For Love of Mother-Not by Alan Dean Foster

This is the first of the Pip and Flinx stories. Pip is an Alaspinian mini-dragon. Flinx is an orphan with interesting talents. Flinx is the unwitting target of both law enforcement and an underground outlaw group. Avoiding entrapment by either group is the gist of the story.

I have enjoyed the Pip and Flinx stories over the years and have carefully kept them for my grandson. I was delighted to find this first volume to set the scene for the later books.

Flinx and Pip have a relationship that is beyond the boy and his pet type. They are interdependent, more so than Flinx realizes. The story is the beginning of a coming of age saga. It is classic, old school scifi and I really liked it.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Alan Dean Foster

Web Site:

Starstrike, Task Force Mars by Kevin Dockery and Douglas Niles

Starstrike is a military shoot-em-up. Regardless of the time frame and setting, it still is a somewhat simplistic and far fetched saga of a group of SEALS. The new SEALS as opposed to the original Navy Seals are space faring commandos. On their first off world training mission they encounter hostile aliens and requite themselves in the tradition of the real Navy Seals. In other words, they kick some alien butt.

Although none of the characters are memorable as individuals as a group they prove themselves ferocious warriors. The arrogant aliens grossly outnumber, out gun the SEALS. The alien technology is superiour. In spite of this the SEALS show the Aliens that we may be backward technologically but our spirit and ferocity are not to be underestimated. The story is a very entertaining, small unit combat novel.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Kevin Dockery
Body of work of Douglas Niles

The Better Part of Darkness by Kelly Gay

A female cop still takes heat in our so called enlightened society. Gay shows how hot it can get in a future that has put Charlie Madigan on the front line with an alien partner and a refusal to admit who she truly is. Plenty of action in a good mystery with scifi and urban fantasy co-mingled.

If you read my reviews at all, you know I like butt kicking females. It has been suggested that my family contains some delicate flowers who have the propensity and audacity to compete and win against the “stronger” gender. Charlie Madigan is a butt kicker, par excellent. Gay grounded the character with self doubt, a deep loyalty to those around her and an abiding affection for her daughter. Threats to family lie in the arena of unimaginable retaliation and revenge; I feel the author captured that essence with a lot of realism. Kelly Gay did a marvelous job painting the scenes. You felt like you were looking over Hank’s shoulder as he backed up Charlie.

I highly recommend the book and can't wait for the 2nd book.

Body of work of Kelly Gay


Review:

Web Site:

Hell's Faire By John Ringo

Rousing, non-stop adrenaline inducing action characterizes this entire series. Ringo’s stories are “in the trenches” military scifi. He paints vivid, dynamic, larger than life characters and surrounds them with believable associates. Reading about Ringo, he appears to think he is a cynic but from his stories you can tell the man is a pragmatic optimist. His characters exhibit the highest moral values and the most human desires. Whether is a child turned into a teenage assassin or a father who thinks he has sacrificed his daughter for the greater good, the characters are likeable and genuine. As an aside, we begin to get hints that the villains of the series may not be responsible for the actions. We also see a closure of the action that seemed entirely too abrupt with too many loose ends. I have since started “The Hero” which takes place sometime long after the end of this book and it ties some of the ends that I had hoped to see tied. I truly enjoy the stories, the sacrifices and the nobility of the characters. I recommend the book. If you can’t find it in print, go to Baen and download it.

Body of work of John Ringo

Review: http://www.sfsite.com/05a/hf151.htm

Web site: http://www.johnringo.com/Home/tabid/1574/ctl/Terms/language/en-US/Default.aspx

The Clone Elite by Steven L. Kent

The implacable foe is absorbing the galaxy and mankind is on the ropes. Clone Wayson Harris continues to annoy the natural born with his irreverence regarding their supposed superiority. The symbolism of repression and intolerance is more obvious than symbolic. Harris and Freeman, his 7’ freebooting companion are deeply in the fray. The aliens seem unstoppable and it appears that civilization is over. Harris, Freeman and a cast of thousands throw themselves into the breach. The story is action filled, laden with symbolism and very entertaining. I enjoyed the series and was delighted when the author made note that he has accepted a contract to do three more books about Wayson Harris. A good series, I recommend it.

Body of work of Steven Kent

Review: http://www.sffworld.com/brevoff/510.html

Web Site: http://www.sadsamspalace.com/

The Course of Empire by Eric Flint & K.D. Wentworth

Eric Flint always writes a good story. I have read a lot of his work and have inevitably enjoyed them. My guess is the Machiavellian nature of this work may be traced to K. D. Wentworth, who I have not had the occasion to read. Earth is invaded by aliens and is conquered. The obvious reason turns out to be incorrect and the story line is not nearly as straight forward as it seems. The alien political infighting predominates the story and you are lulled into thinking mankind is merely window dressing for alien politics. It turns out that mankind may be outclassed in physical strength, equipment and technology but they still have a lot to teach. The book shows our obvious weaknesses and the often not obvious but there none the less ability of the human genotype to step above and beyond our normal behavior. I really enjoyed the story and highly recommend it. When I get back to real connectivity I am going to track down whether there is a sequel since the story truly demands one.


Body of work of Eric Flint
Body of work of K. D. Wentworth

Review: http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/product/B000VYCVZC


Web site:
http://www.ericflint.net/index.php/category/snippets/ http://www.kdwentworth.com/

Manifest Destiny by Barry B. Longyear

The movie Enemy Mine was based on Barry Longyear’s short story of the same name. As most movies based on books go, it was ok but greatly insufficient in depth. The story was much better. This book is a collection of stories under the umbrella theme of Manifest Destiny. Based on our historic performance it sadly rings very true. One can only hope that at some point in time our culture will finally begin to learn something from historic precedents. The stories all center around conflict and primarily military industrial influence. It was a good collection and I recommend it.

Body of work of Barry B. Longyear

Review: couldn’t find one.

Web Site: http://www.barryblongyear.com/

This Alien Shore by C. S. Friedman

This book appears to be a logical extension for the computer geek fantasy. A future in which the ability to interface with the computer is limited only by your willingness to accept a level of intrusion commensurate with your desire for cyber immersion. It is also a though provoking piece on inclusion or exclusion based on differences. If you saw the premier of Amanda Tapping’s new show Sanctuary, she give a clear explanation as to why we need to accept those how may appear different and perhaps frightening. I found my self struggling to get into this book. It certainly doesn’t grab you and pull you in, you have to persevere to get hooked. I generally go between 50 and 100 pages before I cry uncle on a book. I struggled through over 150 pages before I was sufficiently intrigued to finish the book. If I hadn’t absolutely loved her Coldfire Series; Black Sun Rising (1991), When True Night Falls (1993), Crown of Shadows (1995); I wouldn’t have bothered to persevere. I enjoyed the book, I did not find it as compelling as the Coldfire series.

Body of work of C. S. Friedman

Review: http://www.existenceiswonderful.com/2007/12/book-review-this-alien-shore-by-cs.html

Web site: http://www.csfriedman.com/

Deathstalker by Simon R. Green

Simon R. Green apparently has an enormous number of things he wants to say and his story line it truly empire inspired. This five hundred page book is the first of eight books dealing with the multigenerational Deathstalker family. If you can conceive of any type of bizarre being, mutant, esper, hero, alien, villain or setting it is probably in this book. Frankly I found it a bit much, too much glitz, too many weird things all together. On the other hand, I suspect he is just setting the stage for the next 4000 plus pages. I enjoyed the book in spite of my reservations. The valiant few anti-heroes facing the insurmountable forces of the galactic empire is always a good story line. The simplicity of the story line is enhanced or lost, depending on your opinion, by the frippery that is laid on with a heavy hand. Since I bought all eight books already, I have committed myself to read at least 1000 or so pages. The review on the next book should answer whether I read them all or put them back on a book swap. I recommend with the caveat that you prepare to be overwhelmed by entertaining minutiae.

Body of work of Simon R. Green

Review: I couldn’t find a review of this, his first Deathstalker book. Found lots of reviews on later books but nothing on this.

Site: http://www.bluemoonrising.nl/
This site is a tribute site, well done but not owned by Simon R. Green

Treaty at Doona by Anne McCaffrey

A sequel to the Decision at Doona, I enjoyed this book more. The main characters are the sons of the two main characters from Decision. The interplay and political intrigue is similar. A new alien species is introduced to complicate matters and fires the paranoia of the xenophobes of the home planets. Worth reading but not one that will keep you up at night trying to finish it.

Body of work of Anne McCaffrey

Review of the book: I didn’t find a good one.

Her site: http://www.annemccaffrey.org/index.php

Decision at Doona by Anne McCaffrey

Anne McCaffrey is quite prolific. Her Pern series was one of my all time favorites. This book isn’t exactly a page turner. It is worth reading but it’s age is showing. McCaffrey definitely improved as she aged. I guess I liked it well enough that I am currently reading the sequel and frankly the sequel seems like a distinct improvement and reading this is definitely important prior to reading the sequel. Too much political intrigue for my taste, I guess because that part of it seems so darn realistic.

Body of work of Anne McCaffrey

Review of the book: I didn’t find a good one.

Her site: http://www.annemccaffrey.org/index.php