Showing posts with label antropomorphism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label antropomorphism. Show all posts

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Worlds of Honor Anthology by David Weber


Number 2 in the Worlds of Honor Series.

Five stories from the David Weber Honor Harrington universe.
“The Stray” by Linda Evans.
“What Price Dreams” by David Weber
“Queen’s Gambit” by Jane Lindskold
“The Hard Way Home” by David Weber
“Deck Load Strike” by Roland J. Green
I don’t usually read short stories. I find my subscription to Analog easily satisfies my appetite in that area. I am really glad I read this anthology. Linda Evan did a terrific story on treecats as did David Weber. Lindskold did a good political piece on Manticore. “The Hard Way Home” gave us another glimpse of Honor which is always good. “Deck Load Strike” was the weak link. It was ok but didn’t hit me like the other four stories. Treecat stories will apparently always appeal to me as those on Honor Harrington, the space faring Horatio Hornblower. Weber’s skills in entertaining are difficult to surpass. Read this book.

Body of work of David Weber

Review from Publishers Weekly
It is Weber's wondrous treecats, not his popular woman warrior, Honor Harrington, who ultimately dominate this five-story collection. The book features the work of four authors, despite the solo cover credit, and is an obvious attempt to provide something for every taste in Weber's fandom, as was last year's More Than Honor. In the space-faring universe of Weber's novels (In Enemy Hands, etc.), Honor defends her gallant Star Kingdom of Manticore with the irresistible classiness of the British military and the legendary brassiness of the U.S. Marines, as well as with the quasi-telepathic aid of her treecat, Nimitz. In Weber's "The Hard Way Home," an episode drawn from Honor's early career, and in Roland Green's lively and inventive (if Honor-less and treecat-less) "Deck Load Strike," the Manties' opponents are the creepy People's Republic of Haven and their nasty allies, wittily modeled on Earth's familiar petty dictators, drug lords and religious fanatics. Except in the Green piece and in "Queen's Gambit," Jane Lindskold's soggy coming-of-age tale about Honor's monarch, the empathic alien treecats of Honor's home planet steal the show. Even though Honor is yet unborn and thus missing from the action in Linda Evans's "The Stray" and Weber's other entry, "What Price Dreams?," both stories appealingly oscillate between human and 'cat sensibilities in the earliest stages of the treecats' poignant association with their human partners. All five stories, though uneven taken together, provide intriguing background glimpses of Honor's?and Nimitz's?worlds.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

David Weber’s web site is under construction.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

The Book of Athyra (contains both Athyra & Orca novels) by Steven Brust






I think combining these two novels under one cover was a good idea. Athyra would not have ranked high as a stand alone. I’m not quite sure why but I didn’t care nearly as much for it as I have the rest of the books. Vlad spent too much time in introspection, I think. Orca got back to having a little more action and interplay between characters. I found it much more entertaining. There are quite a few references to the previous stories so I would try diligently to read the preceding books prior to these two. Orca contains little tidbits that very innocuously tie the series tighter. I also liked the easily seen comparision to the predatory practices of many of today’s corporations so clearly shown in the sub-prime mortgage debacle. Combined I have to recommend you read this book.

Body of work of Steven Brust

Review of Athyra: http://www.sfreviews.net/athyra.html

Review of Orca: http://www.sfreviews.net/orca.html

Web site: http://dreamcafe.com/

Monday, June 16, 2008

Sisters of the Raven and Circle of the Moon by Barbara Hambly





Hambly is one of my favorites. Note, I have a lot of favorites. In this two book series she writes of a society plagued with global warming and water shortages. Sounds all too familiar yet the books are several years old. In addition she addresses many issues of women, their rights and lack there of. Again, sounds very contemporary. Both books are good, you care about the characters. I don’t think I have ever read anything by Barbara Hambly that I haven’t recommended. These too books are no exception, read them.

Body of work of Barbara Hambly

Review of Sisters of the Raven: http://www.strangehorizons.com/2002/20021021/sisters.shtml

Review of Circle of the Moon: http://www.curledup.com/circmoon.htm

Web site: http://www.barbarahambly.com/hambooks.htm