Book Reviews
Review: “Freedom (TM)” by Daniel Suarez
At its core, “Freedom (TM)” is a techno-thriller with elements of cyberpunk thrown in for fun. Suarez keeps the story moving at a good clip, creating some nicely done action sequences that could translate well to the big-screen whenever the movie version of the novels is made. But he also balances that out with sections examining the implications of technology and an over reliance on it.
Review: “Parasite” by Mira Grant
Mira Grant’s first novel Feed was one of the best novels of its year, garnering critical praise, a legion of fans and making the short list for the Hugo Award.
It deserved every bit of that attention thanks in large part thanks to a new take on the zombie thriller and a couple of interesting twists along the way that made me eager for the next installment in the trilogy.
Review: “The Griffin’s Gauntlet” by Wesley Lowe
While the plot elements are not the most original in fantasy, this book has all the elements that people enjoy in fantasy novels. There are great fights, scary monsters, and unique and interesting characters. They all make for an enjoyable read. And Mr. Lowe builds up the momentum and suspense well, making the final fight between Sharon and Bain pretty damn exciting.
Review: “I Am Number Four” by Pittacus Lore
“I Am Number Four” is a narrative driven story, full of twists, turns and danger for John and Henri. And while that keeps the pages turning, the story lacks any really fleshed out or interesting supporting characters for John.
Review: “Empire State” by Adam Christopher
Rocket powered superheros, prohibition era bootleggers, private eyes, mysterious men in masks; and more twists and turns than you can imagine. Welcome to Adam Christopher’s Empire State, a Superhero-Noir Science Fiction story set in a dark distorted reflection of New York City of the ’30s.
Review: William Shakespeare’s “Star Wars” (Audiobook)
Seeming like a gag gift to get for people like me — where you know that we like Star Wars but you’re not sure what exactly we already possess in our collection — William Shakespeare’s Star Wars is an audiobook full of surprising quality and intelligence that should delight any fan of The Bard or of the Beard of George Lucas.
Review: “Keeper of Light and Dust” by Natasha Mostert
Set in modern day London, Keeper of Light and Dust is attempting to elevate the vampire romance into a more modern “literary” form. (This would be the form I always find vaguely depressing – you can see why the book is not gelling for me.) Our young heroine, a tattoo artist is a Keeper. Keepers are mystic guardians and warriors and… well, frankly I lost interest at that point.
Review: “Ilium” by Dan Simmons
This is an odd book. Simmons envisions a solar system several thousand years in the future. Earth is practically uninhabited—a few hundred thousand “old-style” humans are all that is left of us. So-called “post-humans” left the planet long ago for cities built on asteroids in orbit. The “old-style” humans are each allotted one hundred years of life, at which point they are faxed (quantum teleported) to the rings to live forever with the post-humans. Or so the ordinary humans believe.
