Jeff Vandermeer
Book 1 of the Southern Reach Trilogy
A biologist, anthropologist, psychologist and surveyor are the members of the 12th expedition into Area X. That is about all the clarity you will have by time you finish this novel. Area X is said to be a region recovering from an environmental disaster, and the expedition has data acquisition goals to evaluate the changes since the last expedition. But this isn't exactly true. The members don't know how they got to Area X (there were put under hypnosis to "ease the transition"), or even what their goals really are, or what they are even looking for. In fact, this entire novel reads like the introductory first chapter of a potentially good book. I am only sticking with it since the trilogy showed up on a "Best of" list for 2016. But I must say, this first book is basically just a big intro with a question mark.
Wait
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Little Brother
Cory Doctorow
Set is modern day San Francisco, a terrorist attack has bombed and destroyed the Bay Bridge and the cross bay BART tunnel. Somehow mixed up in this, by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, a group of high school friends get picked up by the Department of Homeland Security and taken to a secret prision for interrogation. To be released, they are forced to sign non-disclosure documents under threat of further imprisonment. Unfortunately for the DHS, these high school kids are technologically literate hackers. And they take offense at illegal arrest and interrogation. So they start a guerrilla war against DHS, who fights back with all the power of the US Government and the newly expanded Patriot Act (refered to here as Patriot II), all under the guise of preventing terrorism. The bigger issues here remind me of the privacy issues raised in The Circle. In that case, it was a private company overstepping, here is is government. In both cases, I see how the fictional stories are not too far removed from reality, and there are not too many steps to get from here to there. What I wonder, who will be m1k3y in the real world? How do I (not a hacker) fight the small encroachments on privacy and civil liberty that either governments or corporations incrementally take "without notice".
Read
Set is modern day San Francisco, a terrorist attack has bombed and destroyed the Bay Bridge and the cross bay BART tunnel. Somehow mixed up in this, by being in the wrong place at the wrong time, a group of high school friends get picked up by the Department of Homeland Security and taken to a secret prision for interrogation. To be released, they are forced to sign non-disclosure documents under threat of further imprisonment. Unfortunately for the DHS, these high school kids are technologically literate hackers. And they take offense at illegal arrest and interrogation. So they start a guerrilla war against DHS, who fights back with all the power of the US Government and the newly expanded Patriot Act (refered to here as Patriot II), all under the guise of preventing terrorism. The bigger issues here remind me of the privacy issues raised in The Circle. In that case, it was a private company overstepping, here is is government. In both cases, I see how the fictional stories are not too far removed from reality, and there are not too many steps to get from here to there. What I wonder, who will be m1k3y in the real world? How do I (not a hacker) fight the small encroachments on privacy and civil liberty that either governments or corporations incrementally take "without notice".
Read
Saturday, December 24, 2016
The Core of the Sun
Johanna Sinisalo
A mixed narrative style of storytelling, alternating between letters to sibling, and first person accounts from each of the two protagonists. The setting is Finland, where the government has evolved into a "eusistocratic society", meaning that the government makes laws that force people to make good decisions. This manifests as outlawing all vices (caffeine, chocolate, red meat, nicotine, etc.) and the Ministry of Public Health is the most powerful public bureaucracy. In addition, the "greater good" means that women are sorted early into those who are suited for reproduction (i.e. subservient) and those who are not. Women have no rights and this part of society is really middle ages. In this context, Vanna (our protagonist) turns out to be a drug dealer (and user) with her drug being capsaicin (from hot chile's). Throughout the story, we learn her past, how she became a user, and what her motivations are. The goal is the development of "The Core of the Sun", the hottest chile to exist. This is an interesting take on what happens with government overreach, in a bit of a silly way since people have resorted to chili as a drug. This is what I love about sci-fi, making a somewhat silly extrapolation to make a point about a larger societal issue.
Read
A mixed narrative style of storytelling, alternating between letters to sibling, and first person accounts from each of the two protagonists. The setting is Finland, where the government has evolved into a "eusistocratic society", meaning that the government makes laws that force people to make good decisions. This manifests as outlawing all vices (caffeine, chocolate, red meat, nicotine, etc.) and the Ministry of Public Health is the most powerful public bureaucracy. In addition, the "greater good" means that women are sorted early into those who are suited for reproduction (i.e. subservient) and those who are not. Women have no rights and this part of society is really middle ages. In this context, Vanna (our protagonist) turns out to be a drug dealer (and user) with her drug being capsaicin (from hot chile's). Throughout the story, we learn her past, how she became a user, and what her motivations are. The goal is the development of "The Core of the Sun", the hottest chile to exist. This is an interesting take on what happens with government overreach, in a bit of a silly way since people have resorted to chili as a drug. This is what I love about sci-fi, making a somewhat silly extrapolation to make a point about a larger societal issue.
Read
Sunday, December 11, 2016
The Unity of One
Pittacus Lore
Book 7 of the Lorien Legacies series
The final book in the series, I have really enjoyed these. The read is super fast, low level reading so there is not a huge investment. And yet, the story held together pretty much throughout. In this installment, the final battle is presented. The Mogs have openly attacked all the major cities on earth and the Guarde are looking for a way to defeat them. Throughout the series, I will say that the setup has been as follows: a bunch of Guarde (9 of them) were put on earth and distributed for protection, but they would need to come together at the right moment to defeat the Mogs. And then the title of this installment, and I am thinking some sort of Transformers, everybody come together and a larger power/new combo legacy is revealed. Sadly, the battle (spoiler alert) is won. But won by basically a bunch of individual actions. Yes, every member of the team has a role in the victory, but essentially, nothing of unity or necessity of gathering was really offered. Don't get me wrong, this is but a minor disappointment in a largely entertaining series. Looking for some quick sci-fi reading this summer, this could be your series.
Monday, November 28, 2016
I'll Take You There
Wally Lamb
Felix is a film scholar who runs an informal movie group in the old single screen theater in town. Once a week, he screens a particularly important film in the history of cinema and then leads a discussion. Once day, while setting up of group, he is approached by a couple of ghosts of hollywood past, who are able to show Felix his life film. That is, they have his entire life on film and when he watches, he can step in to the scenes and truly experience all the emotion and drama of the events. In essence, this is a coming of age story for a 60-something man. It was an interesting road-trip listen, but I probably would not have had the patience to stick with it as a read.
Skip
Felix is a film scholar who runs an informal movie group in the old single screen theater in town. Once a week, he screens a particularly important film in the history of cinema and then leads a discussion. Once day, while setting up of group, he is approached by a couple of ghosts of hollywood past, who are able to show Felix his life film. That is, they have his entire life on film and when he watches, he can step in to the scenes and truly experience all the emotion and drama of the events. In essence, this is a coming of age story for a 60-something man. It was an interesting road-trip listen, but I probably would not have had the patience to stick with it as a read.
Skip
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Without Fail
A Jack Reacher Novel
Lee Child
Reacher is tracked down by a Treasury agent who new his brother. She is looking for an "outside consultant" to work up some opposition research on how to assassinate the Vice President. She thinks there is a mole in the department so only a trusted outsider will be able to help. Reacher enlists Neagley to help him out and they begin the unraveling of threat letters, assassination proof of access, and finding the mole. All in a days work, that somehow also allows time for Reacher and Neagley to process the recent death of his brother Joe.
Read
Lee Child
Reacher is tracked down by a Treasury agent who new his brother. She is looking for an "outside consultant" to work up some opposition research on how to assassinate the Vice President. She thinks there is a mole in the department so only a trusted outsider will be able to help. Reacher enlists Neagley to help him out and they begin the unraveling of threat letters, assassination proof of access, and finding the mole. All in a days work, that somehow also allows time for Reacher and Neagley to process the recent death of his brother Joe.
Read
Sunday, August 14, 2016
Persuader
A Jack Reacher Novel
Lee Child
Reacher is sitting at a coffee shop. Drinking coffee. How could this turn into anything, right? Well, a few minutes later a couple ex-special forces types come into the shop to ask Reacher a few questions about what he saw. He goes with them, meets the boss, gets hired as security (after showing that the current security guys missed everything). The setting is that the boss's son was kidnapped and ransom is demanded. Reacher is interested in "helping out" since he realized that the boss is a big time gun runner with ties to another gun runner that Reacher has a grudge against. So he must solve the kidnapping crime, save the boy of the gun runner to get in with him and have a shot at taking down a bigger gun runner. No problem.
Read
Lee Child
Reacher is sitting at a coffee shop. Drinking coffee. How could this turn into anything, right? Well, a few minutes later a couple ex-special forces types come into the shop to ask Reacher a few questions about what he saw. He goes with them, meets the boss, gets hired as security (after showing that the current security guys missed everything). The setting is that the boss's son was kidnapped and ransom is demanded. Reacher is interested in "helping out" since he realized that the boss is a big time gun runner with ties to another gun runner that Reacher has a grudge against. So he must solve the kidnapping crime, save the boy of the gun runner to get in with him and have a shot at taking down a bigger gun runner. No problem.
Read
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Saturn's Run
John Sandford and Ctein
The ultimate space race. An overlooked grad student in a Caltech astronomy program inadvertently discovers some strange data around Saturn. Something has just entered the solar system, slowed down and stopped. Fire up the planetary race to Saturn. What is it (clearly alien) and how can it be used to solidify my political power on earth. This is a fascinating story of pure science fiction, layered on top of the political ministrations of governments seeking a competitive edge, balanced by the scientists who are actually in the field (i.e. at Saturn) making decisions based on science and not on political goals. One of the best books I have read this summer.
Read
The ultimate space race. An overlooked grad student in a Caltech astronomy program inadvertently discovers some strange data around Saturn. Something has just entered the solar system, slowed down and stopped. Fire up the planetary race to Saturn. What is it (clearly alien) and how can it be used to solidify my political power on earth. This is a fascinating story of pure science fiction, layered on top of the political ministrations of governments seeking a competitive edge, balanced by the scientists who are actually in the field (i.e. at Saturn) making decisions based on science and not on political goals. One of the best books I have read this summer.
Read
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Amped
Daniel H Wilson
Owen is a school teacher with a famous neuro-scientist dad. We are in a world where neural implants are becoming more common, used to treat everything from epilepsy to ADD. Originally developed by the military for enhanced sensory features, the public has become more and more wary. This novel opens with the US Supreme Court classifying those with neural implants as no longer a protected class. This means that you can legally discriminate against anyone with an implant, and that those with implants are not allowed to enter into contracts (they are too smart and can take advantage of normals). This sets up an inevitable battle of us vs them, loosely around civil rights, but more so about power and entitlement to control. Owen was an early recipient of an implant to control his severe epilepsy and is thrust into the center of the conflict. This scenario turns on its head the thinking about civil rights and any potential limits. Should civil rights be afforded to a minority (but dominant) class? Push this idea to the current day, what would happen if the 1% had their civil rights revoked?
Read
Owen is a school teacher with a famous neuro-scientist dad. We are in a world where neural implants are becoming more common, used to treat everything from epilepsy to ADD. Originally developed by the military for enhanced sensory features, the public has become more and more wary. This novel opens with the US Supreme Court classifying those with neural implants as no longer a protected class. This means that you can legally discriminate against anyone with an implant, and that those with implants are not allowed to enter into contracts (they are too smart and can take advantage of normals). This sets up an inevitable battle of us vs them, loosely around civil rights, but more so about power and entitlement to control. Owen was an early recipient of an implant to control his severe epilepsy and is thrust into the center of the conflict. This scenario turns on its head the thinking about civil rights and any potential limits. Should civil rights be afforded to a minority (but dominant) class? Push this idea to the current day, what would happen if the 1% had their civil rights revoked?
Read
Sunday, July 31, 2016
Make Me
A Jack Reacher Novel
Lee Child
This is a new release (2015) and Reacher is the itinerant wanderer. He happens by a small grain town with one train stop and is intrigued by a couple of locals who seem to be looking to meet someone. Intrigue is all it takes to get him to stick around for a couple days, expecially when as he sticks around, he is asked to leave. Short answer - "No". One thing leads to another and Reacher's unofficial investigation leads to the discovery of a couple farmers running an illicit video business. A little bit of subtlety, a little bit of brute force, a little bit of patience. Classic Reacher.
Read
Lee Child
This is a new release (2015) and Reacher is the itinerant wanderer. He happens by a small grain town with one train stop and is intrigued by a couple of locals who seem to be looking to meet someone. Intrigue is all it takes to get him to stick around for a couple days, expecially when as he sticks around, he is asked to leave. Short answer - "No". One thing leads to another and Reacher's unofficial investigation leads to the discovery of a couple farmers running an illicit video business. A little bit of subtlety, a little bit of brute force, a little bit of patience. Classic Reacher.
Read
Friday, July 29, 2016
The Enemy
A Jack Reacher Novel
Lee Child
In 1989, an Army general is found dead in a seedy hotel, and Reacher is the MP investigating his death. When the general's briefcase is discovered to be missing, his wife discovered to be dead, and Reacher finds an unnecessary force complaint filed against him, something is up. As the investigation proceeds, there are special forces generals and navy admirals, and politicians all jockeying to protect their budgets and influence in the new post-cold-war world. Reacher (of course) gets to the bottom of things.
Read
Lee Child
In 1989, an Army general is found dead in a seedy hotel, and Reacher is the MP investigating his death. When the general's briefcase is discovered to be missing, his wife discovered to be dead, and Reacher finds an unnecessary force complaint filed against him, something is up. As the investigation proceeds, there are special forces generals and navy admirals, and politicians all jockeying to protect their budgets and influence in the new post-cold-war world. Reacher (of course) gets to the bottom of things.
Read
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Codex
Lev Grossman
Loved The Magician series by Grossman. This was OK. Maybe I was expecting magic. Instead, this is a pretty good mystery. Investment banker Edward is on a two week vacation before his promotion/transfer to London kicks in. He uses the time to get entangled in a wealthy clients search for a ancient text. Turns out, things just get weird. The book is somehow related to a super-realistic computer game he has just began playing. And a stuffy, Columbia grad student, expert in medieval literature becomes his unlikely partner in the search. Moving along at a quick pace to make sure we are never bored, but not enthralling like I want a mystery to be. Maybe if I hadn't been expecting magic...
Wait
Loved The Magician series by Grossman. This was OK. Maybe I was expecting magic. Instead, this is a pretty good mystery. Investment banker Edward is on a two week vacation before his promotion/transfer to London kicks in. He uses the time to get entangled in a wealthy clients search for a ancient text. Turns out, things just get weird. The book is somehow related to a super-realistic computer game he has just began playing. And a stuffy, Columbia grad student, expert in medieval literature becomes his unlikely partner in the search. Moving along at a quick pace to make sure we are never bored, but not enthralling like I want a mystery to be. Maybe if I hadn't been expecting magic...
Wait
Monday, June 27, 2016
Redshirts
John Scalzi
Fast, fun sci-fi. Scalzi introduces us to characters aboard the Universal Union's flagship spacecraft The Intrepid. Turns out to be remarkably similar to a bad version of the original Star Trek series. The redshirts of the title refers to the "expendable" crew member that always seems to accompany Kirk, Spock, Bones, etc. on an away team, and our protagonists are all redshirts. This is a fun novel that plays on the oft-discussed cheesy plot lines and ridiculous non-science that pops up in supposedly science fiction. Scalzi is able to integrate reminiscing about our favorite first sci-fi show with a story that actually capitalizes on both the good and bad of those shows. There is (probably intentionally) no serious depth of character here, but the story is clever. And while talking about breaking the 4th wall, Scalzi takes it one step further by breaking the 4th wall while talking about breaking the 4th wall. All very meta...
Read
Fast, fun sci-fi. Scalzi introduces us to characters aboard the Universal Union's flagship spacecraft The Intrepid. Turns out to be remarkably similar to a bad version of the original Star Trek series. The redshirts of the title refers to the "expendable" crew member that always seems to accompany Kirk, Spock, Bones, etc. on an away team, and our protagonists are all redshirts. This is a fun novel that plays on the oft-discussed cheesy plot lines and ridiculous non-science that pops up in supposedly science fiction. Scalzi is able to integrate reminiscing about our favorite first sci-fi show with a story that actually capitalizes on both the good and bad of those shows. There is (probably intentionally) no serious depth of character here, but the story is clever. And while talking about breaking the 4th wall, Scalzi takes it one step further by breaking the 4th wall while talking about breaking the 4th wall. All very meta...
Read
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Morning Star
Pierce Brown
Book 3 of the Red Rising Trilogy
Darrow is imprisoned. Held and tortured for a year. The Rising is alive, but fractured. Darrow is sprung free while preparing to transit to Luna and the Rising is re-energized with the return of their leader. I will leave the details of the plot to you as a reader. What is particularly interesting is the struggle that the characters voice with revolution. Is there an alternate way? Is violence necessary? Or does "death beget death beget death..." as Sevro says? Brown takes some risks here in showing some thinking about the role of violence in any society and how to begin thinking about a new way. This is a serious struggle for the characters, and it is simultaneously subtle. I can imagine many readers not really interested in the motivations of the characters. But these motivations, and the ability of the characters to fundamentally change their world view, makes these strong characters, and gives serious weight to their struggles.
The second, less central but still telling theme, is the purported ideal foundation for society and government. Quicksilver makes a speech in the first third that suggests the only way to govern without defaulting to tyranny is to hold to pure capitalism. End of story. Nothing else is said and not discussion or alternative is laid out. And we (in the real world) know that pure capitalism and tyranny/empire by no means exclusive. So maybe a completely boring, action free fourth book in the series is needed in order to demonstrate how this pure capitalism/tyranny free society develops. What are the pre-requisites to create this sort of system? Free energy? Social safety net? Even making those suggestions are already outside the realm of pure capitalism.
Overall, this is a fabulous series, raising lines of thinking that make it fun to read science fiction.
Read
Book 3 of the Red Rising Trilogy
Darrow is imprisoned. Held and tortured for a year. The Rising is alive, but fractured. Darrow is sprung free while preparing to transit to Luna and the Rising is re-energized with the return of their leader. I will leave the details of the plot to you as a reader. What is particularly interesting is the struggle that the characters voice with revolution. Is there an alternate way? Is violence necessary? Or does "death beget death beget death..." as Sevro says? Brown takes some risks here in showing some thinking about the role of violence in any society and how to begin thinking about a new way. This is a serious struggle for the characters, and it is simultaneously subtle. I can imagine many readers not really interested in the motivations of the characters. But these motivations, and the ability of the characters to fundamentally change their world view, makes these strong characters, and gives serious weight to their struggles.
The second, less central but still telling theme, is the purported ideal foundation for society and government. Quicksilver makes a speech in the first third that suggests the only way to govern without defaulting to tyranny is to hold to pure capitalism. End of story. Nothing else is said and not discussion or alternative is laid out. And we (in the real world) know that pure capitalism and tyranny/empire by no means exclusive. So maybe a completely boring, action free fourth book in the series is needed in order to demonstrate how this pure capitalism/tyranny free society develops. What are the pre-requisites to create this sort of system? Free energy? Social safety net? Even making those suggestions are already outside the realm of pure capitalism.
Overall, this is a fabulous series, raising lines of thinking that make it fun to read science fiction.
Read
One Shot
A Jack Reacher Novel
Lee Child
This book opens with a setup of a seemingly random sniper shooting in a public square somewhere in central Indiana. The police are on the scene quickly, find the forensic clues and arrest a suspect within a few hours. Their physical evidence is indisputable. The suspect only says "You got the wrong man" and "Get me Jack Reacher". Then promptly gets beat up in jail and put into a coma. But Jack Reacher is already on his way, having seen the news of the event and having prior history with the suspect. Specifically, he had caught him having completed the near exact shooting spree over 14 years early as an army Sniper in Kuwait City. So Reacher came into town to make sure this guy was convicted for good. Begin mystery...
Just as a side note, I know that these are not great literature, but I think Lee Child knows this too. And still he has a way of communicating in a fun way. This sample particularly highlighted for me why I enjoy this writing style
Read
Lee Child
This book opens with a setup of a seemingly random sniper shooting in a public square somewhere in central Indiana. The police are on the scene quickly, find the forensic clues and arrest a suspect within a few hours. Their physical evidence is indisputable. The suspect only says "You got the wrong man" and "Get me Jack Reacher". Then promptly gets beat up in jail and put into a coma. But Jack Reacher is already on his way, having seen the news of the event and having prior history with the suspect. Specifically, he had caught him having completed the near exact shooting spree over 14 years early as an army Sniper in Kuwait City. So Reacher came into town to make sure this guy was convicted for good. Begin mystery...
Just as a side note, I know that these are not great literature, but I think Lee Child knows this too. And still he has a way of communicating in a fun way. This sample particularly highlighted for me why I enjoy this writing style
He had more coffee and an English muffin filled with a round piece of ham and something that might have once been egg, first dried and powdered and then reconstituted. His threshold of culinary acceptability was very low, but right then he felt he might be pushing at the bottom edge of his personal envelope.Brilliant. This was also the book that was the basis for the film Jack Reacher. I had not read any of the Reacher novels then, but having read many now, how did Tom Cruise get cast? Not even close.
Read
Friday, May 20, 2016
The Hard Way
A Jack Reacher Novel
Lee Child
Reacher is sitting at a street table at a NY city coffee shop. He sees a guy cross the street, get in a car and drive away. An hour later a guy comes in to ask questions about what he saw. Now he is involved in a kidnap/ransom for a leader of a black-ops paramilitary organization. Reacher needs to find the truth of what is going on. With all the former military (US and British) on site, who can he trust, what is the purpose of this ultra-secretive group, and why does Reacher feel like he has to stick around to help. The helpless girl of course. It is the leaders wife and daughter who are kidnapped and something doesn't seem right. And Reacher gets his customary hot,former FBI, detective assistant to covertly work the case with him. The hard way of the title refers to the investigative method that is needed in this case. No big breaks, no electronic or computer solutions to generate them. So every little bit of information or clue seems to be dug out of hard work and effort, piecing things together one bit at a time. Old School.
Read
Lee Child
Reacher is sitting at a street table at a NY city coffee shop. He sees a guy cross the street, get in a car and drive away. An hour later a guy comes in to ask questions about what he saw. Now he is involved in a kidnap/ransom for a leader of a black-ops paramilitary organization. Reacher needs to find the truth of what is going on. With all the former military (US and British) on site, who can he trust, what is the purpose of this ultra-secretive group, and why does Reacher feel like he has to stick around to help. The helpless girl of course. It is the leaders wife and daughter who are kidnapped and something doesn't seem right. And Reacher gets his customary hot,former FBI, detective assistant to covertly work the case with him. The hard way of the title refers to the investigative method that is needed in this case. No big breaks, no electronic or computer solutions to generate them. So every little bit of information or clue seems to be dug out of hard work and effort, piecing things together one bit at a time. Old School.
Read
Monday, May 16, 2016
Wicked Appetite
Janet Evanovich
A new series by Evanovich. I liked the Fox & O'Hare series, and now reading this, I can see how it is also in her style, but more extreme. Set in Salem Massachusetts, a young woman (Lizzy) is approached and told that she has a special ability to find things. She is asked to help her new friend (Diesel) find some charms that will lead to finding one of seven stones that represent the seven deadly sins. The catch is that when Lizzy finds one and is near it, she starts taking on those characteristics. Hence the Wicked Appetite title when searching for the gluttony stone. Not a bad premise, but I am not the target audience for this series based on the tone. Not sure what the genre is for books, but I would characterize this as Slapstick. Goofy, wacky language, just a bit too silly to the point of being annoying... to me.
Skip
A new series by Evanovich. I liked the Fox & O'Hare series, and now reading this, I can see how it is also in her style, but more extreme. Set in Salem Massachusetts, a young woman (Lizzy) is approached and told that she has a special ability to find things. She is asked to help her new friend (Diesel) find some charms that will lead to finding one of seven stones that represent the seven deadly sins. The catch is that when Lizzy finds one and is near it, she starts taking on those characteristics. Hence the Wicked Appetite title when searching for the gluttony stone. Not a bad premise, but I am not the target audience for this series based on the tone. Not sure what the genre is for books, but I would characterize this as Slapstick. Goofy, wacky language, just a bit too silly to the point of being annoying... to me.
Skip
Monday, May 9, 2016
Bad Luck and Trouble
A Jack Reacher Novel
Lee Child
Reacher is in the Northwest when he gets a call from one of his former team members to meet him in California. The old gang is getting together. It is nearly a decade since he left the Army and his unit of MP Special Investigators. But that unit was a tight knit group who developed trust over their two years of working together. This novel is telling of a present day crisis, but really it gives more background on Reachers history with the 110th MP and who he is than a flashback novel would. We see the mutual respect of each of his team for him and for each other. We see the old habits come back as they work together, picking up as if the decade hadn't passed. What brings the group together, unfortunately, is the murder of some of their unit. So the rest of the unit comes in (or is pulled in) to investigate. No one messes with the Special Investigators. And of course, add in a little bit of international terrorism in the post 9/11 world to keep things interesting.
Read
Lee Child
Reacher is in the Northwest when he gets a call from one of his former team members to meet him in California. The old gang is getting together. It is nearly a decade since he left the Army and his unit of MP Special Investigators. But that unit was a tight knit group who developed trust over their two years of working together. This novel is telling of a present day crisis, but really it gives more background on Reachers history with the 110th MP and who he is than a flashback novel would. We see the mutual respect of each of his team for him and for each other. We see the old habits come back as they work together, picking up as if the decade hadn't passed. What brings the group together, unfortunately, is the murder of some of their unit. So the rest of the unit comes in (or is pulled in) to investigate. No one messes with the Special Investigators. And of course, add in a little bit of international terrorism in the post 9/11 world to keep things interesting.
Read
Saturday, May 7, 2016
The Water Knife
Paulo Bacigalupi
One of my favorite futurist authors. This novel is a near-future foretelling of life after the water collapse in the Southwest U.S. We are introduced to a world where Texas has collapsed and the massive refugee exodus has resulted in states closing their borders to any travel. California has become the political behemoth, primarily because it has senior water rights to the Colorado river, and the economy to support isolation. Las Vegas has a super-aggressive manager who is protecting their water rights, and has at her disposal the 'Water Knives' of the title as enforcers. In this world, Phoenix becomes the proxy battle ground between California and Vegas. What is particularly interesting is the world created by Bacigalupi is one that can be envisioned as realistic in the next decade. There are no futuristic weapons, or sci-fi miracles. Instead, this is a novel about human nature and the decisions that people make under duress. It is also interesting that there are no solutions here. This is not a cautionary tale, designed to show how poor decisions by people led to a problems that could be avoided. Instead it is a story of fait accompli. The fact that already too many people live in the desert of the southwest, and are already overusing water from aquifers that were filled tens of thousands of years ago, will inevitably lead to the water scarce situation described in this novel. The inevitability is what makes this both engaging and terrifying as a current resident of the Southwest.
Read
One of my favorite futurist authors. This novel is a near-future foretelling of life after the water collapse in the Southwest U.S. We are introduced to a world where Texas has collapsed and the massive refugee exodus has resulted in states closing their borders to any travel. California has become the political behemoth, primarily because it has senior water rights to the Colorado river, and the economy to support isolation. Las Vegas has a super-aggressive manager who is protecting their water rights, and has at her disposal the 'Water Knives' of the title as enforcers. In this world, Phoenix becomes the proxy battle ground between California and Vegas. What is particularly interesting is the world created by Bacigalupi is one that can be envisioned as realistic in the next decade. There are no futuristic weapons, or sci-fi miracles. Instead, this is a novel about human nature and the decisions that people make under duress. It is also interesting that there are no solutions here. This is not a cautionary tale, designed to show how poor decisions by people led to a problems that could be avoided. Instead it is a story of fait accompli. The fact that already too many people live in the desert of the southwest, and are already overusing water from aquifers that were filled tens of thousands of years ago, will inevitably lead to the water scarce situation described in this novel. The inevitability is what makes this both engaging and terrifying as a current resident of the Southwest.
Read
Thursday, May 5, 2016
The Revenge of Seven
Pittacus Lore
Book 5 of the Lorien Legacies series
Having read these out of order (accidentally read book 6 before 5) it becomes so clear how much of a serial these are. That is, there are very few missing details that required book 5 to be read. Sure, I wondered what happened at the sanctuary, but it was not really essential to know exactly what happened. Very much like reading the comics every day in a serial comic, or reading only on Sunday. The dailies are pretty thin in plot content.
Even so, the light writing style makes for an enjoyable quick read. In this installment, the Mogs actually begin their invasion of Earth and the Loric discover the source of Lorien on Earth, hoping for some serious help in the war. Ella (10) is figuring out her role as prisoner/heir to Setrakus Ra, Adam is figuring out his role as Mog defector, and Five as Loric defector. So lots of everyone unsure about who to trust and how to proceed as the action forces them to trust and proceed anyway.
Even so, the light writing style makes for an enjoyable quick read. In this installment, the Mogs actually begin their invasion of Earth and the Loric discover the source of Lorien on Earth, hoping for some serious help in the war. Ella (10) is figuring out her role as prisoner/heir to Setrakus Ra, Adam is figuring out his role as Mog defector, and Five as Loric defector. So lots of everyone unsure about who to trust and how to proceed as the action forces them to trust and proceed anyway.
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Fortune Smiles
Adam Johnson
Author of the masterful The Orphan Master's Son, Johnson follows up with a set of short stories. I don't normally choose short stories since they fall into one of two categories: not good (no engagement, character development, plot arc, or resolution), or excellent (but leave you wanting more). Johnson falls into the later. The range of topics in this collection is astounding (sci-fi future tech, post-Katrina itinerant single parenting, child porn, post glasnost retired East-German prison warden, North Korean defectors, autobiography of breast-cancer survivor). Each of these stories quickly established engaging characters, providing enough background for depth and leaving me wanting more. The connective tissue in all of these stories is the search for life purpose by ordinary people dumped into extraordinary situations. Or maybe it is extraordinary people portrayed with ordinary problems and life outlooks. For each of these stories, I would gladly read a full length novel exploring the characters history, decisions and life struggles. Whether you like short stories or not, these will engage.
Read
Author of the masterful The Orphan Master's Son, Johnson follows up with a set of short stories. I don't normally choose short stories since they fall into one of two categories: not good (no engagement, character development, plot arc, or resolution), or excellent (but leave you wanting more). Johnson falls into the later. The range of topics in this collection is astounding (sci-fi future tech, post-Katrina itinerant single parenting, child porn, post glasnost retired East-German prison warden, North Korean defectors, autobiography of breast-cancer survivor). Each of these stories quickly established engaging characters, providing enough background for depth and leaving me wanting more. The connective tissue in all of these stories is the search for life purpose by ordinary people dumped into extraordinary situations. Or maybe it is extraordinary people portrayed with ordinary problems and life outlooks. For each of these stories, I would gladly read a full length novel exploring the characters history, decisions and life struggles. Whether you like short stories or not, these will engage.
Read
The Fate of Ten
Pittacus Lore
Book 6 of the Lorien Legacies series
So I missed book 5, and will have to pick it up later. This installment finds 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 & 10 remaining. We open with 5 & 9 fighting each other in NY, but barely noticed as the Mog warships hover over the city and are destroying Manhattan. Warships are over DC, Tokyo, Beijing, LA, London, etc. The war is officially on and there is no more hiding. 4 and Sam are battling in NY, 6 and 7 are in Mexico at "The Sanctuary" with Adam (major plot development in book 5 I presume) and 10 is captured by Setrakus Ra and in on the invading flagship. So the crew is still trying to figure out what Ra's endgame is, as well as finding out who they can/cannot trust. Along the way, they continue to discover new allies in surprising ways. Of all the books, this seems like the most in the vein of a "plot setup" as any. Not really any seriously new or exciting alien stuff or battle technique, but finally moving the plot around to allow for a conclusion to the series. So not quite as good as prior episodes, but worth continuing none-the-less.
Monday, April 25, 2016
Nothing to Lose
A Jack Reacher Novel
Lee Child
Reacher is traveling through Colorado, gets a ride to Hope, and on a whim decided to walk on to Despair. Of course they have to go together. He proceeds to get run out of town, for no reason. And this gets him curious, and of course it leads to a conspiracy/crime/military connected mystery. He makes friends with a local cop from Hope and they work together on another short term relationship. There is a bit of religious fervor here and Reacher makes an interesting comment "We are all atheists. You don't believe in Zeus, or Ra, or 1000 other gods. Why does it bug you that I don't believe in 1001?"
Read
Lee Child
Reacher is traveling through Colorado, gets a ride to Hope, and on a whim decided to walk on to Despair. Of course they have to go together. He proceeds to get run out of town, for no reason. And this gets him curious, and of course it leads to a conspiracy/crime/military connected mystery. He makes friends with a local cop from Hope and they work together on another short term relationship. There is a bit of religious fervor here and Reacher makes an interesting comment "We are all atheists. You don't believe in Zeus, or Ra, or 1000 other gods. Why does it bug you that I don't believe in 1001?"
Read
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Golden Son
Pierce Brown
Book 2 of the Red Rising Trilogy
Starting a couple years after Red Rising, Darrow is now leading House Augustus in final exam for The Academy, effectively a massive war games set in the asteroid belt. Right on the verge of winning the games, he is blindsided by House Ballona and loses not only the games, but his entire ship and crew. The result is that he is disowned by Augustus and put on the auction block. The remainder of the book is effectively a political thriller in how to run a revolution. Very well done with keeping the intrigue and suspense alive while offering the reader opportunities for thoughtful consideration of truly sticky moral issues. An excellent second book that is way more than the placeholder of most book two's in trilogies. Looking forward to the final installment.
Read
Book 2 of the Red Rising Trilogy
Starting a couple years after Red Rising, Darrow is now leading House Augustus in final exam for The Academy, effectively a massive war games set in the asteroid belt. Right on the verge of winning the games, he is blindsided by House Ballona and loses not only the games, but his entire ship and crew. The result is that he is disowned by Augustus and put on the auction block. The remainder of the book is effectively a political thriller in how to run a revolution. Very well done with keeping the intrigue and suspense alive while offering the reader opportunities for thoughtful consideration of truly sticky moral issues. An excellent second book that is way more than the placeholder of most book two's in trilogies. Looking forward to the final installment.
Read
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Gone Tomorrow
A Jack Reacher Novel
Lee Child
Reacher is on a NY subway in the middle of the night when he notices something strange. A woman riding in his car hits all 11 markers on the Israeli suicide bomber checklist. When Reacher goes to confront her, she kills herself. So not a suicide bomber. But true to form, Reacher is intrigued, and then drawn into a political corruption/national security drama that pits him against the local NYPD, the FBI, DIA, a US Senator and a local Al Qaeda cell. Another day at the office.
Read
Lee Child
Reacher is on a NY subway in the middle of the night when he notices something strange. A woman riding in his car hits all 11 markers on the Israeli suicide bomber checklist. When Reacher goes to confront her, she kills herself. So not a suicide bomber. But true to form, Reacher is intrigued, and then drawn into a political corruption/national security drama that pits him against the local NYPD, the FBI, DIA, a US Senator and a local Al Qaeda cell. Another day at the office.
Read
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Red Rising
Pierce Brown
Book 1 of the Red Rising Trilogy
Set on the planet Mars at a time in our future where the moon, the rocky planets and several moons of the gas giants have been colonized. Society is organized in a color caste system, with Red being the miners, Pink the servants, Gold the elite rulers, etc. Darrow is a Red and gets drawn into a resistance movement that aims to change the system. He does not go willingly, but is pushed in by his wife Eo. The result is astounding. This is part Hunger Games and part Divergence. Yet is is bigger than either, maybe based on the solar system sized scope of the world. In many ways it takes on the larger questions of world building that are explored in the Red Mars Trilogy and even, to a certain extent, Asimov's Foundation Series. An excellent first book in what I hope is an excellent series.
Read
Book 1 of the Red Rising Trilogy
Set on the planet Mars at a time in our future where the moon, the rocky planets and several moons of the gas giants have been colonized. Society is organized in a color caste system, with Red being the miners, Pink the servants, Gold the elite rulers, etc. Darrow is a Red and gets drawn into a resistance movement that aims to change the system. He does not go willingly, but is pushed in by his wife Eo. The result is astounding. This is part Hunger Games and part Divergence. Yet is is bigger than either, maybe based on the solar system sized scope of the world. In many ways it takes on the larger questions of world building that are explored in the Red Mars Trilogy and even, to a certain extent, Asimov's Foundation Series. An excellent first book in what I hope is an excellent series.
Read
Sunday, April 3, 2016
61 Hours
A Jack Reacher Novel
Lee Child
The first in a what turns out to be a four novel set. 61 hours refers to a countdown from the beginning of a novel to something that will happen. Reacher is hitching on a bus through South Dakota that wrecks in a storm and finds himself stranded in a local town. He gets involved with the police, who are adjusting to a new Federal Prison, and trying to evict a meth-dealing biker gang from squatting on an old military installation. In particular, this book is a bit different because Reacher starts out with a positive relationship with the local police. Instead of adversarial, they immediately see his skills as being useful to their particular problems and he helps with a couple of investigations along the way. He also makes contact (for the first time since his discharge) with the new CO of his old MP unit as he is trying to uncover information about the mystery military installation. This contact starts the thread of the next four novels of Reacher traveling to Virginia to meet this officer. Of course, nothing in the town is quite as it seems at first glance, and in typical Lee Child fashion, nothing is quite as surprising to the reader as it is to the characters. Still fun.
Read
Lee Child
The first in a what turns out to be a four novel set. 61 hours refers to a countdown from the beginning of a novel to something that will happen. Reacher is hitching on a bus through South Dakota that wrecks in a storm and finds himself stranded in a local town. He gets involved with the police, who are adjusting to a new Federal Prison, and trying to evict a meth-dealing biker gang from squatting on an old military installation. In particular, this book is a bit different because Reacher starts out with a positive relationship with the local police. Instead of adversarial, they immediately see his skills as being useful to their particular problems and he helps with a couple of investigations along the way. He also makes contact (for the first time since his discharge) with the new CO of his old MP unit as he is trying to uncover information about the mystery military installation. This contact starts the thread of the next four novels of Reacher traveling to Virginia to meet this officer. Of course, nothing in the town is quite as it seems at first glance, and in typical Lee Child fashion, nothing is quite as surprising to the reader as it is to the characters. Still fun.
Read
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Worth Dying For
A Jack Reacher Novel
Lee Child
Reacher is on his way to Virginia when he gets dropped into a small town in Nebraska. And of course, he is dropped into the middle of a strange situation. This one feels more like a Hitchcockian drama than a CIA political thriller, but that kinda makes it fun. There is a local family that controls the county (and for comic relief, they use washed out Nebraska football players as their enforcers, with everyone refering to them as "cornhuskers" as if it is a job title). This family has a dark secret and Reacher ends up uncovering it, and then resolving the problem. And he teaches the local townspeople to have some backbone along the way.
Read
Lee Child
Reacher is on his way to Virginia when he gets dropped into a small town in Nebraska. And of course, he is dropped into the middle of a strange situation. This one feels more like a Hitchcockian drama than a CIA political thriller, but that kinda makes it fun. There is a local family that controls the county (and for comic relief, they use washed out Nebraska football players as their enforcers, with everyone refering to them as "cornhuskers" as if it is a job title). This family has a dark secret and Reacher ends up uncovering it, and then resolving the problem. And he teaches the local townspeople to have some backbone along the way.
Read
Monday, March 28, 2016
Bingo's Run
James A. Levine
This novel follows the story of Bingo Mwolo, the greatest runner in all of Kibera, Nairobi, and probably the world. For Bingo, by greatest runner, he means that he is the best deliverer of drugs and cash for the drug lords of the Kibera slum in Nairobi. Bingo is small (referred to by his friends as meejit) for his age, which gives him the advantage of rarely being stopped by police, and able to slip in and out where others can't. His friend Slow George is a constant companion and helps ground him in reality. As the greatest runner, Bingo has his own commandments that, in his opinion, exceed the value of the commandments in the bible. His include things such as "rest when you can", "finish every run", "never steal a run", etc. By following his commandments, Bingo survives and thrives to the limit of his imagination. But then he gets involved in activities that take him beyond his imagination. Trusted and then protected by the big bosses, adopted, tricked, arrested, beat, and admired. Bingo's Run is an adventure story in the slums, and Levine illuminates Kenyan culture to great effect by using local mythology and dialect to further his story. It is a quick read, and a fun adventure.
Read
This novel follows the story of Bingo Mwolo, the greatest runner in all of Kibera, Nairobi, and probably the world. For Bingo, by greatest runner, he means that he is the best deliverer of drugs and cash for the drug lords of the Kibera slum in Nairobi. Bingo is small (referred to by his friends as meejit) for his age, which gives him the advantage of rarely being stopped by police, and able to slip in and out where others can't. His friend Slow George is a constant companion and helps ground him in reality. As the greatest runner, Bingo has his own commandments that, in his opinion, exceed the value of the commandments in the bible. His include things such as "rest when you can", "finish every run", "never steal a run", etc. By following his commandments, Bingo survives and thrives to the limit of his imagination. But then he gets involved in activities that take him beyond his imagination. Trusted and then protected by the big bosses, adopted, tricked, arrested, beat, and admired. Bingo's Run is an adventure story in the slums, and Levine illuminates Kenyan culture to great effect by using local mythology and dialect to further his story. It is a quick read, and a fun adventure.
Read
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Confessions
Kanae Minato
Translated from its original Japanese, this novel is delivered as a series of 1st person accounts surrounding a local tragedy. We open with a middle school homeroom teacher talking to her students on the last day before summer break, giving her "end of year speech". This monologue sets the story (she is leaving the school and it has everything to do with the fact that her 5 year old daughter recently died) and it sets the stage for a mystery thriller. Since we are hearing the perspective of the teacher, there are clearly point of view issues that the reader can intuit. Gaps in her knowledge, conjectures that we wonder if they are correct, etc. Minato expertly fills in those gaps, slowly unpeeling the layers of this story, not by retelling the same event from several perspectives, but by allowing the story to progress in time (or even to flash back) from other perspectives. It all seems natural and is well connected. I love the story telling mechanism simply because it is so well done. And the story itself is fascinating, as watching a slow motion train wreck is fascinating. All this while exploring the depth of the characters neurosis (what do you expect from middle school kids) and asking deep questions about morality, love, and life purpose. Well done.
Read
Translated from its original Japanese, this novel is delivered as a series of 1st person accounts surrounding a local tragedy. We open with a middle school homeroom teacher talking to her students on the last day before summer break, giving her "end of year speech". This monologue sets the story (she is leaving the school and it has everything to do with the fact that her 5 year old daughter recently died) and it sets the stage for a mystery thriller. Since we are hearing the perspective of the teacher, there are clearly point of view issues that the reader can intuit. Gaps in her knowledge, conjectures that we wonder if they are correct, etc. Minato expertly fills in those gaps, slowly unpeeling the layers of this story, not by retelling the same event from several perspectives, but by allowing the story to progress in time (or even to flash back) from other perspectives. It all seems natural and is well connected. I love the story telling mechanism simply because it is so well done. And the story itself is fascinating, as watching a slow motion train wreck is fascinating. All this while exploring the depth of the characters neurosis (what do you expect from middle school kids) and asking deep questions about morality, love, and life purpose. Well done.
Read
Monday, March 21, 2016
Someplace to be Flying
Charles de Lint
This is a story that crosses between fantasy and reality in a seamless fashion. Both the characters and the reader share the same ambiguity of place and purpose, but de Lint does such a fantastic job with this that we are never confused or frustrated. The setting is a modern day city, but the story is one of the interplay of "Americans" and "Animal People". The Animal People are the first people, pulled out of the dark and into the world. Raven, the Crow Girls and Jack were all there. And now they are encountering another iteration of an age old conflict. Several humans and part humans are pulled into the story, but the "fantasy" nature of this story is not typical. Instead of reading like and elves and dwarves story, it reads more like a story told by a Native American shaman. It reminds me a lot of The Word and the Void series by Terry Brooks. And it reads more like a Harry Bosch detective mystery than it does typical fantasy. Really like this.
Read
This is a story that crosses between fantasy and reality in a seamless fashion. Both the characters and the reader share the same ambiguity of place and purpose, but de Lint does such a fantastic job with this that we are never confused or frustrated. The setting is a modern day city, but the story is one of the interplay of "Americans" and "Animal People". The Animal People are the first people, pulled out of the dark and into the world. Raven, the Crow Girls and Jack were all there. And now they are encountering another iteration of an age old conflict. Several humans and part humans are pulled into the story, but the "fantasy" nature of this story is not typical. Instead of reading like and elves and dwarves story, it reads more like a story told by a Native American shaman. It reminds me a lot of The Word and the Void series by Terry Brooks. And it reads more like a Harry Bosch detective mystery than it does typical fantasy. Really like this.
Read
The Affair
A Jack Reacher Novel
Lee Child
This entire novel is a flashback to Reacher's final case in his life as an MP. A murder takes place in a sleepy Mississippi town adjacent to Fort Kelham. An investigator is sent to the military base, and Reacher is sent to the town to run a joint investigation. This is the beginning of his exploration of what life would be like as a civilian, what he appreciates about life, and what annoys him. Some of this is clearly written as a necessary setup for the man that Reacher has developed into over the course of many novels, but overall provides subtle character support for the "future" Reacher.
Read
Lee Child
This entire novel is a flashback to Reacher's final case in his life as an MP. A murder takes place in a sleepy Mississippi town adjacent to Fort Kelham. An investigator is sent to the military base, and Reacher is sent to the town to run a joint investigation. This is the beginning of his exploration of what life would be like as a civilian, what he appreciates about life, and what annoys him. Some of this is clearly written as a necessary setup for the man that Reacher has developed into over the course of many novels, but overall provides subtle character support for the "future" Reacher.
Read
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Frankenstein's Cat
Cuddling Up to Biotech's Brave New Beasts
Emily Anthes
Anthes is a science journalist who has put together an overview of the current state of the art science in biotech. And by current, I mean 2013, which in biotech is probably not current anymore. Regardless, as an amateur in the field, she necessarily presents the material in a completely accessible manner, giving the scientific background for genetic modification, cloning, species extinction reversal, bio-tagging and bio-tracking, and cyber-neural interfaces. This is all very exciting science and potentially very useful and/or very scary. Recognizing this, Anthes does discuss the complex ethical issues associated with these new technologies, presenting arguments and issues that are raised by proponents and opponents equally. Only occasionally does she offer her own perspective, leaving the reader to digest the complexity. I particularly appreciated the broad approach to biotech. In the current public discourse around GMO food labeling, there is a lot of misinformation and propaganda being produced by both activists and the food industry. On the specific topic of GMO food, Anthes is able to clearly outline what it is, what it is not and why people care. And then proceeds to place this small issue back into the larger context of biotech. As an introductory survey to biotech, covering so many areas of science and ethics, I would recommend it as an excellent starting point for inquiry into the field.
Read
Emily Anthes
Anthes is a science journalist who has put together an overview of the current state of the art science in biotech. And by current, I mean 2013, which in biotech is probably not current anymore. Regardless, as an amateur in the field, she necessarily presents the material in a completely accessible manner, giving the scientific background for genetic modification, cloning, species extinction reversal, bio-tagging and bio-tracking, and cyber-neural interfaces. This is all very exciting science and potentially very useful and/or very scary. Recognizing this, Anthes does discuss the complex ethical issues associated with these new technologies, presenting arguments and issues that are raised by proponents and opponents equally. Only occasionally does she offer her own perspective, leaving the reader to digest the complexity. I particularly appreciated the broad approach to biotech. In the current public discourse around GMO food labeling, there is a lot of misinformation and propaganda being produced by both activists and the food industry. On the specific topic of GMO food, Anthes is able to clearly outline what it is, what it is not and why people care. And then proceeds to place this small issue back into the larger context of biotech. As an introductory survey to biotech, covering so many areas of science and ethics, I would recommend it as an excellent starting point for inquiry into the field.
Read
A Wanted Man
A Jack Reacher Novel
Lee Child
Still on his way to Virginia to see Susan Turner, Reacher is hitchhiking through Nebraska. He is picked up by a couple guys and a girl, but something is strange. Turns out the two guys carjacked the woman after a brutal murder. And of course it is more complicated than that. The murder that took place is on the radar of the anti-terrorist task force at the FBI, and Reacher is a suspect since he was in the car. So he does his thing and helps in the only way he knows how.
Read
Lee Child
Still on his way to Virginia to see Susan Turner, Reacher is hitchhiking through Nebraska. He is picked up by a couple guys and a girl, but something is strange. Turns out the two guys carjacked the woman after a brutal murder. And of course it is more complicated than that. The murder that took place is on the radar of the anti-terrorist task force at the FBI, and Reacher is a suspect since he was in the car. So he does his thing and helps in the only way he knows how.
Read
Sunday, February 28, 2016
The Scam
A Fox and O'Hare Novel
Janet Evanovich
Lee Goldberg
How to scam a scammer. Take extra care and this time Nick and Kate are charged with just that. Evan Trace is a big time casino owner who uses his business to launder money, apparently for some terrorists that are targeting the US. So the whole team is pulled together. But when scam plan A backfires, and plan B doesn't quite work out, plan C has to come through. I continue to enjoy the combination of spy thriller, tough action plot-lines with goofy setups and ordinary people as participants on the team. Evanovich and Goldberg never allow their characters to take things to seriously or get dark, but this is serious heist and espionage level plot. Strange, but fun, mixture.
Read
Janet Evanovich
Lee Goldberg
How to scam a scammer. Take extra care and this time Nick and Kate are charged with just that. Evan Trace is a big time casino owner who uses his business to launder money, apparently for some terrorists that are targeting the US. So the whole team is pulled together. But when scam plan A backfires, and plan B doesn't quite work out, plan C has to come through. I continue to enjoy the combination of spy thriller, tough action plot-lines with goofy setups and ordinary people as participants on the team. Evanovich and Goldberg never allow their characters to take things to seriously or get dark, but this is serious heist and espionage level plot. Strange, but fun, mixture.
Read
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Killing Floor
A Jack Reacher Novel
Lee Child
The first Reacher novel, Jack is a new civilian and starting his new life as a drifter. He is traveling to Margrave, Georgia on a lark. His brother had sent him a cryptic question asking whether Blind Blake (a blue musician) had actually died in Margrave. With nothing else to do, Reacher goes to look around. But he is instantly arrested on arrival for murder. The tip from his brother (who works at the US Treasury Department) puts Reacher in the middle of a major counterfeiting ring. So he takes care of it.
Read
Lee Child
The first Reacher novel, Jack is a new civilian and starting his new life as a drifter. He is traveling to Margrave, Georgia on a lark. His brother had sent him a cryptic question asking whether Blind Blake (a blue musician) had actually died in Margrave. With nothing else to do, Reacher goes to look around. But he is instantly arrested on arrival for murder. The tip from his brother (who works at the US Treasury Department) puts Reacher in the middle of a major counterfeiting ring. So he takes care of it.
Read
Friday, January 22, 2016
Elantris
Brandon Sanderson
By one of my new favorite authors, Sanderson again sets up a world where magic is different. In fact, this story is all about magic, the core of the world is magic, but barely is any magic done. The city of Elantris was once the center of civilization with its inhabitants able to ply magical cures and potions. But 10 years ago there was a break, and the magic disappeared. And we are living in the post-magic world where people actually get sick, and people have to work for their food. The governments of the area are battling for control, and the religions are following suit. But Elantris is still central to life. Prior to the break, people were chosen randomly (by the city?) to have access to the magic. Now they are chosen randomly to be afflicted with a disease that makes them immortal, but dead (I know, weird, read the book). Raoden (crown prince of Arelon) is afflicted. Sarene (princess of Teod), betrothed to Raoden as a political alliance, moves to Arelon and gets involved in an investigation, of sorts. The fun of this novel is that the reader is discovering, along with the characters, what is going on. Everyone is in the dark and Sanderson reveals to the characters and through the characters so that we are all brought along into discovery at the same pace. Fun.
Read
By one of my new favorite authors, Sanderson again sets up a world where magic is different. In fact, this story is all about magic, the core of the world is magic, but barely is any magic done. The city of Elantris was once the center of civilization with its inhabitants able to ply magical cures and potions. But 10 years ago there was a break, and the magic disappeared. And we are living in the post-magic world where people actually get sick, and people have to work for their food. The governments of the area are battling for control, and the religions are following suit. But Elantris is still central to life. Prior to the break, people were chosen randomly (by the city?) to have access to the magic. Now they are chosen randomly to be afflicted with a disease that makes them immortal, but dead (I know, weird, read the book). Raoden (crown prince of Arelon) is afflicted. Sarene (princess of Teod), betrothed to Raoden as a political alliance, moves to Arelon and gets involved in an investigation, of sorts. The fun of this novel is that the reader is discovering, along with the characters, what is going on. Everyone is in the dark and Sanderson reveals to the characters and through the characters so that we are all brought along into discovery at the same pace. Fun.
Read
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