Busted Flush / George R.R. Martin

Busted Flush

category: fantasy, author:

not really George R.R. Martin

book 19 of Wild Cards
original copyright 2008,
read in May 2011

Agamedes' opinion: 3 out of 10

Apparently, this is a "mosaic novel". That may mean, "Don't blame me, I only wrote some of it." Or possibly, "Be nice to me and I'll publish some of your work in 'my' next 'novel'."

It's "mosaic" because there are nine separate authors. Each author writes a series of related chapters. The series of related chapters are then interspersed to form a book. Perhaps, by the end of the book, the separate series of chapters somehow link together. Or perhaps not.

btw: None of the authors are George R.R. Martin.

A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. As far as I read, Busted Flush is a series of short stories. Perhaps they do -- eventually -- join up to form "a long narrative". Perhaps not. As far as I read it was a series of short stories and not a novel.

As a book, this is a comic.

Star Trek Nemesis / J.M. Dillard

Star Trek Nemesis

(category: FanSci(*))
a book in the Star Trek franchise by

J.M. Dillard

published by Simon & Schuster in 2002, read in November 2009

Agamedes' opinion: 3 out of 10

Another book of a movie. Another collection of special effects and meaningful looks, converted to embarrassing prose. Not quite as bad -- not as horribly childish -- as the Star Wars "clones" book. Just a book for fans of the movie. The Enterprise is so large that it has full Earth-normal gravity (to allow a baddie to fall to his death). Good grief! Captain Picard steals an alien spaceship and can barely fit in. But... aren't the aliens a lot taller than humans?! (I would check my memory on that. But it's not worth the effort of re-reading.) Then there's the terrible z-rays (or whatever). They are thought to not exist -- yet can be detected -- even when the z-ray machine is switched off! I've invented a new type for these books: (*)FanSci, for pure Fantasy with a pretence of Science in the background. Each Star Trek TV episode was based on an SF idea, explored then settled, often by Captain Kirk's fists. This Star Trek movie is a ridiculous premise, with a focus on personal interactions, then settled by each major good guy having a fist or phaser fight with a matching baddie. The only thing in common, between TV and film, is the short life expectancy of the unnamed ensigns.

..o0o..

These reviews are provided by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your own processes, problems or documents, email nick leth at gmail dot com.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones / R.A. Salvatore

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

(category: FanSci... My own category: pure fantasy dressed up as science fiction)
a book of the Star Wars franchise by

R.A. Salvatore

published by Century in 2002, read in November 2009

Agamedes' opinion: 2 out of 10

Well, I managed to get about one third of the way through this awful book. I wonder if Salvatore is embarrassed by it? First, there's the assassin: How did she plant a bomb on the landing pad? No explanation. Why did she send a killer drone -- then get it to return directly to her, leading the heroes? Stupidity, I guess. Why was a big thing made of her shape-changing when it did nothing for her? Essential use of CGI, I guess. Then there's the Jedi knights: At least one of them can leap into a lift well and use the Force to stop himself falling. So why is his Jedi master so afraid of falling? Obiwan can detect an attack from behind in a crowded bar. So why does he not notice an armoured assassin in the empty street? Forget the awful appearance of Jar Jar Binks, that was mercifully brief, just enough to rekindle sales of Binks stuffed toys. What stopped me reading any further was the car chase... It was pure Mickey Mouse: ridiculous overuse of near misses, special effects and just-missing-the-heroes explosions. It's all the penalty an author pays, for writing a novel based on a very childish movie.

..o0o..

This blog is supported by Agamedes Consulting. For an independent and thoughtful review of your own documents, email nick leth at gmail dot com.