Elvenblood / Andre Norton & Mercedes Lackey

Elvenblood

(Halfblood Chronicles #2)

by Andre Norton, Mercedes Lackey

Fantasy, chicklit

copyright 1995

re-read in December 2019

rated 7/10: well worth reading

I am just typing, Not too complex a world... and I realise, this world really is quite complex. Yet the complexity is so logical that there are no sudden surprises. A whole new "race" is introduced -- new since book one -- but that's it. One new race in a well-defined world, a natural extension of the world of the first book.

I like the characters. There are goodies, there are baddies, there are various characters in-between. Yet, once defined, they do not chop and change. Many characters are "imperfect": unsure of themselves yet with clear moral directions. They may make mistakes (not many!) but they do not chop and change in their knowledge of right and wrong. Thank goodness!

I've read this book before, many years ago. Perhaps I read it several times, I certainly remember it well. On this reading I still enjoy it -- perhaps even more. It may be that this book two is not quite as enjoyable of book one, with several years since I have (re)read one, book two is more enjoyable with the less obvious comparison.

Sure, this book may seem like a six out of ten -- but today I will rate it as seven, well worth reading. I wanted a book to fill in a couple of days. I wanted enjoyment without too much challenge. I wanted goodies who acted the part. Elvenblood provides all of this. Plus magic, romance and dragons. Very, very enjoyable :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"Experience is the comb life gives you once  you're bald" … per Ginger Meggs

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

cafe: Mary St Bakery, City Beach

café: Mary St Bakery, City Beach

Definitely not hipster. This is a flash café for a rich suburb. Where a true hipster café would have walls decorated with recycled timber fittings, this café has a feature wood wall. Nice, shiny, definitely un-hip.

The staff -- just two, it's late in the day -- are friendly, busy, somewhat distracted. We can't see tatts nor manbuns... though we agree that the man's *attitude* says, hipster. Casual, friendly, I'm one of you, man.

Why "Mary Street"? There are five of them, none on a Mary St. Just -- apparently -- a marketing name for a growing chain. Pity, I prefer an individual café with its unique style. Oh well.

This café is nice. When we're there, it's peaceful, we have a choice of seats. Just as well, we don't really like the high-stool seats. We're sitting on the broad verandah -- a feature of the newly rebuilt shopping centre.

It's taken a while to write this review... I can no longer remember what we ate, it must have been okay. I do remember that we bought a loaf of white bread -- which turned out to be very nice.

So it's a nice place with very convenient parking. And an excellent -- upmarket -- IGA next door. We won't go out of our way to visit, we will visit again if we are already close by. Two out of three.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"Experience is the comb life gives you once  you're bald" … per Ginger Meggs

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

Mass Effect Andromeda / Hough & Alexander

Mass Effect Andromeda: Nexus Uprising
(*)

by Jason M. Hough, K.C. Alexander

science fiction

copyright 2017

read in November 2019

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

This book is a lead-in to a video game. This purpose shows: the environment is very video game, with corridors, piles of junk, leaking broken pipes and sparking broken wires. As I read I very much have the feeling, this is a video game. Which is -- of course -- the whole point of the book. Well done :-)

So well done that I read up on the video game and am tempted to give it a go.

The story is sufficiently complex, sufficiently exciting, well wrapped up... The end is satisfactorily conclusive -- yet it is an opening to the story of the video game.

I see that one author's "specialty" is imperfect characters... Yes, there are plenty of those. Which is realistic though I would rather have a clear goodie or two. Just my own preference.

There's a lot of bloodshed as the various imperfect characters get driven in directions where they don't really want to go. Oh well. I still would like to read something with a clearer direction... just a personal preference.

On the other hand: this story introduces a video game. In the game -- I guess -- there will be opportunity to take the action in whichever direction you prefer. The book introduces -- quite successfully -- a universe where game play can follow the player's preference.

As a lead-in to a game -- this is a good book. As "a book" -- read to pass the time.

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(*) I've just checked the web to see if this book is one of a series. Well... sort of.

There are three "Mass Effect Andromeda" books. This one is the first -- yet the other two appear to be prequels. "Appear to be"... I didn't read very much about them. So I'm treating Uprising as a standalone book and the other two are set in the same universe -- but, both, also standalone.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"Experience is the comb life gives you once  you're bald" … per Ginger Meggs

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

A Crucible of Souls / Mitchell Hogan

A Crucible of Souls

(Sorcery Ascendant #1)

by Mitchell Hogan

fantasy

copyright 2015

read in November 2019

rated 7/10: well worth reading

A good, solid fantasy world, sufficient action -- in the sense of, things happening -- and likeable characters. That last is a bit of a problem...

The hero meets the usual range of harsh instructors and self-interested shopkeepers. Yet most of them turn out -- very quickly -- to be stern yet supportive. Okay, I actually like that! I just keep expecting them to have nasty ulterior motives. The girl in the cells, for example, turns out to *not* be a planted spy.

I guess I'm just too used to the full-on conspiracy style of writing. Nice people are just so unexpected. Unexpected yet enjoyable :-)

A few chapters in and I strike something which annoys me: a completely new set of characters. By the end of the book they do fit into the plot -- perhaps with more backstory to be revealed? -- but they are still well separated from the central hero.

It's a problem with book one of a series, there is so much still to be resolved. With such a broad world -- I wonder if all will eventually be resolved... or will the saga continue till the publishers stop publishing.

The ending of this book is quite reasonable. Major characters have escaped one peril, are currently safe, are now ready to set off into further peril. So this book may be read by itself. Very good.

On the other hand... there are many, many loose ends. Okay, there are three books -- so far. Plenty of time to tie up loose ends -- if that is the author's intention.

It's a very enjoyable book. I look forward to reading more, to see where it goes. I'm hoping for a saga... rather than a soap opera.

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19dec20: Read it again. Enjoyed it as much -- if not more. This time I knew that this is book one of at least three, so I was not annoyed when it ended with a number of cliff-hangers. This time, I just hope that I can get -- again -- copies of the follow-up books.

Very enjoyable -- though perhaps I should have gathered all three books before starting to read the first.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"Choice, not chance, determines your destiny" … Aristotle

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

Something Rotten / Jasper Fforde

Something Rotten

(Thursday Next #4)

by Jasper Fforde

humour, fantasy

copyright 2004

read in November 2019

rated 7/10: well worth reading

An enjoyable romp through time and literature. So many references -- clever & funny references -- to "the classics". And to history. As I'm reading I would think, Is that a reference to..., then I'd look it up... and enjoy it even more. Though it's possible that other readers would see much of it as vaguely insulting "insider humour".

Much of the humour stands by itself but a lot depends on some knowledge of literature. Some, I could see. Other jokes I needed to research. Some humour I simply thought, That's probably a reference to... something... and I was satisfied.

I enjoy this book for its cleverness. For its assumption of shared knowledge, reader and author. Even when I know that I miss the point -- I enjoy the knowledge that there is a point to be missed.

Most of the plot is literary. There is also a major sub-plot based on time travel. So casual in its acceptance of anachronism, paradox and sheer unlikelihood that I would not dream of calling it "science fiction". There are science fiction ideas -- as a basis for a very funny fantasy romp.

This book is fourth of a series, it may be read alone. Characters and situations are well introduced and the conclusion is very... concluding? There is a lot more material for future books yet plots in this book are well and truly wrapped up.

My only complaint with this book is due to its complexity: it feels like a series of independent scenes tacked together. There is so much going on, it is hard to believe that each scene adds to the plot. And yet... at the end... it all seems to come together.

This is a clever and enjoyable book. Weird science, unbelievable fantasy, intelligent (and unintelligent!) humour. Well worth reading. And well worth reading other books in the series.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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"Choice, not chance, determines your destiny" … Aristotle

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

Rejoice / Steven Erikson

Rejoice, a Knife to the Heart

by Steven Erikson

science fiction, dystopia

copyright 2018

read (too much of) November 2019

rated 3/10: so bad it's embarrassing

This is not a novel. It is a one-eyed hate-filled doom-is-upon-us manifesto. Sure, I can agree that humans are destroying the Earth. Yet I don't appreciate being hammered with unthinking hatred of one group -- and equally ignorant boot-licking of others.

The US president swears, lies, cheats and covers up the obvious evidence. The Chinese president says, Looks like a five-year plan to me, and becomes an alien follower. The Russian president says, Oh gosh, thank goodness we won't have to fight anymore, and rides off on his horse.

The company designing electric cars is run by saints, with no interest in profits, just in saving the world. Newspapers are evil, the internet is here to save us. (Ever heard of Facebook?) Science fiction writers are saintly geniuses, able to counteract the evils of newspapers. (Ever read any Heinlein?)

Quarter of rhe way through this rot and I skipped to the final chapters. It seems that if you can't hit someone then you will love them. If we all hold hands and sing Kumbaya, everyone will become well-fed and healthy. I must have missed the chapter where all the cows are killed and everyone pitches in to grow enough lentils for all.

In my opinion: a load of rubbish.

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

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"It's no use having a good memory if you have no good memories." … per Ginger Meggs"
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dying for you to read my blog: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au :-)
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The Bear and the Serpent / Adrian Tchaikovsky

The Bear and the Serpent

(Echoes of the Fall #2)

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

fantasy

copyright 2017

read in November 2019

rated 8/10: really quite good

I remember reading book one and enjoying it. This book two, I also enjoy -- and more. There is an extra depth to this book. Not the characters (all good) nor the plot (complex and satisfying). It's the way that the author deals with the "mystic" side of his fantasy world.

When a character slips over into the parallel world of the gods -- it makes sense. In a fantasy way, that is. It's clear what's happening, there's a logic which supports the plot. Despite dealing with gods, it is not deus ex machina. The gods provide understanding and moral support, the humans then apply themselves to the hard work of solving the problems.

Humans? Definitely a new breed of were-people, very human. With the added dimension of "animal" characteristics and abilities. Fascinating! And very well done.

At the end I am a bit disappointed... I think it's just that I want more! Major challenges are overcome, battles fought and won, yet the war has only just begun. This is a complex war, there are aspects still only hinted at. I think that my disappointment is, that it will take several books -- many more books? -- to feel that the world is once more safe and settled.

I am disappointed that there is no real end in sight. Nevertheless, this book does end very satisfactorily. And I already have the next book in the series. I look forward to reading it.

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06feb21: Read it again. Enjoyed it again... perhaps not as much as the first time but I'm still happy with the eight rating. Same thoughts as above, especially the roles of the various gods. Believable and with a good human / god balance.

Strange... I still have not read book three. I wonder if it concludes the series?

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Choice, not chance, determines your destiny" … Aristotle

===

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