Book Reviews
Review: “Phoenix Tales” by Gregory Bernard Banks
I’ve heard it said that the fear of death so permeates us as a species that all of our endeavors serve as distractions intent on keeping us from thinking about our eventual deaths.
Sometimes, when the clock clicks over at two thirty in the morning, and I can’t sleep, I wish I could come up with more distractions.
Some people apparently decide that rather than distract themselves from thoughts of death, they will turn a brave face into the wind and speculate on the landscape of the undiscovered country.
Guest Review: “Lyranel’s Song” by Leslie Carmichael
Lyranel’s Song by Leslie Carmichael is a book that thoughtful children can relax into and enjoy. The action is steady without being relentless, leaving room for characters to lead lives that young girls, in particular, could imagine themselves living. The two young readers (age 11) that I field-tested the book on often interrupted to supplement the commentary or make suggestions for what characters might do, which I always consider a good sign.
Review: “Pandemic” by Scott Sigler
Podcast novelist (and self-proclaimed future dark overlord) Scott Sigler burst onto the horror scene a couple of years ago Infected. If you’ve read (or listened to) Sigler’s original novel, I need only say two words to make you shudder involuntarily — chicken scissors.
Review: “Superman: The Never-Ending Battle (Justice League of America)” by Roger Stern
This is another installment in the “Justice League of America” novelizations, this one by Roger Stern. Stern is a long-time DC writer who also did the novelization of the controversial death of Superman arc back in the early 90s, The Death and Life of Superman, a book I actually read on my own out of sheer curiosity.
Review: “Billibub Baddings and the Case of the Singing Sword”
Do you hear that sound? That is the sound of a thousand Sacred Cows of Fantasy being tipped in the night.
Let me share a piece of wisdom I’ve picked up being the reviewer for the Dragon Page. You simply cannot go wrong reading anything Tee Morris writes. You won’t find a better blend of action, humor, suspense, and romance anywhere else.
Review: “The Republic of Thieves” by Scott Lynch
After years of anticipation and speculation, Lynch returns to the universe of his “Gentlemen Bastards” with the long-awaited third installment, The Republic of Thieves.
Was it worth the wait?
Absolutely.
Review: “The Magicians and Mrs. Quent” by Galen Beckett
I began reading this book with a question of my own: would infusing magic into a novel of manners produce a book that I would enjoy reading? Because in all honesty, although I have read Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights, I didn’t enjoy either.
Review: “Star Trek: Summon the Thunder” by Dayton Ward and Kevin Dilmore
It all began with the granddaddy of them all, Peter David’s superlative New Frontier series and has continued to expand with the continuation of the DS9, Voyager, and Enterprise sagas as well as exploring unique areas of the Star Trek universe. Add to this on-going exploration of the Trek universe, Pocket’s newest spin-off series, Star Trek: Vanguard.
