Set in Silver, Williamson CN and AM

Set in Silver

by Williamson CN and AM

romance

copyright 1909

read in March 2022

rated 9/10: really really good

I see this as an updated (to 1909!) version of Pride and Prejudice. Men are "in danger" of falling in love. Money is a serious consideration before committing to marriage. The male heroes are absolutely upright. Courtesy and manners are essential.

But Silver has no criticism of society. It is much lighter, a simpler romance, than P&P. And the heroine, who tells most of the story, has barely a harsh word to say about anyone. Yes, she is honest in her opinions... but so nicely that, well, this book is romance, not social critique. Very pleasant... and very enjoyable. 

This book is sweet... absolutely charming... a pleasure to read. Think, perhaps, of Pride and Prejudice written by PG Wodehouse. An absolute joy of a romance.

Of which the bulk is a travelogue across southern England: I wish that my own travel journals were even half as well written.

The journey: the sights, the people, the history, are all described with a rosy glow. Even the day of pelting rain. is a pleasure.

I have visited some of the places described. Now I want to see them again... to see the sights, to understand them, to appreciate them ... from the new perspective of the characters in this book.

Is it dated? Oh yeah! That is a lot of its fun.

The characters are touring in a Mercedes car.  "In the car" is dry. The driver and his favoured passenger are seated out in the rain. Wearing waterproof clothing, sitting in the pelting rain -- and loving it. Well, this is the hero and the heroine and they are just realising how much they love each other :-)

I immediately re-read those chapters -- and several others -- because I enjoyed them so much :-)

Just thinking of the book makes me think... I would love to read it again. And I would love to revisit the south of England -- and use this book as a guide.

An absolute charmer. From start to finish.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"It is not certain that everything is uncertain." ... Blaise Pascal===

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

oath of swords, david weber

oath of swords

#1 of a series

by david weber

fantasy

copyright 1995

read in March 2022

rated 8/10: really quite good

big tough guy from a misunderstood race goes round helping people. sort of lone ranger, complete with sidekick. a simple premise.

and a very enjoyable book.

the world is complex. yet its people and its history just seem so... right. references to past events just naturally fit.

and the key characters are so good. okay, the baddies are bad. possibly mad. the goodies are very likeable. even weak minor characters can have their good points.

when baddies pick a fight... they just don't stand a chance.

blood and thunder, action and adventure, from start to end.

a very enjoyable book.

14aug24:

This book leads into sword of the south -- and Oath is so much better.

Oath introduces -- and develops -- characters. And the characters are sympathetic and... very human. Which is odd, since most are not.

Still rated eight out of ten :-)

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


As Conan says: What does not kill you
does not kill you

John RingoThere will be dragons

 There will be dragons

council wars #1

by John Ringo

fantasy

copyright 2003

read in February 2022

rated 5/10: read if there's nothing else

There's a world of science where anyone can be transformed to any shape that they want.

the science ends and we're left with a primitive world of elves, dwarfs, men and orcs. yes, it's a direct steal from LotR.

on the other hand, this book is wish fulfilment for US preppers. the new world is ruled by people with "primitive" skills. farming, fighting, forging and so on.

why US? as soon as the new world needs a constitution, they steal the US constitution.

back to lotr. instead of magic rings, there are science-magic keys. lotr is about the essential destruction of the rings. this book keeps the keys... and demonstrates, over this and subsequent books, why they should have been destroyed.

and now back to those clever preppers. they capture wild animals from the forest. take the animals to the new farm... and are surprised when the animals wander back into the forest!

anyway. it's all a lot of blood and thunder fun.and like the titular dragons -- which fail to appear -- there is a lot which is hinted at but does not appear in this book one.

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


As Conan says: What does not kill you
does not kill you