Working Stiff / Rachel Caine

Working Stiff

(Revivalist #1)

by Rachel Caine

chicklit, horror, thriller, fantasy?

copyright 2011

read in April 2018

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

Of course the heroine is incredibly beautiful. Of course she changes her clothes, regularly. Of course she falls in love with a tall dark & handsome hero. After all, this is chicklit :-)

btw, I'm not a chick. I still enjoyed this book.

It's also horror due to the central zombie theme. And it's a thriller because the baddies are all-powerful, all-controlling. Yet, of course, ultimately defeatable. Defeatable? Well, almost. There are two more books in the series...

I also put "fantasy" -- with a question mark. I think that the two categories (or genres) are separate. Horror is fantasy with nasty themes and is usually set in modern times... But that is just my own distinction and I may not be consistent.

So, yes, the story will continue. Yet the ending of this book is quite satisfactory. Mind you, part of that is because the person left in danger -- to be rescued, perhaps, in book two -- is so lightweight that, who cares?! Sure, there are remaining threats -- but I don't care enough about the characters to worry about the lack of a complete ending.

It's an enjoyable book with quite a few interesting ideas. Wide open for more adventures but -- I think -- the horror / science may have reached its limit(*). When I read book two -- I could be proven wrong :-) I look forward to finding out.

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(*) Check the Dave Hooper books for an excellent change of the style of conflict between books.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"Even if a million people repeat the same nonsense, it is still nonsense" … Anatole France (paraphrased)

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https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/

Resistance / John Birmingham

Resistance

(Dave Hooper vs The Monsters #2)

by John Birmingham

fantasy, action

copyright 2015

read in April 2017

rated 7/10: well worth reading

Dave Hooper, a very likable anti-hero. Despite his faults -- and there are many -- he means well. Not in the sense of "means well but stuffs it up". Dave succeeds at his main task but fails at his interpersonal relationships... despite knowing that he is making mistakes.

Dave's first book was very much "versus the monsters". In this book there is a lot more preparation, planning -- and watching the forces of the good ol' US of A smashing the aliens. Interesting, I think. Dave is still the hero but no longer the one man army to save the world...

Then he makes yet another "bad" decision which really messes up his interpersonal relationships. Even more. And I think, Good decision! He does what he feels is right and I completely agree. More to like about Dave!

Then the plot makes a 180 turn. Dave completely changes his role. The Monsters change their tactics. And I think, So that is how the author will avoid the rut of the one-man army... Book three will have -- as I see it -- the same very likable anti-hero. With a new but equally enjoyable direction for the plot.

A quick check: Yes, there are more books in the series. I look forward to reading some more :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"Even if a million people repeat the same nonsense, it is still nonsense" … Anatole France (paraphrased)

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https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/

Raven Stratagem / Yoon Ha Lee

Raven Stratagem

(Machineries of Empire #2)

by Yoon Ha Lee

​science fiction

copyright 2017

read in April 2018

rated ​7/10: well worth reading

Solid science fiction. Compulsive reading. Almost incomprehensible. Yes, I enjoyed this book. Understanding all the detail -- was beyond me.

​As far as I can tell... characters act consistently. Every so often there will be a revelation, a character will reveal a hidden plot or motive. From then on that character will be described differently; it gets confusing! But fun. Or, perhaps, clever. But certainly confusing.

Having now read book #2 I'm tempted to re-read book #1, it may now make more sense. Maybe!

I've enjoyed both books. Perhaps I will enjoy them even more​ if I can follow more of what is happening.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"Even if a million people repeat the same nonsense, it is still nonsense" … Anatole France (paraphrased)

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https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/

Dave vs The Monsters: Emergence / John Birmingham

Dave vs The Monsters: Emergence

(1 of 3?)

by John Birmingham

fantasy

copyright 2015

read in April 2018

rated 7/10: well worth reading

I have vague memories of watching one of the Evil Dead movies... this book brings back those memories.

"Dave" of the title is an ordinary guy. Well, ordinary in a drinking, drugging, whoring, unfaithful, failed-as-a-father sort of way. All sorts of rotten, in fact. Yet... hard to really dislike him.

And he fights with a magic axe. Which he calls... well... no, that would be a spoiler. But it sets the standard for the rest of the book: funny, irreverent, violent. And, strangely, caring.

Dave is rough, tough... and caring. He cares for his workmates. He cares for the people who fight with him. He cares about random dead people. He even hopes to avoid war with The Monsters.

The plot is straightforward. The bureaucracy -- not quite into politics -- is realistic. The characters are a bit more than two-dimensional, enough to be sympathetic but not enough to shatter the reader when they are killed.

When I saw the title I thought, This has to be a book for brainless escapism. With violence. And it is. It is brainless, violent escapism. And yet... it is very enjoyable. Because the characters are tough, loyal and -- deep down --- caring.

Not great literature. Well worth reading.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"Even if a million people repeat the same nonsense, it is still nonsense" … Anatole France (paraphrased)

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https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/

The Magician's Land / Lev Grossman

The Magician's Land

(Magicians 3/3)

by Lev Grossman

fantasy, subadult

copyright 2014

read in April 2018

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

I think it was in Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy where someone said, Let's see if this time we can do it without having to nail somebody to a cross. Not the right words, probably not the right book -- but that was the concept. Let's do great things without having to have a blood sacrifice.

This book has the depressing and pointless blood sacrifice.

The book is a children's moralistic fable. Very similar -- in concept -- to The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. For a while I thought, oh well, it's different, the religious underpinnings are not Christian. Then the author throws in the sacrifice. What a pity.

The book is aimed at pre-teenage children... I think. The plot, the characters, the fantasy world are childish. Yet there is plenty of swearing and sex. Definitely sex though not explicit. Perhaps the author aims at young teenagers -- with sex and swearing and self-doubt and insecurity. Yet the main characters are simple-minded children playing at simplistic plots. Idiot teenagers, or crude sub-teens? I'm not sure.

There is also the pre-teen and young teen concept that the hero is male but the females are stronger and far more sensible.

There's a lot of soul searching -- and that is the point of this book, the moral of the story is in the soul searching. Although it's possible that the moral is intended to be in the actions -- in which case the moral is a sad and sorry travesty.

Despite all this the book is readable, even for an adult. Childish characters, minimal plot and -- in my opinion -- pushing an amoral yet well-meaning barrow.

Oh, and all but one of the characters are from the previous two books. Luckily the plot is so lightweight that that doesn't really matter. This is a book which can be enjoyed (sort of) without having read the first two in the trilogy.

And be warned: The ending is definite and conclusive. In a way which allows the author to start another follow-on series.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"Il est bon que le cœur soit naïf et que l'esprit ne le soit pas." … Anatole France

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https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/

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The Corpse-Rat King / Lee Battersby

The Corpse-Rat King

by Lee Battersby

fantasy

copyright 2012

read in March 2018

rated 9/10: really, really good

At the start I thought, Yuk, awful. But not awful enough to stop reading.

Then it turned out that the awful start was essential to the book. And it just kept on getting better and better.

There is tragedy and humour and action and some calm moments. It all fits together really well.

The hero -- the "corpse rat" of the title -- is a shifty, dishonest, self-centred type. Yet... You know how an anti-hero can have a final, climactic change of heart? Well, the corpse rat has a more realistic -- gradual -- development of a moral outlook.

Okay, he's never an honest, upright citizen. Yet he recognises -- gradually -- that his actions may have negative impacts on others... and he begins to regret those negative impacts.

The story wanders across various parts of the hero's world yet there is a logic to the wandering. The entire book seems to hang together quite well. Though the hero's offsider does seem to gain intelligence and philosophy when he is killed.

Killed? Don't ask. Just read the book. It is an excellent book.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"Il est bon que le cœur soit naïf et que l'esprit ne le soit pas." … Anatole France

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https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/

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