utbw42's 50 for 2017

January: 4 books
February: 3 books
March: 1 book
April: 1 book
May: 2 books
June: 3 books
July: 0 books
August: 2 books
September: 0 books
October: 1 book
November: 1 book
December: 3 books

2010 thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/98279
2011 thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/105884
2012 thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/129459
2013 thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/147022
2014 thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/163211
2015 thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/185244
2016 thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/213844

1. The Precipice by Ben Bova (1-11-17) (422 pages)



I love the Grand Tour books by Bova, and this one fits right in with the entire saga he has created. The earth has reached greenhouse hell, and Dan Randolph knows that going out into the solar system to harvest minerals for industry is the way to save the earth's economy, and perhaps the earth itself, as well as make Randolph extremely rich. Martin Humphries agrees, but is only interested in the money potential, earth status be damned. Thus begins the race to the Asteroid Belt to claim this treasure, Randolph breaking every rule he can to get there and Humphries doing everything he can to sabotage the mission out of sheer jealousy. Bova manages to write a well-paced, tense journey for these characters, and it sets up well for future volumes in the Asteroid Wars series.

To date: 1 book, 422 pages.

2. M*A*S*H by Richard Hooker (1-16-17) (219 pages)



An absolute delight to read....I've been wanting to read this book for years and I finally got to it. This is the one that started it all...the basis for the original movie. There are just as many laugh out loud moments in the book, if not more, than there are in the movie. The influence this book had on future entertainment should be an indicator of the genius of it. I was instantly drawn in to the characters and setting and literally could not put the book down waiting for the next hilarious moment to occur. If you are looking for comedy or satire in your next read, give this a try.

To date: 2 books, 641 pages.

3. Fear To Tread by James Swallow (1-17-17) (508 pages)



Mixed feelings on this one....the story is fantastic, and I really enjoy reading about Sanguinius and the Blood Angels. The problem for me here was I hit one of my dreaded reading slumps around the holidays while trying to read about 10 pages a night or so. Also, Swallow lavished in a period of what I felt was redundant, way overblown writing after the Blood Angels' main ship crashed on Signus Prime. This is the portion of the story where the legionaries and their primarch Sanguinius battle the evil forces of the warp, having been led there by the traitorous warmaster Horus in the first place. The first half of the book and the last 10% or so I think flow really well, and make for some compelling reading. However, getting through the above mentioned slog on Signus Prime was tough for me. A re-read of this may be in order, or I need to read simpler books around the holidays.

To date: 3 books, 1149 pages.

Hi Andy, thanks for stopping by my thread it was nice to hear from you. Hope all is well with you and you have got off to a good start with the reading for the year. I had a stellar year last year but it will be more modest this year as I will get back to some of the more chunkier books that I missed last year. I have starred your thread so I can keep more in touch with you and your reading dear friend.

4. The Rock Rats by Ben Bova (1-24-17) (384 pages)



Follow up to The Precipice, this one picks up after Dan Randolph's death as many are racing to the asteroid belt to claim the riches that it entails. Many familiar characters from the previous novel return as Martin Humphries continues his evil ways to prevent anyone but him from gathering the resources everyone so covets. It is debatable what Humphries wants more, the money or the woman he clearly cannot have, Amanda, who happens to be married to one of the ones Humphries is trying to knock off. Bova manages once again to mix politics, science fiction, and human emotion in ways that he is so well known for. Of note also is Bova's treatment of Pancho, who was tapped to succeed Randolph after his untimely death. Pancho pretty much inserts herself into the line of fire as the leader of those who oppose Humphries, much to her peril. Bova has another winner here.

To date: 4 books, 1533 pages.

5. Killing Floor by Lee Child (2-2-17) (524 pages)



I decided to start this series just for the heck of it and was rewarded with a great book. Jack Reacher finds himself arrested in smalltown, Georgia for a murder he did not commit, and while making a case for his innocence and release, finds himself in the middle of a massive counterfeiting operation and conspiracy that involves, of all things, his brother. What follows is Reacher and his newfound girlfriend trying to get to the bottom of this operation while avoiding atttempts on their life multiple times along the way. I was very impressed with how Child took many plotlines and wove them all together in a tight, thrilling novel. Reacher is a very interesting character, with many layers and capable of many things in a story such as this. Looking forward to other Reacher tales in the future.

To date: 5 books, 2057 pages.

6. Morning Star by Pierce Brown (2-12-17) (524 pages)



The trilogy ends on a solid note, an impressive effort by fairly new author Pierce Brown. Brown does a magnificent job of describing the conflict and pain Darrow feels as he escapes capture and reunites with his friends and colleagues to form the backbone of the Red Rising Rebellion (I made that phrase up). I continue to be impressed with how Brown really opens up the different classes of society by using the solar system as a backdrop, and he really places an emphasis on how Darrow relies not just on his story of revenge, but his friends as well to complete the uprising. The twists in the plot near the end are really well set up and revealed and it really pulls the story along to the concluding scenes. Brown uses a little more graphic and violent descriptions in this one, but considering what is going on and what is at stake, it seems only natural here. This series truly was Hunger Games in Space.

To date: 6 books, 2581 pages.

7. Cut And Thrust by Stuart Woods (2-14-17) (375 pages)



Yikes....Stuart Woods is cranking out some crap now with this series. A dull story, with not a lot of Stone Barrington to boot, made for what I can only describe as a terrible novel. I would have rated this worse, but the ending was mildly readable. Not sure if I will read anymore in this series, but if I do it will be with a lot of trepidation. What happened to all the good cop mystery stories that Stone used to be involved in? A political adviser? Ugh....

To date: 7 books, 2956 pages.

8. Helsreach by Aaron Dembski-Bowden (3-2-17) (414 pages)



An impressive tale of the Black Templars, led by Grimauldus, in their defense of the hive city Helsreach from a massive ork invasion. Aaron Dembski-Bowden writes these characters expertly, presenting them as a prominent Space Marine killing force against the orks, yet making them seem conflicted and caring at the same time....no easy feat. As usual, the death and destruction are off the charts on both sides, but there is plenty of heroics to go around.....a definite must for Warhammer fans.

To date: 8 books, 3370 pages.

9. Dragonslayer by William King (4-11-17) (254 pages)



Gotrek and Felix return from their battles in the Chaos Wastes in book 3 to find more trouble. A dragon has awoken from a thousand year old slumber to terrorize settlements near where they return to, as well as armies of chaos are on the march to their location. Gotrek continues on his quest for a glorious death by seeking out the dragon with the help of Felix (reluctantly) and other human and dwarf companions. Along the way, Felix struggles with his own decision making, as well as his feelings for an attractive human female who fights along with the group. This novel is as enjoyable to read as the previous 3, and King has created very strong and identifiable characters to follow along with on their trials.

To date: 9 books, 3624 pages.

10. The Case For Easter by Lee Strobel (5-6-17) (90 pages)



Definitely the shortest book I've ever read, but possibly one of the most important. The author sets out and makes a very compelling and convincing case by interviewing experts in the field on the subject of the Resurrection as described in the Bible. This made a big impression on me, and I hope it does for others who read it as well.

To date: 10 books, 3714 pages.

11. Star Wars: Invincible by Troy Denning (5-30-17) (347 pages)



This one concludes the Legacy Of The Force series, chronicling the rise and fall of Jacen Solo in the now defunct Expanded Universe (also affectionately known as the Legends series now). Jaina ironically trains with Boba Fett, who once nearly brought about the destruction of her father, in preparation of confronting her twin brother, now known as Darth Caedus. A somewhat emotionally flat galactic battle occurs in the background as Jaina embarks on her quest to destroy her brother, all the while other familiar players are positioning themselves politically for the aftermath of the various conflicts. A good read, but not a great one, as it ends up somewhat underwhelmingly with several issues unanswered, presumably to be addressed in the upcoming Fate Of The Jedi series, which ended up being the last with familiar EU characters.

To date: 11 books, 4061 pages.

Hi Andy, you have read some good books this year and I enjoy reading your reviews. Hope all is well with you friend.

12. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher (6-6-17) (288 pages)



I first noticed this on a facebook post about the current Netflix series. Reading about it, I thought it sounded like a very interesting topic, until I found out it was based on a book of the same title first published 10 years ago. What followed after buying it and beginning it was one of the most intense, original, and well-written novels I've read since The Hunger Games or The Stand. How has this been such a well-kept secret for the past decade? Every attempt will be made at no spoilers in this review, because the reader deserves to discover anew this haunting story.

Simply, Hannah Baker, a very troubled student at a local high school, commits suicide, but it does not end there. She has arranged for a series of recorded messages by her, 13 in all, to be delivered and heard by 13 people who she feels have influenced her decision to end her life. I cannot really reveal any further plot points without spoiling things, but I can tell you the way the author reveals her audio through the mind of the main protagonist, Clay, as he listens to each tape makes for some incredibly compelling reading. Also, the way the story pertains to him and how everything seems to come full circle through his feelings to me is just sheer genius writing.

Anyone who attended high school and even halfway paid attention to the dynamics of the relationships, friendships, and various issues that we all dealt with on a daily basis will identify with this book. I've heard some of the criticisms....that this book "glorifies" or "mainstreams" suicide, but nothing could be further from the truth. To me, what this book accomplishes is it enlightens us all to the tragedy and epidemic of teen suicide, and how preventable it is with the right support systems in place. If you are an adult with kids, read this book and use it to discuss with your children what is out there and how this can be prevented. If you are a teenager, especially one with typical teenager issues or something much more menacing, read this book and know that there are people out there to talk to. Thank you.

To date: 12 books, 4349 pages.

13. The Silent War by Ben Bova (6-12-17) (380 pages)



Pretty much continues from where The Rock Rats left off....the characters that Bova developed so well in the first two asteroid war books continue to battle for the riches of the asteroid belt, as well as resolve their personality differences in various ways. Humphries, Astro Corporation, and Yamagata Corporation fall into a deadly battle for control of this vast area of treasures. Bova ends this one with mention of an alien artifact which casts an air of morality over the entire story. Another good read in the Grand Tour.

To date: 13 books, 4729 pages.

14. On Rocky Top by Clay Travis (6-22-17) (337 pages)



Being a huge Tennessee Volunteers fan, as well as a 1990 graduate of this fine east Tennessee institution of higher learning, my review of this book is admittedly biased from the beginning. That being said, Clay Travis has written a compelling and highly entertaining book on the 2008 season of UT football. Unbeknownst to Mr. Travis as he set out to write this book, the 2008 season turned out to be one of the most tumultuous and controversial seasons in the past half-century, arguably ever in the annals of UT football history. Long story short, Phillip Fulmer, who had been a player, assistant, and ultimately head coach of the Vols over the past four decades, finds himself in the middle of a terrible season, which leads to his dismissal by the UT administration. The conflict present is should Phil have received more time to turn the program around. UT fans generally were split 50-50 on this issue, but the book brings forth the angst and conflict that were present leading up to the fateful decision to fire him. I would recommend this book to all UT fans, and probably to football fans in general as a lesson on the changing landscape of college football from the year 2000 on....enjoy.

To date: 14 books, 5066 pages.

15. Foreign Agent by Brad Thor (8-24-17) (422 pages)



Another solid entry in the Harvath series by Brad Thor, this one continues Thor's mastery of writing "faction", a tough gritty story set in today's real headlines. Harvath is after a Russian terrorist hell bent on pulling the US and Russia into the Syrian conflict by carrying out terrorist acts around the world. Harvath not only has to find this guy and stop a world war, but has to battle betrayal from his own side. Thor once again pulls the reader in to a taut, exciting read to the very end. He even manages to add a more complex human side to Harvath near the end that bears watching in future novels.

To date: 15 books, 5488 pages.

16. Divergent by Veronica Roth (8-29-17) (487 pages)



Another dystopian novel that I've been wanting to try, and this one was pretty good....not Hunger Games good, but good in its own right. The bureaucracy of this world divides up and coming adults into one of five "factions", for the good of societal contributions (how creepy is that?). The main protagonist, Beatrice (Tris) Prior, is discovered to be "divergent", not fitting into any one faction. Keeping this a secret and declaring for Dauntless faction, Tris then falls into a world of training, developing trust and relationships, and preparing for upcoming treachery concerning her friends and family. Entertaining and thought provoking, I would recommend this novel for all who enjoy futuristic dystopian adventures...

To date: 16 books, 5975 pages.

17. The Aftermath by Ben Bova (10-6-17) (499 pages)



The fourth book in the Asteroid Wars picks up after the third, where the Zacharias family ends up fighting for their lives after their ship, the Syracuse, is attacked by Dorn, who has changed after his exposure to an artifact found in the third book. The mother and her two kids are left stranded on the ship and drifting basically in orbit for many months while the father, who narrowly escaped in an attempt to lure Dorn away from his family, must deal with first the knowledge that his family is lost and possibly gone, then the realization that they may be alive as he discovers Dorn's plan to claim all the bodies from the previous conflicts, and an eventual rendezvous with the Zacharias family again. This one is not as good as the previous Asteroid War books, but still an enjoyable read in Bova's Grand Tour stage.

To date: 17 books, 6474 pages.

18. Killing Pablo by Mark Bowden (11-22-17) (272 pages)



Mark Bowden has put together an outstanding researched narrative on the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar as Escobar put together his cocaine empire and slowly watched it dismantled by the combined efforts of the Colombian government and special units by the U.S. Bowden also dives deep into the character of Escobar, and the reader really gets a feel for the kind of person he was right up to the day he was killed by Colombian forces. Important to note during this narrative is how Bowden manages to convey how many others around Escobar were affected by his actions, some losing their lives in the process. Really enjoyed this one....

To date: 18 books, 6746 pages.

19. Star Wars: Honor Among Thieves by James S. A. Corey (12-11-17) (333 pages)



A pretty fun tale set between Ep. 4 and Ep. 5, this one captures the essence of Han, Luke, and Leia pretty well as they pursue a rebel spy (Scarlet Hark) planted deep in the Empire. The problem is she doesn't have the intel they need yet and Han is forced to join with her in pursuit of a rogue operative with the crucial information against the Empire. Fast-paced and well-written characters make this a good addition to the Star Wars novels.

To date: 19 books, 7079 pages.

20. Star Wars: Abyss by Troy Denning (12-20-17) (374 pages)



Luke Skywalker continues to look for the reason why Jacen Solo turned to the dark side, which leads him and Ben to the old Maw Cluster where he has to submit to dangerous rituals in search for the truth. The Jedi Order continue to battle outside forces such as Galactic Alliance Chief of State Daala and Council Master Kenth Hamner in their quest to find out why Jedi are falling to an epidemic of madness. Han and Leia, along with Jaina, also try to protect these sick Jedi from being taken into custody. Eventually, Ben and Luke confront Sith forces bent on destroying them. Pretty decent book, but more of the same from the previous two, if not slightly better written. I'm hoping the Fate Of The Jedi series moves forward soon...

To date: 20 books, 7453 pages.

Hi Andy, wishing you a very Merry Christmas dear friend.

21. Hunt For Voldorius by Andy Hoare (12-25-17) (414 pages)



Interesting book from the standpoint of the Raven Guard and the White Scars working in conjunction against the traitorous Alpha Legion, led by the Chaos-tainted Voldorius, but probably near the bottom of Warhammer books I've read from a quality of writing standpoint. I thought there was a bit too much fluff put in to describe how bombs were exploding, or missiles or bullets flying through the air, or similar descriptions of warfare, but overall still a good read.

To date: 21 books, 7867 pages.

See you in 2018...:-)

Hi Andy, just stopping by to wish you a Very Happy New Year mate and hope that 2018 is a really good year.