Fantasy – Page 17 – transmission

toad?

Posted on August 10, 2007September 4, 2007 by Greig

Storm Front

Jim Butcher

First of the Dresden Files Series introduces Harry Dresden, Wizard For Hire.
In this book Harry attempts to solve a series of ghastly magical murders at the request of a detective in the local Police Department, and tackle a missing persons case at the same time. All while having to deal with Madame who happens to be a Vampire, dark Magicians, being under constant surveillance by the wizard’s council and, oh, the local Chicago mob.
It’s a pretty entertaining romp if wildly nonsensical at times. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a decent piece of fantasy horror with a nice dash of humour.

Rating: B

sandwich?

Posted on July 21, 2007July 25, 2007 by Greig

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

J.K. Rowling

The final book of the Harry Potter series arrived at my door at 8.05am today. Four and a half hours later I had finished reading it.
I have to say that overall I’m quite happy with the way things turn out in the end. Rowling managed to tie up loads of the loose ends but not leave everything too pat. It was also quite refreshing to see her be utterly ruthless in dispatching beloved characters. The only problem is the serious amount of nothing much happening before things start to take off into one insane set piece after another.
I never make recommendations about Harry Potter books, you’ll either be reading it or avoiding it like the plague.
As for me, I quite liked it.

Rating: A-

drink me?

Posted on May 17, 2007 by Greig

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

J.K. Rowling

Sixth and penultimate book in the outrageously successful JF fantasy series. I’ve reviewed this book before, back when it first came out.
Reading it a second time makes plain that some character’s motivations aren’t what they seemed to be the first time I read it, which makes the upcoming final book all the more interesting.
What else? Well I’d still rate the book the same, it’s entertaining enough, but it’s filled with flashbacks and the present day action is pretty sparse until the last third of the book. As for the big twist, well it’s still pretty shocking but I’ve changed my mind a great deal about it’s implications.
As before, no recommendation, but I did enjoy reading it.

Rating: B+

inquisitor?

Posted on May 7, 2007May 8, 2007 by Greig

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

J.K. Rowling

The fifth Harry Potter book and basis for the latest film in the series which is due out later this year. I did a quick re-read in preparation for the film. I’ve reviewed it before when the book first came out, and this the first time I’ve read it since it came out.

Rating: B+

dwimmer?

Posted on February 23, 2007February 26, 2007 by Greig

The Pinhoe Egg

Diana Wynne Jones

The latest book in the revived Chrestomanci series is a sequel of sorts to the Guardian Award winning classic Charmed Life.
In this story Cat Chant (protagonist of Charmed Life) has settled into life at Chrestomanci Castle and finds himself drawn into events caused by a dark secret held by the magical families living in the surrounding villages.
Typically of DWJ this is a thoroughly enjoyable book, with engaging characters and a twisty and fun plot.
The simple fact is that there’s not a better writer of children’s fantasy out there and for my money she may well be the very best ever.
Thoroughly recommended.

Rating: A

bufpuf?

Posted on February 20, 2007February 21, 2007 by Greig

Only Forward

Michael Marshall Smith

Smith’s debut novel is one of my favourite science fiction books of all time.
It starts of as a far future noir detective story with the lead character, Stark, full of wisecracks and “I’m smarter than you” confidence. That it ends up being an incredibly moving piece is testament of Smith’s ability to shift the story around underneath the reader without them ever feeling cheated.
Part of that is the fact that it is made plain within the first couple of pages that Stark is a rather unreliable narrator, more than willing to lie, omit facts or completely fabricate things if he thinks it’s amusing or suits his needs.
By the end when the layers have been stripped away and there are no more falsehoods you are in no doubt of how brilliantly the tale has been told.
After more than a decade, after numerous re-reads, this is still a remarkable piece of work.
I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending it to anyone to read.

Rating: A

jeremy?

Posted on February 11, 2007February 16, 2007 by Greig

Mrs Frisby & The Rats Of NIMH

Robert C. O’Brien

This classic children’s book was one of my favourites when I was young.
I continue to be very glad to this day that I read the book before I ever saw the film adaptation (a typically clumsy Don Bluth animated thing). It’s quite a brief read, but still quite enjoyable.
The story is of an anxious field mouse with a sick child who will not be strong enough to leave the family winter home before the farmer ploughs up the field and destroys it.
After a desperate search for help she’s directed to a group of odd rats living beneath a giant rosebush on the farm. These are the rats of the title and their story is the single best thing about the book.
I have a lot of nostalgia for this little book and it remains a really good piece of kid’s writing and I have no hesitation in recommending it for what it is.

Rating: A-

other half?

Posted on January 12, 2007May 7, 2007 by Greig

Earth, Air, Fire and Custard

tom holt

The last book of the Paul Carpenter trilogy further illustrates the law of diminishing returns, so much so that the last third of the book struck me as utterly incoherent.
I can only say that it was a reasonably enjoyable ride for all it’s incoherence, but that I’m very glad that he’s stopped writing about Carpenter now and I don’t have to buy any more books in the series. (Being a completist is a bitch).
If you like Tom Holt, have read the first two, and don’t mind the random pointless, incoherent plot twists too much then you’ll probably feel like you haven’t wasted your time reading this.

Rating: B-

blood and snow?

Posted on December 20, 2006May 7, 2007 by Greig

Hogfather

Terry Pratchett

I’m a fan of Pratchett’s writing. The man is frighteningly good.
However not every one of his books is a masterpiece. Witness Hogfather.
This book is part of the Death/Susan sequence, which is not my favourite one (only Mort is superb). I’ve never really loved a Susan book, even though on the face of it she should be a really appealing character.
The plot involves a plan by the Auditors of Reality to have the Hogfather (Discworld analogue of Santa Claus) inhumed by a crazed member of the Assassin’s Guild.
I can say that I found it mildly diverting, no more. Which marks it out as rather poor in terms of Pratchett’s output.

Rating: B

Hogfather (Sky One)

This was a 4 hour adaptation of the book starring a host of luminaries from the British acting community. While the art direction lovingly recreated the Discworld, the piece as a whole managed to suffer from poor pacing, confusing editing and a total lack of humour.
Unfortunately the thing was done with rather too much reverence for the source material and not enough of an eye on what would make entertaining television.

crocus?

Posted on December 10, 2006February 16, 2007 by Greig

The Dragon Waiting

John M Ford

Ford’s masterful alternative history retells the story of Richard III’s ascension in a world where the Byzantine Romans never fell, where Vampires, Wizards and Witches are real.
As hokey as that sounds the book feels grounded in truth, with impressively crafted characters and a beautifully layered and nuanced plot.
Reading it makes you miss Mr. Ford even more.
One of an unfortunately small number of writers who could really write that worked almost exclusively within the realms of fantasy and science fiction his death earlier this year is something that I could have done without.
Anyway I recommend this book without hesitation to anyone with an interest in Fantasy.

Rating: A