Fireships by David Drake

Fireships is the third book in the Reaches series. This book deals with Sarah Blythe, a starship captain, and her need for revenge. An attempt to hijack her ship by federation minions results in several crew members dying. Her righteous indignations propel her into the chaos of the Venus rebellion.

While mildly entertaining, I didn’t like this series nearly as much as many other Drake books. The battles and action Drake portrays are always exciting. The implacable presence of Stephen Gregg and his search for a personal soul gives a strong character to ponder. The Venus rebellion and it’s “privateers” are by Drakes admission, modeled on Sir Francis Drake’s exploits. Drake also notes that Sir Francis was not a relative. I liked the character interplay between Gregg, Piet and Sarah. The anguish Gregg demonstrates seemed very real. Even though I don’t feel this is as good as some of the other Drake work, the worst of David Drake is generally better than most other authors. I recommend the book but you really want to read “Igniting the Reaches” and “Through the Breach” before reading this.


Body of work of David Drake


Web Site: http://www.david-drake.com/


Review: none found

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:

Hell’s Gate by David Weber and Linda Evans

Book one of the Multiverse series is a most engrossing 1200 pages. Evan’s and Weber portray two unique civilizations on a road to conflict. Arcana bases their technology on magic. Sharona has psychic talents but bases their technology on science. The multi-universal aspect is that both civilizations have discovered portal to alternate earths that have no populations until they confront each other.

David Weber and Linda Evans do a superb job in describing two dissimilar cultures and those cultures’ idiosyncrasies. As they alternate back and forth from culture to culture you find your sympathies vacillating as well. The beauty of their work is that you truly find things that are both laudable and stimulating for each culture. They are being drawn into conflict by serendipitous contacts and malicious behavior in spite of their root similarities. I can not wait to read the next volume, “Hell Hath No Fury”.

I highly recommend it and all of David Weber’s Work.

Body of work of David Weber
Body of work of Linda Evans


Review:

Web site http://davidweber.net/
Linda Evans keeps a very low profile. I could find no website, no info or no photos.

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

Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon

Once again Moon has captivated me with her characters and her plots. This author has the ability to create a character that is like the girl next door but with super powers. Kylara Vatta is no super hero but she has grit and determination that overpowers all obstacles. Her dismissal from her life’s dream and her resultant resurrection in another direction provides the focus of the story. The trials, tribulations and action are icing on a delicious cake.

Kylara’s introspection into her own motivations and her questioning attitude flesh out her character with reality. Kylara’s character becomes real and you keep paging because you begin to care for her and want to see what she is facing next. The book is the first in a series and I have refrained from reading it until I could acquire all the books or at least all that have been announced and published at this point. This looks like the beginning of a terrific series with some similarities to David Weber’s Honor Harrington and as far as I am concerned that is a very good thing.

I highly recommend the book.

Body of work of Elizabeth Moon

Site

TimeGods World by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.

Query was a strange world lacking resources. Query was a violent world with class clashes that resulted in a unified world of time travelers dependent on the Guard for everything. Soul searching philosophy generally accompanies the action and adventure in a Modesitt book.

This is a twin book, encompassing “Timediver’s Dawn” and “The TimeGod”. Modesitt’s books make you think. You have to ponder the relationships between action and re-action. Is vengeance a satisfactory method of solving problems? How do ethics stand up to survival? That sounds suspiciously like philosophy which does characterize all of his books. I don’t know that I have read all of his books, but I have certainly made a valiant attempt. While forcing you to think, Modesitt keeps you entertained with a solid plot and lots of action.

I highly recommend it.

Body of work of L.E. Modesitt,jr.

Review of the book:

Site:

Awesome Lavratt by Ann Wilkes

Junk yard dog meets con-artist with humorous consequences is the succinct description of the book. An artifact creates a traveling nightmare is another.

Horace the junk yard man was the only attractive character in the book. The rest of the characterizations were pretty much un-likeable. The consequences of mind control and domination are thoroughly exploited. The book is a quick read with no guffaws but some definite smiles.

I recommend it.

Body of work of Ann Wilkes

Review of the book:

Site:

Bewulf’s Children by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle and Steven Barnes

The sequal to “The Legacy of Heorot”, it picks up where the last story left off. The characterizations are adequate if you read the first book. They are a bit superficial if you are only reading this book. The grendels are the turbo charged gator boogie men. The story development is recognizing that the impact the grendels have had on the colony is far more pervasive than their mere physical depravations. The interaction between the young planet born, the Earth born and the test tube babies provides the bulk of the character stress. The book illustrates that knowledge and understanding can be acquired and is necessary even when it is painful. I enjoyed the book and recommend both it and the prequel.

Body of work of Larry Niven
Body of work of Jerry Pournelle
Body of work of Steven Barnes


Review: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/69448.Beowulf_s_Children

Web site:
http://www.larryniven.org/
http://www.jerrypournelle.com/
http://www.lifewrite.com/html/about.htm

The Cyborg From Earth by Charles Sheffield

I didn’t realize this was a young adult book when I ordered it. Despite being a long way from a young adult, I enjoyed the book. Very quick read as you would expect. The book had a simplistic but nevertheless enjoyable plot with likeable characters. If you are looking for a very quick read or have a teen in your life I recommend the book.

Body of work of Charles Sheffield

Review: http://jamesreasoner.blogspot.com/2008/07/cyborg-from-earth-charles-sheffield.html

Website: Baen’s site for http://www.baen.com/author_catalog.asp?author=csheffield

The Clone Alliance by Steven Kent

The title is misleading. I expected to see the clones recognize the discrimination they face and rebel. Wayson Harris does lose his awe of the United Authority government and their representatives. His suspicion that his innate respect for the U.A. was genetically programmed may be incorrect as events lead him to reject their authority. The rebellion appears to be thwarted but leads to the creation or discovery of an even greater threat. The interaction between the Marine clones and the Seal clones is a microcosm reflection of minority interaction in our own society. There is enough detailed conflict to satisfy the action buff and enough thought provoking prose to give the intellectual pause. I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

Body of work of Steven Kent

Review: http://www.sfsite.com/12a/ca261.htm

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/

The Clone Republic by Steven Kent

My thanks to sharonae44 who suggested Steven Kent’s book to me. I was swapping for a David Weber or Drake book with her and she said she was reading this book and felt if I liked Drake and Weber, I would like it. She was right. His style is not as emotional as Weber. I didn’t find myself identifying with the protagonist like I often do with Weber, Drake or Ringo. The concept of clones as disposable troops was dismal but frighteningly plausible. The unwieldy aspect of a galaxy wide federation of worlds leads into the next novel. This book was primarily a coming of age of a young man who discovers he is a military clone. I recommend it.

Body of work of Steven Kent


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


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

Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber

I loved the book and strongly recommend it. That is how I usually end a review of a David Weber book. Once again the man amazes me. He grabs you on the first page and squeezes your imagination and attention until you finish the book. This has to be the opening novel of a series. Please David, let it be the opening book as I want to read more!

Again you have a very strong female protagonist. (kind of) A new universe, a new group of villains and heroes entertain you for the whole book. Big old pussycat that I am, Weber once again brought tears to my eyes with the willingness to sacrifice that his larger than life characters often demonstrate. Weber has successfully combined high tech tools with a setting than Horatio Hornblower or Frodo would be happy traversing. Read the review at the link if you want, but if you like Weber, just go get the book. If you have never read Weber, this is a great book to begin a love affair. (strictly platonic) I loved the book and I strongly recommend it.

Body of work of David Weber

Review: http://www.scifi.com/sfw/books/sfw14817.html

Web site: http://www.davidweber.net/

Deep Storm by Lincoln Child

I love a book that grabs you by the throat and shakes you if you try and put it down. This book slams through first gear and stands on 2nd. I really enjoyed it. (ya think?) Child presents a first contact novel in a “novel” way. The book takes place on an oil rig and an undersea facility. The technical aspects seem plausible and the characterizations are believable. As his other books the mystery has enough nuances that you are kept guessing clear up to the end and beyond. Somehow Child makes the bizarre and fantastic believable. I recommend you read it.

Body of work of Lincoln Child

Review of the book: http://www.themysteryreader.com/child-deep.html

His site: http://www.prestonchild.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

Sacred Stone by Clive Cussler & Craig Dirgo

Sacred Stone was ok. The story was entertaining but if you weren’t already familiar with a lot of the characters, you would be uncertain of their identity. The book read choppy. The chapters were often very, very short, as in one or two pages. The premise was excellent but the delivery was less than elegant. Dirk Pitt was supplanted by Juan Cabrillo, chairman of the Corporation. The Corporation is a multi-tasking band of mercenaries with good hearts. They are pro-USA but will work with some of our allies. They have close ties to the government and often receive sub-contracts from organizations like the CIA. Actually the subcontracting theme infused a sense of realism to the story considering recent government and corporate behavior. The book is worth reading, the premise is altogether too likely but this book isn’t up to the Cussler standard of excellence.

Body of work of Clive Cussler

Review of the book: http://www.cusslermen.com/SacredStone.htm

His site: http://www.cusslerbooks.com/

Titan A.E. An Animated Treat

Titan A.E.
This animated movie has been around since the year 2000 and I finally got to see it. Hulu has it on their site to watch for FREE. The animation is good, dated compared to some recent features but still good. The story line is similar to the Battlestar Galactica series but it wraps it up in a nice watch able package in just over 1.5 hours. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and it is certainly one you can watch with the kids, although the Dredge (evil energy beings) may scare the very little ones. I am surprised this wasn’t a bigger deal at the box office. The premise is that mankind is making a splash in the interstellar community and the Dredge decide that man’s potential is so great they must destroy Earth before man can achieve their potential. They succeed in destroying the earth (first few minutes so it really doesn’t screw up the plot for you) but not before the Titan A. E. escapes along with a host of refugees. The rest of the movie is about the search for the Titan, the most advanced ship/machine in existence and what happens when it is found. Nuke some popcorn, pull up your computer and watch this puppy, if you have seen it, watch it again, if you haven’t seen it, you will enjoy the premise that we (mankind) have the potential to work together and achieve greatness.

The Disappeared by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

The Disappeared by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
http://bookrevues.blogspot.com/

Read an author I have never read and write a review. For a voracious reader, that is a bit easier said than done. I found a book by Kristine Kathryn Rusch on my shelf and wondered who she was and how I got it. I have no recollection of either.

The book is “The Disappeared” a retrieval artist novel. Apparently Rusch is a well known, award winning author that I just haven’t read before. The book is a detective story set in a future where we have interstellar relationships with a wide variety of aliens who have radically different views on the law and the legal process. In the effort to maintain positive trade agreements, our planetary government agrees to respect and honor each Alien’s legal system regardless of how it compares to our own system of law. The morality aspect of different cultures is heightened by the fact that many of the Aliens have a sense of morality radically different than our own. There is an obvious comparison with NAFTA and our governments support of immoral regimes for the sake of their oil. The implications on an interstellar level may be positive but there is a severe toll on the personal level for those responsible for enforcing some of the more onerous laws.

The story specifically addresses two cops, deep in the trenches, fighting the good fight that have to enforce edicts they find personally abhorrent. There are several vignettes involving different people and aliens that illustrate the author’s point. Overall it was a good story. I found the introduction of the characters and the method used a bit lacking in depth. Short segments introduced the characters that were later fleshed out. I felt that a little more meat in the introduction would have made the characters more identifiable later. I wouldn’t read the book again and I won’t be going out looking for more from this author. It was a decent story but with so many great books out there, I can’t say I want to settle for just ok.

Body of work of Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Web Site: Doesn’t appear to have one.

Review: I broke my own rule in order to submit a review for http://deweymonster.com/ where they have monthly Book Worms Carnival featuring different themes. The theme for September was to review a book of an author I never read before.

Lone Star (Stellar Ranger) by Steve Perry

Apparently Baldacci decided he needed more action in his books. Well, he certainly went over the top on this one. The book has kidnapping, murder, sex, swat teams, guns, more guns, drug abuse, radical fringe groups, wealth, privilege, anguish, guilt and more of the same. This is a serious page turner whose major theme is dealing with guilt and anger. That isn’t going to be obvious until you work through the book. Some solid psychiatric principles were at work in this book. Baldacci writes a truly compelling tale. Read it!

Body of work of Steve Perry

Review: From BooklistThe author of the highly successful Matador saga seems in his new series, Stellar Ranger (of which this is the second book), to be thumbing his nose at all the old guard in sf who roundly denounce translating western plots into sf settings. For to a degree that is certainly what Perry is doing: Stellar Ranger Cinch Carston would get along famously with Wyatt Earp or Texas John Slaughter. Perry does, however, also tell a highly readable sf action story with his usual exuberance of incident and breakneck pacing. The plot involves Carston's being sent to a jungle world to round up three rebels who are, however, rebelling against attempted genocide, which puts the matter in a different light and, in due course, Carston on a different side. Perry clearly has fun writing action sf; his readers are likely to have an equally enjoyable time. Roland Green


Web Site: http://home.comcast.net/~perry1966/contact.html

My Own Kind of Freedom (A FREE Firefly Novel) by Steven Brust

Firefly was one of the better scifi shows that never made it. The theme was reminiscent of the Confederate soldiers who headed west looking for freedom from the winning Union soldiers after our civil war. The show had great characters, lots of good action and not a lot of cheesy aliens. Apparently Brust was a fan as well and wrote a FREE novel following the Firefly show. His characters ring true to the ones in the show and it is an entertaining story. For you disappointed Firefly fans, here is a chance to catch up with Mal and crew. You can download the story for FREE at Brust’s site listed below. Enjoy!

Body of work of Steven Brust

Serenity Ship Photo from http://praxeology.net/unblog05-05.htm

Firefly Cast Photo from: http://www.crazyabouttv.com/

Website: http://dreamcafe.com/