graspingforthewind's reviews from LibraryThing

The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 17:21:07 -0500

graspingforthewind's review: "Enter The Warded Man. Known as The Painted Man in the UK, this stunning new novel takes epic fantasy and adds new twists to a standardized subgenre. Debut author Peter V. Brett has written a tale about three young people and their quest to return humanity to its rightful place on top of nature’s pyramid. In the world of The Warded Man, demons prowl the night. Rising from the ground at dusk, they do not disappear until the dawn. Humanity can only protect itself and its possessions by hiding behind painted wards, symbols carved or written on their homes. These “corelings” are part of the natural world and take the form of flame, stone, wood, water and wind. But they are extremely deadly, and any encounter with them is almost certain death. But mankind is slowly dwindling, as each night more and more corelings get through the wards and kill off more people. But humanity does nothing but cower, hoping that one day a Deliverer out of legend will come. Arlen is young boy, raised on a farm, who loses his family to the corelings. Forced onto the road, he manages to make his way to one of the few cities that remain. The circumstances of his leave him with a profound hatred of the corelings, and a desire to wreak vengeance on them and see humanity freed from the shackles the demons have put on them. Leesha is a young girl, near to womanhood, who is being abused by her mother and mistreated by the boy to whom she is betrothed. Rojer was disfigured at a very young age by corelings, but he wants nothing more from life than to become a Jongleur, an entertainer who travels from village to village, braving the dangers of the night. The primary story is Arlen’s. We are not even introduced to Leesha and Rojer till much later in the book, and although they play a large role in the final battle of the novel, theirs is not the driving force of the story. It is Arlen’s desire for revenge, for some way to get back at the corelings, which provides the motivation of the story. Brett is a spectacular writer. He writes unhurriedly, building his story and characters piece by piece, but he never lacks for action or human interest. Arlen is a character every young boy wants to be, strong and brave and willing to fight for what he believes. As the reader watches him grow and change into a man out of legend, the reader will become thoroughly invested. The dangers of the night keep the level of suspense high for the entire book. As each night falls the reader is left to wonder if the protagonists will survive. It is an edge-of-your seat sort of excitement, and Brett maintains that suspense level, without feeling the need to top previous encounters with an even more exciting one. If the novel has anything against it, it comes from the fact that most of the story is character development. Like many large series or planned trilogies, The Warded Man takes its time in building a consistent world populated by interesting characters. This means that there are no grand scale epic battles (even the final one only concerns a small village) where armies march against each other. The world is not changed, nor are the problems of the world solved in this story. That is left for later books. No, The Warded Man is about its three heroes, and their personal struggles to become something more than society would make of them. And too, the story is filled with the standard tropes of fantasy. The uniqueness of the story is in the concept of the wards, and the value of the tale is in the deft writing, but there are no surprises or new frontiers crossed in The Warded Man. The story even has the standard rape of the female protagonist, something that is rapidly becoming part and parcel with any epic fantasy with female heroines. Not that Brett doesn’t write it well, or use it effectively, but there are other ways of creating life changing events for women, which was something Brett had done quite well earlier in the novel. The story is also not heavy on description. The way the corelings look is not clearly defined, but is simply left to the reader’s imagination. For some readers this will be great, allowing their imaginations to run wild, others may dislike the fact that not even the wards are clearly described by Brett. The specifics are left to the imagination. That is not to say that the book is unclear in any way, Brett just does not spend inordinate amounts of time describing what the reader sees, preferring instead to use his words to look in to the minds of the characters and relate the events and action. For those who dislike novels that are about primarily characters and their personal problems will not likely enjoy this novel. It draws comparisons to novels like Robert Jordan’s The Eye of the World (not the later novels), Karen Miller’s Kingmaker, Kingbreaker duology or Brent Weeks’ Night Angel trilogy. Fans of early Terry Brooks, David Eddings, or Patrick Rothfuss will thoroughly enjoy this book. In many ways, it is a throwback to the epic fantasy of the late 80’s and early 90’s when many of the series that are held up as being the best of the subgenre were first begun. I can see why Del Rey wants to promote this book to highschoolers. Although it has some intimate material, the problems of these young teens becoming adults will resonate with the modern teen. Arlen lacks respect for a cowardly father; Leesha is beautiful and suffers at the hands of men who want to posses her, but who care nothing for her as a person. Additionally, she wishes to keep herself pure for her true love, and this is hard in society that praises men for bedding women, and then shuns the women who give in. Rojer, the least developed character, wants to overcome his infirmity and become something great. His character will likely play a much greater role in future books, as his jealousy of Arlen deepens. Young men and women will relate to these characters, and although some of the material is a little more adult than I would prefer for a highschooler, the novel is a good starting point for discussing some of the things that trouble the minds of today’s teenagers. I cannot recommend The Warded Man highly enough. It is thoroughly entertaining, having the right mix of suspense, action and introspection. It never bogs down for any of its length, as Brett paces the story masterfully. The world itself and the concept of the wards make the story unique among epic fantasies. The tale ends on a note of expectation, making me eager to read the second book, The Desert Spear, to find out what happens. The Warded Man is truly unputdownable. Make sure you have plenty of time for reading it, because you will not want to leave its pages for anything."
Del Rey (no date), Hardcover, 432 pages

Forsaken by James David Jordan

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:31:39 -0500

graspingforthewind's review: "I tend to mentally categorize books as “library” books or “worth buying” books. If a book was average and not awful, I’m willing to read more books by the same author – as long as I check them out from the library and not spend my money. If a book was captivating or unusual, I’m more willing to buy a book written by that author in the future. If I see a book that sounds somewhat interesting, but I’ve never read anything by that author, I check it out from the library first. Then I decide if the author’s other work is worth buying. Forsaken, by James David Jordan, fell into the latter category for me at first. I’d never heard of the author, but the book’s premise sounded interesting. Taylor Pasbury, a former Secret Service agent, is hired to serve as the head of security for famous evangelist Simon Mason after he receives threats from Muslim extremists. Mason’s daughter is kidnapped, and instead of a ransom, the terrorists demand that Mason publicly renounce his faith in exchange for his daughter’s life. The book opens when Taylor is a teenager, on a camping trip with her father. From the beginning, unexpected events occur, and the plot’s unpredictability maintains the reader’s suspense to the end. When I thought I knew what would happen next, the characters did something else. Just as I suspect Jordan hopes readers will do, I put myself in Simon and Taylor’s shoes, asking myself, What exactly would I do in these situations? Would I do the same things they did? I’ve always wondered, if I were a Christian living in a hostile country that openly persecuted and murdered Christians, would I stand up for my faith? With a gun to my head, would I proclaim Christ or deny Him? It’s relatively easy to ask these uncomfortable questions while sitting comfortably on one’s couch in the freest country in the world. But Forsaken raises those uncomfortable questions in a context that makes them hard to ignore, in fact forcing readers to examine the strength of their own faith right here at home. It becomes personal. It’s not just faceless, nameless Christians in some other country that you read about in the paper. It’s you, your faith, and your daughter that’s at stake. Intriguingly, Jordan does this while telling the story from Taylor’s non-Christian point of view, rather than from Simon’s perspective as a Christian. The reader sees how Taylor is transformed by her interactions with Simon as she observes first-hand the excruciating decision he must make. A good book is one that you’ll read again in the future. A profound book is one that, when you’ve finished reading it, you just sit there and think about it. The events. The characters’ difficulties. The message. You mull over important points, which come to mind even in the days that follow. It stays with you long after you’ve put the book down. Far more rich and compelling than a now-trite “WWJD” bracelet, Forsaken is a profound book that confronts Christians with the question of whether we daily, boldly make Christ known in the midst of our own adversities, however large or small. As I quickly discovered, the book summary on the back cover doesn’t do justice to the depth contained in Forsaken. If Forsaken is an indication of what one can expect from James David Jordan, I look forward to buying his other books in the future."
B&H Fiction (2008), Paperback, 400 pages

This Gaming Life: Travels in Three Cities by Jim Rossignol

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:09:00 -0400

graspingforthewind's review: "Read more at <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com">Grasping for the Wind</a> The thesis of Jim Rossignol's This Gaming Life boils down to one sentence, "games are an antidote to boredom, and excellent cure for a seriously debilitating malaise." (p.29) Rossignol then goes to undermine this very thesis by pointing out all the ways that games can change our lives for the better. The book is broken into three major sections, cordoned off by the names of three major cities in the gaming world, "London", :"Seoul", "Reykjavik", the final and fourth being a conclusion titled simply "Home". Rossignol uses each section to explore some aspect of gaming culture; things that are unique to or began in these areas, but that are spreading elsewhere in small trickles. In the section titled "London", Rossignol explores how games self-propagate, using a personal example as the primary story. Rossignol lost a job as a journalist on a financial newspaper, because he was obsessed with the video game Quake. But through some creativity and a stroke of luck, he was able to turn this obsession into a job writing for Wired, the BBC, and PC Gamer among other publications. He also explores how gamers have become game designers, turning their passion into a career. The second section, "Seoul", looks at the unique gaming culture of South Korea, where gamers gather together, much like we do at Starbucks in the Western world, but instead of talking, they play video games. These gaming "baangs" as they are called, are communities, entire social groups centered on games. But not in a geeky way. Apparently the entire country sees gaming as a professional sport, and the games are televised and sponsors pay for gamers to wear their logos, much like in NASCAR. Starcraft has become the number one most watched sport in S. Korea, strange as it may seem. This is an interesting and unique type of gaming, and this section is worthwhile to read just for its unusual nature. The final key section, "Reykjavik" moves from the social communities that require physical proximity, to the virtual communities produced by video games such as EVE Online and World of Warcraft. Rossignol explores how games played over the Internet in real time are creating entire communities, allowing people to add to them through MODS or simple creativity, are creating communities outside of the game itself. All if this ends up being very fascinating, and as a book about gaming culture, This Gaming Life is excellent. But as far as supporting his original thesis, that games are good simply because they alleviate boredom, the book falls apart. All of the good things that Rossignol points out are usually products of the game, but are results outside of the game itself, even when most of the action takes place inside the game. Meaning, that if Rossignol wants to make the case that video games are good because they alleviate boredom, he cannot point to the good things that games are doing outside of the game. Besides, is the alleviation of boredom such a noble goal? Rossignol assumes that his readers will think that it is. But in truth, boredom is symptomatic of deeper issues, such as a lack of interest, or an interest in too many things, information overload, too much leisure time, and our post modern culture's lack of purpose. This Gaming Life shows how many people are finding purpose in games, not to alleviate boredom per se, although it does that to a point, but rather that it fulfills the deep need people have for purpose. Essentially, Rossignol is on the right track, he just didn't dig deeply enough into the hu8man psyche. He saw alleviation of a symptom as games highest and best use. But what if games give people purpose, as it seems to have done in Rossignol's own life. Rossignol can be a witty writer, and This Gaming Life is entertaining to read. It is a good entry book for those trying to understand the culture of gaming and useful for its analysis of some the anecdotal evidence for the effect of gaming in the lives of people. The book falls short in actually making an argument for its thesis, and so as an apologetic for gaming as an art form, it needs more development. Rossignol is too much of a gamer to look at it objectively. He sometimes makes some valuable insights, especially when he discusses the future of social gaming like EVE Online and World of Warcraft, but he is too much in love with the medium to really assess it clearly. This Gaming Life is a worthwhile read for those who want a good overview of some gaming history, gaming culture, and some nebulous predictions about the future of gaming. I found it enjoyable and interesting, but not convincing."
Digital Culture Books (2008), Hardcover, 224 pages

Orphanage (Jason Wander) by Robert Buettner

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:02:14 -0400

graspingforthewind's review: "Read more at <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com">Grasping for the Wind</a> Orphanage, according to author Robert Buettner, is a cross between Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers and Joe Haldeman's The Forever War. But unlike either of those novels, this 2004 Quill nominee sees the military in light of post 9/ll sensibilities. In it, we see how a soldier can fight a just war, while still disliking many of the aspects of the army. Buettner's story sees the motivations for soldiering not in God or Country, but in the man or woman next to you, guarding your back. An alien race of unknown origin has landed on Ganymede, one of Jupiter's moons, and is lobbing projectiles the size of cities at Earth. Major cities across the world are being destroyed, and humanity still only has the spaceflight technology of the 1970s. In time, the story takes place at about 2040, but by this time relative peace has been attained throughout the world. This may be wishful thinking on Buettner's part, but as background to the story it works well. Mankind has had no reason to seek to conquer the stars, and technological innovation has slowed due to lack of war or drive to explore. When the aliens attack, humanity is galvanized to respond with their own deadly force. Buettner's protagonist, Jason Wander, is forced by circumstance and judge's order to join a military at war. Using outdated and inefficient Vietnam-era equipment, Jason and his friends learn to be soldiers. Jason, perennial screw-up, finds himself being the reason for his troop's punishment, and his Drill Sergeant gives him the dirtiest and meanest jobs. But this sort of treatment sparks a change in Jason, and the teen boy becomes a man under the pressures of war. His story is that or a hero, and when his heroism finally finds its chance to shine, it does so brilliantly in an all out assault on Ganymede. Buettner has been derided for killing off popular characters. But in doing so, he shows the grit and grimness of war. Readers who become easily attached to characters, and get upset when they die, should not read this book. Wander himself suffers a significant loss that he must put aside from his mind for the good of the troops. Buettner emphasizes the desire of each soldier to fight for his buddy, to see himself and that partner through the orphanage called war. Unlike Haldeman, Buettner's Orphanage sees war as a necessary evil, even a useful situation that spurs innovation. But it doesn't have the God and Country idealism of Heinlein either. Rather, Orphanage finds the delicate balance between the two, seeing war as neither wholly evil, nor wholly good. The themes of war, self-sacrifice, and honor pervade the novel. Although there is adult content, this book would be an excellent opportunity to discuss with a teen or young adult war and its attendant questions. Although the later books have Jason being much older, in the beginning of Orphanage he is but seventeen years old, only in his twenties by its end. His character will resonate with those readers searching for themselves. Buettner tells of how some of the young soldiers who read his book will send him pictures of their drill sergeant, describing how the characters in the story so deeply resemble their real life drill sergeants. To me, this is the most powerful support for the realism of Buettner's military. Buettner, who has military experience but was never called to war, is of the Vietnam era. Orphanage ends up exploring many of the same issues raised by that war, questions we even now struggle to answer. I found his conclusions to be different from the expected. Buettner writes a book that moves quickly. There is lots of action, and Jason finds himself on several dangerous missions on the moon and Ganymede. Buettner also manages to create emotional ties between the characters with few words, yet they are of such depth we can feel each loss much as Jason does. The sentences have a sort of military crispness to them, never wasting nor wanting words or description. I was easily able to read the entirety of this novel in a day. Readers looking for Hard SF will be disappointed. The science plays little part in the story. Like writers of the Golden Age, Buettner has simply chosen to create believable but not wholly scientific equipment in order to provide a vehicle for the story. Some suspension of disbelief will be required for those who like their science fiction to be based wholly in reality. But if you can let that go, you will end up with a deeply emotional and adventure filled novel of particularly high quality. Some readers may dislike Buettner's themes or conclusions, may even dislike the character of Jason Wander, but they will find little to complain about in terms of writing. There is no choppiness (although at times I had some troubles with the timeline). The plot is simple and straightforward, and does not become a complex political novel, though its themes touch on politics. It's military SF with a sword and space feel. Fans of John Ringo will likely enjoy this book, as will fans of Heinlein's Starship Troopers or David Weber's Honor Harrington series. As for me, I am looking forward to the further adventures of Jason Wander as he climbs the military ranks. Special thanks to Robert Buettner for his recent reading at Dragon Con 2008, where we discussed his themes in detail, and for the copies of his first three books in the five part Jason Wander series."
Orbit (2008), Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages

Heaven's Net is Wide (The Tales of the Otori) by Lian Hearn

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:34:31 -0400

graspingforthewind's review: "Read more at <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com">Grasping for the Wind</a> Heaven's net is wide but its mesh is fine. Beauty, Grace, Eloquence. These words define the writing of author Lian Hearn. Her Tales of the Otori series of historical fantasy novels are extremely popular worldwide. Years ago, when Across the Nightingale Floor was first published, I was in a manga phase, where I thought I enjoyed manga and Japanese history based stories above all else. So I picked up a copy, since my local bookstore was featuring it. I admit, I didn't like it, and eventually gave away my copy to my younger brother, who has actually been to Japan, and is an animator by trade. I never found out his reaction, but in the years since, the fact that I hadn't finished this book has haunted me like no other book ever has. Fast forward several years, The Tales of the Otori is now five books strong, and extremely popular. Heaven's Net is Wide, the first and last book in the series, the prequel to Across the Nightingale Floor, arrives in my mailbox. Intrigued, I set aside all my other reading and dived in. Heaven's Net is Wide is a great place to begin the story. Because it is a prequel, Hearn has not assumed the reader has much knowledge about the setting or characters. She begins with a hook, describing a confrontation between two members of the Tribe, a family of assassins. Readers of the prior books will recognize the importance of this event right away, but for the new reader, Hearn begins on just the right foot, hooking them into the story. The tale is set in medieval Japan, with some mythic elements, mostly in relation to the unique abilities of the Tribe. After that first chapter, the story abruptly shifts to the story of Shigeru, giving the reader the history of a character that plays a major role in the later books. Shigeru is first-born son of the weak-willed ruler of the Otori. Recognizing that his own son may suffer some of his weaknesses, that ruler seeks to train Shigeru to control his impulses. Shigeru is sent to learn from a sword master the way of the warrior. Upon his return to his father's castle, Shigeru find himself embroiled in political intrigue, intrigue which will eventually lead to war, and the tragic consequences thereof. The novel ends where Across the Nightingale Floor begins, leaving readers desperately wanting to finish the entire series. Lian Hearn has captured the legendary, mythic aspect of story. Although told as a history, the story never drags or moves too quickly. Hearn slowly, subtly builds interest in her characters, her world, and her story. The reader is given time to grasp the strange culture in which the story is set, and is allowed time to tie his or her own emotions into the character of Shigeru. Told through an omniscient narrator, Hearn acknowledges what will happen, occasionally breaking the narrative to say that as a result of a particular event, this or that will follow. But it is a natural break, an obvious outflow of the narrator already knowing the later events. Yet it never reveals too much, nor does it happen often, perhaps only three or four times in the entire 500 page novel. Some readers may think that Hearn is trying to force too much information into the story. There is an awful lot of information, and because of the hints from the previously published books, there is a lot of ground to cover in Shigeru's story. So some readers might find the story to full of information. But the reader should take into account that this is a prequel, and as such, is pretty much one large back-story. While it is never dull, it is essentially a history told as a novel, and so a lot of ground will be covered. Other readers may dislike the positive attitude of the story to the religious sect of the Hidden. An obviously Christian belief, modified to fit Japanese culture, this sect fits within the historical context. It has been believed throughout history that the Apostle Thomas went into the East to preach the Gospel, and that he made it into the Asian countries, there to found Christianity. Hearn unapologetically uses the Hidden as a persecuted people of principles and morals. This positive take on Christian belief may offend some readers, especially as it is juxtaposed against the Buddhist cultural traditions of most of the people in the story. But it is important that the Hidden have a role in Heaven's Net is Wide, especially as the primary character of the later books, Tomasu/Takeo, is one of them, and Hearn, I suspect, makes much of Tomasu/Takeo's beliefs making it hard for him to do what he is later asked to do in Across the Nightingale Floor. In fact, at her website Hearn says that "Takeo's journey is one that must transcend the constraints and beliefs of any one sect." In Heaven's Net is Wide, one character even has a conversion experience. Readers should be careful not to judge this a Christian novel, as Hearn is simply building on her knowledge of medieval Japan, and using the one religion that will not fit well into Japanese culture with its total ban on killing, as a motivator for the story. She is exploring the theme of spirituality in an extremely spiritual society. The only thing I didn't like about this novel was the easy way that every woman Shigeru meets seems to fall in love with him. It makes me think that Hearn (a pseudonym for a previously published author) may be a writer of romance in her other persona. The relative ease with which Shigeru gets women to love him is a bit unreal. This particular character trait also relates to the temptation to apply the label "Christian" to this novel. This is not a Christian novel per se, and in some cases there is sex, and even one case of homosexuality. Hearn never says these are wrong in any way, although a couple of them do have consequences that end in death. Shigeru is involved in all of these, and Hearn has not shied away from being detailed without being crass. Shigeru even keeps a mistress, who for a time provides another perspective in the story. Her character also becomes one the reader will care deeply about, even as we deplore her unfortunate actions. The Tribe is what moves this story from historical fiction, to historical fantasy. Though the people of the Tribe play an important role in the life of Shigeru, they are mostly minor characters; and their magical abilities appear only a couple of times in the story. The later books are more intimately involved with the Tribe, but for Heaven's Net is Wide the Tribe provides a counterbalance to Shigeru's rigid understanding of honor. I thought the character of Shigeru to be a positive character example overall. His understanding of honor and loyalty grows and changes over time. What begins as a black and white issue for him broadens into knowledge about shades of grey. His ability to grow and learn about these ideas based on the events that occur around him make him into a fallible hero. He is not bigger than life, simply wise and strong in the face of adversity, and we see why he becomes a mentor, an Obi-Wan Kenobi like figure for Tomasu/Takeo. The novel is one I would want to read with my Japanese culture obsessed teenager so that we could look at Shigeru's character, the pros and cons of his decisions, and the way of life exhibited by this time and place. Heaven's Net is Wide is written so lyrically, so beautifully, that I didn't want to put it down. Throughout my workday, I would think and ponder on the events surrounding Shigeru, wondering how he was going to deal with the onset of war, his turbulent love life, and balancing his devotion to the Otori clan against his own desires. Hearn's story is so full of the alien, the other; the reader is transported away from him or her self. The primary themes of trying to understand the opposite roles of violence and peace and whether one must inevitably lead to the other are made to unfold in amazing ways. This novel is one you dive into, coming up for air only when you must. If you read no other book this year, you must read Heaven's Net is Wide."
Riverhead Trade (2008), Paperback, 576 pages

Plague Year by Jeff Carlson

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:41:20 -0400

graspingforthewind's review: "More at <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com/archives/2008/08/book-review-plague-year-by-jeff-carlson.html">Grasping for the Wind</a> Plague Year, by Jeff Carlson, is the type of book that would translate very well in and action/thriller movie. Characters never stand still, political intrigue abounds, and the characters face almost certain death every time they turn around. Written in two perspectives, the novel relates the story of what happens to Earth and humanity after a nanotech plague kills every mammal living below 10,000 feet of elevation. Set only a few months into the first year after the plague of tiny machines hit, the story is written as first person accounts from two primary characters. The first, and most interesting, is Cam, a Hispanic ski bum who manages to make it to a small outcropping barely above ten thousand feet in California, not far from the supposed epicenter of the plague. Plague Year begins with his story, and what he and his small band of survivors must do to survive. They immediacy of their survival is the strong hook that author Jeff Carlson uses to lure the reader in. From that point, the story fascinates so much; you can't help but read this horrifying story of man-made apocalypse. Cam is a survivor, a man on the front lines of the plague and his eyes relay to the reader the immediacy and near futility of survival on what amounts o almost barren rock. Ruth is a nanotech scientist stuck in the International Space Station doing her very best to study the plague and find a cure. Unlike Cam, who must suffer many indignities, she is a privileged person, naive about the horrors occurring down on Earth. Her awakening, later in the novel, is a key plot twist. Her selfishness and narcissism can be grating at times on the reader, but Carlson doesn't intend for us to like her, at least not at first. Still, it will fit the reader's stereotype of the lab rat genius who sees nothing but their next experiment. When she acts out of character later in the novel, it becomes a great moment of hope. These two perspectives provide two separate plot lines that finally converge into the final solution to the nanotech plague. The story moves very quickly, and this short novel can easily be read in one or two nights. Cam's heroism in the face of self-loathing is amazing to watch. Ruth's tirelessness in searching for cure is inspiring, and her naïveté grounds the reader in our own present day complacency. These two characters, though they don't grow awful much beyond these motivations, will resonate deeply. That lack of growth is one of the weaknesses of the story. The characters do a great deal of introspection, but Carlson fails to move them beyond that introspection to a permanent change of character, making it easy for a reader to think them flat. They are not, but their changes are very subtle, more a bringing out of hidden strengths than any great change in personality. The plot basics are not truly original. Any moviegoer or reader familiar with I am Legend will see a lot of elements that are very similar, even to the point of the scientist-become-hero theme. But a similar theme is no crime, and Carlson does move the story in a different direction from its predecessor. Readers may also notice a similarity to the TV show Lost in that Carlson explains the isolation of being stuck on a mountaintop with much the same motivations. One primary character even shares a name and personality with Lost's Sawyer. But these similarities to waht has come before could be seen as strengths, in that readers who enjoyed either I am Legend or Lost is likely to enjoy Plague Year for its similar themes and character types. Readers who are offended by casual sex (a threesome exists at the beginning of the novel) and some crude thinking on the part of the characters may also wish to avoid this tale. Carlson's writing can sometimes seem a bit choppy, making faster readers easily miss important details. Slower readers will be at an advantage in reading this novel. More than once I got confused as to what had just happened, but I think that was due more to my reading pace than Carlson's writing per se. I just skipped over a detail in my speed. But the fact that I was reading it quickly points to the avidness and voraciousness with which I was enjoying it, so what initially seemed a detriment to me became a strength of the novel as I thought about it later. The story is good, even garnering Carlson a nomination for this year's John W. Campbell award. Unfortunately, he was ineligible due to previously published short stories, but that says a lot for his strong writing skills. I think Plague Year is a unique take on the old apocalyptic fiction trope, full of the hard science of nanotech, and it will appeal to a broad audience. It is highly entertaining, and I can say that I plan to read the stand-alone/sequel, Plague War very soon. If you like apocalyptic fiction, Plague Year is a must-buy. "
Ace (2007), Paperback, 304 pages

Ascendancy of the Last (Lady Penitent) by Lisa Smedman

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:18:28 -0400

graspingforthewind's review: "Read more at my blog <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com">Grasping for the Wind</a> The sava game is still being played, and Lolth and Eilistraee continue to vie for control of all the drow of Faerûn. But the drow were once dark elves, surface dwellers, and faithful to the pantheon of the "light" elves. As Lisa Smedman's The Lady Penitent draws to its conclusion, the fate of all draw hangs in the balance. Ascendency of the Last, the concluding volume of this trilogy, brings returns the reader to the halls of the Promenade, where Eilistraee's faithful dwell. But all is not well, as their leader Qilué is beset by a demon, the drow-turned-demon Halistraa is reborn a demigod, and Ghaunadaur's oozes are preparing themselves for a final assault on the Promenade. Smedman has brought to the reader a sword and sorcery tale that rarely takes a breath from action scene to action scene. But unlike simplistic tales that tend to bore a reader after a short time and straightforward plot, Smedman has kept the reader guessing. The ferocity of the action sequences hides subtler hints and foreshadowing of the significant and Realms changing event hidden in the final pages of this novel. The path to that revelation is fraught with danger for all the characters, as they play out in real life the game between Lolth and Eilistraee. Qilué seeks to purify the demonic taint from all drow that caused them to become as they are now. Cavatina, slayer of the demigod Selvetarm, believes that Qilué's desire is itself tainted by the effects of the Crescent Blade she carries. Q'arlynd is a wizard who must quickly find recognition for his wizard's college so that he might also be able purge the taint using high wizardly magic. Various Nightshadows are drawn into the web, both wanting to serve Eilistraee and believing that she is in fact controlled by another drow god, Vhaerun. Such complex emotions and motivations serve to elevate this story from mere action tale, to grand drama, played out. Some readers may dislike the common use of deus ex machina that Smedman uses. Many of her characters narrowly survive events through some fortuitous twist of fate. Several characters survive narrow odds. But for those who see that, they must remember that Smedman also kills as many characters as she saves, and a liberal dosage of characters we had come to care about over the course of three books are killed off. So to be far, Smedman does sometimes twist the story slightly to get her characters out of tight jams, but other times, she just lets them die, or even kills them deliberately. Ascendancy of the Last also needs a better copyeditor. In my copy of the book, there were many missing punctuation marks. A sentence would finish, a period (full stop) would be missing, and then the next sentence would begin with a capital letter and keep right on going. This will be jarring to anyone who has had grammar lesson drilled into their heads. This may be Smedman's fault, or it may be the publisher's fault, but either way it is unacceptable from such generally professional and prolific people. The story of Ascendancy of the Last and its prequels is a must read for any Forgotten Realms fan. Drow fans especially need to read this series, as the events that transpire change Faerûn a great deal, effects likely to linger on in the newest edition. Smedman is one of the more seasoned authors of the Forgotten Realms, having been around at least since Paul S. Kemp's time, and at Wizards of the Coast even before that. This means that she has honed her craft to a sharp bladed knife, neither mincing words nor wasting them. Ascendancy of the Last becomes a fun 308 page read that is exciting and accessible. If you are looking for light, action filled adventure full of mystery and intrigue, yet still containing far reaching consequences, than The Lady Penitent trilogy is exactly what you are looking for."
Wizards of the Coast (2008), Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages

Black Gate Issue 12 by John O'Neill

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:30:45 -0400

graspingforthewind's review: "Read more at <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com">Grasping for the Wind</a> Black Gate 12, <a href="http://www.blackgate.com/">offered for free for a limited time</a>, is a good edition, but doesn't quite live up to the standard editors John O'Neill and Howard Andrew Jones had set with prior issues, especially Black Gate 11. There are only eight stories in this edition of Black Gate, but there are 224 pages of material in this issue. O'Neill and Jones have done something especially unique this time in printing a full length solo paper and pen role-playing adventure called "Legends of the Ancient World: Orcs of the High Mountains", a game by Jerry Meyer Jr. for <a href="http://www.darkcitygames.com/">Dark City Games</a>. Playable as either a full-on role-playing game, or a choose-your-own-adventure style book, this unique addition to issue 12 makes this issue a must have for all role-playing enthusiasts. Now, on to the stories themselves. In "Oblivion is the Sweetest Wine" by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/primordiacomic">John R. Fultz</a>, we learn that sometimes ignorance is bliss. Taizo is a thief sent to steal a precious possession from a city of spider-worshippers. Quite accidentally, he falls in love with a beautiful woman, and wishes to take her with him after completing his mission. But an unfortunate set of circumstances brings about a revelation Taizo could wish he had never seen. Fultz's story has echoes of the drow of the Forgotten Realms, but forges its own territory. Essentially, this story becomes a fable about curiosity and the cat. The content has some adult features, so this isn't suitable for younger readers, because of sex and drug use. The tale itself is tightly woven, and has just the right amount of intrigue, action, and surprise that it is a great opener for the issue. <a href="http://jamesenge.com/">James Enge</a> returns to his Morlock the Maker character in "Payment in Full". The story, told from the perspective of a character Morlock saved in previous story can be quite funny and deadly serious as well. Enge is developing Morlock above and beyond the short story format into a character that can be used in a full-length novel. Morlock becomes less of an enigma as he tries to gather information that will let him continue on his still-shrouded-in-mystery quest. An old enemy from another story makes an appearance. Enge also gives the reader an exciting sewer crawl and quick changes in allegiances that make this story different from all the other Morlock tales. "Houses of the Dead" is a new <a href="http://www.marthawells.com/">Martha Wells</a> story that tells the first wizard hunting tale of Ilias and Giliead. New to being a god's vessel, Giliead must go to a remote mining town and discover why all the inhabitants appeared to have mysteriously vanished. This story allows Wells to humanize her almost always evil wizards (that evil being a product of how they get magic power). The story ends on a mournful note, but it leaves us with a better impression of Ilias and Giliead's characters. Wells writes an enjoyable story built more on suspense and danger than a great deal of action, though there is that too. Its conclusion came as a pleasant surprise and was unexpected. <a href="http://constance.bierner.org/">Constance Cooper</a> tells a story of bayous, magic, and buried treasure in "The Wily Thing". This story takes little getting used to, mostly because Cooper uses the word "guile" as a noun, rather than as a simple descriptor. The reason for this becomes apparent later in the story, but it initially threw me for a loop. The story establishes an interesting world, one I'd like to see more stories in. The "guile" of the story is a sort of primordial sludge that causes changes in people, animals and objects. It's an X factor that affects all things it touches, and changes them all in different ways. Yonie and LaRue encounter one such object that is stirring up trouble, and must find a way to fulfill its needs. This leads to an adventure that binds the two primary characters closer to one another. A strong offering, "The Wily Thing" is odd, but unique. This was my favorite tale of the issue. What happens when a salesman dies? Todd McAulty tackles this idea in "Soldier's of Serenity, a scathing satire of corporate life and a glimpse into spiritual warfare. The narrator, Christopher is being forced to justify his and his project's existence to his boss in order to avoid downsizing, while at the same time he appears to be cracking up, as he begins seeing ghosts. This story has some adult themes, so be warned. McAulty's grasp of the structure of corporations, particularly engineering firms is solid, and he turns the dull into a fantastic story. It sort of The Office meets Left Behind. Though not strictly a sword and sorcery tale, it is a worthy addition to this issue. <a href="http://www.edwardcarmien.com/">Ed Carmien</a> returns to his world of land-going ships and strange beasts of burden in "Knives Under the Spring Moon". Readers will need to have read "Before the Wind" to fully appreciate this story, but even new readers will understand this tale of revenge. More details of Carmien's world are revealed, and Kris and Paddy end the story ready to embark on an adventure that will likely reveal much about their world. Readers will get hints that this world might be less one of fantasy than of science fiction, but the necessary elements of a fantasy are there, and the face-off between Kris and Slew is exciting. A good story. <a href="http://bg-editor.livejournal.com/">Howard Andrew Jones</a> tells the first tale of Dabir and Asim in "Whispers from the Stone". Dabir and Asim find them fighting a magic from the past, Dabir with wits and Asim with his strong right arm. This story set in an ancient Islamic culture is full of all the elements sword and sorcery fans crave, and Jones once again provides an exciting and eventful story. Perhaps the motivation of one of the characters is a bit of a modern sensibility, but it still works for this fun tale. The final story of this issue is a fantasy classic. The final story of <a href="http://ebooks.ebookmall.com/author/charles-r-tanner-ebooks.htm">Charles R. Tanner's</a> Tumithak character, "Tumithak and the Ancient Word" neatly wraps up his story. Tumithak is forced by treachery to rescue his wife and son. AS a result, knowledge is revealed. The story is written as a historical account, an attempt to take reality from myth by a scholar of the time of Tumithak. It is an interesting way to tell the tale, as it assures the reader that all eventually works out for the good. Yet Tanner still manages to create enough suspense and action to keep the story from becoming trite or dull. Old as the story is, it still entertains as much as it would have had it ever been published at the time of its writing. Black Gate 12, while more timely than many other issues of Black Gate, suffers from a preponderance of repeated authors and characters, with only a couple of completely original pieces. This is not to say that the contributions are not worthwhile reading, but readers should be aware that editors John O'Neill and Howard Andrew Jones have chosen to reuse some of their more popular authors, rather than add new ones. As a long-time reader, I have appreciated the repeat of certain characters, but one of my favorite things about Black Gate has always been their ability to find new authors like Todd McAulty, or David Evan Harris. So while I enjoyed Black Gate 12, it was not nearly as enjoyable as previous issues. I got a feeling of its publication being rushed, as if O'Neill and Jones picked authors they knew had been successful previously, and published them in order to be seen to be trying to make an effort to stick to their publishing schedule. While I appreciate the attempt, I've always been content to get the issue whenever it comes, because each time the fiction is excellent. Black Gate 12 ended up not being at the same standard I expected based on prior issues."
Number 12 (Volume 2, Number 6) Summer 2008

Last Argument of Kings: The First Law: Book 3 (First Law) by Joe Abercrombie

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:05:39 -0400

graspingforthewind's review: "Read more at my blog, <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com">Grasping for the Wind</a>. Have you ever felt that sometimes a hero is just too heroic? As if everything seems to go their way, and that even their obstacles rapidly become beneficial with the wave of a wand or the death of a minor villain? Joe Abercrombie feels your frustration. His award-nominated First Law trilogy is a darkly humorous reality check on all epic fantasy. The final volume, Last Argument of Kings, makes clear that the First Law trilogy is a modern, pragmatic tale, not a starry-eyed heroic adventure. Last Argument of Kings concludes the stories of Glokta, Logen, Jezal, Bayaz, Colonel West, Dogman, and others in just the way it should have been. Far from being the hero conquers all tale of most Tolkienesque fantasy, Last Argument of Kings is a satirical look at the cyclical nature of politics, and the pragmatic nature of all true heroes. The story picks up where Before They are Hanged left off. Jezal, Bayaz and Logen have returned from their quest, much the worse for wear. Logen immediately takes off for the North and Angland, still seeking revenge against he self-styled "King of the North" Bethod. West is already there, and in dire straits trying to keep the army together against the implacable foe as his Lord Marshal gets more and more ill. Dogman is at West's side, but is conflicted about the role of leadership he finds himself in. Jezal returns a hero, even though his mission had failed, and grand political events are sweeping him up, carrying to heights of power he could never have dreamed. And poor, crippled Sand dan Glokta, finds himself between a rock and a hard place, what is called in the Bible "serving two masters" with the attendant results thereof. And of course, the religious and evil fanatic empire of the Gurkish is amassing its forces to send against them all. Bayaz continues to be enigmatic, little help to anyone but Jezal. Then, of course, all hell breaks loose. Abercrombie continues to look deeply at characters and his writing style reflects that. Most of the story is written in dialogue, and setting is given a cursory onceover, but only enough to give the reader an idea of the look of a room, or the layout of a city. It is Shakespearean in its sparseness. Readers who dislike lots of dialogue with little description should steer clear. However, if you enjoy a bit of satire about fantasy, as well as the nature of man, this will be for you. Last Argument of Kings is a satirical novel. In the first two books of the First Law trilogy, readers got a sense of Abercrombie's black humor. It was as if Abercrombie smirks knowingly at the silliness of life. Last Argument of Kings brings that twisted sense of humor out of mere jokes and elevates it into a satire of humanity. Heroes are found in unlikely places, and the greatest of them are those who do what need to be done, no matter how gruesome. Those other characters that were supposed to be heroes, that presented with all the necessary character traits, exuding 100th level charisma, wind up cowards, with only sporadic heroism at best. All of the events, all of the triumphs and failures, end up being part of a never ending cycle, a result of the machinations of a few men of power. Abercrombie's novel has a parallel in the very work of literature from which this blog takes its name. The Book of Ecclesiastes claims that "all of life is but vanity and grasping for the wind". Abercrombie has managed to see the humor in this, and subsequently weave it into a three part fantasy series. For readers who dislike coarse language, bloody violence, and sex in their novels, this one is most definitely not for you. Abercrombie's book is something like HBO's The Wire in a fantasy setting. It manages to see deep into the depravity of man and laugh at it, but does nothing to hide it. Last Argument of Kings manages to wrap the story well. Although in places it seems that Abercrombie is feeling forced to wrap some loose ends due to having many plot threads, the majority of the story wraps up tightly and neatly, even if it isn't quite the ending most readers will be looking for. Much like F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby Abercrombie has broken with the tradition of ending his fiction wholly hopeful note. That is unique in the epic fantasy setting in which this story is based. There is hope, yes, but in the grand scheme of things, this novel eloquently points out some of the futility of our striving. With the few caveats above, I recommend reading this novel. It is unique in the epic fantasy subgenre, and has only a few comparisons within the broader realm of Speculative Fiction, and most of those are short stories. This alone makes it worth reading, though don't expect to come away from Last Argument of Kings on an emotional high. Joe Abercrombie deserves the accolades he has given, and in recognition of a singular achievement in epic fantasy, I think he deserves the all elusive ten out of ten stars. However, in keeping with Abercrombie's own sense of humor and the theme of the novels, he will find that is meaningless, as I never rate any books I review. Hence, those ten out of ten stars are naught but vanity, just another worthless part of the endless cycle of human history."
Pyr (2008), Paperback, 448 pages

Sly Mongoose by Tobias S. Buckell

Fri, 09 May 2008 09:59:30 -0400

graspingforthewind's review: "Copied in full from my blog <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com/archives/2008/08/book-review-sly-mongoose-by-tobias-buckell.html">Grasping for the Wind</a> Tobias Buckell has done it again! Sly Mongoose is a highly entertaining and energizing story. Pepper the nearly indestructible continues to delight, and Buckell's vision of a science-based "Cloud City" is full realized. Sly Mongoose, the third in a series of stand-alone novels set in the same universe, is set several generations after the events in Crystal Rain and Ragamuffin. The Azteca have renounced their human sacrificing ways, and have settled on new planets, doing their very best to create a new way of life under a reformed religion. But as refugees, even ones with their own floating city, the Azteca are quite poor. Like Caribbean born author Tobias Buckell's homeland, many of the people live a subsistence, second world life, while first world visitors make of their homes a vacation spot. The rich and the powerful are exploiting the poor Aztecan refugees. In an opening scene that is absolutely unforgettable, Pepper crash lands on one of the floating cloud cities of the world of Chilo. But although the human weapon Pepper is scary enough, the thing he is running from is even more frightening. Space zombies, created by an airborne pathogen, are slowly taking over the cities of Chilo. It is up to Pepper and the ragged Azteca refugees to stop the them before they destroy all of Chilo and leave it open to being conquered by the League of Human Affairs. Pepper is the Drizzt Do'Urden of the space age. An almost unstoppable weapon, skilled in all forms of fighting with the lightning quick reflexes and insight that make him untouchable, Pepper leads the Aztecas to fight against impossible odds. But the true hero of the story is not Pepper, but rather a young man of the Aztecas. Much of the story is told from his perspective, and Buckell gives the reader a character that must, at the tender age of fourteen, preserve his family by putting his life on the line everyday by going down to the boiling hot surface of Chilo. Where Pepper is the character we enjoy for his unstoppable and unflappable heroics, Timas is the character who is as human as we are. His faults and failings are like our own, and the reader will find himself hoping that he or she would rise to the occasion if in a situation like Timas's. Although Buckell continues to write excellent adventure, he has tried to branch out and give his characters deeper emotions. The react in very human ways, and in the end, we find that even Pepper is broken. All this only shows that as Buckell continues to write, his novels are only likely to get better. I do have a few caveats about Sly Mongoose. For one, Timas several times goes out from the Azteca city, only to return a few pages later. It happens often enough that it becomes noticeable, and it seems that Buckell was repeating a sequence of events (albeit with different particulars) so that the ebb and flow of the plot got repetitious. Instead of a sine wave of action, the reader gets a circle. Buckell also has difficulty with timing. The events of the story take several days, but that is not very evident in the way the story is organized, and some details seem to contradict this as well. When Pepper has the people make makeshift spears, the construction of the chapters lead me to believe that the entire populace of a large city was armed within the space of a few hours. Obviously, this is impossible, and Buckell catches himself later, but at the time it is confusing. Also, when Pepper is forced into a mechanized suit that can only run for four hours, it isn't clear whether that is four hours a day, or four hours total. After Pepper uses it several times in several days, it become clear it is the former, not the latter, but by leaving that minor detail out, Buckell left me confused and forced me to turn back the pages to make sure I hadn't missed something. I hadn't, it just isn't clear. Buckell also should have made clearer to new readers the relationship between the Raga, The League of Human Affairs, and the Satraps. A new reader might be confused by these entities if he or she hasn't read Ragamuffin. This makes the book fail to quite live up to Buckell's stand-alone intent. It can still be enjoyed as such, but some new readers may have questions by the end of the tale, a problem which a true stand-alone novel should seek to avoid assiduously. But these problems are minor, and most readers may not even notice. Although you may not have read any Tobias Buckell before, you can easily read Sly Mongoose before those he has already published. I recommend that you read some Tobias Buckell and soon. Sly Mongoose isn't a bad place to start either, though I would recommend Crystal Rain first. Any reader who enjoys space adventure with science based action will find Sly Mongoose to their taste. The story is not given over to much introspection, nor is it some sort of commentary on our times. Although those are part of it, it is first and foremost a space adventure, and one I highly recommend you read and give pride of place on your bookshelf. "
Tor Books (2008), Edition: First Edition, Hardcover, 352 pages

Stalking the Unicorn: A Fable of Tonight by Mike Resnick

Thu, 29 May 2008 16:16:19 -0400

graspingforthewind's review: "Copied in full from my blog <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com">Grasping for the Wind</a> Stalking the Unicorn, by multiple fantasy award winner Mike Resnick, is Alice in Wonderland for the modern age. John Justin Mallory is a Sam Spade wannabe, a private detective out on his luck. His wife and his business partner are gone, he's broke, and on New Year's Eve he is rapidly drinking himself into oblivion. Then a rabbit appears. Well, not a rabbit, since Mallory isn't fortunate enough to get cute little woodland creatures like Alice does. Mallory gets a little green man instead. Drunk as he is, Mallory takes what he sees for a hallucination. But the money this little green man offers is too tempting. And so Mallory embarks on solving the mystery that will make his career and reputation. Written in the early 1980's, Stalking the Unicorn is the very definition of the urban fantasy novel. A human is thrust into a parallel world of mythical creatures is forced to solve a crime in an urban jungle strangely similar to our own, but that operates by quite different rules altogether. With the help of an aged big-game hunter, a cat-person (in the literal sense), a cowardly wizard, and a shrinking horse, Mallory must find the unicorn before the demon that controls alternate New York can destroy him. A rapid read (I read it in an evening after work) Stalking the Unicorn is funny and full of plot twists. The timeline of the story takes place all in one night, and the beginning of each chapter gives the time frame in which the following text is set. That makes the pacing of the events related all the more real to the reader, grounding this story of the fantastic in something real and understandable to the reader. Adding to the fun is Resnick's witty dialogue. The characters engage in witty repartee and banter, and readers will likely laugh out loud at Mallory's no nonsense reactions to the words and actions of the strange beings from the alternate New York. While Resnick uses what we would now consider tropes in his story, he manages to spin them in such a way that the characters and the setting never quite meets the reader's expectations. In fact, the results far exceed the expectations. John Justin Mallory acts confidently and sometimes brashly, but he is a skilled detective, and the final conclusion to the mystery will surprise the reader in more ways than one. Along the way, readers will encounter standard features of the New York cityscape, such as the Museum of Natural History, The Stock Exchange and Wall Street, and laugh along as Resnick pokes a bit of fun at the bureaucratic governments of all big cities with his chapter regarding the Bureau of Missing Persons. Younger readers may be confused by some of the references in the story. The war between VHS and Beta is brought up, for example. Rather than the iPod, Resnick references the Walkman - an innovation in its time - that now seems archaic. New readers who remember these events from the 1980's will wax nostalgic (I did), but younger readers, especially those born in the nineties may wonder at some of the references. While this doesn't lesson the power of the story to entertain, it may (or not) be jarring for the youth among us. Mike Resnick's Stalking the Unicorn is everything an entertaining story should be. Funny, full of action, adventure, dosed with a bit of mystery and the ridiculous. Mallory is the quintessential detective, a mixture of Columbo, Sam Spade, and Hercule Poirot. That his territory is a fantasy world only enhances the enjoyment. I highly recommend everyone read Stalking the Unicorn. As a special treat, this Pyr edition is also being released simultaneously with a new John Justin Mallory mystery Stalking the Vampire. So go, read them."
Pyr (2008), Paperback, 310 pages

Seeds of Change by John Joseph Adams

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:48:30 -0400

graspingforthewind's review: "Copied in full from my blog <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com">Grasping for the Wind</a> When John Joseph Adams, editor of the apocalyptic short story collection <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com/archives/026072.html">Wastelands</a> and <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com/archives/024600.html">Slush God</a> for <a href="http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/">The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction</a> offered readers of <a href="http://www.johnjosephadams.com/">his blog</a> the opportunity to read and review an ARC e-copy of his newest collection Seeds of Change, I jumped at the chance. Adams has proven himself to be an editor worthy of comparison to Gardner Dozois, Martin H. Greenberg, and George R. R. Martin. And this antholgy once again proves that Adams is an editor of high skill. The first story, by <a href="http://www.tedkosmatka.com/mainpage.htm">Ted Kosmatka</a>, is a story called "N-words" about the relationship between science and racism. The "n" in the title stands for "Neanderthal" as supposed secondary race of humans long since died or bred out. When the scientists of Kosmatka's future bring them back from the grave, there are significant consequences for homo sapiens. Kosmatka tells the story through the eyes of once of our subspecies of humans who is sympathetic to these neo-Neanderthals. It makes the tale extremely intimate. Kosmataka's story ends on a dire note, serving as a warning against unbridled science and the more evil instincts of humanity's nature, particularly its tendency toward racism. This story has to be my favorite of the anthology. <a href="http://www.jlake.com/">Jay Lake's</a> contribution reminds me of the movie version of The Saint with Val Kilmer and Elisabeth Shue. "The Future of Degrees" is about a scientific breakthrough in waste heat management. A brave salesman, Grover, must rescue this breakthrough from being stolen by an evil government seeking to suppress it. Unfortunately, while Lake's contribution is tightly written and interesting to think about, it is so close to the exact same plot of the aforementioned movie, that it ends up being interesting only for its concepts, not for its story. It ends up being unoriginal in that respect. Still, it is worth thinking about whether technology should be in the hands of the people, or the hands of its government. When I say the title of <a href="http://www.kdwentworth.com/">K. D. Wentworth's</a> "Drinking Problem" the first thing that came to mind was the scene in Airplane! where Ted Striker has a "drinking problem" that causes him to spill his drink off to the side when he raises a cup to his lips. Wentworth has continued that tradition to write a humorous story about the consequences of adopting innovations without thoroughly vetting them. The poor unfortunate hero of the story, a frequent denizen of a local bar, is forced by law into owning a sentient bottle that is genetically coded to an individual, and that is infinitely reusable. The "Smart Bottle" was supposed to help reduce filling of the landfills with glass and cans, but ends up having farther reaching social implications than its makers intended. Wentworth's story helped lighten the mood of the mostly serious collection. This story ends happily, and ends up being a quite hopeful. This a rarity among science fiction that also provides social commentary, and for that alone "Drinking Problem" is a worthy read. Wentworth's story will also resonate well with any reader in a deeply committed relationship that has struggled, but still has hope for survival. <a href="http://blakecharlton.wordpress.com/">Blake Charlton</a> is a brand new, unpublished writer (who has a three book deal with Tor, with the first novel coming out this year), who is also a medical student at Stanford. His story, "Endosymbiont" draws on his knowledge of the medical field. The story thinks about the idea of the ability of a human mind having he ability to be downloaded into a machine. Would such people whose minds were downloaded remain human? If not, what would it take to help them retain some semblance of humanity? What would the government of the people do about such a technology? Charlton's story has immediate implications even now, in an age where disease ravages a body but leaves a mind whole, or Alzheimer's destroys a mind but leaves a body whole. Some readers with a personal history of such diseases may find this tale painful so some caution is warranted. However, it is too well constructed to miss. The primary character is a sympathetic, cancer ridden fourteen year old girl, and the story's tale of personal sacrifice is hopeful and deeply saddening. There are some technical terms interspersed throughout the story that some readers may not be familiar with, but ultimately they are not distracting. Charlton very likely has a fruitful career in writing as well as the medical profession, and I look forward to more from this debut author who donated all the proceeds from the sale of this tale to the American Cancer Society. <a href="http://kenmacleod.blogspot.com/">Ken Macleod</a> writes a tale that echoes the ancient Gaelic ballads. "A Dance called Armageddon" is an extremely pessimistic tale the end of Western tradition. Macleod's tale is short, but in it we learn about the music of defeat, and the strange pride that the Scots and their kin take even in their many defeats. Macleod recognizes the strangeness' of the tradition of the Irish and Scottish people's preoccupation with stories of sadness and loss. What comes from Macleod's pen is both a celebration and a resignation and that strange juxtaposition makes for a powerful tale. "Arties Aren't Stupid" by <a href="http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/">Jeremiah Tolbert</a>, is a story about art and its ability to effect societal change. The arties of Tolbert's tale manage to find a way to meld art and science, and in doing so, create a brave new world. The story takes a little work to understand, as Tolbert creates slang for his ragtag band of arties, but that just adds to the otherness of his world. Though less thought-provoking than others in the anthology, the story is well-written, and is descriptive of the effect art can have on a society. Prosopagnosia is a condition where a person is incapable of seeing faces to a defection in the mental faculties. <a href="http://www.markbudz.com/">Mark Budz</a> uses this as the primary motivator in his story "Faceless in Gethsemane". The narrator must deal with a sister who voluntarily makes herself a sufferer of prospagnosia. This story was perhaps the hardest to understand. Budz is making a comment on racism and the concept of being colorblind in regards to people, but the concept and the story didn't seem to mesh. Up until the ending of the story, what Budz relates makes sense, But his ending left me confused, as I cannot seem to understand its relationship to the rest of the story. Budz's story was strong on concept, and only fair on execution, though that concept is very interesting to think about. <a href="http://nnedi.com/">Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu</a> writes a story set in Nigeria, in a small town that has an oil pipeline through its backyard but that reaps none of the benefits of the oil production. This a story all to common in today's Africa, and it is in this setting that "Spider the Artist" tells us of a young woman, a musical artist, who encounters a machine designed for the preservation of the oil pipeline that has intelligence. Okorafor-Mbachu's is a modern folk tale that draws on Africa's rich oral tradition. Its story is disheartening, especially when the reader realizes that many of the specifics the author describes are present day reality for many people living in oil-rich Nigeria. The story ends of being a call to action for complacent Westerners, and a tale of hope for the people of Africa, if both set aside their antagonism and realize that though they maybe different in many ways, music can transcend this, as it does for the narrator and the robot of "Spider the Artist". The final story of the collection comes from one of my favorite authors, <a href="http://www.tobiasbuckell.com/">Tobias Buckell</a>. "Resistance" gives another story to the character of Pepper, the favorite creation of Buckell's fans. In it, an asteroid colony's government has been overthrown and a dictator has taken its place. The resistance movement has brought Pepper in to help them destroy the dictator. Things do not go according to plan. Buckell uses this story to make a comment about democracy, and those democratic governments that seem to be chugging along well, only to be overthrown in a coup and replaced with a dictatorial government. The conclusions that Buckell draws will be surprising to many. Fans of Pepper should be warned that although Pepper appears, he does not exhibit his fighting skill a great deal in this story. Buckell has not written an action story in this case. "Resistance" is about the nature of governments, particularly democratic governments and the will of the people who comprise them. For all that, Buckell still writes entertainingly, and it was a good choice for the closing story of this anthology. Seeds of Change continues to exemplify Adams ability to pick short stories of distinction. These nine stories of, in Adams words, "paradigm shift - technological, scientific, political, or cultural" are thought provoking without being didactic, asking the reader to think deeply about issues of today through the stories of the future. Conclusions are not drawn by these authors, avoiding the giving of answers. Even though I took some issues with a couple of the stories, they are all still worthwhile reading. This is the sort of writing the speculative fiction the genre was meant to produce. Readers should be pleased with the results of the contributors' and editor's efforts."
Prime Books (2008), Kindle Edition

A Darkness Forged in Fire: Book One of the Iron Elves by Chris Evans

Mon, 12 May 2008 19:34:28 -0400

graspingforthewind's review: "We do not fear the flame, though it burns us, We do not fear the fire, though it consumes us, And we do not fear its light, Though it reveals the darkness of our souls, For therein lies our power. -- Blood Oath of the Iron Elves Combining the technology of the American Revolution, the story of an adventure from the days of British Colonialism, and the setting of a fantasy world, A Darkness Forged in Fire is a welcome and unique addition to the fantasy genre. Written by <a href="http://chris-r-evans.livejournal.com/">Chris Evans</a>, this novel is an action-packed adventure tale that has been likened to the works of Bernard Cornwell and J.R.R. Tolkien. A bit of military fantasy, <a href="http://www.ironelves.com/index.html">A Darkness Forged in Fire</a> relates the story of Konowa Swift Dragon, formerly commander of the Iron Elves. Konowa lost his commission and the Iron Elves were disbanded due to his assassination of the Viceroy of Elfkynan, a far flung province in a vast empire. But Konowa's unique skills are needed again, and he is recalled to lead a newly formed Iron Elves. But the new Iron Elves are not quite what he expects, and his new commander just happens to be the Prince of the Empire himself. Things quickly get interesting for Konowa, especially after meeting Visyna Tekoy, a beautiful elfkynan woman. (Elfkynans are more like humans than elves, having been misnamed after their discovery, much like American Indians were by Columbus.) Konowa, Visyna, and the Prince must take the Iron Elves and seek out a buried treasure, the Eastern Star, said to have powerful magic. Meanwhile, and ancient elvish evil is stirring, and the Shadow Monarch will do everything in her power to be the first to obtain the Star. Other conflicts come from the talk of rebellion from the elfkynan, and Konowa's own internal conflict over being an elf with no talent for communing with nature... Evans story is exciting. I found myself unable to put it down, reading late into the night. It combines the traditional quest story with military fantasy. Although the ultimate goal of the Iron Elves is the gaining of the Star, Evan's tale is as much about the soldiers and leaders of the Iron Elves light infantry regiment as it is about the quest. Whereas in most quest novels, there is a small group of adventurers, we have here a large group of over three hundred souls seeking an item, and the dynamics of that work entirely differently. The story puts me very much in mind of the works of David Eddings, but with a military twist. Like Eddings, Evans manages to weave humor into his story, lightening the mood of his tale at just the right moments, but still maintains the thrill of the quest and the success against many dangers that Eddings portrays, especially in his Mallorean series... Evans is a fairly new voice in fantasy fiction, and as a result makes a few mistakes in his writing. He has a whole subplot concerning the second Viceroy who takes the place of the one Konowa killed, that seems rather unrelated to the rest of the story, although hit is possible the second Viceroy make an appearance in a sequel. Still, it seems as if it could have been skipped entirely and no harm would have come to the primary narrative. The sequel will out. I suppose... Fans of David Eddings and Glen Cook should find A Darkness Forged in Fire to their liking. It has military elements, humor, and a high fantasy quest style story. The ending was quite a surprise, not how I expected the story would end at all, and left me craving more. Although the majority of Evan�s elves are of the standard trope, Konowa is not, and that juxtaposition adds flavor to the tale. There are many surprise twists and turns. I highly recommend A Darkness Forged in Fire by Chris Evans to all adventure fantasy fans, military novels fans, and anyone who enjoys unique fantasy settings with unusual characters. I couldn't put it down, so I'm looking forward to an entire day of pleasurable reading when the sequel comes out. <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com/archives/2008/06/book-review-a-darkness-forged-in-fire-by-chris-evans.html">Full Review</a> at Grasping for the Wind"
Pocket (2008), Hardcover, 464 pages

Into the Storm: Destroyermen, Book I by Taylor Anderson

Fri, 23 May 2008 21:10:40 -0400

graspingforthewind's review: "As a rule, I generally do not enjoy "crossover" novels, where some person or group crosses over into an alternate reality or an alternate time. For this very reason I have never picked up The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. There is nothing wrong with the subgenre; it just generally lacks appeal to me. But when I received a copy of Destroyermen: Into the Storm, I knew something was different about this novel. And I was proved right. Destroyermen: Into the Storm, the debut novel from <a href="http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000072284,00.html">Taylor Anderson</a>, fits neither into the alternate history subgenre, nor into the time travel subgenre. Trying to classify the novel is like putting a square block into a round hole. The novel is a mix of all types of speculative fiction, from fantasy, to science fiction, to Lost World-style adventure stories. It fits no categorization. That certainly heightens its appeal, and any reader who takes a chance on a strangely named novel by a previously unknown author will not find him or her self disappointed. The narrative begins on a high note of action, and only climbs higher and higher from there. The crew of the USS Walker, along with parts of its battle group is on the run from the superior Japanese navy in 1942. The Japanese had destroyed the majority of the Asiatic fleet at Pearl Harbor, and Walker and its fleet are either outdated, outgunned, or so badly damaged that the Japanese have little to fear, even before their aerial superiority kicks in. Walker (a real ship, as are all the ones mentioned in the novel, although Anderson has taken liberties with their histories) is one of the former. Outdated, really a relic of the "Great War", it is supremely outclassed by the ships chasing it. When in the midst of a pitched battle on the open sea, Walker seeks shelter in a squall, something strange occurs, and its crew and men find itself lost in an alternate world, where dinosaurs still exist, and evolution has taken quite a different tack. Walker and her crew must learn to survive, but are soon embroiled in a war not of their own making, even as they are quickly running out of fuel for their badly damaged ship. Rather than following any one character, Anderson has chosen to tell his story through a cast of characters. Although the majority of the story is told through the eyes of its captain - an obvious and essential place to do so in this type of story - Matthew Reddy, their are many times when Anderson will look at the events occurring through the eyes of Walker's crew, as well as through the eyes of the Lemurians, the mammalian, sentient people they encounter. The only perspective not shown is the brutal, reptilian race known as the Grik. Anderson's style allows the tale to be well-rounded, not dwelling on any one character. This too is where it is a different story from most "crossover" novels. In Destroyermen: Into the Storm we have a group of people trying to survive in an alien world, quite a large one in fact, where in most of the novels of this type, their is either only one character, or the largest group being something like a platoon of soldiers. It is a daunting task to write so many perspectives and still do it well, but Anderson manages to make it look easy. The numerous perspectives and subplots weave together seamlessly, causing the narration to move at fast pace. Anderson has also worked hard to make sure the perspectives are true to form for WWII era sailors. Therefore, things that seem like mistakes - such as the use of the term "brontosaurus" - are in fact intentional. Anderson understands the way that the men of "The Greatest Generation", think. He captures their foibles and faults, but always, always he highlights the heroism of the men that saved America from being a Japanese colony. The sailors of the tale remind me in many ways of my own grandfather, and army man in the Pacific theater, and I imagine that in his youth, he was much like these men, rough around the edges, but with a powerful heart of sacrifice. As a writer, Anderson has an understanding of cadence and structure. Although most of the story has the reader worrying, it still moves in an up and down wave, allowing breathing room for the reader, while never truly dissipating the feel of danger and being lost. In fact, many the feelings this tale evokes are much like the effects of the TV show Lost, although it is much more revealing in its content. Anderson's story has many battles, but no two are ever the same, not just in detail, but in character reactions, keeping the battles fresh and exciting. Early on the book, there is a battle between ships of similar cut and quality, later, one or two one-sided battles where iron wins out over wood, finally, in the climaxing scene, there is a battle that can only be found in novels like C. S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower series or the Jack Aubrey tales of Patrick O'Brian. The action never gets stale in Anderson's writing. Some readers will notice that at times there are some poorly constructed sentences, or nonsensical statements, but that is to be expected of a newer author, and time and experience should clear these up relatively easily. Fans of ship borne battles, action packed storytelling, alternate realities, and WWII era fiction will all find something they enjoy about this novel. I particularly recommend it to fans of alternate history fiction, or people who enjoy the adventure tales of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, or movies like King Kong. Do I recommend reading Destroyermen: Into the Storm? With a wholehearted YES, I do. S.M. Stirling, a noted author of alternate history tales, has a cover blurb on the book where he mentions, "I dipped my toe into Destroyermen: Into the Storm and when I looked up, it was two in the morning and a working day had vanished!" Very nearly the same thing happened to me. The crew of the USS Walker became my friends and bosom companions. Their fate matters to me, and I will be eagerly anticipating the sequel Destroyermen: Crusade in October of this year. <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com/archives/2008/06/destroyermen-into-the-storm-by-taylor-anderson.html">Full Review</a>"
Roc Hardcover (2008), Hardcover, 400 pages

The Martian General's Daughter by Theodore Judson

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:46:06 -0400

graspingforthewind's review: "Told through the eyes of Justa, the daughter of the title, we novel describes how an empire, when centered on one man can fall into ruin so that it becomes a shadow of itself. In this case, the empire is the Pan-Polarian Empire, the ruler of most of the Northern Hemisphere. Really the remains of the American republic, this new empire has followed in the footsteps of its Roman predecessor. Due to our own stupidity, mankind has invented nanomachines that destroy technology, so man is now rapidly descending into a life of living hand to mouth, having to fend for himself and provide for all his needs without the benefits provided by technology and electricity. In this world is Peter Black, the general of the title, who lives by the old code of honor, duty, and loyalty, even as those who he follows are first evil, and then truly mad. Many references are made to Roman and Greek history, and those readers who have seen movies like Gladiator and Spartacus or are well read in classical history will have a multitude of moments of epiphany when they see events and actions that have an intentionally written parallel to what we know of history, especially that of the Romans. I found these moments pleasurable, as I could say I knew something of the true history that informed Judson's writing, and could feel that just as I was reading for pleasure, I was learning as well. Those themes and ideas that history teachers had made so dry and boring were understood in reading The Martian General's Daughter. I can now read the histories of Rome and other empires with a better understanding of what they are all about. This novel is now proudly displayed on my shelf, and I plan to one day hand to my child and use it to teach them about how empires fall. This fictionalized account is able to succinctly encapsulate the events and feeling of that kind of time, and while it can never replace a learning of history, it is certainly a starting point for discussions on politics, religion, and culture. Full Review at <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com/archives/2008/06/the-martian-generals-daughter-by-theodore-judson.html">Grasping for the Wind</a>"
Pyr (2008), Paperback, 253 pages

Midnight Never Come by Marie Brennan

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:48:47 -0500

graspingforthewind's review: "Historical Fantasy is a difficult subgenre in which to write. The author must both create a story using the elements of fantasy, like wizards, elves, and faerie beings, and must try to maintain historical accuracy for the period of history in which the novel is set. It is a tricky business, but <a href="http://swan-tower.livejournal.com/">Marie Brennan</a>, a relatively new author whose books are being published by Orbit, manages to pull it off rather well in Midnight Never Come, her tale of Elizabethan intrigue and faerie power Midnight Never Come is set in the latter days of the reign of Elizabeth the First, Queen of England, sometimes called Gloriana. Her court has been one of internal peace, even as outside enemies have threatened, but under her reign England has prospered. Michael Deven is a young man who has come to Elizabeth’s court to seek personal advancement. Coming from humble beginnings, he has managed to become one of the Queen’s personal bodyguards. But that is not quite enough to make his fortune in a court where one’s job can cost more than to maintain that what one makes. So Deven seeks out Sir Francis Walsingham, queen’s spymaster. What occurs brings Deven into a close contact with the realm of the Fae, a shadow court that exists beneath the streets of London, and separate from it in time and space. Lune is a courtier of that shadow court, a Machiavellian world whose queen derives great pleasure from causing emotional and physical pain in her subjects. Lune is very much like Deven, seeking advancement in her own court. But the two of them soon discover a secret that could destroy both courts, as well as Lune herself, and they must race against time to solve a riddle and overthrow the evil Faerie Queen Invidiana. I highly recommend Midnight Never Come to any lover of stories about the Fae, those interested in historical novels of Elizabethan England, or those who enjoyed or still enjoy fairy tales and myths. <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com/archives/029582.html">Full Review at Grasping for the Wind</a>"
Orbit (2008), Paperback, 400 pages

The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:00:03 -0500

graspingforthewind's review: "The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt is a steampunk tour de force. Endlessly inventive and as intricately plotted as George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, The Court of the Air is a tale no reader should miss. On the surface, this stand-alone tale is ostensibly about two orphans, Molly and Oliver. Gifted in different ways (one through science, the other through magic) these two are forced on the run. These two story arcs move separately from each other, only crossing paths indirectly for most of the novel, although they the do meet once, near the end of the story. They strange gifts of each must be called upon when they find they are the last, best hope for the salvation of mankind from the forces of evil. Part Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm, and Victorian era novel, The Court of the Air is both a challenging and entertaining read. The former is most evident early in the book. Hunt wastes no words in trying to explain the history of the setting, nor does he try to give reasons for the technology the reader will encounter. For the reader this may cause some difficulty, since the setting is wildly different from our own, and Hunt throws a lot of creative word usage at the reader right from the beginning. The latter is a result of Hunt’s action. It is almost non-stop, and as the byline on the front of the novel states, the tale truly is “a fantastical tale of high adventure, low life rouges, and orphans on the run.” The reader can’t help but be excited as Molly and Oliver move from scene to scene, finding dangers ever more harrowing. Their ultimate triumph comes all the more sweetly as a result. In essence, there are two story arcs occurring in The Court of the Air. One is a political satire, pitting capitalism against Marxism. The second, and by far the one with the most page time, is the adventures of Molly and Oliver, as they race against time to save their world from a horrible death. And yet, though these two plots may be strange bedfellows, they are interwoven so cleverly, that they seem as one. The Court of Air is a complex and convoluted novel. Hunt’s world building is exquisite, and I’ve never read another novel like it. It is exciting and fast paced, with myriad plot twists and turns, interesting characters, and fantasy world that manages to blend the modern and the fantastical all into one package. The best comparison to make is not to another novel, but rather to a video game. The Final Fantasy games (especially VII, X and X-2) kept coming to mind as I read Hunt’s novel. Like them, The Court of Air is always full of adventure, with a unique and detailed world. I highly recommend this book to all readers. It is already on my best of the year list. I think the only way to top it will be with the next book by Stephen Hunt, set in the same world and with some of the same characters, but still a stand alone novel, called The Kingdom Beyond the Waves. Full Review at <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com/archives/029252.html">Grasping for the Wind</a>"
Tor Books (2008), Hardcover, 592 pages

Bloodheir (The Godless World) by Brian Ruckley

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 17:49:39 -0500

graspingforthewind's review: "Often, the second book in a trilogy is accused of something called “Middle Book Syndrome”. The idea is that the second book in most trilogies is mostly filler and very little plot movement really happens. And often it is true. But if anyone accuses <a href="http://www.brianruckley.com/">Brian Ruckley’s</a> second book in The Godless World trilogy, Bloodheir of suffering from middle book syndrome, I’m afraid I will have to scoff in his face. Bloodheir moves the story from the personal to the epic. In the first book of the trilogy, Winterbirth most of the story was about the harrowing near escapes of its protagonists, with occasional insights into the minds of the villains. While that sort of writing style continues in Bloodheir the action moves out from the immediacy of survival for the heroes and catching them for the villains into grand political machinations and sweeping battles. Some of the minor characters who were encountered in the first book, such as Taim Narran and some of the Inkallim, move out into the fore, and add more dimensions to this epic fantasy. Ruckley’s characterization continues to be good. He refuses to have his characters make sudden, abrupt changes in personality, instead opting for slow changes. They way they change, and the way they behave becomes believable, and they continue to react to their environment in believable fashions. That is not to say that some of the characters, mostly in supporting roles, are two-dimensional – like Aweult – but for the most part their reactions are believable. In particular, the way that Ruckley describes two loves intrigued me as a reader. Orisian’s love from afar of E’ssyr reminds me very much of myself as a youngster, and Orisian’s reaction and behavior are very much in line with how a young man might act when he feels desire for a woman he respects and whom he refuses to force into love with him. Mordyn Shadowhand and Tara’s love for one another as a married couple is well-written as well. The passion and loyalty they feel for one another is a tangible thing, and anyone who has ever experienced it in real life will see that Ruckley was able to capture that feeling in truth. And these are but minor parts of characterization in the grand scope of the story. I highly recommend you read Bloodheir and its prequel Winterbirth. <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com/archives/029358.html">Full Review at Grasping for the Wind</a>"
Orbit (2008), Paperback, 528 pages

Shadowmarch: Volume I by Tad Williams

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 17:00:16 -0400

graspingforthewind's review: "When <a href="http://www.tadwilliams.com/">Tad Williams</a> left epic fantasy to write is Otherland series, I was deeply saddened. Williams is an excellent author of the standard epic fantasy. And while his books are long, they are never dull. When I tried to read the Other land series (and remember, I was a young boy at the time) I just couldn’t reach the same level of enjoyment as in reading the Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy. So when I found out that Williams was returning to true, straightforward epic fantasy with the publication of Shadowmarch, I was excited. Shadowmarch is everything an epic fantasy should be. It is grand in scope, has characters that grow and change over the course of its length, and includes fairies, dwarves, and a medieval setting. Shadowmarch is the common name for the castle that stands on the edge of the Shadowline, a barrier erected by the Quar, a conglomeration of fantasy species fleeing the steady onslaught of man. Barrick and Briony Eddon are the twin children of Olin, King of Shadowmarch (more properly known as Southmarch). As the narrative begins, we find that Olin has been captured by a rival king, and the twins’ brother Kendrick fills the vacancy as prince regent. Barrick and Briony are therefore free to be young children. But through a sequence of terrible events, the rule of Southmarch is thrust upon Barrick and Briony’s shoulders. Something they are very much unprepared for. Williams weaves many plots and subplots into the story. The most pressing is the fact that the fairies are leaving their home behind the Shadowline and seeking revenge on mankind for taking away the land that once was theirs. But woven into and throughout these tales are several subplots, which as the narrative unfolds in later books, may become a much larger piece of the puzzle. There are at least two significant mysteries, one having to due with what happens to Kendrick, and the other with the strange madness that seems to beset Barrick. And behind it all is the story of Chert, a Funderling, and the foundling Flint. I suspect that Flint and Chert’s story may be much more than what occurs in this first novel. In fact, it is Chert and Ferras Vansen who provides the true hero for the story. Briony and Barrick, while brave, are befuddled and confused, in many ways still selfish children who are easily led by others. Those two have to grow into the ruling of Southmarch, and it is a painful process to read. But Chert the Funderling and Ferras Vansen the captain of the guard are the true heroes. Selfless, giving, brave, loyal and honest, it is the simplicity of Chert’s love for Flint and Vansen loyalty to the crown that are the most uplifting parts of Shadowmarch. Chert’s and Vansen’s characters made the novel a great read, even if they are but minor characters in the whole of the story, at least for now. Williams continues to write with grace, and on occasion he brings his characters to philosophical insight that resonated with me, as in the following lines from the novel: [Barrick] realized that every one of these men lived inside his own head just as Barrick lived in his, and that all of the hundreds of people waiting anxiously on the stairs outside the temple for a glimpse of the nobility of Southmarch lived within their own thoughts as well, as completely and seperately as Barrick himself did. It's as if we live on a thousand, thousand different islands in the middle of an ocean, he thought, but with no boats. We can see each other. We can shout to each other. But we none of us can leave our own island and travel to another. You will perhaps understand Barrick’s depression. Williams captures the feel of it eloquently and accurately. And you will understand the skill with which Williams creates characters who we can relate to, even if we think their actions foolish or brash. (As I often did about Barrick and Briony.) There are a few times where Williams’s narrative falls apart. In one instance, Briony forgets to do something significant, and her forgetfulness felt somewhat contrived. There are several times when two characters in different subplots – Chaven and Beetledown - who have been gone for several pages (and their absences are explained and purposeful, it is their reappearances I am questioning) appear at just the right time to make things right. It feels too convenient in both cases, although that might be me being too critical. And Shaso’s (a minor character) inability to relate certain events because of a word of honor lacks believability, especially in light of the events and the elevation of Briony and Barrick to the regency of Southmarch. Even the most honorable of men would have told the story outright to his supreme rulers, no matter his debt of honor. For one of the subplots, and a significant event near the end of the book, it was necessary that Shaso not say what he knew, it is just that Williams doesn’t make Shaso’s unwillingness to talk believable enough, although it is easy enough to let slide in a suspension of disbelief. This is especially egregious since Williams so often makes his characters so believable and compelling. Were it not for that, then this incongruity might have slipped the reader’s notice. Shadowmarch is an epic fantasy in all respects. It breaks no new ground (although the ending is surprising in its details, if not an unexpected outcome) but uses all the elements of a Tolkienesque world to present themes of coming of age, friendship, heroism, and loyalty. All are themes that readers of epic fantasy expect from their novels and that they will find in abundance in Shadowmarch. If you enjoy epic fantasy, or enjoyed Williams prior epic fantasy trilogy, you will find reading Shadowmarch a pleasure. I did. <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com/archives/028847.html">Copied in full from Grasping for the Wind</a>"
DAW Trade (2005), Paperback, 672 pages

Phytosphere by Scott Mackay

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 11:59:20 -0500

graspingforthewind's review: "<a href="http://www.scottmackay.net/">Scott Mackay</a> likes to write about the intersection of different cultures, about the way that when two alien ways of thinking meet, good can happen, but more often one or another culture is warped from its comfortable position. In the first novel of his I read, Tides, two species of intelligent beings encountered one another on an alien world. In Phytosphere, Mackay continues to write about the intersections of cultures, but this time much closer to home. Mankind has made it to the inner planets. Mercury, Mars and the Moon have all been settled and, if not tamed, at least pose little threat anymore. But then an interstellar alien race arrives seeking to immigrate to the fair planet all humans originate from, Earth. When it is found that humanity and their alien visitors cannot reach an accord that would allow the Tarsalans to emigrate, they respond by placing a shroud – the phytosphere - over the earth. Doing so causes the planet to cool and plants to die. The fate of earth rests in the hands of two scientist brothers. One, an acknowledged genius and political animal is trapped on earth, but has all the resources of humanity at his command. The other, a former alcoholic trapped on the moon with scant resources and separated from his family. Each brother works to end the plight of the phytosphere and in so doing learns a lot about the value of success, family, and honor. Mackay continues to astound in his writing. What seems like a simple (even simplistic) plot at the outset turns into something much greater. Phytosphere is a look at the human condition, particularly our ability to choose right and wrong. Mackay’s writing is meticulous, never wasting words and always keeping the action and introspection at the right levels. Phytosphere is an action-adventure story, but it also asks provocative questions about the human psyche and interpersonal relationships. <a href="http://otter.covblogs.com/archives/028449.html">Full Review at Grasping for the Wind</a>"
Roc (2007), Paperback, 384 pages