Wednesday, August 30, 2023

in the Lives of Puppets/T.J Klune

in the Lives of Puppets
by T.J Klune
fantasy
copyright 2023
started reading in July 2023
rated 5/10: readable but only if there's nothing else

The beginning is a bit strange. Too many gaps in the explanation.
A few pages in -- plus a reference somewhere to Pinnochio -- and I have a vague idea.
But I have no interest in reading more.
The characters are interesting but... not interesting enough that I want to follow their adventures. The backstory is vague -- unexplained -- too simplistic to pique my interest. My worry is, if the rest of the book is this silly, it will be terribly boring.
On the other hand... if a villain suddenly appears with an axe -- I will be upset, the characters are harmless, unexciting but sort of nice.
I put the book aside... and have no interest in reading more. I do have other -- known to be good --  books to read.


Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
===

Too many people consider themselves open-minded when they're really just empty-headed. (Alfred E. Neuman)


pwMapAppreadMe)


Thursday, August 10, 2023

Gods of Mars, Edgar Rice Burroughs

Gods of Mars, Edgar Rice Burroughs
Barsoom #2
copyright 1913
read in August 2023
... and I must have read it before, years before, because I remember the ending.

rated 7/10: well worth reading

Well worth reading? but it's rubbish!
No... it's a vastly enjoyable book in the category of bloodthirsty but heroic sword and sandals. I enjoyed it :-)

John Carter and his princess, the incomparable Dejah Thoris, are separated by vicious creatures, enemy armies, half a planet, a religion which demands their death. John Carter carves his way towards his princess. Every step of the way, there is a new obstacle. But he is unstoppable. Until... the final pages... a quick kiss and cuddle... and a further obstacle -- which will not be beaten until the next book. Oh no!

In that next book, the hero has a habit of overhearing just the right bit of information which allows him to overcome the next challenge. In this book it is the villain who manages to overhear just the right few words to further his nefarious schemes.
Yes, the plot is complex but weak. The goodies characters are strong, loyal, heroic... etc :-) admirable and worthy of the reader's expectation of ultimate success. (I almost wrote likeable, worthy of smpathy. But neither of those suits the strength of these characters.)
It's all a lot of highly imaginative fun Though violent.
This book does mention that John Carter is on the planet Mars -- named for Mars, the god of war -- so we should expect the planet and its people to be very warlike. Mind you... that logic would have made a huge difference to Burroughs' Venus stories :-)


Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
===


In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Also, there's lots of competition for handicapped parking. (Alfred E. Neuman)

pwMapAppreadMe)


Friday, August 4, 2023

city of last chances / adrian tchaikovsky

city of last chances
by adrian tchaikovsky
fantasy, dystopia
copyright 2022
rated 4/10: bad but could be read

It's a fantasy world. Complex and miserable. So I've added the dystopia category.

Miserable and/or nasty characters. Doing miserable and/or nasty things.
One interesting idea, a character who travels with and worships God. A real god who only his one worshipper can see.
Then there's a more ordinary idea of a magic forest that will take you... somewhere. Or kill you.
As far as I read, several chapters, it is complex, nasty, barely explained.
Could be read but not by me.




Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
===


In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Also, there's lots of competition for handicapped parking. (Alfred E. Neuman)

pwMapAppreadMe)