5 comments about The Long Walk.

1. I am currently reading Stephen King's memoir "On Writing". In it he describes "The Long Walk" as probably the best of his early books. He is absolutely correct.
   
   This book gives just another example of what he is able to do with character development. He doesn't use them as simple plot tools, but creates actual people that we develop a relationship with while reading their story.
   
   In this book the main characters are a group of young men who have entered a contest that sounds ridiculously heinous to us, but has become the norm to them. (the story is unofficially set in a future and place not too far from where we now live)
   
   When I first heard the premise of this book I was immediately interested. The author did not fail to exceed the expectations of this "constant reader". Whether you are a Stephen King fan or not I would recommend this book to you. It's brief, to the point, and extremely good.



2. Blood and Rain
   Blood for the Masses
   
   The Long Walk
   By
   Stephen King
   
   Reviewed By
   B.L.Morgan
   
   5 Stars
   
   The Long Walk was a novel that I read as a part of a collection of four ealier books written by Stephen King and released as The Bachman Books. I hadn't read a Stephen King book for some years and actually forgot how good he really is.
   
   This is the story of the ultimate marathon and what happens to the contestants on that marathon.
   
   The rules are simple: You keep walking until you cannot go on. When you stop soldiers shoot you. The winner gets whatever his heart desires.
   
   Sounds simple right? Well, in the hands of an author of the calibre of Stephen King he makes it into an epic of human endurance and shows just how far a man will go to to survive.
   
   I highly reccomnd this book. It is STRONG! If you don't like gross scenes you should stay at least ten miles away from it. But King uses the greusomeness of some of the death scenes to illustrate just how high the stakes are in this contest to the death.
   
   I absolutely loved this book. It was almost hynotic in its ability to keep me abosorbed in the characters struggle to survive. If you want to read a novel that is guaranteed to keep you glued to the pages this is the one to grab.
   
   Long live The King!!!



3. Every May, 100 teenage boys (all volunteers) are selected to participate in The Long Walk. The walk begins in Maine and continues without pause until only one walker remains; stopping for any reason incurs a warning, and at three warnings the walker is shot. Ray Garraty is a local participant and a favorite to win, and his long walk takes him through his past, into the reasons he and the other boys are walking, to the final step on the road. The Long Walk is all about concept, character, and motivation, and so is comprised primarily of an exploration of what the Long Walk is and what it entails, and an exploration of who Ray and his fellow walkers are and why they're participating. Unfortunately, the premise is never fully explained or justified, and so it feels artificial and the book is disappointing; the characterization, on the other hand, is exceptional. This book isn't quite as good as it could be, but it's intriguing nonetheless, with a chilling concept and wonderful characters. I recommend it.
   
   What drew me to this book was the concept: the endless, desolate road, the impossibly difficult journey, the death-wish of a hundred adolescent boys. That concept is as important as the protagonist (if not moreso), and much of the book's length goes to descriptions of the difficulty and perseverance of the long journey. King writes horror, of course, and he writes it well; The Long Walk is more distanced and psychological than much of his work, but his skills transfer smoothly and make the book consistently tense and chilling. Even when the deaths get monotonous (as they are wont to do when there are 99 of them), it only contributes to the unending, harrowing struggle down the road. Unfortunately, the book's concept is never adequately explored. King reveals more and more about how the Walk functions and how it affects both participants and spectators, but he never explains why it exists. Perhaps that's intentional--and the Long Walk does become a metaphor for living and dying in real life, which also lacks an explanation--but regardless, it makes the premise feel artificial and incomplete.
   
   Characters and motivations don't quite make up for this lack of explanation, but they are brilliantly realized. Ray, and his past; the friends he makes and the secondary characters who die along the way; what motivates each character and what eventually takes them to their death: King creates realistically detailed, individualized, compelling characters. Some back stories (primarily for Ray) and character traits (primarily for secondary characters) are over-simplified, but that's acceptable given the nuanced characterizations and character interactions (as well as the limitations of setting and plot) which do exist. The Long Walk did not quite live up to my expectations, and if there had been more reason and explanation behind the Walk itself, it would have been a better book. Nonetheless, it is a harrowing novel fueled by an intriguing concept and wonderful characters, and it's a pleasure to read. I recommend it.



4. I read this book 15 years or so ago and just picked it up again to reread. Seems the first time I was reading, my feet and legs actually started to hurt as the story is written with a lot of conviction. My feet and legs did not commit to the same agony as before - likely due to them always feeling tired and sore. All that said, it is a good book and you really find yourself drawn into the Walkers.



5. This was a fun book to read. Obviously it is very plot-driven, with the theme being the whittling down of 100 contestants in the long walk down to 1, but in between it takes some time to be though provoking - as you dig into the psyches of people who are on the border between life and death.
   
   Clearly this was written early in King's career, and it's a bit raw, but for this subject matter that somehow seems appropriate. Perhaps some of the characters are a bit too black and white, but even that's OK here - if you imagine the conditions they're under, you can see how extreme behavior might erupt.
   
   Reading this book will make you think about life and death a bit, and about how hard humans will push themselves to keep going. And at the same time it's fun all the way through.

5 comments about Pleasure Unbound (Demonica, Book 1).

1. 
   Pleasure Unbound is book one of a hot and sexy new erotic paranormal series by Larissa Ione. The story which is completely fascinating, takes place in a dark new world where the lines between good and evil blur. A place where your worst enemy might in fact turn out to be the love of your life.
   
   You will find the world building to be superb and all of the characters, even the villains to be extremely interesting, so much so that I can't wait for the sequel Desire Unchained which is due to be released in Feb. 2009...



2. What a fantabulous book I could not put it down, bought it and read it in one night, cannot wait for the next one to get to me grrrrr (need more money for books)



3. I think I liked the book... You see I am not quite sure. Several weeks have passed since I finished it and I swear it took me this long to figure out how I felt about it. WHY YOU ASK?! Well, the plusses are that I think the author went out of her way to set up her storyline. I mean really out of the way. and in most cases that's a good thing. However, the darn thing was just too intricate and the names and other stuff just wore my out.
   
   I could not pronounce Eidolon's name from page to page (is it E-dolon, I-dolon). Then, how the hell to pronounce the "change" E was facing s'genesis? Do I say it like a sssnake or is the "s" silent. WTH!! Then the almost comical names of the other creatures (Shade & Wraith for example). IT WAS ALL TOO BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER FOR ME.
   
   Was the book hot, yes it was, but some of the intimacies in the beginning to middle of the book felt like they were just thrown in the book and it was like driving around a piece of road kill. And Tayla. Tayla, Tayla, Tayla. It was hard to like someone who just did not seem to like herself. The ferretting out that she had to do bad things to survive sort of derailed my connection with her character a bit and by more than mid way through this exhausting book, I was sort of wishing E could find another woman to be his life mate instead of her. But once the book got going and she faced that she was in part a demon she became more interesting to me.
   
   Yes, every demon is having sex or wishing they could (or sniffing around for it...literally). A bit too animalistic for me and I was soo over the glowing tatoo that I kept wishing that for pete sake would someone laser that thing off of these two already. And yes all of us have (at one time or another) had difficulty accepting who out parents are but Tayla watching her mother being (shall we say) violated and knowing she was getting off on it just sort of pushed me over the edge and I kept muttering to myself that small word... EEWW! The other little squirmy part that was (for me) unnecessary was Eidolon's explanation of how Demon religion works. At that point I was rolling my eyes and feeling like I was back in college with my old World Religions Professor.
   
   I think I could read the next in the series, in fact the 3 stars comes because I see promise in this author's take on paranormal. I just hope that things smooth out and the candy store names take a breather and the writer just chill in bringing 30 arcing characters and stories on to the scene.



4. Pleasure Unbound introduces us to the Demonica world. In the good guys corner we have Tayla Mancuso - Aegis Demon Slayer. In the bad guys corner we have Eidolon - Seminus Demon and emergency room surgeon. Hmmm...maybe he's not such a bad guy after all. Unfortunately Tayla isn't as easily convinced and she soon finds herself torn between the world she depends on and the world that Eidolon could show her if only she'd believe in him. To make matters more complicated a group of bodysnatchers known as Ghouls are kidnapping demons and harvesting them for bodyparts. The Ghouls are playing the Aegi and the Demons off against each other and it's going to be down to Tayla, Eidolon and their friends to sort the mess out.
   
   Pleasure Unbound is not perfect but I'll start with the good stuff of which there is plenty. I thought the idea of a demon hospital - Underground General - was original and not something I'd seen before. I also liked the fact that there are demonic demons - they aren't all good and misunderstood, but they aren't all bad flesh eaters either.
   
   The world Larissa Ione takes us to, is painted in shades of grey, which I always find more interesting to read about. It is a very real book in that respect. Larissa Ione doesn't flinch away from the realities of the world she has set up. Eidolon has to make difficult decisions and he's one of these characters that does the right thing, even when it's the harder thing to do.
   
   Other characters are not so noble and it's easy to see why Tayla ends up so confused about who is telling her the truth and what is the right thing for her to do.
   
   Having said that I'm not as keen on the character of Tayla, I didn't feel her as much. She seemed a little immature to me but you could also attribute that to how she was raised, and essentially the Aegi appear a little cult-like. So far though I'm liking the male characters more than the female. This book is hot - quite a lot of sex, which on the whole is organic to the storyline. It didn't feel overly gratuitous, after all, Eidolon is an incubus.
   
   On the quibble front. There is a slight tendency to melodrama at some points. Tayla in particular is a bit of a drama queen. Now there's nothing wrong with a bit of dramatics, but it's very easy to do too much and get a little silly.
   
   Quibbles aside, this has been one of my favourite books of the year and I can't wait to read more.
   
   Book 2 - Desire Unchanged - March 2009
   Book 3 - Passion Unleashed - April 2009



5. Very sensual and passionate read. Loved the characters. If you are a fan Cole or Ward....Read this book! Can't wait for book #2.

5 comments about The Great Hunt (The Wheel of Time, Book 2).

1. Many of the characters improve in Book 2, after the rather silly last 200 pages of book 1. It starts with a very edgy prologue, and then is essentially a story of the hunt for the horn. The story starts to get more interesting in the second half as Nynaeve develops as an interesting character. Moiraine plots as always. Rand grapples with his problems. The Seanchan introduction in the last half really improves the book, which is falling into the same sleepy inn / road / town pattern of the first book in the first half.
   
   One criticism with this and the first book is "the ways". I don't really approve a deux au machina which enables characters to reach a certain place in record time, as it seems to be just a substitute for good writing. I understand if others dont share my contempt of this.



2. The 2nd book in the Wheel of Time series, I give this book 4.5 stars. This book picks up about a few weeks later from the ending of the 1st book, The Eye of the World. If you haven't read the first book in this series, I'm warning you now there will be spoilers throughout this review. If you don't want to be spoiled, don't read on.
   
   At the end of the Eye of the World, one of the young men, Rand, realizes he can channel saidin, the male half of the True Source. After using the Eye, a secret chamber was found beneath the Eye that holds several very important objects: the banner of Lews Therin, called the Dragon, the male Aes Sedai that led the forces of Light against the Shadow during the Age of Legends, an object made of cuendillar (or heartstone) one of the 7 seals of the Dark One's prison created by the Aes Sedai of the Age of Legends during the War of the Shadow, and the Horn of Valere, a horn that will bring back the dead heroes tied to the Wheel of Time to fight for whomever blows the horn.
   
   All very important objects, and all signs that lead Moiraine (the female Aes Sedai that led the Two Rivers villagers in the 1st book) to believe that Tarmon Gaidon, the Last Battle with the Dragon Reborn and the Dark One, is fast approaching.
   
   The book starts to pick up the pace when the minions of the Dark One (Trollocs, Fades, and Darkfriends) attack Fal Dara and steal the Horn of Valere and free a very interesting Darkfriend named Padin Fain (he was introduced in the first book and he was the one that caused the villagers to first flee their home in that book). Rand and his friends Mat and Perrin, with escort, ride to hunt for the Horn of Valere (hence, the title of the book) and retrieve it.
   
   In The Great Hunt, the main character Rand struggles with who and what he is throughout this entire book. He also becomes less naive, more wary and suspicious of the motives of the Aes Sedai, and more aware of the heavy duty that lays on his shoulders ("Death is lighter than a feather, duty heavier than a mountain"). Having read the other books in the series, and knowing how his personality changes, it was interesting to read the first seeds of this personality change occur. While he did harbor these suspicions in the 1st book, they really don't start to take root until this book. It is something that doesn't ever go away, it only grows with time throughout the series to the point where it actually hinders Rand and what he has to do (which is save the world!).
   
   You also learn more about Padin Fain, and I won't spoil it, but he becomes an important character later on so you'll see more of him. Rand also encounters a mysterious woman who goes by the name "Selene" and I'll just say she is also a character of importance and Rand doesn't meet her by accident.
   
   Mat and Perrin, important secondary characters, don't get as much page time as Rand. What I mean is, you don't get "inside" their head as much as Rand in this book. There are also some snippets from the viewpoints of Nynaeve, Egwene, Moiraine, and Padin Fain but most of the book is Rand's perspective. The other characters I mentioned have significance as well, they play big roles in the series.
   
   I think my favorite scene out of this book is the ending scene. A lot of tension and action, a battle scene, and finally Rand realizing his fate and being resigned to his destiny. The Great Hunt is a worthy sequel to the Eye of the World, and it only gets better! =)



3. The two readers on this book and the subsequent book are excellent. The story is fast moving and exciting the way its read.



4. With the untimely and unfortunate passing of Mr. Jordan, one of the most epic fantasy series of all time lingers in the hands of another author in its conclusion (Brandon Sanderson) leaving the rest of us the task of revisiting the first eleven (plus prequel) volumes as we wait patiently.
   
   I have recently taken this opportunity to begin again in the hopes of timing it smoothly so that hopefully book eleven can flow right into book twelve (although it seems I am progressing a bit too quickly for this to happen, but that's besides the point).
   
   Some may find it strange that my review of the series begins not with book one (or even the prequel for that matter) but with the second book, The Great Hunt. To justify real quick- there isn't much more that can be said for Eye of the World that hasn't been put forth already. In the hopes of cutting down on redundancy, I will concede to the mass consensus that Eye of the World is an imagery rich and well developed novel worthy of the five stars I would have given it.
   
   That said, onto this review... The Great Hunt picks up quite seamlessly where Eye of the World concludes and takes our small band of heroes into foreign lands in their quest to rid the world of evil. The pacing in this book is quite well done (though perhaps not precisely as well done as it was in EOTW) and the backbone follows Rand's mission to retrieve the stolen Horn of Valere (and with that Mat's evil dagger). The main story is then divided by the progress of our heroines in their struggles to become Aes Sedai. Intermingling within these are still even smaller plot segments that introduce us to a ship captain (Domon) and a mysterious woman whose true identity is only hinted at by the end of the book.
   
   The most successful aspect of the book in my opinion is Jordan's ability to bring all of these threads together by the book's conclusion. Truly nothing was said just for the sake of saying it. Also well done is the separation from Rand and his brood for much of the story- it would seem that his apparent inability to rely upon the support of Mat and Perrin would unbalance things, but thanks to some well-developed cohorts in the form of Loial the Ogier and Hurin the Sniffer, the dynamic never misses a beat.
   
   Additionally, Jordan does a great job with the concept of foreign lands (and the cultures inhabiting them). All too often (in fantasy especially) the only way of knowing that we are whisked away to a far off place is a sentence in the narrative that tells us so. Here, however, there are enough strange practices and unique cultural references (especially in the matter of slavery) to make the locales feel far from home.
   
   About the biggest criticism to the subtle beauty in the prose would come in the form of lack of character development. I suppose when one considers the fact that we have the expanse of 12 thick novels to do so, it isn't entirely critical to grow the lead characters up in just the course of the first two, but be forewarned that Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene, Nynaeve, and even the elusive Moiraine are, for the most part, mirror images of the characters we met at the very beginning of Eye of the World despite the fact that by sheer experiences alone, one would think they would be slightly more jaded if nothing else.
   
   All in all, revisiting this series is an absolute joy especially after spending some time with some of the more recent entries to the fantasy genre that certainly pale in comparison. I literally closed The Great Hunt and went directly into The Dragon Reborn in effort to keep the rhythm going as stated above. While I'm not so enamored in the nostalgia to pretend things won't bog down in the later volumes, one can hardly help but enjoy The Great Hunt for its adventurous charms.



5. The Great Hunt is the second volume in Robert Jordan's gigantic, rainforest-devastating Wheel of Time series. It was originally published in late 1990 and like the first volume, The Eye of the World, was an immediate big seller.
   
   The story picks up a month or so after The Eye of the World. Rand al'Thor has discovered he can channel the One Power and thus is doomed to go insane and die, wreaking terrible destruction at the same time. Normally it would be the responsibility of the Aes Sedai sisterhood to 'gentle' him, remove his ability to channel, but Rand's Aes Sedai mentor, Moiraine, and the head of the sisterhood, Siuan Sanche, believe that he is the Dragon Reborn, the long-prophesied saviour who will defeat the Dark One at the Last Battle. As such, they have no choice but to let him go free. When the twisted, insane Padan Fain steals the legendary Horn of Valere and the cursed dagger from Shadar Logoth upon which the life of Rand's friend Mat depends, a band of hunters are assembled to track Fain down and reclaim the dagger. Meanwhile, Egwene and Nynaeve travel to Tar Valon to begin their training as Aes Sedai, but find danger lurking even within the walls of the White Tower. In the far west, on Toman Head, rumours speak of the arrival of strangers who apparently use the One Power in battle and use savage beasts in combat, strangers who will not rest until all the lands are under their control...again.
   
   The Great Hunt sees a notable widening of the scope of the world seen in the first book. Whilst the first novel perhaps veered too close to Lord of the Rings' characters and structure to be entirely comfortable, the sequel takes off in a completely different direction. Whilst the series' slightly irritating tendency to be obsessed with 'plot coupons' gets its start here, it does give the book a classical quest structure and deals with the parallel timelines as the core group from the first book gets split up and we follow them separately until their reunion at the end. Jordan also introduces a whole new threat in the form of the Seanchan, a powerful empire ruling a continent beyond the western ocean who now want to reclaim the homeland of their founder (Artur Hawkwing's son). This out-of-left-field threat does an excellent job of shaking things up, whilst the suspicious timing (the Seanchan invasion occurs at the same time the forces of the Shadow are gaining strength in the world) is later revealed as deliberate. The characters are deepened and made more interesting, particularly Rand and Perrin who are shown to grow and change as a result of the revelations they have discovered and the things they have suffered in the first novel. However, we also get to see the Dumb Aes Sedai plot trope get the first of many wearying outings, as Nynaeve, Elayne and Egwene get led into a trap which couldn't be any more painfully obvious. Only their relative youth and naivete makes it convincing in this book; the fact that Elayne is still falling for these things as late as Book 11 is rather more dubious.
   
   The Great Hunt (****) is a notable improvement on the first book, taking the world, story and characters in refreshing and interesting new directions. Jordan's mastery of his enormous narrative is evident here, and even a certain economy (not a word normally associated with the verbose Jordan) of plotting can be detected as some major storylines are rattled through in just a few pages (the Seanchan themselves, surprisingly, don't appear until the book is more than halfway done). The novel is published by Orbit in the UK and Tor in the USA, and is followed by The Dragon Reborn.

5 comments about Predatory Game (GhostWalkers, Book 6).

1. I am such a big fan of Christine Feehan's vampire-paranormal and Ghostwalker supersoldiers novels, but this latest book is such a total darn great let-down!! I liked majority of the previous Ghostwalker novels; that's why I can't put into words my deep disappointment about this "Predatory Game" novel. Even though I'm only half way through I can't find the motivation to finish it. The storyline and so-called hot (more lukewarm!) romance are painfully slow and boring, and the so-called villians are very laughable. There is no suspense or thrills like Feehans previous books. If you haven't bought the book, don't waste your money or time!



2. Most importantly I thought the romance was way more believable than some of Feehan's previous novels. Normally she throws a couple together and it is love at first sight, touch, smell, etc. These two characters have been knowing each other, working together, were friends for almost a year. It made their relationship much more understandable and deeper. The action in the book was great and the characters had more depth to them. I would recommend this one.



3. I really enjoy this particular series and I've read all but Lily's story.
   I sat on this for a while before starting it because I was worried it would be too heavy coupled with what else I'd been reading. But when I started it I was hooked almost immediatly and then couldn't put it down.
   
   Like every mated pair of GhostWalkers, Saber and Jessie are special. Fast-paced action, gut wrenching emotion, and new pieces of an old puzzle keep this story interseting. You want them to succeed so badly.Their attraction may have been pre-ordained but no one ever belonged together more than these two.



4. If you have read the others in this series, you may enjoy this. It really is not enjoyable if you are not familiar with the Ghostwalker series. I found it a little repetitive and not as entertaining.



5. I have to say that I really am a Feehan Fan. I have all of the Dark series and enjoy them. I also have all the Ghostwalker series and have enjoyed books 1-5. Predatory Game was really a let down to me. This book is repetitive and well, just plain boring. There was little action until the end. Should you buy this book if you are into the series - I'll say probably because we find out more about Whitney, the Ghostwalkers, etc. However, I was tempted to put this book down and not finish it which has never happened to me before with Feehan. Oh and how about all that "baby" this and "baby" that? Come on, enough is enough! That little endearment started to drive me crazy because it was said so many times!!!

5 comments about Thor, Vol. 1.

1. Great return of Thor. I thought it was one of the dumbest things Marvel had ever done by killing off the God of thunder. The story is actually very well written and the artwork is excellent. Can't wait for the next issue.



2. This is a wonderfully written and drawn story. Michael Straczynski has taken the character of Thor and breathed new life into him. He has set Thor on new ground and in a fresh environment that promises new and exciting possibilities, and believe me Straczynski fulfills the promise. The art of Olivier Coipel is more than equal to the splendid storytelling embodied here. Coipel's work is powerful, bold, and beautiful to behold. Buy this book and you will not be disappointed!!!



3. I have loved JMS' writing ever since his Spidey run. And now he brings his wordcraft to THor. I can't imagine a better suited writer.
   I loved this book right from the start. The story is excellent and the art is phenomenal.
   The only part I felt missing was more interaction with the rest of the Marvel Universe. Somehow I felt that Thor was ignoring the human race but I guess he has to get his house straight before he can go out to fix the world (according to JMS).
   Hopefully the next few issues will bring characters like the Hulk, Fantastic four, Captain America etc. into his life.
   Great book, great restart!



4. This book is really good, J.M's story is very interesting and Oliver Coipel's art is awesome as usual. This book presents the resurrection of the Thunder God, and how he is building his Kingdom (Asgard) on earth, this book it is a must have.



5. The best thing about the new Thor isn't his costume redesign--it's writer J. Michael Straczynski's choice to ditch the faux-Shakespearean language that Thor used to speak. For Thor purests, I'm sure it's a travesty. But I've never been a fan of the Thunder God, and can't wait to see what other changes are in store (one of the biggest changes has to do with Loki...wait until you see what's become of him!). The smackdown with Iron Man lives up to the hype, although the ending is predictable and shows Tony Stark for the weasel he's become. The book is also humorous, more so than Straczynski's Spider-Man at least. This is a solid piece of comics writing.

5 comments about Heretics of Dune (Dune Chronicles, Book 5).

1. I was not able to finish this book. I love the Dune series up to this point. And I still think Frank Herbert was a brilliant writer. I'm just not sure what he was going for here. I absolutely loved God Emperor of Dune. I thought that book was exceptionally well written. I really liked the characters in that novel. Especially Hwi Noree and Siona. Not to mention Leto II himself. That's why I was so dissapointed with Heretics. The way God Emperor ended was a perfect ending for this series. To explore the effects of The Scattering may have seemed like a good idea. But it's just too far away from what Dune was originally all about. And it's just not that interesting.



2. Even without the Atreides in power, it still seems like they're in control...you'll have to read to find out why. Pretty interesting to see how Leto II's golden path is panning out. Very cool new characters Miles Teg and Sheeana, and the upgraded Duncan make the story about as interesting as the books of the original trilogy, I'd put it right there next to COD.
   
   Beware though, you'll need to consult an online Dune glossary once you get to about page 50. The Tleilaxu lifestyle requires learning roughly a dozen terms that shouldn't be too hard to figure out in a google search. I wonder what readers did without Internet searches, because the publisher rudely left out a much needed glossary. I should leave some props to the publisher, for including a note from Frank Herbert explaining how it took him 6 years of research before even writing the books, which explains the level of detail and imagination. Enjoy.



3. 1500 years after Leto II the God Emperor completed his transformation into the sandworm, he is reviled and worshiped throughout the universe... But now the men and women who ran to escape his tyrany are returning to Dune seeking to rule that which once ruled them...
   
   And, other then the whole "Honoured Matres control men with sex" and "The Duncan Idaho ghola is a male Honoured Matre," the book is fairly good. despite minor shark jumping.



4. In Heretics of Dune, nearly 1500 years have past since Leto II's (The God Emperor) reign ended. Humanity is finally on the Golden Path that Leto II sacrificed so much for with most importantly, his humanity. Shortly after Leto II's death, his tyrannical reign began to weaken and a great many of humanity went out into the Scattering in search of populating several other planets and spreading humanity out as far as humanely possible. However, not all of those in the Scattering were grateful for what Leto II did and are now coming back bent on conquering much of the galaxy that was in place in Leto's time. Major players in this book include the Bene Gesserit, Bene Tleilaxu, a new Duncan ghola, and Miles Teg.
   
   The Bene Gesserit are the only ones that still adhere to Leto II's Golden Path for humanity. They are also faced with a rather interesting choice, do they continue to manipulate humanity and continue their breeding programs? Or do they help humanity to grow and spread outward in a future where humanity will not face certain extinction? Throughout the series, I was never a big fan of the Bene Gesserit. Yet they are major players in this book and as the reader will see towards the end, they do make the right decisions for humanity and somewhat atone for their manipulative past.
   
   A great deal of this book centers around the formerly retired military hero, Bashar Miles Teg. He is called into service once again for a very important assignment - the training of a new Duncan Idaho ghola, this time from childhood. The catch? There is something very different about this ghola that the Bene Tleilaxu have modified him with and it is the job of the Bene Gesserit and Miles Teg to find out before it is too late. At first Miles Teg doesn't appear to be that central of a character and as others have said is every bit as fun and intriguing as Paul Atreides and Leto II were.
   
   Of course, we cannot leave the Bene Tleilaxu out. After all of these years, they too wish to have their ascension to universal dominance that they have been waiting for so long for. The Bene Tleilaxu are lead by the dwarven-like Waff, their Tleilaxu master. It is his job to ensure that the Tleilaxu destroy the Sisterhood and at the very least gain a monopoly on melange, thus controlling the galaxies.
   
   Many forces are at work throughout the book as the race to prepare the ghola for the Sisterhood's grand scheming clashes with enemies from the Scattering, the Sisterhood, and the mysterious Honored Matres (whorish versions of the Bene Gesserit corrupted by the scattering).
   
   An exciting book from start to finish. I'm so glad I didn't give up on Dune for good 3 years ago. I've thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed this series and now it's onward to the final book! Chapterhouse Dune :)
   
   -Travis



5. A very enjoyable part to the series. Although my favorite in this series is God Emporer, Heretics is definitely up there.

5 comments about Hellboy, Vol. 8: Darkness Calls.

1. FYI: HELLBOY 8, as delivered by Amazon 6/08, includes a small sticker on the cover (atop the art) advertising the Hellboy movie. Shoulda been in the solicitation image. Selling another product on THE COVER is low.



2. Sometimes art doesn't matter. Sometimes it's the writing that carries a book through. Up to now, the Hellboy series has been a delicate balance between writing and artwork. Mignola's art is exceptional, and his writing is slightly more then above average. Unfortunatly this outing replaces his art with Duncan Fegredo's.
   
   Fegredo is good, but, it is defiantly a step down from Mignola's work. Fortunately, Mignola continues the writing duties, which may well be the only reason the book really works.
   
   Fegredo does his best to emulate Mignola's art style, and the book retains the limited color pallet common to the series. Unfortunately his art, which, while quite good, is also quite cluttered, and would probably benefit from a broader selection of colors. What his art lacks is the elegant surrealism that Mignola creates. The story itself retains every bit of Mignola's flavor, style and pacing.
   
   If your primary interest in Mignola's work is in his writing, then this is every bit as good as what came before, as Hellboy explores a world of Russian folklore. If your love for the series comes primarily from his art, then expect to be disappointed. It's still Hellboy, but, somehow it feels less fluid then you've come to expect over the last 14 years.



3. As others have mentioned before - the story is quite thrilling.
   BUT - the artwork is not by Mike Mignola! The novel has been drawn by some artist called Fegredo. The style comes close to Mignolas style, but its definitely not as good as his. So, be aware that you will buy a book which says "Hellboy by Mike Mignola" on the cover but offers something completely different inside.



4. For those of you who are worried because Mignola is no longer drawing Hellboy, don't be. I was worried too, but this Fegredo guy is great. He apes Mignola's dramatic shading style while adding more detail and nuance to the character designs. If anything, I'd say the art looks better than in previous volumes (no offense Mr. Mignola, should you happen to read this!)
   
   Of course, Mignola is still in charge of the plot, and man does he deliver. While promises that Darkness Calls contains plot elements from the new movie turn out empty, the reality is far better - this volume weaves together all the loose threads from previous hellboy tales into a weird and beautiful tapestry. The Baba Yaga is back, and she does her best to makes life miserable for our nonchalant red hero. Hecate gets her just desserts, and Igor Bromhead, that sniveling worm from Box of Evil, makes an appearance as well. I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but expect some questions to be answered, many more to be raised, and an engrossing new chapter to be added to the mythology of Hellboy.



5. I won't go into the plot much here, but I'll say this: close-read this one. Don't be surprised if you finish it quickly, only to find yourself missing a thing or two. Read it over a second time, taking it in slowly, and it should all fall into place.
   
   That would be my main criticism, actually: Fegredo doesn't have the same sort of "leading" style that Mignola does, so it can be a challenge to know where the artist wants you to look. That interferes with the flow of the comic a little, and makes the circumstances of the initial conflict a little confusing.
   
   Also, as much as Hellboy hates it, his adversaries usually talk more! The Council of Witches don't explicitly state what their problem is, and Gruagach (Hellboy: The Corpse) is vague as can be about what he's lugging around in that box. It's a little reminiscent of a short-lived Guy Davis project, the noir-superheroic "Nevermen", in that you have to read very closely, and even then, you have to infer some details.
   
   I thoroughly enjoyed the tour through Russian history, though, and Mignola indulges us with a fight scene that, reminiscent of "The Wolves of Saint August" from The Chained Coffin and Other Stories (vol. 3), takes many pages indeed to come to a proper resolution. It's worth it, though: we get a stronger sense of the forces at work, and, as always, we see mythological figures taking themselves way too seriously. A delight!

5 comments about Darkling (Sisters of the Moon, Book 3).

1. Though I'm not a huge urban fantasy fan, I have really liked these books. I liked this one the best because Menolly is the dark one. Book 1 was my 2nd favorite and book 2 was my third favorite. But I'm enjoying the whole series. Violence isn't my cup of tea but it didn't detract from the book. Great job, Yasmine G! And I love the covers of these books. They're what made me pick the first book up, but I stuck with the series because of the good writing and story.
   
   I am looking forward to Dragon Wytch, which I think is a new series.



2. I am not one to write a bunch. I just wanted to say that I am an avid reader, but it takes a great book to get me engaged, and that is what this whole series did. If I could rate it higher, I would. The only thing that I did not like, and this was very menial, was repetition of some basic information that we knew already about the characters from each of the books. You have found a new fan Ms. Galenorn!!



3. Returning to the Seattle, WA area, we join Menolly, third of the half fae/half human D'Artigo sisters who are living Earthside because of bounties on their heads in their own land, which they call Otherworld. Witchling was the eldest sister's (Camille) story and Changeling brought us closer to Delilah, a were-cat. Now we are allowed a glimpse into the life of the vampire faerie Menolly. Turned unwillingly, Menolly fights a constant battle against the inherent nature of the brutal blood drinkers. Unwilling to inflict her torturous memories on her sisters, Menolly shoulders her nightmares alone, unable to stop them from unfurling each night because she, unlike humans, cannot wake from her sleep. She takes comfort in raising their pet gargoyle Maggie and in owning/running an Otherworld bar, where her reputation precedes her in discouraging any trouble. Her bar also contains a portal to Otherworld so she and hers also act as guardians against unwelcome visitors.
   
   Menolly is suddenly called by her sister's mate to the scene of a multiple homicide, despite the knowledge that the excessive blood-letting might unleash Menolly's darker instincts. But the horror is greater than expected - someone is attacking innocents and turning them into baby vampires - the most deadly because of their lack of control. Convinced that her rogue vampire sire, Dredge, is to blame, she begins the hunt to find the coven that escaped retribution when Menolly was attacked. But Menolly is unsure of her fledgling powers and her ability to defend herself, much less her sisters, against her fiendish sire. The other issue at hand is whether or not Dredge is acting on his own or if he is part of the larger plot by Shadow Wing, a leader in the demonic realms, to take over Earthside. With their own homeland in the midst of a political war and their usual resources worn thin, the D'Artigo sisters do what they do best - improvise - and take care of matters one at a time while watching one another's back.
   
   I think Galenorn has hit upon an awesome fantasy world, although it is getting difficult to keep some of the players straight. I'm glad she's planning on continuing the series past the original trilogy, but I have to admit to being quite upset over the ending of her two paranormal mystery series. Her message on her website is wonderful - but I disagree with her that she doesn't do mysteries as well. Like this series, there is substance to the plot and the characters, as well as a lot of character growth and realistic thoughts and emotions. Not everything is as wholesome as apple pie, but her characters suck it up and deal with it like anyone in the real world would have to do. Menolly is a perfect example. So, if you enjoy a little realism with a lot of fantasy, this is ideal for you.



4. I love this series...... I am going to reserve the 4th one now that I am hooked!



5. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, Darkling proved me wrong. This entire series has become one of my favorite. This book was interesting from start to finish. No page fillers or down spots. No repeating the same information or overly emotional. Just enough sex and action to keep me from putting it down. Can't wait to see what happens next between Menolly and Narissa. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series.

5 comments about Patrimony: A Pip & Flinx Adventure.

1. ...in the continuing saga of Pip and Flinx. Those of us who started reading this series decades ago will enjoy the story, but be disappointed by the lack of real development in either the bigger story or the character of Flinx. The last couple of books could have been put together into a larger volume. I would either wait for the paperback or get it from you local library. I can't wait until the author writes something like earlier in the series.



2. Another in the line of Flinx books that tells us little and takes us nowhere. This is beginning to feel like a really bad video game in which you are forced to accept numerous annoying side-quests to pass a single door and get on with the story...
   
   GET ON WITH THE STORY Mr. Foster!
   
   Flinx has something to do, we've know that for a LONG time. How about we get on with it already? These last few books feel thrown together more to keep people reading and money flowing than any urge to expand the story. We resolve some of Flinx's parentage which was something but hardly enough to justify what's really just a large novella.
   
   Here's to hoping the next book goes SOMEWHERE. Because if it doesn't it will be the last Flinx story I read...



3. I have read all the Pip and Flinx books and have never been disappointed. This one was no exception. The story is excellant and keeps you wanting more. I will purchase the next one as soon as it comes out.



4. Patrimony (2007) is the thirteenth SF novel in the Flinx series, following Trouble Magnet. In the previous volume, Flinx lands on Viseria and intervenes in a conflict between street kids and the Underhouse master. In the resulting fight, he meets a dying man who claims to be the last member of the Meliorare Society who hasn't been mindwiped. He also states that he knows Flinx's father and mentions the planet Gestalt.
   
   In this novel, Flinx and Pip arrive at Gestalt on the Teacher. The ship control and shuttle landing procedures are very informal. Then Flinx encounters a dangerous animal on the landing field, but is rescued by an administrator with a big gun.
   
   Gestalt is not much like any other planet of his experience. Although the humans are living among the Tlel, their relationships are quite casual and mostly friendly. However, some Tlel have philosophical differences with each other that can also endanger humans.
   
   Although his first inquiries are fruitless, Flinx begins to look for local humans that match the Meliorare Society profile. He has a few false leads, but finally identifies one person who might be his father. He arranges for a flitter and a native guide.
   
   In this story, a local personage of quite evil disposition discovers that an offworld visitor matches a wanted notice from the Order of Null. Norvin Halvorsen starts tracing Flinx, but is always a step behind his quarry. Finally, Halvorsen is forced to use other means of tracking his prey.
   
   Halvorsen attacks the flitter containing Flinx, Pip and Bleshmaa, the native guide. Flinx manages to damage Halvorsen's flitter and cause it to return to base. Yet Halvorsen's last shot forces down Flinx's vehicle.
   
   Flinx's flitter finally crashlands in a river. Bleshmaa is severely injured and Flinx is wounded. They are stranded far from civilization.
   
   A group of hunting Tlel are discovered by Pip. They discuss whether to shoot Pip, but finally decide to follow her. When she leads them to Flinx, they check him out and carry him back to their village.
   
   This story follows Flinx in his introduction to the villagers and his appreciation of their ways. A few of the villagers take him onward to his former destination, but find dangers on the way. Flinx is amazed at the nature of the dangers and disappointed to find that the Tlel have violent disputes over philosophy.
   
   Naturally, Flinx has not considered that violence within the Commonwealth and with external enemies -- such as the AAnn -- is often over matters of philosophy (or morality). The humans and the thranx get along so well because they have similar philosophies of life. They are just dissimilar enough to not rub each other raw.
   
   This tale finally answers Flinx's questions about his father. Of course, it doesn't provide any final solutions to his problems. Stay tuned for the next installment!
   
   Recommended for Foster fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of developing youths with strange talents and excellent friends. Any reader who is new to this series will want to start with the first volume: The Tar-Aiym Krang.
   
   -Arthur W. Jordin



5. At last, I thought, Philip Lynx is going to discover his father and the guy will finally be happy. No such luck. The beginning of this is pretty formulaic--Flinx finds Gestalt, the name of a man fitting the age and description of his father, and --with a friendly alien--goes on his search. A hired hitman is also on his trail, and his shuttle is shot down, the friendly alien killed and Flinx left to wander in the snowbound wilderness. Picked up by more friendly aliens, he survives when they perish in an avalanche and he is carried to safety by the man he has come to find. The man admit working on the project which created Flinx but is he really the donor the genetic material which became Philip Lynx? In the background, the alien doomsday weapon is still hovering.... The interaction between Flinx and his probable father and between him and the aliens is entertaining but it's too short with plenty of narration in between--my usual complaint.

5 comments about Death Note: Another Note (Novel) (Death Note).

1. Short and simple this is a very good book to just sit down and read but there's something about the item that just isn't very good. The place where this book shipped out of is 100 miles South of my house, guesse how many days the package took to arive at my house? It took 8, 8 days to ship a book 100 miles, I could walk that distance in 2 days if I tried hard enough. So in short, this is a good book but the shipping on this book is only something a saint could tolerate.



2. Lots of twists and turns in a merely 176 pages novel! Stay true to the original death note spirit. Though with a few flaws as stated by other readers, I'm more than happy and excited to know more about "L". Beware of another "Death Note withdrawal syndrome", I finished this book in less than four hours at B&N, LOL!



3. I ordered this book on july 31st, and got it the very next day. And I gotta say, it is an amazing book. There is so much mystery, puzzle solving, I felt like I wouldn't stop reading. For everyone who are Death Note fans, I recommend this book. You get to know a lot more about Beyond Birthday, I think he was mentioned in the manga; I'm not sure, cause I didn't read most of them, only 7 through 12. The story is also a bit funny, consisting Ryuzaki; going on all fours looking for clues.



4. This was a very quick read and, like the anime and manga of Death Note, is intense and exciting even with little real action. The silly names of some of the characters are a litte strange at first, but I got used to them. I would reccomend anyone who reads this book watch at least the first 7 or 8 episodes of the Death Note anime or read the first volume or two of the manga BEFORE reading Another Note. Anyone totally unfamiliar with Death Note just won't get the full effect of the story.



5. The story of this novel is indeed interesting. It shows events before the appearance of death note and Kira. If you are a fan of death note, this novel is a must read. However, if you are a big fan of L (like me), the ending of the story will be a disappointment for you. The novel is great overall. In the end, you'll find some interesting facts that have never shown in the anime.