5 comments about Cat's Cradle.

1. This book is full of whimsical humor. It's one of the few books that made me laugh out loud. Ironically, it's also incredibly pessimistic. Humanity is doomed by its own depraved nature to a farcical apocalypse. For Vonnegut, the main culprits are scientists who show no concern for the destructive applications of their inventions. Their scientific method is the only road to knowledge but (more pessimism) cannot yield moral knowledge or wisdom. Nothing can, including religion, which is 'all lies'.



2. After hearing so much praise about this book I had to check it out myself and discover the awesome writing of Vonnegut. I was sorely disappointed. Sure, he incorporated a great deal of satire about religion, politics, and just mankind in general, but it was all very boring for me. The stories of each character in the book seemed to be ridiculous just for the sake of getting a cheap laugh, leaving no lasting value...except the stories didn't make me laugh either.
   
   Much like another reviewer, I really wanted to like this book. I forced myself to read the first 100 pages or so, hoping that it would become more interesting. Of course it turns out it didn't, so I had to stop. It's apparent that I'm in the minority here, considering the 100's of positive reviews or perhaps many are just hopping on the bandwagon. Regardless, this book is not for everyone. Anyone who has not read CC is forewarned that you may be quite disappointed.
   
   I just hope Slaughterhouse-Five is better because I was looking forward to reading that as well.



3. Well, what is there to say but that this book is quite highly overrated. An attempt at wry cynicism that was telegraphed all the way. No part of this story was exceptional either in thought or execution. About the best I can say for it is that it was an easy read. I am at somewhat of a loss as to why it has so many positive reviews because it has been my experience that while I do not always like or enjoy books with mostly positive reviews it is usually more a matter of taste but in this case there is a definite lack of quality in style and substance than can be overcome by whatever it is that others see in this story.



4. The 60's paranoia doesn't get more sharp, more funny and more smart than Kurt Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle". But, unfortunately, this portray is still somehow up to date than ever. Published early in that decade, this novel concerns on the fear of a chemical war and the end of the world. One of the characters is a scientist who fathered the Atomic Bomb and also developed something called `ice-nice' that is able to freeze all the water in the world. When the novel was published the world was living the edge of Cold War - hence the interesting metaphor. This is also a cautionary (and very funny) tale about too much power and too much desire of ending the workd. Vonnegut's tone transits between the regular science- fiction and black humor that add more layers to the book. If for one side the characters are plain, on the other, what remains, the fear of a nuclear war or something like it, is very relevant and contemporary.



5. Enough zaniness and dark humor permeate Cat's Cradle to keep a reader entertained, but there's still a point to Vonnegut's odd comedy--the destruction and danger of nuclear-type weapons, the criticism of society and their motives, and the general stupidity of mankind. To say Vonnegut takes a pessimistic viewpoint might be an understatement, but at least he can have fun doing it. In many respects, I actually found Cat's Cradle to be a little more enjoyable than Slaughter House Five, which seemed to be a little darker in nature.
   
   The story begins with Jonah studying and researching the late Felix Hoenikker, a renown scientist responsible for producing the atom bomb and a dangerous liquid substance called ice-nine. To do this, he interviews various people and colleagues of the late doctor, finding out, while Hoenikker had innocent intentions, he was careless with both his family and his inventions. In his quest, Jonah comes to identify Dr. Hoenikker's three children--Newt, Angela and Frank--a very odd group of kids. Angela is very tall and lanky and has to play the role of parent because of her father's neglect. Newt is a midget, who comes to find love with a midget Russian performer. And Frank leaves the family, disappears, and later emerges in San Lorenzo, being the supposed architect of San Lorenzo's "master plan." Eventually Jonah and a group (including Angela and Newt) embark on a trip to San Lorenzo to see the island of San Lorenzo, it's population "all fiercely dedicated to the ideals of the Free World" (Jonah learns from the pamphlet on the plane). The irony of much of what is discovered on this island is that the people's religion--Bokonon--is mostly based on lies (as it says in its introduction). From here, Jonah becomes adjusted to the people and their customs, meets the island's dictator, "Papa", hears more rumors about the mysterious Bokonon, falls in love with a goddess-like woman Mona, and becomes president of San Lorenzo (he learns from Frank that this is his ultimate destiny, or his "zah-mah-ki-bo"). Eventually, there is a major event that Jonah must deal with, and this happens at the book's conclusion. Wacky as it is, the plot seems to be just a vehicle to get across much of Vonnegut's satirical points about human existence.
   
   Much of the fun of this book is the exceptional comic voice by Vonnegut. He can seemingly take the most serious issues, like religion, politics, nuclear threats, and turn them upside down. One bizarre part is when Julian Castle looks at Newt's "Cat's Cradle" painting (which Newt professes should hold a message for everyone), regards it as "garbage" and throws it out into the waterfall. A moment prior to this Jonah had been musing over the painting's meaning, and this act by Castle seems to fit right into the nonsensical mentality of the island. There is also the "last rites" scene with "Papa" and Jonah, where "Papa" leans over and whispers to Jonah to tell Bokonon that he is sorry he didn't kill him and his philosophy of lies.
   
   If you can take all of the author's jabs in a light way then this will be an enjoyable read; if not, then you might want to pass, or at least sample the book before purchasing. I wished I would have read this one before reading Slaughter House Five (as Cat's Cradle works better for an introduction to the author).

No comments about Mage-Guard of Hamor (Saga of Recluce).

5 comments about Warrior: The Time Hunters.

1. This novel is set in the universe Knight first brought us in JANE'S WARLORD. I liked that book and I like this one. It was fresh and full of action and romance.
   
   Jessica Kelly is an artist. She and her roommate live in Atlanta in 2008. Jessica has to work to support herself and her art. She is one of the nameless people who struggle to put their vision on canvas, but up until now she has had no luck breaking into the art community.
   
   Galar Arvid is a Warlord for the Temporal Enforcement Agency. He has come to see if maybe Jessica's murder was by a person from the future. If so he will try to save her life and take her to the future to live. Galar is not looking to find any kind of personel interest in Jessica. Since he had been betrayed by a former lover who was a spy, he had guarded his heart and feelings from others. He has a reputation for being cold and efficient.
   
   The murderer turns out to be a Xeran battleborg, and he is after her roommate who has passed some type of DNA to Jessica. Therefore he will kill both of them. After a vicious fight he flees leaving both Jessica and her saviors wounded. The story and romance are intense and Jessica has secrets even she doesn't know about. But the Xerans are determined to kill her and they have a mole in the agency.
   
   I enjoyed the book and there will be more in this series. I look forward to them. Knight has a way with futuristic fantasy and intense romance.



2. I actually liked this book. It was well done with plenty of action, suspense and sex. My only real problem is that I'm tired of sequels. Don't miss this one.



3. I loved this book. This is the first in a new series, The Time Hunters by Angela Knight. Although, Jane's Warlord is also from the same theme. She has written fun, very alpha characters. I'm anxious to read the next one, Enforcer.



4. This is the first book by this author that I've read, and it won't be my last! I really loved the flavor of this book and, like a good chocolate, I couldn't stop! I'll be looking for the 'proceding' book and will be looking forward to more books along this line from Ms. Knight.



5. Because whoever wrote this horror could not be the same woman that gave us those great short stories in the Secret's collection, or Warfem. Although having gone through her books that I have purchased, she seems to have had more misses than hits. In the future I will probably wait until her work hits the library.

5 comments about Saturn's Children.

1. Charlie Stross bounces between imagining a future filled with nanotech assemblers, strong artificial intelligence, and faster than light travel and describing the present and past using the established metaphors of sci-fi and fantasy. _Saturn_ describes a technologically advanced future, but compared with _Accelerando_ and _Iron_Sunrise_, this book is far more interested in exploring the human (robot?) condition. Equal parts _Rossum's_Universal_Robots_ and _Futurama_, _Saturn_ is an entertainingly quick read. There isn't much that is new here, but that isn't the point.



2. Charles Stross channels Robert Heinlein with a science fiction adventure filled with robots, spaceships and a lot of unusual sex. In the 23rd century, all of the humans are gone, leaving Freya Nakamichi 47, a robot designed to please humans, with no purpose in life. Instead she gets involved in a series of high-stakes missions that take her from planet to planet, facing constant danger and a host of very strange enemies. Much like the space travel that features prominently in the plot, "Saturn's Children" takes a while to get where it's going, but it's always an interesting experience -- and a journey worth taking.



3. No pink bits. Big or little.
   
   
   The humans are all gone, and the robots don't want them back. Also, amusingly, they are a bit scared of organic replicators. They actually have an organisation called the Pink Police to try and stop bad organic spreading, whether the recreation of humans, or something much smaller.
   
   Given this book is a riff on Heinlein's Friday, and Friday is a book I despise I am not sure how that biases me against doing something different. The main character is Freya, most of the time, is is even called Fri--Freya, some of the time.
   
   Despite no people around to tell them what to do doesn't mean everything is utopian in robotland: "But many of us rot in bondage, unable to step outside the boundaries imposed by aristo owners. And if my company ever falls into liquidation, I--as my own principle asset--am vulnerable to receivership. The threat of the arbeiter auction block is a very real one, for there is no such thing as unconditional freedom in this brutal robot-eat-robot world. My sibs and I help each other. If one of us falls on hard times, we club together and try to outbid the predators until we can set the unfortunates on their feet again. But that's hardly a guarantee of freedom."
   
   The protagonist is of a class of robot built to be very human-like: "It doesn't come to that, of course. But he has a surplus of self-control and such a sense of dignity that he almost explodes before he lets himself admit that yes, he's alone in a luxury climber with a sensuous, high-class sex robot who's close enough to a Creator femme that he feels dizzy in her presence unless he forces himself to focus on ideological shenanigans and the price of power. And then it turns out that he has a thing for Creator females, and the same sexualized submission reflex as the evil Granita Ford. I find it's quite common among persons of a certain status."
   
   So, we have a robot power struggle, conflict, and conspiracy going on, along with an identity crisis or three - as unlike people, you can backup or copy robot types.
   
   Freya is hired to transport an object that the Pink Police will likely be very interested in.
   
   I think this is the author's weakest novel - of course weak for Stross is relative, as it is still a perfectly decent book, just not as good as the rest.
   
   
   3.5 out of 5



4. I've read ALL of Charles Strosses books and loved every one. He is one of the best sci-fi writers out there. When I got this book I was terribly excited and immediately got to reading it.
   
   When I closed the final page I wanted to call Stross and ask him exactly what drugs he was on when he wrote this. The plot is confusing. Was there a plot? Or was it just an IDEA of his that needed a book. I don't want to put spoilers in here but that's what this book is - an IDEA - and not a bad one. But the execution of that idea into a novel just stunk.
   
   I hope he leaves this behind and produces the great stuff he has in the past. This one goes in the trash-bin.



5. As other reviews state, it is a riff on Heinlein's "Friday". In this case, our "artificial human", Freya, is a robot femme bot, humans have gone extinct, and a fairly feudal robot society exists throughout the solar system and is heading for the stars. As with "Friday", the plot is nothing more than an artifice to allow our heroine, Freya, to show the reader what this robot society might be like and shed light on what "human" means. Stross is very imaginitive, depicting a rich society of robot culture and technology.
   
   While Heinlein wanted to make political points, Stross is more concerned with depicting how robots might feel and how they recapitulate their extinct creators.
   
   It isn't the most adult book he has written, but it is somewhat deeper that its surface suggests, and very humorous in parts. For the more serious, it reflects what might have to happen if we are to spread out beyond the earth. Fragile animal bodies will not be suitable to colonize space, but our robot offspring, bearing minds based on ours, can.
   
   I really loved this book. It is a fitting one to add to the growing Stross pantheon.

5 comments about Magic Bites (Kate Daniels, Book 1).

1. If you're into the genres of Urban Fantasy or Speculative Fiction, or if you like to see a well-written female lead or some truly fabulous world-building, then by all means please check out Ilona Andrews' Magic Bites. It's an excellent piece of fiction; the writing is fun, engaging, and clever. She's developed a very tactile and realistic future-Atlanta, and her characters all feel satisfyingly 3-D. I thoroughly enjoyed both this and the sequel, Magic Burns, and I'm eagerly awaiting the third installment.



2. Magic Bites is a decent, quick fantasy read. It is a sort of hardboiled urban fantasy with blood and guts and a light whodunit mystery that relies more on the particular version of supernatural creatures that this author created, and less on any traditional mystery concepts. What I mean is that the bad guy in this is a magical creature, who wants magical creature things and who kills in magical creature ways, rather than, say, a jealous lover who kills and blackmails before running off to Mexico. I like these kinds of books when the magical creatures are unusual or interesting in some way, when the main character is sympathetic, and/or when the writing is fun.
   
   This one had good magic, so-so writing, and a fairly irritating main character. She was intriguing, but way too over the top with her [...]-kicking image. A lot like John Taylor of Simon Green's Nightside books, who also annoys me in the way he is always implying how incredibly dangerous he is to mess with, and never takes his armor off, even for a second, because he has to keep his myriad of enemies in check with the neverending bluff that is his reputation. It is annoying for me to read because the authors, both in Green's case and in this book, act as if the reader is another person who can never be allowed to see the main character's weakness, and that's just silly. They drop hints of humanity, imply vulnerability, but never pursue it for long: Kate tries to date in this one, and regrets it when it blows up in her face, but she doesn't regret it that much -- because she still has [...] to kick.
   
   But I did like the version of vampires in this, and some things about the shapechangers. I like the Order of knights, though not much was said about them, and I really liked the villain -- though the actual character of the villain was not so good. The only scary thing about him was his power, and his personality and non-magical abilities should match his power for scariness -- see the Denarians in Jim Butcher's Dresden series for the way to make the bad guy scary.
   
   All in all, it wasn't bad, and I'll be reading the sequel.



3. When you pick up a book at the supermarket checkstand you know you are taking a chance. The odds of hitting a winner in the Lottery are better, even the chance of being hit by lightning or eaten by a shark are better...but once in a great while you do hit a winner. This book, Magic Bites, does all of the things that a book needs to do, the hero, (Yuck! C'mon admit it, sometimes the old word just sounds better no matter if it is a bit sexually exclusionary, Heroine there I've said it and feel much better), is heoric, the odds overwhelming, the villian villianous and the guy, guyish. Okay so being a guy its hard for me to find all that much enticing about a romantic icon. Sure some parts of the tale are familiar, the heroine is tough as nails. (No one ever complained about Mickey Spillane or Ian Flemming writing about tough as nails heros, so just get over it. If you don't like some of the conventions of the genre read something else. But some parts of the saga explore uncharted ground. No cape-wearing, accented, evening dressed vampires here. No, these guys are not the party going type and if you don't know what that means buy the book and find out.
   
   All in all a great read and a new take on some supernatural sacred cows. Do it the right way, buy the book from Amazon and get the companion book, Magic Burns at the same time. Then you won't pick it up one dark and stormy night and find that instead of Magic Bites, you have Magic Burns and will either have to start without knowing the backstory or wait two weeks to get the first book from Amazon! Great new series and waiting with a worm on my tongue for the next one, Magic Breaks...How's that Ms Andrews? Or maybe Magic Blaze, have you tried, Magic Blooms? No that's not right but then you could do Magic...



4. Ilona Andrews has a hit with with her Kate Daniels series. This is one Urban Fantasy book that is fresh and crackles with energy. If you like your heroines strong, powerful and with wit, you have to read Magic Bites.
   
   Magic Bites takes place in Atlanta, Georgia where magic cripples the city. There are things called flares that can take out modern conveniences such as cars and electricity. During theses times, creatures that enjoy using their magic for their own devious means come out and cause problems. That is where Kate comes into the picture. She is a sort of freelancer mercenary who keeps control and cleans up these problems. Kate has her own special magic at her disposal. She has a pretty nifty sword she can use along with another secret weapon up her sleeve. Kate has two magic words from her deceased father she can use as a last resort if need be. When Kate says one of these words out loud to whomever, the unlucky fool must do what she orders. In Magic Bites, Kate acquires four new words from her mentor who has been murdered. She now has six words and her sword to use. Just because Kate may have these powerful words to use whenever she wants to, there are consequences. Every time she says one of these words, the pain she experiences is unbearable, only to be used if there is no other option.
   Greg, Kate's mentor, was a powerful knight who belonged to a group called the Order of Knights and Magical Aid. Kate has the option of joining but she doesn't deal well with authority. Now that Greg has been eliminated, she must enter the world he was involved with to find his killer. This is where she is introduced to a whole new group of characters. Not only are there magicians and witches, but vampires, werewolves and all different types of shift changers.
   Once such shifty creature is Curran, who is the Beast Lord. He is also the Pack King a.k.a. the lord of the shift changers. Curran can change into this monster lion and does not like to be told "no" and feels he must be obeyed in all things. You can just imagine his reaction to Kate when they meet. Sorry, folks, this is no love at first sight or even a twinge of lust between the two. Curran can't stand Kate and she feels the same way about him. These two not only come to blows but try their best to kill one another. Remember how Kate has a problem with authority? Well, Curran is the top dog, er... cat and he wants Kate out of the way mainly because of her nose in the air attitude. As the story progresses, Kate and Curran come to an understanding and help one another. Kate eventually finds out who killed Greg, gets her revenge and helps Curran and his pack keep control of Atlanta.
   
   Ilona (and don't forget her wonderful husband Gordon who lends a hand) has come up with a gritty, dark world that has some great potential. I look forward to Kate and her future adventures with her six magical words that can cause so much damage. And, if Kate and Curran end up sharing a kiss or two, I wouldn't mind that either.
   
   Katiebabs
   Magic Burns (Kate Daniels, Book 2)



5. This is (as my title says) quite a well-done little book. I wish Illona Andrews (and Kate, et al) well with this series.
   
   [BTW, if you're looking for a synopsis of this book, you might glance at the book itself, or read a few of the other reviews here. My main purpose in this review is to warn off those folks who MIGHT not understand what's in store for them.]
   
   I, however, will not be reading any more of these and I'd just like to warn any of y'all out there that enjoy this genre of what you're getting into. For a little perspective, I've read all the Sookie Stackhouse books, all the Rachel Morgan books, all the Patricia Briggs Mercy books, Carpe Demon, Bitten, and a few other titles. Oh yeah, I just finished the first Lilith Saintcrow Dante Valentine book, too.
   
   Anyway, I like all of the above-mentioned books and none of them really creeps me out TOO much. There's the odd passage or scene here and there that are just too graphic and morbid and gross (per the "squishy" in my title description) for me to thoroughly enjoy, but most of the times these occassional authorial forays into the macabre and Grand Guignol just add a little spice.
   
   The "Magic XXX" Illona Andrews series goes beyond my PERSONAL comfort level, though.
   
   I am NOT knocking either this series or the author. I really did like the book--in most ways. It's NOT just a slasher. But the slashing and gushing and squishing and maiming and raping and cannibalism and all that sort of thing are just a too integral a part of the world for ME to enjoy the experience--even though I was VERY fond of most of the main characters and I found the plot and world-building very good.
   
   So...FAIR WARNING...
   And...Ms Andrews, should you ever write something else more-or-less of this ilk, but with a less, shall we say, morbid/graphic/eviscerating outlook, I'll be one of your happiest readers.

5 comments about The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle, Day 1).

1. First off, I would like to say that I really did enjoy The Name of the Wind. It was a great book, and I found the plot to be engaging. I found the subjects discussed to be fascinating, and I often felt as though I was right there learning along with Kvothe. Patrick Rothfuss has created an interesting world, which I will gladly return to with The Wise Man's Fear. I would highly recommend this book.
   
   However, the book gets four stars because there were a few occasions where I just grew bored. You can only take so much of Kvothe talking about where he's going to get the money for next term's tuition. It also gets a bit annoying when he discusses how he doesn't know anything about women for the thousandth time. I also felt like there wasn't as much action in this book advancing us toward the present as I would have liked. However, I know that story will be told eventually, so I'll just have to wait.
   
   Don't let these things keep you from reading it, though. They are mild annoyances in an overall excellent work. Name of the Wind is one of the best reads I've had in a long while, and I read quite a bit of fantasy (a good 5 or 6 hours a day at the least). Even with the rather large page count, it took me only a day and a half. I would've read it straight through, but I started too late in the day and needed sleep. Now I'm rambling, but in any case, a great read, and highly recommended from me.



2. Really good fantasy. Explores the characters deeply, making them real persons instead of stereotypes. Good development of social/class issues, economics and petty politics. A very good start to a series, really looking forward to the second one.



3. If you are rushed or distracted, don't read this book. Rushing through this would be like gulping down a fine wine as though it were apple juice (a crime!). Rather, get everything done that you need to get done, put the kids to bed (if you have any), turn off the tv and pour yourself a dram of whatever you love best. Find a comfortable chair and warm lighting, and enjoy.
   
   This first installment is mainly a narrative of the life of a man named Kvothe, and it is rich with heart-moving imagery and subtley laced with the perfect amount of wry, tongue-in-cheek humor; yet there is an underlying sense of tragedy and forboding that pervades the tale throughout that actually builds suspense so gradually that it's almost feels subconscious.
   
   Highly recommended.



4. The Name of the Wind was one of those "Might we suggest" books that popped up while I was ordering onother book. The description was intriguing so I figured "what the heck".
   
   My package arrived and the book I had originally ordered was wet, as the box had been sitting out in the rain, so I started "The Name of the Wind" and pretty much from the first word I couldn't put the book down. I have a co-worker that has the same book interests I do. We are avid fans of George R. R. Martin, Gregory Keyes, Simon R. Green, and several others. I told him the next time I saw him that I had a treat for him. I finished this book in just a few days. He finished it over a weekend. And we both wait in eager anticipation for book 2.
   
   This is one of those stories you fall into. No longer aware of the real world around you. And for me, there is no better type of story.



5. I happened to grab this book off the shelf randomly while stocking up on reading material for a business trip and ended up calling in sick to sit at my hotel and read it. It's epic fantasy in the style of George Martin, Robin Hobb, and Terry Goodkind with a twist of Rowling thrown in. Believably deep characters, a unique system of magic, and flowing narrative make this a must read. The only downside is that the rest of the story hasn't been published yet, but there is a publication schedule in place for the next two parts.

5 comments about The Hobbit.

1. I have found the Lord of the Ring trilogy (books and films) fantastic. However for those that have not read the Hobbit, it is a must. It sets the history and background for many of the critical elements of the trilogy. For those who have only seen the films, reading the book(s) will reveal soo much more that did not make the films. This is something you will enjoy now and reread for years ahead.



2. Bilbo is hysterical. Gandalf charms. The writing shines. If there were 6 stars I'd give it 7. That said, my 11 year-old daughter couldn't get into it. I'm not so sure the 4-8 year-old crowd (stated as the suggested audience on Amazon) is quite ready for this masterpiece; I'd say 10-14, or 10-110 rather. I loved the narrator and Tolkiens's vivid imagination. Things like Bilbo saying, "...and I missed second breakfast." Oh that delicious world of hobbits! Incredible. I adored every page.



3. Our 10 year old and 7 year old sons and their mum are really enjoying this recording every time we get in the car. Mum thinks the reading by Rob Inglis is superb (he uses different voices for the various characters and the narration and also sings). The boys are gripped by the story. This is 10 CDs long so you need stamina. Our four year old son finds it boring because it is so long. Highly reccommended for 7 to 12 year old boys.



4. If you are a Lord of the Rings fan, you will definitely enjoy this story of Bilbo Baggin's adventures and the discovery of the ring. Amazing story for anyone to listen to, and the narrator does an excellent job.



5. I had the pleasure of listening to the Rob Inglis audiobook version of The Hobbit on a recent long car trip. While I was already familiar with the story, I hadn't read it in a long time. Mr. Inglis' reading was very engaging and entertaining. His voices for the characters and singing of the included songs/poems were delightful.
   
   I highly recommend this audiobook version of The Hobbit.

5 comments about Dark Desires After Dusk (The Immortals After Dark, Book 5).

1. I didn't care for this book as much as the others. The main characters weren't very likable. Cade willing to trade his mate and Holly willing to cheat on her boyfriend, didn't make the usual happy couple. The story was long and Holly and her problems quickly became tiresome. Cade lied the entire time and traded her for a sword. In the end Holly forgives him way to quickly.



2. Cadeon and Holly worked. Holly got on my nerves at first. But, she drastically improved once she accepted the Turn. Cadeon was a screw-up that got it right. Really right. I didn't really, so much, blame him for losing Rydstrom's Judgmental butt his Kingdom, or killing Neomi. He was a lot to handle. And Holly was wonderful at handling him. I cheered when he kill Groot. Next that A-hole Omort. Go Rydstrom!



3. Cadeon Wode is a demon - a good guy though- who happens to have promised a few things he can't deliver to a few people he absolutely can't let down. It was through his own unfortunate actions that his brothers throne was lost a few centuries ago and their people, not to mention his brother, have been suffering ever since. So his very last chance for redemption is to simply deliver a woman, the magical female who has been prophesied to be the mother of a warrior that could change the course of the entire supernatural world to a crazy evil mage in exchange for a sword guaranteed to slay his enemy.
   
   The problem: she's the one woman fate and destiny have been waiting for him not to be able to resist. In fact she's the only mate he could ever possibly have, and betraying her would basically destroy both their lives.
   
   Since he's been stalking her for months it's relatively easy to get to her- you know besides that have dozen cult guys he has to take out. But protecting her and making her see that she loves him will be the hard parts. Especially when he's trying not to hurt her or his brother and he can't have it all...or can he?
   
   This was another great installment of a near perfect series. I wasn't quite as thrilled with the ending on this one since it seemed a tad rushed but it's a very memorable book I highly recommend.



4. This book is about making the right choice. Gamble wrong and you loose everything - Gamble right and you win everything. Cade is a rage demon that has been looking for his mate for over 900 hundred years. When he finally finds Holly he is 99% sure she is his life mate but it turns out she is human and he can never have her (so he thinks). Over these same 900 years Cade has been trying to help his brother win back his crown/kindom. Which will help Cade regain his brother's faith in him and remove the shame placed on him for causing his brother to loose his crown.
   
   This is a wonderfully written story about choices, love (with steamy scenes), and honor. I enjoy the cat and mouse games that Cade and Holly play as the get to know one another. I also like how Cade and Holly play on an intellectual level. I think this book had a lot of seduction however, I would have ejoyed a few more hot demon love scenes. This book also has some of my favorite characters re-surface like Nix and Reign. This book will definitely keep you entertained and interested.



5. I love both lead characters Cadeon and Holly, and the author gives them enough dimensions to be strong. Their courtship and relationship is sweet and steamy. Never would have thought horns were sexy, but this book changed that, and the love scenes are great. I also love how Cadeon is the more thoughtful and caring character, while Holly is learning to be a warrior; a fun play on how the opposite sides of them are coming out.
   I thought the ending was a bit rushed. The importance of her being a Vessel seemed kind of dropped.
   Spoiler ahead:
   
   Don't really understand what impact her child would have in the Lore.

5 comments about Wanted.

1. This is yet another tale of the painfully average guy who is suddenly given the chance to realize his true destiny through super powers. The difference here is that the main character is to become a 'bad guy', with the potential to be the baddest of the bad guys. It sounds like a good set up for an interesting story, but it disappoints because the only thing the book has to offer is shock value. The main character goes from dead end loser to mass murderer & rapist. There was definite potential for black humor here, but the story never got that clever. The story has lots of brutal killing, the occasional reference to rape for fun, lots of swearing, etc - but if those things aren't original or shocking to you then I think you'll be as bored and as disappointed as I was.



2. After watching the film, which was senseless, I decided to read the comic out of curiosity to check the source material. I was also intrigued by the many negative reviews I read here.
   
   How bad could this thing be, was my question.
   
   The vast majority of the surface story was about Super Villains, but that's not what I'm here to talk about. I'm here to make it clear what the story is really about which is summed up in the last few pages of the book.
   
   The theme of the story is Wage Slavery and the use of Escapist Media to avoid thinking about your boring terminal slave status.
   
   Read more about Wage Slavery here:
   
   [...] (This was edited so just type "wage slave" into Wiki, they have a great page on it.)
   
   Explanation:
   
   The idea is that in a Capitalist system (money, for profit, etc.) you have no power if you don't have large amounts of money. This is by design because the rich then get to own slaves. However, the slaves aren't in the same boat as the old African variety, rather they're tricked into thinking they aren't slaves, thus ensuring they don't rebel.
   
   The trick works like this: you're paid a salary, but you have a bunch of expenses such as rent, credit, school loans, mortgage, health expenses, food, and etc. All of this is subtracted from your salary each month. So, a person making say 50K a year may only end up with a couple of hundred in profit each month, if they do nothing but spend on necessities and have no debts. That means that people making much less will be making no profit and may indeed may make a negative income if they have debt (say student loans) or need to use credit cards to cover unexpected situations.
   
   All of that means that on your job, you MAKE no money or maybe just a little. Certainly, almost no one makes enough money to become a Capitalist who can buy a business, own it all, and employ wages slaves to run it while vacationing. Making no money will working hard and for a long time equals slavery.
   
   It is likely that you, who is reading this, either is a wage slave or will become one. The only "out" I can see is to go on welfare and drop out of society or win the lottery. Another option is to be a Paris Hilton who has accidentally been born into de facto royalty. Being born a certain way and the lottery aren't a choice though.
   
   Book:
   
   The purpose is to show you that you're a wage slave and that the world is in fact run by murderers and rapists. Voltaire said that History is the story of mass murderers and the piles of bodies they leave behind. In Iraq the government had a program of raping women to punish families. In the recent Serbian wars rape and sniper squads were sent out to create terror, and this was in a nice part of Europe. So, guys who have the spirit of the main character actually live.
   
   I would assume that they enjoy what they do and enjoying planning how to rape and murder in a better way so that they can get away with it longer. Thus, the main character is the embodiment of a real type of person. On the flip side, I know people just like Superman, so he's real too, but that's another story.
   
   Escapism:
   
   The last few pages blast the reader for turning their head away from the reality that vicious people run the world. While you're a wage slave you pretend you're not because mentally you're a high level wizard on WoW or you spend a lot of time wishing superheroes were real.
   
   He's saying that you're a coward who will deny his message, say he sucks, and go into denial about the message, etc. His message hurts because it's true.
   
   Meanwhile, those who enjoy the main character are also in denial. They're doing something Freud called Identifying With The Enemy. An example would be, getting beaten up then going and learning how to beat someone up better, or getting molested and then becoming a sex offender yourself. There's something about you which denies your victimhood and embraces and wants to be like the enemy. In this case, you can never be like the Capitalist, rather you will be a wage slave who imagines one day they'll be the master, but you won't.
   
   If society is ever to change and if we're ever going beat the idea that money is real and that one person is worth more than another, then a message like this is important. The book is anything but nihilistic or juvenile fantasy, it is in fact very high level thinking.



3. Beyond bad. Bad story, bad characters, flashy for the sake of being flashy... really bad stuff.
   DON'T BUY THIS. IF SOMEONE GIVES IT TO YOU, BURN IT!!!!
   *spoiler*
   I'm sorry, but if the protagonist goes and rapes and kills for fun, than this is just beyond evil.



4. I was unsure of this book after reading such mixed reviews on here, but ultimately I decided to see what all the fuss was about. Wanted was an intruging read, and I almost couldn't let myself put it down til I was finished. It is refreshing in that its not your typical superheroes book, and unlike the other "offended" reviewers I couldn't find much that was all that grotesque or out-right blasphemous; it pales in comparison for shock-value to series such as 100 Bullets, Preacher, Punisher, etc. I was put-off by the main characters very distinct resemblence to that of rapper Eminem, it almost took away from the story in that it was very distracting. The story itself moves along swiftly and unlike most people I didn't really guess the big twist towards the end, though once I saw it seemed pretty obvious. I had a lot of questions when I finished, it seems the author didn't quite tidy up and left a few plotholes that could have used better explanation (i.e. how did mister rictus never notice wesley's dad, even though certain villians possessed powers that would easily have allowed them to do so?) and a few other points that slip my mind at the moment. I would recommend to anyone who is open minded and not easily turned off by a little senseless violence and a few derogatory remarks.



5. By all means this is a must have, This graphic novel took the genre of adult graphic novels to a new level. With an engaging story line, many plot twist, and wonderful character development you won't be able to put this book down until you turn the last page...then you'll want to read it again. Lastly, It's just plain better than the movie.

5 comments about Batman: Dark Victory.

1. "Dark Victory" is the follow up to Loeb and Sale's "The Long Halloween". The story picks up where "The Long Halloween" left off. Holiday has been arrested, and the crime families of Gotham attempt to use this time of calm to rebuild. However, a breakout of the inmates of Arkham Asylum fills the streaks with "freaks", as the mafia put it, throwing the world of Gotham crime into chaos. To make matters worse, a new killer is on the loose, Hangman. Every holiday, a police officer connected with the rise of Harvey Dent is murdered, and pinned to their bodies are cryptic messages encoded in games of hangman which are drawn on the old files of Harvey Dent. All fingers point to Two-face as the culprit, but some people have their doubts.
   
   Dark Victory is a great book, and if you enjoyed "The Long Halloween", this is just as good as that book. You'll get to see Batman as a detective, which is when Batman really shines. Don't miss reading this book. I recommend it highly.



2. Dark Victory picks up after the events of The Long Halloween, and it has been a dark victory for Batman and Jim Gordon. With the capture of the serial killer known as "Holiday" and the death of some mob bosses they have a small victory, but with the loss of their friend and colleague, Harvey Dent to his new identity, "Two-Face", the rise of other members of the mob families, and a new D.A. that is making things difficult for our hero there isn't any time for celebration.
   There is also a new serial killer in town, only known as the "Hang-Man". As the body count grows the Batman and Jim Gordon try to solve this new puzzle while Bruce Wayne tries to woo Selina Kyle, still unaware that she is Catwoman. Just as things start to come together, a certain future Boy-Wonder comes into the mix.
   With a fantastic noir-detective story, details that will make any fan of BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT smile, and an ending that will make any Batman fan very happy and make you think about the first time you saw Batman and Robin fighting side by side, this book is a must for any Batman fan. Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale at their best!!! I loved the Long Halloween, but I think this book may actually beat it.
   
   
   
   If you ever see a Batman or Superman book by Jeph Loeb, pick it up, he is one the best and most influential comic book writers around. Accompanying the fantastic writing with Sale's moody and noir artwork this is an amazing Batman story.
   
   
   *It is highly recommended that you read The Long Halloween first*



3. I'll admit, at first, I was hesitant to pick up "Dark Victory." Its predeccesor, Loeb and Sale's classic "The Long Halloween" was such an awesome, page-turning whodunnit that utilized all of its characters so well, that I thought this would fall prey to the usual curse that befalls sequels and come up short of capturing what made the original so great. But I was wrong. This tale IS great, deserving of being placed on the same level of "The Long Halloween."
   
   The tale picks up right where the original left off. Batman, along with his ally Commissioner Jim Gordan, is still devastated by the loss of one of the few people in his life he had come to trust: the former District Attorney Harvey Dent (whose origins as Two-Face were spectacularly retold in "Long Halloween"). Meanwhile, Gotham City's various Mafia families, particularly the Falcone Family around which the previous story centered, are regrouping following the death of so many of their members at the hands of the Holiday Killer, and their grip on the city continues. Standing in their way, however, is the rise of the "Freaks," the familiar members of Batman's rogue's gallery (The Joker, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, The Penguin, The Scarecrow, etc.). Led by Two-Face, they intend to drive the Mobsters out of existence and sieze the city for themselves. The city is once again a battlefield against crime.
   
   Enter the Hangman Killer. Echoing the Holiday Killer's method of attacking on holidays, the Hangman goes after former and current police members, hanging them by nooses while leaving crude renditions of the children's game "Hangman" pinned to their bodies (all of which are mysteriously written on materials closely associated with Harvey Dent). And thus begins another page-turning round of Whodunnit, as Batman must once again put his master detective skills to work, deducing the killer's identity in the midst of his battles against Mobsters and Freaks alike.
   
   The tale is amazingly coherent, keeping you at the edge of your seat from the start to finish as you yourself try to deduce who the Hangman may be. And let me tell you: it's a shocker. I sure didn't see the revelation coming, and I doubt many others did. It was all a great payoff to all the build taking up most of the tale. And to top it all off, this story also contains a retelling of the origins of Robin, as Bruce Wayne takes in an orphaned Dick Grayson (whose parents' death is loosely tied into the main plot of the story) and finds in him an unexpected partner in his war on crime.
   
   There's also the usual quality from the Loeb/Sale team that we saw in "The Long Halloween." Sale's art is just as good as ever. The gangster drama and action plays a great part in the story alongside the murder mystery, and, like the previous story, is accompanied by more references and nods to film noir and Mob movies, particularly "The Godfather" (there's even a scene in the book that is taken directly from the famous horse-head-in-the-bed scene!). Basically, all the magic of "Dark Victory's" predecessor is intact, still as fresh and as amazing as ever. It truly is a testament to the skills of both creators that they were able to make such a high-quality sequel.
   
   In short, "Dark Victory" is a most excellent tale, a worthy follow-up to "The Long Halloween" in every way, and should be an essential part of every Batman fan's graphic novel collection. Enjoy the action, enjoy the drama, enjoy the mystery, because I promise, none of it dissapoints.



4. This Comic is very good, but before you buy "Dark Victory" do you need buy "The helloween". It's a serie, the fisrt one is "The helloween" and the second is "Dark Victory".
   The quality of the product is good, the paperback is like a plastic paper, the pictures are amazing, I love the style of the pictures.
   You should not miss to buy the "Dark Victory".



5. A great sequel to the Long Halloween, this book is just as intriguing as the first and is a damn fun read