The Henriksen Parallax
Kushiel's Child by JCarey: Fantasy
Tigana by GGKay: 4.8, Other reviewers have described this book as high fantasy. I suppose it is, but hesitate to call it such as I rarely care for that genre. Even books that I like are difficult to become emotionally involved with, as a certain amount of effort is required to maintain the suspension of disbelief. Not this story. This book is told as realistically as any…all the while describing the fantastic that never could be. It is a book of love, tragedy (the best kind…you’re not left saying ‘How stupid! If they’d just done…’), war, and revenge. Of course it has all the requisites…good characters, witty dialogue, appropriate plot/action. Touted by many as Kay’s best work to date. See the rating? Read it. Buy it. You’ll be reading it again.
Lord of Light by RZelazny: 4.7, Science Fiction, After all that I’ve read, it amazes me the books I haven’t yet found. This classic Hugo winner was written in 1967! Unfortunately, theme revelation is an important part of the story…so I’ll speak only briefly: a small group sets themselves up as gods over a much larger population, but not without internal difficulties…The very nature of this dilemma is fascinating, as you can read it from several perspectives. It is pleasantly unpredictable and remains amazingly fresh, even today. Quote from this source EH
Dune: Butlerian Jihad: 4.6...please go to other Dune reviews.
Lyonesse by JVance: Fantasy
Return of the King: 4.3...please go to other Lord of the Rings reviews.
To Reign in Hell by SBrust: 4.3, I would not recommend this book to those who are offended by religious speculation. This is Brust’s account of the revolt in Heaven, ending with Satan’s expulsion. As Zelazny put it, “He not only avoided [getting trite. Or cute. Or moralistic], he told a fantastically engaging story with consummate grace and genuine artistry.” (Somehow I feel cheap quoting another review in mine—but the observation is too accurate to let go.) Brust seems to write in two primary styles—1) light and humorous (Taltos, Phoenix Guards) or 2) dark and artistic (Gypsy). This is more like the latter, but as opposed to others, does not hide the essence of the story with its artistry.
Anthem by ARand: 4.2, This more of a lengthy short story than a short book…It was written as stress relief while researching Fountainhead. If you are familiar primarily with Rand’s Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged (as was I), this book is certainly different. It is a post-apocalyptic story where individualism is condemned as the cause of the apocalypse (indeed few even know what individualism is)…everyone lives for the great ‘we.’ While it is certainly a satire on communism, this (as do all of her works of fiction) makes the argument that the same could happen here, in America. Quotes from this source.
Vanessa: All Heaven Breaks Loose: 4.2 and Vanessa: Mended Harps: 4.3...may be found with the others in its series here.
The Coming by JHaldeman: 4.2, Fiction. Interesting, suspenseful. The focus appears to change as the story progresses (not unusual for Haldeman, who with earlier books draws us into the story with action and battle…just to reveal that the work really concerns the characters’ struggle with this adversity)…we are unsure of who the actual protagonist is. I still am not certain, I suppose it could best be described as single person POV with the story told by different people…without the emergence of a true protagonist. All characters are emotionally involving. Theme: Aliens are coming! Quote from this source
Slave Trade by SWright: Science Fiction
Guilty Pleasures by LKHamilton: 4.1, Fiction, Now a mainstream vampire series, this is the book that started it all. Vampire fans are warned—Ms. Hamilton is no Ann Rice! Character dialogue is poor, but somehow the story is emotionally involving. Overall ambiance is consistent and appropriate. The storyline is fairly original and takes place in a world where not only are vampires and other mythical creatures a reality, but are publicly known and protected by law…enter our sanctioned vampire slayer for errant undead and the adventure begins. See quote from this source here. EH
The Puppet Masters by RHeinlein: 4.1, Science Fiction, This is an excellent short story turned great book (ok…maybe not, but I definitely get that impression) by a classic writer. The characters are dynamic and believable. The plot is pleasantly unpredictable. Heinlein seems to have two distinct types of writing; serious and brain candy…this book seems to float midway between those two styles. Theme: aliens invade by using people as hosts…as generic theme now, but this was written in 1951 and has the ‘feel of originality.’
The Misspellers by MJMartineck: 4.0, Fiction, This is not epic fantasy or galactic science fiction. It is not fiction convoluted by mystery or intrigue…indeed, quite the opposite. It is a child’s story…simple and entertaining. The Misspellers is a fun, quick read with a pleasant change in perspective. This perspective not only describes but engenders in us childhood wonder, awe, and an untainted sense of adventure…Theme: children stumble upon magic best left alone…after all magic and science don’t mix. EH
Shadow Puppets by OSCard: 4.0, Science Fiction, The continuation of the classic Ender’s series. Though rated a four, it depends heavily on our interest in the series to make reading worthwhile. It was worth this rating only as it provided insight on characters endeared to us by previous works. It continues to tell the story of Hegemony development post-Ender…focusing on Peter and Bean. Card seems to have works of brilliance interspersed with malignant mediocrity. Here are my recommendations to the approach of this series: read Ender’s Game…everyone should. When you like it, try Speaker for the Dead…it is a very different book as noted in these reviews. If you like it, you will also like Speaker for the Dead and Xenocide. If you’re addicted to the characters and story, who cares what I think…you’ll be reading the lesser works anyway (Children of the Mind, Shadow of the Hegemon, and Shadow Puppets). Now…even if you don’t like Speaker for the Dead and are tempted to drop the series…you’ll want to read Ender’s Shadow. It is in the same league as Ender’s Game. EH
Delphinus Chronicles by RGRoane: 3, Fiction, book by a new author. Writing style is good and professional. The characters are solid and consistent. Basic plot is interesting and revolves around dolphins communicating with mankind through a supercomputer, with undertones of ancient mysteries…The plot twists, however, feel contrived, unbelievable, and inconsistent. While this new writer shows promise…this is not the book that will launch him into the spotlight. EH
The Forge in the Forest: 3...please go here, where others in the series may be found.
The Hammer of the Sun: 3...Sequel to The Forge in the Forest, please follow above link for review
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.