5 comments about Golden Fool (The Tawny Man, Book 2).

1. Another great book by Robin Hobb! This book was great and I'd highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of the Farseer Trilogy. I HIGHLY suggest you read the Live Ship Traders trilogy first. It really enhances this trilogy.



2. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book. But I enjoyed it as a part of the overall Fool/Fitz story. I think had I read this book while the series was being written, before the third was published, I'd have had a less charitable opinion. The Hobb books I've read all give something of a satisfying ending (or at least an ending) to each individual book without compromising the overall storyline. This one didn't. Not a big deal with the third book at hand, but still something I didn't like about this book. It also felt slow. I agree that primarily this book, indeed, most of the Fitz books are focused on Fitz's development as a character, but I felt this book was less him developing and more me being frustrated with him still trying to hide from his old life in plain sight and the struggles and frustrations birthed by that.
   
   Still, I love Fitz's storyline from the beginning of Assassin on, so this book is a must read and its shortcomings are highly forgivable.



3. I am happy to report that this book is far more interesting than book 1 of the Tawny Man series. The next book is fantastic. So, get through this and enjoy the final conclusive book.



4. "Golden Fool" book 2 of "The Tawny Man" series by Robin Hobb.
   
   FitzChivalry recently and reluctantly returned to Buckkeep after rescuing Prince Dutiful from the Piebalds. As he always feared his duty to the Farseer crown is never done as he is asked to take up the position of Dutiful's Skillmaster all the while playing the role of servant and helping man to his friend The Fool who continues his masquerade as the noble Lord Golden. Fitz must also assist Chade as the eyes and ears of Buckkeep as Prince Dutiful's betrothed arrives for their betrothal ceremony which complicates all aspects of Fitz's life. Fitz attempts to juggle all of his Buckkeep duties while at the same time trying to keep his adopted son Hap reigned in as he struggles to adjust to town life and with his new duties as an apprentice. As if this wasn't enough for Fitz, the Piebalds are lurking in the background seeking revenge...
   
   This was another great effort by Hobb. I am constantly amazed at her ability to take typically banal situations and write them in an interesting manner. Golden Fool chronicles roughly the year that follows the events taking place in "Fool's Errand (Tawny Man, Book 1)". The usual Hobb plot twist and turns are ever present as is her spectacular writing and characters. Also of note is that a connection is made in "Golden Fool" between the stories of the Farseers, The Fool and the events that take place in "Robin Hobb's Liveship Traders Trilogy (3 Mass Market Paper Backs Ship of Magic, Mad Ship & Ship of Destiny)". This was a great meshing of sagas and if you haven't read "Liveship" it might not be a bad idea to read that sage in between reading "The Farseer" trilogy and the "Tawny Man" Trilogy. If you don't, you will miss something special in this book.
   
   The Good: It is always hard to expand on what makes a Robin Hobb book good. The stories are not overly complex and for their length their isn't a substantial amount that takes place. What continues to bring me back to her stories is her writing ability and the characters that she writes with such great depth. She manages to make even the tritest situations interesting as she displays them through her main character's eyes.
   
   The Bad: Nothing memorable.
   
   Overall: If you have enjoyed Hobb's other works pick this up and give it a try!



5. I dunno about this third trilogy of this bunch. No offense to Lindholm/Hobb, but it really is not doing much for me. Indeed, I liked this more than I did "Fool's Errand" (mostly because I tend to love the slow-paced observation books for their character insight). Which "Golden Fool" certainly does have. The truth is that Hobb is a master writer and her prose and descriptions are beautiful and tasteful. But I just can't get into the over-arching plot of this story. Frankly, while I adore Fitz, the highlight of this book was the cameo mentions of the Bingtown bunch. It's not to say that this isn't a respectable fantasy--it's worth reading if for no other reason than these characters and Hobb's writing. But for me it is simply not living up to the prior two trilogies. Hopefully "Fool's Fate" will bring the punch I'm hoping for.

5 comments about Gotrek & Felix: The First Omnibus (Warhammer).

1. Done with a sense of humor, much better than most of this type of work.



2. Gotrek & Felix: The First Omnibus (Warhammer)
   This series is absolutely fantastic. For any fans out there who want to dive deep into the world of Warhammer via a funny, entertaining and immersive storyline, this is the series to get. Each book focuses on a different plot, but they all interweave perfectly. The characters are rich and the tale of their adventures are descriptive and fascinating. You get a taste of what it's like to live in the Warhammer world, and get exposed to epic tales of battles and lustful encounters. It's a must buy for anyone who wants to get into the Warhammer series!



3. I have not finished reading them but what I have read so far its great
   The author goes in to great details and it helps to understand how it was back in the time they where at. Can not wait to start reading the others



4. These two are great together and I wish there were more books about them. The Warhammer universe is so varied and huge there has to be more room for books. I loved these stories and went out and got the second omnibus immediately!



5. I am somewhat new to the Warhammer Fantasy universe's novels and found this to be a great read. The author did a good job of putting you right in the action and the stories where interesting and fun to read. Definitely am hooked on the series and planning to purchase the rest of the series.

5 comments about Munchkin.

1. This is an easy, introduction to role-playing games. A game can be completed in a couple of hours, so it's not as completely time-consuming as true role-playing games. The monsters and weapons are hilarious.



2. A very fun game for a group who's willing to let their dork hair down.



3. I've never played Dungeons & Dragons (which this game is a satire on), but I am a huge fan of board games and card games. Munchkin is a great game for 3 or more people who don't mind being geeks for a few hours. The game combines a heavy dose of D&D satire, witty puns, pop culture, and mild adult humor. The object of the game is to outfit your character with an arsenal of unusual weapons, items, and abilities in order to slay monsters and gain levels. Your friends are doing the same, and you can benefit from both helping and hindering them. The rules can be a little daunting at first, but players pick it up quickly. Plus, all of the cards have explanations on them. With the exception of "The Need for Steed", the expansions add a great amount of variety to the cards without making the game longer or more complicated. "The Need for Steed" does add a small amount of complexity to the game, but does not make the game longer to play. Although playing with 2 players is technically possible, it is a very different experience and does not compare to playing with 3 or more players.



4. This is a great game. It takes a little bit to learn the rules, but it is well worth it. It is a great find.



5. I played this for the first time with my husband, sister and a friend. My husband is a gamer and has been for years. The rest of us are not (we run in fear from gamers). The non-gamers found this to be an easy to pick up game (with my husband also acting as rulesmaster and dumbing down some of the finer points of the game for us). My husband had fun and found the inside jokes amusing. So this is an enjoyable game for everyone to play regardless of their gamer experience.

5 comments about The Princess and the Goblin (Puffin Classics - the Essential Collection).

1. The Princess and the Goblin is a truly delightful tale that is beautifully told by George MacDonald and deserves five stars. But, I will not attempt to review the story itself, for there are such wonderful descriptions and testimonies from other reviewers on this page concerning the content of MacDonald's work. However, I would like to describe the Puffin Classics edition in a little more detail. Please be aware that the Puffin's paperback cover is very soft and not as durable as other paperback covers. As well, the paper quality is rather grainy, which may not hold up well in the years to come. Thus, I have allotted this product four stars. On a positive note, I am pleased that the publishers kept the nostalgic illustrations by Arthur Hughes. Also, this copy has been edited well for typos and simple mistakes. With these particular points in mind, I would like to encourage the potential buyer to consider other editions of the text as well. Everyman's Childrens Library (The Princess and the Goblin (Everyman's Library Children's Classics Series)) has produced a hardback copy, which may be a better choice if the copy is to be given to a child. Also, for the MacDonald researcher or literary student, I would highly recommend the Johannesen edition(The Princess and the Goblin (George Macdonald Original Works)) since it is an authoritative edition. However, when it comes to the price, the Puffin Classics edition can not help but to be rather tempting. I hope these few notes have been helpful - Happy shopping.



2. When I was 8, the same age as the girl in the story (a princess-of course!)I read this book time and time again. I couldn't get enough of it. My mom had died when I was a baby, so I never knew her, and longed for a silver haired granny in a tower who would wash my face with water from a silver basin and have stars on the ceiling of my bedroom. Anyhow, I just read it again after many long years....almost 50! and it's just as good a story now as then...very sweet and nicely written. Excellent!



3. This is one of the books that JRR Tolkien used to read to his children. It was published around 1872 and it has a very Victorian vibe to it. The good guys are too good to be true. I kept waiting for the great great grandmother to turn out to be some sort of evil witch who first gained Irene's trust, and then kidnapped her. Nope, the great great grandmother was good and pure to the very end. Also, having 12 year old children (like Curdie) working in the mines at all hours with no adult supervision seemed to be A-OK with the Victorians.
   
   It is a nice story, but it's very 19th century. If you'd like to buy this, please consider this version:
   
   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1881084140
   
   This is a hardcover reproduction of a 19th century version of the book, and has color plates and black and white drawings, both.
   
   To be honest, the other book that JRR Tolkien read to his children is "The Wonderful Land of Snergs." This is the one where he got his idea for the hobbits. It's a much better story, but maybe that's because it was published in 1928, and so has a more modern writing technique.
   
   See it here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0486452557



4. Book arrived in very good condition and on time. Who could ask for anything more??



5. These books are pleasing to look at, have heavy paper with beautiful illustrations. The cloth like hardcover and illustration are much prettier in person than in the photograph.

5 comments about A Fire Upon The Deep (Zones of Thought).

1. WOW, what a great find!! This is a wonderful "old school" space opera that contains all the necessary elements, i.e. space battles, alien races, great characterization and ancient civilizations with a little medieval action thrown in for good measure.
   
   Usually, reading about alien, animal cultures is something that I try to avoid, but I was amazed by the complexity, depth and integration that Mr. Vinge has achieved with this subject. I had a little difficultly with the first fifth of the book due to the concepts of the "Tines' mind speak" and the "galactic zone", but the understanding is well worth the effort.
   
   This is a stand-alone book, so few out there now, but it was so well written and entertaining I have ordered "A Deepness in the Sky".



2. The story seems wonderful, and there are many other reviews about that, so this is just a comment on the two Kindle versions currently available. The one that says "Special Edition eBook" in the title contains links to notes all through the text. The links are somewhat distracting (although you eventually learn to ignore them), and the notes don't really add any value, at least not to me. However, this is still the version I recommend because the other one (not the Special Edition) does not honor your font size preferences and it seems to be completely pre-formatted, with unnecessarily large margins and some sections of text (written messages, etc.) that are too small to see. Hopefully this review will keep you from purchasing both versions just to decide which one you want. Go with the Special Edition and learn to mentally filter out the links to the notes.



3. I'm not impressed by the alien dog creatures, while their design is thought provoking, their story being in a medieval setting is not that interesting. But the rest of the book more than make up for it by description of high-tech worlds and characters with depth.



4. Vernor Vinge's stories operate on many levels, all of which are enjoyable. At its core, this book is an epic space opera. The plot is great, and the character development is some of the best I've ever encountered. Vinge's books also explore fascinating ideas in a far future setting, many of which are informed by his former life as a computer science professor at San Diego State University. Perhaps the most compelling thing about this book is the humanist depiction of alien species. Very few authors I've read have explored the ethics, sociology, and moral conscience that comprise the human soul in such a compelling manner. What makes it more interesting is that the most "human" characters in Vinge's stories are members of alien species.
   
   Highly recommended.



5. A Fire Upon the Deep is one of my favorite fiction novels of the past twenty years. The story is enthralling, with a sense of desperation that made it almost impossible for me to stop reading and twists that seem shocking but make perfect sense in retrospect. The story boasts some of the most intriguing and creative aliens in science fiction, especially the Tines. The setting itself is one of the best and most imaginative in science fiction, offering almost unlimited possibilities for any number of stories.
   
   With the Zones of Thought, Vinge created one of the most fascinating worlds in fiction. The concept of the Zones themselves is one of the most unusual and creative I have seen, and Vinge does an excellent job of extrapolating the consequences. Vinge creates a feeling of a galactic society that is thriving, full of activity and life, but simultaneously creates a sense of eeriness and even dread in various ways: The incomprehensible Powers, perilous information archives billions of years old that impress the universe's sheer age upon the reader and contrasts it with the mayfly existence of individual species, and a sense that all of galactic civilization exists on a sort of precipice, trying to exploit the vast possibilities of technology and artificial intelligence without being destroyed by them- with many species ultimately falling over the edge. And yet, this doesn't stop Vinge from also creating a sense of excitement and adventure.
   
   A Fire Upon the Deep is absolutely essential reading for fans of science fiction. Vinge fills a single book with enough ideas for several, and brings them together with a thrilling story that I felt like I had to race through without catching a breath to find out what would happen next. It's one of the few books I've read multiple times as an adult, and each reread has brought out new detail and a greater richness to the story and setting. If you have any interest in science fiction, do not miss this.

5 comments about CivilWarLand in Bad Decline.

1. the kind of book that makes reading a PLEASURE. mr saunders has an incredible immagination and writes clean direct prose, and (best of all) is not afraid (or is capable of) writing ENJOYABLE stories. so many authors (especially short stories writers) simply crap out pretentious writer workship type material without any story to tell at all. Such writing is simply empty ego (hidden under the delusion that the writer is being "important"). this wonderful author actually has stories to tell, on top of fantastic prose skills. one of the best short story collections i have ever read. thank you, mr. saunders.



2. Saunders kindly presents us with another collection of stories written with such incredible skill as to seem effortless. He further explores passivity and consumerism, and features more failing theme parks marketing specific American historical periods to gullible tourists. The novella, "Bounty", about a mutant's journey cross-country to save his sister, is brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.
   
   These stories are not as overtly humorous as most of his others, but still just as enveloping and sharp. If you're not a bad person, you should be reading George Saunders' output. And loving it.



3. I can't help but feel like a jackass for coming to the game so late. It has been over ten years since Civilwarland in Bad Decline was first published and introduced George Saunders to the literary world. As a guy who is constantly pounding the table about the value of short stories, I look a bit o' the fool for having not read and known the value of Saunders' debut collection. What a way to kick in the doors and make an entrance into the literary world.
   
   Saunders is amazingly comfortable in his own skin -- he's running with a great stride in these stories, carrying the reader along with him effortlessly. Nothing ever seems forced. Both Flannery O'Connor and Mavis Gallant had that same ability, and in many ways Saunders is as adept at writing stories that seemed to have been set down on earth and exist (you never feel as if you're reading, you are a witness).
   
   It is an American vision, albeit a twisted, dark, and tragicomic one. The world of Saunders' stories is our America, but turned inside out, revealing our ugly insides. And that alone makes them a pleasure to read.
   
   On the surface most of the tales in Civilwarland in Bad Decline focus around theme parks or attractions that at first seem absurd, but as you read into the story, don't seem that implausible. The Civilwarland theme park of the title story is savaged by teenage gangs, has authentic civil-war era tormented souls, and a reconstructed Eerie Canal complete with a historically inaccurate smell of Chinese food. There is the water park sporting a "Leaping Trout Subroutine" for authenticity and a very deadly wave pool. Oh and the not-so-perfect holographic projection franchise and the not-so-on-the-level raccoon disposal business and a science museum that includes pickled babies and cows with plexiglass stomachs. I almost forgot to mention the medieval times theme park staffed by mutants. But nothing works, or at least not the way it should. The bird count in Civilwarland is off so they have to kill several hundred orioles. The plexiglass cows keep dying. The wave pool sucks small children into the turbines. The holograph devices can actually siphon a customer's memories. It is a strange America that Saunders presents to us, but not so far-fetched. It is just our foibles and desires and sins amplified to comic effect. This is usually why most people cannot go three lines without mentioning Vonnegut when talking about Saunders' stories.
   
   But the superstructures that hold up all these stories are simple morality tales. Most, with the exception of "Downtrodden Mary's Failed Campaign of Terror," center around emasculated or down-trodden men having to face up to the consequences of their actions. It gives the stories their sadness and their hook. One moment you're laughing at Saunders wit only to be sucker punched by the reality of a character's situation. The narrator of the title story, discovering that his de facto security guard has taken his role a little too seriously upon capturing a teenage candy thief, is forced to bury a severed hand behind the theme park. As he digs, he's confronted by the ghosts of the park -- a civil-war era family who really haven't gotten over the whole death thing -- launching the otherworldly collective into a Macbeth like hand wringing scene. It breaks your heart.
   
   And that is what makes these stories works so perfectly. They break you down, even as they have you laughing out loud. The best story in the collection, "Isabelle," is almost an odd-duck as it is a straight tale of small town life. But it destroys you. It lays you out flat on a slab. The prose is simple, precise, razor-sharp. In all good short story collections, there is always one piece that justifies the cost of the others. "Isabelle" is worth the price of the book alone.
   
   The collection is not perfect. The final novella, "Bounty," while entertaining in parts feels like an unneeded, over-extended exclamation point to the stories in front of it. If I had to guess, the publisher included it so as not to make the collection seem too short. And in some ways, the recurring themes can start to feel heavy-handed as you get four or five stories into the book. But Saunders always saves the day. His writing is so perfectly witty, sharp, and poignant, that you're willing to drop the petty criticisms and follow the tale. That is a sign of great writing.



4. 
   I first read George Saunders in a 2005 issue of Harper's Magazine, and found that story, "Brad Carrigan, American" to be a refreshing, albeit somewhat cavalier absurdist satire of modern American life, underscored by a real moral imperative. Saunders is clearly much attuned to and deeply concerned by the ways in which our superficial consumer culture shadows its own inherent violence and spiritual impoverishment. Or something like that. These same concerns are also reflected in his earliest stories.
   
   Published in 1996, Civilwarland is Saunders' first collection, featuring six stories and a novella. The stories are, for the most part, a disappointing series rehashing a similar theme. Each of the pieces in this collection is written in the first person and narrated in the same basic voice: male, passive, disempowered, usually impotent. In one story the narrator is apparently female, but the sense is the same. With one exception, all of the pieces involve a themed amusement park of some sort where the narrator is an employee, and in every instance the narrative is punctuated by several arbitrary acts of brutal violence. I found the repetitive hyperbolic satire of these stories to be obnoxious and over-blown, angry and frustrated without offering any real insight.
   
   Through the working out of his one-trick thematic structure, Saunders seems to trying to get at something, and he finally achieves a measure of real craft in the collection's novella, "Bounty," which comprises half the book. This dystopian, tragicomic work of speculative fiction, set in a near future suffering the consequences of our moral and environmental destructiveness, echoes Margaret Atwood's masterful book Oryx and Crake. The novella, unlike the other pieces in Civilwarland, is actually engaging, a fairly well-developed and redeeming tale where Saunders' hilariously mangled corporate-correctness-speak shines. Still, with half the book a loss, it's difficult to recommend.



5. 
   Ignore the haters. This is a fine book of short stories by a very
   talented author. Some stories are laugh out loud funny, some will
   touch your heart, all of them are worth your time. Don't miss out
   on reading them. As I write this, I realize that this probably is
   my favorite collection of short stories that I've read as of late.

5 comments about Servant: The Awakening (Servant).

1. Okay, I really liked this book- I couldn't put it down. I bought it even though it sounded like a remake of "Buffy: the Vampire Slayer". This is not a new story in that I've read stories along the same lines a hundred times and it's not as BAM in your face and wonderful as one would have to be to claim the idea as its own brew.
   
   The leading character is very brash but you can see why she might be like that not letting anyone in. If this was a first and only book about her then the writer failed miserably at bringing her character around- which Gaby needs to have done to her. However, it looks like there will be more.
   
   One part that irks me is there were some surprise little tidbits that I just couldn't imagine happening.. One example being when the COP just all of a sudden grabbed Gaby's chest for no reason at all. He's suppose to be this angel and they aren't having sex or doing anything and he just grabs her chest. All of the sex or sexual dialogue in this book seemed.. odd or abrupt.
   
   So it wasn't perfect, but I would say it was worth reading. Get it on sale though, mine was expensive.



2. I was at a Lori Foster book signing a few weeks ago and picked up this book. She told me it was a different style for her and a little scary so I was ready for that.
   
   Didn't like
   1. Gaby only being 21. By that age your adult personality is barely formed.
   2. The age difference between Luther and Gaby. He was old enough to be her father. Ick!
   3. Gaby sounded unattractive in appearance and attitude and Luther's total opposite so why was he drawn to her?
   4. Hard to decide whether Gaby was a good guy or a bad guy.
   
   However I think Lori was laying the groundwork on this one and that her characters will be more fleshed out and likeable in the next book in the series which I plan to get.
   **I too noticed that the cover drawing did not look like how Gaby was described at all but I think that was supposed to be Gaby's alter ego, the heroine in her graphic novel.



3. Overall I liked this book, but I had problems with some parts of it. Gaby is only 21 and she has so much to learn, but she is so rude and has such a foul mouth. Mort is her landlord and a wimp, but becomes her sidekick later in the book. Luther is a cop and may in a future book, become her lover, future love? Gaby is a type of Slayer? She hunts down evil. I will have to read the next book in the series to see if I grow to like Gaby any better.



4. I was surprised after reading this book that it was in the romance section of my library. The book sounded interesting and I love to read paranormal books so why not? I was wrong because it has nothing to do with paranormal. Not really.
   
   The character, Gaby Cody, is one tough girl. She is the epitome of anti-social. She is used to fighting for herself and taking on the weight of the world. She is also used to living life as alone as possible. She barely tolerates her landlord, Mort. SHe treats him horribly yet, he still continues to try and cook for her and take care of her. Mort claims to see something more underneath the tough exterior.
   
   Then there is Detective Luther Cross who seems to be a character who can get any woman he wants but he is only interested in Gaby. Meanwhile, Gaby really wants to drop him and move on. She wants to follow her mission in life and Luther keeps getting in the way of that mission. However, for once in her single life, she is drawn to Luther. She suddenly wants to know about intimacy and what it would be like to have a friend. This does not mean that she suddenly speaks kindly to Luther or Mort. However, she does not hesitate to rush to their rescue or warn them.
   
   I had a hard time in dealing with the fact that Luther knows that Gaby has broken the law but he still cares for her and is letting her do as she pleases. What cop would allow anyone to assault them and do nothing about it? C'mon!
   
   While I enjoyed it for the fantasy that it is, I do tend to agree with other reviewers regarding Gaby's lack of desirable traits and attitude. It is very hard to continue reading page after page of a character cursing, fighting, and never being kind to anyone. How can I cheer for her accomplishments or feel for her, if there is nothing for me to relate to? I am annoyed with Mort for being so weak and thinking that he needs her friendship. She is a very destructive person and if I was Mort, I would be too terrified and nervous to be around her especially after seeing her in bloody clothes. What does he really get out of the relationship? It is not like they are going to hang out and enjoy each other's company. I am surprised that Luther wants to still try and be with Gaby. Perhaps, he likes an extremely difficult challenge and he will not be denied to protect his male pride. However, I think that he could do better. I would think that Luther has too much self-respect for himself to continuously allow himself to be treated like dirt.
   
   I still liked the concept of the book and I plan to read the next book. I do want to know if Gaby is less intense in the next book and if Luther gets any further with Gaby. However, I do think that L.L. Foster has her work cut out for her to tone down Gaby's extremely unlikeable attitude. All in all, I still recommend this book since it is different than other books in the fantasy genre.



5. I loved this book! I'm not a big fan of urban fantasy, so I really didn't know what to expect, but I was blown away by the story and character development. I found it totally engrossing from start to finish. My compliments to the author:-)
   
   Becky

5 comments about Battle Royale.

1. Yes you heard me right, Ive read this book so many times that im on my third new copy, thr other two having fallen apart to peiced from being read too many times.
   
   This book is a Gory, violent, bloody, paranois, vicious, nail-biting, revenge seeking, MASTERPEICE. I wont give away ANY details in this review, because this is one of those books that if you jump into it completely unprepared, you will be blown off the edge of your seat. I have rarely been so taken away into a book like this one did. You feel the absoloute terror of all of the characters and you wonder; will anyone survive? When will which friends turn on each other? If anyone lives, will they be able to get revenge?
   If your squeamish, do NOT, i repeat, do not read this book. But if your an action, horror, and mystery fan, you MUST read this book.



2. If I could, I'd give the book 3 and a half stars. The only real knock I have against this book is the rough translation. It's about as rough as translations get. I know it must be hard translating Japanese into English but man...I really feel it took away from the book. Other than that, like I said, if you know what to expect it's an enjoyable read.



3. 42 students in a dystopic, totalitarian Japan are taken to an evacuated island after being gassed on a bus, believing that they were on a field trip, and wake up in a classroom of the island's local school. To their horror, their sadistic, childish "Instructor" Kinpatsu Sakamochi announces that they are to be part of the year's Program, better known as Battle Royale.
   
   So begins Koushun Takami's bloody thriller as the junior-high students are released onto the island and, according to the rules of the Battle Royale, are to kill each other to the last 15-year old standing. Each student wears an explosive collar that will detonate should one of them break a rule or enter a "forbidden zone," areas on the island that are called off-limits by the instructor to make the playing field smaller. Distrust, past grudges, and in some cases vengeance all begin to manifest as the players are each given a weapon (ranging from a shotgun to a fork) and in a daze scatter across the island. It doesn't take long for the game to begin, despite what our protagonist, Shuya Nanahara hopes. Shuya pledges to protect Noriko Nakagawa, the crush of his friend, and soon they are joined by a tough survivalist, Shogo Kawada, whose past and trustworthiness are of course obscured through most of the story. Their opponents? Practically everyone as they devolve into paranoid wrecks. In particular though, there's Kazuo Kiriyama, a sociopathic, efficient killer, and Mitsuko Souma, a ruthless girl venting her frustrations and fury at her past abuses on her fellow classmates. Some kids form alliances, only to see them crumble, others try to form plans to escape, like athletic and intelligent Shinji Mimura and his friend, the class clown.
   
   This book is altogether not too bad, although there are numerous concerns. For one, it seems a bit lengthy for a novel of this type, and it seems like the author could have spaced out the killings and fights a little more. It can be rather boring at times, despite its subject matter, and there are some continuity issues, like the fact that Kazuo's machine gun appears to have infinite ammo, or a junior high student could have computer hacking skills that potentially disrupt the government's own system. The most pressing issue may be the grammar and-as other reviewers have pointed out- this could be the translation. As the book progresses, the grammatical errors only seem to get worse, until a page can be wracked with, among other less noticeable problems, missing words and unnecessary detail described in robotic fashion. The phrase, "That's right" must literally be used at least a hundred times throughout the novel, whether in dialogue or in the narrative itself (the author tends to practically switch to 1st person in some instances). Twice he even parenthesis's a scream.
   
   The story is good, the author's true skill at writing sporadically comes through the mélange of grammar flaws, and the characters are interesting; the point of view of each student is described at least once, even if said character may be killed at its finish. While the exact motivation for the Battle Royale program on the part of the "Republic of Greater East Asia" is never clearly explained, the despotic regime is actually believable. Finally, it can be fun and disturbing to imagine a given group of people you know, a class, workplace, or just a group of friends, in such a situation and figuring out who would do what.



4. (Please read Full review for clarity of what I am about to say)
   
   This is a Horrible book!
   
   By horrible I mean that it is an Excellent book, well paced, extrememly well written and includes characters (Not JUST the leads) that you actually Care about...
   
   ...which is where the true Horror comes in.
   
   Some out there might have seen the movie, detailing what happens when an oppressive government (think of life under Pol Pot, Kim Jong III or Hillary Clinton) forces jr, high school students to kill each other in a fight to the death. Now, the movie version was slightly edited down - it would have to be, to fit into the time frame of a film - and really only examined the motivations of the Main characters for the most part. Not so with this book.
   
   Most of the characters are given their own (sometimes small) moments in the sun - the author really gets into their heads and hearts for the most part and makes the reader care - sometimes deeply - about them.
   
   Which is a shame as most die horribly.
   
   There are one or two subplots, one character in particular devises an elaborate plot to retaliate - but ... well, i don't want to ruin things, but the author shows that intellect, friendship, young love, kindness, innocence - even madness - mean nothing in this bleak horrible game.
   
   It is very effective and thought provoking, but heart wrenching. There is also a different ending than what is seen in the movie, and one or two places that are hard to follow due to "loss in translation from Japanese to English" but these are minor concerns.
   
   An excellent read and a strong book, but it is very very explicit and sad.
   
   Five stars plus!



5. If a boy about the age of 10 read the original novel, he would have soiled himself, had nightmares until he was 20, and then some!!!!
   
   
   Battle Royale is set in Tokyo (In the novel it is referred as the Republic of Greater East Asia) where ninth grade students are randomly chosen to fight each other to the death on a deserted island. The students are provided weapons (guns, knives etc.) to quote from the movie, "Eliminate natural advantages." It is not for the faint of heart. There is graphic murder and violence and sexual talk and near-relations.
   
   
   
   
   
   BE CAREFUL!!! But, it is an excellent and revolutionary book READ if not FAINT of HEART!!!!

No comments about Huesped/ The Host.

5 comments about The Conquering Sword of Conan (Conan of Cimmeria, Book 3).

1. Most people have heard of Conan the Barbarian, what with the comic books and the movies, but few people really *know* Conan.
   
   When I first began reading Robert E Howard's Conan stories my expectations were quite low, I expected Conan to be a stock "hack everyone to bits" hero with little depth. As I continued to read I became more and more amazed at the staggering difference between Howard's Conan and the muscle bound galoot characterised by Hollywood.
   
   Conan, of course is a barbarian, a man brought up in the hardened lands of Cimmeria, taught at an early age to fight, ride and survive. But at the same time he is a dichotomy; a man of furious, explosive fighting prowess tempered with a thoughtful intelligence that defeats his enemies in battle not simply by use of brawn, but with a mind that knows how to outwit opponents with superior strategies and brilliant, off-the-cuff, tactical decisions.
   
   He has many friends, many enemies, plays many parts; the mercenary, the reaver, the pirate, the commando and eventually a wise and just king. But for all these things the underlying barbarian is never far from him. It is the thing that defines him, and with it he has a code of honor that often puts, so-called, civilised people to shame.
   
   If you buy this book it is well worth the price if only for "Beyond the Black River", which in my estimation is one of the finest Conan tales by Howard. But there are four other admirable tales included as well. Enjoy.



2. Dont miss out on these Robert E. Howard Books, to bad he killed himself, or we may of had more than 12. I have to give 5 stars i loved them, its the only fantasy books i have ever read



3. This is one of three books containing the original Conan stories, as written by Robert E. Howard.
   The stories in these books are organized in the order they were written, which helps see Howard's development of Conan and of the new (at the time) sword and sorcery genre.
   
   There are other collections of Conan stories out there (in particular the 12-book series), but those collections contain revised ("modernized") version of Howard's Conan stories, and Conan stories by other authors (such as L. Sprague De Camp and Lin Carter) which may be worthwhile stories, but they're definitely NOT Howard Conan stories.
   
   Enjoy this volume; enjoy all three volumes. The original Howard stories are definitely a gift.



4. It is amazing that Conan and all the stories he featured in could be covered in three books. I have the first and have to get the second, and I will, but the fact that such a huge Hero in the sword-and-sorcery genre came out of only a five year time period of short stories seems to me to be as amazing as how realistic the character is. He is flawed, humorous, sometimes greedy, always willing to bed a pretty lady and has a heart of gold. And, of course, nerves of iron. While you may watch the movies or the TV series, remember the real Conan are on the pages of these books.
   Get them new or used.



5. I will just make this short and to the point. 'speechless'.
   He was a master at storytelling. I would recommend this to any one who enjoys the sword/sorcery genre. I have this in hardbound, but cannot find vol 1 and 2 in hardbound.