4 comments about Dark Tower: The Fall of Gilead.

1. The young gunslinger will soon embark on his world-spanning quest to destroy his sorcerous nemesis... and Gilead is definitely doomed.
   
   The graphic novel prequel of Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series grinds toward its inevitable end... and as Gilead and everyone in it is about to crumble, the story takes on the harrowing dimensions of a Greek tragedy. "The Dark Tower: The Fall of Gilead" is filled with blood, tragic deaths, treachery, and evil magic -- and it's a truly brilliant story.
   
   Roland wakes to find that he's killed his own mother under the Grapefruit's spell. Even though it's found that she was a traitor planning to kill her husband, he's faced with the gallows. But it isn't the last death that will tear Gilead apart -- Cort's investigations in Marten's room leads to tragedy when he's exposed to a poisoned book, and another of Stephen's ka-tet falls to the Slow Mutants.
   
   As Marten's web begins to tighten around the city, others fall prey to John Farson's plots and die terrible, bloody deaths -- and Stephen Deschain is gravely wounded in an ambush. Roland and his young friends are called upon to save Gilead from the traitors that riddle its population... but they cannot prevent the death from spreading to even the most invincible gunslinger.
   
   "Dark Tower: The Fall of Gilead" is like tumbling down a steep, rocky mountain covered with briars and thistles -- everything just goes downhill, and there's a lot of blood, pain, misery and death. Reading this comic book is a pretty painful experience because our callow young gunslinger is slowly losing everything and everyone that he loves, and the worst part is that there are a few more issues to go.
   
   Peter David and Robin Furth smoothly adapt King's writing into a spare, rough-edged elegance, and they know how to heighten the tragedy of it -- in particular, the destruction of the gunslingers and the loss of the last of Roland's innocence. In fact, the entire story of "The Fall of Gilead" is a shocking string of bloody, violent death -- it was pretty obvious that almost everyone in Gilead would die, but it's still massive shock whenever another gunslinger is murdered.
   
   The artwork is, as always, is brilliant -- bleak, shadowy and locked in perpetual dusk, with bright splashes of red everywhere (blood, scarlet curtains, Aileen's poncho, the Good Man's mask, etc). And it's worth noting that Roland undergoes a change in these issues, slowly morphing from a skinny young boy to a chiseled, strong man. I doubt this was an accident.
   
   This brilliantly dark, bloody series soars into the realm of tragedy in "Dark Tower: The Fall of Gilead" -- it can make you weep for people who never were, in a ruined world that never was.



2. This story and the next (The Battle of Jericho Hill) are what I've wanted to see since they were mentioned or implied in the Dark Tower series. Great job of filling in the gaps. Nice to see what Gilead looked like before the fall and how it fell.
   
   Wonderful artwork. This graphic novel series has far exceeded my expectations. Must haves for any Dark Tower fan!



3. This graphic novel is bringing us slowly but surely to the Battle of Jericho Hill, and the beginning of Stephen King's Dark Tower series. The folks writing the storyline are truly amazing, for they draw you in very quickly and keep you riveted to the plot as it races along like a runaway train!
   
   The artistry is masterful, and it adds tremendously to the plot line. To see the faces of the characters we only read about in King's books is wonderful. I can see this tale working its way to its sad end. I really don't want it to end, but I know it must, so I wil eenjoy it while I can.



4. I really enjoyed this hardcover. We begin with an exploration of Marten Broadcloak & his past. It's a simple but enlightening enough tale. Then the fall begins. Noticeably enough the demise of Gilead comes from within. There are some real harrowing scenes in it and the pace is relentless. Roland takes a back seat of sorts & it concentrates more on his father for as long as possible. The art once again is fantastic and really suits the mood of the book. Overall it's a thoroughly enjoyable read & well worth the look for new & old fans of the Dark Tower alike.

5 comments about Born To Be Wild (The Others).

1. I usually love her books, but this book was missing her magic. It was an okay read for me. I could not get into their romance. I usually can't put her book down, but I could not get engrossed into this one.



2. I like Christine Warren, she's not in my top ten favorites but I will read her newest Other book. I could have passed on this one.
   
   The plot description sounded intriguing but what flattened it for me was ***SPOILER ALERT*** the fact that none of the bad guys were introduced until the very end of the book. How much better would it have been to have had one of Josie's or Eli's friends or coworkers using the virus on his/her firends and neighbors?
   
   I know this is mainly a paranormal romance but it could have used a little extra something cause the romance between Josie and Eli was, for me, tepid at best. We are asked to believe that in a very small town the sheriff and the vet have never met in three years, well maybe but it wasn't like that when I lived in a small town. Once they meet it is supposed to be instant True Love and Passion but instead felt tepid and forced like Warren only had so many pages to make this happen and so she used a hammer to force the romance into the plot.
   
   Then there are parts of the plot that should be important enough to mention to each other that they just happen to forget.*** Possible Spoilers*** Josie forgets to tell Eli and the Alpha about the sick Lupine's elevated white cell count and Eli forgets to tell Josie he found an empty vial at the scene of an attack. C'mon, you have dead and dying Lupines and you can't remember the important details?
   
   So they find the bad guys and a fight scene ensues and that's it. Huh? The end felt like Warren suddenly remembered she had something boiling over on the stove or had to go out of town and needed to finish the book immediately. So she did, no summation or accounting, just HEA over a dead body. Yeah, that works.
   
   The typos and grammatical errors seem to be rife in books nowadays and it is both irritating and disruptive.
   
   Would I buy another book by Warren? Yes, she has entertained me often enough and not every book can be a hit with every reader. If you are a fan of Warren's you will want this book but it probably won't be a favorite and if you are not a fan or are just starting to read her books bypass this one, she's written better.



3. I have read all the books in the Other series and this is my favorite. Josie, the human female lead, is a veterinary doctor who is intelligent, dedicated, brave, sassy and independent. And Eli, the African lion male lead, is the town sheriff who is smart, dedicated and sexy. Together they solve the mystery of a bio-terrorism attak on the local Other community. A great read!



4. I have read all the other books and this one is down right disappointing. The other ones were hot but this one was boring! What happened Christine... I hope the next one is red hot!! It didn't have all the juice goodness the others in the series had.



5. I am a big fan of the "others" books..But this book lacked the fire and surprise that the rest of the series has had. It was as if this book was an after thought, just something to make a deadline. The main charactors lacked the spice of previous books. There was no "tension" between them, no fire. They fell in love just like that( snap your fingers). They solved the bad guy problem just like that (snap fingers again). I was just very disappointed. I didn't think that Ms. Warren would fall into the pit that other series I have read get into...The pit where they run out of good story lines or repeat them to death. Hopefully the next will be better.

5 comments about 1984 (Signet Classics).

1. George Orwell's "1984" is depressing. Very depressing. It is also a breathtakingly awesome work, and just as spellbinding some 60 years after it was first published. Despite the heavy subject matter, it's suprisingly easy to read. It is one of the truly essential classics of modern literature.
   
   Winston Smith, Orwell's protagonist, was probably the first "conspiracy theorist." He knows Big Brother and the system are wrong, but is powerless to fight alone. When he breaks the taboo against writing, and states in his forbidden journal, "I know who, I know how, but I don't know why," he is speaking for generations of whistleblowers and conspiracy theorists to come.
   
   So many common expressions were derived from "1984": Big Brother, the Thought Police, newspeak, doublethink, pidgeon holed, thought crime, among others. To those on the extremes of both the left and right wings of the political spectrum, Orwell's bleak and miserable forecast of the future was all too accurate. Doublethink, for instance, is an essential feature of modern establishment thinking. Reagan's deadly missile is named the "Peace Keeper." Born again fundamentalists simultaneously hold that all non-born againers (including Jews) are doomed to Hell, but blindly support everything Israel does. Most polls suggest a large majority of people disbelieve the official version of the JFK assassination, but the same numbers are also against a new investigation. Maddening examples of doublethink are everywhere.
   
   If Orwell was alive today, he'd undoubtedly be on the outer fringes of political thought, alongside the "nut jobs" and "tin foilers" that the mainstream media and politicians love to disparage. He would probably be astounded at the continuing popularity of his nightmarish novel. He'd be even more baffled at how readers have consistently enjoyed it, recognized it for the brilliant work it is, and yet have appeared not to notice how similar to Oceania our present day society is.



2. As a freshman in high school who recently finished the book 1984, I have opinions on the book that might be a little different than most others'. I had read another one of George Orwell's books, Animal Farm, and was pretty disappointed. I liked the idea of the story, but I found it hard to get through at times. Since my eighth grade English George Orwell's work, and recommended that I give 1984 a try, I decided to read that for my first choice as a high school reading assignment.
   I thought the book was very well written. I hadn't read many books with the same writing style that Orwell uses, which was a good change from what I usually read. Although his style was a good thing to try, I found reading it to be a very slow process. There is a lot of vocabulary that many kids and even adults don't know very well, which made it hard to understand the storyline at certain points. However, the paragraphs that follow usually helped me figure out what the author was trying to say or point out.
   Although the author did a very good job writing the book, I wasn't entirely pleased with the whole story. I felt the story was very hard to understand at times, in addition to not understanding a decent amount of the words. George Orwell does a great job of keeping the reader guessing about future events, and leaving them astonished at the end, but all of those twists and turns can be confusing. I often had to reread a few events in the story before I fully
   understood what was happening. Having to do this action several times throughout the book got a bit tiring after a while, and made me a little reluctant to move on in fear that I would have to do it again.
   Even though the book has its ups and downs, I am undoubtedly happy about my decision to read this book. The dark and suspenseful story of a man and a woman opposing everything they have been taught about life and trying not to be suspected by their cruel government, kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole thing. Although it was difficult reading at times, and I felt like just giving up on it, the desire for more action and suspense kept me going. This is a great book for anyone who loves to read about action and suspense, and is up for a challenge.



3. 1984
   By George Orwell
   Signet Classics. $9.99
   (Ages 14 and up)
   
   Reviewed by:
   High School Freshman
   
   George Orwell is a gifted writer who has written many novels, several of them involving government and politics. In this creative and haunting book, he attempts to reach out to his readers to show them what the world might be if the use of technology and invasion of government without proper boundaries can be disastrous to humankind and society.
   George Orwell, pseudonym of Eric Blair, wrote many novels in his lifetime. Many of Mr. Orwell's novels will be read from generation to generation. This was thanks to his great creativity in his writing. One good example of his imagination and creativity is when he wrote one of his most famous novels, which used symbolism to recognize the government, politicians, and effects of the Russian Revolution, is the short but clever book, Animal Farm. Mr. Orwell uses similar elements of government in 1984 to illustrate the evils of governments and what they can inflict on its people.
   Based on the great detail, originality, and the vivid depiction of Winston's struggle in 1984, I believe the Mr. Orwell has successfully portrayed a negative utopia. For example, in part three, chapter five, Winston, the main character, was placed into the torture chamber of Room 101. Here, he was tortured and beaten in order to clear his head of freedom and independence in order to replace it with the government ideas and propaganda. This chapter shows that there is fragile line between governmental control and supervision, and the dangers of mind control in an entire society.
   There are both weaknesses and strengths in this novel. One weakness is that George Orwell's explanation of societal views is complicated and difficult to understand without extensive knowledge of political ideologies. In order to fully comprehend what is going on and to understand the symbolism he is using, the reader must be knowledgeable in governmental studies. Although these factors seem to detract from the book, there is one important strength that really makes this book fantastic. This great strength is his use of symbolism and reference. There is more to the story than reader may initially think. I am sure if I reread this book ten or even twenty years from now, I will view this story in a different perspective.



4. 1984 is one of those rare books that really affected me right down to my very core. I was actually a little shaken up after reading it. Going in I knew this wasn't going to be a happy story but I didn't realize the lasting impact it would have on me.
   
   1984 is a book about totalitarian control over a society. Big Brother is always watching. Always.
   
   This story follows Winston Smith. He works for the Ministry of Truth. The Ministry of Truth is hardly as truthful as the name implies. His job is to fabricate history and rewrite it. History has been rewritten so many times that nobody seems to know true history - Winston perpetuates these "truths" so that the party is always correct.
   
   In Oceana there are no real freedoms. You don't even have the freedom to think. Right from the beginning Winston shows signs of going against the party. He covertly writes in his journal, which is not allowed but at the same time he blends in, he does his job and he does his best to keep the spotlight off of him. Soon enough he meets a young energetic (and oblivious) girl named Julia who is also going behind the back of Big Brother.
   
   I'm not going to go much further into the story, this is something you just have to read yourself. This book hooked me right from the beginning and I charged through it in just 2 sittings (something a bit abnormal for me, I'm a little bit of a slow reader). I just couldn't put this book down.
   
   I'll try to leave the story be, but I do want to bring up one of the more disturbing aspects of this book - newspeak. Newspeak is a language (or dumbing down of the English language) that is being developed throughout the book and its the only language in the world where words are being stripped away from the lexicon, rather then added. The new language strips away the feeling of words, for example the phrase "All men are equal" doesn't make sense in newspeak because "equal" would only mean equal in size, not equal in freedoms. The greatly simplified language is being developed to dumb down society, to control thought.
   
   1984 hit me like a ton of bricks. I was actually quite emotionally drained after reading it. I'm typically not too much of a softy with these types of things but 1984 successfully made my eyes well up a bit and may be the only book that has done this to me. At times I almost wanted to tear this book apart, only because I didn't want it to even exist in my imagination - not because it's a bad book. Yes 1984 is frightening. Very frightening.
   
   I'm currently playing catch-up, trying to read all of the books I should have read in my younger days. If I ever read a better book I will update this review, until then I must say 1984 is the best book I have ever read.



5. It may be said that great books comment on their times, and on the human experience, but masterpieces actually shape history. We may look at George Orwell's 1984 in two ways: first, his description of the terror of totalitarianism, which his generation witnessed firsthand in the form of Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia. Orwell does a masterful job of presenting such a world in its day-to-day reality, the unspoken weight of oppression found in police states, the everpresent fear that becomes natural after a while, the ease with which that fear eventually makes you just go along with it all.
   
   But history has also shown us that totalitarianism eventually burns itself out, that it cannot be sustained in the long run. This is scant reassurance for its millions of victims, true, but maybe a bit of hope for the rest of us. The second point about 1984, and the thing that makes it a masterpiece, is the way that it has shaped our culture today, not through its description of totalitarianism itself but the way it describes the very real methods used by governments and ideologies to control us. Terms like "doublethink" are now a part of our daily discourse, describing not the subjects of totalitarian states like North Korea but the modern, wealthy democracies that claim to be free. And this is the most chilling message of Orwell's novel: you don't need to be in a totalitarian regime to be controlled by clever propaganda. You don't need to have the police cameras in your home. You only need the fear of them, or the belief that war is peace or that torture is justice or that history is a thing that the powerful are entitled to rewrite for their own ends. Because self-censorship is every bit as complete as the regular kind, and is actually preferred by those who would control us, since it's far cheaper and easier than putting an actual gun to your head.

No comments about A Mighty Fortress (Safehold Book 4).

5 comments about Fables Vol. 13: The Great Fables Crossover.

1. This attractively priced trade paperback collects all nine issues of "The Great Fables Crossover" that was originally published in single comic book form between May and July 2009. The story involved three titles: the acclaimed "Fables" title, its spinoff "Jack of Fables", plus a three-issue miniseries "The Literals". I enjoyed the first four trade paperbacks in this series but started to lose interest by the sixth volume. DC/Vertigo's promotion of this crossover inspired me to revisit this series by buying these individual issues as they were released. Those unfamiliar with the Fables universe should read reviews of these first few TPBs for an introduction.
   The crossover centers on Kevin Thorn, an omnipotent writer who can destroy and recreate the universe simply by writing in his special book with his special pen. Besides familiar Fables like Snow White, Bigby Wolf, Jack and Rose Red (plus dozens of anthropomorphic animals and household items), a new race of beings appear - the Literals. These include the Genres, physical manifestations like "Science Fiction", "Western" and "Comedy" that aid Thorn with his re-creation. Jack has learned of Thorn's threat, and returns to the Farm with the news, where he is met by his long lost son. A band of Fables led by Snow White and Bigby then pursue Thorn and his Genres to prevent the imminent apocalypse.
   Willingham smashes the fourth wall so much that it becomes tiresome. Much is made of Jack leaving his eponymous spin-off for the original title, and the disappointing narrative is overwhelmed by its self-referential metafiction. At least the artwork is strong as in the rest of the series, and Amazon's price of $12.25 for 224 pages seems like a great deal, less than half of the original $2.99/issue cover price. Hardcore fans of the series will probably enjoy this volume, but as a casual fan I was disappointed.



2. Our Fables have endured an era of darkness, having gone directly from one grim story arc to the next, from "The Good Prince" to "War and Pieces" to "The Dark Ages." Fabletown lies in rubble, with the seriously frightening Mister Dark now holding dominion there and gradually extending his insidious influence across the land. The refugees from Bullfinch Street have been forced to make their way to the Farm in upstate New York, home of the non-human looking Fables. Surely, now, the Fables are due for something a bit more lighthearted, maybe less taxing. What they get is THE GREAT FABLES CROSSOVER, and it's a lighthearted romp if you ignore the bits where reality itself is threatened and horrible acts of murder are enacted.
   
   Mister Dark's unsettling reach falls on the Farm, infects its residents. Particularly Bigby Wolf and the Beast, who as the book opens are tearing into each other's throat. Both Bigby and the Beast worryingly recognize that they aren't themselves, that an external force is triggering their inner aggression. A solution of sorts presents itself when Jack Horner calls to alert the Fables to a new ominous threat, something which calls for the investigative skills of Fabletown's former Sheriff, Bigby Wolf. So off he and his wife Snow White go to meet the Literals, a race of beings powerful enough to wipe out both Fables and humanity.
   
   To be more specific, the Big Bad is this innocuous looking guy named Kevin Thorn. Except that he's a Literal - and Literals are living embodiments of all manner of literary devices - and Kevin Thorn personifies the creative storytelling force. Thorn is mean-spirited and has a magical pen which allows him to write anything into existence or, conversely, undo all of Creation itself. Bigby, Snow, and several friendly Literals embark on a somewhat diverting road trip, the destination of which is a confrontation with the potential killer of the universe.
   
   That's the main thrust of this crossover, although there are side stories involving the new Jack Frost's search for his father and Jack Horner's return to the FABLES comic book (he essentially swaps places with Bigby and Snow, who temporarily inhabit the JACK OF FABLES title). There's also an evolving subplot regarding a new cult religion inspired by the death of Boy Blue. I'm betting we'll hear more from that corner in future story arcs.
   
   FABLES just may be my favorite comic book currently going, and I've never not enjoyed an issue of it, and the creative team of Willingham and Buckingham continues to amaze me. Even though I'm not really down with JACK OF FABLES, I still had high hopes for this crossover. Except that something goes screwy along the way. In retrospect, I don't know that nine issues were required to tell this story. A lot of running in place happens. Irrespective of the side stories, the main arc flounders for a good while, what with Kevin Thorn, the creative Literal, suffering a case of Writer's Block, and it shouldn't surprise anyone that Writer's Block turns out to also be a living personification. The narrative screeches to a standstill as Thorn pulls out his hair trying to get past the block, not to mention getting sidetracked with news of Bigby and Snow's coming for a reckoning. JACK OF FABLES #34 (part 5 of the crossover) is pretty much all about Thorn putting the hoodoo on Bigby, causing the Big Bad Wolf to shape-shift into ridiculous forms, each change more humiliating than the last. Admittedly, the final transformation had me rolling. But there's a marked lack of plot progression, and it won't be until THE LITERALS #2 (part 6, crossover) that things finally get a move on.
   
   The main story arc is chronicled mostly in JACK OF FABLES and THE LITERALS. FABLES, meanwhile, focuses more on Jack Horner and his sleazy takeover of the Farm, with the big doings re Kevin Thorn being barely acknowledged. I know that Jack Horner has fans, but I find the guy just too amoral and slimy, and his mistreatment of the grief-stricken Rose Red is pretty unsavory. I do like it, though, whenever Jack breaks the fourth wall.
   
   One could overdose on all the meta-textual discourse, in reading this run. The meta stuff injects a layer of the surreal, and maybe, as fun as the literary Genres are and what they have to say, in a way, it somewhat took me out of the story. The Genres are figures which Thorn summons to help him deal with the Writer's Block, and I like that the embodiment of Noir resembles Bogie, Western looks like the Duke, and Comedy, Groucho Marx. The Genres make all these remarks, and they're not insightful as much as they are tongue-in-cheek and satirical.
   
   Other things which didn't work for me: The plot device of Gary the Pathetic Fallacy abandoning Jack Horner to become Bigby's sidekick has no pay-off; Bigby, for the duration, pretty much just ignores him, so, really, what was the point? In reading crossover events, one looks for impactful moments and far-reaching repercussions. But, basically, all we get is a diversion and the introduction of the very bland Jack Frost, part 2. On the other hand, maybe Jack Horner's behavior towards Rose will drive her out of her deep funk, because for sure Willingham has something big in the offing for her. And I can't make up my mind whether Willingham was being clever or lazy with the story's resolution. Really, Dex?
   
   FABLES: THE GREAT FABLES CROSSOVER reprints FABLES #83-85, JACK OF FABLES #33-35, and THE LITERALS mini-series #1-3, this mini-series having been created solely for this crossover event. Artists Russ Braun and Tony Akins do okay, but they're no Mark Buckingham. Buckingham's artwork, thankfully, graces this crossover in several issues. Bill Willingham and Matthew Sturges collaborate on the writing chores, and I don't know if it's too many cooks stirring the pot or if it's the meta-heavy premise, but I was left lukewarm towards the sometimes scattershot storytelling. One thing they did right was to put my two favorite FABLES characters, Bigby Wolf and Snow White, back in the spotlight. I only wish the cubs were worked in more. For me, 3.5 stars out of 5 for THE GREAT FABLES CROSSOVER.
   
   Lastly, man, do I miss James Jean's covers.



3. The 13th volume of the Fables series brings several loose ends to a close, all of which involving the characters introduced in the Jack of Fables series and the main story therein (With the literals, the American fables, and the librarians. For the most part, the volume has solid writing, great fight scenes, engaging characters (New and old), and several laugh-out-loud scenes which could crack a smile on even the most stoic of readers. The fight between Beast and Bigby is finally shown and concluded, as it was left as a dangling plot hole after the fight was instigated on the farm following Boy Blue's death and used that as a logical starting point from which the volume draws its story. The art is as good as ever, the dialogue is clever without seeming forced or otherwise inauthentic in nature. Even when handling the issue of omnipotence in regards to the Thorn and his pen is handled well enough to show that even the all-powerful can have their weaknesses, and the introduction of Thorn's mentally-deficient twin-brother, Writer's Block, was a stroke of brilliance to that effect.
   
   The only complaint I can think of regarding this volume is that the new primary antagonist of the series, Mr. Dark, is only shown on one or two pages and is otherwise completely ignored throughout the entirety of the story. After causing so much mayhem and destruction to Fabletown following the fall of the Adversary, you would expect to have that plot point addressed, but the ENTIRE volume is dedicated to wrapping up the Jack of Fables story and not progressing the story that was introduced in the previous volume. Furthermore, and this is more of an observation than a complaint or criticism, the volume seems to lack almost any action or focus of Frau Totenkinder, Baba Yaga (Who escaped in vol. 12), the further exploits of Gepetto trying to fit into civilian life (Though he may still be buried in the forest around the farm, which is what the animal Fables did in the prior volume), and there was little mention and no focus on Flycatcher and his new reign as king.
   
   Regardless, this volume makes for a splendid read and a great addition to any fans of the series. It certainly does not disappoint in terms of story and art quality and gives us all that special dose of Bigby and Snow that us Fables readers love. I highly recommend picking it up, as it will leave you engaged and amused for some time and may even warrant a few re-reads to catch the entirety of the story's scope. Guaranteed not to disappoint!



4. I adore the Fables series and love spending time with these characters, with this writer, and with the talented crew of artists.
   
   But...I just barely tolerated this story arc.
   
   This is a long-winded and tiresome series of books. The tone isn't wry. It is leaden. Lots of flat jokes.
   
   The basic idea is that Jack wanders back into the world of the New York fables as things are turned upside down by the Literals. The Literals are characters -- Writer's Block, Pathetic Fallacy, etc. -- that personify the writing process. (There's a character named Humor who looks like Groucho Marx and who runs around holding a rubber chicken. Because that's how you personify the prose genre of Humor. No kidding.)
   
   I'd be fine with the temporary insertion of allegorical characters if that yielded something vital about the nature of the Fables universe. Or if they pushed the stories forward of the Farm Fables or of the ex-Manhattan Fables. Instead, the whole thing struck me as being a hot mess. A very long hot mess. A hot mess with limited character development. A hot mess with a lot of half-baked meta-comics ideas.
   
   The art is still great!
   
   Now if you love the character of Jack of Fables, you'll probably enjoy this. This principally a Jack story (with some nice moments for Rose Red and Stinky.)
   
   I figure you can skip this thing and move on with the Fables series without losing a whole lot. Do you really need another crossover?



5. I'll warn you right now. This isn't really a continuation of the Fables story from the previous volume. While there are a few mentions & hints in this volume, this book mostly ties up the loose ends from the Jack series. If you were hoping for some big showdown between the Fables & whatever the heck that pale skinny guy is, then you'll be disappointed.
   
   I can't really give a decent synopsis of this because well... you really have to have read the Jack series to keep abreast of what is going on in this book. Needless to say, there's hot librarian sisters, a religion surrounding Blue Boy & lots of literals. The main guy (Kevin Thorn) wants to erase the world & start over again, but of course neither the Fables nor Jack & a few literals will let this happen without a fight.
   
   I'm really torn with this book. On one hand, I did kind of like this book. I kept up with the Jack series well enough to know what was going on, but I'm more partial to the main Fables storyline than the Jack tales. On the other hand, this book kind of went a little TOO overboard with all of the various jabs at writing & such. While at first the whole "this is all a story & we're all characters" thing was cute, it just got really old after a while & I couldn't help but wonder when the story was going to end. Parts of it were just a chore to sit through.
   
   Bottom line: this is more for the Jack fans than anything else. While I'm glad I purchased it so I can keep my collection complete, this just wasn't my favorite book of the series. It was just "meh"- I could really just take it or leave it for the most part.
   
   There's also a few chapters from the book 'Peter & Max', for those who are wondering if they want to purchase the book or not.

5 comments about Earth Strike: Star Carrier: Book One.

1. I have read the last 3 trilogies from the Star series and have never been disappointed by one of them. This series from the start will not be a disappointment at all. Where ever the second book is it needs to be released soon.



2. A real page turner and entertaining read, however...
   
   This author has done this storyline before. He is using almost identical plot lines and enemies as the previous stories. Heck, this story is set with a similar beginning as the last and in the same universe..The major change is a different enemy even they are also billion year old, galaxy-spanning, mega-bad-guys bent on the destruction of the human race. Hmm, sound like the Xul again.
   
   I do enjoy the science though and will buy the next series. I just wish more effort was spent on creating a new universe and change of plot lines...
   
   The plot lines in both series:
   
   1. Politicians are idiots and only the military are smart enough to know what's best
   2. Civilians are idiots and only the military are smart enough to know what's best
   3. Civilians and politicians are proven wrong only after an attack on earth that kills billions
   4. Only the Admiral/General of a battle group seems to have all the answers and no one listens to him
   5. The billion year old enemy is too stupid or slow to use basic combat tactics or sensors and are constantly caught off guard by humans' creative genius
   
   I wish the author would take note and put more effort into maturing the relationship dynamics between military, civilian, and politicos and NOT make them so stereo typical.
   
   Enjoy



3. Five ENTERTAINING Stars!! Author Ian Douglas has written an excellent military science fiction novel full of 'edge-of-the-seat' battles, repulsive aliens, memorable characters on all sides, and a disturbing look at future Earth. This is the first novel in the "Star Carrier" trilogy and it begins in 2404, focusing on the largest ship ever built by humans, the star carrier "America" and its task force. "America" is enroute to the star Eta Boötis to intervene in the siege of a human planet by a shadowy but strong alien enemy, Turusch. This is a very formulaic start, but it quickly becomes very engrossing because of the awesome universe that author Douglas builds around the escalating storyline and his 'both sides' manner of writing. This includes the very detailed historical backstory, the true reason the Turusch are attacking the human race, the space physics, the harrowing strategic moves and tactical battles, the cagey Admiral Koenig, and the interesting crews of SG-92 Starhawk pilots in this fast-paced, page-turning epic. Highly Recommended. Waiting for Book 2. Five ENGAGING Stars! (Based on a Kindle2/iPhone download reviewed in text and text-to-speech modes)



4. Billeted on the flagship, AMERICA, Rear Admiral Koenig, Commander Allyn, and Lieutenant Gray are all officers in the space fleet headed for a colony thirty-seven light years from Sol. There, settlements of religious "refusers" has been attacked by aliens called Turusch who are front troops for a mysterious, extremely old galactic race called the Sh'daar, and a contingent of marines on site desperately needs space support against the incoming barrage of fire. Koenig's starships are charged with the mission of trying to beat back the offensive and evacuating the marines and two supremely valuable Turusch prisoners. Fighter pilots both, Marissa Allyn is Trevor Gray's squadron leader, and it will be up to Allyn's group to lead the counterattack against the "Trash."
   
   But as the title of this novel, Earth Strike: Star Carrier: Book One, indicates, the humans will have more to worry about than an attack on an outlying colony. If the three main characters survive the battle at Eta Bootis, they will return home and prepare for possible Turusch invasion of our solar system. Since the Turusch forces tend to outnumber Earth's, the humans will need superior tactics and strategy. How will they fight their enemy? Will they succeed in defending the populaces depending on them?
   
   The reasons for the Sh'daar/Turusch attack on humans remain shadowy by book's end, but will doubtless receive further attention in the sequels. The Turusch yield a few secrets about their physiology, psychology, and social organization, but the Sh'daar are simply unknown puppet masters for now. As for the people, it is Gray about whom the most is revealed. He is a "prim," (short for "primitive") and as the meaning of that designation is explained, it is easy to see why both he and most of his fellow officers consider him an outsider in the space navy.
   
   EARTH STRIKE is a solid military science fiction space opera set three hundred years in the future. Ian Douglas, who already has several space combat trilogies under his belt, creates a convincing set of conditions both Earthside and in the farther reaches of space, and he supports his story with very credible technology and with cosmological facts. I look forward to further adventures with the mushroom-shaped flagship, AMERICA, and her complement.



5. Awesome book...you see similarities with Mr. Douglas' previous books but that is pretty much it...I loved this book and can't wait for the next one!!!!

5 comments about Shalador's Lady: A Black Jewels Novel.

1. I won't go into the plot, since other reviewers covered that in some detail. I thought this book was an improvement over its predecessor--although I loved the characters of Cassidy, Gray, and the Shalador Blood, I felt that there was too much Daemon/Jaenelle in that book, not enough Cassidy and her story. I'm a big fan of the Black Jewels books. I've read and enjoyed them all, and I am really liking this new slant. The characters aren't as all-powerful as those in the original series (good), nor are they fighting such fiendish adversaries (not so good). Therein lies my only complaint. The villainess in the story, Kermilla. Like a lot of the spoiled Queens and their hangers-on in the post-apocalyptic world of the Blood (i.e, after Jaenelle's big purge at the end of the first series), Kermilla just isn't very enthralling as an enemy. I miss all those evil Queens! Kermilla is more like a high school Mean Girl who needs a good smack. The stakes just seem rather low in these later books. Ms. Bishop needs to come up with better threats than crazy Landens who want to impress the Blood, or girls who want to sleep with Sadi, or shopaholics like Kermilla. Please! Scarier enemies! Higher stakes! I'd like to see what these weaker-jeweled characters, and the craft-less Landen, can do with sheer bravery, wits, and teamwork. Whenever Daemon or Jaenelle show up, they just overpower the story and virtually ensure a happy ending, which kind of wrecks the suspense. But overall I was just overjoyed to have another Black Jewels book to devour. And the Scelties were an awesome addition to the story. I love the kindred. Well done, a fun read.



2. Loved "Shalador's Lady." Lovely Conclusion to "The Shadow Queen." Would love to see what happens in the future Cassidy and her court.



3. For reasons that are unimportant I was terribly sleep deprived the day I expected this book to come in the mail. I stayed awake a few more hours to make sure the mailman didn't take the book back because there was no one (awake) to open the door and receive the package. When I finally got it, although badly needing to sleep I wanted to just read the first chapter. That was it, I couldn't put it down until I finished it. I laughed (a lot), cried, and was even wrought into a vengeful fury over what happened to Khollie.
   
   One of the things I found especially interesting is that the "bad guys" of this book were a lot more complex than in the Black Jewels Trilogy. Dorothea and Heketah were so evil that it made them one-dimensional. As objects of hate, they are entirely successful characters. I can honestly say that there are no other characters in any book or movie that I hate more. But in Shalador's Lady we have Theran who is an honorable man who makes mistakes - doing the wrong thing for the right reason. He wants what is best for his people and does it in the worst ways. Kermilla, as another reviewer accurately put it, is like Scarlett O'Hara - selfish and immature. But fortunately for the South, Scarlett never had the power over people's lives that Kermilla does as a queen over two villages in Kaeleer, and the power she has in Dena Nehele through Theran. I actually find Kermilla to be fairly stupid for not understanding the consequences of her actions, but love how she is handled in the end.
   
   What I enjoyed most however, was to see how Cassidy and her court were able to improve the lot of the people - what they did and how they did it. After reading the Black Jewels Trilogy and seeing how Shalador and Dena Nehele and their people were destroyed, it was a pleasure to see the beginning of their restoration. Every improvement in the lives of the people was a victory. And again, reading about the kindred is a favorite. Vae was one of my favorite characters in the Shadow Queen, and the addition of her family and friends in this book added to the fun.
   
   Other reviewers mentioned that this book is more for the fans and would be confusing to a new reader to the series. I can see how this would be true, but for me (a big fan of the series), every entrance of an old character like Surreal or Khardeen or Ladvarian was like running into an old friend I didn't expect to see - exciting and a real pleasure.



4. I love the Black Jewels series as I'm sure is no surprise. This latest entry reminded me of the original trilogy - the story, the strong characters, and more information about the world of the Blood.



5. I've been waiting for months in anxious anticipation, and this book did NOT disappoint! Great balance of stories and extremely entertaining. Definitely on par with the original trilogy, if not my new favorite. Loved the character interactions here. Only downside is now I'm anxiously awaiting the next one!

5 comments about An Echo in the Bone: A Novel (Outlander).

1. I haven't read anything of Diana's since "A breath of Snow and Ashes", have been engaged with novels and characters more in keeping with current day mysteries. I read several of these reviews before I read "An Echo in the Bones" on my Kindle and pomised myself that I must read more slowly (it was tough to bring back old details) than I would have with the hardbacks which I raced through and realized that I'd missed a lot of detail. Reading at a more liesurely pace was worth it. The old details came back and the multiple story lines stayed intact, yet somwhat relevant to the whole. I thought several times that the William & Lord John adventures, other than where they intersect with Claire and Jamie might have been better served as a separate piece, but that is my only real criticism other than the fantastical coincidences of characters' paths crossing - a little tough to accept so many. I too, would prefer more of the "story" than the surrounding historical details, but with all the research that's been done, it would be a shame not to share it, if only for those who are uneducated regarding the times. The fact that we are left hanging with the Roger/Briana phase promises that there will be another book; obviously there will be more of Claire and Jamie and the American Revolution and the development of the relationship with William and we won't be too surprised if there is a full family reunion in the works at some point. I'm a bit sorry that I don't have the hardback to add to my Gabaldon collection, but given the strain that some readers expressed on its size :o), and my previous experiences of trying to manage the huge texts of Diana's stories, I have no regrets that my copy will remain on my Amazon library shelf. I just hope we don't have to wait 5 years for the next offering!! Story telling at its best never grows old; as time goes on, I've learned to savor these intertwined stories more slowly, the better to remember and enjoy them.



2. I share the sentiment that An Echo in the Bone does not read like a DG book at all--sloppily written with no regard for the flow of the story. From the point the Jamie suddenly dies, (with no regard for poor Claire's feelings), to the crummy ending leaving the little guy in the tunnel like a cheap comic book trick; there is no hope at all. Please, please, bring back the Jamie and Claire we have grown to love--with all of the fine writing---and great story telling.



3. Ugh! I feel very aggravated. I liked the book, I love the characters, and I love Diana Gabaldon. However, the ending of this book is enough to make you grit your teeth. There were just WAY too many story lines in motion when the book just abruptly ended. It makes me happy that there will obviously be another book in the series (I hope), but I really don't want to wait five years for it. Overall, I liked the book but can't help feeling disappointed by the ending. I will still be ordering the next book as soon as humanly possible though. Hurry up Diana!



4. Other reviewers have said it better than I am able, so I won't reiterate their glowing reviews of the failings of this sadly improbable - and hopefully last - installment. As with other recently popular authors, Charlaine Harris in particular, it seems as if the author was rushed to meet a deadline without really having a complete story in mind, just random meanderings on many different fronts. Where is the editor for this mess???
   
   So, sadly, this series has come to an inglorious and inadequate bunch of tripe. It is quite obvious by now that Gabaldon is only in it for the money and does not want to be sued by not fulfilling her contract(s.) The Lord John series makes this abundantly clear.
   
   BTW, has anyone noticed that Gabaldon has taken down her website???? Probably too many personal attacks on her failing ability to write cohesively.



5. Really enjoyed all the books but far too long and boring. Have to skim read to get through them as not interesting enough to read every word. Most of the time I'm thinking - who cares, what's that to do with the story. Poor old Roger - what a disappointing character and the best thing - his voice - she took away from him. Can't imagine what her editor is doing not cutting it back - half the size would be good. Written equivalent of 'the runs'. Agree with all the other comments re Lord John - boring character and certainly won't be reading those books. Jamie was too good to be true and found myself actually being irritated by him at times - strange.

5 comments about Fahrenheit 451.

1. Supplier, Thrift_books, has always been prompt in shipping products. I have ordered from them often, in fact, I look on their site first for the items I'm interested in purchasing. If they carry what I'm looking for, I order from them.



2. I feel almost guilty giving this book a review like this, it is hailed as a classic and usually when I read books that are considered classics I can see the many strong qualities that put them on the 'classic' pedestal. But I must be honest, I'm not going to make this book sound better then I thought it was simply because it is considered a classic. The only redeeming quality this book really has is the overall idea and like many reviewers have already pointed out - the idea is good, the execution of said idea is quite lacking.
   
   This story follows Guy Montag, a fireman. Unlike the firemen of today, these firemen burn books rather than put out fires. The world has become a dystopian society that favors pleasure over reality. We almost have a 'stepford-society' of sorts. Critical thinking is said to create sadness and conflict so something must be done about it. The books must be burned.
   
   In Fahrenheit 451 Montag has an epiphany after talking with his light-hearted neighbor Clarisse. Clarisse represents the very thing this society is trying to rid. Guy Montags wife represents the opposite. You can already see the conflict here, so what is Guy to do?
   
   I'll admit the first 40 pages or so really had me going. The story was unique and the message was interesting. I did notice right away that Bradbury likes to be overly-poetic in some parts, and a straight-shooter in others. His writing is a little inconsistent but I was able to look past that. At first I really hated Montags wife (a good thing, when books conjure up these types of feelings then they are doing their job) and I really felt empathetic towards Guy. The problem is that this book really started becoming silly. The characters really become forced and the plot as a whole takes an eye-rolling turn for the worst. The ending is one of the most forced endings I've ever read. This book could have been written a million different ways and Bradbury chose a really silly path. I had to force myself to finish the book and I started to lose my feelings towards the main characters, I just started to not care anymore. It's almost as if Bradbury had a good idea for a short-story one day and forced it into a novel.
   
   In the end I would give this book a 2.5/5. There are some interesting ideas and some of the writing is pretty good, though it is inconsistent. Unfortunately I can't give half-stars so it's either a 2 or a 3. Tough choice but ultimately this book was more on the disappointing end of the spectrum for me.



3. I have read this book more than once, when I first read it I had to for school but really enjoyed it. I read it again and even watched the movie, the book is way better. Very good message for those that think books are bad and useless. Books remind us of the past and can help us in our day to day lives.



4. From the standpoint of literature as a whole, it seems 451 is an important piece of work simply because of its eternal message of censorship. Ray Bradbury was a science fiction writer but managed to elevate this novel to the most important rungs of the literary community, something not many SF authors do. There's a reason for that vacuum- typically SF writing is dry, much like 451. It's a good novel, but I don't think it added much to realm of science fiction as it did to the literary community.
   
   Science fiction novels from the 50s and 60s have a distinct feel and flow to them and Fahrenheit 451 is no exception. Like many of the other novels of the era, 451 was based on a short story written and was later lengthened to a novel. The basis is simple: books are illegal and must be burnt. That makes a tidy short story. But stretching a simple idea like that into a full length novel loses an ethereal something (the spirit? the essence? the soul?) from its inception. This occurs in many Poul Anderson novels, as well as John Brunner, James Blish and others from the same era.
   
   That ethereal something lost changes the feel and flow of a normally placid plot... much like in 451 where the onset of the protagonist's change of heart is sudden and undeveloped. The direction of change is clear and predictable. Perhaps 451 is the waving flag of examples of censorship, but its undeveloped underpinnings starve it of greater breadth.



5. Wonderful story. Never gets old. I can read it over and over again, which I do. I recommend people to at least read it once, it's a classic.

5 comments about First Drop of Crimson (Night Huntress World, Book 1).

1. Denise is trying to rebuild her life after the horrible shock of her husband, Randy, being killed on New Year's Eve in the midst of Vampires at war (AT GRAVE'S END) Trying to move on she has separated herself from all things preternatural in hopes of moving on from the horrors that night still brings into her mind. By doing so she has also cut ties with her best friend, Cat Crawfield who is half vampire, and her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately by cutting herself off she is left without being able to reach those that can help her when she is confronted by a dark family secret in the form of a demon, Raum. With no where else to turn she call the only contact she has left to get in touch with Cat and Bones, Spade.
   
   Spade feels honor bound to help her as Bones is his best friend and is determined to what he can. Besides feeling his duty to his friend, Spade can't help but wonder about Denise. He's been intrigued with her from the first time he saw her on that terrible New Year's Eve. It turns out to be harder than he imagines as he begins to search for the missing family member, Nathaniel, who is responsible for bringing the demon down on Denise's family after he reneged on his deal with Raum.
   
   Not only is Spade trying to keep Denise out of the demon's hands but having to help her through her PTSD over the death of her husband. As they make their way from the US to Europe in search of answers they find they aren't as different as they once thought they were and that second chances for happiness can be found for those who allow the possibility of new beginnings.
   
   During the course of FIRST DROP OF CRIMSON we see amazing twists and turns and learn the answers to questions we didn't even know we had! I was happy to see that Denise and Spade were not the typical hero and heroine and the chemistry between them was wonderful. We get to see a bit of Cat and Bones along with some of our other favorites from the NIGHT HUNTRESS series. I absolutely loved this book and can't wait for the next installment of the NIGHT HUNTRESS WORLD by Jeaniene Frost!



2. Because the publisher is Avon, my criticism that this book is really just any romance book is kind of diminished.
   However! Not only does this book have a combination lackluster story line and cheesy dialogue, but, well, how do I say this without sounding crude...they only sex it up once. Once! There's a lot of, "maybe I'm falling in love with him/her" for no real reason, no real sexual tension, and then BAM! They do it, they're i guess madly in love, and then the ending falls flat and now I want to get rid of this book because I won't be reading it again. The character's lack pizaaz and personality which the storyline tries to make up for with the introduction of a demon shapeshifter and the nostalgia of the vampire. If your thing is vampire genre with no real refinement, then this shouldn't be a problem for you. But I like my bad romances raunchy, so this book fails for me on all ends.
   I enjoyed the Night Huntress series, so I automatically picked this one up when I saw it while I was shopping. ...I think the author used up all her talent in her first couple books.



3. I am a huge Jeaniene Frost fan and I was so excited when I heard Spade would have his own book. So let me just say I was not disappointed, I was blown away and I loved it. A lot of people are complaining about Denise, but I didn't mind her, I wasn't as attached to her as I am Kat, but I liked her.



4. I love Jeaniene Frost and loved all her books. This is exactly what I've been expecting. It has a wonderful story and I loved how she re-caps on the previous events. I can't wait for the next book. Again another guilty pleasure that does not disapoint. This is a must read.



5. I've read and reread the Cat & Bones series so I really love the series. This is is an ok stand-alone book - I liked Spade but Denise was so wishy-washy but I guess it would difficult since she is certainly no Cat and so pales in comparison.
   
   I'm glad I read it because Jeaninne is such a good author - just don't think it will be reread on a regular basis like the Cat & Bones series. I hope the Mencheres book is better.