Category: B+

celgas?

Posted on by Greig

The Court Of The Air

Stephen Hunt

Court Of The AirIn two separate threads this book tells the story of two orphans. Molly, a child of a poorhouse and too smart for her own good and Oliver, raised by his uncle but effectively under house arrest as he’s suspected of having been infected by the feymist.
The book is set in an alternative, steampunky, version of Victorian era Britain. Hunt twists the past and traditions of Britain and continental Europe so effectively as to create a very different, yet believable, world.
Of course this being a fantasy the two orphans are vital to the future of a free world under threat from an insane ‘communityist’ under the thrall of ancient evil gods. Their trials and tribulations take place in wonderfully conceived locations with entertaining, if cut out, characters.
I really rather enjoyed this book. It has it’s flaws, to be sure, with weak pacing at times, the lack of character depth, and a couple of loose threads forgotten come the end but it is very much worth a read if you like fantasy novels.

Rating: B+

owlswick?

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Making Money

Terry Pratchett

making moneyThe latest Discworld is the second to feature Moist von Lipwig as the lead character.
While, like every Pratchett book, this is a thoroughly entertaining read it just feels a bit tired. The central premise feels weak and several of the supporting characters are utterly forgettable.
There hasn’t been a truly exceptional Discworld book since Night Watch and that’s a good few books back now.
Anyway like every Pratchett I’d recommend it to anyone. It may be best to read the first Lipwig book – Going Postal – first as the storyline follows directly on from it and some of the humour plays off of things that happen in it.

Rating: B+

pow?

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The Creation Records Story: My Magpie Eyes Are Hungry for the Prize

David Cavanagh

creation records storyThis book is not only a comprehensive account of Creation records but also manages to place everything in the context of the fortunes and transformations of the british record industry over the course of a couple of decades.
Alan McGee reportedly hates it, which is a good indication of just how close to the truth the author has managed to get. Indeed it is a deeply impressive piece of research before you even consider it’s other merits.
It is authoritative and intelligent, thorough and thought-provoking. It’s single great flaw is that reading another page on the breakdown of the relationships in The House of Love or another page on the umpteenth studio that My Bloody Valentine spent two hours in before Kevin Shields decided it wasn’t good enough kills much of the momentum of the story and you can start to get bogged down bored with it and it can become a chore to get to the next interesting bit.
I think that you really have to be keen to know everything about Creation before even thinking about picking this one up. If you are you’ll find that you couldn’t wish for better overview.

Rating: B+

deck?

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A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil

Christopher Brookmyre

blood-pencil.jpgThe latest Brookmyre to hit paperback is both about a murder case in modern day Scotland and a group of people growing up together as they go through primary and high school.
It seems to me to be about how our school days shape the rest of our lives and how hard it is to see people for who they really are in the here and now when you spent every day of your childhood building up an idea of who they are.
Like everything Brookmyre touches this is a fun, quick read. The problem lies in the fact that the little details about playground life are so much better drawn that the actual characters of the schoolkids. So you have to be told that everyone knows that this character isn’t a bad kid rather than him actually showing it through actions and attitude.
Also as he really does fall in love with the sections in the past the contemporary story seems a bit lightweight, more of an excuse than the actual point of the whole thing. Though I did like the banter between the hotshot lawyer and the pub landlady.
Better than the mountain of dross than can be found in the crime section in most bookshops/libraries I’d say it’s well worth a read. Just don’t expect prime Brookmyre

Rating: B+

chartreuse?

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Old Man’s War

John Scalzi

Old Man's WarScalzi’s debut novel is a stylish homage to Heinlein.
The central conceit of the novel is that the human Colonial forces recruit citizens of the wealthy western nations to become solidiers as they reach 75 years old with the lure that they’ll be young again and out defending humanity among the stars. It’s an idea that Scalzi has a lot of fun with as the new recruits go through basic training and on into relentless battle.
The prose can be a little lumpy at times and he’s not quite worked out how to show instead of tell, but it’s quite a lot of fun.
I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a diverting piece of old school science fiction

Rating: B+

drink me?

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Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half Blood PrinceSixth 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?

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the PhoenixThe 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+

shadow wire?

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Ringworld

Larry Niven

Ringworld by Larry NivenRingworld is considered a classic in the science fiction canon. It’s rich with concepts, quickly paced and absorbing.
The story is of Louis Wu, a 200 year old human, who is getting bored with the lack of novelty in his life. Hijacked on his birthday by a member of the secretive alien race known as the Pierson Puppeteers he is offered a place on an expedition with no more explanation than a look at a picture of of a star with a ring around it and the offer of plans to a new incredibly fast spacecraft. Taking the opportunity the Puppeteer, Nessus, builds up a team consisting of a member of the feline, warlike, alien race known as the Kzinti and another human the bred for luckiness Teela Brown.
Via an excursion to the rather odd Puppeteer homeworld this motley crew head on to what the now know to be the Ringworld, a gigantic artefact with the land area of hundreds of planets, the product of an unknown and incredibly powerful alien race.
While it’s quite mindblowing in concepts, the book falls down in terms of characterization and the plot falls apart in the last third destroying the momentum built up.
Definitely worth reading at least once if you have any interest in science fiction, it really doesn’t suit a re-read (as this was for me).

Rating: B+

dover?

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M*A*S*H

Richard Hooker

M*A*S*HThe original source material for the film and subequently the very long running sitcom.
Set during the Korean war in a mobile army hospital this book follows Hawkeye Pierce, Duke Forrest and Trapper John as they try to stay sane working as field surgeons.
The book is funny, laugh out loud in places, but also satisfyingly dark at times. The only flaw is it’s brevity.
I’d recommend this one if you find dark humour particularly appealing, or are just curious about the starting point of a cultural phenomenon.

Rating: B+