Books 2005 & 2006

Eternity Road by Jack McDevitt; © 1997, EOS Science Fiction, pp. 403 - It is the not so distant (500 years or so) future. Our civilization has left ruins, and roads. We are known as the Roadmakers, and we are destroyed by disease. It is a fairly typical quest story, well-written and somewhat suspenseful. Lost knowledge is the object of this quest, and The Connecticut Yankee is the catalyst.

Guardian by Joe Haldeman; © 2002, Ace, pp. 294 - I'm not sure what to think of this one. Most of the book is the story of a woman trying to escape her abusive husband right after the Civil War. I kept reading, have been left with an unsatisfied feeling.

Cradle of Saturn by James P. Hogan; © 1999, Baen, pp. 528 - Another apocalyptic novel. The premise of this, and its sequel, The Anguished Dawn, is based on Velikovsky's works, like Worlds in Collision. This is well worth reading. I won't reveal much of the plot, other than to say Earth's best hope is the Kronians.

The Anguished Dawn by James P. Hogan; © 2003, Baen, pp. 503 - Hogan writes a compelling book. Having read many in this genre, I'm pretty jaded. These two kept me reading. Writes a plausible post-Apocalypse story.

Our Man in Havana  by Graham Greene; © 1958, Penguin, pp. 220 - A different kind of spy thriller. In light of the recent fiascos in the CIA, this story seems way too possible. It is a funny book about a vacuum cleaner salesman who is drafted into the British spy service, and he passes off vacuum cleaner plans as plans for installations in Cuba.

The Scar by China Miéville; © 2002, MacMillan, pp. 795 - A woman tries to escape persecution and becomes prisoner on a floating city governed by the Lovers on a quest for the Scar, a rent in the fabric of reality. This is another one that is well worth reading.

Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire; © 2005, ReganBooks, pp. 334 - This is the sequel to Wicked. I've read Maguire's other revisions of fairy tales, and this one is the only one that comes close to it. Liir is the "son" of Elphaba, but doesn't know for sure. He tries to overcome the degenerate government of Oz, and discovers himself in the process.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman; © 1996, Harper Torch, pp. 370 - I read American Gods first, but I think I like this one just as well. Two Londons exist; the everyday one above ground, and the magical, scary Underground. Once caught in the Underground, one cannot escape. Bound by its rules, people become invisible to the point close acquaintances don't recognize them. Richard Mayhew, the main character, is drawn in when he unwittingly helps Door, an inhabitant of the Underground.

Gridlinked by Neal Asher; © 2001, TOR Books, pp. 423 - A science fiction thriller/mystery, Gridlinked tells of Ian Cormac who is thrown off the Grid for his own good. He has become more computer than human, and needs to get in touch with humanity to solve this case. It is a good read, though not quite so good as The Skinner.

The Skinner by Neal Asher; © 2002, MacMillan, pp. 583 - Welcome to Spatterjay where the local fauna makes humans, and all other animal life, practically immortal. Wounds heal in seconds; captains, survivors of hundreds of years on Spatterjay, are invincible to the point they don't bleed. This is the story of three individuals who are thrown together to find different things, but end up fighting the same alien enemy who is trying to tie up loose ends. A good one.

Majipoor Chronicles by Robert Silverberg; © 1981, EOS Science Fiction, pp. 385 - This is really a collection of short stories disguised as a novel. The main character, Hissune, sneaks into the Recorder of Souls and plays back the recordings of souls from the distant past. It is his preparation for his future. Good stories by a master. I highly recommend his, Book of Skulls.

Mara and Dann by Doris Lessing; © 1999, Harper Perennial, pp. 407 - In the distant future, kind of a theme here, ice has covered most of the earth. Africa & South America have escaped. Mara and Dann, sister and brother, trek the length in drought situations, trying to escape their past, while learning as much about it as they can, trying to get North. Typically, once they arrive, it's not quite what they anticipated.

Taggerung by Brian Jacques; © 2001, Ace Fantasy, pp. 403 - A novel of Redwall, the imaginary land Jacques has created inhabited by weasels, mice, stoats, badgers, and the rest of his menagerie, is another of the good vs. evil genre. Jacques writes well, and these books seem to have captured a wide audience. This one features a kidnapped otter, trained to be evil, but overcomes it to be good. My favorites are the hedgehogs & moles.

The Book of Daniel by E.L. Doctrow; © 1971, Plume Books, pp. 303 - Daniel is the son of a couple that seems to be the Rosenbergs slightly disguised. This took a little to get into, but once past the slow part, it steamed away. Daniel is trying to make sense of what happened to his parents, plus what is happening to his psychotic sister.

Martin the Warrior by Brian Jacques; © 1994, Ace Fantasy, pp. 376 - Martin is a mouse of great renown. He starts as nothing, but soon finds his place in Redwall Abbey. I liked this one enough to read three others.

The Outcast of Redwall by Brian Jacques; © 1995, Ace Fantasy, pp. 367 - This one tells of a ferret that is cast out of the Abbey, but eventually redeems himself.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman; © 2001, Harper Torch, pp. 588 - Shadow, the main character, finds himself in the land of Shadows, only these shadows are gods. Most of them are shadows of their former selves. As I've always believed, once people stop believing in gods, they die, or in Gaiman's reality, fade away. Odin doesn't want to fade.

The War of the Flowers by Tad Williams; © 2003, DAW Fantasy, pp. 816 - Another big book from Williams. Theo, the main character, is drawn into Faerie, and the war between the families in power. Williams has taken bits and pieces from different fairy stories and woven them into an engaging tale.

Baudolino by Umberto Eco; © 2002, Harvest Books, pp. 521 - Eco is one of my favorite author's. He combines intelligence, excellent writing, and gripping plots, see The Name of the Rose or Foucault's Pendulum. Prester John is the subject of this one. Set in 1204, Baudolino tells a tale within a tale of the quest for Prester John and the legendary creatures along the way. The only problem is most of the creatures, and definitely Prester John, are inventions of a group of Parisian students, of which Baudolino is one. Eco seldom disappoints.

Girl in the Landscape by Jonathan Lethem; © 1998, Vintage Books, pp. 280 - I tend to grab onto authors and shake them like a terrier until I get all from them I can. This is a science fiction Western. Pella Marsh travels to the Wild West Planet of the Archbuilders, and encounters aliens with names like, Lonely Dumptruck and Gelatinous Stand...gotta love those names. She sruvives, but I won't tell you how. No one reads these, so I should say that she is waiting to kill Efram at the end.

The Feast of the Goat by Mario Vargas Llosa; © 2001, Faber & Faber, pp. 475 - A homecoming novel; home is in the Dominican Republic, Uruania Cabral's father is a drooling old man who had been a trusted member of Trujillo's inner circle. It is the tale of her self-realization, and of Trujillo's assassination.

It Can't Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis; © 1935, 1970, Signet Classics, pp. 384 - This novel is so real, it's scary. Written as a warning against fascism, and how fascists take over, it the current atmosphere, it could happen. I didn't realize that Lewis coined this phrase, but there you are. This is a MUST read!

Foundation's Fear by Gregory Benford; © 1997, HarperPrism, pp. 616 - Truthfully, I approached this one with much trepidation. I have always been an admirer of the Foundation Trilogy and had my doubts about anyone besides Asimov taking it on. Benford has done a great job. This one shows how Hari Seldon came to develop psychohistory and how he dealt with coming into power.

Pride of Carthage by David Anthony Durham; © 2005, Doubleday, pp. 568 - This is a historical recreation of Hannibal and his achievements. It should be a warning to all generals who don't have the support of their government. I would posit, based on this reading, that if Hannibal would have had the support of his government that we would have had the Roman Empire. This is an interesting read.

Teacher Man by Frank McCourt; © 2005, Scribner, pp. 258 - My first reaction on reading this one was, "I could have written this book." My second reaction was, "My wife is trying to give me a hint that I should be writing a book." My third reaction is, "Who has the time?" Anyway, I read it. It seems true to life, contrary to what Bush and his cronies say about education. More power to McCourt. Now, to sit down and write my memoirs. Wait, I have to retire first.

3 by Finney by Jack Finney; © 1987, Fireside, pp. 416 - This is another the terrier picked up and started to shake. It is actually three novellas, "The Woodrow Wilson Dime," "Marion's Wall" and "The Night People." I like the first two, but am ambivalent about the last. The main character of the first uses a dime he finds in change, a Woodrow Wilson dime, as the catalyst to access an alternate universe. He finds that the more things change, the more they stay the same. The second features a haunted house, a possession, and a fling into the movies. The third is about a lawyer who is dissatisfied with the status quo and decides that he and his friends will wreck havoc on the town of Mill Valley, and a certain redneck police officer. It's worth it for the first two.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke; © 2004, Bloomsbury, pp. 846 - Here is an alternate existence that features practical vs. theoretical magicians. There is the rumor that magic in 19th century England is dead, but Jonathan Strange proves differently. This is a convoluted tale that is well worth reading. Pretty amazing for a first novel.

Celestial Matters by Richard Garfinkle; © 1996, Tor Books, pp. 348 - I have read many alternative history books, but never an alternative science book. The premise here is that Ptolemaic astronomy and Aristotelian physics are valid. While the story is good, it was hard for me to picture the worlds in question. It would have been nice if maps & charts were included.

Moonheart by Charles de Lint; © 1984, Orb Books, pp. 448 - As I read more of de Lint's work, the more impressed I am. This one is a work that blends the myths of Wales with those of North America, and it does it admirably.

Sisters of the Raven by Barbara Hambly; © 2002, Aspect Books, pp. 465 - I've read most, if not all of Hambly's mysteries, and decided to try one of her fantasies. Here, she presents a world dominated by men, but they are losing their powers. And, not accepting it gracefully. The issues of feminism and chauvinism presented here are interesting, and thought provoking.

Greenmantle by Charles de Lint; © 1988, Orb Books, pp. 384 - Looking out the corner of his eye, de Lint sees the edges of perception, kind of like that movement you see, but can't quite pin down. This one blends the world of the Mafioso and primal myths with excellent results.

Operation Wandering Soul  by Richard Powers; © 1994, Perennial Books, pp. 352 - While this one got raves, I'm not so sure. It doesn't seem as powerful as the other works by Powers that I've read. It is the story of two pediatric hospital nurses and how they hold together and try to forestall the deaths of their charges.

Circle of the Sun by Barbara Hambly; © 2005, Aspect Books, pp. 470 - The second of what seems to be a series, this one continues the story of Raeshaldis, her emerging magic, and allegiance to her king and his concubine. There is a more shocking revelation in this one than the fact that men have lost their magic, and women have found it. When I shocking, I mean to the members of the society in the book, I saw it coming in the first book.

1634: The Ram Rebellion; by Eric Flint with Virginia DeMarce, © 2006, Baen Books, pp. 496 - This was a disappointment. Apparently, there is a large community online dealing with the 1632 books, and this book is a result of that collaboration. It is a collection of loosely tied together short stories, and lacks the punch of a more developed novel.

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett; © 1990, Ace Science Fiction, pp. 366 - It's the Apocalypse, and the bad guys have misplaced the Antichrist. Damn. Two of my new favorite authors collaborated on this a long time ago, and it is still a winner.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman; © 1999, Perennial Books, pp. 250 - This is a lovely little fable. A boy sacrifices all on the promise of a woman (fickle, at that), and manages to see many wonders, discover his real mother and real love. Gaiman's writing is magical.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini; © 2003, Riverhead Books, pp. 371 - Even more than the story of two boys and betrayal and friendship, this book reveals much about Afghani society. One of the things that I love about books is that it opens up parts of the world that I probably with never have the opportunity to visit, and certainly never as a member of the society. Hosseini writes very well, and one wonders if this has basis in his life. READ THIS BOOK!

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon; © 2001, Delta Fiction, pp. 979 - I stepped into the middle of this series, and it makes me want to go back and read the other four, even though they are loooong books. In the library, this one is filed under historical fiction, though I would classify it as alternative fiction. It is the saga of a Scottish immigrant, Jamie Fraser, and his time-traveling wife, Claire. One thing I like about this writer is that she doesn't rehash all of the books that have come before, but that is a disadvantage, as I don't have all of the background to understand how she got where she is.

Freedom's Landing by Anne McCaffrey;  © 1995, Ace/Putnam Books, pp. 342 - I first read Dragonriders of Pern long ago and far away. I like McCaffrey's style, but I got bored with dragon's. This was a new series in the '90s that I missed. The premise is that a civilization of beings takes lesser beings into slavery--read aliens & humans. The "superior" race puts the dissidents of the slaves on planets that they want colonized, but there are risks that the "superior" race doesn't want to take. This is the story of how the slaves survive in an unexpected way.

Freedom's Choice by Anne McCaffrey;  © 1997, Ace/Putnam Books, pp. 293 - The overlords find that they are not the most advanced beings in the universe, and their colony of slaves is "free." This is an excellent follow-up to the first book, and makes me want to read the other two.

A Simple Habana Melody by Oscar Hijuelos; © 2002, Perennial Books, pp. 342 - Another novel by Hijuelos set in Cuba. The main character, Israel Levis, is a renowned composer of one of the most famous rumbas in the world. Mostly this is a tale of unrequited love, that of the composer for a singer, Rita Valladares. It is a book filled with art, Nazis, and other despots. Well worth reading.

Alvin Wandering: The Tales of Alvin Maker, IV & V; © 1998, Tor Books, pp. 613 - This is actually two novels, Alvin Journeyman & Heartfire. This is kinda, sorta an alternative history. Alvin Maker, or Smith, has the ability to "make" things. This follows him on his quest to build the Crystal City where all can live in peace and harmony. Card is a good writer, but the Ender books are better.

Darwin's Children by Greg Bear; © 2003, Del Rey Books, pp. 387 - Humans begin to evolve, starting with children. Adults get paranoid, start putting kids in camps. Bear presents some interesting problems, with more interesting solutions.

Peace by Gene Wolfe; © 1975, Orb Books, pp. 264 - Not his best, and I'll leave it at that.

Colonization: Second Contact by Harry Turtledove, ©1999, Del Ray, pp. 598 - Turtledove is one of my new favorites. He is a historian, but uses that to write plausible alternative histories. This one is the second of this series. How does this man write so many books. This one takes off from WWII and has aliens trying to conquer the earth.  It is an engaging story, and as always, Turtledove's writing is a joy.

China Mountain Zhang by Maureen F. McHugh, ©1992, Orb Books, pp. 313 - The Chinese Communists are the dominant culture. Good different story lines. If only I could write like this. This is more speculative fiction than science fiction. Good extrapolations of present trends make the story believeable.

Nymphomation by Jeff Noon, ©1997, Corgi Books, pp. 363 - By the author of Vurt, this is another speculative fiction about the near future. The setting is Manchester, England and everyone is sucked into a game called, Domino Bones.  There are several story lines that Noon ties together at the end of the book. He is an imaginative author, well worth reading.

Saint Leibowitz and the Wild Horse Woman by Walter M. Miller, Jr., ©1997, pp. 434 - This is the sequel to A Canticle for Leibowitz. As I recall, the previous book was far more detailed and philosophical. Both are post-apocalyptic stories, taking place in an America of the future. This one blends Catholicism with the mystical religion of the Plains nomads. The only character the two books have in common is the Wandering Jew. It seems that this character is meant to be ambiguous and possibly a representation of god. The story is good, the tale of a monk that doubts his calling, is let out of the monastery to be secretary to the future pope, is made cardinal, and ends his life as a hermit. Part of the monk's trials include a woman who, later in the story, becomes mystic in her own right with stigmata and all. 

The Bones of Time by Kathleen Ann Goonan, © 1996, pp. 401 - An interesting tale of King Kamehameha's bones and how they are used to implement star travel.  Goonan weaves an intricate tale using two narrators who, to my disappointment, never meet. The first narrator, Lynn, is thirty or so years ahead of the second narrator, Cen. Lynn's tale while compelling is not as interesting to me as Cen's. He is a mathematical genius who manages, we think, to travel back in time to be with Hawaii's last princess. Goonan lets this story line drop, so we are never sure if he saves her life, or if she dies as she is supposed to. I would have liked to have seen this story line come to some resolution, rather than leave it up in the air.

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler, © 1993, Aspect Books, pp. 345 - A pre/post Apocalyptic novel about a young girl fed up with religion who starts her own. This is well-written and gives a chilling look at a possible future--walled neighborhoods, homelessness rampant. Change, and controlling it, become her god. There is another Parable novel, and I'm hoping that it continues this tale. Butler weaves the tale well and makes it far too believable. Start stocking up now.

Brightness Falls from the Air by James Tiptree, Jr., © 1985, Tor Books, pp. 375 - I bought this book on the strength of the author's name and past work. Boy, was I sorry. This book might be OK for those just getting into science fiction, but for me it was a fairly straightforward space opera. Plot twists and turns make the book implausible. This was Tiptree's last book, she died (pen name) shortly after writing this, and it's too bad she didn't leave on a stronger note.

Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler, © 1998, Aspect Books, pp. 408 - The second book of parables, and the Earthseed people make it out of the world alive. This tale is told from three perspectives, rather than one: Olamina's, Olamina's daughter, and Olamina's brother. Again, the story is told through journal entries, excerpts from fictional books, and excerpts from the Earthseed "Bible." It is a good tale, a fast read, and it makes me wonder if there is anyone out there taking Earthseed seriously.

Singer from the Sea by Sheri S. Tepper, © 1999, Avon Eos, pp. 512 - A novel about the dangers of ignoring ecological "harbingers." The planet, Haven, follows what are known as the Covenants - Biblical teachings that call for the subjugation of women. And, for good reason, the blood of women is used to grow a fungus that gives men immortality. Genevieve is the "Singer from the Sea," a woman who calls up the planet spirit, and in the end, uses her talent. I won't tell you how or the outcome. It is an interesting book with interesting ideas, worth the read.

Lilith's Brood by Octavia Butler, © 2000, Aspect Books, pp. 746 - This is a trilogy of Dawn, Adulthood Rites, and Imago. The first two books are narrated by Lilith, a woman who has survived the Apocalypse with the help of alien gene traders along with the remainder of humanity. She is chosen to be the first teacher of the repatriation groups on Earth. The last book is narrated by her offspring, Jodah. These are interesting books that explore the issues of what makes a human, why do humans seem to self-destruct, as well as racial issues. Ms. Butler is definitely at the top of the science fiction pantheon of current writers.

The Telling by Ursula LeGuin, © 2000, Harcourt, pp. 264 - This is one of the Hainish story cycle and makes me want to go back and read some of the older novels. This one seems too didactic, but without much of a message. However, it is a good story, and perhaps I should read it again more critically. It is the story of a historian on a planet that has burned all of its books and must depend on the oral historians to continue the culture.

The Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card, © 2000, TOR Books, pp. 366 - Even if you haven’t read the adventures of Ender Wiggin, this book is a good read. Ender, savior of the Earth, has emigrated to the stars and left the planet to its own devices. The novel follows the lives of Ender’s jeesh, his fighting group, and tells of how they help Ender’s brother, Peter, live up to his brother’s legacy.

Otherland: Mountain of Glass by Tad Williams, © 1999, DAW Books, pp. 749 - This is the third volume of the series. A group of old men are trying to get eternal life by transferring their essence into a virtual net, then into the bodies of children. Meanwhile, there are a group of people trapped in the Net trying to thwart their plans. This is an interesting series that explores the possibilities & morals of people who might take over the Net.

The Great War: Walk in Hell by Harry Turtledove, © 1999, Del Rey Books, pp. 606 - Turtledove takes on the Civil War, but the North has already lost twice and is fighting in the trenches of WWI, but on North American soil. Yet again, Turtledove captures the essence of alternative history and posits plausible situations and events. 

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, © 1977, 1991, Tor Books, pp. 324 - A reread to refresh a fading memory. It is still as good as I remember. Ender plays the game to win, and regrets it. It almost makes me want to go back and read the other two.

Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card, © 1999, Tor Books, pp. 467 - Ender's story told from the perspective of Bean. This was a good way to look at some of the events of the above book differently. Card does an excellent job of presenting both.

Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett, ©1991, Roc Fantasy, pp. 320 - A funny story about three witches who are entangled in myriad fairy tales that are familiar, but twisted. A good, quick read. Quite funny.

The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett, ©1983, Harper, pp. 210 - The first Discworld book, this introduces many of the characters, and there's a handy guide in the back. It tells of Rincewind, the erstwhile wizard, and his adventures with Twoflower, the first tourist. Again, a quick read that is entertaining.

The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett, ©1986, Harper, pp. 241 - The second Discworld book, Rincewind continues as tour guide for Discworld's first tourist. Discworld is carried on the back of a large turtle and is threatened by a red dwarf star. Twoflower's magic  luggage saves the day, and the star holds a surprise for all the doomsayers of Discworld.

Into the Darkness by Harry Turtledove, ©1999, Tor, pp. 684 - Turtledove creates a world at war with flying dragon's et al. One country against the world, the king and his counselor's create methods of warfare never seen in the world. Parallels Germany in World War II. As usual, Turtledove creates a dense reality that blurs the lines of reality and fiction.

The Fort at River's Bend by Jack Whyte, ©1999, Tor, pp. 461 - This is the continuation of Whyte's Camulod series. He places the Arthur legend into historical perspective, recreating the Roman society that ostensibly is the real story of Arthur. It is quite believable and Whyte's writing style makes the reading go quickly.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling, © 1997, Scholastic, Inc., pp. 309 - If I were a kid, this would be a great book. But, I'm an adult and it is only a good one. It is fast moving with pretty good plot twists, one I didn't even catch, and usually I do. Most readers know about the stories, so I won't even go into it. I read this mostly to see what all the hoopla was about. If I had a choice, I think I would rather have my daughter read this than that other series, the scary one, whose name escapes me. I can also see how this book might get the right-wing religious conservatives hackles up.

The Sorceror: Metamorphosis by Jack Whyte, © 1999, Tor Books, pp. 494 - Finally, Arthur is crowned after Merlyn overcomes many enemies.  The thing I like about this series is that it demystifies the legend. Whyte places it firmly in the grasp of Roman tradition, and unlike many myths, explains some of the mysteries logically.

The Tale of the Fox by Harry Turtledove, © 2000, Baen Books, pp. 754 - This is really two books, King of the North and Fox & Empire. They are fairly straight forward fantasy books, the gods are active, magic works, and plenty of blood & guts. Turtledove is almost always a good read, and he doesn't disappoint here.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling, © 1999, Scholastic, Inc., pp. 341 - Harry returns and saves the day again against an enemy that turns out to be the same old one. I don't know if I'm going to keep reading these, maybe once they all get into paperback.

The Wayfarer Redemption by Sara Douglass, © 2000, Tor Books, pp. 448 - This is book one of a series. Douglass has created a world filled with tension, monsters, beautiful creatures, and "right-thinking" people. To survive, the latter two must combine forces to battle the former. Things don't look so good for the good guys. Winter slams down onto the world.