Mark Martinez
Yippee ki-yay, m**f**r! Die Hard is another movie I've seen over and over again without reading the book it was based on. Well, the book is as hard charging as the movie. Former detective Joe Leland has more baggage than John McClane and things don't go as well for everyone in the prose version, but it's definitely a good read.
Previously, the New Frontier saga was penned entirely by Peter David. Now, a legion of Star Trek writers can say that they've played in his Trek sandbox.
These tales of the U.S.S. Excalibur crew complement the novels by telling us more about their past history. All of the short stories in this collection blend well with what we already know about the New Frontier characters. I find it difficult to choose a favorite. They're all entertaining. In addition to a story, Keith R. A. DeCandido also contributed a New Frontier timeline.
No Limits was edited by Mr. David and published in trade paperback by Pocket Books.
A fascinating and twisted time tale. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Cara Gee. Wow!
Wow. I've finally started reading this series and I enjoyed this first installment immensely. I binged on the television series a couple of weekends ago when HBO was free for a few days. The book is even more entertaining. I'll keep reading. Maybe I can time things so that I catch up by the next time HBO is free for a weekend.
I guess I've finally caught up with recent reading. PI Garrett is back in action, along with his housekeeper Dean, Pular Singe, and, of course, the Dead Man. Once he wakes up, the Dead Man is pulling everyone's strings, Garrett is getting his ass kicked and giving a little of what he's getting, all to learn why an underworld boss is in a coma and what a basket of odd kittens may have to do with it. As usual, author Glen Cook pens a wild fantasy noir novel that's difficult to put down.
Published in mass market paperback by Penguin.
An intriguing mix of cold war paranoia and spy thriller, fueled by magic. An impressive first novel.
Uh, oh! This one got away. Also contains a reader's guide to the Rivers of London books and graphic novels.
An entertaining working vacation with Ray Lilly and his boss, Annalise, who travel to Portugal for some hard questions from peers of the Twenty Palaces society. An encounter with a predator puts Ray's life at risk. At this stage in his story arc, he seems resigned to death, but he turns the tables on everyone's expectations again and shines an uncomfortable light on the fragile foundation of the First Palace.
The title is a mouthful, but Peter David comes through with this first-person tale told by Captain Mackenzie Calhoun. The Captain's table format gives both David and his character an opportunity to tell a very personal story. I found it entertaining. You can find PAD among the crowd of the cover art.
Published in mass-market paperback by Pocket Books.
This book collects the four issues of The Expanse: Origins featuring the crew of the Rocinante released as digital comics and adds a new story featuring Josephus Miller written by Hallie Lambert and illustrated by Huang Danlan. Set on Ceres, Miller's backstory feels as gritty as the character we get to know in the books and television series. It's only a brief look at his past, but it's compelling. The art is stark, which is fine for this story, but doesn't really align with the scenery in my head when I read the dialogue. Still, this collection is a nice addition to the Expanse saga.
Thomas Senlin is lost and trapped in the Tower of Babel, looking for his missing newlywed wife. The timid headmaster must become someone else if he's to have any hope of finding her. This is the first book in a quest tale that has its interesting moments, but I found the ascent through the first four rings of Babel exhausting, perhaps because most of the people Senlin meets seem so duplicitous. I don't know if I'll continue reading this series. I'll have to think about it.
Another entertaining mini-series featuring Peter Grant. The brief history of the Met and the snippets of history in the previous issues are a nice bonus.
I continue to get a kick out of SecUnit's madcap adventures. A very entertaining series.
This series is inspired by the Cartoon Network's Clone Wars cartoons. While these stories are really for kids, Star Wars junkies of all ages can read them. Go ahead, I won't tell anyone. With stories by Haden Blackman and art by Ben Caldwell and the Fillbach brothers.
Published in trade paperback by Dark Horse Comics.
The second volume in this series contains stories by Haden Blackman, Welles Hartley, and the Fillbach brothers who also did the artwork. All stories in this and the previous volume are self-contained. In other words, you don't need to know too much about the Star Wars universe or the Clone Wars backstory.
Published in trade paperback by Dark Horse Comics.