Harry Potter 1 & 2 / J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter...
(1) ... and the Philosopher's Stone
(2) ... and the Chamber of Secrets

by J.K. Rowling

fantasy, young adult

published in 1997, 1998
read -- not for the first time -- in July 2013

rated 9 / 10: really, really good

We were on holiday. Sure, I had brought books to read. But they were in our hotel room and we were drinking tea in the hotel lounge.

There were magazines. And a few books. Including... the first Harry Potter... May as well start reading it, I thought. Won't matter that I won't finish it before we leave, I know what happens...

Well...

What a great book ! All of a sudden I am caught up -- again ! -- in Harry Potter delight ! As soon as we returned home I found my own copy of The Philosopher's Stone and finished my re-reading. Then found Chamber of Secrets and re-read that one. And I may re-read more...

This is an excellent series. Enjoyable, exciting, entertaining. I read the books -- this time -- with a clearer image of the heroes as young children. It adds just a little bit more to my appreciation of the book. And to my anticipation of the characters developing as they grow older.

If you are one of the very few people who do not know the basic concept of the series -- start reading now ! For the rest of the world... What can I say that has not already been said ?

The movies are, I am sure, fun Hollywood movies. The books -- are terrific.

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Problems ? Solved 

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02oct15: 

And again !

Yes, I have just re-re-read the first Harry Potter book... and enjoyed it. Yet again.

Even better, it was pleasant break from some really... rubbish... books :-( Which I may fail to finish.

Little Brother / Cory Doctorow

Little Brother

category: science fiction, subadult, thriller, author:

Cory Doctorow

original copyright 2008

read in September 2012

Agamedes' opinion: 7 out of 10, well worth reading

Well worth reading? Really? For its paranoid conspiracy message, perhaps. For the quality of writing, no.

Little Brother is subadult. It aims at the teenage -- boy -- market. At least, I guess it does. The style gives the distinct impression that the book is written by an older adult, pretending to know how a teenage boy would speak and act. The style rings false... Or, perhaps, it's me that has never spoken with a teenager :-)

It is also a thriller, in that there is a major -- adult -- conspiracy that the hero must battle. No matter which way he turns, the villains are there, watching, waiting for him to slip. Standard thriller scenario.

The book is also -- and this is its main thrust -- science fiction. Set just slightly ahead of our time. With Big Brother taking over. (Still, could be worse. The city could have been taken over by Big Brother the tv show.)

The author's message is slathered on like marmalade, thick and heavy. Complete with the Heinlein touch, of classroom discussions, where hero and villain discuss politics and philosophy. The author's view is clearly the winner, though the villain then uses positional power to shout down the author... sorry... hero.

The whole subadult writing style is... laboured, overdone, contradictory. While reading, it did seem obvious, but I did check: the author is well past 25 years old. Yet his good guys are urged to not trust anyone over 25... Urged, in one major scene, by someone aged (if I remember correctly) 32. The hero's final success is driven by a reporter -- who is as old as his parents.

And what about the hero's under-25 supporters? Well... the hero does not trust them. He forms a "ring of trust", to keep out the treacherous under-25s. A teenage personal enemy wants to turn him in to the thought police. Another teenager has been acting as a police informer.

There are two messages about trust: do not trust anyone over 25 (shouted loud and clear) and, do not trust anyone 25 or under (this is shown by act and attitude). Which perhaps adds up to a perfectly valid message: if you are fighting the thought police -- do not trust anyone.

This book is rather poorly written. Easy to read, a touch of suspense, unbelievable action. (But then it is science fiction, so that's okay!) Contradictory, with heavy-handed authorial lecturing.

But perhaps the authorial lecturing is valid. Perhaps the conspiracy theory is correct. Perhaps we do need to protect our privacy, to protect our freedom. Perhaps there are people in power who like to keep us in perpetual fear, in order to control us. Little Brother is extreme -- but the conspiracy theory may have some basis in reality.

At the very least, we need to consider the possibility that the conspiracy theory could grow into absolute truth. That the people who are -- in reality -- prepared to do anything to maintain power, could be trying hard to destroy our freedom to think.

The message is slathered on with no subtlety. Still, a novel is easier to read -- and more likely to be read -- than a political treatise. And the message is worth our consideration.

..o0o..

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

PissWeakly: the Index

A Hat Full of Sky / Terry Pratchett

A Hat Full of Sky

Terry Pratchett

category: fantasy, humour, subadult

published 2004

read in August 2012

rated 8 out of 10, really quite good

note: Review written on a tablet PC, with limited knowledge of how to edit!

... then updated on a "real" PC !

A "young adult" book... Which means that anyone can enjoy it. And I did.

There is a very strong message running through this book: Be good, be nice. And, perhaps, Be yourself.

Can a book be "good" when the author hammers the reader with such a strong message?

Well, yes.

In Broken Angels, Richard Morgan provides a message to the reader. A warning, as much as a message. The message made me think. Which is not such a bad thing.

Pratchett's message is less subtle but more positive. Delivered with humour rather than violence. Both messages are -- in my opinion -- worth delivering. Both messages add depth to the story... something beyond the basic characters and plot. Each message targets its book's intended audience.

Okay, Pratchett does go a little over the top, occasionally. Not (necessarily) with the message. With the fairytale mysticism behind the story. All part of the fairytale story :-)

Abandon cynicism. Enjoy the book. Pratchett at his breakneck and humorous best.

..o0o..

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

PissWeakly: the Index

Ardneh's Sword / Fred Saberhagen

Ardneh's Sword

category: fantasy, sub-adult, author:

Fred Saberhagen

book 1 or ?? of (new) Empire of the East
original copyright 2006

read in November 2011

Agamedes' opinion: 5 out of 10

This book fails to excite. Fails to impress. It's a book which is written by the numbers.

Take one wimpy kid with obvious hero potential. Add a support cast of magician, wise old teacher, tough old soldier, loyal pet with claws. Throw in a mysterious relic, promise of treasure, group of healers who set up business as far from people as possible...?! Sweeten with attractive girl and a group of cute kids...

Yuk !

Arrgh... it flows... Without much rhyme or reason, but things happen in a somewhat logical sequence. The sequence of events has some logic. The motives and actual events lack logic.

I've included this book in the category "sub-adult". Not to insult younger readers... :-) but the plot and motives are simplified. I enjoy a simple plot. But even young readers deserve a less mechanical story-line.

The book is fantasy, based on a post-post-apocalyptic world. "Post-post-apocalyptic?"

The book is set 1000 years after the Empire of the East books... which appear to have been post-apocalyptic. Where a super-computer was battling against... demons?!

So there is an underlying idea of super-technology. In a battle against the demons of myth and magic. This is trite, a cliche, clever enough as the basis for a series... Perhaps the earlier series was fantasy plus science fiction. But enough, it's drifted into pure fantasy.

Especially the ending...

Trying to not give too much away: At the grand finale, the immortal gods of legend are recreated... With their original memories... So if they are immortal -- where have they been?! And what will the real immortal gods say -- and do -- when they find that they have been cloned?!

Good grief!

After all that hard-to-believe non-excitement... This book is revealed as being chapter one of a totally new series: The Post-Post-Post-Apocalyptic World of the New Old Gods.

Groan.

..o0o..

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

PissWeakly: the Index

Pawn of Prophecy / David Eddings

Pawn of Prophecy

category: fantasy, young adult, author:

David Eddings

book 1 of The Belgariad
original copyright 1982,
read in August 2011

Agamedes' opinion: 6 out of 10

Perhaps this book is worth more than six out of ten. Perhaps I was influenced by having just read a much better book. I had just read Jim Butcher's Furies of Calderon -- and found Pawn to be very weak in comparison.

Pawn of Prophecy is a much older book. It targets a younger audience. The lucky coincidences and holes in the plot are even larger than in Furies... But does all this matter?

The two worst parts of Pawn are at the beginning...

Right there on the cover is printed, "A classic coming-of-age epic". A quote attributed to Christopher Paolini. Paolini?! What would Paolini know about a good book?!

Furies of Calderon / Jim Butcher

Furies of Calderon

category: fantasy, young adult, author:

Jim Butcher

book 1 of The Codex Alera
original copyright 2004,
read in August 2011

Agamedes' opinion: 8 out of 10

This book is, "A classic coming-of-age epic". Actually, this quote is pinched from the cover of another book, Pawn of Prophecy, which will be the next to be reviewed. Both Pawn and Furies are coming-of-age fantasies. One book is much better than the other.

Furies of Calderon says, in its Prologue, that the course of history is determined by the actions of the individual. The book then documents the actions of several individuals... and documents them well.

The characters are strong and well-meaning. Even the baddies have good intentions. The book even provides a nice piece of philosophy to explain the motivations of the bad guys:

Book of Dreams / Traci Harding

Book of Dreams

category: fantasy, subadult, romance, author:

Traci Harding

original copyright 2003,
read in March 2011

Agamedes' opinion: 5 out of 10

I just can't make up my mind about Harding's books. They are generally girly, sweet, new-age-mystic and cheerful. They target young teen girls who like a happy ending in every chapter. I should, by rights, absolutely loathe them all. (The books, not the girls.) Yet I rather enjoyed each of the first two Harding books that I have read...

btw: To see my reviews for other Harding books, click on the "author:harding" link at the bottom of this review.

Now we come to Book of Dreams...

And Harding has gone just a bit too far... For me.

Dragonclaw / Kate Forsyth

Dragonclaw

category: fantasy, author:

Kate Forsyth

book 1 of Witches of Eileanan
original copyright 1997,
read in Jan 2011

Agamedes' opinion: 5 out of 10

Warning: This is not a novel! It is not even one book of a trilogy... It is the first volume of a three (or more?) volume story.

Yes, it's one of those annoying books which ends with a cliff-hanger. Or several.

Okay, I did enjoy reading this book. Until about page 400 of 500 -- when I thought, There is no way that this plot can wrap itself up in just 100 more pages...

A dead giveaway, really: A group of new characters being introduced at what should have been a build-up to a climax. And all these characters did, was to meet other characters and escape from an evil city... No link to any previous action. No link to any subsequent action, either...

From there, Forsyth introduced yet another set of characters... Introduced them, then left them.

The Dark Age / Traci Harding

The Dark Age

category: fantasy, young adult, author:

Traci Harding

book 1 of The Ancient Future
original copyright 1996,
read in January 2011

Agamedes' opinion: 6 out of 10

This is a children's book. Well, young adult, perhaps. Even more, it is for girls.

The heroine is a modern girl -- with long, flowing and possibly curly hair -- who is drawn back in time to the fifth century AD. There, she uses her clever mind, her charming ways and her saxophone, to win hearts and minds. She also uses her karate skills to fight for... I almost said, to fight for right. In reality, she fights for her own right.

This is a pleasant enough book with strong fantasy elements. Not least is the fantasy of being so nice that everyone is instantly convinced that you are always right.

Queen of the Demonweb Pits / Paul Kidd

Queen of the Demonweb Pits

category: fantasy, author:

Paul Kidd

book 5? of Greyhawk
original copyright 2001,
read in December 2010 (and before, in March 2009)

Agamedes' opinion: 6 out of 10

Action, fighting, magic... cute fairies, doe-eyed lovers, some nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more... With a villain so evil that you just have to laugh. Not a great book but an easy and enjoyable read.

Cities are destroyed, millions killed, slaves are eaten like popcorn. Yet you can be sure that the good guys will survive... Or, at least, that they will not be dead for long. This is a fairy-tale with a happy ending.

This book just has to be aimed at the "young adult" market. (Even though I enjoyed it and I'm certainly no young adult.) A young adult fantasy -- with a challenging adult idea thrown in, for good measure:

There are demons and monsters and gods, all from other "planes" of existence. There are the "physical" planes, lots of them, where mortals live. And when mortals die, their immortal souls travel to the "spirit" planes. Simple enough, so far.

Some of the spirit planes are populated by demons and monsters, the source of the stories of a hell in the afterlife. After life -- ie in death -- human souls may end up in a demonic plane, being tormented by the resident demons. Nothing too challenging in that idea.

But what about the "good" souls?

If you worship a particular god then that god will claim your soul when you die. Unfortunately, the gods of the Demonweb Pits universe are simply beings with greater-than-human powers. Your chosen god will claim your soul -- and turn your soul into an immortal slave.

Gods and demons are all very similar beings, all fighting for your soul, offering various inducements to try to seal the soul-sale contract before you die. Once you die, your soul becomes a tool, to help your new owner in its efforts to gain power and influence over all of the other gods and demons...

An interesting view. Perhaps, even a thought-provoking challenge to accepted views. This may simply be a contrivance to support an otherwise unbelievable (but enjoyable!) plot. Or it could be a sneak attack on establishment views; an alternative idea to help young adults to look beyond the heavy black box of conventional thinking.

Or it may even be, that I'm a cynical old person who sees challenging ideas in the simplest of fantasy novels :-)

And that's not my only bias...

Isn't it great to see that the author, Paul Kidd, is a West Australian!

..o0o..

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

Eclipse / Stephenie Meyer

Eclipse

category: romance, fantasy, author:

Stephenie Meyer

book 3 of Twilight
original copyright 2007,
read in October 2010

Agamedes' opinion: 9 out of 10

Okay, I'm just a sucker for a great romance! And by "great" I mean, where the girl is kissing the guy -- so she forgets to breathe... Aaaaaahhhhh shucks :-)

I had delayed reading Eclipse for a couple of months. I had the book, just didn't pick it up. The feeling was, How much sap could I handle in one year?

I picked up Eclipse. Started reading... And just could not stop. I finished the book in a day. And enjoyed every minute of it!

About half-way through you realise, there is going to be a big battle, very soon, with vampires, werewolves and one human in the middle...

Another 200 pages of breaking hearts, anguished romantic suffering, despair, guilt and forgiveness -- and the battle is still to come...

More pages of love and (controlled) lust and longing, then one very individual battle... The heroine prepares to sacrifice herself for the cause of good (and the hero is heard to give yet another exasperated sigh at the heroine's silliness -- truly!)... Oh, and the big battle just happened, off-screen...

And all that's left is unresolved heartbreak for the odd member of the romantic triangle. "All"?! The ghastliness of the loser's fate is an entire, heart-wrenching epilogue!

Absolutely brilliant! I am really, really looking forward to reading the final book of Twilight!

Sigh...

The overall Twilight plot has also gained some depth.

Why don't they just stop sighing, get married, get vampired and enjoy life? Now I have a better understanding of why not. Where did all those werewolves come from, just at the right time? Now we know. Is "cuddling" just a euphemism for what is really going on? Well...

This book really hits the deep patches of teenage sexuality. "Don't worry Dad," says our heroine, "I'm still a... [mutter] virgin ... and I [blush] intend to remain that way until ... married." And that's it. Just for those who did not really follow the story...

This is a book for "young adults". I am not "young". (There are those who would say I am not "adult", either, but that's by the bye.) No mixed messages, no forcing adult ideas onto unwilling or too-willing teenagers.

A great book, for all ages. Just be prepared for a lot of heart-wrenching angst and anguish.

..o0o..

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

Urn Burial / Robert Westall

Urn Burial

category: science fiction, author:

Robert Westall

published by Mammoth,
original copyright 1987, read in August 2010

Agamedes' opinion: 6 out of 10

Science fiction for juniors. Not too junior -- mid to late teens, perhaps. The teenage hero kisses his girlfriend, doesn't do "that" but will do... very soon after the end of the book.

It's a lot of fun but very simplistic. There's also a very strong pro-environment message.

Actually, there's a great pro-environment passage which has very little to do with the plot: it's the ramblers' day out in the countryside. The only purpose is to allow the hero to mix with the rambling crowd. But the author points out that a sudden influx of ramblers may also drop litter, trample pasture and disturb the sheep... The sort of thing that makes you look at popular activities in a different way.

Apart from that, it's teenagers saving the world from evil aliens. Except that the teenager does very little. He just makes sure that the good aliens are then when the bad aliens attack. Then -- after a major battle with lots of death and destruction -- the good aliens fix everything up, bring the dead back to life and clear all memories of the battle.

Still, it's easy to read and quite enjoyable. An enjoyable book. Not great. Enjoyable.

..o0o..

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

Misfits / Howard Overman

Misfits

category: fantasy... etc, created by:

Howard Overman

produced by Clerkenwell Films, in 2009,
watched in June 2010 on ABC iview

Agamedes' opinion: 8 out of 10

Whatever you do -- do not start watching this series anywhere other than at episode one!

This is a series with a continuing and developing story. Also... it just may not make sense if you start watching at a later episode:-)

Misfits is -- according to Wikipedia -- a "Supernatural drama, Dark comedy, Superhero, Teen drama". I'll just categorise it as fantasy and subadult. Comedy? Yes, it's there -- but that's not the main thrust of the series... it's a drama. Dark comedy? Not really... The comedy is funny. It just happens to be set in the middle of a drama.

Classic comedy scene, where the time-reverser finally manages to dump his former girlfriend: Clever edit, minimum time spent for maximum explanation of his difficulties. With an over-riding demonstration of what a nice person he really is.

Plus, there's the regular chuckle with the running gag of what other strange super-powers have been created.

This series aims at a "subadult" audience. The characters, language, dress sense, all are for younger people. Yet the story and characters could appeal to all ages. The characters are extreme, yet sympathetic. Even the smart alec ratbag is starting to become more likeable, as he ... well... learns life's lessons of friendship and trust. Perhaps.

The language is rough, plenty of expletives-not-deleted. The accents are mixed, with at least one star being almost incomprehensible. The sex scenes are regular, though only one was explicit. This is a show for the adult subadult.

Misfits is both clever and enjoyable.

Clever?

Just watch the time-reversal episode... One of the best stories that I have seen, to explain the difficulties of changing the past in order to improve the present. There is a slow start, to explain what is happening. Then faster and faster, edit and cut, flash back leap forward, as we understand the principles and need to see the action. With a very satisfactory and absolutely believable result.

I stopped reading the Wikipedia article when it seemed to be approaching a plot spoiler. Now, I am eagerly waiting for next week's episode...

..o0o..

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

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows / J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

(category: fantasy)
book 7 of Harry Potter by

J. K. Rowling

published by Bloomsbury, original copyright 2007
Nick read a new book, in April 2010
(and before, in 2007)

Nick's rating: 9 out of 10

Nick's opinion:

Interesting. I read this book when it first came out: at last, I thought, the final instalment of a great series! And I was disappointed... Loose ends, irrelevant new ideas, boring stretches of nothing much happening. That's what I thought when I first finished this book.

Shows how wrong I can be!

That first time, I must have read at high speed. When I finished, quite a lot had just been, effectively, skimmed. It's a problem I have -- and a reason why I like to read books (good books) more than once.

This time, I read more slowly. Took a few days. Deliberately stopped reading every so often, just to allow the story to settle in and sort itself out in my mind.

I also tried to keep track of the various items which formed the two major quests. And it all made a lot of sense...

This is a great book! It is a very satisfying conclusion to a great series. The characters have grown, minor characters are allowed to add depth and strength to the plot, major motivations are -- finally -- revealed. The adventures begin right at the start, there are some pauses to take breath, then the last few chapters are hectic battles on a grand scale... though with occasional pauses for explanation.

On this second reading, I found that the pace was exciting yet controlled. It's possible that some scenes were written with a movie in mind -- and some, well, I bet that some scenes will never be filmed. Which is one good reason to read a book in preference to watching a movie.

It was my own too-fast reading which lead to my initial disappointment. This time -- with a little more effort to follow the plot -- I enjoyed the book far more... It all makes sense, new plots and existing plot threads are wrapped up nicely, an exciting and readable book.

Well worth the second read!

..o0o..

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

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince / J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

(category: fantasy)
book 6 of Harry Potter by

J.K. Rowling

published by Bloomsbury in 2005
Nick read a new book, in December 2009
(and before, in 2005)

Nick's rating: 8 out of 10

Nick's opinion:

If Order of the Phoenix is Harry being a teenage prat then Half-Blood Prince is Harry getting it all wrong... All part of growing up -- or, perhaps, a reflection of the more serious nature of the action: no more room for simple answers. This book is easier to read than its predecessor -- no more Harry-the-prat -- but it does need tissues near the end. Another successful book... but... I see signs of the plot unraveling. Who is "RAB"? Okay, it's nice to have a carry-over question. Was it ever answered? Was it necessary? It's nice to know that other's are -- secretly -- supporting Harry's efforts but there is too little introduction, not enough made of it. Okay, it's a picky point. Just a minor niggle. And it was a great -- that is, a very enjoyable -- book.

..o0o..

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

Stork Naked / Piers Anthony

Stork Naked

(category: fantasy)
book ?? of Xanth by

Piers Anthony

published by Tor / Tom Doherty, New York in 2006, read in September 2009

Agamedes' rating: 2 out of 10

Agamedes' opinion:

I must admit, I failed to reach the end of the first chapter. Then I read the final “author’s note” and put the book away. How many puns can fit in one story? Can puns successfully replace plot? Not according to me... Anthony has, once more, taken a grab-bag of assorted characters on a pointless stroll through Xanth. This is a children’s morality story, bulked out with pointless puns and endless references to -- and avoidance of -- “the adult conspiracy”. Catalogue it anywhere between Aesop’s Fables and some of the worst of Enid Blyton.

..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.

If you must buy it, at least follow this link to Amazon. That way, if you subsequently agree with my opinion of the book, you will at least have the satisfaction of having provided me with a small commission for my warnings.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix / J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

(category: fantasy)
book 5 of Harry Potter by

J.K. Rowling

published by Bloomsbury in 2003,
read in September 2009 (and before, in 2003)

Agamedes' rating: 9 out of 10

Agamedes' opinion:

This is the “whining adolescent” volume. My dislike and boredom (on this, my second or more reading) lasted about three pages... Sure, Harry shouts at his friends, doesn’t listen to good advice, leaps where he should have looked -- but he is growing up! He is an embarrassment but if fits. As just one book in a series of seven, the discomfort of adolescence and the less than perfect support of Dumbledore are significant parts of the plot development. Who wants to read seven books all the same? And the surrounding fun and magic -- the background that makes this a great fantasy -- is as much fun as ever.

..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.