Strange Itineraries / Tim Powers

Strange Itineraries
by Tim Powers

fantasy, short stories

copyright 1982 to 2004
read in April 2016

rated 5/10: readable, but only if there's nothing else

This is a book of short stories. I don't really enjoy short stories. They need to be very good -- or I wonder, what was the point. My rating may reflect my anti-preference.

This is not really a book of short stories. It's a book of short story. At least, that's the impression I have after the first few: it's the same story, told in a variety of different ways. People meet ghosts, people are ghosts, there's no reason given.

For variety, one story is: people travel in time, people meet time travellers -- who are, of course, themselves, time travel is stopped.

The best of the bunch would be, The Way Down the Hill. Something does happen, something comprehensible. More than the usual drifting and wailing and gnashing of teeth. Could almost be good -- except for the weak as water ending: "That's it, I'm not doing that again, I hope you lot won't do it again." Ho hum. I wish I could remember the novel where the same idea was treated so much better.

Then there's Night Moves. I can see who the mysterious Evelyn is. I just can't see, Why?! Oh well. By that stage -- the last story in the book -- I am skim reading. Perhaps there is logic behind the fantasy.

Or, perhaps not.

I am Slaughter / Dan Abnett

I am Slaughter
(Warhammer 40,000 / The Beast Arises #1)
by Dan Abnett

science fiction

copyright 2015
read in April 2016

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

My first read in the Warhammer universe. Interesting...!

First, the genre. Military science fiction? Military fantasy? Space opera? Or what?! I have my own understandings of the various genres.

The book is about war, and armies, but it's not "military science fiction". There is a series of battles, linked by a thin plot. But there is no overall strategy. No tactics. Other than, one for all and all for one, there is no overall military thinking.

The science is fantastic. The characters are clear versions of the fantasy standards, including elves and men. But they are a scientific version... Sure, they fight with hammers and axes and swords. But these are space hammers and space axes and space swords. They work the same way but are enhanced by undescribed science rather than by ancient spells. The book is not fantasy.

The spaceship controls are straight out of the Lensman series. The action is waaay over the top. But it's not space opera. Because space opera uses rapidly increasing levels of science, major discoveries made just on time to defeat the current wave of baddies. Slaughter uses "existing" technology. The question is, will it be enough?

All that's left, is "science fiction".

There may be a specific, named genre for "science fiction based on a dungeons and dragons gaming universe". I'm not ready for it :-) So, this book is "science fiction".

I did some Wikipedia reading on the Warhammer games. As far as I understand it, this book is a good match for the games.

The book is a series of pitched battles, linked by a thin but consistent plot. The battles are mainly hand to hand. That matches the key protagonists, the Space Marines. (My apologies if they are not really Space Marines. I'm a bit confused by reading one book in an already well-defined universe.)

So that's the background to this book.

I was prepared for a simplistic, blood and thunder trail of heroism and gore.

And at the end -- I was pleasantly surprised!

The plot is thin -- but well structured. The battles are the main feature -- but the story develops. Quite well. With a couple of surprising... surprises...

Who is the "greater foe" which the blurb promises will arise? When this is revealed -- with less excitement for me than for a regular Warhammer fan -- I realised that I had missed a clue. A "good" clue. The sort that is clear, noticed, yet ignored. A kick-self sort of clue. Very good!

Actually, I'm not sure if it's a clue. Or just an accidental spoiler :-)

And then there's the name of the book. I am Slaughter. Which lead me to all sorts of expectations. Which were then... dashed.

Don't get me wrong: this is not a great book! It just has pleasantly unexpected surprises. There is more than just a series of blood and ichor soaked battles... Not much more :-) Just enough to make it enjoyable.

Enjoyable?

If you are a Warhammer fan, this book is probably enjoyable without the surprises. As a non-fan I could take it or leave it. Except that the few small surprises made me glad to take it.

Mostly mindless violence. Linked by a thin plot. With a couple of extras that made me glad that I had read to the end.

I enjoyed this book. I would not go out of my way to read others in the series.

The Temple of Doom / James Kahn

The Temple of Doom
(Indiana Jones #2)
by James Kahn

fantasy, adventure

copyright 1984
read in April 2016

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

Just a couple of weeks ago I read the book of the first Indiana Jones movie. It was embarrassing. Oh well, I thought, I guess it's not easy to turn a fun but silly movie into a readable book. I rated it six, partly in memory of an enjoyable movie.

Now I have read the book of the second movie... and down-rated the first. Yes, it is possible to write a reasonable book based on a fun but silly movie!

Okay, this is not a great book. Yet it does manage to capture the fun of the movie -- without being embarrassing. And more than that:

In retrospect, the first author was taking a childish plot and writing down to children. Writing down. Kahn, the second author, has written a childish plot -- with not a trace of condescension. Yes, it's silly. Yes, it's juvenile. No, it is not embarrassing. It is just a fun but silly book...

That's my thought, anyway. In retrospect. Without re-reading to confirm my opinion. Because, really, neither book is worth re-reading! Fun, yes. Classics with depth, no.

Temple of Doom is an enjoyable book. The action is cartoonish. The characters are ridiculous. I laugh with them, not at them. Because the book is... quite... well written.

The book is as good -- in it's own way -- as the movie. Indiana is less likeable. The girl has more depth. Short Round is less obnoxious.

Less obnoxious... But I still can't stand Short Round.

Brain Thief / Alexander Jablokov

Brain Thief
by Alexander Jablokov

science fiction

copyright 2009
read in April 2016

rated 7/10: well worth reading

It's an enjoyable book. With some unique and enjoyable aspects. And it has caused confusion in my reading enjoyment.

The inside cover claims that this is "Cyberpunk with a new twist". Guess I don't know cyberpunk. It seems like near future science fiction to me. No worries. It's just a label.

Some interesting phrasing, some clever comments. "He admired her romantic melancholy, her knees and her use of the gerund." Heh :-)

An unusual approach to the murder mystery plot:

I'm used to the clever detective interviewing suspects and gradually gathering clues, getting closer and closer to the suspect. There's a tendency -- so it seems to me -- for the detective to get all significant clues from one interview.

In Brain Thief, the hero meets people, interacts, gets maybe a clue, maybe not. He may meet them later, with a different style of interaction... Social, or another clue, or -- apparently -- just saying hello while investigating an unrelated other person.

Less organised investigation. More a gradual build-up of ideas, with the need to look again in some already examined areas. A real life approach, perhaps.

By the way: the hero is not a detective. Which may explain the lack of organisation in his approach to solving the mystery!

The solution is... fun :-)

And then...

I read the back cover. And found that this is not Jablokov's first book. So what?!

As I read I thought: Clever! Unique! Interesting approach! A first-time author, not yet weighed down by the requirements of maintaining an existing fan base!

And then I thought: Oh, an established author. Probably repeating what worked first time. The different approach worked before, let's follow the same framework...

Totally baseless shift in my attitude!

At least, my logical mind says that it's baseless. The book was clever, unique, interesting... How can it have suddenly changed, just because it's not the author's first book?!

So now I'm confused.

Confused by the way my own brain works.

The book itself is still, well worth reading.

Raiders of the Lost Ark / Campbell Black

Raiders of the Lost Ark
(Indiana Jones #1)
by Campbell Black

fantasy, adventure

copyright 1981
read in March 2016

5/10: readable, but only if there's nothing else

Loved the movie! Found the book to be... just a bit embarrassing.

The book is based on the movie. There's surprisingly little that actually happens in the movie. The author fills in the gaps with explanations of what the characters are thinking and feeling. That's a problem.

Indy and the girl exchange looks. ("The girl" is Marion. But who cares.) The movie audience chuckle, think whatever they like about the thoughts and feelings behind the looks. When it's put into words -- it's a bit twee. A bit silly. Just a bit embarrassing.

Even the hero's name: Indy... Indiana is strange but okay. Everyone is entitled to a foolish name. Everyone has parents. But "Indy" just sound childish. Ooos a cute ickle baby Indy kitchikoo...

Then there's the action. Scene after scene of action with vague plot linkages. Great fun in a movie: non-stop action. And -- with Harrison Ford -- entertaining action. In a book... the author has failed to capture the pure entertainment of the Harrison Ford actor. What's left is somewhat stilted and purely unbelievable.

Great movie.

Weak book.

Perhaps, though, I should re-watch the movie... Just in case the memory is better than the actual movie.

But surely not...

In the Heart of Darkness / Eric Flint, David Drake

In the Heart of Darkness
(Bellisarius #2)
by Eric Flint, David Drake

military science fiction

copyright 1998
read in March 2016

rated 7/10: well worth reading

Tough blokes being tough... Beautiful women being... tough. Heroic heroes -- and heroines. Brutal and stupid villains. Plus a few upstanding, moral, clever, "we'd rather be friends but we've sworn to kill you" villains.

Sword and sandals, violence, cunning plots -- foiled -- and explosives... That's why it's "science fiction" and not historical fiction. And "military" ? Yes, lots and lots of fights and battles.

The authors have changed their writing style. Lots of short sentences. Single word sentences. Emphasis through repetition.

I may laugh at the over-the-top characters -- and action -- but I like the characters. And I enjoy the action. (There's blood and gore... but it's all a bit cartoonish. Makes it more acceptable.)

Does all that make this novel, "well worth reading" ? Well, in part...

I've also read a couple of duds. Meaningful books which are hard to read. Or that fail to interest me.

What a huge relief to read a book which is 99% entertainment !

And there's the 1% bonus, of actual facts...

A few descriptions of battle tactics. Nothing I've ever thought about before so I'm pleased to be given some new ideas -- in an entertaining format. Are these good battle tactics ? I have no idea :-)

Though I wonder about the "cross the T" approach to a naval battle... The heroes seem to speak and write Greek. Did Greeks have a letter T -- in that particular form of a line crossing the vertical ?

There are also the characters from history. I've checked one or two. Okay, there are some similarities to historic fact... Not much. No worries -- the book is interesting enough that I read about the named characters.

It's simplistic stuff.

And a lot of -- violent -- fun.

Stand on Zanzibar / John Brunner

Stand on Zanzibar
by John Brunner

science fiction

copyright 1968
started reading in March 2016

not rated

A republished SF Masterwork ! Great ! Let's see what won science fiction book prizes back in 1968 !

I lasted through two and a bit chapters.

I read for enjoyment. If I learn something -- if I start to think new thoughts -- that's a bonus. If I want to spend many hours gleaning a thread of a new idea from hundreds of almost incomprehensible paragraphs -- I'll repeat my doctoral studies.

I put the book down. Realise I've forgotten to bookmark where I was at. Take that as a less than subtle Freudian slip: I do not want to read any more.

I prefer to review a book before I read other people's views. This time, I want to know if it is worth reading further. So...

One opinion is, that this is a great book. Another opinion is not clear: it's a good book but written with an eye on winning the prize. I take that to mean, it's a bad book but satisfies the requirements for a science fiction book prize. Which says nothing good about the science fiction book prize.

Please, read Wikipedia and other reviews, and form your own opinion !  Read the book, even ! Here's my opinion, based on 15 of the 650 pages:

No clear story. No main characters. Lots of words devoted to world description. (Other authors can do that without distracting from the plot. Admittedly, Brunner does not seem to have a plot from which the reader could be distracted.) In 15 pages, nothing that makes me want to read more... but plenty that makes me want to stop reading.

Forget it.

Honesty prevents me from rating a book based on just 15 pages. Based only on those fifteen pages I would rate it as three out of ten. So bad it's embarrassing.