Charles Freedom Long

Multi-Themed, with All that Implies both Good and Bad

My gut tells me that many authors today are experimenting with combinations of what previously would have been separate and distinct genres. But Dancing with the Dead appears to take this trend to new heights, as it seems to me to be a Science Fiction/Fantasy Erotica Thriller...or something to that effect.

It’s not all confusing and overwhelming in its mixture of memes and subjects. For example, I did start to develop a feel for the general cultural norms of a couple of the alien races we encounter. And, in somewhat typical male fashion, I liked the battle scenes toward the end of the book. It was worth most of the effort to get to that point.

But much of the book had the feel of being dropped into book #12 of a long, complex sci-fi series, without any of the background. There were multiple alien races, with varying physical and predominant worldviews. And there were the dead of these races. And there were individuals, including Terrans, with supernatural powers, and a teenager, with powers even beyond them. And the list goes on.

One reviewer likened the book to a “genre stew,” and I like the comparison. But in places, it was more like a mixture of oil and water. For example, much of the plot is based on human greed and long-standing, earth-based ideological hatreds. The fact that we discovered we were not alone in the universe seems to have had no impact on how we see one another. Nor does the technological advances we had experienced. Nor does counsel with the dead...or even being dead, for that matter, seem to have an effect on our perception of...anything, really. It’s hatred and greed, as usual.

In the end, the book brought enough themes together to seem more than just disparate notions to me. It is an attempt at something new and different, which alone makes it worth a look. And it made me wonder...who’ll be the first to write that great dystopian action romance mystery in adult coloring book format; it has to be taking shape on someone’s laptop even now.… (more)

Witches' Gambit by Charles Freedom Long is a book gifted to me and the review is voluntary. I have read two other books by this author and have enjoyed them so I was delighted to have the chance to read this. I can't say I found this book as intriguing as the other two. I found the beginning hard to get into and difficult to stay focused. The book did pick up and had more action and adventure but it also had lots biblical references but then had hot sex scenes..go figure, lol. I wanted to like this book more but it didn't stand up to his other two books in my opinion. I was an average read, something to read at the beach.… (more)