William
I really enjoyed this short novel. It's a prequel to [a:Janet Edwards 572591 Janet Edwards https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]' larger series and, while avoiding being preachy, really made me think about how practical matters can shape society and gender roles. Good stuff.Edit: I've read this three times, each time it gets better!
After 1st Reading: A neat little short story that adds detail to the “Portal Future”. I can so relate to the main character in so many ways I was starting to get creeped out that the author had been spying on me. I mean I know she hasn't....right?After 2nd Reading: I really like this story. It is certainly not a stand-alone, instead this little vignette adds so much depth and detail that they really enrich the wider story. I would strongly recommend this to anyone who has read [b:Earth Girl 12962345 Earth Girl (Earth Girl, #1) Janet Edwards https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1330891351l/12962345.SY75.jpg 18120012].
Overview: An epic climax to a great story that manages to pack a powerful ani-prejudice message with very human characters into a grand Science Fiction story full of a sense of wonder.This is not YA fiction. This is fiction for anyone who has an imagination.After 1st Read: Sometimes a book just surprises you. I started reading this series because I wanted a bit of light entertainment, but ended up discovering a top notch author at the start of her writing career.There were many things that impressed me about the series. The most obvious was the way characters are introduced through the eyes of an initially prejudiced main character as almost simple achetypes, only to have the surface layer stripped away to reveal shocking complexity - overtly playing with the reader's expectations. This works as a metaphor for the whole series. It opens as what seems to be a standard YA - a young misunderstood girl heading off to uni, it ends as a very complex, psychological and philosophical triumph - while managing to stay so very human, intimate and moving.That's a lot of serious stuff to say about a story following a teenage girl, with the apparently simple title of “Earth Girl”.I think the magic is in two things, style and depth.Firstly there's the style. The story is told in first person with a healthy dash of humour. No matter how grand and epic the plot, or the social issues (and this book addresses many, very frankly) we are always brought back down to Earth by the human impact of these issues on normal people, their hopes, fears and loves. In this last book in particular we see the harsh impact of politics and prejudice on very normal people, how it can tear apart and devastate their lives. Yet no matter how dark the plot, there is a warmth to the style and characters that draws you through, ensuring that you want to keep reading. The closest author in style that I can think of is [a: Anne McCaffrey 26 Anne McCaffrey https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1599324585p2/26.jpg] and that is a serious complement.The depth leaves me desperate for more. I've already mentioned the psychological depth of the characters (which may be a surprise to some casual readers of YA) but the depth of the setting is almost magical. It is slowly revealed as the books progress, but by the end we can see a vast web of complex societies that have developed over a fascinating history. So many of those events are told in passing and I would dearly love to see them developed into full novels, if not series in their own right. I don't think I've been this excited about a future history since [a: Isaac Asimov 16667 Isaac Asimov https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1341965730p2/16667.jpg], and yes, that's another big complement.I know what a lot of people are thinking, this is about a teenage girl, it's just an excuse for teenage romance right? There is romance. Well written, funny and moving. No this is not your classic “teenage love triangle” of the “Oooh, should I go for the rough dangerous one, or the caring floppy haired one”. This is more complicated, more real and more human. It doesn't feel artificial, it is part of the character development and I totally loved it. (OK I'm soppy, but I don't care ;-) )All of that from a book with a simple title with what seemed like a simple plot? I am surprised, but very happily so.After 2nd Read: This book surprised me a second time. The “journey” the character goes through really moved me. The world created by the author worked as a surprisingly detailed universe, there are so many references that I spotted this time round that show that what we see is just the top of the iceberg. The issues addressed are so relevant to our current reality and so deadly serious that at times it really grabbed me in the chest.I am now torn - I really, deeply, want a to see what happens next, but I what nothing on Earth to get in the way of Ms Edward's other projects which are also so good...but this book ended with so much potential.... and yet I'd love her to do a prequel about Telon Blaze! Why can't we clone Ms Edwards so we can get even more great books like this?After 3rd Read: I am blown away for the third time. My comments above are all true, I love the characters, I'm moved and enraged by the very real issues of prejudice addressed in the book and I'm left gasping for breath by the awesome universe created by the author. I feel as if I'm in a grand cathedral in total darkness with only a small light illuminating a small corner of the wonders and letting me know how much more there is to see.Once more I wouldn't want to take the author away from her other work (it's all so good), but I so wish I could read the story of Tellon Blaze, or of the fall of the Second Roman Empire, or of Paul who was summoned by Kairos. This time I do have more to read however. I am so grateful that Ms Edwards has been releasing on her website, chapter by chapter, a continuation novella. I can't wait to see what happens next!
Overview: A really good standalone SF detective/mystery adventure that sucks you into a fascinating world with likeable and interesting characters and a good sprinkling of humour, then quietly gets you to ponder the meaning and purpose of life.After 1st Reading:[a:Janet Edwards 5415711 Janet Edwards https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1657263898p2/5415711.jpg] does it again. In this book she sets a great “whodunnit” in a future in which the purpose of life has become saving up enough money to upload your mind into the virtual worlds most of humanity lives in. As a result most of the drudgery in the real world is done by youngsters saving up for that golden ticket. About a third of the way in I was a bit annoyed with the blurb which doesn't do justice to the scope of the story - but now that I come to trying to explain this book, I realise that it's rather hard to explain why this book is as good as it is without spoilers. Let's just say that the story keeps getting bigger and better as it goes.Janet Edwards two greatest skills are character building and world building, and this book gave her free reign to do both.I would think it a crime if there wasn't a sequel. That was a good fun read!After 2nd ReadingI remembered this was good, but it was even better the second time around. That is the sign of a good author! This is a fast paced adventure story with characters you care for and a good seasoning of humour. At the same time it really does raise questions about society and our priorities as a people, and even about the value of human life and the nature of consciousness - all while managing to be a good fashioned detective-mystery. I'd love a sequel!After 3rd ReadingI can say that this is definitely a good book for two main reasons:1: I Read it for the 3rd time and it's gotten better each time.2: Even though I'd already read this twice before, I still found it difficult to put down, I was grabbing every moment I could get to pick it up again just to read a little bit more.After 4th ReadingIt's still awesome and a firm favorite. This world, like all the worlds of Janet Edwards, feels real and has so much potential. I really wish I could explore it further.On each reading I've said I'd love a sequel - I so would, not only do I love the characters, but the setting is so fascinating that I'd love to see how it develops after the events of this book.My only caveat is that EVERYTHING that Ms Edwards has written is so good that I don't want to take her away from writing in her other settings. I seriously recommend trying out the Hive Mind books ([b:Telepath 31300289 Telepath (Hive Mind, #1) Janet Edwards https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1469938072l/31300289.SY75.jpg 51967177]), The [b:Earth Girl 12962345 Earth Girl (Earth Girl, #1) Janet Edwards https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1330891351l/12962345.SY75.jpg 18120012] books or the Drago stories (starting with the novella [b:Hera 2781: A Drago Short Story 28259047 Hera 2781 (Drago Tell Dramis #0.5) Janet Edwards https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1450710941l/28259047.SY75.jpg 48298865]). Every one of them is combines excellent characters and a setting that just drags me in and gets me wanting to find out more.Perhaps we could upload Ms Edwards to Celestius, and then overclock the server?While I'd love to see more in the End Game series, I'm just grateful for every story she writes.
Overview - if you want a great mystery, a fun adventure, an interesting setting and food for thought: This is a great book. After 1st Reading: This book follows an 18 year old girl, but don't stop reading, I know there's a lot of books like that but this is not a cheesy “Dystopian Love Triangle”. This is a solid SF adventure story in the grand tradition of making you think while telling a fun adventure with likable characters. This book is written to be approachable for Young Adults, without assuming that such readers are dumb (as some YA books do). This author is a really good writer.There is no cliché love triangle, though there is a great, well-told romance running through the story.Set in the future, urbanisation has reached it's logical conclusion and humanity now dwells in vast buildings that are largely self-sufficient and mostly underground, the are called “Hives” and essentially function as city-states. This high density living is enabled by a government of Systems – rather than a parliament or dictator, they just have procedures are in place for every eventuality and computers monitor and oversee the implementation of these Systems. Everyone is analysed through adolescence and finally given extensive psychological testing at maturity, this allows everyone to be given a job which they actually enjoy, while being useful to the Hive.This is all pretty good, everyone is happy... more or less.The problem comes with the wild card unpredictable factor or “Wild Bee”. With everyone living in close proximity and relying on the smooth running of Systems, the potential for collapse is catastrophic. One individual going postal could bring about mass rioting which could lead to deadly infrastructure damage and knock on effects, potentially destroying the Hive. “Wild Bees” need to be stopped before they can cause damage.Fortunately it has been discovered that telepathy is possible. Telepaths are vanishingly rare, but in a vast population such as a Hive it is possible to detect such rare individuals. Telepaths are recruited to lead special strike teams to detect “Wild Bees” as the Hive's first and only defense against collapse.This book has is all - Characters you care for, a multi layered mystery to solve, some tough questions about society to ponder, some edge of the seat action and a nice seasoning of just enough well written romance to bring a nice glow to the book. This is book 1 and it is clearly building up for a much bigger story. I've read her “Earth Girl” books which were very different but equally good. I seriously look forward to more from this excellent author. My only advice for her is - less cheesy covers. Everything inside her books are top quality.After 3rd Reading: This book is really good, and the author just gets better. After reading the latest book in this series ([b:Borderline 49123502 Borderline (Hive Mind #4) Janet Edwards https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575756887l/49123502.SY75.jpg 73281674]) I officially appointed Janet Edwards as my favorite living writer - yes she's that good. Book 1 in the series shows her rounded characters, fascinating settings and interesting mysteries. These are really good. Believe me, in her later books these get even better. Her mysteries are top notch detective stories, her action scenes leave me holding my breath, and perhaps most of all - when I finish the books, I really miss the characters.I'm really glad I read this book.After 4th Reading: I've been trying to resist rereading these books for a long time - I mean I should read something else right? I just couldn't resist any longer, Janet Edwards is just a great storyteller - not only do I love reading about these characters - the setting is so complex and is such a great mystery in itself, that on each reread I'm spotting more details, leading to “aha!” moments and bouts of nerves for what may be revealed in coming books.After 5th Reading: Once again I found it hard to resist slipping back into a reread of this series, but knowing that there is a new book coming out in the spring gave me the excuse I needed. After 6th Reading: Six times. Do I recommend this series? Obviously. This is now clearly confirmed as my go to series if I want something to grab me and suck me in. It still does that after six reads.This is clearly just quality!
Another fun adventure following the apprentice ranger Will. Suitable for younger readers and great as an introduction to epic fantasy. This entry upped the stakes and did get really epic by the end. Great stuff with a well written, emotional, cliffhanger ending. I'm looking forward to book 3.
Overview: An excellent detective story in a fascinating future setting designed to ask serious questions about society. Science Fiction and Detective Fiction at it's best.After 1st Reading: Janet Edwards is excellent. I've enjoyed all of her books, she creates interesting settings and characters that you instantly care about. With this book however she shows a new level of quality writing, and a crime investigation worthy of [a:Arthur Conan Doyle 2448 Arthur Conan Doyle https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1495008883p2/2448.jpg] (which I can say with confidence having just finished [b:The Valley of Fear 22631335 The Valley of Fear Arthur Conan Doyle https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1404480089l/22631335.SX50.jpg 24665786]). Finishing this novel was one of those moments where I wanted to shout “Yes!” because of the excellent ending - and then almost instantly felt sad because I already missed the characters.I just need to repeat the key fact in this review: Janet Edwards is excellent.After 3rd Reading: This book stands up to three readings. It is confirmed Janet Edwards is excellent.After 4th Reading: So, so gooooood! As always a huge part of me just wanted to start the book again. The rest of me just couldn't wait to read the next book in the series which is even better!After 5th Reading: Five times. Do I recommend this series? Obviously. This is now clearly confirmed as my go to series if I want something to grab me and suck me in. It still does that after five reads.
Another highly enjoyable episode in this entry-level fantasy series.
In this book our hero, Will, has to deal with some unexpected but very serious threats without the guidance of his mentor, Halt. Is he up to the job? Can he save the kingdom? Will the highly cute but sick dog be OK? You'll have to read this series to find out!
A really good story, targeted at younger readers, but enjoyable by more mature readers.
Overview: A rather sombre addition to this excellent fantasy series intended for younger readers.
More detailed thoughts: This series is an excellent introduction for younger readers to the epic fantasy genre. That said, be aware that this is a more serious episode than the previous two. It deals with the serious topics of slavery and drug addiction as well as being painfully, frighteningly cold. In my opinion it deals with these themes in a mature and appropriate way that educates while providing strong character development. At times things look pretty hopeless and depressing, but have faith in the author - the ending is not the simple one you might expect from a book aimed at younger readers - but it is deeply satisfying and I admit to having to give my eyes a little wipe at the final scene.
Overview: A weird fantasy in the style of [a:China Miéville 33918 China Miéville https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1243988363p2/33918.jpg]'s [b:Perdido Street Station 68494 Perdido Street Station (New Crobuzon, #1) China Miéville https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1680461055l/68494.SY75.jpg 3221410], told very skillfully in chapters from different points of view, resulting in a very satisfying experience.More detailed thoughts to be added shortly - this book really left my head spinning in a really good way.
Overall: A Great little prequel to the excellent novel [b:Telepath 31300289 Telepath (Hive Mind, #1) Janet Edwards https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1469938072l/31300289.SY75.jpg 51967177]. It adds depth to the character and setting for readers of the novels. Those who have not read the novels may find it a bit slow to start, but if that doesn't bother you then this novella is a great bit of world-building.On 1st Reading: If you are looking for an SF story that you can sink into like the warm embrace of a welcoming comfy chair, look no further than the Hive Mind series.There are seriously tense moments. There are disturbing questions about society and identity that got right under my skin and creeped me out.Yet this introductory story is told in a warm, friendly and innocent manner that just sucks you right into the world, I feel like I know these people and I really can't wait to meet up with them again in the next book.I guess Ms Edwards is just an excellent and subversive writer.I've read all her novels and I can see her becoming more ambitious with each release. I already wait for each new story with baited breath. I fully expect that a few books down the road I'll be shelving her with my all time greats such as [a:Isaac Asimov 16667 Isaac Asimov https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1341965730p2/16667.jpg] and [a:Anne McCaffrey 26 Anne McCaffrey https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1599324585p2/26.jpg]. Not an honour I give out lightly.On 2nd Reading: On rereading I noticed many more details, seriously good world building, pacing and simply darn good storytelling. While the main character goes through a lot, stepping back and looking at the implications of what is happening makes me realise that a lot more is happening then she realises. Great stuff, enough material for at least another book used just as background to make the world feel real. Talent!On 3rd Reading: I see in my 1st review of this book that I said “a few books down the road I'll be shelving her with my all time greats such as [a:Isaac Asimov 16667 Isaac Asimov https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1341965730p2/16667.jpg] and [a:Anne McCaffrey 26 Anne McCaffrey https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1599324585p2/26.jpg]” . After her recent books, that is now the case. In fact those two authors are a good description of Ms Edwards' writing: She has the forward thinking, social issue addressing, mystery-loving style of Asimov, but with the much, much better storytelling and character development of McCaffrey. I'd add to that mix the fact that in her latest books Ms Edwards has shown that in writing action scenes she is way better than either Asimov or McCaffrey, and this is amplified by the fact that there is always an issue at stake (Asimov style) and every character is one you care deeply about (McCaffrey style).So, yes, [a:Janet Edwards 5415711 Janet Edwards https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1598427329p2/5415711.jpg] is my favorite living author.This particular little story doesn't seem that much at first glance - it starts out as the tale of a 17 year old living in a vast underground city, but as you read it, not only do you come to care about young Amber, you get to see how this society works and you are made to ask some very serious questions about free will, the role of government and how much freedom we should give up for safety. At the same time there is an entirely different and much more serious story going in the background on that Amber is oblivious to, but that readers may deduce (reading it 3 times may have something to do with it ;-) ).This is not the most exciting of Ms Edwards works - it's not meant to be - but all that character building and world building give it a special place in my heart.
I am told that this series gets really good, though this first novel did not contain any evidence of future greatness.
Writing style: Flat and dispassionate.
Characters: Annoying and two dimensional.
Plot: Gratingly predictable.
That said, I've read enough series in which later books are utter classics, but the early books are a slog. I will probably come back and give book 2 a try - but I feel I really need to read something different first for the sake of my teeth - I was grinding them through most of this book.
I have absolutely loved the Vampire Knitting Club series. They blend great characters, fun humour and increasingly brain stretching puzzles to make them top entertainment. When I saw that there was going to be a spin-off following Jennifer in Cornwall (my old stomping grounds) I was over the moon. Now I've read it, I have thoughts.
Pros:
• Excellent setting! I don't just mean that the Cornish landscape is great (it is), but the fictional village and surroundings are already the most interesting of all of Nancy Warren's witchy books - there are so many places and features that she has barely touched on and I can't wait to find out more.
• Excellent characters! There were quite a range of characters introduced in this little book, and so many of them struck me as being really fascinating, I want to spend more time with them and get to know them better.
• Actually about Cornwall OK this is a brighter, almost Studio Ghibli version of Cornwall, but Nancy Warren has clearly spent some time there and appreciated a real pasty (not the spawn of Cthulhu that goes by the name of Ginsters). I did catch a Cornish character talking about “going to the end of the block” a phrase I don't think any West Country soul would ever utter, but that's a minor detail.
Cons:
• Well...just the one “Con”, but it is significant. I felt that the ending was very rushed. I honestly felt that the author had spent the book carefully and gently weaving a beautiful landscape and threading in an intriguing mystery, and then realised that she had to hand it in tomorrow. (minor spoiler: Suddenly from one sentence to the next Jennifer figures the whole thing out, soon after that the story jumps ahead in time to the big show down/reveal and then the story is over in little over a chapter. ). Now, Nancy Warren is a really good writer and even though it was rushed it still gave me that warm glow that I get with her books, I still enjoyed it. I was just really surprised that it was suddenly over, I felt a bit like those cartoon characters that run over a cliff and hover there for a moment before they realise that they've run out of ground.
Overall:
An absolutely great start to a new series (I hope), with a rushed ending, but I can't wait to read more!
Calling this Urban Fantasy for Children would be accurate, yet risks giving the wrong impression. When a book is called “for children” you might think that it is overly safe and probably involves characters with cutesy names like “Hogglebottom”.
No, this is a book which can be read by 10 year olds, yet assumes that they have the brains to follow and appreciate quality writing. It does not talk down to them, instead it introduces complex themes and even poetry, making them compelling through excellent pacing, a good central character and thrilling set pieces.
I reread this after a 10 year old of my acquaintance came to me virtually exploding with awe-tinted enthusiasm and told me all about how “ah-maze-ing!” this book was. Having read and loved this book as a 10 year old myself (back when the world was young, dinosaurs roamed the earth, and the book was probably in 1st edition) I thought that I'd give it another go and see how adult-me enjoyed it.
I admit to being a bit nervous - I had really loved it when I was a munchkin. Would reading it as an old fogey ruin my memories?
It did not. I was pretty much shocked at the author's skill. I, a grown-up who has now read Herodotus, Plutarch, Voltaire, Bronte, Wordsworth, Shakespeare, Rumi and Tolkien (as well as Wizard of Id), found myself literally holding my breath with the hairs on my grown-up arms actually, literally standing on end due to the skill of this writer the first time this happened was the scene where the skylight falls in and Will finds a feather. The pacing, description and what was “not said” was just perfect.
I could go on enthusing, but the fact of the matter is that since reading this book the first time I've got a bit taller (a bit wider too) and I've studied Ancient History, Archaeology and Theology. I can really respect how Ms Cooper weaves all these topics together and makes them come alive in a way that both I and my 10 year old associate can both call “ah-maze-ing!”.
An all-time favorite.
In the future the interstellar megacorp Intergal does what megacorps do: whatever turns a profit. This frequently involves seizing land for resources and resettling the populations into barely terraformed “new homes” and using these colonies as sources of unskilled labour or troops. Our main character Yana Maddock was a Major in the Intergal Company Corps, but was caught up in poisoned gas on a dust-world when the starving locals raided the base for basic supplies. Now with only a year to live she is retired to the arctic world of Petaybee in the hopes that the clean air will help. On arrival she is informed that if she wishes to continue to receive medical supplies she will serve as a spy in the village of Kilcoole as numerous mineral-research teams have been going missing.
This sounds dark, and it is, yet it is told in such an amazingly skilled style that you are sucked in to the world, care for and believe in the characters, fear for them and yet somehow - even when the story describes very dark moments, it is never oppressive and the novel balances the cold and the dark with the warm and the optimistic so that we can read of the horrors of Bremport yet still want to come back to this book as if to an old friend because of the joys of characters such as Bunny, Sean and Clodagh.
After what I think is probably my tenth reading of this excellent novel, I have once more confirmed that this is an inspirational, philosophical, yet edge of the seat exciting page turner, and most definitely one of my very favourite novels.
Holmes helps out some country police when the Lord of the Manor is found dead in mysterious circumstances. Another great Holmes mystery.
A rip roaring children's adventure involving a mysterious tower, renewable energy, ancient maps, secret tunnels, girls who are tougher and cleverer than men expect and boys who just want to do art.
This book has it all!
A great blending of classic detective story, very relevant social commentary, and true thought-provoking science fiction equal to any of the greats of the genre.
The story follows Tom Dreyfus, a policeman who loves two things, tea and democracy. The story takes place in an imagined future in which information technology has allowed referendums to become routine. Dreyfus as a Prefect (a policeman of this society) sees himself as a guardian of democracy who protects the will of the people, an admirable position, except for a one thing: What happens when democracy is wrong?
I strongly recommend this series.
Another fun Victorian(ish) tongue-in-cheek mystery. This one actually had a slower pace (the main character, Alexia, was 8 months pregnant and could only manage a determined waddle) and focused much more on character development, which I enjoyed.
If you want a break from serious books, I can recommend this series.
OK, this is good. Really good. Doing a jig around the room, top-notch quality, hit the nail on the head style Good.
Love it!
Just utterly beautiful and hugely thought provoking.
I read this about five years ago when it was first published in an online magazine, and it has stayed with me since. I really should reread it, but it is blazed into my memory as if I read it yesterday.
Both the beauty and thoughtfulness build slowly in a surprising fashion. What initially seems just another modern tech-inspired SF short slowly metamorphoses into something very special indeed.
It's not about technology, not below the surface, it's about what it means to be a person, what it means to care, and what it means to love another.
See if you recognise this: Three men are launched from Florida on a mission to the moon. During the flight an accident knocks them off course, they will now miss the moon. Inventiveness and mathematics allows them the check the build-up of CO2 in the capsule and allows them to loop around the moon, giving them a glimpse of the dark-side before their conical capsule splashes down in the ocean to be picked up by a US naval vessel.
Apollo 13 in 1970?
Actually Jules Verne in 1870.
Really seriously spooky – exactly 100 years apart.
Putting the SERIOUS spookiness to one side, how does this book work as a story?
It's kind of Jekyll & Hyde, you'll have two to three pages of utter hilarity mixed with deep philosophical questioning (very Pratchett), then five to six pages of science or maths explained to you, pretty much textbook style. Given that a lot of the science is now either common knowledge, and the awe-inspiring mysteries that would have drawn you through the dry lectures have now been poked and prodded by Armstrong et al. the book has lost some of it's edge, which is not to fault Mr Verne – just the march of history.
I just feel silly discussing anything else about this book other than the fact that this is Apollo 13, 100 years early!. I just can't get over it.Someone get Tom Hanks a top hat for some re-shoots.
Another humour-filled Victorian mystery adventure. While I've really enjoyed the whole series so far, I can really see the author enjoying herself by builing up quite a facinating setting and crafting really great mysteries, all while keeping tongue firmly in cheek.