Since I didn't read any of Bernard Cornwell's previous Saxon Tales, I was intrigued to find out if I could read this fifth book as a stand alone novel. The answer is yes! It is so fluent that there is no need to look up the four previous Saxon Tales for missing information. Well done, Mr. Cornwell. I've often wondered how the author could juggle this series, the Sharpe novels, the Grail Quest series, three other series, and seven stand alone novels without getting confused! All of these novels occur during different periods in the birth of England. Bernard Cornwell remains the historical fiction genius throughout the literary world.
This tale occurs around the year 892 with the continuing story of Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a pagan warlord under oath to the Christian King of Wessex named Alfred. How many of these facts are true is conjecture. We learn that Uhtred is a brilliant leader during the battle for Fearnhamme against the invading Danes (Vikings) led by the furious Harald Bloodhair. The description of the hand to hand combat is done in pure vintage Cornwell clarity.
After the battle, Uhtred is goaded into killing a priest in front of King Alfred and his many clergy cohorts. He breaks his oath to the King and flees north towards Northumbria with some of his loyal followers. There, he meets up with his foster brother Ragnar, Lord of Durham. Wanting to dispose of his uncle at his rightful castle in Bebbanburg, Uhtred is instead cajoled into joing forces with the Danes to end the Christian rule in Wessex once and for all. The rest of the story is classic Saxon versus Dane or Christian versus Pagan. You will have to read this magnificent story yourself to find out what happens in the exciting climax with many twist and turns in the final battles.
The novel is deep and rich in wonderful characters, such as: Aethelflaed, the daughter of Alfred; Haesten, the Dane pirate; and Skade, the most vicious sorceress ever known. This is the fourth book that I've read by Cornwell, and it doesn't disappoint. Like I've said before - can this man describe medieval combat or what?
RATING: 5 out of 5 stars
Comment: According to Cornwell, there are at least three more Saxon Tale novels to come. The first five focus on Alfred the Great's reign during the ninth century. Uhtred was an English orphan living in Northumbria and adopted by a Dane. This is why Uhtred was brought up as a follower of Thor instead of Christ. The remains of participants involved in the book's final battle were found underground when a railway line was being built in the middle of the nineteenth century.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
FORGOTTEN LIFE
A better title for this 1989 Brian Aldiss book would be "Forgotten Novel". Why is this novel written by the great science fiction author so unappreciated? I have done a lot of searching on the internet and can't find a single review of this book. Did the Hugo Award winner lose his touch by writing a realistic novel in lieu of science fiction? I don't know the answer, but I plunged into it anyway. I have to admit that while well written, the plot seemed thin and boring, and nearly every character was a writer or a wannabe writer.
The main character is Clement Winter, a Analytical Psychologist, who is considering writing a book about his recently deceased brother Joseph, a writer of Far East books. Clement is married to Sheila, a.k.a. Green Mouth, the famed fantasy writer of the planet Kerinth. (I think it is a planet, anyway.) See what I mean about the writers? The bulk of the information Clement collects about his brother Joseph is from, you guessed it, letters and journals written by Joseph.
As Clement delves into his brother's life, he finds psychological problems with Joseph that stem from his relationships with his mater and pater (the names he uses for his parents). He also discovers the interesting life Joseph led during the World War II campaign in Burma as a member of the famed English Forgotten Army. One of the best parts of the book is the wartime romance Joseph had in Sumatra with Mandy, a married Chinese woman. Later in life, he meets Lucy, his last love and nuclear disarmament protester.
There are many subplots mainly focusing on Clement and Sheila's on and off again relationship and the mysterious housekeeper Michelin from France. Clement brings up a interesting theory that a person can have an anima vision and reverse his thoughts about the life he led. Is that what Joseph had at the books ending? I struggled with this novel; sometimes I thought I knew what the plot was and other times didn't. This book is forgotten for unknown reasons, but at least it will have one American review. If you can find the book, I recommend reading it for the sake of the 86 year old English master.
RATING: 3 of 5 stars
Comment: Since Aldiss was in Burma during World War II with the Royal Signals Regiment, the segment about Burma was well documented. Did you know that Brian is also a successful abstract artist? He is a two-time Hugo Award and one time Nebula Award winner. His most famous works are the Helliconia Trilogy and the novel Life In the West.
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The main character is Clement Winter, a Analytical Psychologist, who is considering writing a book about his recently deceased brother Joseph, a writer of Far East books. Clement is married to Sheila, a.k.a. Green Mouth, the famed fantasy writer of the planet Kerinth. (I think it is a planet, anyway.) See what I mean about the writers? The bulk of the information Clement collects about his brother Joseph is from, you guessed it, letters and journals written by Joseph.
As Clement delves into his brother's life, he finds psychological problems with Joseph that stem from his relationships with his mater and pater (the names he uses for his parents). He also discovers the interesting life Joseph led during the World War II campaign in Burma as a member of the famed English Forgotten Army. One of the best parts of the book is the wartime romance Joseph had in Sumatra with Mandy, a married Chinese woman. Later in life, he meets Lucy, his last love and nuclear disarmament protester.
There are many subplots mainly focusing on Clement and Sheila's on and off again relationship and the mysterious housekeeper Michelin from France. Clement brings up a interesting theory that a person can have an anima vision and reverse his thoughts about the life he led. Is that what Joseph had at the books ending? I struggled with this novel; sometimes I thought I knew what the plot was and other times didn't. This book is forgotten for unknown reasons, but at least it will have one American review. If you can find the book, I recommend reading it for the sake of the 86 year old English master.
RATING: 3 of 5 stars
Comment: Since Aldiss was in Burma during World War II with the Royal Signals Regiment, the segment about Burma was well documented. Did you know that Brian is also a successful abstract artist? He is a two-time Hugo Award and one time Nebula Award winner. His most famous works are the Helliconia Trilogy and the novel Life In the West.
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Sunday, August 14, 2011
Millennium People
Like Henry David Thoreau and Civil Disobedience in 1849, authors around the world have penned books about social and political change. Did Thoreau want a better government or individuals doing what they thought was right? J.G. Ballard has confused me in this novel, because I don't fully understand what he wants. He writes a tale of middle class rebellion, but offer no solution to their problem. Instead, he just gives up. I think the book would have been more enjoyable if there was a resolution to ease the burden of the middle class in today's society.
Psychologist David Markham learns that Laura, his ex-wife, was killed by a bomb in Heathrow Airport. He also discovers that it wasn't a terrorist group that killed her, but a Bourgeois cell living in London. Who are these people? What do they want? Markham tracks down clues that leads him to a group of people living in a complex called The Estate of Chelsea Marina. He infiltrates the group and meets its cell leader, a female bomber, a priest, and his girlfriend. These people are tired of being the backbone of society. They revolt by giving up their Volvos, smoke bomb travel agencies, and museums; they refuse to pay their mortgages and leave their responsible jobs.
Eventually, Markham meets the leader of the revolt, Dr. Richard Gould, who persuades Markham to join the group. This part I found hard to believe, since the change from protagonist to antagonist is accomplished in a matter of a few pages. Here is a man looking for his ex-wife's killer, now willing to participate in wanton mayhem! The ensuing disturbances are sometimes lightweight, other times jumbled. The conclusion of this book is somewhat muddled and leaves a taste of incongruity in your mouth.
I know that J.G. Ballard is a well respected author, but I don't think this was one of his better efforts. While I enjoyed reading this novel, it is not the brilliant political satire some reviewers are calling it. Is it worth reading? Of course it is. Any Ballard book is mandatory reading.
RATING: 3.5 stars out of 5
Comments: J.G. Ballard died in London in 2009 at the age of 78. His most famous novels are Crash and Empire of the Sun. He is credited with starting the New Wave genre in science fiction. Ballard also had a influence in music, mostly for British post-punk groups.
Psychologist David Markham learns that Laura, his ex-wife, was killed by a bomb in Heathrow Airport. He also discovers that it wasn't a terrorist group that killed her, but a Bourgeois cell living in London. Who are these people? What do they want? Markham tracks down clues that leads him to a group of people living in a complex called The Estate of Chelsea Marina. He infiltrates the group and meets its cell leader, a female bomber, a priest, and his girlfriend. These people are tired of being the backbone of society. They revolt by giving up their Volvos, smoke bomb travel agencies, and museums; they refuse to pay their mortgages and leave their responsible jobs.
Eventually, Markham meets the leader of the revolt, Dr. Richard Gould, who persuades Markham to join the group. This part I found hard to believe, since the change from protagonist to antagonist is accomplished in a matter of a few pages. Here is a man looking for his ex-wife's killer, now willing to participate in wanton mayhem! The ensuing disturbances are sometimes lightweight, other times jumbled. The conclusion of this book is somewhat muddled and leaves a taste of incongruity in your mouth.
I know that J.G. Ballard is a well respected author, but I don't think this was one of his better efforts. While I enjoyed reading this novel, it is not the brilliant political satire some reviewers are calling it. Is it worth reading? Of course it is. Any Ballard book is mandatory reading.
RATING: 3.5 stars out of 5
Comments: J.G. Ballard died in London in 2009 at the age of 78. His most famous novels are Crash and Empire of the Sun. He is credited with starting the New Wave genre in science fiction. Ballard also had a influence in music, mostly for British post-punk groups.
Monday, August 1, 2011
A DANCE WITH DRAGONS
Here is the latest cliffhanger du jour from George R.R. Martin, the fifth book of the Song Of Ice and Fire series. Hopefully, I won't have to wait six years till the sixth book, The Winds of Winter; although, I have to say that the wait was worth it for this novel. Many questions and mysteries from previous books are resolved, but a host of new ones crop up. When I read this series, I feel like I'm a kid again watching the Flash Gordon serials at the Saturday matinee.
This book runs parallel with A Feast for Crows in part. It follows the characters from the north and across the narrow sea until about page 593, where the timeframe unites both books. Readers are brought up-to-date with Tyrion, Daenerys, King Stannis, Jon Snow, Bran Stark, Davos Seaworth, and Theon Greyjoy, now called Reek. Arya Stark reenters the novel on page 593, Jaime Lannister on 632, Brienne of Tarth on 646, Cersei on 717, and Victarion Greyjoy on page 741. Surprisingly Sansa Stark and Littlefinger are not in the novel at all, even though they are living in the north.
Since it has been so long between novels, I found myself constantly going to the internet to refresh my memory on certain characters. In retrospect, I think it's a good idea to review the four previous books before attempting to read this one. This book is also filled with new characters, especially from The Free Cities, Valyria, and Beyond the Wall. How Martin can keep up with all the strange names from all the Sellsword companies and the people in Meereen and Yunkai is beyond me. It is a bit annoying trying to remember whoYurkhaz Zo Yunzak is, or Reznak Mo Reznak for example. There are many heroes in this novel and numerous scrofulous villains, new and old.
One thing to remember about Martin is that he plays no favorites when it comes time for a hero or villain to die. My one caveat is that this happens multiple times or does it? The innuendos are astonishing through out the book.
The last thing to mention is that you can tell by the book's title, the dragons are finally involved! I will not tell you what part Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal play in this book, but it is a big one. This was a pleasure to read, my only regret is that I have finished it. What do you read after this?
RATING: 5 out of 5 stars
Comment: When reading this series, the reader's best friend is Wikipedia, which does a great job explaining all the characters. I knew J.R.R. Tolkien was an influence on Martin, but didn't know the medieval writings of Bernard Cornwell are also important to Martin. The first novel in this series was published in 1996, currently Martin plans on seven books, but who knows if this series will ever end.
This book runs parallel with A Feast for Crows in part. It follows the characters from the north and across the narrow sea until about page 593, where the timeframe unites both books. Readers are brought up-to-date with Tyrion, Daenerys, King Stannis, Jon Snow, Bran Stark, Davos Seaworth, and Theon Greyjoy, now called Reek. Arya Stark reenters the novel on page 593, Jaime Lannister on 632, Brienne of Tarth on 646, Cersei on 717, and Victarion Greyjoy on page 741. Surprisingly Sansa Stark and Littlefinger are not in the novel at all, even though they are living in the north.
Since it has been so long between novels, I found myself constantly going to the internet to refresh my memory on certain characters. In retrospect, I think it's a good idea to review the four previous books before attempting to read this one. This book is also filled with new characters, especially from The Free Cities, Valyria, and Beyond the Wall. How Martin can keep up with all the strange names from all the Sellsword companies and the people in Meereen and Yunkai is beyond me. It is a bit annoying trying to remember whoYurkhaz Zo Yunzak is, or Reznak Mo Reznak for example. There are many heroes in this novel and numerous scrofulous villains, new and old.
One thing to remember about Martin is that he plays no favorites when it comes time for a hero or villain to die. My one caveat is that this happens multiple times or does it? The innuendos are astonishing through out the book.
The last thing to mention is that you can tell by the book's title, the dragons are finally involved! I will not tell you what part Drogon, Viserion, and Rhaegal play in this book, but it is a big one. This was a pleasure to read, my only regret is that I have finished it. What do you read after this?
RATING: 5 out of 5 stars
Comment: When reading this series, the reader's best friend is Wikipedia, which does a great job explaining all the characters. I knew J.R.R. Tolkien was an influence on Martin, but didn't know the medieval writings of Bernard Cornwell are also important to Martin. The first novel in this series was published in 1996, currently Martin plans on seven books, but who knows if this series will ever end.
Friday, July 15, 2011
Leaving Van Gogh
Are spoilers needed when the first line in the novel says, "I held Vincent's skull in my hands yesterday"? I don't think so. This historical fiction novel by Carol Wallace depicts the last three months or so of the Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh's life. The novel is narrated by Dr. Paul Gachet, who is a real life subject of one of Van Gogh's most famous paintings. The French physician was supposedly Van Gogh's doctor during the last stages of the painter's mental illness. He was also an amateur artist and friend of famous painters, Cezanne and Pisarro. When Dr. Gachet died, he owned 26 Van Goghs, 24 Cezannes, 12 Pissaros, and many other paintings done by artists such as Monet and Renoir. What are those worth now?
The book is written in the style of the late 1890s. I really felt like I was back in those times. The writers of the late nineteenth century had a style of their own, and Carol Wallace mimics that style to a tee, including the use of Caslon typeface. I have a vexation with a book if it's written without the proper type.
In 1890, Dr. Gachet is approached by Theo Van Gogh and is asked if he can help his brother's mental condition. The doctor agrees, and Vincent moves to the country, near the doctors house in Auvers-Sur-Oise, France. Early on, the heavy smoking and drinking Vincent seems to get better and strikes up a friendship with Gachet's family. But then the doctor notices mood swings that can be dangerous for Vincent and Gachet's family. Vincent becomes somber and argumentative when he finds that his brother Theo is dying of syphilis. If his brother dies, it means Vincent's monthly stipend and art supplies stop. Vincent feels that if he can't paint, then his life is worthless. He is only 37 years old.
The time Vincent spent with Doctor Gachet is pure conjecture, but that period produced some of Van Gogh's most prodigious works. This was his bright vivid color period, having done away with his earlier earth tone and browns style, which produced his famous The Potato Eaters. Did Dr. Gachet really spend this time with Vincent and assist in his suicide? It is unknown, but possible. Carol Wallace presents a plausible story of the last three months of the great painter's life. A well written and brilliantly conceived novel.
RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
Comment: Much of what we know about Vincent's thoughts come from the over 600 letters written to his brother Theo, the art dealer. Even though 1890 was his last year, many of his famous cypress trees, wheat fields, and portraits were painted that year, some of of which were produced in a single day. He was ahead of his time, and his work was not valued in his era, leaving him broke, disconsolate and suicidal.
The book is written in the style of the late 1890s. I really felt like I was back in those times. The writers of the late nineteenth century had a style of their own, and Carol Wallace mimics that style to a tee, including the use of Caslon typeface. I have a vexation with a book if it's written without the proper type.
In 1890, Dr. Gachet is approached by Theo Van Gogh and is asked if he can help his brother's mental condition. The doctor agrees, and Vincent moves to the country, near the doctors house in Auvers-Sur-Oise, France. Early on, the heavy smoking and drinking Vincent seems to get better and strikes up a friendship with Gachet's family. But then the doctor notices mood swings that can be dangerous for Vincent and Gachet's family. Vincent becomes somber and argumentative when he finds that his brother Theo is dying of syphilis. If his brother dies, it means Vincent's monthly stipend and art supplies stop. Vincent feels that if he can't paint, then his life is worthless. He is only 37 years old.
The time Vincent spent with Doctor Gachet is pure conjecture, but that period produced some of Van Gogh's most prodigious works. This was his bright vivid color period, having done away with his earlier earth tone and browns style, which produced his famous The Potato Eaters. Did Dr. Gachet really spend this time with Vincent and assist in his suicide? It is unknown, but possible. Carol Wallace presents a plausible story of the last three months of the great painter's life. A well written and brilliantly conceived novel.
RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
Comment: Much of what we know about Vincent's thoughts come from the over 600 letters written to his brother Theo, the art dealer. Even though 1890 was his last year, many of his famous cypress trees, wheat fields, and portraits were painted that year, some of of which were produced in a single day. He was ahead of his time, and his work was not valued in his era, leaving him broke, disconsolate and suicidal.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
WE, THE DROWNED
This historical fiction novel tells the story of a Danish shipping town between the years 1848 and 1945. Carsten Jensen's 678 page novel is a very enjoyable read, but not the classic that some reviewers are calling it. I know I've used the words "classic" or "classical" in my reviews before, but I never compared it to an actual classic book. A UK reviewer compared this work to Moby Dick and The Old Man and The Sea. Wow.
Let's analyze this. In this book there are many able seaman, but no Ishmael. There are many captains in We, the Drowned, but no Ahab. The language and style of Herman Melville is unsurpassed by any modern day author. Ernest Hemingway's book uses the Cuban fisherman Santiago's struggle with the giant marlin as a lesson in man's tenacity and belief in God's will. One book demonstrates man's stubborn desire for revenge, the other man's obstinate perseverance. Don't get me wrong - I liked the book; it's just not a classic. Okay, enough of that.
An unusual trait of this book is that each chapter seems to have a new narrator. Sometimes I knew who was telling the story; but most of the times, I didn't. It was distracting enough for me to pause and try to figure out who was the chapter's narrator. I thought it was interesting when the author, in his acknowledgment, said he used the whole town of Marstal to help him with information and motivation.
The book itself traces the life of Lars Madsen through the 1848 war with Germany, continues with his son, Albert Madsen and his friends to World War I, and finishes with Albert's "adopted" family of Klara Friis and Knud Erik to the end of World War II. There are many interesting stories concerning these characters, although I could only feel empathy for Albert Madsen and Knud Erik out of the hundreds of characters the reader meets through the book's 97 years.
I'm assuming the author wanted to give the world a taste of what it was like to be a seaman in Marstal, Denmark. Sailing the open seas in masted ships, facing constant storms, living like a prisoner, being beaten by murderous first mates, and then eventually for most: death by drowning! If so, I got the flavor of it. The harsh conditions and the many ports of call are extraordinarily descriptive and worthy of notice. Overall, nice job Mr. Jensen. I highly recommend reading this tale of the seas.
RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
Comment: This book was published in Denmark in 2006, but wasn't translated into English until 2010. It's quite amazing that so few books are written about seafaring. The few classics I mentioned above plus Melville's unfinished Billy Budd, Sailor are true sea tales. Probably the most famous is Homer's The Odyssey, which proved that Odysseus was an inept captain to say the least. He left Troy with twelve ships heading for his home in Ithaca and arrived twenty years later as the soul survivor.
Let's analyze this. In this book there are many able seaman, but no Ishmael. There are many captains in We, the Drowned, but no Ahab. The language and style of Herman Melville is unsurpassed by any modern day author. Ernest Hemingway's book uses the Cuban fisherman Santiago's struggle with the giant marlin as a lesson in man's tenacity and belief in God's will. One book demonstrates man's stubborn desire for revenge, the other man's obstinate perseverance. Don't get me wrong - I liked the book; it's just not a classic. Okay, enough of that.
An unusual trait of this book is that each chapter seems to have a new narrator. Sometimes I knew who was telling the story; but most of the times, I didn't. It was distracting enough for me to pause and try to figure out who was the chapter's narrator. I thought it was interesting when the author, in his acknowledgment, said he used the whole town of Marstal to help him with information and motivation.
The book itself traces the life of Lars Madsen through the 1848 war with Germany, continues with his son, Albert Madsen and his friends to World War I, and finishes with Albert's "adopted" family of Klara Friis and Knud Erik to the end of World War II. There are many interesting stories concerning these characters, although I could only feel empathy for Albert Madsen and Knud Erik out of the hundreds of characters the reader meets through the book's 97 years.
I'm assuming the author wanted to give the world a taste of what it was like to be a seaman in Marstal, Denmark. Sailing the open seas in masted ships, facing constant storms, living like a prisoner, being beaten by murderous first mates, and then eventually for most: death by drowning! If so, I got the flavor of it. The harsh conditions and the many ports of call are extraordinarily descriptive and worthy of notice. Overall, nice job Mr. Jensen. I highly recommend reading this tale of the seas.
RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
Comment: This book was published in Denmark in 2006, but wasn't translated into English until 2010. It's quite amazing that so few books are written about seafaring. The few classics I mentioned above plus Melville's unfinished Billy Budd, Sailor are true sea tales. Probably the most famous is Homer's The Odyssey, which proved that Odysseus was an inept captain to say the least. He left Troy with twelve ships heading for his home in Ithaca and arrived twenty years later as the soul survivor.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT
If I'm going to read a vampire novel, I prefer it to involve Vlad the Impaler, rather than your modern day Count Dracula type vampire. Dan Simmons has created a historical fiction novel that occurs around the time of the 1989 Romania Revolution that deposed the communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. The story moves back and forth from Colorado to Romania and Hungary. It is so well written that you'll say to yourself: Wow! If this were a movie, the Colorado parts would be in color, and the Eastern European parts would be in black and white. That is how depressing Simmons makes you feel when the action shifts to Budapest, Hungary or Transylvania, Romania.
The idea that a blood serum could be used in lieu of a satisfying neck bite is not new, but to find a physical reason vampires need fresh blood probably is. The hero, Dr. Kate Neuman, is an hematologist bent on finding out that answer after her adopted baby from Romania, Joshua, turns out to be a vampire. As the good doctor zeroes in on the answer to cure her baby and possibly the AID's virus and cancer, chaos strikes her household in Colorado. The dark advisers, the feared Strigoi, appear and kidnap her baby back to Romania. With her friend, the priest Mike O'Rourke (a recurring Simmons character), Dr. Neuman returns to Romania to find her baby and determine the real reason for the kidnapping.
While on their quest, Dan Simmons is at his best. The super-heroic efforts of Neuman and O'Rourke are death defying to say the least. The people in Romania are supposedly helping them, but are constantly under suspicion of being traitors. Who is a human, and who is a vampire? There are many chapters in this book where all the words are written in italic. This is the scary part because that means that the five hundred year old Vlad the Impaler is speaking. The infamous Prince of Wallachia, Vlad Tepes is alive and here for his final act. The last chapters are spellbinding with a very late and unexpected twist.
The use of italicized chapters in a novel is not new, but when used correctly it can make a book enchanting and attention grabbing. I had that same feeling in 2005 when reading Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian. In that book, the italicized chapters are letters written to a daughter from her father involving Vlad the Impaler. I have read many Dan Simmons books, and as usual, I loved it.
RATING: 5 out of 5 stars
Comment: Dan Simmons is a Hugo and Locus Awards winner for Hyperion in 1989. I plan on reading the four Hyperion books this fall. You should also read his classic two book set: Ilium and Olympos. They are truly amazing. Don't forget his recent hits: Black Hills and Drood. Do I sound like a fan of Simmons? Yes I am.
The idea that a blood serum could be used in lieu of a satisfying neck bite is not new, but to find a physical reason vampires need fresh blood probably is. The hero, Dr. Kate Neuman, is an hematologist bent on finding out that answer after her adopted baby from Romania, Joshua, turns out to be a vampire. As the good doctor zeroes in on the answer to cure her baby and possibly the AID's virus and cancer, chaos strikes her household in Colorado. The dark advisers, the feared Strigoi, appear and kidnap her baby back to Romania. With her friend, the priest Mike O'Rourke (a recurring Simmons character), Dr. Neuman returns to Romania to find her baby and determine the real reason for the kidnapping.
While on their quest, Dan Simmons is at his best. The super-heroic efforts of Neuman and O'Rourke are death defying to say the least. The people in Romania are supposedly helping them, but are constantly under suspicion of being traitors. Who is a human, and who is a vampire? There are many chapters in this book where all the words are written in italic. This is the scary part because that means that the five hundred year old Vlad the Impaler is speaking. The infamous Prince of Wallachia, Vlad Tepes is alive and here for his final act. The last chapters are spellbinding with a very late and unexpected twist.
The use of italicized chapters in a novel is not new, but when used correctly it can make a book enchanting and attention grabbing. I had that same feeling in 2005 when reading Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian. In that book, the italicized chapters are letters written to a daughter from her father involving Vlad the Impaler. I have read many Dan Simmons books, and as usual, I loved it.
RATING: 5 out of 5 stars
Comment: Dan Simmons is a Hugo and Locus Awards winner for Hyperion in 1989. I plan on reading the four Hyperion books this fall. You should also read his classic two book set: Ilium and Olympos. They are truly amazing. Don't forget his recent hits: Black Hills and Drood. Do I sound like a fan of Simmons? Yes I am.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA
What if in 1942 Eleanor Roosevelt could flap her arms and fly like a bird? Could she lead American bomber raids into Germany? Welcome to the alternate history or what I call the "what if" genre. I actually saw this skit on SNL many years ago. I believe Harry Turtledove is still number one in this genre, but the distinguished Philip Roth did a yeoman's job on this novel.
Sometimes I start a alternate history novel, and then I wonder why I started it! I'm not a reader that starts a novel and then stops. I must finish a book, even if its torturous. Thank God, this was not the case with this plausible story. Mr. Roth not only made this scenario seem possible, but I bought it lock, stock and barrel.
The book examines the politics and pressures of American life if Charles A. Lindbergh defeated Franklin Delano Roosevelt for the Presidency in 1940. To make matters worse, Lindbergh picks Henry Ford for a major role in his cabinet. For people that are unaware, Lindbergh and Ford were friends of Germany and foes of the Jewish people. Later in the book, Walter Winchell, the gossip columnist for the New York Daily Mirror, runs against Mr. Lindbergh with catastrophic consequences. The setting for this novel is Newark, NJ with Mr. Roth posing as the Narrator for his Jewish family.
What makes this book believable is the fact that Philip Roth would have been the same age, seven to nine years old, as the Philip Roth in the story during this struggle. As a Newark resident, Mr.Roth personally experienced the strain of being persecuted with antisemitic hostilities in the Weequahic section of Newark in the early 1940's.
The frightening thought that I had after finishing the book was : It could have happened! Based on my research, Mr. Lindbergh was actually considered as a Presidential candidate. He definitely wanted America neutral during World War II, and who knows what would have happened if Henry Ford had been elected to political office, or chosen for a Cabinet position. Before you read this classic novel, do yourself a favor and read the bio's of Charles A. Lindbergh and Henry Ford in advance.
RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
Comment: Philip Roth is a many time award winner, including the Pulitzer Prize for American Pastoral. Four of his books have been made into movies, including Goodbye, Columbus and Portnoy's Complaint. If you are a student of classic writers, you must read at least one Roth novel.
Sometimes I start a alternate history novel, and then I wonder why I started it! I'm not a reader that starts a novel and then stops. I must finish a book, even if its torturous. Thank God, this was not the case with this plausible story. Mr. Roth not only made this scenario seem possible, but I bought it lock, stock and barrel.
The book examines the politics and pressures of American life if Charles A. Lindbergh defeated Franklin Delano Roosevelt for the Presidency in 1940. To make matters worse, Lindbergh picks Henry Ford for a major role in his cabinet. For people that are unaware, Lindbergh and Ford were friends of Germany and foes of the Jewish people. Later in the book, Walter Winchell, the gossip columnist for the New York Daily Mirror, runs against Mr. Lindbergh with catastrophic consequences. The setting for this novel is Newark, NJ with Mr. Roth posing as the Narrator for his Jewish family.
What makes this book believable is the fact that Philip Roth would have been the same age, seven to nine years old, as the Philip Roth in the story during this struggle. As a Newark resident, Mr.Roth personally experienced the strain of being persecuted with antisemitic hostilities in the Weequahic section of Newark in the early 1940's.
The frightening thought that I had after finishing the book was : It could have happened! Based on my research, Mr. Lindbergh was actually considered as a Presidential candidate. He definitely wanted America neutral during World War II, and who knows what would have happened if Henry Ford had been elected to political office, or chosen for a Cabinet position. Before you read this classic novel, do yourself a favor and read the bio's of Charles A. Lindbergh and Henry Ford in advance.
RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
Comment: Philip Roth is a many time award winner, including the Pulitzer Prize for American Pastoral. Four of his books have been made into movies, including Goodbye, Columbus and Portnoy's Complaint. If you are a student of classic writers, you must read at least one Roth novel.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
JONATHAN STRANGE & Mr. NORRELL
Susanna Clarke's first novel is an instant classic in the prodigious historical fantasy genre. While reading this novel, I thought I had missed my history lesson on early 19th century England. I didn't know that the British Army used magicians to defeat Napoleon at Waterloo. Did you? This wonderful book documents the return of British magic from 1806 through 1817. Like magic, the book at over 782 pages actually seemed much shorter than it was.
I was reminded of Dickens while reading this book. The first reason is the use of archaic spelling, such as "surprize" for "surprise", "shew" for "show," and "chuse" for "choose". The second reason is the evocative character names, such as Mr. Honeyfoot, Lord Sidmouth, Mr. Segundus, and Miss Wintertowne. The third reason is the constant return of theoretical magician Vinculus to the story when I thought the author was finished with him. That reminded me of Orlick from Dickens's Great Expectations.
I enjoyed Clarke's use of 100s of footnotes which gave the story the air of a real history. The pell-mell manner that some authors use footnotes is avoided using crisp and verified direction. The only downside was that their small type often made my eyes strain and water.
The story itself begins with Mr. Norrel, England's self-proclaimed and only practical magician, deciding to bring magic back to England. This makes the theoretical magicians, who believe that actual magic died out years ago, resign, except for Mr. Segundus and the rogue Vinculus. Mr. Norrell moves to London with his servant, John Childermass (see what I mean about the names). From there, Mr. Norrell becomes popular with the Lords and Gentlemen of London. The wife of one of his benefactors, Sir Walter Pole, dies unexpectedly, and Sir Walter asks Mr. Norrell to resurrect her. To assist him, Mr. Norrell conjures up a fairy - the pernicious gentleman with thistle-down hair in the bright green jacket. They succeed; but, the evil fairy refuses to go back to Faerie land and puts an enchantment on Mrs. Pole and Sir Walter's servant, Stephen Black.
Eventually, Mr. Norrell takes on a pupil, Jonathan Strange, but he holds back information from his vast library, not wanting his pupil to better him. Mr. Strange becomes very successful and helps the war effort against France with his powerful magic. He comes back from the war a hero, which leads to a nasty break-up with Mr. Norrell. The gentleman with the thistle-down hair then enchants Mrs. Strange, and Jonathan Strange now thinks she is dead.
Not wanting to divulge the ending, I'll stop here. The last two hundred or so pages are full of magical conflicts between Mr. Norrell, Strange, the enchantees (I made that word up), and the odious gentleman with thistle-down hair. Wow, what a book. This is the best novel that I have read this year! There is no follow up yet, but one is in the works.
RATING: 5 out of 5 stars
Comment: This is Susanna Clarke's first novel, and it won the 2005 Hugo Award for best novel. The wonderful illustrations (and there are many ) were done by Portia Rosenberg. My son bought this novel at a used book store for $6.99, and when I looked at it, I realized that not only was it a first edition, but it was also signed by Susanna Clarke!
I was reminded of Dickens while reading this book. The first reason is the use of archaic spelling, such as "surprize" for "surprise", "shew" for "show," and "chuse" for "choose". The second reason is the evocative character names, such as Mr. Honeyfoot, Lord Sidmouth, Mr. Segundus, and Miss Wintertowne. The third reason is the constant return of theoretical magician Vinculus to the story when I thought the author was finished with him. That reminded me of Orlick from Dickens's Great Expectations.
I enjoyed Clarke's use of 100s of footnotes which gave the story the air of a real history. The pell-mell manner that some authors use footnotes is avoided using crisp and verified direction. The only downside was that their small type often made my eyes strain and water.
The story itself begins with Mr. Norrel, England's self-proclaimed and only practical magician, deciding to bring magic back to England. This makes the theoretical magicians, who believe that actual magic died out years ago, resign, except for Mr. Segundus and the rogue Vinculus. Mr. Norrell moves to London with his servant, John Childermass (see what I mean about the names). From there, Mr. Norrell becomes popular with the Lords and Gentlemen of London. The wife of one of his benefactors, Sir Walter Pole, dies unexpectedly, and Sir Walter asks Mr. Norrell to resurrect her. To assist him, Mr. Norrell conjures up a fairy - the pernicious gentleman with thistle-down hair in the bright green jacket. They succeed; but, the evil fairy refuses to go back to Faerie land and puts an enchantment on Mrs. Pole and Sir Walter's servant, Stephen Black.
Eventually, Mr. Norrell takes on a pupil, Jonathan Strange, but he holds back information from his vast library, not wanting his pupil to better him. Mr. Strange becomes very successful and helps the war effort against France with his powerful magic. He comes back from the war a hero, which leads to a nasty break-up with Mr. Norrell. The gentleman with the thistle-down hair then enchants Mrs. Strange, and Jonathan Strange now thinks she is dead.
Not wanting to divulge the ending, I'll stop here. The last two hundred or so pages are full of magical conflicts between Mr. Norrell, Strange, the enchantees (I made that word up), and the odious gentleman with thistle-down hair. Wow, what a book. This is the best novel that I have read this year! There is no follow up yet, but one is in the works.
RATING: 5 out of 5 stars
Comment: This is Susanna Clarke's first novel, and it won the 2005 Hugo Award for best novel. The wonderful illustrations (and there are many ) were done by Portia Rosenberg. My son bought this novel at a used book store for $6.99, and when I looked at it, I realized that not only was it a first edition, but it was also signed by Susanna Clarke!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Daemon
This is a guest review from my eldest son, Deron:
In this techno-thriller by Daniel Suarez, game programmer par exellance Matthew Sobol reaches back from the grave to change the world. This is the first book of two in a series. The second is Freedom.
The story begins with a news item announcing the death of Sobol from brain cancer. Sobol was the billionarie CTO and co-founder of the computer game company CyberStorm Entertainment. Soon after Sobol's death, a programmer with the company is murdered. Then, another. Detective Peter Sebeck is called to investigate. Their murderer isn't a mystery for long, because Det. Sebeck receives an email from the killer - Matthew Sobol.
Before dying, Sobol created a daemon, "A computer program that runs continuously in the background and performs specified operations at predefined times or in response to certain events." This daemon was distributed throughout the world, like a computer virus; it was designed to search the internet for news of Sobol's death and, once found, initiate Sobol's plan. The programmers were murdered because they knew too much about the inner workings of the daemon that they had assisted Sobol in writing.
The daemon then recruits people and businesses worldwide, both legitimate and criminal, through wile and blackmail to carry out Sobol's plan. In response, Det. Sebeck and every conceivable government authority begin their battle against a computer program threatening to change the world order. What is the daemon's ultimate goal? How can one stop a program that is both nowhere and everywhere?
I have a mixed feelings about this book. Its a page turner, has a great hook, and is very enjoyable. However, the writing is uneven and could have be tighter. This is Suarez's first book. Perhaps if this had been his tenth, the writing would have been better. He could have used a better editor.
This book's plot is very dependent on technology and so is packed with technical jargon. That in itself is not bad. Jon Ross, a computer programmer with a shady past, explains many of these terms to Det. Sebeck for the reader. But sometimes, the terms go undefined, and I often feel that the author is technical word name dropping to impress the reader. This is a case where a better writer, like Michael Crichton, would have eliminated the terms to keep the plot flowing.
I recommend this book and will be sure to read the second. However, if you don't think you'd be into a tech-heavy book, you might become confused and bored.
RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
Comments: The film rights for this book have been purchased. Unless they are able to reduce the technical jargon to only the essentials, I don't see the movie having a wide appeal beyond the technical crowd.
In this techno-thriller by Daniel Suarez, game programmer par exellance Matthew Sobol reaches back from the grave to change the world. This is the first book of two in a series. The second is Freedom.
The story begins with a news item announcing the death of Sobol from brain cancer. Sobol was the billionarie CTO and co-founder of the computer game company CyberStorm Entertainment. Soon after Sobol's death, a programmer with the company is murdered. Then, another. Detective Peter Sebeck is called to investigate. Their murderer isn't a mystery for long, because Det. Sebeck receives an email from the killer - Matthew Sobol.
Before dying, Sobol created a daemon, "A computer program that runs continuously in the background and performs specified operations at predefined times or in response to certain events." This daemon was distributed throughout the world, like a computer virus; it was designed to search the internet for news of Sobol's death and, once found, initiate Sobol's plan. The programmers were murdered because they knew too much about the inner workings of the daemon that they had assisted Sobol in writing.
The daemon then recruits people and businesses worldwide, both legitimate and criminal, through wile and blackmail to carry out Sobol's plan. In response, Det. Sebeck and every conceivable government authority begin their battle against a computer program threatening to change the world order. What is the daemon's ultimate goal? How can one stop a program that is both nowhere and everywhere?
I have a mixed feelings about this book. Its a page turner, has a great hook, and is very enjoyable. However, the writing is uneven and could have be tighter. This is Suarez's first book. Perhaps if this had been his tenth, the writing would have been better. He could have used a better editor.
This book's plot is very dependent on technology and so is packed with technical jargon. That in itself is not bad. Jon Ross, a computer programmer with a shady past, explains many of these terms to Det. Sebeck for the reader. But sometimes, the terms go undefined, and I often feel that the author is technical word name dropping to impress the reader. This is a case where a better writer, like Michael Crichton, would have eliminated the terms to keep the plot flowing.
I recommend this book and will be sure to read the second. However, if you don't think you'd be into a tech-heavy book, you might become confused and bored.
RATING: 4 out of 5 stars
Comments: The film rights for this book have been purchased. Unless they are able to reduce the technical jargon to only the essentials, I don't see the movie having a wide appeal beyond the technical crowd.
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