PissWeakly Reviews: September 2020

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

The Sword of the South / David Weber

The Sword of the South
(Sword of the South #1)
by David Weber

fantasy

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

Yes, it's book one of a series. It is also a follow-on to the four War God books. There are carry-over characters and many references to past adventures. Doesn't matter, this book stands alone: characters are well introduced and past history is irrelevant... As far as I can tell, anyway, having not read the previous books.

The book can be read alone. And it does make me want to read more. Not for the plot... but for the fun.

The book is a lot of fun. Over-drawn characters, heroes with heart, occasional extreme violence. There are a lot of tough guy insults. You know, the things that tough guys say to hide the fact that they really like each other.

There is true love, true friendship. Amazingly able heroes and heroines -- and villains. There is a lot of discussion, with occasional bursts of violence. Some of the pitched battles support the plot. Others are just thrown in to fill a dull patch.

Finally a major villain is dealt with, to provide a satisfying ending. And an even more major villain cackles evilly off stage, to be dealt with in subsequent books.

If I were that villain I would stop cackling and start packing. The good guys are all over him. The only questions are, how many books will it take to wipe him out? And is there an even bigger villain, waiting for his own follow-on series.

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13dec23:

There's also a lot of magic where the only explanation is, Golly, that's really amazing!

The book is still a lot of good tough guy and gal violent unsubtle... fun.

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18aug24:

"over-drawn characters? So over-drawn that I can barely stand it.

There's been a lot of plot and character development between Oath of Swords and this book (are there several books?). By now the characters have developed into... caricatures.

One new character is being introduced, probably as a link to a series of pre-fall books. Is there anyone else who will turn out to be an ancient hero brought back to life? I hope not, I hope the author has the ability to invent new characters.

And... re-reading both Oath and South: I have just re-rated South (7 to 6/10) -- it really suffers by comparison. I'm really struggling to read South, the characters are too ridiculously heroic. In Oath they are still developing and much more acceptable.

Perhaps if I reach the end (of this re-reading of South) I may enjoy it a bit more.

Nick Lethbridge    /    Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting    /   Problems? Solved.
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When all else fails, have someone else read the instructions" … per Ginger Meggs

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Ascendance / John Birmingham

Ascendance

(Dave Hooper #3)

by John Birmingham

horror, humour

read in September 2020

rated 8/10: really quite good

Really quite good? Well... I certainly enjoyed it :-)

Violent. Crude. Blood-soaked. Occasionally touching. Often funny -- in a crude, violent and occasionally touching way.

I had hoped that this book would complete a trilogy but no :-( More people are introduced, evil monsters survive, a battle is won but the war continues. I should reduce my rating but, well, it's not a series which demands to be wrapped up.

By which I mean: This is a story of violence and action with some human interest thrown in. There are some threads which are slowly developing yet there are no ideas which demand a conclusion. Almost like a sitcom: no matter what happens in the middle, the start and end situations are equivalent.

The book is good fun, I enjoyed it. As a violent, horror, humourous, human story it is really quite good. I am satisfied with the conclusion. There are plenty of loose threads -- but none which demand to be followed.

It's a great read but not a great book. Just a lot of crude, violent and funny fun.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

... Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

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There's a party in your heart and all the bladed weapons are invited. Have a pleasant day. … Blingtron 5000

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

Friday, September 4, 2020

Born to Darkness / Suzanne Brockmann

Born to Darkness

(Fighting Destiny #1)

by Suzanne Brockmann

science fiction, romance

read in September 2020

rated 8/10: really quite good

Okay, I just bumped that rating up from 7/10. For sheer enjoyment -- it could be nine... but really, it is *not* "really really good". But by crikey -- I really did enjoy reading it :-)

The book is romance -- with lots of sex. Absolute, one hundred percent lust... backed up by absolute love. The couples are so much in love... it is really... really... sweet. Arousing sex scenes which have me smiling happily because the characters enjoy the sex -- and each other -- so very very much.

The book is science fiction, a dystopian near future. Definitely dystopian yet there is no feeling of despair. The baddies are absolutely evil, innocent victims are terrorised, yet the goodies are out there battling the evil. Nice people are tortured and killed yet the good people are there, regularly saving the day.

Totally over the top. Totally enjoyable. Dystopia -- with a positive message.

The science fiction aspect includes people with super-powers. And, they are finding, the super-powers are enhanced by good sex... Oh yes, those scenes of hot sex are absolutely essential to the plot :-)

It's clever, it's ridiculous. And it is ridiculously enjoyable.