Tshania Sedai

This book (the first of a quartet) tells the story of Ged, a young boy who grows up to learn he has magical abilities. His talent is identified by his aunt, who teaches his simple magics, until he is taken on as apprentice to a stronger magician on his home island of Gont. Eventually he decides to leave his home and attend a wizarding school on the island of Roke. He shows great aptitude with magical abilities, and is quick to learn. He makes both friends and enemies, which shape his destiny. One he has completed his time at school he ventures out into the world to act as a wizard. He faces dragons and demons as he learns about his own powers during his adventures and travels through the archipelago of Earthsea.

I have to say I actually really enjoyed reading this book, though it took me a little while to get used to the writing style. The prose is absolutely lovely to read, but it has a very different feel from most of the stories I have been reading lately. The tale of Ged almost feels a bit like The Odyssey - a long string of events being told by a narrator. We aren't told what Ged is thinking or feeling during the course of the story, we are just allowed to view his actions. The writing gives the reader enough clues to project their emotional experiences onto Ged, without having to sit through pages of teen angst and drama. I found that I was able to understand Ged and his actions without needing every nuance of his behavior or personality explained to me in detail.

I ponder if I would have appreciated reading this story more as a child - it has a sense of childlike wonder about it, and at times the writing almost feels like something you would read to a child at bedtime. Another part of me wonders if I would have really appreciated it at a younger age - would I have had the experienced to connect with Ged? Or would I have thought his story to be really boring? I suppose it doesn't really matter at this point - I read it and I enjoyed it, which is the more important thing. I don't know if I am going to jump into the sequels right away, as I have a stack of half-finished books I sort of want to power through before starting another, but I do intend to read them at some point in the future. I find the story to be quite refreshing - it deals with serious topics that are covered in many fantasy books, but in a subtle way that allows the reader to explore their own thoughts and feelings about issues like friendship, honor, and death.

Overall I have to say I highly recommend this book. I don't know if I would call it one of my favorite fantasy novels - I tend to prefer the really heavy books with detailed magic systems - but I do think it is an important foundation in the genre. I think the prose is beautiful and well worth reading, and I think the content is appropriate for a wide audience. I expect some people will find it too simplistic, but there is an elegance to that simplicity that I can really appreciate. It is a lovely book, definitely worth the read.

Lost at the Con by Bryan Young is a wild romp through the world of a science fiction convention. It is the story of Cobb, a political journalist who has sold out on his ideals for a steady pay check. Disgusted with his personal and professional life, he is given an assignment he could care less about - covering the science fiction convention GriffinCon (based on the real life DragonCon) in Atlanta. Armed with a pen, a press badge, and a glass of scotch (or any other alcohol handy), Cobb sets off in search of stories.

Upon reaching Atlanta, Cobb is confused and lost almost his entire stay. He wanders his way through the hoards of convention-goers, dressed to the max in geeky costumes from comics, movies, and history. What he expects to find is a mass of “basement dwelling mouth-breathers,” but instead he finds everything from the socially awkward young adult male to sexy girls in school girl costumes. Though he searches for the seedy underbelly of geek life, he can't help but be swept up in the hero's journey that is so beloved by fans of fantasy and science fiction.

I don't really want to spoil the fun details of story, but if “slashfic,” “nerds vs. jocks,” or “Cybernetic Space Lincoln” pique your interest, this book is a must read. And I mean, really, how could Cybernetic Space Lincoln not pique your interest? The book has the feel of a modern-day epic quest in an alien world (well, alien at least to the main character). It is for anyone who is a fan of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, or anyone who has been to a science fiction convention (willingly or otherwise). I found this book to be hilarious and fun, and I highly recommend it.

I want to say that I really enjoyed this book, but I don't know that it really lived up to all my hopes and expectations. Perhaps it is because I had to wait for this book, but for some reason the characters felt a bit... off. I mentioned in my review of the fourth book that several of the main characters were left out, and their stories weren't continued until the fifth installment. After the bang-boom-wow ending of the third book their absence was annoying, but understandable in the context of needing to seed ideas for upcoming events in the story. So it is, I think, understandable that I was more than a little excited to have these characters re-introduced to the story. And I did enjoy reading about them again. But for some reason they all felt a little different than they did before. A little less sharp, a little less witty. The first three books were so great because the characters all felt so smart - perceptive and scheming, with plots inside plots that were as difficult for the reader to figure out as it was for the characters. Perhaps it is just because we have been with the characters longer, and have a better understanding of their motives, or perhaps it is because previous events have (understandably) changed their demeanor, but for some reason the characters and events that transpired in A Dance with Dragons feel a bit more plain than those in the previous novels. Which doesn't mean I didn't enjoy this romp through Westeros - the enormity of this story and the craftsmanship of the writing can't be ignored, and there were certainly moments that will be considered highlights of the story as a whole (yay dragons!) - but I just wasn't as thrilled with this portion of the story as I wanted to be. I suppose it really just felt too much like set-up and posturing for events yet to come. But I think a lot of these upcoming events will be very interesting. Which means that while this may not have been my favorite installment of the series, I am very much looking forward to reading the forthcoming The Winds of Winter. If, you know, it ever gets finished.

Ready Player One is set in a rather bleak future-Earth. We've depleted our resources and never quite managed to bounce back from the most recent economic crisis. Rather than deal with the problems outside, people take to the OASIS - an online virtual reality that has become the center of most people's lives. The obsession only grows when Halliday, the OASIS inventor, dies and leaves his vast fortune to anyone who can use the clues to complete his epic quest of 70s and 80s pop culture puzzles. Ready Player One follows the journey of Wade Watts as he works to solve the riddles and claim Halliday's ultimate prize.

Looking at this story objectively, I really shouldn't like it as much as I did. It is the same old, over-used hero's journey (read some Joseph Campbell if you don't know what I mean) set in a virtual reality. We get the same sort of plot and tropes and life lessons we always get. The only difference is that most of the time spent in this world is used to geek out over pop culture references that the characters would never have experienced or cared about in their normal lives, but that the readers (most likely) will have a great deal of nostalgia for. I'll be honest - most of the references outdate even me, and not being a hard-core gamer growing up, there were a lot of references I didn't necessarily know about before reading the story. However, I had enough of a frame of reference that I still got more than a little excited when PAC-MAN, R2-D2, and Firefly class space ships showed up. And the writing was so good for the rest of it that it really didn't even matter that I'd never experienced it for myself; the character's experiences and the descriptions were enough to keep me immersed in the story.

What this book does so brilliantly is give us everything we've ever love about science fiction and fantasy (and I mean everything - if you liked it, it probably exists on OASIS), while still making the story feel new and exciting. A large part of that is due to the writing, which was absolutely fantastic. This was the sort of book I wouldn't have put down if I hadn't had other obligations. Like, you know, skating and eating and stuff. Sleep... may have been compromised in the finishing of this story. But it was worth it because it was good! So good. The worst part about this book is that it is over. And while I could re-read it, it won't have that same sense of exploration and discovery and danger and excitement that the reader has the first time through.

So anyway, this book is my new obsession. I loved it so much I may have even used the Ready Player One Fan Soundtrack Page to create my own iTunes playlist. Which I've listened to several times already. I'm wanting to go back and re-watch old films I haven't seen in years. I'm trying to figure out ways to play vintage video games. Heck, I might even want to search out Ladyhawke.

In conclusion, Ready Player One - READ IT!

I often order used copies of books. Usually the physical aspects of the slightly musty books with mildly bent bindings aren't worth noting, but when my “good” copy of The Night Circus arrived in the mail, it was clear that this book had been through it. And by “it” I mean something resembling a car wash. Coffee stains evident on the pages, the covers full of what one can only assume to be acid-induced pot marks, the binding worn through, a warp so bad that the hard-cover book has no hope of ever lying flat on a table again. And, for some reason, the battered exterior of this text only added to the charm of the story within.

The Night Circus is the story of two young magicians trapped in a mysterious battle of unknown rules, who work to create a mystical circus that can only be visited at night. Although the plot and characters are fairly interesting (despite being rather predictable at times), what makes this book truly special is the atmosphere it creates. The sights, the sounds, the smells - it really does make you feel as though you are a spectator at a classy and mysterious circus. The stories of the characters are woven together to create a wonderful sense of the peculiar life of the performers, and of the fans who become obsessed with tracking the circus's every move.

I wouldn't say that the plot or characters of this story are highly original - indeed, the star-crossed lovers scenario is nothing new to the works of fiction, and the outcome of the story could have been guessed from close to the start of the book. Indeed, the romantic interactions would have been nauseatingly trite if the rest of the story wasn't so superbly constructed around it. Happily, the book was about so much more than one romance. I was never really surprised by any of the “plot twists,” but, then, everything that happened in the story seemed to flow together quite nicely. Well, perhaps not one or two of the events leading to the conclusion, but I think the story had earned my suspension of disbelief by that point, so, I'm willing to go with it.

This book is definitely one that epitomizes the idea that “it's not about the destination, it's about the journey.” I wouldn't say that this book lacks plot - there is definitely enough of a story going on to keep the reader interested - but the real fun of this book is exploring the circus and all of the fantastic people who inhabit it. The prose has a lovely lilting quality to it; I think I fell in love with this book after only a few pages because of it. Even the style of the printed text adds extra flourishes that contribute to the feel of the story. It was the sort of book I didn't want to put down, and itched to pick back up as quickly as possible. I suppose I could understand how someone might not be excited be the easy-going plot or the subtle characters, but I fell under the spell of this book quickly and completely. It really was a magical book and one I highly recommend.

The Second Mark: Courage, Corruption, And The Battle For Olympic Gold by Joy Goodwin is an in-depth look at the three pairs teams who medaled at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. It discusses the six skaters, and how all of their humble beginnings lead to Olympic greatness. It also looks at the lives of their coaches and parents, to examine how their support systems were able to push the skaters and help them achieve their ultimate potential. As the book progresses, it leads up to the Olympic event, the controversial results, and the judging scandal that followed.

It is fascinating to view this book in a historical context - the Russian and Chinese teams were coming to their physical peak at a time when the political climates of their respective countries were turning on their heads. The Russian tradition of pairs figure skating had lead to ten consecutive Olympic gold medals before 2002, but when the Soviet Union collapsed, so did the state funding supporting the athletes and their training. Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikahrulidze had started their training under the old Soviet system, but had to find a way to maintain access to ice and training time in a changing world. Though this struggle was nothing compared to Elena's need to overcome an abusive relationship and near-death incident with her former pairs partner. They started in a system where two young children who were not particularly interested in becoming skaters were pushed by the state to achieve greatness, then, right when they were about to reach it, the state support that had created a dynasty of Olympic champions melted away.

In China, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo were born to parents who had lived through China's Cultural Revolution and all the repercussions that led to meager earnings and an inability to improve their social standings afterwards. At a young age they were separated from their families and lived at the athletic training facility. Zhao Hongbo because his natural athletic gifts were apparent at a young age. Shen Xue because she worked harder than any other child and had a father who would help her push herself to the limit. As their abilities and world standings progressed, their coach was able to gradually convince the Chinese government for the need of Western influence in terms of choreography and style. In the days of their coach, Yao Bin, such a thing would have been unthinkable. The cultural changes and government support allowed two children who were born in poverty to achieve greatness for a country whose earlier competitors had been laughed off Olympic ice.

The Canadian team of Jamie Salé and David Pelletier had a similarly long though very different road than the other teams contending for the Olympic title. David Pelletier had a mother who pushed him into skating, and though he initially did well because of an innate talent, he eventually found a true love for the sport once he started skating pairs. Jamie Salé had a charismatic spark, though she was not, perhaps, the most gifted skater technically speaking. She, too, had a real love for pairs skating. But the North American system, where parents scrape together enough to afford lessons and ice time for their children, and where appropriate partners are found by luck more than by careful assessment and planning of coaches, is not the easiest method to create a great pairs team. Both Jamie and David spent most of their careers with different partners. It was only once they started skating together that they had a meteoric rise to the top of the sport. Where the other teams had been skating together for years, Jamie and David had much less time together before their attempt at an Olympic title. Where the other teams faced more pressure from coaches, parents, and their state governments, Salé and Pelletier had to deal with their own intense emotions and passions to make the team work.

The book concludes with a thorough description of the Olympic event, and the days following when the events of the judging scandal came to light. It is an odd tale, involving the French skating federation and a man wanted by the FBI for being a member of an international mafia ring. The entire event resulted in dual gold medals for the Russian and Canadian teams, which was entirely unsatisfying for anyone, except, perhaps, the North American media. The Canadians were robbed of their Olympic moment, and the Russian victory was tarnished. Though there were hearings to discuss the events of the Olympic scandal, there was not any real effort to look into the root of the problem, and it was decided that anonymous judging would protect the judges from feeling federation pressure in the future.

The final events of this book are now a decade past, but it is interesting to see how the repercussions of the judging scandal are affecting the sport to this day. Though this book makes no mention of it (as it was published only two years after the Salt Lake Olympics), the “new” IJS scoring system was put in place to prevent such controversial results and questions of cheating in the future. Many have attributed the new system with removing the soul of skating and causing a rapid decline in the popularity of the sport. It is also amusing to note that, due to the anonymity of judges and the way that scores are assessed, it is almost easier for judges to cheat under the new system than the old. Fans can now cry out against the harsh judgements of the technical caller, and question the inflated PCS scores of skaters whose performances were marred by several falls, but it doesn't quite have the same thrill as seeing the score 6.0 flash across the screen. Moreover, with skaters pushing their bodies to the limit to increase the base values of their program, it is increasingly difficult to have the physical staying-power of skaters past. The sport now has an almost too-technical quality about it, where difficult elements are valued above the beauty of a pure, smooth, gliding edge. Reading this book makes one want to go back and re-watch programs of the past. And in doing so you realize that they made you feel something. There is an art, a beauty, an intangible elegance to these performances that just doesn't seem to be possible in the sport today. I won't deny that the elements being attempted by today's athletes are much more difficult than in the past. But I will also say that the difficulty is much more obvious - that seamless quality is gone. At the time, the judging scandal may have felt like it only affected the results of one competition, but in reality the incident would affect the future of the sport more profoundly than anyone would have guessed.

In the end I have to say this was a truly fantastic and engaging book. The lives of these skaters, coaches, and parents are fascinating, and the book itself is very well written. You feel for all of the skaters, and, even knowing the results, you find yourself rooting for all of them. I did feel that the writing of the book colored the skating of the Olympic event in favor of the Canadian team perhaps a bit more than it should have; I remember watching the event and, despite a minor bobble from the Russian team, thinking, on that night, that they had justifiably won. There was an etherial quality to their skating that feels somewhat downplayed in the text. However, I can appreciate the argument that the skating by the Canadian team was more technically correct and I do agree that the judging of the event was unfair. And, despite the fact that the scandal and hoopla surrounded the Russians and Canadians, after finishing the book I felt that the Chinese team displayed the greatest amount of Olympic spirit. Inspiring, disheartening, and fascinating, The Second Mark is a great read for skating fans, but would be a fascinating personal interest story even if you don't know much about the sport. I highly recommend it to all.

(Random slightly tangential side note - does there exist a skating book about roller or ice where Ottavio Cinquanta is not the villain? He squashed the Olympic dreams of many on one side of the fence, and seems to have supported fixing the results on the other. In an odd way the decline of both sports can be traced back to the man, and it is almost tragic how one person can cause such severe problems and remain in power.)

The stories collected in Tortall and Other Lands take place in many of the fantasy worlds Tamora Pierce has created, and highlight small adventures of some of her most beloved characters. Some of the other stories take place in fantasy lands unrelated to her earlier works. There are still others that take place in the near-present day that feature varying degrees of magic.

The stories themselves have been written and collected from various points in Pierce's writing career. As such some are much more engrossing than others. I am a bit ashamed to admit that it has taken me over two years to finish this book. While I enjoyed the stories that were related to characters I had loved in my childhood, other stories just weren't as exciting to me. I also felt that the stories got more powerful as the book progressed - it took me a long time to read the first few stories, but only a few days to read the last three or four. I don't think this reflects poorly on the book though - I think I just tend to like to read longer novels and I am not as excited by short stories. I would read a story here and there in between longer books, but I never really felt the urge to sit down and read all of these stories back to back.

I have to say I enjoyed reading Nawat, Elder Brother, A Dragon's Tale, and Lost as they all dealt with characters or situations that were important in her full length Tortallian novels. I also very much enjoyed Testing, the modern-day story, because I thought it was well written, and Huntress because it felt like a bit of a departure from the other stories collected in this book. It was more mature and I enjoyed seeing that side of her writing. It makes me wonder what would have been if she had really pushed to create adult fantasy novels instead of those marketed to teenage girls.

In the end I am happy I finished this book - the stories at the end are definitely worth reading, even if they are uncharacteristic of Pierce's other works. I would definitely recommend this to fans of Tamora Pierce - this collection is a fun extension of her previous works. I don't know that I would recommend this to the general audience - most of the tales are cute and enjoyable, but some of them lose impact without the context of her longer novels.

I must admit that it is a bit surreal to be writing a (spoiler-free) book review for A Memory of Light. If you had told me when I first picked up the books as a middle school student that the conclusion would be half a lifetime away... Well, I still probably would have read it because that is the kind of kid I was. But I don't think I would have been able to comprehend how much my life would change in the years waiting for the finale.

It is amazing to think what a profound influence these books have had on the person I have become. In some ways it is a bit embarrassing to admit how often I thought of characters and situations in these books to give me guidance. It might seem silly to credit a fantasy series with strongly forming my sense of being, but I have grown up with the characters in these books. They were my heros. My mentors. My friends. Which is why the ending to their story was so important. And, I have to say, I am very satisfied by the ending. It was exciting, emotionally exhausting, and, in a word, epic. (Is there a more appropriate word to describe a book that contains a 200 page long chapter?) It was exactly the ending that the series deserved to have. It just felt right.

I mean, sure, there were a few times where I thought that a particular character arc might have been a bit rushed, or that we hadn't quite had the set-up for a particular ending. But, in general, I felt that everything that happened came about with a purpose and a plan. Not that there weren't a few twists and surprises. There were definitely more than a few times when I was shouting at the book. Either in horror at what was happening, surprise at a twist of events, or glee at seeing a beloved character return to the page. This was probably the most vocal book-reading I have ever done since I no longer had to sound out words on the page. Which is, I think, a good indication of just how engaging this story is.

I would also have to say that it was clear that Robert Jordan himself wrote a fair bit of this book. I mean, I know there has been a bit of debate in the fandom over whether we should even be speculating who wrote what, but I have to say that there is a certain tone and precision to Robert Jordan's writing style that makes it fairly distinctive. And there were some characters who were just not quite the same after Brandon Sanderson took over the writing. Don't get me wrong - I am not complaining. I would rather have an imperfect ending than no ending. Because this story deserved an ending. But I am also willing to admit that there were some characters who were just slightly off in books 12 and 13. But not here. At a certain point in the story everything just felt... right. Comfortable. Like slipping on a well worn pair of boots. Which ultimately served to give the ending that much more impact.

In the end I have to say I gave this book a standing ovation. It delivered everything that the series has been promising for the past two decades. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me scream out in frustration and joy. Considering everything it was as close to perfect as I think it could be. I had a lot of people ask me if I was feeling a sense of emptiness or withdrawal now that the series had ended. I actually feel quite the opposite. I feel full and satisfied. Happy and content. At peace. These characters whom I have know for so long have at last had their story told, and it was a great one. It has enriched my life in ways I cannot fully express, and, despite my rambling review, I don't know if I can find adequate words to describe what this series has meant to me. It is a story I am sure I will carry with me forever, and one I am sure I will turn to and read again and again. I don't know if I can appropriately express my gratitude to the entire team of people who made this possible, but thank you.

Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time.

I think this is really like a 3.5 for me. The middle three tails were great but the bookends weren't as exciting to me. The actual craftsmanship was fantastic though.

I am really a fan of this book! Organized in to chapters that act as life lessons, this book is really an interesting look into the world of fashion and celebrity. Essentially, this is a collection of rambling stories that work together to highlight character traits we should work to posses or flaws we should strive to overcome. Though at times I suppose this book could feel like Tim is just airing his grievances, the stories are told in such a way that I found them insightful and amusing. This book really feels more like you are having a chat with a friend, or listening to the stories of a relative than that you are being lectured on manners. The book is a mixture of tales from Tim's personal and professional lives, and all are told with the right mixture of whit, charm, and disdain. I found this book to be a quick and enjoyable read, and I highly recommend it. However, if you are a fan of Project Runway, or any of Tim Gunn's other television endeavors, then this book is an absolute must read and should be placed on top of your reading pile.

This shit is definitely not for kids. But it is amazing.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is a story about bounty hunter Rick Deckard as he works to eliminate several illegal androids who have escaped to Earth. Throughout the story one of Deckard's main motivations is gaining the bounty so he can afford to buy a real animal, which are rare and expensive status symbols after the radioactive fallout has destroyed or mutated much of the life remaining on Earth. Throughout the story there Deckard questions the distinction between androids and humans, with much of the emphasis placed on empathy as a singularly human emotion.

This novel served as the inspiration for the 80s classic Blade Runner. While the premise and many of the characters are similar, there are quite a few distinctions between the film and the novel. The movie is a bit more action packed, and sets Deckard up as more of a traditional hero. In the novel, his morals are a bit more ambiguous. The novel also explores more themes, such as faith, hope, and depression, in greater depth. The film provides more closure at its conclusion, whereas the novel leaves things more open for the reader's interpretation. Although similar, I think the differences make each version well adapted to its format - the film left out details that would have been confusing to the viewer and slowed down the story, whereas they provide cultural context and interest in the book.

Overall I liked this book quite a bit. I very much enjoyed the character of Isidore - a “chickenhead” who is too affected by the radiation to leave Earth. Supposedly mentally damaged, he often provides the most clear and reasonable perspective of anyone in the story. Although some of the details were a bit odd to read at times (especially some of the details of Mercerism - Earth's new dominant religion), overall the details gave a very reasonable picture of what a possible post-apocalyptic Earth could be like. The idea of Empathy Boxes is quite fascinating, and something that I could easily picture happening in the very near future, even without nuclear fallout. Social media for emotions... really isn't that far fetched. The story was interesting and fast-paced, and contained some cool ideas about how futuristic societies will share human experiences. The ending was perhaps a bit less straightforward than I had hoped it would be, and it certainly isn't a very uplifting book, but the writing is quite good and the ideas are interesting to consider. Although it would probably be appreciated more by a fan of the science fiction genre, it isn't overly complex, technical, or lengthy. An interesting and enjoyable read, and one that I would recommend to almost anyone looking for something interesting in the sci-fi genre.

One Thousand Paper Cranes is the non-fiction story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who was two years old at the time of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima, Japan during World War II. This book tells the story of how Sadako grew to be a young girl, but eventually developed lymphoma from the radiation and died. During her sickness, she believed that if she folded a thousand origami paper cranes, she would be able to make a wish and survive her illness. Although she managed to complete her goal, she was unable to survive. She had been such an inspiring and happy young girl that her family and former schoolmates worked to raise funds to create the Hiroshima Peace Memorial that was sculpted in her likeness, and inspired the creation of a Children's Peace Statue in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

This book was a very quick read (it took me less than an hour), but still delivered a lasting impression. The simplistic, almost childlike, writing only lends itself to conveying the tragedy put forth in the story. You don't get bogged down in the history - the few vivid details you get about Sadako's progressing illness are enough to put the horror of historic events into sharp perspective. The story manages to convey the struggles that come in the aftermath of war, without invoking a lecturing or condemning tone. Simply relaying facts in a story-like format is enough to involve the reader in the realities of post-WWII Japan. Moving, haunting, and inspiring, One Thousand Paper Cranes is a book everyone should read.

The bits about Earth were interesting. The rest, not so much. I tried. I tried really hard. But I just couldn't enjoy this book.

The Lies of Locke Lamora is part fantasy, part mystery, and part heist. Locke Lamora has been trained since his youth to run the city's high class gang of thieves, The Gentleman Bastards. He is in the middle of a particularly well thought-out plan when the natural order of the city is disrupted by the arrival of the mysterious Grey King. Locke and his friends must solve the mystery in the attempt to prevent total chaos from descending on the city of Camorr.

I have to say I am not entirely sure how much I really liked this book. Perhaps it was my flu-induced ADD, but I found myself oscillating between being thoroughly entertained and mildly bored. Normally I am one who loves descriptive passages, and the world of Camorr is wonderfully different from so many other fantasy realms, yet by the end of the story I was getting tired of what I felt were repetitive explanations. I will say that I did love the interactions between the Gentleman Bastards - my only complaint is that there weren't enough of them! Perhaps I am just a sucker for the large group of friends working to pull off a bit of sneakery, but I really wish we had gotten to see more interactions of the team plotting, planning, and working together.

The tone of the story runs from good-natured jesting between the Gentleman Bastards to rather explicit violence between mortal enemies. I have to say I am not one to be put off by violence or offensive language in books, but for some reason I didn't feel like they naturally flowed in this story. I found the tone of the characters to change too often at odd times. Granted, as con artists, that should be something they are quite skilled at, but the timing of it made the main characters feel too inconsistent. Their use of language kept throwing me out of the story and into modern day. Well, that and everyone's need to give lengthy exposition on their terrible sad childhood. I mean, giving people terrible sad childhood stories is a great way to build a character - but I don't necessarily believe they are all going to sit around and actually talk about it after beating the crap out of each other.

I will say that the end of the story was quite exciting though - which conflicts my feelings even more. With about a hundred pages to go I was reading just to finish it, but with about sixty left I was reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen. The conclusion was satisfying, though this story did leave several important things unanswered (well, really, barely touched upon them at all), which I suppose is a good way to convince us to read more of the series.

There has been talk on the internets about the possibility of this becoming a movie. I have to say I actually think it would make a much better TV show than a full length film. Partially because I feel like it would be difficult to reduce all of the nuances of the plot to only a few hours, but also because the way Scott Lynch breaks down the chapters feels very episodic and almost soap-opera-esque in style. Also, I think the “mystery” portion of the story would play up better over the course of a season rather than in the time constraints of a film. I don't know if it would be possible to retain quite the... flavor... of the characters in a TV series, but I think it would be better for developing the overall mystery and plot. Especially if it were taken on by a network like HBO. Normally I am on team “The Book is Better,” but in this case I might actually be more excited by a well done television series than I am by the novels. I would definitely love to see the world of Camorr on screen though - be it big or small.

So, I don't know how I feel about the first book of the Gentleman Bastards series. I suppose I did enjoy it, off an on, but I also didn't feel like the story was quite as tight as I wanted it to be. I liked the characters, but I never really fell in love with any of them. I still have a lot of questions about their pasts, but I am not sure how much time I want to put into finding out the answers. Also, I can't be entirely sure how much my hesitation comes from having to read the book in pieces, how much from having the flu, and how much from the writing of the book itself. This might be another book I have to file under the “written for dudes” category. Certainly a lot of things I can see some of my male friends getting really excited about that sort of left me disinterested. I mean, I think there is enough interest for me to pick up the second book in the series, Red Seas Under Red Skies, but probably not right away. Definitely want to give the series another shot, but I am going to wait until I am no longer suffering from flu-induced ADD brain fog, and until I have time to sit down and read it without lengthy interruptions.

Unlike the previous two books where I was draggin my feet, with this book I found I wanted to read it constantly, but had a problem finding the time! What with sewing so many skating costumes for other people, I barely had time to finish things for myself, let along get around to reading a book for fun. Even so I managed to read the first half of the book at a fairly steady clip until about mid-May, and then didn't get back to it until near the end of August. When I literally could not put it down. Seriously.

I said in my previous reviews that it felt like the series was building to something, and oh boy did we get there. Total pay-dirt. I mean, there are still big huge things that need to happen (clearly, since the series isn't completed yet), but so many of the little open-ended things have finally been put to rest. Kinda of. In a way. And by “put to rest” I mean opened a whole new can-o-worms that will be dealt with in next few books (I hope). So much stuff I don't even know if my brain can handle it all. I mean, seriously, you guys, it is good. Really really good.

So, I am officially a fan now. I mean, I liked these books before, and I have always appreciated the craftsmanship with which they were written, but now I am officially joining the fandom. Not the crazy hard-core I will tattoo “Winter is Coming” on my back fandom, but, you know, the generally George R. R. Martin obsessed readership fandom. I would write more, but I really don't want to spoil any of this book (because, ah, so much so good!) so I suppose my overall assessment of this book is: Read them. Go. Do it now.

In the meantime I will be starting on book four...

The Magicians is the story of Quentin Coldwater, a Brooklyn native who, instead of going to a prestigious Ivy League, finds himself able to attend Brakebills, a college for magicians. There he meets other young magicians, learns how to use his abilities, and searches for a purpose in life. After finishing school he and his classmates look for a purpose in the wider world, and end up going on a fantastical adventure.

I'd often heard The Magicians described as “Harry Potter for adults.” Well, maybe if Harry Potter were emo. And if Harry Potter wasn't quite so focused on what he was learning at school. And if Harry Potter didn't have really awesome friends. Then sure, maybe. Except not really. Because Harry Potter had a purpose in life - to defeat Voldemort. Quentin doesn't really have a purpose. He wants one, but he can't quite figure out what it is. And, as with many talented people who have skills but no way to use them, he looks for distractions. So, no, it's really not at all like Harry Potter. More like a story about a random Slytherin extra who isn't cool enough to hang out with Draco.

It's funny because the book tends to generate very polarizing reviews, but I somehow seem to fall squarely into a middle ground. There are moments when I completely identify with the characters:

The room filled with the collective rustling of paper, like a flock of birds taking off. Heads bowed in unison. Quentin recognized this motion. It was the motion of a bunch of high-powered type-A test killers getting down to their bloody work. That was alright. He was one of them. p.22

Dawn is the first book in the Xenogenesis Trilogy. Humanity has nearly destroyed itself and the Earth, with the remaining survivors placed in suspended animation by the Oankali. The main character in this story is Lilith, a woman who is awaked by the alien race and chosen to be the leader who will help humanity re-colonize the Earth. Except that in exchange for saving human-kind, the Oankali want to change it forever.

Butler excels at using the possibilities of science fiction to create a poignant commentary on issues of race, gender, and power in both modern and historical societies. This book provides a fascinating look at how humans exist, interact, and develop societies, as well as how behaviors can change when one is faced with challenges as an individual versus when the challenge is presented to a larger group.

I have to say that I really enjoyed reading this book. There isn't much to discuss in terms of plot (one can only go so far when being held captive on a spaceship), so much of the book was Lilith thinking about things and assessing her situation. Although I found Lilith to be a compelling character, my one complaint is that the rest of the human cast felt much more stereotypical and not as as well-rounded. Granted, we didn't get any points of view from their perspective, so we can't know everything they were thinking, but for the most part everyone did the things that the reader could have predicted that they would do. Which does make them consistent, but it also makes them boring.

I feel as though this book gives the reader enough closure that they don't need to read the other books in the trilogy, however, I also think this book is good enough that the other stories should be given a chance and I plan to read them sometime in the future. Actually, this book was good enough that I want to find even more of Butler's works. She is a fantastic writer and I really need to read more of her stories.

The Gunslinger is the first Stephen King novel I have ever read, so I cannot compare it to any of his more current (or more popular) works. Based on information in the introduction and Wikipedia, the original story of The Gunslinger was published in installments in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in the late 1970s. The book I read contained the original five installments, but had been updated and revised so as to be more cohesive with the sequels that now comprise The Dark Tower series. The book I borrowed also had several full color illustrations by Michael Whelan, who recently did the cover art to A Memory of Light. Regardless of anything else, it is always a joy to see a story come to life through the artwork of Michael Whelan.

The Gunslinger is the story of Rolland, the last gunslinger, who is on a quest to catch The Man in Black. He suffers through various hardships caused by a combination of the harsh desert environment he is traversing, as well as magical traps set by The Man in Black. It is an interesting mash up of a coming of age story/start of a hero's journey with fantasy and science fiction elements set against the backdrop of a spaghetti western. At the end of this first book in The Dark Tower series I am left... wanting more. I think this novel feels very much like a beginning. It does have a full story arc, and the characters are given enough of a background to be interesting to the reader, but the technicalities of the science fiction and fantasy elements are still a little vague. They do get explained, but the explanation is really more of a lead-in to the further adventures of Rolland as he begins his quest to find the Dark Tower. There is something of a resolution, but really this story is just the set up to a much larger adventure.

Also, I feel as though I need to ponder the writing style a bit. I hope that this statement doesn't offend anyone, but the style of this book is what I tend to call “writing for guys.” I don't really know how to explain it, but it is the sort of style where the main characters don't really have a lot of emotions, or at least not in a way that is overly apparent to the reader. If the character is feeling something it is stated outright in a rather straightforward manner. Things aren't pondered so much as intuitively known. For some reason “writing for guys” always seems to take place in a setting with a wide open sky. I am not complaining about this. In the context of the character and the setting, this style actually works quite well to give the old west feel to the novel. However, after reading several books where the emotional states of the characters are examined in intricate detail, and the characters themselves ponder the complex and contradictory nature of their feelings, well, the contrast is a bit jaring. In some ways the writing in The Gunslinger feels overly simplified, with things being told rather than shown, but then again the simplicity adds to the flavor of the world that is being created. So, perhaps it isn't my favorite style of writing, but I can appreciate it in the context of the story.

If I have the opportunity to continue reading about the adventures of Rolland then I will, but I don't know if I am going to actively seek out the remaining books in the series immediately. I am intrigued and I do want to know what happens further along in the story, but I am not so anxious to do so that I will ignore the growing mountain of books that has taken over the space around my bed. Perhaps at some point in the future I will follow Rolland in his quest for The Dark Tower, but for now I will be sticking my nose in a very different sort of book...

What I would that I had but a sixth star to give.

Altered Carbon is a futuristic science fiction noir-ish detective novel. It follows Takeshi Kovacs, an off-world criminal/detective with militaristic Envoy training, as he attempts to solve the "murder" of one of Earth's oldest and wealthiest citizens. Kovacs lives in a future where a person's identity can be downloaded, backed up, and re-sleeved in different bodies to allow them a perpetual existence, if they can afford the cost. The wealthiest have multiple cloned sleeves, and automatic mental back-ups at regular intervals. The poorest can sometimes afford a new synthetic sleeve, but more often spend time on stack - a virtual holding ground for those without physical bodies. In a world where one can live forever, "real death" is hard to come by, though some choose it for religious reasons. Murder is more of an inconvenience than a finality - memory between the last backup and time of death is lost, but as long as the virtual memory center is intact, revival is a straightforward option.There are a lot of fascinating ideas and themes presented in this book. The concept of re-sleeving allows one to ponder what it would be like to adjust to and live in another person's body. How much does the physical body have to do with relationships, and how much of it is based on the personality? The idea that we choose our friends and partners based on personality is nice notion, but biochemistry plays a large part as well, and this book looks at that in an interesting roundabout way. Also, having recently read [b:Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom 29587 Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom Cory Doctorow https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1406608958s/29587.jpg 1413] by Cory Doctorow, it was interesting to see several of the same themes and ideas presented in slightly different ways. I feel like Altered Carbon has the more realistic presentation - with economics playing a larger factor - and that the presentation of the themes were a bit more subtle and woven into the story. The themes were a bit more obvious in Down and Out, but I also feel that in some instances they were a bit more flushed out as well.The story itself was entertaining, though the “detective” parts of the story did seem to take large logical leaps at times. I was never board, and at times fully engrossed while reading this book. There was perhaps a bit more sex and violence than I would normally read, though I do admit they were important plot points in the story, so it wasn't entirely gratuitous. I liked it more than I expected I would, and thought the writing itself was pretty good. It isn't the typical type of story I tend to read (I usually go more for epic fantasy and space operas), but I found myself really enjoying the world this book creates nonetheless. I also like that the author has set up his world so that his main character can easily go anywhere (through digital mental transfers) and become anybody (with re-sleeving). It gives a Quantum Leap type ability to tell the story from different perspectives that I find very fun. It also means that, although this is a series, it would be very easy to set up each of the sequels to be entirely different from the story presented in the first novel. The book felt very self-contained. I could see myself reading the sequel novels in the future, but I don't feel like I need to read them immediately, because I feel like I have already read a complete story. It is a nice change of pace from a lot of the other books I have been reading lately. I mean, I love a good series, but sometimes it is nice to not have to read several thousand pages to get a sense of completion satisfaction.Overall I have to say I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun story with some interesting ideas. Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but definitely worth the read for fans of science fiction or detective stories.

The History of Love is a fantastic novel that weaves together the lives of a young girl who is looking to find a romantic interest for her mother, and an old man who is looking to make a connection with the son who never knew he existed. They deal with ever-changing emotional landscapes that are relatable and interesting. This book will tug at the heartstrings of its readers, but the emotional investment is well deserved.

The premise of the novel is quite straightforward, but the characters are deliciously complex. They all seem to exhibit an emotional range that is both complicated and contradictory, which makes them feel incredibly real. Despite this, each character has a very distinct and unique voice, which lends itself well to the overall theme of the book; exploring the many aspects of love. It looks at love from all sides - the fumbling confusion of a young first love, and the bittersweet devotion of a true love lost to time and circumstance. It explores how hope, loss, and dispair can emphasize what is truly important in life.

The writing itself is wonderful. Each character is written in a different style, which makes them seem even more distinct and realistic. The overall themes of the book can be seen in each character's story arc, even though the characters are all at various phases in their lives. Their stories are all woven together with a common thread (the book is titled after the fictitious book called “The History of Love” that is central to the plot) that makes the story feel continuous and effortless, even though the individual character stories are written in very different, almost disjointed, styles.

Regardless of what sort of books you usually like to read, The History of Love should make it onto your list. Wonderful writing, complex characters, and a study of relationships that anyone can relate to all come together to make this a truly fantastic book. I found it to be a quick read, and well worth the time I devoted to it. It isn't a book I would normally pick up, but I am very glad my sister prodded me into reading this novel. Highly recommended.

This book is a collection of posts from his blog (called “Whatever”) from 1998-2008. It covers an interesting assortment of topics, from personal relationships and nerdy interests, to politics and world events. It is fascinating to read, especially since it spans the “growing up” years of my life. For me it was interesting to read about these events from an adult's perspective, when I had experienced most of them as a child or teen.

However, I have to say, if you are one to be easily offended, this probably isn't the book for you. John Scalzi has some strong opinions and he really isn't worried about who he offends in expressing them. Of course, being me, I rather enjoyed reading his somewhat snarky writing style. And, well, even when I didn't necessarily agree with what he was saying (though I actually did find myself agreeing with him for the most part), I still enjoyed reading his arguments and random musings. He arguments were at least logical and well reasoned, besides being fairly hilarious, and I appreciated that aspect of his writing when dealing with the more polarizing topics.

Since this is a collection of short writings, it was a good book to read when I didn't have a lot of time to devote to a long story. However, I found this book oddly compelling and read through it fairly quickly despite not having a lot of time to sit down with it. I really enjoyed John Scalzi's writing style, and I definitely want to read more of his books in the future. I don't know if I would qualify this book as a must-read, but at times it was rather thought provoking, especially for a lot of the events from my younger years, while other sections were simply fun diversions. I enjoyed the writing and the rather wide-ranging topics, so I thought it was well worth the time to read, and I would definitely recommend it.

Another solid 3.5 Stars that I'm rounding down. This is one of those books I'm glad I read because I can recognize the brilliance of it, yet the story isn't something I've connected to emotionally. I usually love these sort of crazy ensemble cast stories, and I think the imaginings of the future border on genius. But something was missing for me. It was smart, but not necessarily compelling. Second book in a row where I've loved the world but not the characters. Worth a read, because it really is a very smart book, but probably not going to be one of my top books from the year.

So frightening it makes Richard Preston's books on Ebola feel like fairy tales.

I wasn't at all interested in this until there was such a hoopla surrounding the release, so of course I had to jump on the bandwagon. Honestly, there isn't anything in the book that is new or surprising, but it does make quite clear just how incompetent our nation's leaders are at present. Reading it directly after reading Washington's Farewell also puts the actions of our current president in rather harsh perspective.