requiem for anthi, Jay D Blakeney

requiem for anthi

by Jay D Blakeney aka Deborah Chester etc

(Anthi#2)

science fiction

copyright 1990

read in March 2023

rated 7/10: ####

The aliens are definitely alien, with enough human characteristics to be sympathetic characters.

The evil aliens are, well, nasty. The humans are... not very nice at all. It's a good mix of galactic characters.

at the start, the hero is cold, driven, unpleasant. Then he exhibits a core of niceness. finally, the book is a pleasure to read.

This is book two. I would have liked to start reading with some knowledge of the planet backstory and various characters. however... only one point is annoying:

when the hero is saved by the timely arrival of the cavalry... was this foreshadowed in book one? As far as I can tell... it is pure Deus ex machina. Not that it really matters :-)

this is not a book of clever but subtle plotting. it is heroic adventures in an interesting alien universe.

27sep23: I read it again. With a better idea of what was happening, it made more sense (which seems obvious, now I think of it :-)

I spent less time wondering what was happening, who was who -- and more time just enjoying the adventure. And appreciating -- understanding -- the backstory. An enjoyable romp in a well-imagined universe, with a solid (for book 2) plot. And still very little warning for the deus ex machina ending.

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Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
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Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

The word "boobs" is so scary until you get to the second "b". (Alfred E. Neumann

False Value, Ben Aaronovitch

False Value
(Rivers of London #8)
by Ben Aaronovitch
fantasy
copyright 2020
read in March 2023

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

a couple of chapters in and I'm wondering if those chapters have been printed out of order.
Then I notice that chapter titles include a month. okay, so that indicates relative time.
except that the months are January and December. two months apart? Or the start and end of one year? It doesn't really matter but... I realise that by now I am not interested enough to care.

The cover blurb days charming, witty, exciting.
referring to his heavily pregnant girlfriend as the bulge is not charming. somewhat demeaning, perhaps. at best it's twee.
there are plenty of likeable characters who are not developed enough to be charming.

witty? not very. Snide comments on history, architecture, people go straight past witty into not very pleasant sarcasm.
The Hitchhiker's-themed business brings a smile or two but quickly palls. Sarcasm rather than humour, there is no sense of fun.

Finally, however, there is excitement. and that works.
a complex plot, well laid out and developed. plenty of danger and magic enough for enjoyable action. leftover characters from previous books are well used.
the denouement fits. the climax is ridiculous, believable and satisfying.
except that the book ends with more loose ends than... well, the end is satisfying but really... absolutely nothing is finished.

it's an enjoyable book. could probably be enjoyed by itself. but for full enjoyment... read it as one chapter in an as yet nowhere near complete soap opera.



Nick Lethbridge
consulting Dexitroboper