tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17721957269271873742024-03-19T01:48:03.562-07:00Hamilcar's BooksHamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.comBlogger1122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-80312654321252646252024-03-18T14:42:00.001-07:002024-03-18T15:05:59.557-07:00Chasing Daisy - Scott Baron<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV48BlbMH21dCR6oF7cwsDe-OOyLIGha1ChktvJhDErl2U1Vv8xU-Lnur-tRfkngv3t6v6V-iRzrwYySaDl22GTqX3pXsL7ghc-18lxpu5KE80_1tuQ-MSeh6XhGXmVmGTK5h7Lkx5gkwvaZpcY3n3y-SaZogE_fK8nKCfBf7ccfJ_enh_eNDgFYoiQEY/s500/chasing%20daisy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV48BlbMH21dCR6oF7cwsDe-OOyLIGha1ChktvJhDErl2U1Vv8xU-Lnur-tRfkngv3t6v6V-iRzrwYySaDl22GTqX3pXsL7ghc-18lxpu5KE80_1tuQ-MSeh6XhGXmVmGTK5h7Lkx5gkwvaZpcY3n3y-SaZogE_fK8nKCfBf7ccfJ_enh_eNDgFYoiQEY/s320/chasing%20daisy.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2018; 384 pages. Book 4 (out of 5) in the series <span style="color: #7030a0;">“The Clockwork Chimera”</span>. New Author? : No. Genre : Space Opera; Alien Invasion Sci-Fi. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">7½*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> It’s time to finish the task. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> With Daisy’s crucial help, the ragtag crew of humans, Chithiids, cyborgs, and Artificial Intelligences have
sent the alien Ra’az baddies, who were in the process of stripping Earth of all
its natural resources, fleeing in their spaceships to somewhere on the other
side of the galaxy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Next up is the liberation of
the Chithiids’ home planet, Taangaar.
Then it’s on to Ra’azengar, the home planet of the baddies.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There are a couple things
holding up progress. First, no one is
exactly sure of where the Ra’az home planet is, and the universe is a hugely
big place to go searching blindly. Even
more importantly, Daisy and her friends don’t possess warp-drive
technology. Without that, trying to
fly somewhere thousands of lightyears away will take . . . erm . . . thousands
upon thousands of years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Maybe we should have some of
the AI beings work on that. Unless
someone can think of a quicker way of gaining that technology.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Chasing Daisy</span>
is the fourth book in Scott Baron’s (completed) <span style="color: #7030a0;">“Clockwork
Chimera”</span> series. The first half
of the book dovetails with the neat plot twist at the end of Book 3, wherein Daisy
learns that Quantum Physics predicts that, theoretically, not only can you instantly jump from one <b>place</b>
in the universe to any other site, but you can also travel from one <b>time</b>
to another just as easily.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The first half of <i>Chasing
Daisy</i> consists of her, Freya, and Sarah learning to function on a different
timeline. Like all conscientious
time-travelers, they do their best to avoid creating temporal paradoxes, but
their track record in this regard is less than perfect. Indeed, they get quite adept at “correcting”
earlier plotline anomalies, such as the <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“mysterious
sniper”</span></i> that Finn and his group encountered, a while back in the past, while doing a recon
mission in Rome.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Every reader of time-travel
novels knows that such timeline alterations mean that Daisy’s triad risks being
blipped out of existence at any moment.
Fortunately, History apparently is quite able to adjust to such things,
albeit occasionally having to create anomalies like two “yous”. See first excerpt, below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The multiple-timeline issues are
eventually resolved, and the second half of the book focuses on the efforts by Daisy
and the Dark Side personnel <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(at a surviving space base on the far side of the moon)</span></i>
to organize, and rally the disparate factions of inhabitants, both organic and
inorganic, to unite in what, sadly, may well be a suicide mission.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending is adequate, given
that this is an “in-between” book, and should not be read as a standalone
tale. The good guys are poised to
attempt to liberate the Chithiid homeworld, and I liked that the bad guys have
some tricks up their sleeve as well. Things
once again close with a deft little plot twist that I didn’t see coming and
which I’m sure will impact our heroes’ chances of success against the Ra’az.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.6/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>388 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>30 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">4.39/5</span></b> based on <b><i>333
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>32 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“<i>I still don’t think she believes you about
me, though.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “I know, but she will.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “You talking to the invisible me again?”
Sarah asked, her doubting eyebrow held in a high arch.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “<i>Told ya so.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “But she’s real,” Freya interjected. “She’s you, Sarah. Well, not <i>you</i>, you, but you who has
experienced what the other you hasn’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> She stared at Daisy disbelievingly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Do you guys really expect me to believe
you have a little piece of me living in your head?”</span><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 15939)</span></i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“Hi, Finn,” Sarah said, stepping out from
behind a large equipment mover.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The jovial chef nearly choked on his cookie
in shock. The other <i>Vali</i> crew
were likewise floored by her sudden appearance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “But…” Doctor McClain managed to blurt
while the rest of the crew remained stunned and speechless.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “But I’m dead. Yeah, I know,” Sarah said with a little
laugh. “And let me tell you, being dead
sucks.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(loc. 17648)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Chasing
Daisy</span> costs <b><i>$3.99</i></b> at Amazon right now. The other four books in the series are each in
the <b><i>$0.99-$3.99</i></b> range, and there is also a bundle of all five books for only <b><i>$7.99</i></b>, which is the format I’m
reading. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Fire it up,
Freya. Let’s do the time warp again.” </span></i><i>(loc. 15234)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There’s a moderate amount of
profanity. I noted 15 instances in the
first 10% <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(first 4 chapters, actually)</span></i>
of the book, which is fairly normal for this series.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Once again, the <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">”Planning-versus-Doing Ratio”</span></i> is heavily
weighted towards the former. But I
suspect this is inevitable for any “in-between” book in a series. And kudos to whoever did the editing on <span style="color: #990000;">Chasing Daisy</span>.
I noted only two typos, both of the <span style="color: #7030a0;">effect/affect</span>
ilk, which is always a tough call.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> These are quibbles. I’m enjoying <span style="color: blue;">The
Clockwork Chimera</span> series, but I’ve yet to figure out what that
series' title references. And yes, this is
your typical <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“save the post-apocalyptic world”</span></i>
storyline, but somehow Scott Baron is managing to put a unique spin on that
trope.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Everything is now set for the ultimate showdown with the Ra’az. I’m eager
to see what the Planning-versus-Doing Ratio will be for the final
installment in this series, <span style="color: #c00000;">Daisy’s War</span>. And to repeat, I strongly recommend investing in
the 5-book bundle detailed above. This is one series that's definitely better when read in
order.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">7½ Stars</span></b>. Oh yeah, one last thing. One of the plot threads in <span style="color: #990000;">Chasing Daisy</span> is left unresolved. A fascinating character named <b>Arlo</b> makes a grand entrance around the halfway point of the book, bearing an urgent message for Daisy.
But who is he, how did he know where to find Daisy, who sent him, and is he
a White Hat or a Black Hat? I am looking forward to finding out in the next book.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-61167300026146164172024-03-13T15:25:00.002-07:002024-03-13T15:25:55.679-07:00The Night of Four Hundred Rabbits - Elizabeth Peters<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVw9gfHNDsvlR_igSr38rVqoxzAD4iZFbJjbC702xosKF5JQyGNQYseCb88rRmIMWzR-LQZX05lB6azt_5BiBq4mY7c3rOxAHFVipeMU7Vs1jx_7SdBDHP0TiJN3AUigIrbZlw2WB1m7txMLPDDSmwxzR_5X7IF1534Tdz4OOlikGSUGgPBXjPqXVpCA/s500/night%20of%20400%20rabbits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVw9gfHNDsvlR_igSr38rVqoxzAD4iZFbJjbC702xosKF5JQyGNQYseCb88rRmIMWzR-LQZX05lB6azt_5BiBq4mY7c3rOxAHFVipeMU7Vs1jx_7SdBDHP0TiJN3AUigIrbZlw2WB1m7txMLPDDSmwxzR_5X7IF1534Tdz4OOlikGSUGgPBXjPqXVpCA/s320/night%20of%20400%20rabbits.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i>1971; 343
pages. New Author? : No. Genres: Amateur Sleuth; Travelogue; Mystery-Suspense;
Drug Lecture; Mexico. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">4*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> All in all, Carol Farley has coped well. As a child, she was always closer to her dad
than her mom. George always read books
to her, and they loved sharing giggles together at some of the funny
parts. Those were good times.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Then, ten years ago, her dad
disappeared. Without a trace. Without an explanation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But it didn’t crush
Carol. She’s a college student now, and
has a boyfriend, Danny, to whom she’ll surely get married once she gets her
degree. Today, she’s just returned to
school after Christmas vacation, and there’s a letter waiting for her. Containing a newspaper clipping. With a photograph. Of her father.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> In good health. In a tuxedo.
At some swank party. Enjoying
himself. In Mexico City.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Carol's path is clear. It’s time to extend her Christmas vacation a few more days and take a trip
south of the border. And have a confrontation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">The Night of Four
Hundred Rabbits</span> is written in the first-person POV, Carol’s. It chronicles her trip to Mexico City to get
some answers from her father. On one
hand she’s relieved, since paternal foul play can now be ruled out. On the other hand, she’s pissed since it’s
now obvious he voluntarily chose to desert his family a decade ago.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The father-daughter meeting
occurs fairly early in the book. Unsurprisingly it spawns more questions than answers, the first of which of
course is: who sent that newspaper clipping to Carol, and why, and how did they
know her address? From there, things quickly get
more complicated.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Since she’s in Mexico City,
with boyfriend Danny, Carol decides to take in the sights, in particular the
old Aztec ruins of Tenochtitlan. Even though the info-dumps of these archaeological visits were awkwardly written, Carol's trips there were my favorite parts of the story.
Also, since Carol’s Spanish vocabulary is quite limited, it was amusing to watch her struggle to communicate with the locals, yet it was fun to watch her learn a few words in Spanish, as well as
gain an appreciation for the Mexican culture and Aztec history.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending is adequate but
contrived. The plans of the bad guys are
thwarted, but that’s because they arrogantly reveal too much, thus making it
easy for the good guys. I call this the
<i><span style="color: #800180;">“Austin Powers syndrome”</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i>The Night of Four Hundred
Rabbits</i> is a standalone novel, and quite a divergence from Elizabeth
Peters’ more-famous <span style="color: #7030a0;">Amelia Peabody</span>
series. I was intrigued by the <span style="color: blue;">400 Rabbits</span> referenced in the book’s title, and which
is given two explanations in the text.
To reveal those meanings would be a spoiler.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“They really dig blondes in the Latin
countries. You don’t think I’d let you
go wandering off alone, do you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “My hero,” I murmured, touching my cheek.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Your gigolo. I don’t have a dime.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Oh, stop that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “What’s mine is yours, what’s yours is
mine?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Of course, I thought we agreed that money
was the lousy root of all evil.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Right.
The thing to do is spend it fast before it can corrupt you.” </span><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(pg. 35)</span></i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“I freaked out,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “You sure did.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “What did I say? Did you write it down?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “No.
You said that the universe was a vast cesspool of love.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “What?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “That was your best effort. You said it seventy-nine times. I counted.
While I was cleaning up the rug where you threw up.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(pg. 201)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…<br />
</span></i> Amazon: <b><span style="color: blue;">4.1*/5</span></b>, based on <b><i>166 ratings</i></b>
and <b><i>25 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Goodreads: <b><span style="color: blue;">3.49*/5</span></b>,
based on <b><i>2,025
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>91 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Hotel,” I said,
wishing to God I had taken Spanish instead of World Philosophy in my junior
year. </span></i><i>(pg. 191)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There’s only a smattering of
profanity in <span style="color: #990000;">The Night of Four Hundred Rabbits</span>. I counted just seven instances in the first
third of the book, and they were all of the “milder” 4-letter variety. Nor is there any sex, which is surprising
since college-age Carol is traveling with her beau, yet takes time to mention that she is still a virgin.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Drugs are another
matter. I came away feeling the author’s
main purpose for writing this story was to rant about the mortal dangers of drug usage. Yes, she takes a few jabs at <i><span style="color: #800180;">pot, pep pills,</span></i>
and <i><span style="color: #800180;">heroin</span></i>; but mostly she rails against psychedelics of all kinds: <i><span style="color: #800180;">mescaline,
peyote, LSD</span></i>, and <i><span style="color: #800180;">psilocybin</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> As mentioned already, there are some
blatantly amateurish info dumps, including a vague reference to Art
Linkletter’s daughter’s fatal attempt to fly.
At one point, she also has Carol take an unintended acid trip. Reading that, all I can say is it's evident that
Elizabeth Peters’ research did <b>NOT</b> involve experiencing any hallucinations firsthand.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I’d take a harsher stance on
this, except it needs to be noted that <i>The Night of Four Hundred Rabbits</i> was
written in 1971, when gazillions of young people were tripping out and Art Linkletter’s
daughter had just jumped out of the sixth-floor of a building.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The bottom line is: I found <i>The
Night of Four Hundred Rabbits</i> to be a poor read; full of poor writing, poor
storytelling, ill-fitting info dumps, and misleading opinions about hallucinogenic drugs. I’d recommend this book only to those who
think <span style="color: #990000;">Reefer Madness</span> <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(say what?!)</span></i> is a great documentary film.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">4 Stars</span></b>. One last criticism. On pages 221-225, the author lays down yet
another rant, this time about the pointlessness of the game of <b><span style="color: blue;">chess</span></b>.
Really. That cuts me deeply since
I’ve played and enjoyed chess all my life. It is quite evident that Elizabeth Peters has never had the slightest urge to learn to play
it.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-33711524263097081322024-03-07T15:16:00.002-07:002024-03-07T15:16:33.307-07:00Rome and Attila - Nick Holmes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTJLZYgTODC0LK7X8ex5gY452qYxv27Oba6x_gcHUdua8sRi2222l0TSiXCsQnO26F45QPozuQHLFbsR-TS6MPyho3_r6Ia0-_MqoVWk6fNxZyN1MPwxhrHJ8r7Vn4oIAYDwWXkE04CcfOGHsP7-U0K-_ZmLI9FcIfE0OPOl2gdH0LMDxPc6_1CEUKPQ/s1000/rome%20and%20attila%20-%20nick%20holmes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRTJLZYgTODC0LK7X8ex5gY452qYxv27Oba6x_gcHUdua8sRi2222l0TSiXCsQnO26F45QPozuQHLFbsR-TS6MPyho3_r6Ia0-_MqoVWk6fNxZyN1MPwxhrHJ8r7Vn4oIAYDwWXkE04CcfOGHsP7-U0K-_ZmLI9FcIfE0OPOl2gdH0LMDxPc6_1CEUKPQ/s320/rome%20and%20attila%20-%20nick%20holmes.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2024; 281 pages. Book 3 (out of 3, but eventually 6) in “The
Fall of the Roman Empire” series. Full
Title: <span style="color: #7030a0;">Rome and Attila: Rome’s Greatest Enemy.</span> New Author? : No. Genres : Ancient History; Rome; Non-Fiction. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">9*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">
Quick, what person and/or barbarian tribe were most responsible for the
collapse of the western Roman empire?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Well, I remember from my
college history class a Germanic leader named Alaric, and he and his Visigoths
did a brutal sack of Rome. But that was
in 410 CE, and I was taught that Rome fell in 476 C, long after Alaric was
dead. So something doesn’t quite add up.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The guy who deposed the last
emperor of Rome in 476 was named Odoacer.
He declared himself king of Italy, and he was a barbarian. But he was the leader of the pitiful remains
of the Roman army when he took over, which is misleading since those
<b>Roman</b> legions were mostly made up of <b>Germanic</b> mercenaries.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> A case could be made for the
Vandals under the leadership of Gaiseric.
They conquered Carthage in 439 CE, cutting off vital grain shipments and
tax revenues to Rome. That was a
devastating blow, but Gaiseric never set foot in Rome.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Nick Holmes proposes a
different candidate: Attila the Hun, even though he also never set foot in
Rome, died in 453 CE, and never claimed the throne. Let’s see what kind of case can be made for Attila and his Huns.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Rome and Attila</span>,
Book 3 in a projected 6-volume series, focuses on the short-but-critical
historical time period 410-476 CE, although it also recaps the events of
360-410 CE, which were spotlighted in Book 2.
This book is divided into four parts, namely:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: blue;">Part
1. The Origin of Our Destruction</span>: pg. 23, 8 sections<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: blue;">Part
2. The False Dawn</span>: pg. 68, 8 sections<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: blue;">Part
3. The Scourge of God:</span> pg. 111, 11 sections<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: blue;">Part
4. The Last Days of the Empire</span>: pg.
205, 8 sections<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I enjoyed learning about all sorts of
movers and shakers in the decline of the Roman Empire. Attila receives the primary focus; all of
Part 3 is devoted to his life and its impact on both halves of the Roman Empire. A lot of other players are also introduced, including Ataulf,
Valentinian III, Aetius, Theodoric, Ricimer, Marjorian, and the
already-mentioned trio Alaric, Gaiseric, and Odoacer. A number of influential women are also introduced to the reader, including Galla Placidia, Hypatia, Honoria <i><span style="color: #800180;">(see
below)</span></i>, Kreka, Aelia Pulcheria, and Aelia Eudocia. Galla Placidia is a particularly memorable.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I was impressed with the way
Nick Holmes juggles the various kingdoms and tribes and their activities and migrations. The reader has to keep track of Western Roman Emperors, Eastern
Roman Emperors, Persians, Huns, White Huns, Visigoths, usurpers, Vandals, and
all sorts of Germanic tribes, each carrying out their own agenda. Yet somehow it never became confusing. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I also liked the way other influences
are presented in explaining the Rome’s collapse. Climate change caused the Huns to pull up
stakes and move <i>en masse</i> eastward.
The Huns used mercenaries as well, and therefore were dependent on Roman
tribute to keep their position of power. The Persian Empire was being beset by
other Hunnic hordes, so they became keen on maintaining friendly relations with
Constantinople.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The occasional “aside”
sections were also great. When Rome fell,
what happened to the legionnaires stationed in the hinterlands? Who were the Huns, where did they come from,
and why did they disappear so quickly upon Attila’s death? How did the lives of ordinary citizens change
after law and order collapsed throughout the western Empire? The interludes addressing these questions
were both fascinating and informative.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.5/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>23 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>0 reviews.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">4.53/5</span></b> based on <b><i>17
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>2 reviews.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">[Constantine] and his son, Julian, were
taken prisoner and beheaded. Their heads
were then sent to Ravenna where they were put on spears and displayed amid a
growing collection of such trophies, including the head of the unfortunate
Stilicho</span><span style="color: #5f497a;">.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> With Constantine III and his son, Constans,
eliminated, the imperial roll call reduced to four emperors, with the remaining
usurpers Maximus in Hispania and Priscus Attalus with Ataulf’s Goths. But almost immediately there was yet another
rebellion in Gaul, this time led by a Gallo-Roman called Jovinus. In these dark years, usurpers appeared and
disappeared a bit like moles in a game of whack-a-mole. </span><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 833)</span></i><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Women continued to dominate Roman politics
that year for Valentinians III’s sister, Honoria, booked her place in history
in a most spectacular and bizarre fashion by appealing to Attila to save her
from a marriage arranged by her brother.
He wanted her to marry a Roman senator called Herculanus, whose key
attributes were inherited money and a lack of ambition. Honoria’s response was that he might be
called Herculanus, but he did not exactly look like Hercules.</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(loc. 1912)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Rome
and Attila</span> is <b><i>free</i></b> for a limited time right now, but normally sells for <b><i>$3.99</i></b>,
which is the same price as the first two books in the series, <span style="color: #990000;">The Roman Revolution</span> and <span style="color: #990000;">The
Fall of Rome</span>. An earlier work of
the author, <span style="color: #990000;">The Byzantine World War</span> is
available for just <b><i>$0.99</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">He was just as
scheming and back-stabbing as any good Roman. </span></i><i>(loc. 1151)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There are a couple things to
quibble about in <span style="color: #990000;">Rome and Attila</span>, but
cussing isn’t one of them. There is
none, nor is there any other R-rated stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The footnotes
worked superbly. For the most part they
were used to cite the sources for various quotes used. There were ten very useful maps, but their links in the text didn’t work. A number of the 18 photographs included are positively stunning <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(such as the Theodosian walls built to defend Constantinople)</span></i>,
but I don’t recall any links in the text to them. Not to fear though, working links to
all of these can be found in the front of the book, right after the Table of Contents, and
all the photos are grouped together immediately after Chapter 21.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> As mentioned earlier, Part 1
covers events already covered in the previous book, often using word-for-word
repetition. I anticipate some reviewers
criticizing this “double-dipping” <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(it
encompasses 60 pages or so</span></i>), but I found it a helpful segue. Certainly if there’s any appreciable time gap
between reading the previous book and this one, Part 1 will put your memory <i>“in
sync”</i> again.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I’ve read all three <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“Fall of the Roman Empire”</span></i> and have thoroughly
enjoyed each one. I was happy to hear
that the projected length of the series has increased from four books to
six. I’m particularly intrigued about what
the subject matter of Book 4 will be.
The remnants of the Western Roman Empire falling into a prolonged abyss
called the Dark Ages? The Eastern Roman
Empire learning to get along without its European sibling? Or is the focus equally divided between both halves of the kingdom? I eagerly await finding out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">9 Stars</span></b>. One last quibble, this one concerning the
book’s cover. I normally don’t critique
such things in a book review, but take another look at the image above. Doesn’t it seem like <i><span style="color: #990000;">“Rome’s Greatest Enemy”</span></i> is referring to <i><span style="color: #990000;">Nick Holmes</span></i>?
Once it is seen, it cannot be unseen.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-21846575001240000422024-03-04T14:55:00.002-07:002024-03-04T14:55:59.851-07:00Revenge of the Spellmans - Lisa Lutz<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRvU0-_nEpVfq5AEzwCJPhmqb3qLuwh6ve5oSdvdBKZgVZIb-nKlIr2-IaPpGysq-iJXY7x2LdstLuZqa2WaNJtOM5fIwdPxPjR99MFXmriji_LQJKWrHnyedVQDnshjvW4F0ZGvSt8D3ej9l2pnZiFKjDXjG4DwZ3hWGb7VED9NfWHFlTpi1vzGMkYA/s1000/revenge%20of%20the%20spellmans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="651" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRvU0-_nEpVfq5AEzwCJPhmqb3qLuwh6ve5oSdvdBKZgVZIb-nKlIr2-IaPpGysq-iJXY7x2LdstLuZqa2WaNJtOM5fIwdPxPjR99MFXmriji_LQJKWrHnyedVQDnshjvW4F0ZGvSt8D3ej9l2pnZiFKjDXjG4DwZ3hWGb7VED9NfWHFlTpi1vzGMkYA/s320/revenge%20of%20the%20spellmans.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2009; 372 pages. New Author? : No, but it’s been a while. Book
3 (out of 6) in the <span style="color: #7030a0;">“The Spellmans”</span>
series. Genres : Private Investigators;
Humorous Crime Fiction; Dysfunctional Comedy. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">9*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Most likely, it’s going to be an easy
job.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Ernie Black wants Isabel
<i>“Izzy”</i> Spellman to tail his wife whenever she leaves the house. He thinks she might be having an affair. Izzy is happy to take the job. She needs the money and in this case the
hours per week she spends keeping track of Mrs. Black will be short and
lucrative. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> That’s important because
Izzy’s life is busy at the moment. She’s
recently parted company with her parents’ family-owned and -staffed <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Spellman Investigations</span></i>, and is now
moonlighting as a bartender at a local dive called <i>The Philosopher’s Club</i>. She’s also attending court-mandated
psychological counseling sessions due to her indiscretions in a recent operation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Fortunately, wife-tailing surveillance
usually turns out to be many hours of sitting in a stake-out car, bored stiff,
only to find out the husband’s suspicions are unfounded. With a little luck, that’s how this one will
turn.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Unfortunately, Izzy’s luck
hasn’t been all that good lately.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Revenge of the
Spellmans</span> is the third book in Lisa Lutz’s (presumably) completed
6-volume series titled <span style="color: #7030a0;">“The Spellmans”</span>. Technically, I’m reading these books in
order, although there has been a ten-year gap between this one and the previous
one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The book is written in the
first-person POV, Izzy’s, and her hilarious, self-deprecating outlook on life
is one of the big plusses for these tales.
The Spellman family is utterly dysfunctional; which is amplified by
the fact that they all work in the same family business, including the
youngest sibling, 16-year-old Rae, who despite earning mediocre grades in her
classes, has just scored a phenomenal (PSAT) college board result. Everyone is sure she cheated somehow, but no
one can figure out how she did it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Izzy has her own woes. The counseling sessions are going poorly, she
has housing and employment issues, someone keeps moving her car, and her new PI
job rapidly gets more complicated. It all gets worse when a blackmailer contacts her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The text has a slew of witty
footnotes that even Terry Pratchett would be proud of, which frequently reference an Appendix in the
back of the book that contains all sorts of interesting information, including
handy bios of all the main characters.
Due to my ten-year hiatus from this series, I read that whole section at the start; it was very helpful.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I enjoyed the story’s setting: San Francisco,
which is one of my favorite travel spots.
I especially liked Izzy’s forced visits to some local cultural sites, including
SFMOMA, where the impressive artwork, <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“Erased de
Kooning Drawing”</span></i>, really is on display. Yeah, google it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending is good. All the mysteries and uncertainties in Izzy’s
life are all cleared up, usually via some neat plot twist that neither Izzy nor I saw coming. Izzy also finally
figures out how Rae is achieving those high PSAT scores. There’s a warmhearted Epilogue to close things out
telling how several of Izzy’s acquaintances continue on with their lives. <i>Revenge of the
Spellmans</i> is part of a series, but it also does just fine as a standalone
novel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #c00000;"> </span><span style="color: #990000;">Shiksa</span> <i>(n.)</i>
: a gentile girl or woman <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(Hebrew}</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.5/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>659 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>118 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">4.13/5</span></b> based on <b><i>17,890
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>1,127 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Revenge
of the Spellmans</span> currently sells for <b><i>$10.99</i></b> at Amazon. The other five books in the series are in the <b><i>$4.99-$13.99</i></b> price range. Lisa Lutz has a number of other standalone e-books, in both fiction and non-fiction genres.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">I am a licensed private investigator who
has been working for the family business, Spellman Investigations, since the
age of twelve. No, that is not a
typo. It sounds fun, I know. But after decades of having your boyfriends
investigated, your bedroom searched, your phones tapped, your vehicle tracked,
and your every move documented, it gets old.
In my family, we don’t ask questions, we investigate.</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 542)</span></i><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;"> “I’m sorry, I’ll get out of here soon, I
promise,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Don’t worry about it,” David said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “You’re being suspiciously nice,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “I’m your brother. I’m going to be nice on random occasions.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Thanks.
But I’m trying to understand why this time you were so nice.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Honestly, because you were so, so . . .
pathetic.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “True,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “You need to take a shower,” David said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> It had been three days. I couldn’t argue with him.</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(loc. 4247)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Meditate on your
own time!” </span></i><i>(loc.
4350)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There’s very little to grouse about in <span style="color: #990000;">Revenge of the Spellmans</span>. The profanity is sparse, just 5 instances in
the first 25% of the book, and those were all of the “milder” variety. To be fair, though, a couple of f-bombs do
crop up later on.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Things do not <i>“build to an
exciting climax”</i> here. But keep in
mind this is a <span style="color: #800180;">“Private Investigator”</span> story, not a <span style="color: #800180;">“Amateur Detective”</span>
one. Such a case is successful if the
client is happy with whatever information the investigator turns up <b>without</b> the
police becoming involved.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i>Revenge of the Spellmans</i>
was a complete reading treat for me. I
was fascinated by the various textual formats that Lisa Lutz utilizes, and the
storyline moved at a sufficiently brisk pace that kept me turning the
pages. If you’re looking for a something
to read akin to Charlaine Harris’s <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Sookie
Stackhouse</span></i> or Janet Evanovich’s <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Stephanie
Plum</span></i> novels, this series is right for you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">9 Stars</span></b>. There were two neat acronyms worth
mentioning: somebody throws an <b>“ECOT party”</b>,
and a somebody has a <b>“MILFO”</b>. Read the book to find out what they mean, and
with regards to the latter one, it's not as dirty as you think.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-37098293344564660642024-02-28T15:16:00.001-07:002024-02-28T15:56:12.583-07:00Interview With The Vampire - Anne Rice<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhPYbaIycLOFkd9phBAnt6ZXrsV_Juz2NL4Ak_-KlG2SzYhvKimfyRjs-5IHPl8NQeOn6AmQAbBgSNI5-mCSPLwL98w4IJ6USoDU9FLkoysasQDBcdJ4lfsyefUrtg-kabelMGLu6lbL1E9BezyZZXCZ875W3RSfEzYjts8twGULiCledr_SZLtbuA-A/s1000/interview%20w%20vampire.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhPYbaIycLOFkd9phBAnt6ZXrsV_Juz2NL4Ak_-KlG2SzYhvKimfyRjs-5IHPl8NQeOn6AmQAbBgSNI5-mCSPLwL98w4IJ6USoDU9FLkoysasQDBcdJ4lfsyefUrtg-kabelMGLu6lbL1E9BezyZZXCZ875W3RSfEzYjts8twGULiCledr_SZLtbuA-A/s320/interview%20w%20vampire.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i>1976; 343 pages. Book 1 (out of 30, or out of 13) in “<span style="color: #7030a0;">The Vampire Chronicles</span>” series. New Author? : Yes. Genres: Gothic Horror; Vampires. Overall Rating: <b><span style="color: blue;">8*/10</span></b>.</i></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Suppose you have reached out to a vampire, and
he’s agreed to be interviewed by you.
What kind of questions do you ask him?
Here’s some that I’d use.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">I’ve
heard that vampires are immortal, so how old are you? Which if the anti-vampire devices really
work, and which are just urban myths?
I’m thinking of things like wooden stakes, garlic, a crucifix, etc. Who, or what, transformed you into a
vampire? Have you turned anyone into a
vampire? Do you really bite people in
the neck and drink their blood? Do you
sleep in a coffin during daylight hours?</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> These questions all get
asked, and answered, in <span style="color: #990000;">Interview With the Vampire</span>. And when the vampire is several centuries
old, some fascinating life stories emerge from those queries.
But perhaps the most important question looks in the other direction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">What
are you planning to do with the rest of your vampiric life?</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Interview With the
Vampire</span>, Anne Rice’s breakthrough novel, is divided into four parts, and
is written, naturally, in the form of a transcription from an interview recorded on a tape
cassette <i><span style="color: #800180;">(well, the book was written in the mid-1970s)</span></i> by an unnamed interviewer and a vampire named Louis. The book eschews
chapters and is divided into four parts.
Briefly:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">Part
1</span></b> is set in New Orleans and deals with Louis’s “turning” and
learning to be a vampire.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">Part
2</span></b> describes a trip to eastern Europe to the “roots” of vampirism.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">Part
3</span></b> chronicles Louis’s stay in Paris where he learns to socialize with fellow
vampires.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">Part
4</span></b> finishes up with Louis’s return to New Orleans and his path
forward.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> This book was my introduction
to Anne Rice’s <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Vampire Chronicles</span></i>
series, and thus, I was surprised that the vampire being interviewed was <b><i>not</i></b>
the more-famous <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Lestat</span></b>. But he
does play a prominent part in the story, along with a couple other major
characters: Claudia, Madeleine, Armand, and Santiago. Some of these die along the way, although
that’s a somewhat nebulous term with regards to immortal creatures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Although there are parts of <i>Interview
With the Vampire</i> that involve neck-biting, bloodsucking, and other
action-driven thrills, it is mainly a character-driven storyline. Louis, Lestat, and the reader all will ask
themselves: how well would I be able to deal with being able to live forever, when it's at the cost of needing a frequent supply of blood as nourishment and
knowing that the world around me will change and modernize at an uncomfortable
pace whether I want it to or not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I loved the “feel” of the
world in the 1790s. New Orleans for that
time-period came alive for me, so did the portrayal of Transylvania and Paris
in that era. It was fun to take in a
play at the Parisian <i>"<span style="color: #800180;">Theatre des Vampires</span>"</i>, and the mention of <span style="color: #800180;">penny-dreadfuls</span> was a neat
detail.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending was good, with a
nice twist at the interview’s end that I didn’t see coming. There was a sense of <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“completeness”</span></i> to this Louis/Lestat tale, but also an encouragement to <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“now on to the next
episode”</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.5/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>8,036 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>1,118 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">4.02/5</span></b> based on <b><i>584,731
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>15,946 reviews</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;">Tignon</span> <i>(n.)</i> : a piece of cloth worn as a turban
headdress by Creole women in Louisiana.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“But he did believe in possession by the
devil.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “That is a much more mundane idea,” said
the vampire immediately. “People who
cease to believe in God or goodness altogether still believe in the devil. I don’t know why. No, I do indeed know why. Evil is always possible. And goodness is eternally difficult.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 188)</span></i><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“And then strange things began to happen, for
though she said little and was the chubby, round-fingered child still, I’d find
her tucked in the arm of my chair reading the work of Aristotle or Boethius or
a new novel just come over the Atlantic.
Or pecking out the music of Mozart we’d only heard the night before with
an infallible ear and a concentration that made her ghostly as she sat there
hour after hour discovering the music̶─the melody, then the
bass, and finally bringing it together.
Claudia was mystery. It was not
possible to know what she knew or did not know.
And to watch her kill was chilling."</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(loc. 1566)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The e-book version of <span style="color: #990000;">Interview With The Vampire</span> goes for <b><i>$8.99</i></b>
right now. Amazon and Wikipedia consider
<i><span style="color: #7030a0;">The Vampire Chronicles</span></i> to be a
13-book series, with all those e-books priced in the <b><i>$8.99-$11.99</i></b>
range. However, in the back of the
e-book itself a 30-book series is listed in detail.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“She is
perfect. Mad; but for these days that is
perfect.” </span></i><i>(loc.
4460)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There’s not a lot to grouse
about in <span style="color: #990000;">Interview With the Vampire</span>. I admit that Part 1 dragged a bit for me,
until I realized that it was going to be an in-depth character study and not a “Bela Lugosi” type of horror-adventure. Happily, things events started rolling nicely in Part 2, and continued that
way through the rest of the book.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There is some profanity, but
that was expected and I counted only 10 instances in the first 25% of the
e-book.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The biggest challenge was
getting used to the proper, but somewhat complex, punctuation of a transcribed
interview. Almost everything was a
direct quote recorded on the cassette tape <i>(the exceptions being brief
interludes detailing the actions of the interviewer)</i>, and when those were
direct dialogue by Louis or some other character, both single- and
double-quotation marks piled up at the start of each paragraph. It was grammatically correct, but distracting nonetheless.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Overall, I enjoyed <i>Interview
With the Vampire</i>, which was a pleasant surprise since I tend to prefer <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">rock-‘em-sock-‘em thriller</span></i>
storylines more than <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">character studies</span></i>. Kudos to Anne Rice for penning a book in the
latter genre that kept even me interested in the struggles of Louis, Lestat,
Claudia, and the other vampires to maintain their sanity and cope in a world
that will now both fears and hates them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">8 Stars</span></b>. A quick tip gleaned from the book, should you ever be accosted by a
vampire in a dark alley late at night.
Don’t pull out your crucifix and point it at them, expecting them to
vaporize. It amuses them and makes them chuckle as they kill you.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-36587853766384537112024-02-24T17:04:00.001-07:002024-02-24T17:25:57.626-07:00Daybreak 2250 A.D. - Andre Norton<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3tysFHk4jQuHo6Q4SCCEoJvvjnezWOZV0Oer0IhXCQ_P82I9PvvrlKkpGkKZJx_DqgZq8vNbQm5srDRAh1We7_Z-1R5Gj5I6ZbOUT-5Ta8ygJ-QgCZqpgmhyphenhyphencf6MsauPQkMy1kyl2VrQvf649JJYHi7bzHyqjajFepKK9v3npM2QGdDh6vPEqaJ_zNg/s1108/daybreak%202250%20ad.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM3tysFHk4jQuHo6Q4SCCEoJvvjnezWOZV0Oer0IhXCQ_P82I9PvvrlKkpGkKZJx_DqgZq8vNbQm5srDRAh1We7_Z-1R5Gj5I6ZbOUT-5Ta8ygJ-QgCZqpgmhyphenhyphencf6MsauPQkMy1kyl2VrQvf649JJYHi7bzHyqjajFepKK9v3npM2QGdDh6vPEqaJ_zNg/s320/daybreak%202250%20ad.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 1952; 191 pages. Alternate Titles: <span style="color: #7030a0;">“Star
Man’s Son”</span> and <span style="color: #7030a0;">“Star Man’s Son, 2250 AD”</span>. New Author? : No. Genres : 50’s Sci-Fi; YA; post-apocalyptic. Overall Rating: <b><span style="color: blue;">8/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Fors's father, Langdon, was a highly regarded Star
Man. He had roamed the ruined lands
around the Eyrie extensively, drawn maps of it, and brought back precious
loot. And even though Langdon was now
dead, it was natural to assume that Fors would follow in his father’s
footsteps.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But his mother was of an alien race, one could tell that just by looking at Fors.
Which made him a half-breed, a mutant.
And when it came time for the yearly Choosing ritual at the Star Hall, the
Council’s opinion was that Fors’s genes were more important than his training or his father's fame.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Five years Fors had been
nominated to be a Star Man; five years he had been rejected. Five years was the limit; a
sixth nomination was forbidden. Fors would be
relegated to the status of a commoner, suitable for working in the fields. Nothing more.
All because of his looks.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">And there's nothing he can do about it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> Is there?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Andre Norton <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(real
name: Alice Mary Norton, b. 1912, d. 2005)</span></i> was a prolific and popular
sci-fi/fantasy author; <span style="color: #990000;">Daybreak 2250 AD</span> is
one of her early works. We follow Fors
as he travels into the ruins of a post-apocalyptic world with his companion
cat, Lura <i>(see cover image)</i>. In a
land where nuclear war has annihilated almost all of civilization, Fors
encounters various beasts and humans, which at best, distrust any stranger
passing through their territory, and at worst, want to kill and eat them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The target audience is YA
boys, which was true of all sci-fi novels written in the 1950s. Therefore there is lots of adventure here,
and absolutely zero booze, drugs, adult situations, and/or cussing. When the latter seems called for, Andre
Norton delightfully resorts to phrases like <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“by
the great horned lizard!”</span></i> and <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“forest
filth!”</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> In amongst all the exploring and adventuring, the author subtly weaves some keen insight about several serious themes. The book was published in 1952, just seven
years after the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This introduced a new global dread: a massive,
life-ending nuclear holocaust. Andre
Norton uses that scenario as the setting for <i>Daybreak 2250 AD</i>. She also offers some provocative opinions, for that era<span style="color: #800180;">,</span> on racial
bigotry <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(the southern tribespeople are
dark-skinned)</span></i> and feminism <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(one of
the clans is led by a woman)</span></i>.
Plus, there is an overarching theme of the futility of war. Pretty awesome for 1952!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> It was fun to comb through the
ruins alongside Fors searching for long-lost gadgets and artifacts. The rusted, derelict automobiles, both the
nuclear-powered and the older gasoline-burning ones, are ignored; the
technology for making their fuels has long been lost. Store mannequins scared and mystified Fors
because at first he thought they were petrified victims of the nuclear blasts. OTOH, finding pencils, especially the colored
ones, and a ream of paper, cause him to rejoice. So do foodstuffs preserved in cans
and jars that are still sealed. Ordinary forks are also valuable finds.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending is satisfying and
heartwarming, albeit pretty straightforward and not very twisty. Given several choices for a tribe that will
accept him, and mutant though he is, Fors opts for the obvious one. The book screams to be developed into a
series chronicling Fors’s further adventures, but that has never happened.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…<br />
</span></i> Amazon: <b><span style="color: blue;">4.5*/5</span></b>, based on <b><i>58 ratings</i></b>
and <b><i>34 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Goodreads: <b><span style="color: blue;">4.02*/5</span></b>,
based on <b><i>2,539
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>163 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">They might have forgotten about his night
sight and too-keen hearing. He could
have concealed those as soon as he learned how wrong it was to be
different. But he could not hide the
color of his close-cropped hair. And
that had damned him from the day his father had brought him here. Other men had brown or black, or, at the
worst, sunbleached yellow, covering their heads. He had silver white, which showed to all men
that he was a mutant, different from the rest of his clan. Mutant!
Mutant!</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(pg.
6)</i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“Mountains—man made—that is what we see
here. But why did the Old Ones love to
huddle together in such a fashion? Did
they fear their own magic so that they must live cheek to cheek with their kind
lest it eat them up when it was loosed—as it did? Well, they died of it in the end, poor Old
Ones. And now we have a better life—”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Do we?”
Fors kicked at the loose stone.
“They had such knowledge—we are groping in the dark for only crumbs of
what they knew—"</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(pg.
70)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Only a fool tries
to teach the otter to swim.” </span></i><i>(pg.
157)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There’s very little to quibble
about in <span style="color: #990000;">Daybreak 2250 AD</span>. As mentioned, there is nothing even remotely
R-rated here. One reviewer felt that the
storyline was anti-feminist because Fors chose not to accept the female leader’s
offer to accept him into her tribe. But this novel came out in 1952. Feminism was not yet an issue back then. Personally, I was
impressed that it portrayed an army of men as being willing to have a woman lead them
into battle.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The big problem was with the
editing. Typos abounded: <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">tained/tainted; mid-dile/middle, horrow/horror,
scatered/scattered</span></i>, and a host of others, numerous enough to be a
distraction. But again, this book came out in 1952, when spellchecker and word
processing programs were just a figment of the imagination.
So I’m forced to cut the editing staff some slack.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i>Daybreak 2250 AD</i> kept
my interest from the start to finish, which was a bit of a surprise, since I am
not part of the target audience. The text did not seem “YA-ish” at all, and the action, if not particularly realistic, did
feel “balanced”—the baddies <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(aka “the Beast
Things”)</span></i> were capable of holding their own, using tricks and
strategy to thwart the good guys. 1950s sci-fi can sometimes
feel out-of-date. I’m happy to say that
wasn’t the case here.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">8 Stars</span></b>. <span style="color: #990000;">Daybreak 2250 AD</span>
was a re-read for me, although it’s been about 60 years since I first read
it. It was one of two books that had a
major impact on my literary preferences as a kid, the other being Evan Hunter’s <span style="color: #990000;">Danger: Dinosaurs!</span>
The latter sits on my Kindle, waiting to be read again. I hope it delights me the second time around
as much as <i>Daybreak 2250 AD</i> did.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-74624287293802398442024-02-19T15:05:00.000-07:002024-02-19T15:05:02.422-07:00They Came and Ate Us - Robert Rankin<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWdKc0XPQyFCpkSvtcUuhNv6UnwtuaRVitZAP36ixAKekTYPyEWM9byVTal_urY_B_A7Ihusx7JPoLaCJX5tbJn9lC-B0MShOmSZ8S-ZbKA9Yc_OJsemp4iNljl0wurgZQoLbzXgPgm8PuEnXJSdjCapmHx3PsEOk3b3XorB22URLOFaJG8f_b2L30LE/s500/they%20came%20and%20ate%20us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWdKc0XPQyFCpkSvtcUuhNv6UnwtuaRVitZAP36ixAKekTYPyEWM9byVTal_urY_B_A7Ihusx7JPoLaCJX5tbJn9lC-B0MShOmSZ8S-ZbKA9Yc_OJsemp4iNljl0wurgZQoLbzXgPgm8PuEnXJSdjCapmHx3PsEOk3b3XorB22URLOFaJG8f_b2L30LE/s320/they%20came%20and%20ate%20us.jpg" width="193" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 1991; 336 pages. Full Title: <span style="color: #7030a0;">They
Came and Ate Us – Armageddon II: The B Movie</span>. Book 2 in the <span style="color: #7030a0;">“Armageddon
Trilogy”</span> series. New Author? : Goodness,
no. Genres : Humorous Absurdism; Time
Travel; Weird Fantasy. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">7½*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Quick, how do you stop an NHE <i><span style="color: #800180;">(that’s “Nuclear
Holocaust Event” for you Earthlings)</span></i> after it’s already happened?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i>Well, as any Phnaarg can
tell you, you send someone back through time, or forward in time for that
matter, and have him kill whoever was responsible for the NHE</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But what if the assassination
attempt fails?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i>Then you resend your guy
and have him try again. Or send some
other person. Or both</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But that’s messing around with
the original timeline! I thought we
weren’t allowed to do that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i>The taboo against spawning
timeline anomalies is literary laziness preached by sci-fi authors who are
afraid it will spread confusion. Ignore
those sissies</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Gee, I don’t know. It still sounds kind of risky.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i>Well, ask yourself this: if
someone did screw around with the original timeline, <b>how would you know</b>?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">They Came and Ate
Us</span> is vintage Robert Rankin absurdism.
The storyline is engaging and despite being confusing to start out with, it clarifies
into several main storylines by the halfway point. The primary plot threads are:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i>Who zapped Rex Mundi a half century into
the past, and why?<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Can Rex and Jack Doveston succeed in
preventing the 1999 NHE, and how?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Why is Elvis obsessed with
killing Wayne Wormwood, and how come he repeatedly fails?<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There are talking dogs and
sentient bean sprouts. There are shakers
and hackers and demons. There are a slew
of time paradoxes and fourth-wall asides.
The author himself sneaks in, cleverly disguised as one of the
characters.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I was pleased to see that there are also some
of Robert Rankin’s trademark running gags and obscure <i>(at least to us Yanks)</i>
British trivia. Fangio’s bar makes a
brief appearance; so does the inscrutable fighting art called Dimac. Jim Pooley and John Omally have cameo roles near the end of the book, which makes me wonder if they’ll play a larger role
in the sequel. Trivia-wise, I had to
look up both Frankie Howerd and Ray Harryhausen.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i>They Came and Ate Us</i> is
the sequel to <span style="color: #990000;">Armageddon – The Musical</span>, and
if both books reside on your TBR shelf, I highly recommend reading them in
order. I did, but alas I read Book 1 way
back in 2013 and thus remembered almost nothing about it. Thankfully, Robert Rankin provides a brief
recap of that tale early on here <i><span style="color: #800180;">(pgs. 7-8)</span></i>, for which I am very much grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending is over-the-top and
replete with plot twist after plot twist.
Earth is saved from the 1999 NHE.
Or is it? I guess I’ll have to
read book 3, <span style="color: #990000;">The Suburban Book of the Dead</span>,
to make sure.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;">Yobbo</span> <i>(n.)</i> : a cruel and brutal fellow. <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(English slang)</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Others: <span style="color: #990000;">Librams</span> <i>(n., plural); </i><span style="color: #990000;">Putting Pay</span> <i>(v.)</i>, <span style="color: #990000;">Prial</span>
<i>(n.); </i><span style="color: #990000;">Bunged the readies and seen all right</span><i> (British slang, for which I never did suss
out the meaning)</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.3/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>81 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>16 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">3.89/5</span></b> based on <b><i>1,411
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>16 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">In the year 2050 planet Earth finally got
the chance to enjoy Armageddon. It had
originally been scheduled to occur in 999 and after that fell through, in
1999. However, due to certain legal
loopholes in the original contracts and God moving in the mysterious way he is
known and loved for, the thing didn’t get under way until 2050</span><span style="color: #5f497a;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">But when it did it was a real
showstopper. Cracking special effects,
flaming chariots, angelic hosts, fire and brimstone, the whole kith and
caboodle and the kitchen sink. All in
glorious Buddhacolour and broadcast live as it happened. </span><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(pg. 7, and the opening paragraphs.)</span></i><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“Perhaps it can’t be done.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Elvis made a bitter face. “What do you mean?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Rex turned to meet his eyes. “Perhaps it is impossible to change
history. The Phnaargs tried it with you
but it didn’t work.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “But I fooled the Phnaargs. I am here and now.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Perhaps you would have been here and now
anyway, which is why you are. If you
follow me.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “I surely do.” Elvis surely didn’t.</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(pg. 126)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Sam voiced certain
words to the effect that the junior officer’s cranium was in fact a male
reproductive organ and flung the handset aside.
</span></i><i>(pg. 12)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There’s a moderate amount of profanity
in <span style="color: #990000;">They Came and Ate Us</span>. I counted 11 instances in the first 10% of
the book, 5 of which were scatological in nature. Later on, there were at least four references
to male genitalia and its various functions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> In addition to deciphering the
British idioms, the punctuation takes some getting used to. Across the pond, dialogue is in single quotation marks, not double. There was an abundance of
missing commas in direct quotes here.
Example: <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">‘And back to you in the studio
Ramon.’</span></i> Us Yanks were taught to absolutely
positively put a comma after the word “studio”.
This type of omission happens so frequently <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(yet
not always)</span></i>, that I was left wondering if there are different rules
for it in Britain.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Finally, keep in mind that absurdism
rules the roost here. The crazier and
more convoluted the storyline is, the better its entertainment value. If complex and confusing plot threads bug you,
you might want to eschew Robert Rankin's books.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But I confess, I’m a Robert Rankin
fanatic. I’d be disappointed if he wrote a
book where I wasn't kept on my toes trying to follow what's going on. <i>They Came and Ate Us</i> may be a challenging read, but for me it was also a delightfully satisfying one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">7½ Stars</span></b>. <span style="color: #990000;">They Came and Ate
Us</span> was published in 1991. Did
Robert Rankin somehow foresee the rise of a prominent 21<sup>st</sup>-century
American politician? Check out pages
152-53 and judge whether the person they’re talking about bears an eerie resemblance to
one of our present-day newsmakers.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-14153433830566015932024-02-13T15:10:00.000-07:002024-02-13T15:10:22.459-07:00Clockwork Legion - Jamie (J.G.) Sedgwick<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg-qPAmPQXIoKNYFuJ97taHiWBa8WbnqVu8Uc-WuT2YPQFa_LfJQ-kUridsC8LAK0sA81RrXU97lfuW2cqUXFjlFcxUdxOAj6nP0mmBqVo8EQvEyyqKaKUJLvIMog8j_zs2R7a-JktnFXlgWsbG0Xge-riqW-wt5rauodf-w68YRjRg0bUPh9Htew98o/s400/clockwork%20legion.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg-qPAmPQXIoKNYFuJ97taHiWBa8WbnqVu8Uc-WuT2YPQFa_LfJQ-kUridsC8LAK0sA81RrXU97lfuW2cqUXFjlFcxUdxOAj6nP0mmBqVo8EQvEyyqKaKUJLvIMog8j_zs2R7a-JktnFXlgWsbG0Xge-riqW-wt5rauodf-w68YRjRg0bUPh9Htew98o/s320/clockwork%20legion.jpg" width="200" /></a></p><p> <i style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">2016; 342 pages. Book 4 (out of 5) in the series <span style="color: #7030a0;">“Aboard the Great Iron Horse”</span>. New Author? : No. Genre : Steampunk Fantasy. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">7*/10</span></b>.</i></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> All aboard the Great Iron Horse! Socrates and his crew have departed Dragonwall in order to continue their mission of searching for remnants of civilization in a
post-apocalyptic wasteland.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> They are short a couple of
crewmembers, but that can’t be helped.
Kale has remained at Dragonwall to take on the role of "First Knight" for Queen Aileen. And Shayla has chosen to stay
there with Kale as well. Methinks some
romantic possibilities may be a factor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Shayla’s
staying behind quickly becomes a timely event. Queen
Aileen's city has been plagued by a series of
poisonings lately. She wants Kale to
investigate. But she’s also just received a
letter from the mayor of Ravenwood, a town well to the south of Dragonwall, begging
the queen to dispatch troops there immediately due to some unspecified threat.
Queen Aileen wants Kale to lead a squad of knights down there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Well, Kale can’t be in two
places at once, so perhaps Shayla can look into the poisonings while he travels to see what’s endangering Ravenwood.
Best of luck to both of you, Kale and Shayla!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> You’re going to need it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Clockwork Legion</span>
is the fourth installment in the five-book <i><span style="color: #800180;">“Aboard the Great Iron Horse”</span></i>
series, although see below for the recent reorganization of this. There are three main plotlines to follow,
involving Socrates, Shayla, and Kale, as briefly described above. The common thread in all of them is a magical
substance called <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">starfall</span></i>, which serves
as a “super-fuel” for Socrates’s steampunk locomotive, but has a very unhealthy
effect when inhaled or ingested by creatures, whether they be living or already dead. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> As with any Jamie Sedgwick
novel, there's plenty of action and intrigue. If <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">undead</span></i>
baddies are your shtick, you’ll like this book, and if <i style="color: #7030a0;">dinosaurs</i> make you tick, you’ll enjoy it too. Even better, if <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">undead
dinosaurs</span></i> appeal to your literary tastes, you’re going to love <i>Clockwork Legion</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Being a chemist by trade, I
liked the bits of chemistry woven into the book. Ozone from lightning lays a small role in the
storyline, so does powdered iron. I also thought the timepiece called a <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">chronoforge</span></i><span style="color: #7030a0;"> </span>was a nice detail. The title reference comes at 84% Kindle, and
it was great to see two main characters from a related series make cameo
appearances in the Epilogue. Here’s
hoping they play a bigger part in next book.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The story ends at a logical
spot, but it needs to be said that zero plot threads are resolved. Queen Aileen and Kale make some important plans, but will
those come to pass? Socrates and the Iron
Horse are out in the boondocks, so how will they impact the impending invasion of the
baddies? Shayla’s life is undergoing
some changes, but will this be for the better or for the worse?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Presumably, all these
plotlines will be tied up in the next, fifth, and final book in the series: <span style="color: #990000;">Starfall</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.5/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>206 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>36 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">4.50/5</span></b> based on <b><i>109
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>5 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;"> “How do I make them respect me?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “I can’t tell you that, but I can tell you
how Dane did it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “How?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “He threatened to kill ‘em, or worse. And they knew he meant it. But that only worked because they <i>knew</i>
Dane had the guts to do what he said, and <i>he knew</i> they didn’t have the
guts to stab him in his sleep.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “And you think that’s what I should do?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Absolutely not! These men wouldn’t hesitate to kill you in
your sleep.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 262)</span></i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Shayla had a refined, elegant beauty about
her that was a natural advantage. She
also had years of training to supplement that beauty. As a child, Shayla had been trained in every
manner of espionage and survival. The
soldiers knew they might not always be there to protect her, and she might need
the ability to defend herself or to blend in with other people and
cultures. One of the most useful skills
was one that had always come natural: <i>flirtation</i>.</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(loc. 1497)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Clockwork
Legion</span> is priced at <b><i>$3.99</i></b> at Amazon right now. The other four books in the series range in
price from <b><i>free</i></b> to <b><i>$4.99</i></b>, with the cost increasing
as the series progresses. Jamie Sedgwick
<i><span style="color: #800180;">(aka: “J.G. Sedgwick”)</span></i> has several other fantasy series for your reading enjoyment, and in the same
price range. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Great plan. (...) When the horde of undead warriors gets here, we’ll just ignore them to
death.” </span></i><i>(loc. 1896)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Incredibly, I didn’t note any
cussing in <span style="color: #990000;">Clockwork Legion</span>. Either I’m falling down on the job, or there
was none. I also don’t recall any “adult
situations”. When an author/can keep the story interesting without R-rated material who—and this book does that—I am deeply impressed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There were only a couple of
typos, such as: <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">tired/tire, phased/fazed</span></i>,
and <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">leech/leach</span></i>. The insertion of dashes somehow resulted in them all
being off-center and incorrect spacing. But I suspect this occurred
during the <i>reformatting-for-Kindle</i> stage, and was therefore beyond the author's control. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> My copy of <i>Clockwork Legion</i>
had a big problem with the chapter tabs.
There were none. After the usual
opening sections there’s
a “<i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Table of Contents</span></i> heading,
but all it links to is the cover image.
After that, there is nothing else in the Table. <u>UPDATE</u>: in looking at the current Amazon <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“Read
Sample”</span></i> blurb, that seems to have been corrected in later versions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The main quibble is the
fact that none of the storylines get tied up.
That means this is not a standalone novel. Therefore, if you’re not reading this series in order,
you’ll probably be really disappointed in the storytelling in <i>Clockwork Legion</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> So take my advice and read the
earlier books before this one. In the
proper order. Then you’ll find <i>Clockwork
Legion</i> to be a light, fast-paced, enjoyable read whose purpose appears to
be to get all the major characters properly positioned for the final episode. We shall see about that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">7 Stars</span></b>. I’ve had <span style="color: #990000;">Clockwork
Legion</span> on my Kindle for quite some time.
Meanwhile the author has altered his name for this series from <b>Jamie Sedgwick</b> to <b>J.G.
Sedgwick</b>, both of which are actually pen names for <b>Jeramy Gates</b>. To boot, the author’s 5-book <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Aboard the Great Iron Horse</span></i> series and the
3-book <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Tinkerer’s Daughter</span></i> series are
now combined into an 8-book <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Age of Steam</span></i>
series. The other books and series penned by this author remain credited to "Jamie Sedgwick".</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I’m sure this has to do with
some sort of revised marketing strategy, but frankly I fail to see the logic of it.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-65626317680380323032024-02-06T15:48:00.001-07:002024-02-06T15:48:05.558-07:00Still Life With Murder - P.B. Ryan<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQk-Jlws8Xpg0t8CeU2fYvgY1mwYEYDBCUwJvVQDa4qqdCjmq-bR6XRvf6spVcenWxyVwSj-GE5sO2ARj9Wb_4Ywr7D05apQ3fKebfUlBxpFG2JwuzUuYPAlLEIznYKCrN2lMKb0Ilv6j0DMsNwKotFXaDQ5s_IIH76SXpbCXkn-VyvqkxJl3eRxtauJo/s500/still%20life%20with%20murder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="326" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQk-Jlws8Xpg0t8CeU2fYvgY1mwYEYDBCUwJvVQDa4qqdCjmq-bR6XRvf6spVcenWxyVwSj-GE5sO2ARj9Wb_4Ywr7D05apQ3fKebfUlBxpFG2JwuzUuYPAlLEIznYKCrN2lMKb0Ilv6j0DMsNwKotFXaDQ5s_IIH76SXpbCXkn-VyvqkxJl3eRxtauJo/s320/still%20life%20with%20murder.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2003; 296 pages. Book 1 (out of 6) in the <span style="color: #7030a0;">“Nell Sweeney Mysteries”</span> series. New Author? : No. Genre : Historical Crime; Murder-Mystery; Women
Sleuths. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">8*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: blue;">The
Good</span>. William Hewitt, one of the
sons of Boston’s “upper crust” Hewitts, and reported as killed while attempting
to escape the dreaded Andersonville POW camp four years ago, has just turned up
alive in Boston!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: blue;">The
Bad</span>. He’s been living under the
assumed name “William Touchette”, and has just been arrested for murder. Eyewitnesses confirmed his presence at the
scene of the crime, kneeling over the corpse, knife in hand, and screaming at
it about revenge.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: blue;">The
Ugly</span>. William and his parents
can’t stand each other. His father is
fully convinced of his son’s guilt and his mom wants to question Will about
the incident. William refuses to meet
and talk with either one. What can the
Hewitts do?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Maybe they should send their
governess, Nell Sweeney, posing as some sort of spiritual guide, to visit
“William Touchette” in jail. She can at
least ask him if he wants to retain a lawyer and/or get out on bail.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Before they hang him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Still Life With
Murder</span> is set in the Boston area in the 1860s. The prologue, which introduces us to Nell
Sweeney and gives a backstory of how she came to be governess of little Gracie
at the Hewitts’ manor, takes place in 1864; the rest of the book takes place in
1868.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Although this is primarily a
murder-mystery, I was impressed by the depth and detail paid to the historical aspect of the novel. Things like women’s
wear and house furnishings felt well researched. So did, for that matter, the opium dens which
play a prominent part of the storyline; including how they were laid out and
the various gambling games they hosted, such as <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">chuck-a-luck,
rat’s night</span></i>, and <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">lansquenet</span></i>,
to keep the addicts entertained and spending even more money.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There are some nice character
studies in the story. Nell, of course,
gradually evolves into an amateur sleuth.
But that’s no easy task since Will Hewitt is a most uncooperative client
– he refuses to confess or deny his guilt, and at times acts like he’d welcome
the hangman’s noose. The police detective is also non-stereotypical:
far from being bull-headed and resentful of Nell’s meddling, he
shares information with her at times, and even occasionally invites her along
on some of his inquiries.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I enjoyed the smattering of
French and Chinese phrases that were worked into the text, since I’ve taken some night classes in both. Unfortunately, I drew a
blank on the Chinese words (but maybe this was in the Cantonese dialect, not the Mandarin I
studied), and I had to look up the context of the French phrase <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“Vous l’avez voulu, George Dandin”</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending is satisfying,
logical, with a bit of a twist to it that causes Nell, the police detective, and
myself all to be slightly off in our theories as to who did the killing and
why. Will Hewitt rides off into the
sunset <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(well, you knew he wasn't going to hang, right?)</span></i>
but I suspect he’ll become an important character in the series. I have a felling that little Gracie will show up in
the next book as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.2/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>8,401 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>1,523 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">3.91/5</span></b> based on <b><i>9,796
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>958 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“The round head is because of the
Caesarean. She didn’t have to pass
through the . . .” Nell looked away,
chastising herself for having made such a reference in polite conversation,
especially with the likes of Viola Hewitt; what would Dr. Greaves say?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> Mrs. Hewitt chuckled. “I’m afraid I’m not particularly easy to
shock, Miss Sweeney. Mr. Hewitt is of
the opinion that I ought to be a bit more prone to swooning, but I never could
quite get the knack.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 301)</span></i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“Let’s see if I understand this
correctly. Will is supposed to have
killed this man because of an altercation over a woman.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Nell nodded. “Kathleen Flynn, the owner’s daughter.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Is she beautiful?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “I . . . she’s . . .” Nell shrugged. “I’m not really sure, from a man’s
perspective. Why?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Will’s women are always magnificent. And very sophisticated. He liked them smart and a little dangerous.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Kathleen is none of those things. Although her father did compare her to his
most vicious rat terrier.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(loc.
3295)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Gowsters</span> <i>(n., pl.)</i> : violent or unmanageable
persons; swaggering fellows <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(alt. spelling)</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Others: <span style="color: #990000;">Merlin chair</span> <i>(n.)</i>, <span style="color: #990000;">Stertorous</span> <i>(adj.)</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Still
Life With Murder</span> sells for <b><i>$3.99</i></b> at Amazon right now. The other books in the series are priced at
<b><i>$4.99</i></b>
apiece. P.B. Ryan, who writes under the
name of Patricia Ryan as well, also pens the Historical Romance series, <span style="color: #7030a0;">Lords of Conquest</span>, with its six books all going
for <b><i>$3.99</i></b> each.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Hate to ruin your
little theory, sweet pea, but dead men are even worse at payin’ off their debts
than live ones.” </span></i><i>(loc.
3884)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There’s not much to gripe
about in <span style="color: #990000;">Still Life With Murder</span>. The profanity is light, just seven instances
in the first 25% of the book, and all but one of those were the relatively mild
epithet <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“damn”</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There were a couple of ethnic slurs later on,
but those would be consistent with lingo of the times. There are several visits to opium dens
along the way, but frankly this book serves as a warning against the usage of that drug,
not a glorification of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The editing was good; I noted
just two typos: <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">lean-to’s/lean-tos</span></i>
and <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">wretching/retching</span></i>. Kudos to whoever the copy editors were.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> That’s about it for the
nitpicking. I like it when the
murder-mystery I’m reading is set in another time and another place, with just
as much attention paid to getting the historical fiction right as to getting
the murder-mystery coherent. <i>Still
Life With Murder</i> succeeded nicely in that regard.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">8 Stars</span></b>. In looking at the Amazon blurbs, it looks
like the e-book versions of the books in this series all came out in 2010, and
the paperback versions all came out in 2014.
I’m guessing that means this is a completed series. For me, <span style="color: #990000;">Still
Life With Murder</span> was a great way to get introduced to Nell Sweeney.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-21863278194136075682024-02-01T14:33:00.000-07:002024-02-01T14:33:32.175-07:00Lies, Damned Lies, and History - Jodi Taylor<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbgoSq3nKQ8UzfymlLi478syVdl8ISGzas7KGt45uAL3oGXhq-mcg8YK-UecHlxSAF0K-xfYRmi2ylnqSLIWsChvZLQtT1CCwum2VFyICpm7BXDpspYqZAmxvYACgg4lL8Xw5Sq0Fy2wQw92Da4Wduef_7YdLVA9Y1sJaT6tNRpd_jU_1bxbfgQR6w1I/s500/lies%20damn%20lies%20-%20jodi%20taylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="325" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYbgoSq3nKQ8UzfymlLi478syVdl8ISGzas7KGt45uAL3oGXhq-mcg8YK-UecHlxSAF0K-xfYRmi2ylnqSLIWsChvZLQtT1CCwum2VFyICpm7BXDpspYqZAmxvYACgg4lL8Xw5Sq0Fy2wQw92Da4Wduef_7YdLVA9Y1sJaT6tNRpd_jU_1bxbfgQR6w1I/s320/lies%20damn%20lies%20-%20jodi%20taylor.jpg" width="208" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2016; 399 pages. Book 7 (out of 14) in the series <span style="color: #7030a0;">“The Chronicles of St. Mary’s”</span>. New Author? : No. Genres: Time Travel; Humorous Fantasy; Historical
Fiction. Overall Rating: <b><span style="color: blue;">9*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Chief Operations Officer “Max” Maxwell is
leaving St. Mary’s!! Well, it’s an
amiable parting, and there’s a good reason for it. Max is going to have a baby quite soon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> She’s already on the “restricted list” when it comes to St. Mary’s primary function: time-traveling
into the past to record historically important events. Max is still allowed to chrono-hop, but she’s
not allowed to go on any mission that might involve warfare or violence of any kind. It’s for the baby’s
well-being.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Max understands the
restriction, but it means the only assignments she gets are boring ones. Such as her latest one: going to watch the
coronation of some British king who’s in a scandalous marriage. Ho.
Hum.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But Max has a long history <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(pun intended)</span></i> of having the time-jumps to
which she’s assigned turning into dangerous adventures with harrowing escapes. And there’s no reason to think that’s going
to change just because an unborn child is coming along for the ride. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Lies, Damned Lies,
and History</span> is the seventh book in Jodi Taylor’s excellent and exciting 14-book
time-travel series, <i><span style="color: #800180;">The Chronicles of St. Mary’s</span></i>, where inept historians are
the heroes is spite of their efforts. Max is the main protagonist,
and while Trouble usually finds her as she’s jaunting around the time-space
continuum, here she willingly and knowingly creates her own bad mojo, and takes
several coworkers down with her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Once again, Jodi Taylor
conjures up all sorts of time-jumps for our historians. There are nine chrono-excursions here, with Max
being involved in eight of those, albeit quite unwillingly in one of them. Almost all of the destinations here are
within the borders of Great Britain, which is a bit unusual; normally one or two of the
time-jumps are to places beyond the English isles.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The story is written in the
first-person POV, Max’s, which is true for the entire series. I love the attention to detail in Jodi Taylor's tales. It may sound trite, but I
really can envision the historical settings presented in these books. It’s also a plus that the text in these books sparkles with plenty of wit and a bit of snarkiness, yet also oozes with interpersonal tension.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> It's also neat that none of the characters in
this series are completely black or white.
Max knows she’s doing something wrong and accepts the inevitable
consequences. Conversely, the "black hats" Time Police may be
ruthless in dealing with those who alter the timeline in any way, but theirs is
a dirty job that someone has to do. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The book is written in
English, not American. That leads to
some odd spellings and punctuation, but you’re also rewarded with a bunch of quaint British expressions, such as <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“knees-up”, “a bit of a kick around”, “cack-handed pillock”, “shame about the gob”,
“complete girl’s blouse”</span></i>, <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“banging on
about me”</span></i>, and my personal favorite <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“and
Bob’s your uncle”</span></i>. By comparison, our American “dialect” is sadly
lacking in such colorful idioms. And we
won’t even mention the esoteric Latin-sounding expression <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“Illegitimi non carborundum”</span></i>. Yeah, you’ll want to google that one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending is reasonably
exciting and includes a tension-filled race against time as well as a nifty plot
twist that both Max and I never saw coming.
Everything works out for the good guys; although it can be said that
everything pretty much works out for the bad guys too. I like those kind of endings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…<br />
</span></i> Amazon: <b><span style="color: blue;">4.7*/5</span></b>, based on <b><i>5,863 ratings</i></b>
and <b><i>496 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Goodreads: <b><span style="color: blue;">4.42*/5</span></b>,
based on <b><i>9,919
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>642 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“I think we’ve done everything we can,
don’t you?” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I nodded.
“Yes, I think so.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “As I always say – whatever the task you’re
about to undertake, you should never neglect the basics. Doesn’t matter what you call it – staff work,
advance planning, spadework, foreplay – a little effort at the beginning always
pays dividends in the end.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Does Helen know you refer to your romantic
interludes as spadework?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> He looked over his shoulder. “You’re not going to tell her, are you?”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(pg. 127)</span></i><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“Dr. Maxwell. Advise us of your location.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> The words bounced off the valley
walls. I was willing to bet if there
ever had been anyone in the village below they weren’t there now. They probably thought their gods were
speaking to them. It’s interesting to
think that every major religion that claims to have heard the voice of their
god might well have heard nothing more than the Time Police ordering some
unfortunate to surrender at once, or be zapped with one of their sonic
thingies. I took a moment to wonder
whether they could actually be responsible for the parting of the Red Sea, told
myself not to be so bloody stupid, and staggered to my feet.</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(pg. 380)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Juggins</span> <i>(n.)</i> : one easily victimized; a
simpleton. <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(British;
informal)</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Never again would I
tease Roberts about his bum-fluff. </span></i><i>(pg.
161)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There’s just a scant amount of
cussing in <span style="color: #990000;">Lies, Damned Lies, and History</span>. I counted only 8 instances in the first quarter of the book, the most common one referencing an excretory product. Later on, one f-bomb appeared, as well as an
informal reference to a female mammary organ.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I only just two typos: <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">th/the</span></i> and <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Halcombw/Halcombe</span></i>,
and one missing close-quotation mark.
Kudos to the editor(s) for a job well done.
That’s all the nitpicking I can come up with.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I found <i>Lies, Damned Lies,
and History</i> to be another fine effort in this series. I’ve been reading the books in order, and
have yet to be disappointed in any of them.
They are all equal parts time-travel, historical fiction, and wry
British <i>humour</i>, with hints of romance and save-the-world adventure blended in. That’s a great recipe for a bestselling series. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">9 Stars</span></b>. I should mention that Jodi Taylor has at
least three other series for your reading pleasure: <span style="color: #990000;">The
Time Police</span> <i>(5 books)</i>, <span style="color: #990000;">Frogmorton
Farm</span> <i>(4 books)</i>, and <span style="color: #990000;">Elizabeth Cage</span>
<i>(3 books)</i>. I’ve snagged a couple
of e-books from two of these series, but haven’t read any of them, mostly
because I’m hooked on this St. Mary’s series.
That’s a first-world problem, I admit, but a pleasant one to have. </span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-76614208922556126042024-01-26T14:54:00.001-07:002024-01-26T14:54:55.178-07:00The Fall of Rome - Nick Holmes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaMz60q5Vy8ocYCukjOgDog0UTLIsyrs1Xowq5N6yOPG6sSi6PCmqLeoHNwu69S0hwPa67rpXjspJDYOAPCc_COhyphenhyphenAmaEkQjA6JhytBKhE0VPxy7Tf5BNRxJPSTA8Pwnsrvq2JmsIqNt5KjshVOTDjGvrpFnQAc6MiT507QtLwDL0TAw3zCN_YjrZ7Cs/s1000/fall%20of%20rome%20-%20nick%20holmes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaMz60q5Vy8ocYCukjOgDog0UTLIsyrs1Xowq5N6yOPG6sSi6PCmqLeoHNwu69S0hwPa67rpXjspJDYOAPCc_COhyphenhyphenAmaEkQjA6JhytBKhE0VPxy7Tf5BNRxJPSTA8Pwnsrvq2JmsIqNt5KjshVOTDjGvrpFnQAc6MiT507QtLwDL0TAw3zCN_YjrZ7Cs/s320/fall%20of%20rome%20-%20nick%20holmes.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2023; 268 pages. Book 2 (out of 2, so far) in “The Fall of the Roman
Empire” series. Full Title: <span style="color: #7030a0;">The Fall of Rome – End of a Superpower.</span> New Author? : No. Genres : Ancient History; Rome; Non-Fiction. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">9*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">
I read recently a great book titled <span style="color: #990000;">The
Roman Revolution</span>, (</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">reviewed <a href="https://hammysbooks.blogspot.com/2023/10/the-roman-revolution-nick-holmes.html">here</a>)</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> which is part of a planned 4-volume series collectively
examining and explaining <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">The Fall of the Roman
Empire</span></i>. </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">That book ended on a relatively optimistic note, d</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">espite Rome having endured some
empire-threatening crises, thanks
to several strong 3</span><sup style="font-family: trebuchet;">rd</sup><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">- and 4</span><sup style="font-family: trebuchet;">th</sup><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">-century Roman emperors,
including Aurelian, Diocletian, and most notably Constantine. If they didn't succeed in restoring the
Roman empire to its full former glory, then at least they got it on the right track.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Alas, their efforts came to
naught, at least for the western half of the empire. Something unthinkable took place in the early
5<sup>th</sup>-century, a disaster such as hadn’t occurred for 800
years. The capital city of Rome was
sacked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> How did this happen? How did the Roman legions, and the Roman
leadership—both the military and the government—collapse so fast and so
completely? Well, the reasons are
complex and complicated, and various historians have offered various
explanations, including: <i><span style="color: #800180;">too many barbarians, too many Christians</span></i>, and
even <i><span style="color: #800180;">too many baths</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Nick Holmes makes a detailed and updated examination of these various possible causes <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(well,
not the “too many baths” hypothesis, but that’s okay.</span></i>), proposes
several new ones, and gives a fresh perspective on how everything led to a new
world order. The book is appropriately
titled <span style="color: #990000;">The Fall of Rome</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">The Fall of Rome</span>
covers the history of Rome from 330 CE to 410 CE, a relatively short time span
compared to the first book, which covered about a millennium. But these 80 years are probably the most
critical ones of Rome’s existence, and unfortunately do not turn out well. Ineffectual leaders abound, and those that do show
promise are weakened by jealous rivals <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(both
political and religious)</span></i> and external forces far beyond their
control <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(such as climate and tribal migrations)</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The book is divided into 30
chapters covering 268 pages of text. The
first couple chapters overlap the closing section of the first book and focus
on the emperor Constantine and his sons and three other heirs. The internecine fight-to-the-death that follows
immediately shatters the unity of the realm.
Nick Holmes then turns the spotlight on several important figures in 4<sup>th</sup>-century
Roman history, including<b> <span style="color: #7030a0;">Julian the Apostate,
Theodosius, Stilicho</span></b>, and <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Alaric</span></b>. I found Julian the Apostate a particularly
fascinating “what if” study, since he had strong leadership qualities. Alas, he was also pro-pagan, and the Roman
Empire was becoming increasingly Christianized.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> By the dawn of the 5<sup>th</sup>-century,
it looks like the fate of the western empire will depend on the success of
either Stilicho or Alaric, and sadly for the city of Rome, history chooses the
latter. Alaric cares not a whit about
the thousand years of Rome dominating the world, as can be seen in the second
excerpt, below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Things build to a
historically-exciting climax: <b>Alaric’s sack of Rome in 410 CE</b>. The city itself is ravaged, yet not destroyed,
but it’s role as the capital of an extensive empire is over. In the final chapters Nick Holmes gives an
update about the Eastern Roman Empire, which is somehow doing relatively well;
then closes by recounting the various theories about the causes of Rome’s
collapse, and his honest evaluation of each one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.4/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>271 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>19 reviews.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">4.24/5</span></b> based on <b><i>188
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>12 reviews.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">The immediate threat the Huns presented in
the fourth century was not a Hunnic invasion of Europe (this would come later
in the mid-fifth century, led by Attila) but, like a ripple spreading across a
lake, the domino effect they created by pushing the Germanic tribes west into
the Roman Empire. Bishop Ambrose of
Milan summed this up with impressive clarity: “The Huns fell upon the Alans,
the Alans upon the Goths, the Goths upon the Romans, and this is not yet the
end.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 1367)</span></i><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">The Romans were holding out, hoping a
relief force from Ravenna or the army based at Ticinum would move south. But no help came. Honorius and Olympius were too worried about
their own precarious position to save Rome.
In desperation, a group of senators sought an audience with Alaric. When they said the people of Rome would fight
just like their ancestors, Alaric laughed.
They asked him what he wanted. He
said all their gold and possessions, as well as freedom of the slaves. When they asked him what he would give them,
he said, “Your lives.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(loc.
2840)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Right now, <span style="color: #990000;">The Fall of Rome</span> sells for <b><i>$3.99</i></b> at Amazon. Book 1, <span style="color: #990000;">The Roman
Revolution</span>, currently sells for the same amount. Nick Holmes offers a third e-book at Amazon,
also in the History genre, <span style="color: #990000;">The Byzantine World War</span>; which you can pick up for only <b><i>$0.99</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Valens would go
down in history as the man who sent the empire into a death spiral at the
Battle of Adrianople in 378. </span></i><i>(loc.
1603)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> It’s really hard to find
anything to gripe about in <span style="color: #990000;">The Fall of Rome</span>. There were only two cusswords in the whole
book, one was utilized by the author, and the other, an f-bomb, was apparently
in some graffiti scrawled on the wall of a brothel in Pompeii.
I’m not sure how one determines the Latin word for that bit of profanity, but I bet there’s an interesting anecdote there.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I only spotted one typo: <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">mains/main</span></i>, so the editing was superb. And be aware that Nick Holmes is an British
author, hence the book is written in English, not American. For us Yanks, that means you’ll see some strange spellings
that are not misspellings, and an odd idiom or two. The word <i><span style="color: #800180;">“rooky”</span></i> was new to me; I’m
still not quite sure if it’s British slang or simply their spelling of our
<i><span style="color: #800180;">“rookie”</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Finally, if you’re of the <span style="color: #800180;">“My Deity, right or wrong”</span> persuasion, you’ll
probably not like the religious intolerance shown by the Christian leaders
here. Spiritual bigotry towards
pagans was a common practice, and if there weren't any unbelievers around to
persecute, Christians of the Nicene sect were more than willing to persecute Christians of the Arian sect. The net result was a further fragmentation of the Empire.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Overall, I found <i>The Fall of
Rome</i> to be a fine follow-up to <i>The Roman Revolution</i>, and I’m eagerly waiting for
the next book in the series to be published.
Thus far I’m fascinated by </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">Nick Holmes'</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> presentation of the
historical data concerning </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">the <i>Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire</i>, </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">and am impressed by the conclusions he draws therefrom.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">9 Stars</span></b>. Nick Holmes the author should not be confused
with Nick Holmes the lead singer in the British gothic metal band <span style="color: #990000;">Paradise Lost</span>, whom I had the privilege of seeing
in concert many years ago, as an opening act for the Finnish symphonic metal
band <span style="color: #990000;">Nightwish</span>. And a freaking great concert it was, too!</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-63315479732580414852024-01-20T15:31:00.000-07:002024-01-20T15:31:57.720-07:00Raft - Stephen Baxter<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0qBhLc2GovBodTUeTzmMPx2HoulTl3M4LkymF84A4nxqFZLTsrwuq2yydV076at4uebf6n_TaKdPwkFLdRUVT54dRSjdaGDOu4u5Oj7F7TKsU5nHFJ1avlmNOACOAHNylU5M8UwT961C_eAkQXOZCUoqPu4UugfgsKFpTLLFMUFehnMO0IKOhz3OlbQ/s475/raft%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="289" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0qBhLc2GovBodTUeTzmMPx2HoulTl3M4LkymF84A4nxqFZLTsrwuq2yydV076at4uebf6n_TaKdPwkFLdRUVT54dRSjdaGDOu4u5Oj7F7TKsU5nHFJ1avlmNOACOAHNylU5M8UwT961C_eAkQXOZCUoqPu4UugfgsKFpTLLFMUFehnMO0IKOhz3OlbQ/s320/raft%202.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 1991; 303 pages. New Author? : No. Book 1 (out of 17) in the “Xeelee Sequence”
series (so sez Goodreads). Laurels: 1992
Arthur C. Clarke Award <span style="color: #7030a0;">(nominated)</span>; 1992
Locus Award for Best First Novel <span style="color: #7030a0;">(nominated)</span>. Genres: Hard Science Fiction; Colonization Sci-Fi. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">7*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Rees is a clever young lad. No doubt he’ll go far in life somewhere out in the
<b>Nebula</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But alas, not here on the <b>Belt</b>,
where there’s only one job for all inhabitants: mining a burnt-out star kernel for
ore. It’s brutal toil and while Rees may
be clever, he’s not physically built for hard labor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ore is vital to survival
on the Belt, since nothing grows naturally there.
Every so often, the privileged class who live high in the sky above in a
place called the <b>Raft</b>, send down a transport device called the <b>Tree</b>. It’s loaded with food, which they somehow have lots of, and are willing to trade for the Belt’s ore.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Rees is determined to get off
the Belt, even though that’s forbidden.
Raft people are Upper Class and mining people are Working Class. The system only works when everyone knows,
and conforms to, their social class. However Rees is desperate, and has come up with an escape plan, albeit a risky one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Have I mentioned that Rees is
a clever young lad?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Raft</span> is
Stephen Baxter’s debut novel, and the first of 17 of his books set in the
“Xeelee” universe, albeit many of which are novellas and short story collections. In effect, this is a prequel, telling the
backstory of how a ragged crew of humans arrived at, and subsisted in, a
far-flung bit of the time-space multiverse where galactic physics has played
out quite differently.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There are actually two main
storylines: the aforementioned class struggle with its inherent hostility; and a looming cosmic Armageddon that will wipe out the entire Raft and Belt colonies:
the life-giving Nebula is dying. Rees
plays an integral part in both storylines.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The world-building is unique
and masterfully done. There are no
extraterrestrials <i><span style="color: #800180;">(yet)</span></i>, and only a few strange space creatures, such as sky
wolves, skitters, and flying whales. The
latter are sentient and reminded me of the dolphins in Douglas Adams’ <span style="color: #990000;">Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I liked Stephen Baxter’s
attention to detail in presenting this space world to the reader. Time is now measured in “shifts” instead of
hours or days; logarithms were found to be useful <i>(which is something I’ve yet
to discover here on Earth)</i>; and the classic situational-ethics dilemma of <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“too many passengers in the lifeboat”</span></i> is still
a vexing problem.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending has a
hopeful tone and sets the stage for the entrance into the far more expansive world of the
Xeelees. The primary plotline of what to
do about the dying nebula is resolved.
Other plot threads remain up in the air, and will presumably be
addressed in the next sixteen books.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…<br />
</span></i> Amazon: <b><span style="color: blue;">4.1*/5</span></b>, based on <b><i>407 ratings</i></b>
and<b><i> 40 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Goodreads: <b><span style="color: blue;">3.69*/5</span></b>,
based on <b><i>4,055
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>283 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“Men don’t belong in this universe. We came here in a Ship. We passed through something called Bolder’s
Ring, which was a kind of gateway.
Somewhere in the cosmos on the other side of the Ring is the world we
came from. It’s a planet, incidentally;
a sphere, not a Raft, almost eight thousand miles wide. And its surface has a gravity of exactly one
gee.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Rees frowned. “Then it must be made of some gas.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> Hollerbach took the orrery from the shelf
and studied the tiny planets. “It’s a
ball of iron, actually. It couldn’t
exist . . . here.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(pg. 83)</span></i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“Sir, the lists of passengers have not yet
been published; and until they are it is up to all of us—”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “They don’t need to be published. We all know who’ll be on that trip . . . and
it won’t be the likes of me. Rees, I
should have sucked your brains out of your skull while I had the chance down in
the kernel.” Roch held up a rope-like
finger. “I’ll be back,” he growled. “And when I find I’m not on that list I’m
going to make damn sure you’re not either.”
He stabbed the finger at Grye.
“And the same goes for you.”<br />
Grye turned ash white and trembled
convulsively.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> Roch stalked off. Gord hefted his jet and said wryly, “Good to
know that in this time of upheaval some things have stayed exactly the same.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(pg. 255)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“You’re a Boney
now, lad! Welcome to the arsehole of the
Nebula.” </span></i><i>(pg. 163)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There cussing is relatively
sparse in Raft. I counted just 20
instances in the first 20% of the book.
Most of those were <i><span style="color: red;">damns</span></i>, and I
don’t recall any f-bombs in the entire book. Often, the occasions for profanity were
covered by made-up phrases, such as <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“bonesucker”</span></i>,
<i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“by the bones”</span></i>, and the oft-used
social pejorative <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“mine rat”</span></i>. I love it when an author does this.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The book is written in
English, not American; so words are <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">spelt</span></i>,
the mood can be <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">sombre</span></i>, and you can
munch of airborne <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">titbits</span></i>. If you’re perplexed by any strange spelling,
you can look it up in an <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Encyclopaedia</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The main issue I had with <span style="color: #c00000;">Raft</span>, as did lots of other reviewers, was the
way the science-y parts were presented.
The laws of physics in <i>Raft</i> are radically different from those
governing our universe. But instead of
laying this all out at the start of the story, those differences are revealed
piecemeal along the way. This made for a
difficult read.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But enough quibbling. I enjoyed <i>Raft</i> because it was an equal-parts blend of a “lost-in-space” scenario with some hard-hitting social commentary. And it did this in a very <i><span style="color: #800180;">“hard science fiction”</span></i>
manner. The storytelling may be a bit
rough around the edges, but it still got the job done and promises an exciting series to follow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">7 Stars</span></b>. Book 4, <span style="color: #990000;">Ring</span>,
has sat on my TBR shelf for quite a while.
Now that I've read <span style="color: #990000;">Raft</span>, I just have to decide whether to jump directly into its Xeelee-inhabited
world, or first go looking for Books 2 and 3. This is a pleasant problem to have.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-20649525113259574172024-01-16T14:54:00.000-07:002024-01-16T14:54:26.300-07:00Hermitage, Wat and Some Murder or Other - Howard of Warwick<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsvSt8BPhdKTq5Z2ee-yU7sT0g-LzKeLv9x9OVZ9CAjVZsMjw4tgD7hZC0YpjQSRotgWJNfIfYrv6t_Xfs_B6MyknQLtntmzm1JItZIGIzmSnhpKaYjTysTGOVtl22TeuXmfgdeqfPjeZA4yKLlIdG2c6Q7gQeZboYroY_3UOGFt3vWgtulNJ-R_7RcA/s1000/hermitage%20wat%20n%20some%20murder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsvSt8BPhdKTq5Z2ee-yU7sT0g-LzKeLv9x9OVZ9CAjVZsMjw4tgD7hZC0YpjQSRotgWJNfIfYrv6t_Xfs_B6MyknQLtntmzm1JItZIGIzmSnhpKaYjTysTGOVtl22TeuXmfgdeqfPjeZA4yKLlIdG2c6Q7gQeZboYroY_3UOGFt3vWgtulNJ-R_7RcA/s320/hermitage%20wat%20n%20some%20murder.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2014; 312 pages. Book 4 (out of 30) in the <span style="color: #7030a0;">“Chronicles of Brother Hermitage”</span> series. New Author? : No. Genres : Intrigue; Murder-Mystery; Historical Crime Fiction;
British Satire. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">8½*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> It was a strange request. But it came from King William’s right-hand
man, Le Pedvin, so it had to be legitimate.
And Brother Hermitage is officially “the King’s Investigator” so he’s
duty-bound to obey.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Hermitage and Wat are requested to
travel from England over to Normandy, France.
There they’ve been ordered to do some murder investigating, then locate a
noble named Lord Jean Bonneville, and arrest him for those crimes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Le Pedvin doesn’t seem too
concerned about who the victim or victims might be. Any corpse will do, just so long as
Bonneville’s slapped in chains, then executed for the slayings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Oh well, it’s an
all-expenses-paid trip to France, a place Hermitage has never visited. And since he <b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">is</span></i></b> the King’s
Investigator, what could possibly go awry?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Hermitage, Wat and
Some Murder or Other</span> is the third book I’ve read from this series, which
is set in England shortly after William the Conqueror defeated the Saxons at
the Battle of Hastings. We follow a
rather naïve monk <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(Brother Hermitage)</span></i>,
a worldly-wise porn weaver <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(Wat)</span></i>, and
an ahead-of-her-time woman <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(Cwen)</span></i>,
all of Saxon heritage, as they stumble through murder investigations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> This story takes place mainly
in Cabourg, which is an actual small coastal town in Normandy, and which hosted a key
battle by William the Conqueror on his way taking the Norman throne. I like that this series, although lighthearted in tone, still strives admirably to conform to historical facts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The book is written in
English, not American. So fields are <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">ploughed</span></i>, buildings can be <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">two-storey</span></i>, messages are <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">despatched</span></i>, <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">realisations</span></i>
can be <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">focussed</span></i> upon, and your <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">vigour</span></i> may be <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">sombre</span></i>. I love learning foreign languages! I also liked that, no matter which characters
are involved, the dialogue was always full of wit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Our heroes are pleasantly
surprised to discover that, upon arrival, they find that two murders had recently
been committed in little Cabourg. Both
victims were tradesmen and the tools of their trade were left on their corpses. A clue perhaps? But if so, what is the message? We’ll leave that to the King’s Investigator.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending was quite good,
with a twist or two that made it both surprising and logical. All the murders are resolved and Hermitage
and friends manage to comply with Le Pedvin’s edict that Bonneville be done away no matter how false the accusations are.
There’s a short teaser <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(one sentence)</span></i>
at the end of the story for the next book in the series. Our heroes apparently are headed for Wales!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.5/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>883 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>100 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">4.37/5</span></b> based on <b><i>368
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>17 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“But Le Pedvin said…”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “And do you believe Le Pedvin? The one who just trampled your herbs to
death?” Wat asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Oh, well,” Hermitage began. In all his investigations, well the few of
them he had completed so far, people kept telling untruths. It was both disturbing and disappointing. If they only told the truth when they were
asked, and as they should, things would be so much easier. “You think he might have been lying?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Do I think he might have been lying? Do I think the sun will come up
tomorrow? Do I think Druids do it in the
woods? No, I’m absolutely sure he was
lying.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 489)</span></i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“Are you saying the man was murdered by an
ox?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Certainly was.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Neither Blamour nor the old men on their
bench seemed to think that this was in any way peculiar.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “That’s ridiculous,” Hermitage eventually
got his thoughts in some order, “oxen can’t commit murder.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “You tell that to the bloke who’s just been
trampled to death,” Blamour retorted.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Being trampled to death is not the same as
being murdered,” Hermitage explained.
Surely these simple country folk weren’t quite that simple. “Being trampled to death is an accident.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Not if the ox means it.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(loc. 3224)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Hermitage,
Wat and Some Murder or Other</span> currently sells for <b><i>$3.99</i></b> at Amazon. The rest of the books in the series range in
price from <b><i>$2.99</i></b> to <b><i>$4.99</i></b>, with the most recent books the higher-priced ones.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“What are you doing
with your head on?” </span></i><i>(loc.
4778)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The quibbles with <span style="color: #990000;">Hermitage, Wat and Some Murder or Other</span> are mostly
a repeat of those for the previous book, which is reviewed <a href="https://hammysbooks.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-tapestry-of-death-howard-of-warwick.html">here</a>. The punctuation errors are atrocious,
especially comma abuse and missing periods.
Typos also abound, such as <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">scatted/scattered;
maybe/may be; Able/Abel; wrong doing/wrongdoing</span></i>; and the frequently
encountered <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">discretely/discreetly</span></i> and
<i><span style="color: #7030a0;">lead/led</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> OTOH, cusswords were a rarity,
just two in the first quarter of the book, and mostly of the mild, eschatological variety. Hats off to
Howard of Warwick for being a sufficiently talented writer so that excessive
profanity wasn’t resorted to.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> That’s about all I can grouse
about. The three books I’ve read thus far in
this series have all been literary treats for me, and here’s hoping that somewhere
down the line, the author makes use of a top-notch editor to peruse his
manuscripts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">8½ Stars</span></b>. One last thing. If you find yourself in Cabourg, like
Hermitage and his friends did, and you have occasion to mention the <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">House of Margaret</span></i>, try to do so without
sniggering.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-6998567986243802282024-01-10T13:22:00.002-07:002024-01-10T14:18:32.313-07:00Subterranean - James Rollins<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuh1LJGVwNydGj02XCy1wX4sMMlgEb1XkdMLB2Uo1z3GDU2xDRAx1KM7Zma23aZbyvrVb4XrJjkTK9sYj6WdiGzxSjskuqPsrQI5VZ-wN9qLpYdCcXY9DxwPmQD8pgBmS1epKaOVf_UKZyugOI_CID5ZTo3nOokmE-Lrjd_N0pq0yt3haNOGnM0H-a8I/s475/subterranean%20-%20james%20rollins.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="274" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuh1LJGVwNydGj02XCy1wX4sMMlgEb1XkdMLB2Uo1z3GDU2xDRAx1KM7Zma23aZbyvrVb4XrJjkTK9sYj6WdiGzxSjskuqPsrQI5VZ-wN9qLpYdCcXY9DxwPmQD8pgBmS1epKaOVf_UKZyugOI_CID5ZTo3nOokmE-Lrjd_N0pq0yt3haNOGnM0H-a8I/s320/subterranean%20-%20james%20rollins.jpg" width="185" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 1999; 410 pages. New Author? : No. Genres : Thriller & Suspense;
Action-Adventure. Overall Rating: <b><span style="color: blue;">8½*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b>Antarctica</b>. The only continent that doesn’t support
native life. Animals like penguins and
walruses may live there; but they have to get their sustenance from the surrounding
oceans.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> It’s been that way for
millions of years, but not forever. Earth’s
tectonic plates shift slowly but inexorably.
Antarctica wasn’t always stuck at the South Pole. Theoretically, someday we will dig down
through all that ice and look for traces of plant life in the form of
fossils. Maybe even animal life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But that’s somewhere in the
future. At least that’s what paleoanthropologist
Ashley Carter thinks. Until someone contacts
her and wants her to travel down to Antarctica to check out a recently
discovered underground cavern.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Which was found to have
abandoned cliff dwellings in its walls.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Subterranean</span>
is an early book by one of my favorite Thriller authors, James Rollins. It predates his more famous <span style="color: #7030a0;"><i>Sigma Force</i></span> series, and utilizes his standard, and
satisfying, plot structure:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Assemble a team of heroes and
send them off on an adventure,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Scatter them, put them all in
peril, and make one or more of them a baddie,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Keep the storyline interesting by
jumping from one hero to another,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Toss plot twists aplenty into
the tale,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Use incredible timing to get
the gang back together for an over-the-top ending.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> In addition to lots of thrills
and spills, Rollins examines what might occur if an isolated landmass, in this
case Antarctica, is given millions of years to follow its own separate path of
evolution. In the real world, the
Galapagos Islands give us a glimpse of what can happen, so does the second
excerpt, below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There are a bunch of creatures
for our adventurers to meet and flee from, usually unsuccessfully. Listing them here would be a spoiler, but my
favorite one was nicknamed <i><span style="color: #800180;">“Tiny Tim”</span></i> and is very definitely not the urchin
from Charles Dickens’ <span style="color: #990000;">A Christmas Carol</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Both the good guys and the
baddies suffer some casualties along the way, and everything builds to an over-the-top, boffo ending. All the plotlines
get tied up, and there’s even some literary space for a sequel although I don’t
think James Rollins ever penned one. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.3/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>3,429 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>767 reviews.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">
</span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">4.02/5</span></b> based on <b><i>26,250
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>946 reviews.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“I have a proposal to—”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Not interested.” She pointed to the door. “You and your entourage can hit the trail
now. Thanks anyway.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “If you’ll only lis—”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Don’t make me toss your butt outta
here.” She snapped her arms toward the
screen door.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “It pays a hundred grand for two months’
work.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Just get your—” Her arm dropped to her side. Clearing her throat, she stared at Dr.
Blakely, then raised an eyebrow. <i>“Now</i>
I’m listening.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(pg. 10)</span></i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">She helped him sit up and raised a cup to
his lips. With shaky hands, he collected
the cup and managed himself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “What happened?” he asked, glancing at
Khalid, who now snored quietly from under the wet cloth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> She explained the story of poisonous fungal
spores while he finished his water.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> He handed her the cup. “Is there anything down here that doesn’t
want to eat us?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> She grinned at him. “This is a hostile environment. I think for anything to survive it must learn
to utilize the scarce resources to the fullest.
That means intense competition and varied modes of attack.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Great.
What’s next? Carnivorous
butterflies?”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(pg.
206)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Great, we’ve been
captured by a bunch of kangaroos.” </span></i><i>(pg.
246)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There’s not much to nitpick about
in <span style="color: #990000;">Subterranean</span>. I counted 21 instances of profanity in the
first 10% of the book, and there were a couple of rolls-in-the-hay later on. That’s pretty normal for a thriller
novel. I only caught one typo, <span style="color: #7030a0;">breech/breach</span>, so the editing was very good.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The timing of some of the
action scenes and heroes reuniting with each other seemed incredibly
coincidental at times; such as Tiny Tim’s ultimate contribution to the
action. But hey, if it heightens the
excitement, I’m all for it. My biggest quibble
concerns the stereotypical portrayal of one of the bad guys. Just for once, can we please build a character from
the Middle East who isn’t a brainwashed, murderous, zealot based on his
religion and ethnicity?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But I quibble. Overall, I thought this was a solid
debut Action-Adventure novel by James Rollins which showcases his literary and
storytelling talents and hints at more exciting novels being penned by this author as he gets comfortable in this genre.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">8½ Stars</span></b>. One last thing. I liked that the outcome of <span style="color: #990000;">Subterranean</span> would have a permanent impact on our
world. Creatures and beings we didn’t
know are about to emerge from the depths of Antarctica, and the only event to compare it to would be
the (re)-discovery of the New World by Europeans in 1492. I for one would love see what James Rollins
could do with such a scenario.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-55151586635435888452024-01-04T15:50:00.000-07:002024-01-04T15:50:05.468-07:00Something The Cat Dragged In - Charlotte MacLeod<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ckAVkOKsLZU3tyW-405g7NHCqixFBfLgxD2xktLRFtmpuJAw-0F67AakTt0i48G1cZxRMQ6e85iqk1CWb9wXvWYg-mLFe0czqYW1bNXlhcCYi1LTzoFqyGdwPTTtk-ZsM13ajBtnCGD6qft2AXuRRsO6KX3VeFOV5hPe6rzbQZ7g1tjkksUfIx9J9u0/s480/something%20the%20cat%20dragged%20in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ckAVkOKsLZU3tyW-405g7NHCqixFBfLgxD2xktLRFtmpuJAw-0F67AakTt0i48G1cZxRMQ6e85iqk1CWb9wXvWYg-mLFe0czqYW1bNXlhcCYi1LTzoFqyGdwPTTtk-ZsM13ajBtnCGD6qft2AXuRRsO6KX3VeFOV5hPe6rzbQZ7g1tjkksUfIx9J9u0/s320/something%20the%20cat%20dragged%20in.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 1983; 232 pages. Book 4 (out of 10) in the <span style="color: #7030a0;">“Peter Shandy Mystery”</span> series. New Author? : Yes. Genre : Amateur Sleuths; Murder Mystery. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">6½*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Betsy Lomax’s cat, Edmund, has once again
brought something dead into the house.
Something red. Something furry. Probably a chipmunk or squirrel that he caught.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Hey, that red stuff looks like
human hair, not fur! Jeez, did Edmund
scalp somebody?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Ah, fortunately, it’s not real
hair, it’s a toupee. Betsy even
recognizes it; it belongs to one of her tenants, Professor Herbert Ungley. But that’s odd, he’s very vain about wearing
it. He wouldn’t be caught dead without
it. Betsy had better go check on
him. Maybe something’s happened to
Ungley.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Maybe Edmund caught the
professor, “dead <b>with</b> it”.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Something The Cat
Dragged In</span> is set in the fictional town of Balaclava
Junction, located somewhere close to Boston.
It is home to a small university, Balaclava Agricultural College, where Peter Shandy, our
protagonist, is a professor. In his spare
time he solves murder-mysteries.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> As the above introduction
indicates, the sleuthing starts immediately, when Betsy Lomax’s cat deposits
Professor Ungley’s hairpiece on the floor.
Ungley’s body is found behind the meetinghouse of a fraternal group called the
Balaclavian Society, which is where he was known to have given a speech earlier
in the evening. Sheriff Fred Ottermole
and Peter Shandy are summoned and an investigation begins.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The main question at the start
is whether Ungley’s demise was an accident or due to foul play. For the possibility of it being a murder, the
storyline provides us with lots of suspects and lots of motives. It was fun to watch our pair of sleuths make
do with the skimpy resources a small town offers, and being a chemist by trade,
I was happy to see the college’s chemistry professor, Professor Joad, contribute to the solving of the case via </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">vital lab results.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Charlotte MacLeod infuses a
lot of wit into the text, courtesy of a number of quirky-but-quaint
characters. She also manages to slip in
a few more serious bits of insight, particularly those involving populist and
pro-agriculture topics. Plowing up
farmland to make way for more housing developments is a sore subject for her. <i>Something The Cat Dragged In</i>
is also a wordsmith’s delight: if you enjoy being introduced to new words, you’ll love this book. Some samples of new words <i><span style="color: #800180;">(at least for me)</span></i> are given below. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending is okay, although not exactly packed with action. Shandy comes up with a dubious
scenario, then skirts a few legalities to determine whether it’s the real
motive. Once that’s confirmed, it’s
just a matter of coaxing Sheriff Ottermole into assisting with the round-up of
miscreants. Things wrap up cozily.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.3/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>515 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>46 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">3.92/5</span></b> based on <b><i>1,067
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>69reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;">Shemozzle</span> <i>(n.)</i>: a state of chaos and confusion; a
muddle <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(Yiddish)</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Others: <span style="color: #990000;">Redd</span> (v<i>.)</i>; <span style="color: #990000;">Welter</span> <i>(n.) </i><span style="color: #990000;">Swivet</span> (<i>n.)</i>; <span style="color: #990000;">Interlarded</span>
<i>(v.) </i><span style="color: #990000;">Nobbling</span>
(v<i>.)</i>; <span style="color: #990000;">Josser</span>
<i>(n.) </i><span style="color: #990000;">Braw</span>
(adj<i>.)</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Professor Daniel Stott of the Animal
Husbandry Department, a man not easily aroused to wrath, had waxed hot in
defense of the genus <i>Sus</i> when somebody had been so injudicious as to
call Claude a swine. In Stott’s
considered opinion, the district would have been far better advised to elect a
sensible, well-disposed, right-thinking sow or boar to the seat Claude now
occupied. The local Plowmen’s Political
Action Committee was said to be taking Stott’s recommendation under advisement.</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;">
</span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 781)</span></i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“Who are you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “My name is Shandy.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Well, well!” This must be the deposed soap king in
person. “The great Professor Shandy, as
I live and breathe, deigning to grace my humble abode. Edna Jean, you damn fool, why didn’t you have
brains enough to slam the door in his face?”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(loc. 2494)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Something
The Cat Dragged In</span> presently sells for <b><i>$9.99</i></b> at Amazon. The other nine books in the series range in
price from <b><i>$1.99</i></b> to <b><i>$11.99</i></b>, which is quite a wide
range. Charlotte MacLeod several other
series, including the 5-book<span style="color: #7030a0;"> Grub-&-Stakers</span> series and the 12-book <span style="color: #7030a0;">Sarah Kelling & Max Bittersohn</span>
set.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“For your future
enlightenment, young lady, there’s only one ‘s’ in bastard.” </span></i><i>(loc. 1528)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There are a couple things to
quibble about. Goodreads labels <span style="color: #990000;">Something The Cat Dragged In</span> a cozy mystery, and
certainly has that “feel” to it, except that there’s way too much
profanity. I counted 22 instances in the
first 25% of the book. To be fair
though, most of the cussing is courtesy of just one character, and there were
no f-bombs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There are quite a few
characters to meet and greet, many of whom are introduced with absolutely no
backstory. I suspect this means they’re
recurring characters from the earlier three books in the series. There are also references to earlier
happenings, such as something involving <i><span style="color: #800180;">“Silo Supporters”</span></i>, but no details about
the incident are given. My
recommendation therefore is to read this series in order.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There were only a couple of
typos, such as <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">staffs/staff’s</span></i> and <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">entree/entry</span></i>, so I was impressed with the
editing. But the one instance of verbal Hispanic condescension, <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“Steppo asideo, sister”</span></i>,
seemed dated.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> All in all, this was an okay
tale, but it didn’t blow me away. The reader makes the sleuthing rounds with Peter, meets lots of interesting suspects, but if
you’re trying to solve the case before he does, forget about it. It’s beginning to dawn on me that this may be
a standard approach for cozy mysteries. I reminded me of <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“Murder She Wrote”</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">6½ Stars</span></b>. One last thing. Late in the investigation, Peter contemplates
possible reasons for some odd actions by a few of the suspects. His first thought is that they’d been “blind
drunk”, but he then wonders if they <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“smoked
peyote”</span></i> or were <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“growing
hallucinogenic mushrooms”</span></i> in some dusty corners of the meetinghouse. It made me wonder what kind of research
Peter, and the author, did to entertain this possibility.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-51856129212279681512023-12-29T15:07:00.000-07:002023-12-29T15:07:58.141-07:00Mission Clockwork - Arthur Slade<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNfK5p2viRVsm6D1KSYTZOh9ifYN-VTLOU5K-Ixcn3tmNmejpNut9kobwM4H4KFqV6fM95cj7DaSGBxTLs689iWeypJSN-8ezFtwHjO1FGZ9g1qnK-2CpgRTVo0aoRMeCFT0-PQmafLl66rKHHDJtxuZtBBSyjRXoPxZx-AqzJSEW8n9rHjhmoANRbb0/s500/mission%20clockwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNfK5p2viRVsm6D1KSYTZOh9ifYN-VTLOU5K-Ixcn3tmNmejpNut9kobwM4H4KFqV6fM95cj7DaSGBxTLs689iWeypJSN-8ezFtwHjO1FGZ9g1qnK-2CpgRTVo0aoRMeCFT0-PQmafLl66rKHHDJtxuZtBBSyjRXoPxZx-AqzJSEW8n9rHjhmoANRbb0/s320/mission%20clockwork.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2018; 251 pages. Book 1 (out of 4) in the <span style="color: #7030a0;">“Mission Clockwork”</span> series. New Author? : Yes. Genres : Steampunk; Young Adult & Teen; England; Historical Fiction. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">8½*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">
Modo hasn’t had an easy life so far.
Very few hunchbacks do.
Especially when they have a hideous face to go along with the grotesquely bent
spinal column.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Modo is presently doing what
most hunchbacks do: he’s in a cage in a traveling freak show called <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“Merveilles et Mort”</span></i>. This is in 19<sup>th</sup> century England, when
there’s no such thing as child labor laws.
Modo is one year old.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Right now, there’s a gentleman
right outside Modo’s cage, staring at him, and offering good money to buy Modo from the show’s proprietor. How odd.
But there’s method to the gentleman’s madness. He’s heard that the boy-hunchback has a
secret talent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> He’s been told that Modo is a
shape-shifter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Mission Clockwork</span>
is set in Victorian-era London, primarily in the poorer, darker neighborhoods,
and both aboveground, including the rooftops, and underground, especially the
sewers. One of my recent reads, Terry
Pratchett’s <span style="color: #990000;">Dodger</span>, was set in the same time
and place, and it was fun to revisit it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> It’s not a spoiler to reveal why
Modo’s new owner, Mr. Socrates, bought him.
Socrates runs a British intelligence agency, and sees a
huge potential in anyone who can self-rearrange his facial and body
characteristics. Modo is content; he has
a personal combat trainer named Tharpa, and a kindly caretaker, Mrs. Finchley, both at Mr. Socrates' expense. It’s a much
better life than being locked in a cage with people gawking at you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The first task assigned by Socrates to Modo is to infiltrate a secret group of terrorists that is rumored to be
plotting some sort of spectacular destruction in London in the near
future. Efforts to infiltrate the group
thus far have been fruitless, but perhaps a shape-shifter can succeed. Now, after years of training and upbringing,
the teenaged Modo is ready to go out and do some official reconnaissance work. There is, of course, some risk to his life,
but hey, such sacrifices are occasionally necessary for Queen and Country.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I liked that Modo’s special
talent, while unique, also has limitations.
Yes, he can transform himself into someone else just by studying them
for a bit. And yes, it feels good to not have that ugly face and uncomfortably large growth on his back for a change. But the transformation wears off after a
short while, usually in a matter of hours, so Modo is always under a time
constraint when using it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending is both spectacular
and exciting. It's a bit over-the-top, but that's standard fare in a “YA-ish” tale. The main storyline is resolved, evil plans
are thwarted, and Modo experiences his finest hour. <i>Mission Clockwork</i> is both a standalone novel,
and the first book in a series. There is
an short excerpt from Book 2, <span style="color: #990000;">Mission Clockwork: The Dark
Deeps</span>, to close things out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;">Knacker</span> <i>(n.)</i> : someone who buys up old horses,
then kills them for their meat, bones, and/or leather.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Others: <span style="color: #990000;">Costermongers</span> <i>(n., plural)</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.2/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>269 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>84 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">3.63/5</span></b> based on <b><i>3,574
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>459 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">When Octavia had been a child in the
orphanage, she had often dreamed a man would come to rescue her. He would say, “I‘m your father and my ship
was wrecked. That is why you are here in
the orphanage. Now I can take you
home.” Or he would be a rich uncle. As she grew older, she hoped it would be a
young prince, and she pictured him so frequently that she could actually see
his face. In the end no one came, so one
day she left on her own and began her life as a pickpocket. </span><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 988)</span></i><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“I can read.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Well, congratulations, Modo.” She floated over and grabbed the book from
his hands. “Ah, Hamlet. He’s too much of a gabber, that boy. Wouldn’t survive a second in our world.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “It’s Shakespeare!” He raised a hand as though on the stage. “‘O, that this too too solid flesh would
melt/Thaw and resolve itself into a dew!’
See! It’s marvellous!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Marvellously boring. Though there is a good sword fight at the
end.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(loc. 1983)</i><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Mission
Clockwork</span> is usually priced at <b><i>$2.99</i></b> at Amazon, although today and for a very limited time it is <b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">free!</span></i></b> The other three books in the series normally go for <b><i>$2.99</i></b>
<i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(Book 2)</span></i>, or <b><i>$3.99</i></b> <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(Books 3 and 4)</span></i>, and right now they too are discounted to <b><i>$0.99</i></b> apiece, so I snapped them up. This appears to
be a completed series, but the author also has a more-recent 5-book YA fantasy
series for you in e-book format titled the <span style="color: #990000;">Dragon
Assassin</span>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“I nodded off and
fell into a story.” </span></i><i>(loc.
195)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The nitpicking about <span style="color: #990000;">Mission Clockwork</span> is minor. This is a “Teen and Young Adult” book, so I
didn’t note any cusswords or adult situations cropping up. You’d think that would make it a boring read
for me, since I’m much older than the target audience, but that wasn’t the case
at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The book is written in <span style="color: #7030a0;">Canadian</span>, which is logical since the author grew
up in Saskatchewan. Therefore you occasionally run into weird spellings such as <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">favourite</span></i>,
and <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">greying</span></i>, but at least worlds like
<i><span style="color: #7030a0;">judgments</span></i> and <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">recognized</span></i> are spelled in “Yankee” fashion. I spotted a couple of typos, such as <i><span style="color: #800180;">Her/He</span></i>,
and <i><span style="color: #800180;">wolf like/wolflike</span></i>, plus one uncapitalized first word in a sentence: <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">humour</span></i>.
Overall though, I thought the editing was done well.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Consistent with its</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">target audience being </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><i>Teen-&-Young-Adult</i>, the storyline contains lots of action, with very little blood and gore, despite a couple of fatalities occurring along the way.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">Yet it still entertained me </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">from beginning to end</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">, and I'm way out of the target age bracket.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">So if you’re looking for a kewl Steampunk adventure, set in a fascinating historical time period, loaded with thrills,
intrigue, and having a hunchback shape-shifter for a protagonist, </span><i style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">Mission Clockwork</i><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">
will be a perfect match for you.</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">Regardless of your age.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">8½ Stars</span></b>. We should not neglect to mention the story’s
costar, young Octavia Milkweed, who is also one of Mr. Socrates’ agents. She and Modo start off on the wrong foot, then spend a lot of time learning to work together, and more importantly, trust one another. It all works out, of course, and
I'm fairly certain <i><span style="color: #800180;">(is that an oxymoron?)</span></i> that Octavia is going to become a recurring character. But will she also be the catalyst for this
series developing a Coming-of-Age plotline?
Who knows, but stay tuned.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-4953820683845680932023-12-23T14:25:00.001-07:002023-12-23T14:25:33.846-07:00Otherlands - Thomas Halliday<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2HfIWlg3YvzR_uasY329eZ9ZHI63Nu4KHhLoYswKSlMal8gefc1LTpXRyKxInIyHwVb7auD51tJj_SB81hnzMpo7oFVA9ZsKyLGnLvXVkP1-pCjMMec6XeFylvKizAZfvirw7Bmaxl19t_koxV-k4kNON0L9Mas5ACju2WeuxYcyNIXv9mG1mRf0eRg/s1000/otherlands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="663" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN2HfIWlg3YvzR_uasY329eZ9ZHI63Nu4KHhLoYswKSlMal8gefc1LTpXRyKxInIyHwVb7auD51tJj_SB81hnzMpo7oFVA9ZsKyLGnLvXVkP1-pCjMMec6XeFylvKizAZfvirw7Bmaxl19t_koxV-k4kNON0L9Mas5ACju2WeuxYcyNIXv9mG1mRf0eRg/s320/otherlands.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2022; 305 pages. Full Title: <span style="color: #7030a0;">Otherlands
– A Journey Through Earth’s Extinct Worlds.</span> New Author? : Yes. Genres : Paleontology; Paleobiology; Ancient
History; Evolution. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">9½*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">
Here's a brief recap of our planet’s existence, as given in the introduction of
<span style="color: #c00000;">Otherlands</span>:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">The
geological history of the Earth stretches back about 4.5 billion years. Life has existed on this planet for about
four billion years, and life larger than single-celled organisms for perhaps
two billion years. </span></i> (…) <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">If all 4.5
billion years of Earth’s history were to be condensed into a single day and
played out, more than three million years of footage would go by every minute.</span></i> (…) <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">The mass extinction event that extinguished pterosaurs,
plesiosaurs and all non-bird dinosaurs would occur 21 minutes before the
end. Written human history would begin
in the last tenth of a second</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> In short, very little of
Earth’s history involves us humans. Even
the dinosaurs are relatively late arrivals.
A great number of plants and animals have appeared, in the seas and on
the land masses of our planet. Most of
them have since disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> What happened to them? What conditions, or changes to their habitat, caused
them to become extinct? It might behoove
us <i>homo sapiens</i> to study these past inhabitants of our world, and determine the
reasons for their demise, so that we can avoid, or at least delay, our own departure.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I liked the way <span style="color: #990000;">Otherlands</span>
was structured. After an overview
introduction, Thomas Halliday works backward through time, dividing the
subject matter into 16 chapters. The
first six are the relatively recent <b>epochs</b> <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(such
as the Eocene)</span></i> going from 12,000 years ago to 66 million. The next ten are classified as <b>periods</b>
<i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(such as the Jurassic)</span></i>, and take the
reader back to 635 million years ago.
Things close with an Epilogue which focuses on where our present world
might be heading, extinction-wise.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Each chapter generally starts with a description of some portion of the world during that epoch/period, then
proceeds to detail some extinction event, which may be gradual or sudden. My favorite chapters were:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #c00000;">#02
</span>(<span style="color: blue;">Pliocene</span> – first humans),<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #c00000;">#03</span>
(<span style="color: blue;">Miocene</span> – filling the Mediterranean Sea),<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #c00000;">#06</span>
(<span style="color: blue;">Paleocene</span> - the Chicxulub asteroid),<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #c00000;">#10</span>
(<span style="color: blue;">Permian</span> – Pangaea),<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #c00000;">#14</span>
(<span style="color: blue;">Ordovician</span> – Gondwana)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Each chapter starts off with a
map of the world during that age <i><span style="color: #800180;">(important, since landmasses and tectonic plates are constantly
shifting)</span></i> and features an awesome illustration of some animal or plant that
lived during that time. There’s a handy "Table of Eras" chart in the front; bookmark it, you’ll be referring to it a
lot. The title reference is on page xiii
of the Introduction, and kudos to whoever set up the links to Notes; they
worked great!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I was introduced to a couple of neat
acronyms along the way, including <b>LUCA</b> <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(Last
Universal Common Ancestor)</span></i> and <b>mya</b> <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(million years ago)</span></i>.
I also learned some evolutionary tips, such as why chicken legs are dark
meat but chicken breasts are white meat; and why zebras developed black and
white stripes. See the end of this
review for the answer to that last one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;">Regurgitalite</span> <i>(n.)</i> : Fossilized vomit.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Others: <span style="color: #990000;">Outwith</span> <i>(prep.)</i>; <span style="color: #990000;">Schiltrom</span> <i>(n.)</i>; <span style="color: #990000;">Catawampus</span>
<i>(adj.)</i>; <span style="color: #990000;">Jouking</span>
<i>(n.); </i><span style="color: #990000;">Stramash</span>
<i>(n.)</i>; <span style="color: #990000;">Eyot</span>
<i>(n.)</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.5/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>580 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>86 reviews.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">4.14/5</span></b> based on <b><i>3,495
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>568 reviews.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">The hot Pangaean wind is rising, and from
the top of the Earth, the Arctic is about to send down a blast unlike any
other. Siberia is about to erupt. When it does, it will expel 4 million cubic
kilometres of lava – enough to fill the modern-day Mediterranean Sea – which
will flood an area the size of Australia.
That eruption will tear through recently formed coal beds, turning the
Earth into a candle, and drifting coal ash and toxic metals over the land,
transforming watercourses into deadly slurries.
Oxygen will boil from the oceans; bacteria will bloom and produce
poisonous hydrogen sulphide. The
foul-smelling sulphides will infuse the seas and skies. Ninety-five per cent of all species of Earth
will perish in what will become known as the Great Dying.</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 3071)</span></i><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Focusing on your hand in front of your
face, you will not see in detail the pictures on the wall beyond. However, the eyes of some trilobites, in
existence by the late Cambrian, are bifocal, using a lens made of two materials
with different refractive properties.
This allows them to simultaneously focus on small objects floating only
a few millimetres away and far objects, theoretically at an infinite distance,
without any modification, an ability that few other species have ever evolved.</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(loc. 4289)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Right now, <span style="color: #990000;">Otherlands</span> is priced at <b><i>$12.99</i></b> at Amazon. This appears to be the only e-book Thomas
Halliday offers, although it is available in several different languages.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Even in the early
days of bilaterally symmetrical animals, it’s a worm-eat-worm world. </span></i><i>(loc. 4204)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Finding anything to gripe
about in <span style="color: #990000;">Otherlands</span> is challenging. As you’d expect from a science book, there
is no cussing. The closest we come to
that is the mention of a marine worm aptly named the <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“penis-worm”</span></i>.
Anyone who finds that offensive is overreacting.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Some reviewers didn’t like the
Epilogue’s message that things like global warming, deforestation, and carbon
emissions could lead <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(or is already leading)</span></i>
our planet into a new Extinction phase.
They’re entitled to their opinions, but Science is on the author’s side
on this issue.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The Amazon page for <i>Otherlands</i>
will tell you that the Kindle version is 409 pages long. Don’t let that length deter you from picking
up this book; the last one hundred pages are Notes and a Glossary. The text stops at page 305.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Finally, be aware that the
author was born and raised in the highlands of Scotland. So you get some “un-American” words and
spellings such as <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">encyclopaedia, outwith,
plough, sough, scarper, faeces</span></i>, and the indecipherable <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">quango</span></i>.
The unit of weight for 2,000 pounds is for some reason spelt two ways: <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">tons</span></i> and <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">tonnes</span></i>. But cheer up, at least the “z” words like <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">fertilize</span></i> are spelt correctly, unlike in that
crazy language the English use.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But these are all petty
quibbles. I found <i>Otherlands</i> to
be a fascinating and enlightening read.
I could see the progression <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(albeit, in
reverse order)</span></i> of life as it developed on this planet, struggled to
cope with fluctuations in its habitat, and adapted-or-perished as a result. We’ll close this review with one last bit of wisdom from
the book that is applicable to another threat to our existence: overpopulation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Migration cannot save a population
if there is nowhere to go.”</span></i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">9½ Stars</span></b>. Why do zebras have stripes, you ask? Because the pattern prevents flying insects
from being able to easily judge landing distances at close range. So a striped zebra ends up suffering less insect
bites than an unstriped one.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-88713113855542468522023-12-18T15:23:00.001-07:002023-12-18T15:23:41.005-07:00The Emperor's Second Wife - Zoe Saadia<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgce8gOBwT0rO1Makf7K37VuxfITEYoGl7k7RqdgH_JP0vZjAQkLYygRDN-snUZ0OtjMAcOTpZdefJ8AKMOaYciweSukNmRE0v7T0vsRDEZSDGS5UNMOE-W53jZ5ATX3cfc4OZ8flYQAd3JBEdIfjORQoafN3KPJwHwD83mLodBGbA72fWKFtJ8cZCfyII/s1000/zoe%20saadia%20-%20emperor's%202nd%20wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgce8gOBwT0rO1Makf7K37VuxfITEYoGl7k7RqdgH_JP0vZjAQkLYygRDN-snUZ0OtjMAcOTpZdefJ8AKMOaYciweSukNmRE0v7T0vsRDEZSDGS5UNMOE-W53jZ5ATX3cfc4OZ8flYQAd3JBEdIfjORQoafN3KPJwHwD83mLodBGbA72fWKFtJ8cZCfyII/s320/zoe%20saadia%20-%20emperor's%202nd%20wife.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2012; 270 pages. Book 3 (out of 7) in the <span style="color: #7030a0;">“Rise of the Aztecs”</span> series. New Author? : No. Genres : Mesoamerica; Historical Fiction; Intrigue.
Overall Rating: <b><span style="color: blue;">8/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Kuini and Coyotl have made it to the big
city! In this case we’re talking about
Tenochtitlan in 1419 CE, at the time, the largest metropolis in the Americas. Nobody takes any notice of the two lads; they
enter the city dressed like a couple of commoners. They’re here to see if they can meet up with
Coyotl’s half-sister, Iztac.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Iztac will certainly be better
dressed. She’s married to Huitzilihuitl,
the emperor of Tenochtitlan, and her official title is <i><span style="color: #800180;">“the Emperor’s Second
Wife”</span></i>. Not quite the queen of the hill, but close
to it, and above all but one of the other half-dozen or so wives of the emperor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But that’s a mixed blessing
because Huitzilihuitl is in poor health, and probably has only a year or so to
live. The Emperor’s Wife #1, hereafter
simply called “the Empress” has done her duty and birthed a son who’s next in
line to succeed Huitzilihuitl, but he’s still just a lad, just barely teenaged. Until he’s an adult the Empress
will rule as his regent.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Everything would change though, if either
The Empress or her son dies. This makes
the Empress very wary of any and all of the other wives and their offspring. If and when the Emperor dies, the first thing
she’ll do is get rid of any of them she perceives as a threat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> And guess which one she
perceives as her greatest threat?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">The Emperor’s
Second Wife</span> is the third installment in Zoe Saadia’s 7-book <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Rise of the Aztecs</span></i> saga. Mesoamerica consists
of a bunch of <b>altepetls</b> <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(think
“city-states”)</span></i> that spend most of their time and resources trying to
conquer their neighboring altepetls, then extracting tribute from them. At the moment, the top altepetl is Tepanec, to which Tenochtitlan <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(think “Mexico City” and/or “the Aztecs”)</span></i> and many other cities in the region, bow.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There is some discontent
within the ranks of the Tenochtitlan nobility with their kowtowing status <i>vis-a-vis</i> the Tepanecs. A few key figures are developing plans
to rise up, although so far, very little action has been taken for fear of the
Tepanecs finding out. Just how our three
protagonists, Kuini, Coyotl, and Iztac, will fit in with these plots is unclear,
but here in <i>The Emperor’s Second Wife</i> our heroes do make contact with the
Resistance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Once again, I loved the
attention to historical detail in the storyline. Although there is some fighting involved, it
remains on a personal level, due mostly to hotheaded Kuini shooting his mouth
off at Aztec warriors, including a new character, Tlacaelel, who I have a feeling will
be developed into a fourth protagonist. Yet the story never becomes boring due to the scarcity of bloodshed. Instead, intrigue, on both a personal and altepetl level, abounds. There is also a fascinating love triangle,
Dehe-Iztac-Kuini, which does not get resolved; I look forward to seeing how that
plays out.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Once again, I enjoyed the bits
and pieces of the Nahuatl language that are woven into the text. And once again I chuckled at the invented
profanity: <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“dung-eaters”, “frog-eaters”, “little
piece of dirt”</span></i>, and the more-protracted <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“dirty,
stinking, disgusting filth-eater”</span></i>.
Two deities are also briefly mentioned: <i>Camaxtli</i> and <i>Huitzilopochtli,</i> but
Mesoamerican religious factions don’t seem to make much of an impact here.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending is satisfying—full
of intrigue and unexpected acts with unexpected consequences. None of the overthrow scheming gets resolved, but when
the dust clears, Tenochtitlan has taken its first step towards throwing off the
Tepanec yoke.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…<br />
</span></i> Amazon: <b><span style="color: blue;">4.4*/5</span></b>, based on <b><i>187 ratings</i></b>
and <b><i>58 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Goodreads: <b><span style="color: blue;">4.43*/5</span></b>,
based on <b><i>159</i></b> ratings and <b><i>220</i></b> reviews<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“Why do you eat this?” asked Kuini, mostly
to take the conversation off his motives for breaking into the Palace.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Health troubles.” The Aztec shrugged. “I’m an old man, you know? Should have died on the battlefield, a death
of heroes. Instead, here I am, watching
over young hotheads, taking baths in the middle of the heat, eating
disgustingly healthy, trying to prolong the inevitable.” The wide brow creased with a frown. “I’ve already covered most of the distance of
my Path of the Dead. There is not much
left to walk. Still, one tries to
prolong the way when his time is nearing.”
He shrugged again. “Warriors
should die before they grow old.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(pg.
131)</i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“Did you talk to the Empress?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Well, yes. And it was anything but pleasant. Don’t do this when your time comes.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The young woman blinked. “What did she do to you?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Oh, nothing. She locked me in a small room, with no baths
and no food, and told me to think it over.”
Iztac shrugged, amused by the open dread in her companion’s eyes. “So, today I told her I had thought it over,
and that I won’t make any more trouble.
And that was that.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “And she just let you go back?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Well, you know the Empress. She made some difficulties. I had to convince her that I meant it. I had to cry and make pitiful noises.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “You?
Cried?”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(pg.
179)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“There can be only
one empress, so it’s important that you should not nurture any ideas of you
becoming one.” </span></i><i>(pg.
6)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The quibbles are minor. As mentioned earlier, almost all of the
cussing is delightfully invented, but with four exceptions, two involving eschatology, two involving an excretory
function. There’s also one
roll-in-the-hay.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> It would’ve been nice to have
a <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Cast of Characters</span> to refer to, even better if it included the deities. And although all the Nahuatl words and
phrases are either translated when introduced or else clear enough to where you
can suss them out, having a <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Nahuatl-English Glossary</span> would’ve come in handy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> As in the earlier books, typos
abound: <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">gap/gape, breath/breathe,
envelope/envelop</span></i>, and the spellchecker-challenging <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Chimalpopoca/Chimalpapoca</span></i>. There were more, but I tend to cut indie authors
some slack when it comes to spellchecker errors.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> My main quibble has to do with
the names of characters: a couple of them simply don’t have any. The most notable of these was the
Tenochtitlan Empress/Regent herself. She’s pretty
easily identified by her title, but there are two Tenochtitlan warlords in the
storyline; one active and one retired; one of which has a name given, the other
which doesn’t. And keeping those two
straight in my head was no small feat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> So much for the nitpicking. <span style="color: #990000;">The Emperor’s
Second Wife</span> is another solid entry in this series, deftly advancing the
overarching plotline <i><span style="color: #800180;">(the growing prominence of the Aztecs)</span></i> while still keeping me
interested in who is going to do what to whom. So far, this has
been a great series, although I do recommend reading the book in chronological order.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">8 Stars</span></b>. In checking at Amazon, it appears the author’s last published
book came out in late 2019. That’s a bummer, since I enjoy the geographic setting of her tales: the pre-Columbian
Americas. One of the minor characters in
<span style="color: #990000;">The Emperor’s Second Wife</span>, Kaay, is noted to
be of Mayan heritage. I’ve always been
intrigued by the Mayans with their more-accurate-than-ours calendar and their end-of-the-world predictions. It would be really neat if
Zoe Saadia were to resume her writing career with a series based on the heyday
of the Mayans, a millennium before the Aztecs.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-35814543312892401302023-12-12T15:02:00.000-07:002023-12-12T15:02:43.563-07:00Marked By Magic - Lindsay Buroker<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGkBH5sH8GPiBTdwbvxHA4N0J8-ZXPR414UsPqBzTdt-gfpFkUcSsf1RsTxfOq9JhBS1JBheKpSune65lv7FO7cP6wPgIbV7iAnoga0MiC0GqLD3rbQr3ABAR-o0NaCUx012VUDSY9j_HxRQNn_CPlpBv6H6INUyHCkZqjbXdy6USJYqG2Ytjd0SFROg/s500/buroker%20-%20marked%20by%20magic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoGkBH5sH8GPiBTdwbvxHA4N0J8-ZXPR414UsPqBzTdt-gfpFkUcSsf1RsTxfOq9JhBS1JBheKpSune65lv7FO7cP6wPgIbV7iAnoga0MiC0GqLD3rbQr3ABAR-o0NaCUx012VUDSY9j_HxRQNn_CPlpBv6H6INUyHCkZqjbXdy6USJYqG2Ytjd0SFROg/s320/buroker%20-%20marked%20by%20magic.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2023; 337 pages. Book 1 (out of 2) in the <span style="color: #7030a0;">“Tracking Trouble”</span> series. New Author? : Yes. Genres: Humorous Fantasy; Dragons; Urban
Fantasy. Overall Rating: <b><span style="color: blue;">8*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Nobody likes dark elves. Arwen Forester has her own particular reasons
for hating them. She has a
spider tattoo on her arm to remind her of that.
You can see it on the book’s cover image.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Arwen lives quietly on her
father’s farm out in the sticks. One day
she is visited by an elf warrior who demands she tell him where to find the
local dark elves. He was rather uppity about the whole thing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The elf found Arwen by
assuming the form of a dragon, and using a dragon’s heightened sense to locate
her. That means he’s probably a cross-breed: half-elf and half-dragon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Nobody likes half-breeds. They even have a pejorative word for them:
mongrels. Arwen knows all about being
called a mongrel. She’s half human.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> And half dark-elf.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Marked By Magic</span>
is set in the present-day Seattle area, with a particular focus on the suburb of Bellevue. It reminded me of Jim
Butcher’s Chicago setting for his <span style="color: #7030a0;">Dresden Files</span>
series: a minority comprised of magical creatures living among the vastly more numerous humans, with some inevitable friction and strained interactions arising
between the two groups. The main
difference is that <i>Marked By Magic</i> is lighter in tone than the Harry
Dresden books; the mood is closer to Charlaine Harris’s <span style="color: #7030a0;">Sookie
Stackhouse</span> series.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The main plotline follows
Arwen’s tense relationship with the elf-dragon Starblade.
Arwen, an expert tracker, initially agrees to hunt down the dark elves
for him, but later accepts money from other parties to hunt down
half-breed dragons. Needless to say,
this leads to trust issues for both protagonists.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> If you like your Urban Fantasy
books to contain lots of magical critters <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(I
do!)</span></i>, you’ll love this book.
Besides the standard mix of elves, dwarves, dragons, gnomes, and ogres;
there are also 7-foot-tall trolls, half-orcs, kobolds, and even the rarely seen
soul drykars and vampire jellyfish. One immortal from the magical world gets mentioned here: the spider-demon <b>Zagorwalek</b> <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(try saying that name ten times real fast)</span></i>. He, and other gods, don’t play a big part in this tale, but I wonder
if that’s going to change as the series progresses.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There's lots of
adventure and intrigue to keep you turning the pages, but Lindsay Buroker also finds ways to mix in some
insightful thoughts about prejudices against others, be they mongrels, magical species, or just anyone different than what we are. I also was thrilled to learn that the game of
chess is played by the fantasy-world folks, since I’ve been a chess devotee all my life. But over there it’s called <span style="color: #7030a0;">Thyslyar</span>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending was suitably tense
and exciting, with a couple of neat plot twists thrown in, by both the good
guys and the baddies. The Epilogue
clears up the money-for-hire angle, as well as one that concerned coffee grounds <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(say what?!)</span></i>.
The Arwen/Starblade plot thread remains open, but hey, that’s what
sequels are for.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;">Mycophile</span> <i>(n.)</i>:
a devotee of mushrooms.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Others: <span style="color: #990000;">Inimical</span> <i>(adj.)</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…<br />
</span></i> Amazon: <b><span style="color: blue;">4.6*/5</span></b>, based on <b><i>1,416 ratings</i></b>
and <b><i>85 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Goodreads: <b><span style="color: blue;">4.57*/5</span></b>,
based on <b><i>850
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>48 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“Are these leaves?” Amber plucked something out of [Arwen’s]
hair. “And twigs? Didn’t you shower and wash this . . . nest
this morning?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “I did shower. But then I walked through the woods to Duvall
so I could get a ride over here from Sigrid.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Did you drag your <i>hair</i> along the
trail?” Shaking her head, Amber fished
out another leaf and grabbed a brush and comb.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “It wasn’t light yet, and the branches can
claw at you. There aren’t any direct
trails, so sometimes I have to clear the way.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “With your <i>head</i>?” </span><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 2512)</span></i><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Amber turned back and lifted a finger, but
she paused when she spotted Arwen’s bare forearms. The loose sleeves of the jumpsuit had fallen
to her elbows. Arwen jerked her hands
down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “You got <i>another</i> weird tattoo?” Amber gaped.
“What is that? A dragon?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Yes.
It was not by choice.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “What?
You were walking by a tattoo shop, and the artist pounced you with an
ink gun?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “I . . . was walking inside a dragon’s
lair, and <i>he</i> pounced. With
magic.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “What is <i>wrong</i> with your life?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Recently, a lot.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(pg. 2579)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Marked
By Magic</span> presently sells for <b><i>$0.99</i></b> at Amazon. The sequel, <span style="color: #990000;">Bound
By Blood</span>, is priced at <b><i>$4.99</i></b>. The third book in the trilogy, <span style="color: #990000;">Driven By Destiny</span>, is due to be released on
January 10, 2024. Lindsay Buroker is a
prolific writer of both Sci-Fi and Fantasy novels, available both as
standalones and in bundles, and all reasonably priced, and occasionally offered at
enticing discounts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Out of the
cranberry bog and into the pig wallow. </span></i><i>(loc.
1048)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I couldn’t find much to
quibble about in <span style="color: #990000;">Marked By Magic</span>. There’s only a smattering of profanity <i><span style="color: #800180;">(6
instances in the first 25%)</span></i>, and that helps keep the story’s tone
light-hearted. There are, however, a couple of
“adult situations”, but those keep the story’s tone from becoming
too juvenile.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I only noted one typo, an <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amber’s/Arwen’s</span></i> mix-up, and even then, I only
caught it when choosing the first excerpt for this review. Whoever the editors were, they did a good
job.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Last, and least, Arwen
apparently is a character in an earlier Lindsay Buroker Urban Fantasy series, who now gets to
be the main protagonist in one. There
were a number of references to Arwen’s backstory, all of which were lost on me
since this was my first book by this author.
But that’s not her fault, it’s mine for choosing a spin-off
series.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> That’s all I can gripe
about. <i>Marked By Magic</i> was a literary treat for me,
and a great introduction to an author I’ve been meaning to try for quite some
time. So if you’ve read all the Sookie
Stackhouse books, and are looking for a similar type of world-setting, I highly recommend you give this one a try.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">8 Stars</span></b>. One last thing. The brief mention of soil amendments strongly
resonated with me. My 45-year career as
a chemist was with a company whose main line of products were soil amendments. They’re the reason you and I aren’t starving
despite huge amounts of farmland being turned into housing developments.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-82397733216201357572023-12-06T16:30:00.002-07:002023-12-06T16:30:46.634-07:00The Eight Reindeer of the Apocalypse - Tom Holt<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyulMS-6FfUL06E-CtlTblkXk45C7J7Bw6fnq-6vMT4f7LSfWLyuL_uwjdFc8_W5zo0Ly-f4hbDzeOCijVy4A433B0roRuModgSKGWLBiqnPBdzZdfBr8maAqMbVQf5TcRve4oEqNPOwGIM_CRan7NxlBjB3lRv_L2BCZRIUlyvI3Iza0ib9o1-XUAsZQ/s466/eight%20reindeer%20apocalypse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyulMS-6FfUL06E-CtlTblkXk45C7J7Bw6fnq-6vMT4f7LSfWLyuL_uwjdFc8_W5zo0Ly-f4hbDzeOCijVy4A433B0roRuModgSKGWLBiqnPBdzZdfBr8maAqMbVQf5TcRve4oEqNPOwGIM_CRan7NxlBjB3lRv_L2BCZRIUlyvI3Iza0ib9o1-XUAsZQ/s320/eight%20reindeer%20apocalypse.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2023; 303 pages. Book 8 (out of 8) in the <span style="color: #7030a0;">“J.W. Wells & Co.”</span> series. New Author? :No. Genres : Humorous Fantasy; Christmas Tie-In; Mythology. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">8</span></b><b><span style="color: blue;">½*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The end of the world is nigh! We’re all going to die the same way the
dinosaurs did—by having a big asteroid smashing into, and obliterating, planet Earth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Well, there are a few
differences. This asteroid is being
steered by a Mesopotamian goddess who was locked inside it a couple of
millennia ago. Her name is Tiamat, and
she’s divorced, mad as heck, and living up to her nickname <span style="color: #2b00fe;">“the Destroyer”</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Maybe we should fly up to the asteroid in a rocket, unlock the door to her enclosure, get her out, and change the path
of the asteroid. Too bad nobody knows
where the key to that cell door is anymore.
Okay then, maybe we can get her ex- to talk to her and persuade her to alter
course.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Or not. For starters we don’t know who her ex- is and
where he might be, and chances are a conversation between him and Taimat will just enrage her further.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">The Eight Reindeer
of the Apocalypse</span> is the latest absurdist fantasy novel from Tom Holt
wherein equal parts of Doomsday dread and office politics are combined with a healthy dose of Holt’s
trademark wry British humour. It is also
a return, after a 12-year hiatus, to his <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“J.W.
Wells & Co.”</span></i> series, which features a firm whose clients and
employees are mostly of the magical ilk.
Here, though, the focus is on a rival company of JWW&C., <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Dawson, Ahriman, and Dawson</span></i>, and their team of Thaumaturgical
& Metaphysical Engineers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> We follow the efforts and wiles
of several DA&D employees, some in Upper Management, others further down
the corporate ladder, including an intern and a receptionist. That might sound boring, but corporate
subterfuges abound and it turns out a lot DA&D’s workforce are out-of-work
deities <i><span style="color: #800180;">(shades of Neil Gaiman's</span></i> <span style="color: #990000;">American Gods</span> <i><span style="color: #800180;">and Marie Phillips'</span></i> <span style="color: #990000;">Gods Behaving Badly</span>!) just hanging out until they can find another world to reign over. It was fun trying to figure out Who was masquerading as whom in the god/human charade.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> As usual, Tom Holt weaves a plethora of
plotlines into the tale to keep things interesting. These include a mysterious <i><span style="color: #800180;">gray polymer
package, a photobomb fanatic, missing paintings</span></i>, and whether <i><span style="color: #800180;">a jolly fellow named Nick</span></i> will find
gainful employment again. You’ll also
play the <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Riddle Game</span></i> with a
Gollum-like character, desperately look for a <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“Get Out of
Death Free”</span></i> card, and dream of acquiring a <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Bottomless Purse</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> You might think a killer
asteroid is easy to fix for a bunch of out-of-work gods, but they waver between
apathy <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(“We’re immortal. We’ll survive anything.”)</span></i> and
angst <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(Ye gods!
There’ll be no one left to worship us!)</span></i>. Everything builds to a pleasingly absurd
ending, with a pleasingly overlooked character stepping up to save the day. Things close with what appears to be a
teaser for a sequel. I for one certainly
hope Tom Holt is working on one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">”There is no—”
Mr. Teasdale froze, as thirty years of sincere trusting disbelief
crashed round his ears like a Philistine temple. “There really is a Santa Claus?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Yup.
As a matter of fact, he was in my office only the other day, Nice chap, but a bit scary.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Are you sure?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The look on Mr. Teasdale’s face. Half an hour ago, Mr. Dawson was pretty sure
he’d never laugh again. It was nice to
find out he’d been wrong. “Sure I’m
sure,” he said. “The man himself. Even came down the chimney.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “We haven’t got a chimney.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “I know.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 1860)</span></i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“You were going too fast,” the spokeswoman
interpreted. “Showing off. Probably texting. And now look what you’ve done.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The spokeswoman had a high, shrill voice
and plenty of it, but the pilot couldn’t help noticing she was kinda cute, if
you like ‘em green and frondy.
“Jump-started evolution on your world, by the looks of it,” he
said. “Hey, get a load of that
Woodlice.” And the morning and the
evening, incidentally, were the fifth day.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Yuk,” said the spokeswoman firmly. “Creepy-crawlies.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “True,” conceded the pilot. “Although give ‘em a day or so and they’ll be
yay high, walking on their hind legs and discovering the Higgs boson. Still, you’re probably right. I can do you a quick flood and everything’ll
be jake.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(loc. 2184)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;">Gubbins</span> <i>(v.)</i> : gadgets; gadgetry. <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(British)</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Others: <span style="color: #990000;">Insuperable</span> <i>(adj.)</i>;
<span style="color: #990000;">Qurutob</span> <i>(n., food)</i>; <span style="color: #990000;">Yonks</span> <i>(n.)</i>; <span style="color: #990000;">Punters</span>
<i>(n.; <span style="color: #7030a0;">I never
did figure out the connotation of this word.</span>)</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…<br />
</span></i> Amazon: <b><span style="color: blue;">4.3*/5</span></b>, based on <b><i>97</i></b>
ratings and <b><i>9 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Goodreads: <b><span style="color: blue;">4.05*/5</span></b>,
based on <b><i>98</i></b> ratings and <b><i>34 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">The
Eight Reindeer of the Apocalypse</span> costs <b><i>$9.99</i></b> at Amazon right now,
which is a pretty good deal for a recent release. Tom
Holt has a slew of other e-books for your Kindle; they range in price from <b><i>$2.99</i></b>
to <b><i>$9.99</i></b>. Be aware that Amazon discounts of Tom Holt novels are
few and far between.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Oh what fun it isn’t to ride on a nine-reindeer, open-topped,
dangerously overcrowded faster-than-light sleigh.</span></i> <i>(loc. 3720)</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I’m a Holt-aholic, so it’s
not surprising that I can’t find much to quibble about in <span style="color: #990000;">The Eight Reindeer of the Apocalypse</span>. I counted 26 cusswords in the first 20% of
the book, which is about average for Mr. Holt. Eight of those were f-bombs though. The editing is good; I noted only two typos: <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">He/The</span></i> and <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">amd/and</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Some reviewers didn’t like the
abundance of plot threads. That’s
understandable, but that’s the norm for a Tom Holt novel. It keeps the reader keeps wondering how all of those
tangents will figure into the storyline, and whether they can possibly be tied
up coherently. Somehow Tom Holt succeeds
in doing so every time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I guess my only beef is with
the title’s implied Christmas tie-in.
Yes, there’s a short guy in a red suit whose name is Nick. But he doesn’t live at the North Pole with
Mrs. Claus and a bunch of elves. Also,
the eponymous eight reindeer don’t enter into the tale until 85%-Kindle, and
it’s really only a cameo appearance.
True, the book is divided into 8 chapters, and each chapter title
is given a reindeer name, but those titles have nothing to do with the chapter’s
contents.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Overall, I think <span style="color: #990000;">The Eight Reindeer of the Apocalypse</span> is another
fine tale by Tom Holt. The wit and
absurdities are still there, so are the subtle insights into not-so-subtle
topics, including in this case, the practice of worshipping deities. This is the author's 36<sup>th</sup> novel, if I
counted correctly at Wikipedia, and he’s been putting them out since
1987. Here’s hoping he’s still got a bunch more stories to share.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">8½ Stars</span></b>. One last thing. What can you create with the following items: <i><span style="color: #800180;">a cinema
ticket, a packet of Oreos, a zippo lighter, a rubber band</span></i>, and <i><span style="color: #800180;">a tuning fork</span></i>? The fate of the planet depends on you solving this!</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-28112063831902701042023-11-30T15:17:00.002-07:002023-11-30T15:17:38.236-07:00Huntress Moon - Alexandra Sokoloff<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUOE5wqbV30qLQi4iSsX9bKz0BUOZUMkt9JSMS409STLTnT5PotL1ptmIeFnhe7-8IdqyUchMfTIgjDN9-f4HwU8u20VEuOUPklulz5vtsW33TDQLxgGsl4eouz9Dp8uE9sb7wmWaR6U8mX2rm3pw2IfsM0TNS4Ok_wvLV9DYHW-zf5pEfoWdLHhe7dE/s475/sokoloff%20-%20huntress%20moon.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="307" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTUOE5wqbV30qLQi4iSsX9bKz0BUOZUMkt9JSMS409STLTnT5PotL1ptmIeFnhe7-8IdqyUchMfTIgjDN9-f4HwU8u20VEuOUPklulz5vtsW33TDQLxgGsl4eouz9Dp8uE9sb7wmWaR6U8mX2rm3pw2IfsM0TNS4Ok_wvLV9DYHW-zf5pEfoWdLHhe7dE/s320/sokoloff%20-%20huntress%20moon.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2014; 364 pages. Book 1 (out of 6) in the series <span style="color: #7030a0;">“The Huntress”</span>.
New Author? : Yes. Genre : Vigilante
Justice; Crime-Mystery; FBI Thriller. Overall
Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">9*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> It’s a terrible thing to watch one of your
coworkers die. Just ask FBI special
agent Michael Roarke. While on a
stakeout, he witnessed a fellow agent Kevin Greer get run over by a full-sized
truck as he stepped out into the street.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Oh well, accidents happen when
you’re in the FBI. Agent Greer got
careless while he was focused on the stakeout.
Hmm. Or did he?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Now that Roarke thinks about
it, Greer started out into the street, then stopped and turned around to face a
pedestrian on the sidewalk: a pretty female with blonde hair, dressed all in
black, and wearing a turtleneck sweater.
Roarke thinks he recalls it looking like she said something to get Greer’s
attention which caused him to pause. In
the street. Which was a fatal mistake on his
part.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The woman disappeared after
the collision. Was she a factor in
Greer’s death? Is it even worth
investigating? It’ll most likely turn out to be a waste
of time, but Roarke feels duty-bound to look into it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But without the blonde's name or a
motive, how do you go about doing that?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The
FBI takes a dim view of any of its agents perishing in the line of duty, and an
Investigative Team is quickly formed with Roarke heading it up. Clues are frustratingly sparse to begin
with. It could be a revenge killing,
although Greer’s service record is clean. Or maybe it was a mob hit, since Greer had
been working undercover, but would Organized Crime hire a hitman that’s a
hitwoman? Perhaps it was the work of a
serial killer, but if so, where are the bodies of previous victims? Maybe it was just an accident, and Roarke is
reading too much into a chance encounter by Greer as he started to cross the
street. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> It’s not really a spoiler to
reveal that that last possibility is quickly ruled out. This
wasn’t an accident; it wouldn’t be much of a tale if it were, and the storyline
in <span style="color: #990000;">Huntress Moon</span> follows the two main
characters – Roarke and the perpetrator.
So this isn’t really a whodunit; it’s more of a <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“whydunit”</span></i>, and a <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“what’s-the-killer-going-to-do-next”</span></i>
scenario.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I liked the settings:
Portland, Salt Lake City, and several stops along the California west coast, culminating
with a visit to Blythe, California, a <i>middle-of-nowhere</i> city, at least when I
used to pass through it in my college days.
The title references a rare alternate name for the astronomical
phenomenon called a <span style="color: #2b00fe;">“Blue Moon”</span>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I thought the storytelling was
great. We get to watch Roarke’s <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(and the rest of his team’s)</span></i> deductive
reasoning skills in action, squeezing the maximum of various hypotheses out of a
minimum of hard evidence. It was also fun
to watch things unfold from the killer’s viewpoint as she carries out her
carefully laid plans. Nonetheless, Alexandra
Sokoloff’s writing skills are sufficient to keep the reader <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(and the FBI)</span></i> guessing as how the victims are,
and were, selected and what motivates her to kill them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending is both surprising and exciting. Hunter and
huntress finally meet up, mutual respect is shown, and a bad situation is
rectified. All the plotlines are <b><i>not</i></b>
tied up, but this is a rare case where that’s a plus, as I’m sure they will be
further addressed in the next book in the series, <span style="color: #990000;">Blood
Moon</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.4/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>8,300 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>1,568 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">4.13/5</span></b> based on <b><i>7,422
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>728 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;">Unsub</span> <i>(n.)</i>
: unidentified subject <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(cop slang)</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Others: <span style="color: #990000;">Mediagenic</span> <i>(adj.)</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Sister Frances struck him as fair, if
blunt. She was also absolutely convinced
of what she was saying.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “This ‘brand of hate’ . . . was there
anything political about it?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> She frowned. “A dash, I suppose. He called himself an eco-anarchist.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> <i>Only in Portland</i>, Roarke
thought. He raised an eyebrow and Sister
Frances gave him the Cliff’s Notes version without his having to ask. “Eco-anarchism, also known green anarchism,
anarcho-primitivism, anarcho-naturism, anti-civilization anarchism . . . I
could go on.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 2016)</span></i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">He held up a hand between them, and forced
his voice steady. <i>“Estancia
aqui. Te escondes.” Stay here. Stay hidden.</i> He had no idea what would go down before he
could get this girl to any kind of safety, but she didn’t look like she was
about to move anywhere anytime soon, and for the moment, that was a good thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> And then, because he had to know, he asked,
<i>“¿Qué paso?” What happened?</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> She looked out at the body of her attacker
with huge, dark eyes. <i>“Santa Muerte,”</i>
she whispered.</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(loc.
4618, and it took me forever to figure out how to make that upside-down
question mark.)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Huntress
Moon</span> sells for <b><i>$4.99</i></b> at Amazon. The other five books in the series will run
you either <b><i>$3.99</i></b> or <b><i>$4.99</i></b>, mostly the latter. Alexandra Sokoloff offers several other e-books
at Amazon, in the <b><i>$2.99-$4.99</i></b> range, and mostly Thrillers. She also has authored three non-fiction books
featuring tips about Screenwriting, which also go for <b><i>$2.99-$4.99</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“A Bat’s got to do
what a Bat’s got to do.” </span></i><i>(loc.
3416)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The quibbles are minor. I counted only 14 cusswords in the first 25%
of <span style="color: #990000;">Huntress Moon</span>, although five of those
were f-bombs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I spotted only a couple of
typos: <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Later/later; Milvia/Marias; mantle/mantel</span></i>,
but overall, I’d say whoever did the editing did a good job.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Be aware that, as with almost
any law enforcement agency story, acronyms abound. Some I knew, some I didn’t. Some were explained; some weren’t. Here’s a partial list of them: <span style="color: #7030a0;">VICAP, BAU, MP report, CHP, DIY, COBOL, CI, BOLO, BFD,
OPPLA, MILF</span>. Some of those are
well-known, others were quite esoteric to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But enough of the quibbling. It’s always a joy to come across an author
who knows how to write a page-turning thriller, and that was the case
here. The pacing was brisk, the “police
procedural” portions were convincing, and I appreciated the inclusion of a
couple of red herrings to keep me, and the FBI, on our toes. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">9 Stars</span></b>. When Roarke and his team were examining the
“serial killer” angle, a femme fatale named Aileen Wuornos is mentioned. I had never heard of her, but it turns out
she was real and one of a very small group of American female serial killers. Wikipedia has a page devoted to her; it is
quite enlightening, and the link is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aileen_Wuornos">here</a>.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-61325380458987165872023-11-24T18:42:00.001-07:002023-11-25T11:46:43.435-07:00Hounded - Kevin Hearne<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvOk_4HyYvGC7oY9PhCGJf4G2viDkL7rOCHsg0Bl-IL48eby7y2_pdkGFTp9KdwYQnu0YzMOsInYrFiAjVHtwilQrOvSliPaIWzXitYdnZoY5MXvCfo51Ko9jWdj9qVVOiBsjXtDmhPjp9vJ2r6cvrXYKbo_2LngXaangnmmN78dT7NCV_LY_r91QpXc/s500/hounded.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="303" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvOk_4HyYvGC7oY9PhCGJf4G2viDkL7rOCHsg0Bl-IL48eby7y2_pdkGFTp9KdwYQnu0YzMOsInYrFiAjVHtwilQrOvSliPaIWzXitYdnZoY5MXvCfo51Ko9jWdj9qVVOiBsjXtDmhPjp9vJ2r6cvrXYKbo_2LngXaangnmmN78dT7NCV_LY_r91QpXc/s320/hounded.jpg" width="194" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2011; 289 pages. Book 1 (out of 10) in the <span style="color: #7030a0;">“Iron Druid Chronicles”</span> series. New Author? : Yes. Genres: Urban Fantasy; Mythology; Action-Adventure.
Overall Rating: <b><span style="color: blue;">9½*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Say hello to <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Atticus O’Sullivan</span></b>. He runs a modest occult bookstore in Tempe,
Arizona, where he has a side business of
selling herbal concoctions at his store, mostly to the same customers who come to his
place seeking metaphysical tomes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Atticus seems like nice young
fellow, but he’s hiding a couple of secrets.
First, Atticus is his alias; his real name is <span style="color: #7030a0;">Siodhachan
O Suileabhain</span>, a fine ancient Celtic appellation. Yeah, try saying that one ten times real
fast. And although Atticus
looks young, he’s actually more than 2,000 years old. He’s the last living Druid.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> He’s made some powerful
enemies over the centuries, some of them deities. The main one is Aenghus Og , the Celtic god
of love <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(among other things)</span></i> who’s
been chasing Atticus for several hundred years now.
Being an occult bookseller is just Atticus’s latest undercover disguise.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Atticus
has just been told by the Morrigan <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(who?)</span></i>
that Aenghus Og has seen through his disguise, and is on his way to kill him. It’s time for Atticus to flee once more.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Too bad he’s tired of running
away.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Hounded</span> is
the opening book in a 10-volume urban fantasy series called <span style="color: #7030a0;">The Iron Druid Chronicles</span>, and is told in the
first-person POV, Atticus's. I presume this is a
completed series since Book 10 was published in 2018, and Kevin Hearne's more recent novels are in a different series. Our protagonist is a modern-day Druid, and we follow his adventures, which mostly consist of magical
creatures sent to either kill Atticus, hoodwink him into a trap, or contrive
things to where he owes favors to some person, deity, or magical creature.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The tale is set in and around
Tempe, Arizona, home to my alma mater, Arizona State University and where I
lived for many years. So the numerous
local references resonated with me, and include: <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Scottsdale
Memorial Hospital, Newman Center, the Arizona Republic newspaper, Papago Park,
Mill and University Avenues, the Superstition Mountains</span></i>, and the landmark Irish pub, <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Rula Bula</span></i>.
They’re all real, although that last one has since gone
out of business.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Magical creatures abound in
the story, among them <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">the Fae, an Iron
Elemental, the Morrigan, the Tuatha De Danann, Fir Bolgs, demons, the Zoryas</span></i>,
and a slew of <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Wiccan witches</span></i>. Also, some animals, including wolfhounds and
stags, are telepathic.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The action starts right away,
with Atticus getting mugged by a gang of fairies on page 4. The supporting characters were a fascinating
bunch; Atticus’s bestie is a magic-infused dog named Oberon, and his two lawyers,
both extremely competent, are a vampire and a werewolf. My favorite <i>not-the-protagonist</i> was the widow MacDonagh, Atticus's neighbor, and witness to several strange happenings. I liked Hieronymus
Bosch and former Arizona Diamondback pitcher Randy Johnson getting nods, and I enjoyed learning how to go about paying
off favors to vampires: in wineglass quantities of your blood! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Everything builds to a gory,
twisty, and exciting showdown. Both
combatants have tricks up their sleeve.
The final chapter and Epilogue tie up a couple secondary plotlines. The Acknowledgments section <i>(page
291)</i> and the Wikipedia article about Kevin Hearne (the link is <span style="color: #7030a0;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Hearne">here</a></span>), are worthwhile reads. <i>Hounded</i> is both a standalone story and
part of a series.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Sybarite</span>
<i>(n.)</i>: a person who is self-indulgent in their fondness for sensuous
luxury.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…<br />
</span></i> Amazon: <b><span style="color: blue;">4.5*/5</span></b>, based on <b><i>8,943 ratings</i></b>
and <b><i>1,663 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Goodreads: <b><span style="color: blue;">4.09*/5</span></b>,
based on <b><i>86,257
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>7,468 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“Ah, so this is just some vague augury,” I
said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “No, the augury was quite specific,” the
Morrigan replied. “A mortal doom gathers
about you here, and you must fly if you wish to avoid it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “See?
There you go again. You get this
way every year around Samhain,” I said.
“If it isn’t Thor coming to get me, it’s one of the Olympians. Remember that story last year? Apollo was offended by my association with
the Arizona State Sun Devils—"</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(pg. 10)</span></i><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">I would never, ever tire in battle. I suffered no fatigue at all. And if I needed it, I could whip up a binding
or two against my enemies or summon up a temporary burst of strength that would
allow me to wrestle a bear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> It had been a long, long time since I had
felt the need to summon so much power.
But then again, I hadn’t been in a scrap like this since I’d waded into
the mosh pit at a Pantera concert.</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(pg.
312)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p><i style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">A nonaggression
treaty signed in blood? Something about
that struck me as oxymoronic. </span></i><i style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: large;">(pg.
285)</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I don’t really have anything
major to quibble about in <span style="color: #990000;">Hounded</span>,
hence the high rating. The cussing is
fairly light; I noted just 14 instances in the first 20% of the book, although three of
those were f-bombs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I read <i>Hounded</i> in the
paperback format, after being reminded that it was on my TBR shelf by the
Kindle format being temporarily discounted a few weeks ago. Here’s hoping that more e-books in the series are put on sale in the near future.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> That’s about it for the nitpicking. I found <i>Hounded</i> to be
well-written, appropriately witty, and with a captivating storyline that kept
me turning the pages. Full disclosure: I’m all about
reading <b>any</b> book with Druids in it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">9½ Stars</span></b>. One last thing. In the <span style="color: #7030a0;">Acknowledgments</span>
section the author gives a nod of appreciation to the <b>Society for Creative Anachronism</b>. These are the people who like to dress up in
medieval fashion and reenact things like jousting tournaments. They are the reason the <span style="color: #800180;"><i>Renaissance Fair</i></span>
exists.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> My first experience with SCA
was many decades ago, when I came across two knights in armor beating the crap
out of each other in a swordfight on the lawn of the ASU Hayden Library. Lords and ladies-in-waiting were watching the
combat. What makes this memorable is
that I was under the influence of a hallucinogen at the time. It was quite the trip.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-86339961055497045382023-11-19T15:23:00.001-07:002023-11-19T15:23:58.394-07:00Daisy's Gambit - Scott Baron<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUsl51pDSJuTWUR-4LK3-JtVgsNy37tiEyK-lii0zqQ4LBcvLE2601RVTxl3ZdruBIcNMQgNNNP0t-mDa2rTMxMFRNhlNVceRUIvPADj8AWpe7sch61ou2riNUThwhM0gIsHPPFJANw89NvxeaQd-o1bXZeRtYo8D_IUI8a3hT1LKOA0nMuMbp2dIbm0/s500/daisy's%20gambit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDUsl51pDSJuTWUR-4LK3-JtVgsNy37tiEyK-lii0zqQ4LBcvLE2601RVTxl3ZdruBIcNMQgNNNP0t-mDa2rTMxMFRNhlNVceRUIvPADj8AWpe7sch61ou2riNUThwhM0gIsHPPFJANw89NvxeaQd-o1bXZeRtYo8D_IUI8a3hT1LKOA0nMuMbp2dIbm0/s320/daisy's%20gambit.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2018; 342 pages. Book 3 (out of 5) in the series <span style="color: #7030a0;">“The Clockwork Chimera”</span>. New Author? : No. Genre : Space Opera; Alien Invasion Sci-Fi. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">7½*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Arise, ye Earthlings and Chithiids! And arise ye Cyborgs and even ye AI units! You have nothing to lose but your chains!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Well, you also have your lives
to lose, since you’ll be going up against the dreaded Ra’az Hok, the destroyers of
Earth and enslavers of the Chithiid.
Their technology is superior and their forces are far more powerful than
anything we good guys can muster.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> But they have one weakness:
their home planet is many light years away, and their communications and supply
lines between there and planet Earth are vulnerable. They’re aware of that and they’re in the
process of developing a super-fast warp drive.
That project is just about completed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> So despite the long odds of
success, now is the time to revolt. And
we just might be victorious if our war plan goes perfectly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> In other words, we’re doomed.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Daisy’s Gambit</span>
is the third book in Scott Baron’s <span style="color: #7030a0;">“Clockwork
Chimera”</span> series. As given below,
the author offers the complete series as a 5-book bundle for a very reasonable
price, and occasionally discounts it.
I recommend investing in the bundle, since I think this is a series where a
lot is lost if you don’t read the books in order.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The action starts immediately, literally in the
first sentence, and is a logical follow-up to previous book, wherein the seeds
of revolt were first sown. Now it’s time
for the four subjugated races—Chithiids, Cyborgs, Humans, and Artificial
Intelligences—to join forces and learn to trust each other. This is no small
task, given that there are some amongst them who are still loyal to the Ra’az
Hok.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I liked that the personnel at the good guys' moon base still play a key role in the storyline, even though the
settings in <i>Daisy's Gambit</i> are exclusively at various locations on Earth. The key players include Freya, the juvenile AI that
Daisy discovered during her lunar sojourn, and who is imbued with equal amounts of
learning ability and naivete.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending is laced with
exciting fight scenes and resolves the main storyline of attacking the Ra’az
communication hubs and warp drive research facility. Some good guys perish, a <i>deus ex machina</i> pops up to save the day, Daisy and Vince are reunited, and
all the surviving Terrans now await the enemy’s inevitable counterpunch. Things close with a teaser for the next book,
<span style="color: #990000;">Chasing Daisy</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.6/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>478 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>36 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">4.38/5</span></b> based on <b><i>397
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>35 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #990000;">Shemagh</span> <i>(n.)</i> : a headcloth commonly worn in the
desert <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(google-image it)</span></i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“Enter the code 011235813. The base is on a swivel, and once unlocked,
the mechanism will allow you to slide it aside to descend into the
facility. You are ready with the specs
on which explosives and detonators to gather, yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “Yeah, we have all the info, but hang
on. Isn’t that code a bit obvious?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Not to those who do not follow
mathematics,” he replied.</span><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 12018)</span></i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">“My sword’s a bit of a psychopath,” she
said with a grim chuckle as she pulled the blade free from the alien’s
chest. She watched as the last drops
absorbed into the surface, leaving the pristine white blade as good as new once
again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i>“You like that thing a bit too much,”</i>
Sarah quipped. <i>“You’re not going to
be one of those douches who names their sword, are you?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> “I wasn’t going to,” Daisy joked back. “But now that you mention it, I think I shall
hereafter call it Stabby McStabberton.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i>“Oh God, you’re ridiculous.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Don’t listen to her, Stabby.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(loc. 13736)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Daisy’s
Gambit</span> is priced at <b><i>$3.99</i></b> at Amazon right now. The other four books in the series are all in
the <b><i>$0.99-$3.99</i></b> price range, and there is a 5-book bundle, containing
the entire series, for only <b><i>$7.99</i></b>, which is the format I’m
reading. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Who would have
thought an artificially intelligent dishwasher would ever fly a warship?” </span></i><i>(loc. 13198)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There are some nits to
pick. There were 20 cusswords in the
first 10% of the book, which is about normal for this series, and Daisy and Vince celebrate their reacquaintance with
appropriate ardor.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Once again, not all of the
plotlines are resolved. Something or
someone is butchering the wild bears in Colorado, but who-or-what did it is
never revealed. Ditto for the
helpful-but-unseen counter-sniper in Rome.
Inquiring minds want to know the answers to these mysteries, and presumably both of them get
addressed in the remaining two books in the series.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There are a couple of the kind of spellchecker typos that usually arise in Indie author books, such as <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">berg/burg, world/word</span></i>, and <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">tell-tale/telltale</span></i>. But these were rare enough to not be a
distraction.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> For me, the main issue was the <i>Planning-to-Doing Ratio</i>. A lot more
pages were devoted to the former than to the latter. But if the <i><span style="color: #800180;">“Intrigue”</span></i> half of the genre
<i><span style="color: #800180;">“Action-Intrigue”</span></i> is your preferred cup of tea, you will thoroughly enjoy <span style="color: #990000;">Daisy’s Gambit</span>. This kind of plan-vs-do ratio holds true for the
middle book(s) of many series. I remember
thinking the same thing about <span style="color: #990000;">The Two Towers</span>
in J.R.R. Tolkien’s <span style="color: #7030a0;">Lord of the Rings</span>
trilogy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Overall, <i>Daisy’s Gambit</i>
still had enough wit, character-development, and world-building to keep my
interest. After all, overthrowing evil galactic
powers takes careful planning, and that’s what is going on here.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">7½ Stars</span></b>. We'll close with one last nod to the clever password <b>011235813</b>
cited in the first excerpt, above. As a math nerd, I greatly appreciated it.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-87528935522657286592023-11-12T15:12:00.000-07:002023-11-12T15:12:48.759-07:00Dodger - Terry Pratchett<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvK2QXnBM0TcJ5ArYjb8yJaFZm6W37kJD4X_ant-ynt2n2GiTyKKUIMgfCPDaKtJc5fHl_bZO_0w8AkQc656YWzHX3esOdKOagtleVatd5Td5LLeFV7YfMFnfCL0dHEEodyf1c1-IVWkH6Bdu_xtIcOkmMpPpOSD5QMzNoUyLJPKjBDLFFwXs6aFvyC6c/s475/dodger%20-%20terry%20pratchett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvK2QXnBM0TcJ5ArYjb8yJaFZm6W37kJD4X_ant-ynt2n2GiTyKKUIMgfCPDaKtJc5fHl_bZO_0w8AkQc656YWzHX3esOdKOagtleVatd5Td5LLeFV7YfMFnfCL0dHEEodyf1c1-IVWkH6Bdu_xtIcOkmMpPpOSD5QMzNoUyLJPKjBDLFFwXs6aFvyC6c/s320/dodger%20-%20terry%20pratchett.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2012; 353 pages. New Author? : No. Genres : Action-Intrigue; Historical
Fiction; British Literature; Humor. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">7*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Sooner or later, you pay for every good deed you
do in life. Dodger just learned that the hard way.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> He had just popped out of the
sewers when a pretty young girl jumped out of a passing carriage and tried to
run away. Two thugs followed her out of
the carriage, chased her down, and started beating the damsel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Dodger may be young, but life
on the streets has toughened him, so he pounced on the assailants, drove them
off, and rescued the young lady. But
there are no secrets in the rookeries of London. Now powerful people are offering lots of
money for information about the escaped girl.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> And for information about the
whereabouts of the brazen young lad who helped her flee.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Dodger</span> is
one of the few Terry Pratchett novels that is not part of the Discworld series, nor even set there. The story takes place in Victorian-era
England and there’s not a single fantasy creature to be found. Dodger is the street name of the protagonist,
a 17-year-old <i><span style="color: #800180;">tosher</span></i>, which, if you’ve never
heard of that term <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(and I hadn’t)</span></i>
means a person who scavenges in the underground sewers. It’s a historically real profession;
Wikipedia has a page about it <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tosher">here</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Terry Pratchett infuses the
text with a bunch of 19<sup>th</sup>-century English terms, some of which are
listed below, plus at least one example of Cockney rhyming slang, here involving the name <i><span style="color: #800180;">“Richard”</span></i>. One of the main side
characters, Solomon Cohen, is Jewish, so a number of Yiddish expressions also crop up. The characters are a nice blend of real and fictional people, and Pratchett lets you know which
are which in the <i><span style="color: #800180;">"Author’s Acknowledgments"</span></i> section in the back of the book. All of this, plus Pratchett’s writing skills, created a fantastic “feel” for the early 1800s London setting, both above ground and below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The storyline is
straightforward. After being rescued by
our heroic street urchin, the damsel in distress is taken in by a well-to-do
family for safekeeping while recovering from her wounds. A second
fortuitous circumstance adds to Dodger being hailed as a hero in both high and
low social circles, and he is forced to learn the ways of fraternizing with
those of the upper class. At the same
time, Dodger has to contend with thugs of evil intent, while also learning how to
go about courting the rescued damsel.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Footnotes, always a Pratchett
delight, are occasionally used, albeit sparingly. The text is divided into 16 chapters,
something the author rarely resorts to. The
tone of the story is darker than Pratchett’s Discworld novels <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(at one point a miscarriage is alluded to)</span></i>; it
would have been awkward to try to fit this tale into that series. But the author’s trademark wit and attention
to details are still delightfully and abundantly present.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> I liked the references to subjects like Boadicea,
Spinoza, angels, and metaphysics. The
inclusion of <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“The Lady of the Sewers”</span></i>,
aka <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Cloacina</span></i>, aka <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“the goddess of the sewers”</span></i> was a clever touch. It was fun
to learn the differences between <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">a snakesman, a
waterman, a tosher</span></i>, and <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">a mudlark</span></i>. And I hope to never run afoul of <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Argos Panoptes</span></i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #c00000;"> </span><span style="color: #990000;">Firkytoodle</span> <i>(v.)</i>
: to canoodle, cuddle, fondle amorously.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Others: <span style="color: #990000;">Toshing</span> <i>(n.);
</i><span style="color: #990000;">Bubele</span> <i>(n., <span style="color: #7030a0;">Yiddish</span>)</i>, <span style="color: #990000;">Shonky Shop</span> <i>(n.);
</i><span style="color: #990000;">Rookeries</span> <i>(n., plural)</i>, <span style="color: #990000;">Schmutter</span> <i>(n.,
<span style="color: #7030a0;">Yiddish</span>); </i><span style="color: #990000;">Growler</span>
<i>(n.)</i>; <span style="color: #990000;">Percys</span><span style="color: #c00000;"> </span><i>(n., plural); </i><span style="color: #990000;">Mogadored</span> <i>(v., <span style="color: #7030a0;">British</span>)</i>,
<span style="color: #990000;">Hey-ho-rumbelow</span> <i>(n., phrase); </i><span style="color: #990000;">Waterman</span> <i>(n.),</i> and many more.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.5/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>3,317 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>1,215 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">3.94/5</span></b> based on <b><i>26,049
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>3,101 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Dodger wasn’t a thief; not at all. He was. . . well, he was good at finding
things. After all, sometimes things fell
off carts and carriages, didn’t they? He
had never stuck his hand into somebody else’s pocket. Well, apart from one or two occasions when it
was so blatantly open that something was <i>bound</i> to fall out, in which
case Dodger would nimbly grab it before it hit the ground. That wasn’t stealing: that was keeping the
place tidy, and after all, it only happened what? Once or twice a week?</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(pg. 15)</span></i><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Dodger had once asked Solomon why he had
chosen to come to England, and Solomon had said, “Mmm, well, my dear, it seems
to me that in the pinch most governments settle for shooting their people, but
in England they have to ask permission first.
Also, people don’t much mind what you’re doing as long as you’re not
making too much noise. Mmm, I like that
in a country.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 191;"> </span><i>(pg.
118)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If you wanted to be
a successful urchin you needed to study how to urch. </span></i><i>(pg. 78)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The cussing is sparse in <span style="color: #990000;">Dodger</span>, only 9 instances in the first 20% of the
book. All of those were what I’d call
“mild profanity”, and none were f-bombs.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Sadly, despite Terry Pratchett being one of my all-time favorite authors, there are
some nits to pick here.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Everything builds towards
<i>good-vs-evil</i> showdown, but alas, things went down way too conveniently in the climax. For all of their fearsome reputation, the
baddies get vanquished way too easily. Nevertheless, the final chapter is a heartwarming Epilogue, where
we get to see how Dodger’s life subsequently unfolds.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> An even bigger issue involves the
philosophical asides throughout the storyline itself. Dodger frequently stops to contemplate his
lifestyle <i>vis-a-vis</i> that of the various upper crust folks he
encounters. The first couple times he
does this, his musings are rather enlightening.
But by the hundredth time he ruminates, you just want to ask him to stop obsessing and think
about something else. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Summing up, <i>Dodger</i> is a
one-off novel, which conceivably could have been developed into a series, but never
was. I think that’s for the best. Terry Pratchett is at his best when penning
lighthearted fantasy novels. He
certainly has enough skills to also write dark historical fiction, but it won’t
be his finest hour. If you want to see him shine, pick up
any of his early <span style="color: #7030a0;">Discworld</span> novels.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">7 Stars</span></b>. Here’s my favorite new Victorian era slang
phrase gleaned from reading <span style="color: #990000;">Dodger</span>: <i><span style="color: blue;">“Tuppence more and up goes the donkey.”</span></i> It’s in the Acknowledgment section, and Terry
Pratchett laments that he couldn’t find a way to work it into the story. Google it for enlightenment.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772195726927187374.post-43786236901403237462023-11-07T15:16:00.000-07:002023-11-07T15:16:07.370-07:00Stargazer - Anne Hillerman<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO_4v7ywRV8go5Fd2XfuRL1F3nsvxSYcTFWdjMLxpe3oIF5FlYS-6VNSmaaJQuzWAJLdW8VWHE-1t8w-1vvzof3sABVKn6U-gSLL8Wyyf4XpCORPjFMO3nK4_jEwfc2pWoQdlkcQovK-Wt_2oeBICjyNTfRxMptsHXB0IJ6_OvYaAX1f8z2yVfDwwA3Q/s500/stargazer%20-%20anne%20hillerman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="332" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO_4v7ywRV8go5Fd2XfuRL1F3nsvxSYcTFWdjMLxpe3oIF5FlYS-6VNSmaaJQuzWAJLdW8VWHE-1t8w-1vvzof3sABVKn6U-gSLL8Wyyf4XpCORPjFMO3nK4_jEwfc2pWoQdlkcQovK-Wt_2oeBICjyNTfRxMptsHXB0IJ6_OvYaAX1f8z2yVfDwwA3Q/s320/stargazer%20-%20anne%20hillerman.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <i> 2021; 320 pages. Book 24 (out of 25) in the <span style="color: #7030a0;">“Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito”</span> series. New Author? : No. Genre : Native American Literature; Murder-Mystery; Astronomy. Overall Rating : <b><span style="color: blue;">7*/10</span></b>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> It was going to be an easy investigation. The facts were clear-cut. Maya and Steve are divorced; the latter wants
to give it one more try; Maya says no.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Steve gets distraught, drives
out into the desert and shoots himself in the head with his own gun. The firearm is recovered outside the open
driver’s-side window, which makes sense since Steve was left-handed. It’s an obvious suicide, as any detective can
tell. Then things get a bit weird.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> While the cops are at police headquarters, wrapping up
the paperwork on case, Maya shows up, confesses to shooting Steve, and refuses
to give any further details about it. Officer
Bernadette “Bernie” Manuelito, who years ago was Maya’s roommate, is asked to
take a closer look at the case.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Then things get even weirder.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">What’s To Like...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Although the cover calls this a <span style="color: #800180;">“Leaphorn,
Chee & Manuelito”</span> novel, the latter does all the investigating here. Leaphorn is now a retired cop, and Chee is busy with a
dual role of being both Bernie’s husband and boss. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> As is true of any Hillerman
novel, whether it be by Tony or Anne, <span style="color: #990000;">Stargazer</span>
is both a murder-mystery and a study of Native American culture. But here, as alluded to by the title, a healthy
dose of astronomy is added, includ9ng both the technological goings-on at a New
Mexico site called the <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">Very Large Array radio telescope (“VLA”)</span></i>, and what
the various star formations such as the Big Dipper, North Star and Milky Way
are called in Navajo, and why.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Anne Hillerman utilizes a lot
of Navajo vocabulary in the story, but the English equivalent is always given the
first time a Native American word is used, and there’s a handy and
comprehensive Navajo/English glossary in the back in case you forget. The Author’s Note, also in the back, is well
worth your reading time, especially if you want to know what’s real
and what’s fictional in the storyline.
And at one point, Joe Leaphorn gives Bernie some practical tips on how
to tell if a person is lying, which I found quite enlightening.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There’s never a dull moment in
Officer Manuelito’s workday. When she
isn’t trying to determine why Maya would give a voluntary but false confession,
Bernie also has to figure out who beat up and tied up Bee, why is some stranger named Ginger
Simons trying to get in touch with her, and the identity of a toddler found dead in the same house as Bee. Lastly and
not leastly, Bernie is assigned to bring in the charming Melvin Shorty on an
FTA charge, which provides a bit of comic relief, as exemplified by one of the excerpts below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> The ending is tense, but I
didn’t find it particularly exciting.
I’m proud to say I had the perpetrator pegged from the beginning, which
is a rarity for me. But that just meant when
perp and cop ended up alone together <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(is that an
oxymoron?)</span></i>, I could pretty much predict what was about to go down and the
outcome. The last two chapters tie up a
couple loose ends, including Leaphorn’s fear of flying and why Bernie can’t
remember who Ginger is. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Ratings…</span></i><br />
<b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Amazon</span>:</b>
<b><span style="color: blue;">4.6/5</span></b>
based on <b><i>7,376 ratings</i></b> and <b><i>438 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: #7030a0;">Goodreads</span>:</b> <b><span style="color: blue;">4.19/5</span></b> based on<b><i> 7,189</i></b><b><i>
ratings</i></b> and <b><i>725 reviews</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kewlest New Word ...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #c00000; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Bilagáana</span> <i>(n.)</i>
: white man; Caucasian; Anglo <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">(Navajo)</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> Others: <i>a slew of Navajo words in the text, all covered in the book’s glossary. </i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Excerpts...<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;"> “Mr. Shorty, the courts don’t care about
excuses. You’ve got to go to jail now.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> He put his hands in the pockets of his
overalls. “Call me Mel. Officer Bernadette Manuelito, my wife made
some pumpkin pancakes before she left for her job, and there are three of them
left. They sure are good. Could you use one?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> She shook her head. “We need to leave for Shiprock.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #351c75;"> “What’s the hurry? You sound like a white person.”</span><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;">(loc. 685)</span></i><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #244061; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themeshade: 128;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75;">Even though Window Rock was in Arizona, the
Navajo Nation’s capital city received what they called <i>local</i> news from
Albuquerque’s television stations. Most
of the stories concerned fresh crime and ongoing investigations, which, as a
veteran cop, he found riveting. The
reporters ignored the Navajo Nation unless there was an election, a pandemic,
an environmental disaster, a winning high school sports team, or perhaps a
Sasquatch sighting up in the Lukachukai Mountains. </span><span style="color: #5f497a;"> </span><i>(loc. 2752)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">Kindle Details…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Stargazer</span>
sells for <b><i>$8.49</i></b> at Amazon right now.
<span style="color: #2b00fe;">Books 1-18</span> in the series, written by Anne’s father, Tony Hillerman, are
in the <b><i>$6.99-$13.49</i></b> range.
Anne Hillerman took over writing the series when her father passed away;
<span style="color: #2b00fe;">Books 19-25</span> are by her and are in the <b><i>$6.99-$14.99</i></b> price
range. Book 26, <span style="color: #990000;">The
Way of the Bear</span>, is due out sometime this fall.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #7030a0; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"><i><span style="color: blue; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“You and I seem to
go together like flies on a cow pie.” </span></i><i>(loc.
947)<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <span style="color: #990000;">Stargazer</span>
is admirably sparse in profanity; I noted just one <i><span style="color: red;">“ass”</span></i> in the entire book. I am always impressed by authors who use their literary skills to set the tone of a story instead of resorting to excessive profanity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> There is an underlying examination of the abuse of women </span><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;">throughout the storyline, which apparently occurs all too frequently in Native American society.
A couple reviewers took exception to the inclusion of this topic, but I will trust Anne
Hillerman’s assertion that it is a major problem on reservations, and am happy
she turns the spotlight on it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> My biggest issue with <i>Stargazer</i>
was the plethora of irrelevant storylines. I kept waiting for the Bee and Ginger and
Melvin and Leaphorn’s fear-of-flying tangents to tie into the main plot thread
in some clever fashion. But they never
did. Which made them feel like just potholes
in the path of the investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> This doesn’t mean <i>Stargazer</i>
is a poor book. On at least three
counts—Astronomy, Women’s Rights, and Native American culture—it is a
noteworthy effort. And the
Murder-Mystery aspect, isn’t bad either; it just wanders off a bit too much for my reading tastes. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: medium;"> <b><span style="color: blue;">7 Stars</span></b>. My favorite Navajo expression in <span style="color: #990000;">Stargazer</span> was the oft-used <b><span style="color: blue;">Yá’át’ééh</span></b>, which the glossary notes can mean <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“hello”</span></i> or <i><span style="color: #7030a0;">“it
is good”</span></i>, and yes it takes four accent marks and two apostrophes to
spell that precisely. I learned the word
many years ago from an Apache friend, and it comprises 50% of my Native
American vocabulary. The other half is
an Apache insult that is said to be the worst slam you can give to a Native American,
and is guaranteed to start a fight in any bar.
We’ll refrain from detailing it here.</span></p>Hamilcar Barcahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00488833258435068166noreply@blogger.com0