5 comments about Spook Country.

1. Spook Country
   
   If you haven't read William Gibson before this is the not what I recommend you start with. I don't think its his best work to date.
   
   I think Pattern Recognition is one of his best, most accesable books set in the current period so far.
   
   I do appreciate his attemps to put his vision and writing style on current day events. And even though I didn't enjoy this book as thoroughly as some of this others, I'll still keep reading anything he puts out because of his captivating writing style and point of view I just don't get anywhere else.



2. A sequel to "Pattern Recognition" and a more than worthy successor. I can hardly wait for the third book of Gibson's latest trilogy!



3. Continuing in the near-future world of Bigend and Blue Ant, "Spook Country" mixes complex twists and turns, multiple threads and rich character studies. This book takes longer than "Pattern Recognition" to set-up, but the payoff is well worth the effort.
   
   [That's all I'll say in comparison, as comparison reviews fill me with inertia, and imho are almost useless]
   
   Gibson possesses the magical ability to transport readers, and this book did that to me once again. More, more, more please.



4. Spook Country
   William Gibson
   Penguin/Viking
   
   William Gibson is justifiably renowned as one of the key founders of the now vast realm of cyberpunk. His 1986 novel Neuromancer was a foundation stone for a new style of futuristic fiction; high tech but gritty. The opening line of the novel said it all: "The sky above the port was the colour of television tuned to a dead channel."
   
   In Gibson's world voodoo met with artificial intelligence. It was a dark realm of worrisome virtual realities. It was a soaring burst of imagination that, at the time, had no equivalent.
   
   Since that time Gibson has gradually been re-inventing himself, coming closer to the present day with each book. His latest, Spook Country, is very much placed in the here and now, resonant with references to 9/11, the Iraq war and corruption within the current American administration. At heart it is a thriller, without the flourishes of remarkable futurism that marked Gibson's earlier works and as such it will be a disappointment to those hoping for the surreal leaps of vision in his earlier works. But Spook Country remains resolutely a Gibson book, replete with references to the gods and goddesses of voodoo belief. Here the iPod meets the goddess Ochun and a drug called RIZE clashes with the muscular, athletic god Oshosi.
   
   The promotional blurb for Spook Country claims that the novel is "J.G. Ballard meets John Le Carré", but the novel is far too American for it to fit into such a bizarre English context. One suspects that the Canadian-born Gibson is more influenced by the paranoiac sci-fi of Philip K. Dick and the stylistic tropes of Raymond Chandler, both denizens of Los Angeles where much of the novel is set.
   
   Sense of place is a major aspect of Spook Country. Elements of LA and New York City are captured brilliantly. As one of the key protagonists, the youthful Cuban exile Tito, sprints through Canal Street in New York one can envisage the setting immediately. But although this is New York post-9/11 - a fact that is central to the story - Gibson fails to capture the sense of displacement many New Yorkers still feel, a sensation rendered palpable in Don DeLillo's latest novel, Falling Man.
   
   Like DeLillo, Gibson uses an artist as one of his triggers to get the action rolling, in this case an artist who uses a kind of virtual reality recreation of past events such as the death of River Pheonix. The artwork is the ostensible subject of a feature story for a not-yet existent magazine called Node to be written by a former indie-rock singer Hollis Henry. It rapidly becomes apparent that Node will probably never exist and its' supposed publisher is seeking something else entirely. Running parallel to this story are the mysterious goings on of a group of Cubans, especially the athletic Tito who summons the aid of Ochun and Oshosi when necessary, a CIA-type thug and a drug addled character called Milgrim.
   
   Central to the book is the `producer' Bobby Chombo, a paranoid and reclusive troubleshooter for manufacturers of military navigation equipment who refuses to sleep in the same place twice. Hollis Henry has been told by her editor to find him but not told why.
   
   With his sprawling matrix of characters the narrative moves along at break-neck pace. Mis-information transfer run by the Cubans - often via i-Pod - constantly misleads shadow-agents of the government. Also central is the fortune of American cash set aside to help re-build Iraq that has been pirated away for other, unspecified, but clearly corrupt, uses.
   
   At times Gibson's narrative soars, at others it is dogged down by slightly lame character development. It is ideal Winter reading but fails to claim anything like the cultural potency of Neuromancer.



5. The only reason I gave two stars instead of one is that I like the fact that Gibson injects some meta-criticism of his older thinking (in particular the reason why virtual reality isn't what it used to be). But as far as a "literary thriller," this book doesn't fly. There was never a point where I was feeling anything. The characters were completely passive and flat, the plot listless, without any interesting twists or turns, and just a smattering of media theory (the best part). None of the characters were believable or made sense. Their motivations were mostly inexplicable.
   
   It's ironic that Stockholm Syndrome is mentioned more than once considering that a) most of the characters were captives to their fate and destiny, and b) like story's various hostages, I as a reader felt captive by a droll narrative because I am hugely sympathetic to Gibson's mind and his books. I particularly loved his last book, Pattern Recognition, so I'm a little disappointed by the follow-up (yes this is a sequel in the vague way that the Sprawl trilogy connected through through peripheral characters).

5 comments about Revelation (Star Wars: Legacy of the Force, Book 8).

1. I think the whole legacy of the force series is just plain pathetic. While the idea had so much power to it - Jacen turning into a Sith Lord, the execution is pathetic. This is specially obvious for someone whose introduction to star wars was thru the New Jedi Order series which was a remarkable one, from idea to story line and its execution.
   
   I have lots of issues with this book, specifically. Number 1, the english grammer is wrong. Just plain wrong! Lot of the sentences are grammatically incorrect. And yes, I do understand the difference between slang and king's english - but even slang is not usually incorrect grammatically. In her attempt to come up with some cool new terms, the author has made a mess of the text.
   
   Then I hated the word caf, tapcaf and the likes! What is this? Thirdly, there is no flow-thru as to how the plot changes. One moment Luke has almost but killed Jacen, and then there is no more Luke for the rest of the battle. One moment Niathial is leading and everybody is on her side, and the next moement, she is finding herself ousted! The author apparentally has no clue how to put a story line together.
   
   I think this was a very poorly written novel. Try reading the novel "Darth Bane - the path of destruction" and you find what a superbly powerful novel would read like.



2. i enjoyed this book and found it to be a good read. i'm looking forward to the next installment.



3. The first and biggest issue with this book is that in a series titled "Legacy of the Force" (emphasis on Force) Traviss spends at least half of the novel playing out Boba Fett's relationship with his grandaughter and long lost wife. This sentimental driveling is not only completely out of character for Fett it is incredibly boring, and caused me to put the book down in boredom a few times for the first time since the Black Fleet Crisis series. Perhaps Traviss thinks she is getting at some deep philosophical point, or indicating a deeper message that we can apply to the Jedi's struggle's, but if she is it is hopelessly lost in her ascinine character development. As far as I can tell the only thing the Mandalorians are doing is diverting focus and drive from what might have been an extremely engaging battle, both physically and politically over Fondor.
   The poor character development is not just a problem with Boba Fett but throughout the entire novel. The actions of the Jedi make almost no sense throughout the book, and no attempt is made to explain strange turn of events. Luke is almost a non-entity. Somehow 15 year old Ben Skywalker has turned into an adult but 30-something Jaina Solo seems to have reverted to her teenaged NJO self (which is a problem with the series at large though this book amplifies it). It is also incomprehensible to me that Jaina has gone to Boba Fett for lessons in taking out Sith Lords. "Jacen has learned Force skills I haven't so I have to learn skills he doesn't have." Yes...and every Sith ever to roam the galaxy has had Force skills Jedi didn't, and I don't seem to recall Yoda, Mace Windu, Luke Skywalker etc deciding they needed to consult bounty hunters before taking out Sith Lords. The approach was inventive and interesting with the non-Force-sensitive Jag Fel but is absurd and degrading when applied to Jaina. Darth Caedus is disappointing to say the least. **Spoiler Warning** At one point Traviss spends several paragraphs building suspense about how much dark side energy Caedus has gathered and how its threatening to tear him apart and he must expend it and then he does...by creating a simple illusion in the minds of a few people convincing them to lower a shield. She then has the audacity to have several characters comment on how powerful he must be to bring down a planetary shield with his mind. Give me a break. Perhaps the most audacious crime against a character though, is her disturbing slaughter of Grand Admiral Pellaeon. This character has consistently been brilliant at anticipating enemy maneuvers (he was trained by Grand Admiral Thrawn) and yet fails to foresee or guard against Tahiri's unbelievably transparant assassination? Of all characters this one should have been ready to deal with such an eventuality and had ysalimiri on hand. But know, Traviss spends pages talking about how savvy he is and then kills him in the most obvious way possible. That this author was allowed to write the demise of two outstanding characters she clearly had so little understanding for is a disgrace and leaves a foul taste in my mouth.
   The third much more minor issue with this book is that it is filled with grammatical errors, some of which are on the part of the authors and some of which are simply poor proofreading. The errors were distracting and irritating.
   The only reason I gave this book two stars is that despite the above complaints, it does manage to have some very powerful moments, and hints at great plot elements if you are able to ignore the distracting sub-plot and supplement the poor writing with your imagination.



4. Wow, what a surprise, Revelation was....horrible. Who would have guessed? Jaina Solo finally gets storyline beyond Jag-Zekk where she decides the best way to defeat Jacen is to fight like a Mandalorians. Sure because that's going to be very handy against a Sith. Then again, Jaina doesn't really do anything but stand in awe of everything Mandalorians. Right because 2/3 of the book is exactly how much time should be dedicated to a group of people who have nothing to do with the over all plotline and their plotline is only how wonderful they are. At least in Bloodlines by the end you understood why we had to go through all the Boba Fett drama but as in Sacriface here in Revelations we're not that lucky. I don't care about the Mandalorians I don't want to care about them. I care about the Skywalkers, the Solos, and the Jedi. Not to mention Jaina has all ready done this before. Is too much to ask the author to look back in previous books to see if tis all ready been done before? Oh and let's not forget Jaina is the daughter of legendary smuggler, scoundral Han Solo your never going to convince me Boba Fett can teach Jaina anything that Han Solo can not except how to escape the creature that ate him on Tatooine.
   The next feels like a really bad Law and Order, Ben Skywalker suspects Jacen but when Ben raises his suspicions he gets completely shot down which I still can't understand why. Oh right the man who went from being a boring Jedi who orginially refused to fight in NJO wars to insane power hungry murderous Sith who fired on his own parents' ship among his numerous and very public crimes and has been dressing up like Grandpa Vader shouldn't be the number one suspect.
   Lastly its finally revealed Jacen is a Sith. Wow...gee..what a shocker. Well it might have been if Jacen wasn't dressing in black, building is own empire, committing various public crimes and doing everything but painting Sith on his back. Had Jacen actually ben insidious in what he was doing or hell even if I mean really the galaxy that was terrorized by Vader couldn't figure it that out that his own grandson turn to the dark side? Or the children of Vader? Or the Jedi who's number one job has always been defeating the Sith yet they couldn't figure it out. That's the main trouble with the way Jacen's turning its being written in a way everyone else in galaxy has to be dumb. Karen Travis is not completely to blame for this because all three writers have also done their very best to rip out any potental for it being good.
   I mean this had the potental of being an amazing moment. This was the one thing that made Leia fearful about having children in the first place. This was Luke's fear when he decided to start the New Jedi Order that some day some how one of his students could be the next Vader. It had to have been in the back of Han's mind with both Anakin and Luke Skywalker have turned to the dark side that there was a chance one of his own children could turn too. All three thought if they were good parents, good Jedi, did their very best and had faith in Force it wouldn't happened again. Yet we're here and its about as jaw-dropping as Mandos in Karen Traviss's book.



5. I'll try to keep this short:
   - I didn't start reading a series about the Skywalkers and Solos with the intent to read 3 books about Boba Fett's family.
   - If I did want to read about Boba Fett, I'd like to read about the cool stuff he might do rather than how sad he is.
   - If you're going to write a book about a Jedi training to kill a Sith Lord, please include actual TRAINING instead of an overview of Mandalorian social life
   - This book was edited so badly that it actually got on my nerves, for example, "It fitted."
   
   I hope that LucasArts denies Karen Traviss anymore opportunities to water down their flagship series with soap opera stories about Mandalorians. She should be confined to short stories and side series. I think even Boba Fett fans would be pretty bored by this book.

5 comments about DragonLight: A Novel.

1. For the first time in decades the world is at peace. Dragon Keeper Kale is busy taking care of baby dragons since peace has brought a population explosion in that race wheras before they were dying in mortal combat. One day Kalie's husband Bordan sees a village where empty space used to be. He lands his dragon and talks to the leaders whose villagers call themselves Followers. They say they are spreading the word of the Creator Wuldor with the permission of his voice Paladin.
   
   Bordan hears a fairie hole in the leaders voice and he sees no children and it looks like a boot camp. He doesn't have time to investigate further because he plans on taking his wife on a quiet vacation. They are going to a hidden Meech community so their fellow traveler Gilda can leave her egg to be hatched at a time of the commune's choosing. The journey is not an easy one as they are constantly attacked by small black lethal dragonets and have to deal with Followers who have spread across the land. When they reach their destination they face another battle and only with Wulder's help twill might win against an overwhelming evil.
   
   This is the fifth and last book in Donita K. Paul's dragon series and it answers all the major threads left from the previous entries. DRAGONLIGHT is an action-packed fantasy thriller starring wonderful characters who insure readers can believe in dragons. The story line is engrossing and the world feels genuine, but as with the rest of the saga, it is soaring with dragons alongside Bordan and Kalie that make this a superb thriller.



2. this revue was typed by Valerie's daughter and is in no way connected to her. Other then the fact that she likes these books to.
   
   I wonder how I ever thought I wouldn't like this book. From start to finish it was such a thoughtful compelling read. When we start Kale is searching for a hidden evil in her castle, and you are taken away into the story. Were you are kept until the last chapter, A final stance against evil that totally swept me away. and then throughout the story there was always a lesson intertwined in the protagonists adventures. I was never bored when I read this and spent ever spare second reading it.
   Compared to work in it's genre. I think she definitely jumped above Batson in this conclusion and ranked with C.S.Lewis and with Donita's way of bringing in truth into her story's. I was very saprized in Meany places but they were all good saprizes. I was very satisfied and closed the book with a snap and incredible urge to read again.



3. this is a great book!! i loved it! it is kinda the end but she is making another series that will link to this one.
   
   hope this helps!



4. My biggest hesitation going into the Dragon Keeper Chronicles was the target age group. I got the impression that the books were written to be appropriate for and understandable to children and young adults... hardly a series that will help a college junior keep up her "grown-up" appearance! ;)
   
   Since I started reading, Kale and her companions have kept me up half the night over and over from the beginning of the series to this very satisfying finish. I feel as though I truly know these characters, and I wish I had my own pack of colourful minor dragons to accompany me wherever I go. The Christian allegorical storylines occasionally feel cliché, but the author handles this well and I have never once felt that it was overdone.
   
   I definitely recommend this book for anyone looking to read a clean, uplifting series with exciting storylines and memorable characters who truly draw you in.



5. I had long awaited to read this final addition but in the way of Toopka I could help but wonder what was she (the author)thinking. I personally need more of a believable past (even in fantasy) leading up to one of my favorite characters. Sad to say, but I did enjoy everything else in the book except for that.

5 comments about Fool Moon (The Dresden Files, Book 2).

1. In book two of The Dresden file books, Harry Dresden is yet again called to another murder. This time, the body has been shredded and torn apart by something that is not human. That is why Harry is called in, to find out what is causing all the chaos. Again, this story is a quick read, and very entertaining. You do not have to be a sci-fi fan to enjoy this book. If you like a good murder mystery, who-dun-it sort of thing, give this book a try.



2. I enjoyed Storm Front quite a bit, but I was a bit hesitant about this book because I've been rather hit-and-miss with series. I couldn't have been more wrong.
   
   Fool Moon actually outstripped Storm Front in terms of pacing, and it kept me interested the whole time - something not many series have been able to do. While having read the first book helps - as would be expected - it's not necessary; there's enough information about Harry's past contained in Fool Moon that you understand what's going on the entire time. In addition, Jim Butcher has that rare gift for recapping a previous installment in a series without rehashing the entire plot of the previous book - or making it so close to the wording of the original that it bores the reader.
   
   The action is constant enough to keep the reader entertained and the drama compels you and involves you in the characters' stories, keeping you emotionally invested in the outcome. Very well done.



3. I felt this was a very interesting and entertaining story for the second dresden files saga. I've read a few werewolf horror stories and they all become pretty bland since they follow the one simple storyline on how one becomes a werewolf and how you're supposed to kill the werewolf. This book had a nice twist an that you have three ways to become a werewolf and different ways to dispatch them. I also like how he puts the character of Harry in the story as you see while he is a hero he also has the same doubts ,faults,feelings,and problems that you or I might have in the same situation he faces. Thats the one thing I like about the character you have so many supposed written hero's in books that seem so beyond what you think a normal person would do that you really can't get the feel or any emotional connection to those hero's and so as you read their books you already know that the hero is going to come out on top pretty much unharmed. Unlike poor Harry he always seems to end up getting hurt or injured and when you think he's about to throw in the towel he does come out the winner of course with the help of his friends
   and sometimes enemies. So All I say is if you're looking for a different
   angle of the werewolf stories or a great present day/Magic world story this book would be it



4. Fool Moon is the second book of Mr. Butcher's Dresden Files. In this book, after a significant break from Storm Front, Murphy invites Harry to investigate a murder that appears to have been done by wolves. Also investigating in the murder are four FBI agents who seem a little different. As with Storm Front the story centers around Harry and is told by him. The story rapidly takes of with Harry learning about the different types of werewolves (Bob informs us that there are three types of werewolves that he's aware of: lycanthropes, hexenwolf, and loup-garou; btw, if you want to know the differences, read the book).
   
   My Likes
   This book opens fast! This is because we've already met Harry and know about him and Murphy. Mr. Butcher does expand on both of these characters and once more you can see that Mr. Butcher pours some of himself into Harry. In addition, we have Marcone (a crime lord), Susan (Harry's girlfriend), and Carmichael (Murphy's second).
   I also love how Mr. Butcher is expanding Harry's magic and our understanding of magic. Instead of casting lightning bolts or fireballs (ala Merlin) Harry's magic seems a little more mundane; control of inanimate objects, protection, and various potions Harry brews up with Bob's help (btw, the potions are interesting to say the least or at least their ingredients are).
   The biggest seller is the werewolves. I'm amazed at how much Mr. Butcher put into this. When you read about Bob describing the different types and later have interactions with them it's very impressive. I can also say that Mr. Butcher does a great job bringing this to the reader and interweaving it into the story in a believable way.
   
   My Dislikes
   The books seemed a little long and contrived at points. I believe that this was because Mr. Butcher wanted to show us as much about werewolves as possible. Because of the different types and the need to have Harry interact with them the story drags a little from time to time. I can't say I was bored by it, but I really wanted to find out what the center of the story was. Is this really that bad? Only because it took a little to much time.
   Mr. Butcher stated at one point that one of the werewolves served in Vietnam in the Army. I'm sorry, there's no real way this character would have been able to have gone thru the training the Army requires and have made it to Vietnam without discovery, especially given the type of werewolf he is. This is further complicated when Mr. Butcher informs us that Harley MacFinn was the sole survivor of his unit in Vietnam due to Vietcong actions against his unit. I'm sorry, given the type of werewolf and all it was totally unbelievable.
   My last dislike was what happens to Carmichael. While heroic and all, I felt that Carmichael made a nice counter piece to Harry for Murphy. A little on the abrupt side for a character like Carmichael in my opinion.
   
   The Rating
   Four stars! While the story line was more mature than Storm Front, I felt that Mr. Butcher got wrapped around his story a little to much. A lot of things happen here and Harry's a little on the unbelievable side due to the actions he takes and the time covered by things. That said, I was highly impressed with Mr. Butcher's werewolves and the interactions they have with Harry. While the story is a little long, it's not totally predictable and there are some nice little surprises.



5. This is the second novel in the Dresden Files, but it is still complete within itself. In my opinion, a good author makes each individual book its own novel, yet builds on previous novels in the series. In this novel, Dresden faces off against werewolves. Before the full moon, people begin getting mauled. At this same time, a man who inherited a werewolf curse from his family finds his protective charms broken. Is this man responsible for the killings, or is he being set up? When he is captured, an exciting scene in the jail ensues.
   
   I liked the first more than the second, but this was still a good story, and it is still a good read. I used to be irritated by James Butcher's writing style and format, but I am adapting to it. I am beginning to find the novels exciting and interesting. Overall, a good book, it can be read without reading the first. Additionally, subplots are beginning to reveal themselves. If you enjoyed the first novel, the second will keep you entertained.

5 comments about Batman: Year One.

1. BATMAN YEAR ONE es un comic pionero en muchos aspectos.Desde un Frank Miller con una tematica mas cercana a su rompedor DAREDEVIL de Marvel que a su archiconocido BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, vemos a un Bruce Wayne en los inicios de su carrera de justiciero, y la justificacion psicologica de ello - la violenta muerte de sus padres. En una personalidad menos compleja que la de Bruce, este horrendo hecho hubiese quedado en una serie interminable de visitas a algun psicoanalista, pero en él fue el desencadenante de un afan no tanto justiciero como de venganza, sino de poner control al caos que se llevó a sus padres y amenaza tragarse completa a Gotham City.Esto lo entendió a la perfeccion Miller y nos da una poderosa fabula de iniciacion del Murciélago que nos lleva de tour a la mente de este peculiar personaje, que si bien no tiene motivaciones lógicas que digamos, si crea un inmediato vinculo empatico con el lector de cualquier gusto o genero de lectura. Este es el merito de este comic, que es para todos y pide mas de una lectura para entender su profundidad, a pesar de los superficial que pudiese parecer a simple vista el tema. No se dejen engañar, este comic es oro puro, y si ya lo leiste, releelo; y sino lo tienes, pues que envidia el poder leerlo por primera vez.



2. Other than The Sandman, I had never read any comic that took place in the DC Universe. I was completely turned off by the campiness of Superman and Wonder Woman, and found the Marvel heroes quite a bit more interesting. However, after many disappointing Marvel reads, I decided it was time for something new. And that was Batman. The Dark Knight seemed like a natural fit for me. He's far less campy than the other DC characters, and he's a tortured and dark hero, like all the best of 'em. So I bought this because where better to start than "Year One"?
   
   Frank Miller, the writer of this gem, has an enthusiasm for the story of Batman's origin that shines through the pages. He takes the time to flesh out the situation, slowly letting all the plot lines come to a boil. The increasing corruptness of Gotham and the crusades that two men--Batman and James Gordon--wage to clean up a city that seems beyond repair. As both of them throw their cards in, they become at odds with each other, making for some nice parallels between the two story lines.
   
   Miller is a great storyteller, not only because his work is very readable, but also because he knows when to let the artist tell the story. And it happens often here. Unlike other old comics that are rife with expository narrative, Miller keeps to the basics. David Mazzucchelli skillfully pencils this miniseries, hitting all the right action and dramatic beats. Along with Richmond Lewis (who re-colorized the original inkwork for this edition), Mazzucchelli crafts a dark and brooding Batman that fits with Miller's story beautifully.
   
   This is one of the most thoroughly well done trade paperbacks I've come across. There is a great introduction, recolored art, two afterwords (one by Mazzucchelli with accompanying art and another by Miller himself) as well as sample scripts, original pencils, and even initial sketches. For a Batman fan or ever someone new to the DC verse like myself, this is certainly something worth buying. I know I'll be checking out the rest of the Batman series.
   
   8/10



3. Next to The Dark Knight Returns, this is one of the best Graphic Novels I've ever read. I wish they would have used this movies storyline in a Movie, but doubt that would not have been as great a marketing decision. There is no Batmobile, no Ras Al Ghul, no Joker, not even any fancy high tech gadgets that Batman now has. It's just the simple beginings of Batman, written by Frank Miller.



4. It might've been a great story when it was first written - but I don't think it stood test of time. It is a retelling of what everybody knows anyway. Miller does good storytelling but that doesn't help when the story is weak.



5. "Batman;Year One" has been called many things. "Masterpiece" is probably the most commonly used abbreviation & rightly so. "Year One" went beyond my wildest expectations & provided countless hours of entertainment & food for thought.
   Never has the Batman Origin story been told in such light. The worlds of a somewhat younger James Gordon & Bruce Wayne are brought colliding, each fighting individual battles in their own way, but contributing to the eventual retribution of Gotham. 'Nuff said.
   This book,in my opinion, is a must-have.

5 comments about Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, Book 3).

1. The third book in the Mercy Thompson series is Dark. Though I knew the terrible price Mercy has to pay ahead of time (I looked it up), I was still on pins and needles from page one. Iron Kissed has delicious world building and great story telling, although it lacks the humor and light-hearted moments of the previous books. I especially like the world building about the fae that Ms. Briggs brings to life. Forget Tinkerbelle - Ms. Briggs has resurrected the original fairy tales in all their gruesome glory.
   
   All is not right in fairyland. Mercy Thompson is called in to use her superhuman nose to find a killer as grisly murders rock the fae reservation in Eastern Washington. The lords of the fae will do anything and sacrifice anyone to keep the humans from finding out. Humans are already wary of the fae, and no one wants to give fodder to the fae hate groups. But when Mercy's old mentor Zee, who taught her everything she knows about cars and sold her the garage, is arrested for the murders, Mercy refuses to let an innocent man die. She hunts for the real killer even as the fae issue warrants for her death and fae-hate groups plot nefarious schemes around her. Will her loyalty cost her her life? By the skin of her teeth, Mercy tackles her most dangerous mystery yet. But the price is high.
   
   Iron Kissed is great and I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT ONE. What - 2009??? Are you kidding me? I am not a patient person. At least Cry Wolf comes out in August. It is the sequel to the novella in On the Prowl and is about Charles, Samuel's brother and the Marrok's second son.
   
   If you have yet to read any of the Mercy Thompson series, don't start in the middle. I highly recommend them in order:
   
   Book 1: Moon Called
   Book 2: Blood Bound
   Book 3: Iron Kissed



2. Mrs. Briggs has done it again! It took a bit for the action to pick up in this the third installment of the Mercy Thompson series, but it was necessary to iron out Mercy, Adam,and Samuel's kinks. I hate Patricia Briggs. I'm lying, I love her. I pine for February 2009. I need my fix. I need it now.



3. This series is entertaining and enjoyable to read. Mercy is an intellegent character and the story is one that makes you want to find out how the story evolves.



4. Love love these books. I was wondering how Patricia Briggs would go about Mercy making her decision on Samuel and Adam that I would be happy about, because I fell in love with both them, and it worked out perfectly! I knew she would make me feel good about it and she did!! February 2009 can not get here soon enough for me...



5. 
   This series is for Kim Harrison, Charlaine Harris, and early Anita Blake fans. This book is not the best I have ever read, but the series is up there. It includes werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, faes, etc. The heroine of the series, Mercy, is a great character. The romance is intriguing, yet subtle.

5 comments about All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 7).

1. This book was soo good, I loved the character of Sookie. This book kept me reading up until the last page I couldn't put it down. Another amazing and intriguing read I HIGHLY recommend is Love Returns Through The Portal Of Time



2. I found this installment of the Sookie series a little harder edged than previous novels. Sookie's life, while still hilarious at times, has become more complicated. She faces more moral "gray" areas and dilemmas than in previous books. Quinn is still delicious and I hope he and Sookie continue their relationship in future books. The large number of characters made the book intriguing, and I liked the details of vampire politics and justice.



3. I think that the reason I might have liked this book so much was because recently authors are in between books or just not interesting. I mean it was a good book, no lie, but I was willing to wait for it to come out as paperback before I read it.
   
   In this book the characters seemed particualrly deeper, such as Sookie and Eric, and I liked the fact that it wasn't just a new adventure but something that has been building up since at least the previous book. I also liked the focus on the vampires, because there wasn't so much hate from the other townspeople. And the circumspect that made Sookie realize that maybe hanging with vamps wasn't as cool as she first thought made her seem more relatable, because who wouldn't have the same thoughts? There was not too graphic or too much sex, but enough romance to keep the reader interested, even if it was with Quinn. It was a quick read, but it left me wishing the next book would come out in paperback now!
   
   There were several questionable parts of this book, I must admit. Quinn seems kind of shallow and undeveloped even though we saw more of his past. I know he will never be a favorite. In fact, he seems like a character inserted just so Sookie will have reason to say no to Eric. It kind of irked me that Harris seemed to put characters in just to remind us that they were there. They did not have any impact on plot at all and seemed like "filler" scenes. Bill's cameos were definitely unecessary. And Sookie's friend from the bar foretold anti-vamp activity but it also seemed like a scene that shouldn't have made it past the cutting room floor, so to speak.
   The thing that most irked me was the answer to the deaths. I couldn't see how Sookie didn't know Sophie-Anne was behind the Arkansas deaths. And how her ex-Were, new-vamp friend was acting was a dead giveaway as were his comments. I mean, maybe there's a reason why the people at the summit thought she was slow.
   
   all in all, the story was great despite it's minor short-commings and I might explode waiting for teh next book to be out in paperback... that might be an slight exaggeration, though.



4. This is the 7th book in the series and was just as exciting as the first 6! I love Sookie's sense of humor and her strength that she doesn't even know she has! Such a quirky and fun series!



5. This is the latest in Charlaine Harris' vampire series starring human mind-reader and heroine Sookie. Harris does a fantastic job extending this series without getting dragged down in the history/past books. It's fresh, it's fun, it's interesting and I couldn't put it down!!! If you haven't read any of this series you can jump in here, but I recommend going back and reading each one! (I'd hate for you to miss out on the ride so far!) It does contain some sexuality and so I recommend readers in their 20's and up.

5 comments about Nineteen Eighty-Four.

1. Imagine, for a second, that tomorrow a large Atomic War starts, and the world is divided into three states. You are under the command of a leader called "Big Brother". Constantly on government surveillance, you try to escape Big Brother's listening and viewing devices, but, of course, you can't. Nobody can really escape.
   
   In the year 1984, bombs invade the city of London. On the Malabar Front a war starts, in another state of the world, called Eastasia. The Ministry of Truth, a government organization, broadcasts to the population via a network of telescreens. These devices, which intrude on all aspects of people's lives, are also capable of monitoring their every word and action. They form part of an immense surveillance system used by the Ministry of Love -another government organization- and its dreaded agents called Thought Police, to serve their singular goal: the elimination of "thought crime". Winston Smith is a Party worker; Part of the social party known as the Outer Party, the pity of the intrusive government. Winston works in the Records Department of the Ministry of Truth - the government organization in charge of modifying historical news for consistency. When Winston finds proof that the Party is lying, he starts off on a journey of self-questioning. In doing so, he becomes a thought-criminal. Winston begins to notice that a young Party member, Julia, is watching him. She wears the special sash of the ultra-zealous Anti Sex League and Winston fears that she is an informant. However, to his surprise, she reveals herself as a subversive, and they begin a dangerous relationship. This inspires Winston to explore deeper the difference between propaganda and reality. Ultimately, it leads him to O'Brien - a member of the Inner Party who sets Winston on the beginning of an amazing discovery.
   
   The book 1984 is a perfect read for anyone that is willing to see the world in a whole new aspect. Not written to a specific group of people, this book can be perceived from any point of view, and from any part of a modern-day- society. One reason people should read this book is because it sees the government from a whole new perspective. The book, 1984 was published in 1949. It predicts the way that a slightly communist government, would function in the future. What I find completely surprising, is that many of the futuristic devices in the book 1948 have become true to this day. When you put a good amount of thought into it, it all becomes reality. Today the government watches our every move through computer, phone, and ever video surveillance. It's scary to think that even now, as you read this, someone could be watching you. Also, the government still hides secrets through propaganda press. Another reason why this book should be read, is because it has a large array of quotes, such as: "War is peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength" (Orwell, 1949, p.27). It provides the reader with a complete set of wisdom and knowledge through its quotation and lessons. The last reason that I will share, why someone should read this book, is because it keeps your interest. Even though the book isn't exactly a fast read, it's completely addicting the entire way through. Keeping your hands off of it is an almost impossible task to accomplish. It contains the ability to keep the attention of a monkey, and yet can relate to someone with the intelligence of Einstein.
   
   In conclusion everyone, and I mean everyone, should read this book. With its perspective of government conspiracy, relation to modern day life, knowledgeable quotes, ability to contain attention, and its intelligent relation; I am positive it will keep you, and anyone else, on the edge of their seat.
   
   -Jonathan Lightcap



2. When I read this book I saw a snapshot of what is actually happening today. How ironic someone would have know this was going to happen so many years ahead of time.Excellent reading and I don't normally read fiction.



3. I think this is my favorite novel about a dystopia. So far, I have read "We", "A Handmaid's Tale", "Brave New World", "Anthem", and "A Clockwork Orange", and though I have thoroughly enjoyed quite a few of the novels that I've listed, 1984 is my absolute favorite. How is it different? The main character, Winston, if not entirely likable, is very relatable. What I like most about him is that he doesn't assume to be anything or know anything, but rather, he feels instinctively that something is wrong with how the world is set up. He is not especially intelligent (although he's not exactly stupid either) or strong-willed or moral or handsome. And as if to emphasize Winston's relatable mediocrity, Orwell gave him an exceedingly boring office job! In some novels about dystopias, the protagonist can be overly heroic (as in Anthem) or tragic (as in a Handmaid's Tale), and thus more admirable but also a lot less relatable.
   
   Another thing that is different . . . this book gives you different perspectives. Orwell's theme of government control over language is pretty common in this genre, but because he took his thesis a little farther than merely saying that government control is bad, the book is an interesting read. He even gets a little into metaphysics. As a reader, you also get the perspectives of different characters in the book, and thus, the perspectives of both the government and of rebels. Often, books in this genre can be very straight-foward, but 1984, with its many twists, is a very worthwhile read.



4. Today's American is mentally incomplete if he/she has not read this book. If you haven't read it, please do so. If you have read it, please read it again. And keep in mind that reading it is not the goal. Knowing it is the goal.
   
   The distinction is important because Orwell so masterfully describes the loss of truth, the loss of individuality, the loss of freedom so subtely and so effortlessly, that the crucial points are missed if the reader has a lack of focus.
   
   with uncanny brilliance, Orwell describes the tactics used by a totalitarian state against its own people to gain submission and cooperation. The submission is so complete that the proles (the masses) no longer have ownership over their own thought! It is a subtle and painless process and only Alexis De Tocqueville, in his monumental work, "Democracy in America" has come close in the past 175 years of describing it, but even Tocqueville admits that he can't give it a name.
   
   "In fact there will be no thought...Orthodoxy means not thinking-not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness" writes Owell. Orwell later writes that "orthodoxy is stupidity". What the reader needs to understand with this point is that "orthodoxy" is the "news" we get from our mainstream media, our establishment press. Because our mainstream media is government controlled, as explained in the book: U.S. Television News and Cold War Propaganda, 1947-1960 (Cambridge Studies in the History of Mass Communication), naturally only government orthodoxy will be espoused.
   
   In the novel, Orwell writes, "There is no possibility that any perceptible change will happen within our own lifetime".
   
   There are so many unbelievably essential tactics described in this book that I can't do much justice to them in this review, but the reader needs to connect with Orwell's cleverness and understand how important it is to Big Brother to control the language and rewrite the history, in fact, write the history before it even happens. This, the torture to get confessions, attacking an ally and blaming an enemy (false flag terrorism) is all here and Orwell wrote this masterpiece 60 years ago!
   
   This book, Nineteen Eighty-Four, is drawn from heavily in the book, Don't Weep for Me, America: How Democracy in America Became the Prince (While We Slept). Here, the relevancy of "Nineteen Eighty-Four" will blow a lot of minds...



5. Orwell's 1984 is a novel that is truly frightening for those who cherish free expression and the power of individual thought. Dystopia literature owes it all to this classic of the genre. I managed to get through all my formal education without having read this text. However, picking it up now I am glad that I waited until I was a little older to read it.
   The first thing one must marvel at is the brilliant construction of the novel. Orwell as an artist is at the top of his form and the structure of the novel is wound so tightly that readers would be wise to annotate the text as there is an almost cyclical nature to many of the themes and ideas presented. Orwell weaves the same ideas throughout the text, and each time he revisits them he shows them through the lenses of a different ideology or character and thus emphasizes for the reader how precarious (and precious) are the mores and ideals of the individual mind.
   The idea of governments who yearn for power for power's sake is not so foreign to our early 21st century world, and although the text ends on a nihilistic note, the reader walks away from 1984 with the renewed impetus to revere and respect our individual thoughts, as these, and these alone, give us unique value. Read this text, not so you can fear "big brother", but rather so you can be reminded to respect yourself enough to think and form intellectual thoughts. It is Winston's loss of the self that should frighten the readers of 1984, not the dreary world that Orwell creates. We don't need totalitarian governments to become Winston Smiths. We can do it to ourselves if we are not careful!

5 comments about Snow Crash (Bantam Spectra Book).

1. This book starts off great, but about 70% of the way through it just went flat for me. There was way, way too much tedious description of all kinds of tangential stuff, a lot of it really boring, as if the author were describing the movie he was envisioning the book would become someday. The characters never really develop that much, and the story just starts to drag. That's just my opinion. I know millions would disagree. As Y.T. would say, Whatever.



2. Do we have a Metaverse, with people already online 24/7. Stevenson does a good job at predicting some of things happening now, think Halo3.
   I loved this book, if your a computer guy, its a great read.



3. Great book, lots of fun to read. Full of humor, cool technology, and interesting characters. I highly suggest reading this book.



4. The Art of Innovation led me to 'Snow Crash'. I started reading it over the weekend and didn't want to put it down. It's very funny. For some reason, I latched onto this book. Maybe it's because it talks about the Metaverse. Recently, I got into Second Life (SL). I need to do a little bit of research to find out which came first. It talks about people building houses in the virtual world. I can see some similarities between the Metav...more The Art of Innovation led me to 'Snow Crash'. I started reading it over the weekend and didn't want to put it down. It's very funny. For some reason, I latched onto this book. Maybe it's because it talks about the Metaverse. Recently, I got into Second Life (SL). I need to do a little bit of research to find out which came first. It talks about people building houses in the virtual world. I can see some similarities between the Metaverse that Neal Stephenson renders and the world of SL. I think this book has influenced a lot of people and companies. For example, the book talks about goggled into the virtual world through the vision apparatus, a goggle. Hm...Google sounds a lot like goggle. Was the book the source?
   
   I'm not a big fan of Sc-fi books, but once in a while a book like 'Snow Crash' proves to be readable. I've try William Gibson's 'Neomancer'. I didn't make the leap into it yet. Maybe it's too far out there for me to grasp. 'Snow Crash' seems very plausible. I remember, in my younger days, buying David Brin's 'Startide Rising' because it had a cool cover of the man and dolphin. Uplift series



5. What an excellent book! I read this several years ago when I was still a high school student; I've read it at least four times since then. Every time I read it, I discover something new. There are a lot of issues approached in this book. It really is a gift that keeps on giving.

5 comments about White Night (The Dresden Files, Book 9).

1. My wife convinced me that we should give the books a try after the SciFI Channel wimped out on the series. We read White Night first, then we went back to the beginning. Now we're on Small Favor and I feel deep anxiety as we come to the end of the canon . . . thus far.
   Harry Dresden presents a clinic/seminar/example on how to face life's little troubles while staying cheerful. Once acquainted with the supernatural existential predicaments of the wry wizard, one finds it easier to cope with dyspeptic middle managers and blithering bean counters.
   These books represent an anthem for the downtrodden, lovelorn and heroically unlucky plain folk of the world yearning to breathe the sweet air of fantastic realms . . . like Chicago.



2. Great author and a wonderful book. keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way.



3. You know a book is good when you've picked it apart, word by word, you know it inside and out, and it still takes your breath away when you re-read it.
   
   This is the ninth Dresden Files book, and yes, it's White Night, not White Knight or White Nights. Easy way to remember: every single one of the Dresden Files titles is two words, with the same number of letters in each word--which is why Death Masks isn't Holy Sheet.
   
   Anyway. The have-nots of Chicago's magical community--those people with just a bit of power--have been going missing. Several have turned up dead, mostly in apparent suicides. And somebody's left a message with the bodies: Exodus 22:18. Harry Dresden isn't religious, but that's a verse he knows by heart: "suffer not a witch to live."
   
   And what makes things worse, for Harry at least, is that a lot of the missing women were last seen with either a very handsome man with dark hair or a very tall man in a gray cloak. Wardens of the White Council wear gray cloaks, which makes Harry himself a suspect, and the other man sounds very much like his brother Thomas, who's been secretive about his new job.
   
   The plot is convoluted, but it makes sense once you get all the pieces, and what's really cool is that it's convoluted because that's the way the people involved do things. It's that level of detail that prompts the five stars. Everything in the book has a reason for being there, usually several reasons.
   
   Harry's still training his new apprentice Molly, and that's got a bunch of layers as well--her strengths fit everything we know about her from previous books, and the effects on Harry show, too. It's not just "let's give Harry a teenage girl for a sidekick." It has so much consistency you'd believe they were real people.
   
   Several characters from earlier books show up, ones we haven't seen for a while, and that's fun, and completely plot-driven. No Mouseketeer role calls here.
   
   As you can probably guess from the fact that his brother is a suspect, the emotional intensity is up there. There's also a lot of emotion involved with Harry dealing with anger issues and with Lash, the shadow of a fallen angel who's living in his head. I needed tissues.
   
   There were also plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and dozens of quotable lines, like "...age is always advancing and I'm fairly sure it's up to no good."
   
   And some very cool special effects, which the TV show will never get a chance to use because it's been canceled, darnitall. Ah, well, they probably work better in my head anyway. Stupid SciFi Channel.
   
   One caveat: this is a planned series: 20 books and then a big old apocalyptic trilogy, because who doesn't love apocalyptic trilogies? Which means that even though the books are complete in themselves, there is something going on that's leading to that apocalyptic trilogy. In other words: read the series in order. You'll get more out of it that way.



4. If you are into modern day swords and scorcery or if you just want a little escapeism. This is the way to go. Butcher starts off with a bang and never lets up. The only thing is you will need to have read the rest of the series to understand some of what is going on. Other than that it rocks.White Night (The Dresden Files, Book 9)



5. I've never, in my life, ever said this about anyone, ever.
   
   I am a FAN of Jim Butcher.
   
   He has consistently written top notch novels, one right after the other. He's managed to build multiple, detail-rich over-arcing storylines, significant character change and growth, emotionally-laden highs and lows and the evolution of a world so complete that I have to remind myself to eat, sleep and go to work whenever I get started on a new Dresden Files novel. They are, intentionally speaking, mesmerising, pure magic every time.
   
   As I said, Dresden isn't the ONLY Wizard when it comes to these books.