Humans, Bow Down / James Patterson

Humans, Bow Down

by James Patterson, Emily Raymond

science fiction, subadult

copyright 2017

read in December 2018

rated 4/10: bad but could be read

Good grief. What a load of rubbish. A social message slathered on with a trowel. Thick but with no depth.

Take a bundle of stereotypes. A bunch of standard scenes. Drag them completely over the top. Provide a violent either-or solution: kill them all before they kill all of us. Then end with one person escaping and planning to create book two. Sheesh.

"Young adult" fiction aimed, perhaps, at the young adults who believe that wearing grunge clothes and joining a violent gang are the height of independent thinking.

Then there is the embarrassment of authors:

I've named two of them. Patterson is presumably there to sell the book, Raymond has the "young adult" writing experience. There's also, "with Jill Dembowski". Plus illustrations by Alexander Ovchinnikov… the illustrations are well suited to the moody, tough teen style of the book. Well suited to a target audience who would rather read a comic.

Yet the book is readable. Short, snappy chapters. No boring passages, all action. Like watching a train wreck, just wondering what will crush next.

At one point I did almost give up. I was wondering at the stupidity of two kids -- having never driven before -- stealing a car and leading a high speed chase through dangerous roads. No, that's not what nearly stopped me...

The stolen car is a two-seater, the heroine clearly states that there are no back seats. Several chapters later -- there are two people sitting in the back seats of that same car. That is rubbish. The rest of the book is just silly.

And yet... I read to the end. The story is embarrassing. I'm embarrassed. But it's readable.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"For every action there is an equal and opposite government program."

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

Heat Stroke / Rachel Caine

Heat Stroke

(Weather Warden 2)

by Rachel Caine

fantasy, chicklit

copyright 2004

read in December 2018

rated 7/10: well worth reading

Well worth reading ? Well, not strictly for its literary merit. Not that there's anything wrong with the way it's written...

This is chick lit fantasy -- done well. Sure, the heroine changes clothes -- but not for each new page. And she is willing to repeat outfits. Sure, the heroine is madly in love (hot, lingering looks, melt in his arms stuff) and she has the hots for just about every man she meets. But love and lust are not the only plot devices.

There's the bit where the heroine is an absolute slave to her man -- and to others. I find this trope to be embarrassing, slightly nauseating. But it is not something that this heroine *wants*.

The fantasy chick lit tropes are there -- but not overdone. They do not spoil an entertaining book. And that's why I rate it as a seven...

There's plenty of magic. I have decided that this is "illogical as-required" magic. That is, there is no "logical" explanation as to how it works. And when the heroine "requires" extra-strong magic -- there it is. Enough to solve the current problem, with little explanation. The "all good fun" style of magic :-)

And that's what this book is: all good fun. Goodies & baddies. Some sympathy for each. A heroine who just will not give in. Ridiculous, sympathetic, action-packed... enjoyable.

This book is worth a six, read to pass the time. Then I give it an extra mark because the standard tropes are used well.

Oh, and I like the way that the author deals with the necessity for "growth" of the heroine. You know, the heroine gains extra powers in each book, so the next book must have bigger threats... Harry Dresden, for example, starts simple and grows to absolute super-powers.

I've only read one Weather Warden book. But I really like the way that this need-for-growth appears to be being managed. Another trope used well.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"For every action there is an equal and opposite government program."

===

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

Sleeping Giants / Sylvain Neuvel

Sleeping Giants

(Themis Files #1 of 3)

by Sylvain Neuvel

science fiction

copyright 2016

read in December 2018

rated 7/10: well worth reading

A slow start, gradually building to sudden action -- then it slows again. Yet it keeps my attention all the way. Definitely first of a series -- a trilogy -- yet with reasonable closure at the end of this book.

The book starts with lots of traditional sf, a few stereotypes working on a scientific project. As the project gains success, the characters gain a bit more depth. And the complexities of real-world politics intrude. Not too suddenly, not too subtly.

I never really get to empathise with the characters. Like, yes, empathise, no. I'm not sure why, perhaps too many of them with not enough depth. Actions and motives are clearly -- perhaps unrealistically -- linked. My strongest empathy is negative -- dislike of -- the chief villain.

The author uses interviews to link the various threads -- interviews by one linking character with each of the others. This works very well. I have very little trouble following what is happening.

It's an enjoyable book. A variation on hard sf with occasional flashes of humour.

One character in particular, though, plays too much as deus ex machina… because he is there as a lead-in to the next books. I do hope to read the following books in the trilogy.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"For every action there is an equal and opposite government program."

===

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

The Real-Town Murders / Adam Roberts

The Real-Town Murders

by Adam Roberts

science fiction

copyright 2017

read in December 2018

rated 8/10: really quite good

An interesting take on virtual reality. A murder-mystery with good ideas. An enjoyable use of language, including very descriptive colours and sounds. I enjoyed this book.

The hero and her partner are -- nothing unusual here -- somehow constrained in their actions... a completely unbelievable constraint yet entirely acceptable. (Hmmm... the constraint is revealed on the back cover. Pity about that.)

The denouement is a bit rushed: on first read it made no sense, though a more careful re-read did make it all fit together nicely.

The only part of the book that I disagree with is the constraint on the partners. It is used as a common thread for (potential) further stories, further adventures of this partnership. Okay, that will work. But even if the constraint can't be resolved, I would prefer just a bit more explanation.

An enjoyable book, well written and described, set in a very interesting -- and surprisingly complex -- world.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"For every action there is an equal and opposite government program."

===

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

The Casual Vacancy / JK Rowling

The Casual Vacancy

by JK Rowling

fiction

copyright 2012

started reading in December 2018

rated 7/10: well worth reading

I only read 75 pages, hardly scratching the surface of this book. But I stopped mainly because I will be away and won't have time to read much more, not for a while. I may start it again, later.

Also, I admit, not a type of book which catches my interest. I started reading because of the author -- and because of previous public opinions. Time to find out for myself.

For a subject... a theme... of interpersonal backbiting and human nastiness -- this book is good. I'm drawn into it. I would like to read more. It's mostly due to the characters.

As far as I can tell, there is only one "nice" character. He dies at the start, to create the "casual vacancy". Other characters are a mixture of okay and creepy. Yet I am drawn in. Will they remain nice, or creepy ? Which aspect will influence future actions ? Will the apparent ratbag turn out to be misunderstood and -- deep down -- nice ?

I have the feeling that a lot of nasty characters will add up to a rather positive book. With heavy social commentary along the way.

Okay, I've read only 75 pages. I feel that the book deserves more. I hope to get back to it. Later.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"For every action there is an equal and opposite government program."

===

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