5, Gone to dinner." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

The Threads of Magic, Alison Croggon

The Threads of Magic

by Alison Croggon

fantasy, subadult

copyright 2020

read in April 2022

rated 6/10: read to pass the time.

I would say that this book is aimed at young teenagers.

It's still enjoyable for an adult, if a little simplistic.

The characters are, no surprise, somewhat childish. With enough depth to be likeable.

There are evil villains and yet... no child is harmed :-) There are plenty of threats but nothing nasty.

The adult characters are maternal and paternal. They see themselves as having a duty to look after the children --  and to tell the children what to do. The adults are powerful but not all-powerful. They have their human failings.

The children eventually save the day... The explanation of how is a little glib.

The children also provide the moral of the story: friendship is important. The message is provided by the children (rather than by the author).  It fits naturally with the friendship of the brother and sister. The message is presented simply... it is not hammered home.

Probably a good book for children. An enjoyable book for this adult.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"It is not certain that everything is uncertain." ... Blaise Pascal===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

The Burning Page, Genevieve Cogman

The Burning Page

(Invisible Library #3)

by Genevieve Cogman

fantasy

copyright 2016

read in March 2022

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

Rated six... or possibly seven.

Yes... If you have read the first two then this book is well worth reading. It continues the story. It has the same key characters working together, supporting each other. But...

The near-sex scene is a bit pointless. It would make more sense if they were to remain, just good friends.

Mainly, though... This book seems to have lost some of the "bookishness" which made the first books -- number one in particular -- so much fun. There's plenty of action and adventure, lots of good fun... but less reference to books. Or so it seems to me, without (yet) rereading the first books.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"It is not certain that everything is uncertain." ... Blaise Pascal===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

The Awakening, Nora Roberts

The Awakening

(Dragon Heart Legacy #1)

by Nora Roberts

fantasy, chicklit

copyright 2020

started reading in February 2022

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

The Irish fairy-folk are sweet, kind, magical (of course) and willing to fight to defend their isolated niceness. Does that sound good? Then read this book. Me? My stomach is churning. I think that "twee" is the word. There's a low limit to my tolerance for saccharine over-sweetness.

To be fair: I quite enjoyed the start -- before the heroine reached the land of sugar and magic. I liked the heroine. But had enough saccharine and stopped reading.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"It is not certain that everything is uncertain." ... Blaise Pascal===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

The Ring of Five Dragons, Eric van Lustbader

The Ring of Five Dragons

(first of The Pearl Saga

by

 Eric van Lustbader

fantasy

copyright 2001

not read in February 2022

rated 3/10: so bad it's embarrassing

The author seems to have a complex world in his imagination.

He doesn't bother to share that world with the reader.

There are a lot of unexplained characters in the first few pages. They are quickly killed.

There may be two distinct races, there are hints but that may just be bad writing.

There is definitely a large animal which is like, perhaps, a unicorn, with a single large gleaming horn... a few chapters later the same animal has two horns. Okay, that's trivial. It's just an indication of the sloppy quality of this book.

Then we jump forward a century or so. To meet several dislikeable characters. And find that a third race has invaded. No explanation of where they came from.

It's So awful that I stopped reading.

Embarrassing rubbish.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"It is not certain that everything is uncertain." ... Blaise Pascal===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

A Trail Through Time, Jodi Taylor

A Trail Through Time

(St Mary's #4) by Jodi Taylor

fantasy

copyright 2015

read in February 2022

rated 7/10: well worth reading

Somewhat different to previous books in this series... There is a lot more action, largely centred round St Mary's itself. All staff are in the action and a lot happens within the building itself.

And it's still a lot of great fun :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"It is not certain that everything is uncertain." ... Blaise Pascal===

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)