Bloodmind / Liz Williams

Bloodmind
(2 of ?)
by Liz Williams

science fiction / fantasy

copyright 2007
partly read in June 2016

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

As soon as I start reading I think, What is going on? It makes no sense at all. Then I realise... the ebook that I'm reading has started at chapter 39.

Back to chapter one. And very soon I'm thinking, What is going on? It makes very little sense. Not no sense, just very little.

When I give up reading -- about one third of the way through the book -- I check the web. Yes, this is book two. That explains some of the confusion. Not all.

There are three threads running through the book. Each thread is followed through every third chapter. Except... there are some chapters which -- from the chapter title -- do not belong to any of the three labelled threads. What the?!

The book claims -- on its cover -- to be science fiction. Of course it is -- because the characters tell us so. "Back on old Earth," someone thinks, "My powers would be called magic." Well, yes. But for all the scientific explanation -- there is none -- this book may as well be fantasy.

This is a future-based Norse legend. With strong feminist overtones. The characters can repeat, This is science -- and yes, they do repeat it, several times. It is still indistinguishable from magic. So why make such a point of it?

Anyway...

After a lot of confusing story-lines, after three apparently unrelated plot threads and two what-the-heck other chapters, after meeting and not particularly liking any of the characters -- I give up.

Try book one. It may make more sense.

But having tried to read book two -- I won't be looking for book one.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Agamedes Consulting
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"Talk is cheap, because supply exceeds demand." … per Ginger Meggs
   

Willful Child / Steven Erikson

Willful Child
by Steven Erikson

science fiction, humour

copyright 2014
read in June 2016

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

I'm sure that Erikson had a lot of fun writing this book. I had a few chuckles while reading the book. It's a very juvenile level of humour. The simple plot is a good match. The ending has as much relevance to the story as I would expect: very little.

Yes, it's fun to read. Not much else I can say. Except:

I hope that the "twist" in the ending is not an indicator of a follow-up book.

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Oh, wait, a couple more things to say:

Yes, it's nice to know that the author sees the world going downhill. That he sees bad news in consumer and leader stupidity. There's no need to push the line quite so hard.

And then, there's that irrelevant ending...

We meet a bloke called Harry Mitts. He's the grandfather of the hero of this book. This is part of the "twist" at the end of the book.

Way back at the start of the book we met Harry Sawback. Mitts? Sawback? Am I confused? Or has the author forgotten how the story started?! Then there's the boy, Harry's son, in the prelude. At the end of the book he appears to have morphed into Harry's grandson.

There's a distinct lack of continuity. Or, perhaps, simply a bit of illogical nonsense. Either way, it doesn't help the story. Not at all.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Agamedes Consulting
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"Talk is cheap, because supply exceeds demand." … per Ginger Meggs
   

Extinction Game / Gary Gibson

Extinction Game
(One of ???)
by Gary Gibson

science fiction

copyright 2014
read in June 2016

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

Quite a good book. Spoilt by a pathetic ending.

End of the world. Sole survivor. So far, so standard. Sole survivor brought to a parallel Earth -- good. To join a team of other survivvors -- from other parallel worlds -- to explore yet more parallel Earths.

Interesting.

So there's a whole series of parallel worlds to explore. Each with its own method of destroying itself. Naturally enough, there's also conflict within and around the team of explorers. All very good: action, adventure, romance, science fiction.

Till the hero is rescued by deus ex machina. And another layer of conspiracy is revealed -- but not explored. The good guys win the battle -- only to find that there are mysterious behind-the-scenes powers yet to be explored and explained.

Yet to be explained? Good grief... I can see the slow reveal being dragged out over numerous books. I wonder if the author even knows where these books are going?

And finally... the worst is yet to come:

The team of explorers is decimated. So what do they do? Pop back to yet more parallel worlds, to replace each missing team member. To replace them with almost-exactly-the-same people from almost-exactly the same worlds.

So team members can come and go. Yet the next book will start off with the same team, member for member. It's a pity that the team members are not particularly worth saving. I'd be happy to see a new team at the start of the next book. Although... they are mostly so unmemorable... so stock-standard stereotypical... that perhaps I would not even notice.

Of course there's still the standard problem with parallel worlds: The hero saves the day. Which causes the world to split into two more parallel worlds. One in which the hero saves the day. And one in which he doesn't. So... why bother.

It's an entertaining book. The various worlds are interesting, though very lightly sketched. The action rolls along, the romance is just a bit ridiculous.

As an average, readable book, there is only one fault: it is too clearly intended to be a series. With the good guys preserved, so the reader does not have to think too hard, when the next book is read.

"To be continued" is more important than the plot of the book itself.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Agamedes Consulting
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"Talk is cheap, because supply exceeds demand." … per Ginger Meggs
   

The Steel Remains / Richard K. Morgan

The Steel Remains
(one of three)
by Richard K. Morgan

fantasy

copyright 2008
read in June 2016

rated 7/10: well worth reading

Well worth reading. Also brutal. Occasionally nasty. Driven by a sense of honour and caring. Not a fantasy for the squeamish.

This book shows people at their worst -- and at their best. The bloodthirsty hero -- a man who is happy to break legs to send a message -- is willing to give his life to prevent the mass suffering of another war.

There is the occasional flash of humour. Best I could do, was respond with a grim chuckle. Not so much a light moment, as a relief from the tension.

Not that the book is negative. Just grim.

The book follows three main characters. Two men, one woman. All tough, hardened fighters. Each is dependable, loyal, willing to fight for what is right. Every other character is... dubious.

A few minor characters are one-sided, good or bad. They have no time -- in the book -- to show another side. Others will pat you on the back -- or stab you in the back -- depending on whim or self-benefit. It is not a nice environment.

The story follows the three heroes. This makes for a complex plot. Plus, the back-story is several books' worth. Yet there is a satisfying conclusion. With plenty of leftover for more books.

This story is hard, uncompromising. At times, I wish for a more positive view of the world. Yet I am satisfied with the right-is-right attitudes of the heroes. The odds are against them yet they are winning on points.

Not for the squeamish. Well worth reading.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Agamedes Consulting
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"Talk is cheap, because supply exceeds demand." … per Ginger Meggs
   

Line and Orbit / Sunny Moraine, Lisa Soem

Line and Orbit
by Sunny Moraine, Lisa Soem

science fiction

copyright 2014
read in June 2016

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

On the front cover of this book it says, "the perfect read for the sci-fi lovers out there." Okay, so I've categorised it as, "science fiction". Though I have also read that "sci-fi" is used by reviewers who are not familiar with science fiction.

It's in space ships and on alien planets. It's science fiction. It is also a gaychicklit fantasy science fiction romance for new age hippies who believe in both the mystic self-healing powers of the mind and free love across all gender varieties. But I don't have that as one of my simplistic categories.

The message is nice but old: science equals trouble, drug and peace fuelled mysticism will bring us all together for a stronger and happier future. It's a literary equivalent of the Mamas and the Papas believing that we could bring world peace through dancing in the streets.

It's a pleasant story with likeable characters. Only one real villain and a happy ending (no surprise there) for everyone else. Though I do get a bit tired of the temperamental, pouting, petting heroes. That's the "gaychicklit romance" aspect of the book, for those who like to be warned in advance.

There are plenty of books where mind power proves superior to hard science. Line and Orbit is good in that it shows the positives of both approaches to civilisation. Okay, the science civilisation is a typical utopia with cruel treatment of those who do not fit the pattern. Yet those who fit in do have a good life... till they suddenly die.

Don't read this the wrong way but this book is almost "worthy": a worthy attempt to present an alternative to our western, hierarchical, patriarchical, science-based civilisation. A very pleasant -- worthwhile -- alternative. Just with no instructions on how to get from "here" to "there".

The background technology is good. No explanations but easily acceptable. Like our own technology, it just works. No need to understand how. Some is interesting and unbelieveable but the plot does not demand that we believe it, just accept it.

Just after half way through and the book is beginning to drag. The action has been slow but steady. Now it slows down, to allow the hero to discover both love and himself. (Or something.) This is when the lovers' inevitable love and long lingering looks at the curving line of a jaw... become a bit tedious.

But not for long.

The mental powers are unbelieveable but no more than expected. They save the day and that is fine by me. Actually, mind powers save the future day. The conflict that climaxes the book is resolved by sensible people doing sensible things.

It's a pleasant book. Mostly easy to read. Science fiction but from a less used point of view. Nothing exciting. Worth reading, to pass the time.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Agamedes Consulting
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"Talk is cheap, because supply exceeds demand." … per Ginger Meggs

Persuasion / Jane Austen

Persuasion
by Jane Austen

romance

copyright 1818
read in June 2016

rated 7/10: well worth reading

I read Pride and Prejudice. Many years ago. I've read it again... and again and again. I think I may have even read Sense and Sensibility, once.

I own a volume of the complete works of Jane Austen. Based on Pride and Prejudice I class myself as a Jane Austen fan :-) Yet all I have done -- till now -- is to re-read Pride and Prejudice!

Now -- at last -- I have read another book by Jane Austen:  Persuasion.

And enjoyed it.

Persuasion is "harder" than P&P. The fools and scoundrels are more clearly indicated, their follies and foibles more definitely defined. Austen is less willing to gloss over -- or to soften -- her satire.

Satire? Didn't I classify this as romance?

Austen writes simple romances -- as a satire of the attitudes and actions of the people of her own place and time. (Well, I think that's true. I'm and Austen fan, not an Austen expert.) Plenty of authors write in one genre and use their story as satire. Plenty of books have occasional stabs of satire. Where to draw the line, satire or romance? I simply ignore satire as a category for my reviews.

If anything, Persuasion is a comedy of manners. The actual romance -- the boy/girl stuff -- is central to the plot but not all-encompassing. The process of falling in love is minor. The story follows the impact of that love on the various characters.

The satire is more pointed -- than in P&P -- but the book is less gripping. I really do enjoy the central plot of P&P. Perhaps it's because there are two main characters, one male, one female. Persuasion is a bit one-sided. I like the heroine but her beau is just not dashing enough.

On a related matter... My wife began listening to Persuasion, on an audio book. She found it boring and did not finish. What?!

Really, though, I can understand. How could anyone listen to Persuasion?!

Quite often I would stop reading, wonder what on earth had just been said, re-read a paragraph or two. Persuasion is a real ramble of convoluted sentences. Not helped by the assumption that the reader already knows the mores and morals and history of the early 1800s. Confusing? Yes.

I enjoy the confusion. I learn plenty about the attitudes of the times, at least as seen by Jane Austen. I look up words. (What is a barouche?!) I read about the skin lotion... I forget its name. This all adds depth to the enjoyment of reading. (The knowledge gained is also useful for solving some crosswords.)

But I cannot imagine just listening to Persuasion. It would be very, very confusing.

My wife stopped listening to Persuasion. So I thought, is it really boring? Time to read...

I enjoyed reading. But is definitely not a book for listening, nor for quickly skimming. Not if you want to know what is really going on.

Social satire. Sweet romance. A comedy of manners and of social climbing.

A very enjoyable novel.

And -- good grief! -- it's nearly 200 years old! If I had a category for "classic", Persuasion would definitely be in it. As a classic that is actually worth reading.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Agamedes Consulting
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"You can learn something new every day, if you're not careful." -- per Ginger Meggs
   

The Librarian / Mikhail Elizarov

The Librarian
by Mikhail Elizarov
(translated by Andrew Bromfield)

fantasy

copyright 2007
(translated 2015)
read in June 2016

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

I think that this book offers some sort of political commentary. Perhaps on the USSR. Or on the breakdown of the USSR. Maybe on the role of Russia post USSR.

Does any of that interest you? Read on. Explain it to me.

The fantasy concept is clever. Possibly unique. There's a page of jargon which provides -- possibly -- a scientific rationale for the effect of reading certain books. I'm happy to call it fantasy.

The effect of reading certain books is to create a violent fantasy world, modern day sword and sorcery. Butchery using everyday tools as weapons. It's brutal and violent.

There are no characters who attract my sympathy.

The story does built of logically. Like a car crash, really. It gets worse and worse, there's no way to stop the nasty ending.

Is the ending really nasty?

Well, I think so. People are sacrificed -- forcibly -- for the possible good of Russia. Sacrificed by people who are ugly, cruel, abhorrent. Sub-human. Is this a good ending? Not to me.

The murder and sacrifice are said to be for Russia. The characters who are responsible show no signs of being anything other than brutally self-centred. I can't see any reason why they would do anything at all for anyone other than themselves. Especially since they are under constant threat from the official Russian regime. So their true purpose is either hidden or unbelievable.

It's a book which is confusing at the start. Interesting once I realise what's going on. Depressing and nasty by half way through. And gradually worse from then on.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Agamedes Consulting
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"Today is your day ! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way."    — Dr. Seuss