Blind Your Ponies by Stanley Gordon West

I don’t gush much in my writing.   This is one of the best books I have ever read.   How’s that for gushing?  I am well read, several books a week for 60 years or so.   That doesn’t make me an expert or a critic, I just “calls them the way I see them”.   This book isn’t about ponies, or Montana and it isn’t just a “feel good” book that was disparagingly ascribed to it in one review.   It is a book about the indomitable, unquenchable human spirit and revolves around a tiny, down on it’s luck, in the middle of nowhere small town and it’s basketball team.  

The author has successfully captured the feelings and motivations of a small town.   I grew up in a small town and it was way bigger than Willow Creek, the town in the book.  I taught school in a small, impoverished coal town, similar in size to Willow Creek.   Growing up in Western Pennsylvania, I saw the impact that sports had on out of work steel workers and their often frustrating lives.   I suspect my own history has honed the poiguient aspects of this books impact.   

People need to have faith and hope, sometimes athletics can provide both.   The characters in this book all had their own very personal pain and showed how depending on others can free one to be strong and independent as a result.

I highly recommend the book and strongly suggest that if you have any feelings for the underdog you DO NOT want to miss reading this book. 

Body of work of Stanley Gordon West

Web Site: http://www.americanwaymag.com/stanley-gordon-west-algonquin

A Meeting At Corvallis By S.M. Stirling

There is little change in A Meeting at Corvallis. Technology is still being suppressed by some unknown force. Beliefs and will seem to be gaining strength and becoming more real. The Protector’s

consistent enmity leads to war. Rudy and Mathilda’s relationship continues to grow. War, death and destruction with a peak of light at the end of the tunnel highlights the book.

I really enjoyed the characterization of Mike Havel’s nobility. The Rangers and their Tolkien fascination is both amusing and understandable. I thought the Stockholm syndrome in regards to those

forced to live under the Association’s rule was a bit overdone. I did like the flashes of humanity seen in some of the staunches villains and I lamented over the closing act.

I recommend the book. I think Stirling has done a masterful job with this post apocalypse series.

Body of work of S. M. Stirling

Review

Web Site

The Sword of the Lady by S. M. Stirling

I’m beginning to think it is the never ending story. Don’t get me wrong, I love the books but I’m careless about checking the author’s site to determine if this book is finally the culmination of the story. Through trials and tribulations Rudi Mackenzie finally claims his legacy in Nantucket. Along the way, Rudi’s personality and charisma have earned him allies to armor against his implacable foes.

Once again I have to admire the way Stirling stirs the soul. He creates likeable characters and despicably depraved villains. I normally read three or four books simultaneously probably due to my limited attention span. I find it nearly impossible to put down one of Stirling’s books once I start it. My only beef is that the time between books is painful. I want to read more. Once again the book intersperses intense action with in depth human interaction leavened with philosophic pondering.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of S. M. Stirling

Web Site:

The Scourge of God by S. M. Stiriling

The gods have tasked Rudi Mackenzie with a task. He must claim a sword across the country in Nantucket and return home. He and his companions set out across a hostile countryside, facing wasteland lands and the fanatic cutters.

Stirling stirs the soul. I find his writing captivating and enthralling. His hero’s embody both realism and astounding strength of character. The modesty and self depreciation of Rudi is contrasted with the self centeredness of Odard. Even Odard appears to be coming less odious. Ingolf is battling his personal demons and still manages to maintain his self respect and personal restraint when faced with the tantalizing Mary. Heroism does not escape unscathed. Stirling does not hesitate to kill off characters or maim them to further the story line. Considering I am generally reading at least three books simultaneously, Stirling is able to enthrall me to the point of charging through his work. Not many authors do that to me. This is the second of an excellent saga of the Change a post-apocalypse society. (or 5 of a continuing story) This book gives some incite as to what caused the fall of society as we know it.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of S. M. Stirling

Review:


Web Site:

The Pallbearers by Stephen J. Cannell

Shane Scully doesn’t believe that Pop Dixon committed suicide neither do the other pallbearers at his funeral. They form a “murder club” and seek answers to this mystery.

Cannell’s Scully is explained in this book. Shane is a reoccurring character that frequently flies off the grid and exhibits a lot of anger. I haven’t read too many of the books featuring him but in this one you find out the source of his anger. The colorful characters literally illuminate the book. Each one is a bright source of enlightenment. Jack is the loveable rogue and of course Alexa is the steadfast love and partner. Chooch, the son, is barely seen but offers some very thoughtful advice as to Scully’s pain.

I really liked the book. I identified with the tenacity shown by Scully especially since it was maintained in the face of so much pain. Alexa’s support epitomizes the strength a good relationship can offer to the participants in the relationship. This is a good mystery but it is also a journey of redemption.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of Stephen J. Cannell

Web site

Crash Dive by Larry Bond

This is a collection of short stories about submarine warfare. The stories were, for the most part, penned by the men who lived them. The statistics showing the loss of boats and lives were daunting. The stories show the character and courage of the sailors that were courageous enough to fight our countries enemies from beneath the sea.

I didn’t know that submariners were all volunteers nor did I realize how much submarine action took place on the surface of the sea rather then beneath the waves. I toured a WWII submarine one time. I’m over 6 feet tall and I know I would never have survived in a sub. Between cracking my head and my shins I felt lucky to survive a walking tour let alone a cruise in war time. The people that staff submarines are a special breed. They are better educated and more accomplished than the rest of the navy. They may be working on a nuclear reactor or peeling potatoes but they do it underneath the waves. If a ship springs a leak there is a high likelihood that no one will be injured. If a sub springs a leak while submerged there is a high likelihood no one will survive. T

These stories are illustrative of the finer attributes of the warriors willing to put their life on the line for their country.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Larry Bond

Web Site:

The Lion Returns by John Dalmas

Curtis Macurdy returns to Yuulith after personal tragedy makes Farside unbearable. His alien nemesis turns up as an invader on Yuulith and once again Curtis is left to organize the resistance to oppression.

Dalmas wraps up the loose ends and finalizes the trilogy in this third and last novel of Curtis Macurdy. Some old friends from the first two novels play major roles in this book. Dalmas has imbued Curtis with an amazing resiliency to personal tragedy. I liked the inclusion of past characters and their contribution to the story line. Dalmas ties things to reality without a lot of hocus pocus. Dalmas doesn’t hesitate to kill off characters so you never no who is going to be the last man standing. Equally the ability for people to change and become better characterizes the players.

I liked the book, I like the series and I recommend it.

Body of work of John Dalmas

Review: Didn’t find one

Web site: http://www.sfwa.org/members/dalmas/

Beach City Indigo by Ruth Francisco

This is literature that has gone to the dogs. Oddly enough that is a good thing. This is a cute story about land development running amuck, political chicanery and man’s best friend. Find out what happens when a crooked politician runs into a stout hearted dog.

Ms. Francisco portrays dog and man living in harmony until disrupted by cruelty and greed. Although it had shades of Cruella De Vil meets Lady and the Tramp, Ms. Francisco creates her own solid but quirky characters. Kids will enjoy this as well as the die hard dog lovers. The story shows how cooperation and good will can overcome greed and avarice. Colorful and entertaining, I can only hope this gets published on paper as well as the Kindle. Kids will enjoy curling up with it.
I recommend the book.

Body of work of Ruth Francisco

The Protector’s War by S. M. Stiriling

The Mackenzie’s and the Bear Killers become more proactive in this book. Instead of waiting for the Protector to bring the war to them they do a little reaching out and touching someone themselves. The Lorings, a British family, is added to the mix insuring that we are brought up to speed on other parts of the world. Rudi shows signs of being a mystic and Juniper’s religion seems to become far more real.

I liked the introduction of the Lorings due to the appeal of the characters. It seems like there should have been an easier way to introduce a love element to Juniper’s life. The friction between Mike and Signe over Rudi seems very realistic. This book plodded rather than galloped like the first book. That isn’t as big a criticism as it sounds. There seemed to be a stronger attempt at more floral descriptions, detailing the environment than in the first book. This is still an excellent saga of post-apocalypse societ.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of S. M. Stirling

Review: http://www.sfreviews.net/protectwar.html

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

Dies The Fire by S. M. Stiriling

Mike Havel thought his life was over when the all the gauges and engines stopped on his two engine puddle jumper. Little did he know that is was merely the beginning of a post apocalypse saga. The world has changed and those in it must adapt. Some turn to good and the others to evil. This story documents the rise of three distinct new world societies, led by one who fantasizes his role as the evil overlord, one who carries her Wiccan principles into the new age and one who is thrust into the role of warlord.

Stirling does master character development. You learn to love or hate his characterizations. He pains a grimly real portrayal of what desperation can drive otherwise normal people into doing. He also shows the fine line between civilization as we know it and chaos. This has an excellent story line with clear plot development that doesn’t telegraph the next move. Stirling frequently portrays the dark side of humanity and forces you to ponder uncomfortable scenarios.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of S. M. Stirling

Review: http://www.scifidimensions.com/Feb05/diesthefire.htm

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

The Sunrise Lands by S. M. Stirling

This book can be considered a sequel to Meeting at Corvallis or the beginning of a new Change trilogy. Whatever the category, the book is excellent. Set in a post Apocalyptic world where technology has been truncated by some unknown source. This story focuses on the children of the initial survivors featured in the Dies the Fire, the first three books. The kids or young adults are on a quest demanded by the powers speaking through Juniper who is the Chief of the Mackenzies and Rudi’s Mom.

Rudi and Mathilda, the heirs to the Mackenzie lands and the Association territory explore more interpersonal action in this book. Rudi’s two younger, twin sisters are highly entertaining. New allies and new villains are introduced in this book. There is action and treachery abounding. Stories are told over campfires that backfill information that would enable this book to be read without reading the preceding trilogy. I enjoy the character interaction, none are super heroes, they all demonstrate human fragility and are thusly more believable.

Once again, I highly enjoyed a Stirling book and recommend it and the preceding trilogy.

Body of work of S. M. Stirling

Review         Website

Out at Night by Susan Arnout Smith

This is the second book in the Grace Descanso series. Grace is a CSI technician which is not initially clear but becomes more so as the book progresses. The plot could be pulled out of national headlines. The detective work surrounds an agricultural conference focusing on gene altered food.

Frankenfood has moved into the common vernacular. Fear surrounding gene altered food and the possible environmental impact provides the motivation for the plot. The book is the second in a series and I feel a brief recap would have help ground the story. The book starts with a heinous crime and then jumps to a paranoid’s idyllic vacation. It is a good story but more initial background on what makes Grace tick would have been nice. The story sometimes is hard to follow but it is a solid mystery.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Susan Arnout Smith

Review:http://www.sfreviews.net/protectwar.html

Web Site

Persona Non Grata by Ruth Downie

An officer in the Roman army, stationed in Britain, receives an urgent summons home. He finagles a questionable medical leave and returns to Italy with his “barbarian” girl friend. Once home he discovers that very little is clear and things have changed for the worse while he was away.

The main characters are quite clearly portrayed. I think some of the more minor characters could have been fleshed out a bit more. I found my mouth dry in the description of the desiccated travel. Downie provides a good story line and provides an entertaining mystery set in a truly ancient time. What is surprising is the similarities to current events with money manipulations, attorneys and painful consequences. Her history and setting were quite accurate from the hazy recollections I have of my two years of Latin.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of Ruth Downie

Review: http://mastermusingsbymichelle.blogspot.com/2009/07/review-persona-non-grata-by-ruth-downie.html


Web Site: http://rsdownie.co.uk/

Dark Time by Dakota Banks

A young mother finds her self tied to a stake, flames caressing her ankles wondering what led to this ugly fate. The acceptance of her soul by a demon leads to her questionable reprieve. As harbinger of doom she spends the next few centuries as a tool of the despicable demon. Eventually the specter of spending eternity dealing out death becomes unbearable. Rebellion is the theme of the book.

A cynical, harsh world is portrayed by Banks. Her mood is dark as is the title. The protagonist struggles with her deeds and eventually seeks redemption. The characterizations are solid if a bit confusing. As urban fantasies go it had less fantasy and more urban than many I have read. The revoking of infallibility and dealing with a more credible skill set helps in creating a more believable Maliha.

I recommend the book.

Body of work of of Dakota Banks

Review: http://proudbookworm.blogspot.com/2009/07/review-dark-time-by-dakota-banks.html


Web Site http://www.dakota-banks.com/

Graceling By Kristin Cashore

Katsa thought she was a monster, a mutant that with extraordinary powers that enabled her to dominate others. The theme of Graceling isn’t radically different than that of Fire, Cashore’s latest book. Katsa was the enforcer for her uncle the king but she hated her duties. This tale is of her quest to free her self from domination and find true love.

Katsa’s introspection allows her to finally develop an identity she is happy to accept. Her redefinition of her grace provides her with a needed peace of mind. Once again, I found myself captivated with Cashore’s characters. She has that rare quality that enables her to imbue her characters with personality and life. Po’s nobility was inspiring. The plot was intricate without being confusing. “Graceling” is a veritable masterpiece and astounding since this was Cashore’s first book. I really, really enjoyed it. I mentioned in my review on “Fire” that I think Krisin Cashore is going to be a force in the Fantasy genre to be reckoned with; up there with Elizabeth Moon and Mercedes Lackey, she is that good! I stand by that statement, perhaps even more so since I see that it carried through both books. I await “Bitterblue” with great anticipation.

Just like “Fire”, I don’t just recommend this book, I insist that if you enjoy fantasy and astoundingly good character depiction, you must get this book!

Body of work of Kristin Cashore

Review: http://nevernotreading.blogspot.com/2009/07/review-graceling-by-kristin-cashore.html

Web site: http://kristincashore.blogspot.com/

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Little Brother is a play on George Orwell’s Big Brother in “1984”. This may be the most frightening book I have read in decades. It is a near future United States where a paranoid security apparatus under the control of a political party “king maker” runs amuck. A valid terrorist act provides the opening for the universal implementation of draconian security measures by the “legitimate” government. The story is portrayed through the eyes and experience of a young hacker.

I have seldom been made more uncomfortable by a book. Most of the fiction I read has serious probability issues. Considering the recent history of our nation, there was a sense of probability in this book that provoked near despair. One issue I see with the book is that those who most need to read it and ponder it’s message are those least likely to read it. Technuts such as my self have a propensity to be fascinated by gear head protagonists. Technologists are often more open minded about social issues as well. There are in every society people who fear so greatly that they will gladly suffer abridgements of their constitutional rights to feel more secure. Doctrow clearly illustrates the fallacy in this belief through the experiences and mind changes of Marcus’s father when faced with enforcement actions he supported when they were applied to others. I found the book entirely too believable and the strength of character of the teenagers enormously admirable. Growing up in a time period where slogans ranged from “Better dead than red”, to “hell no we won’t go”, provides a perspective that finds Doctorow’s books premise a reasonable extension of an increasingly paranoid society.

The recent ironic brouhaha regarding Amazon’s exercise of DRM (Digital Rights Management) by deleting George Orwell books from Kindles is illustrative of a voluntary relinquishing of rights by consumers. Realistically most Kindle consumers didn’t realize that Amazon could access their Kindle and delete things they had purchased under the erroneously impression they actually owned it. In addition had they understood that action was possible, they certainly hadn’t anticipated a major company so flagrantly invading personal space.

It seems that there is a cyclic pandemic of lack of responsibility that invades our national psychic. We go through periods where large groups of people are not willing to accept responsibility for their own actions and not willing to accept the responsibility that maintenance of our way of life is a participatory process. Doctrow’s book clearly points out that when a majority of voters lack the responsibility to participate in the democratic process, the resulting elected officials reflect the views of a minority that may be grossly unpalatable to the lackadaisical majority.

Technology has made us feel more secure. The bank security camera that captures the image of the thief is a good thing. We transmit our financial data securely across the web daily. The Internet and social sites such as Facebook have played a part in the current Iranian governmental crisis. Doctorow uses his understanding of technology to show how this pervasive technology can be perverted to hold us hostage. He also shows how the pervasive aspect of communication technology today can encourage freedom.

Security is the linchpin of the book. Security of your data, your home, your lives and the fact that draconian security measures generally only offer a false sense of security is made clear. The abridgement of your rights may make me feel more secure, any infringement on my rights is an aberration of justice.

If you are going to read one thought provoking book this year, make it this book. It is easy to read, the characters are clearly people you know and see, and it will hopefully impact you sufficiently enough to accept your personal responsibility to defend the rules of law under which we live. This book truly illustrates the need for every citizen to accept the responsibility of maintaining their freedoms through support of the democratic process.

Cory Doctorow obviously believes in the ideas he promotes in the book. His belief is illustrated by his having the novel available on his web site as a free download. So if you don’t run out and buy this book, go download it and read it on your computer/ipod/iphone/pda.

BTW the book isn’t just thought provoking, it is also a darn good story.

I strongly recommend it.

Body of work of Cory Doctorow

Review: http://worldsandtime.blogspot.com/2007/10/little-brother-by-cory-doctorow.html

Web site: http://craphound.com/

When the Devil Dances by John Ringo

The action keeps on coming. I am reminded of and will paraphrase the Joker from one of the Batman movies, “where does he get all these marvelous toys?”. The SheVa is a multistory tank that does not defy the imagination as much as tickle it. Once again, Ringo shows he is not adverse to knocking off characters, even if they are highly likeable. The Posleen are learing and thusly more dangerous. In all their conquests, no one any where has successfully fought them, until now. The action is non stop, the characters angst is often palatable. Through it all, Ringo shows he has an undeniable faith in the willingness of man to fight on, regardless of the odds. I recommend it.


Body of work of John Ringo

Review: http://www.scifidimensions.com/Apr02/devildances.htm

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

A Hymn Before Battle By John Ringo

I love this guy. His stories contain unrestricted mayhem, blood, guts and courage. Military scifi at it’s best with unwinnable battles and marvelous weapons. Mankind is recruited to be the foreign legion for a pacifistic galactic empire. Their gratuitous gifts of technology aren’t quite what they seem and Earth stands to lose both it’s prime military forces and it’s collective shirt. It is the start of a multi-book series called the Poseleen Wars of which I intend to read each and every one. I recommend it.


Body of work of John Ringo

Review: http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~susan/sf/books/r/ringo.htm

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

March To The Stars by David Weber and John Ringo

At the risk of repeating myself, I love these guys. The story takes up from where “March to the Sea” left off. The embattled marines end up involved in another localized war. The natives they initially help turn out to be the bad guys and they have to shift allegiances to get to the starport which is their goal. The starport is their only hope to get off the planet and get home. The discovery that all is not well at home puts added pressure to get where their going. The authors don’t hesitate to inject a reality check in their work. War has casualties, even characters we really, really like. You know it is only a story but yet you grieve for the loss of life. I, admittedly, really get into these books and have difficulty getting anything else done while reading them. There is one more in the series and I plan on starting it immediately. I would suggest buying all four at the same time because you are going to want to read them back to back, at least I did.

Body of work of David Weber
Body of work of John Ringo


Review: http://www.webscription.net/p-266-march-to-the-stars.aspx

Web Site http://www.davidweber.net/
David Weber’s web site is under construction.

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

The Peshawar Lancers By S. M. Stirling

Stirling has proposed a post meteoroid holocaust world with the holocaust set in the late 1800’s. The world has recovered to the point of early 1900’s and the novel deals with the political ramifications of the dramtically changed world. Characters are well done, story is exciting, I had trouble putting it down. My biggest critisim is that there is no sequel. This book screams for a sequal, what’s the point of getting you into a very interesting environment, enticing you with good characterizations and then leaving you hang. Stirling’s characters exhibit the characteristics that I think exemplify scifi and fantasy, courage, loyalty, nobility, concern for mankind, all things that are often hard to find in current fiction as well as in the real world. Read this!

Body of work of S.M. Stirling

Review: http://donh.best.vwh.net/Esperanto/Literaturo/Recenzoj/peshawar.html

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