Science Fiction Fantasy Books

Warriors Box Set: Volumes 1 to 6 (Warriors)
These are excellent books and I am well pleased with the quality of the paperback set This was an excellent price!

I personally think this is amazing. I'm a huge warriors fan. I have all of the books and i recommend this to everyone. Erin Hunter is a great author.

we took this set of books to our grandson in Israel (10 years old) and he read them all before our visit was over and we were there for 10 days! He couldn't put them down and now I have ordered the next set for when they come out in September. Thank you for making these so interesting that a 10 year old wants to read every waking hour!

I bought these books for my 9 year old son. I began to read him to encourage him to join me. It turns out that at the age of 33 I really enjoyed the book. I enjoyed it so much I already read the set of 6.

I am a cat lover, but have never thought much about feral cat communities. The stories were interesting and fast paced and the story line was interesting. Was a bit anthropomorphic, but also included enough cat behavior to be credible.

The audio book is truly excellent. I strongly recomend it, not only to youths. The CD is a full version of the book. It's performed by Jim Dale, who does an excellent job so that it's hard to believe that there's only one actor.

MK

Overall:
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4.5 stars for Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix. It is dense, quick paced book with a lot of character development and life lessons for the characters in the story. The concept of Death and the implications of Death are driven home for Harry. The book is like "The Empire Strikes Back" for the Star Wars Episode 4 - 6 for the Harry Potter series.

Characters:
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Harry is clearly a petulent teenager which is a scary thought given his magical abilities. I find Harry to not be very smart and keeps missing obvious things in plot as well as refuses to prepare himself properly for the upcoming battles / trials. Harry's disregard for advice by others is not something that should be encouraged in your readers. I believe JKR is trying to show the consequences of not studying and working hard but the consequences will need to be more dire.

Ron and Hermiene are showing more emotional growth and development that Harry to me. I do like to see that they are acting a bit more mature and seem to be learning from their experiences more. I do get tired of the nearly constant shout and temper tantrums by Harry.

Frankly, I find reading bits with Harry in it a bit annoying.

Story:
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The overall plot line of the Harry Potter saga is advanced quite a bit in the book. See other reviews for details (no need to recount them again here). JKR moves the story along to help set the stage for the Dark Lords return to full power. The theme of disunity and how it feeds the dark part of the human condition are large in the story. The death of Sirius is drastic blow to Harry especially the way it happens -- quick and due to carelessness by Sirius. The potential cost of their consequences is vividly demonstrated for the young characters in the book.

Action:
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The book has a lot of action in it. I will not go into all of the action scenes as other reviewers have done that admirably. The action is clean and crisp with enough pacing to keep you turning the pages late into the evening. J. K. Rowling's style for action is well established at this point and she keeps it consistent.

If you liked the other Harry Potter books, you will like the action and pacing in this book.

My biggest question regarding the book is why is the "Order" not killing off the Death Eaters one by one. It is fine to stun them but it does not solve your problem of having to fight the Death Eaters later. Since the dementors went over to join the Dark Lord in the last revolt, it should be obvious that the dementors will let the Death Eaters out of Azkahban at the worst possible time for the "Order". I understand that JKR is trying to say that killing is bad and damages your soul/changes you but it is a war. The lesson would be better shown by showing how a loved character is forever changed/damaged by the act of killing.

Also, if the Death Eaters start to get killed off, there will be less people signing up to be one knowning that those who "live by the sword will die by the sword". The Death Eaters will not stick together when they know death is really on the line...self-preservation will kick in vs. the need to serve a greater good that good characters have.

Prose:
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J. K. Rowlings writing style stays consistent with the prior two books. I am glad that see has decided to expand the descriptive language in her prose to help further build out the Harry Potter Milieu. The prose is targeted toward young adults so the vocabulary is fairly easy but she does not over simplify the language for the reader.

Summary:
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Overall: 4.5 stars
Characters: 4 to 4.5 stars
Story: 4 to 4.5 stars
Action: 4 to 4.5 stars
Prose: 3.5 stars

Yet another great Harry Potter book!! comparing to the movie... this book it's way beyond it. There's nothing like reading a good book and this is one of those books you must read =)

I think this was one of my favorites in the series. I have to say that Rowling does such a great job of creating characters that seem so alive, I actually feel as though I know them. I just want the story to keep going on and on and on.

The largest and second best, in my opinon, of the series is when the good side fights back. Voldemort is slaughtering "for fun" and The Order of the Phoenix won't stand for it. The Order of he Phoenix is basically the equivelent of the Justice League. The ending is a duel between the two greatist wizards alive and will keep you wanting more.

Fun and informative romp with plenty of imagination. Should have a dictionary of sailing terms. Lots of points to connect with the history involved - Churchill, Lord Nelson, the Nazis, etc. Passing it along through the family. They are devouring it.

I bought this book for my 10yr old son. He loved it and my 2 daughters (9 & 14) loved it to. I also found myself reading it. Great Book wonderful values.

I'm only 5 or more chapters into it but it is a good book so far. wish he had gone back in time already but i guess all good things come in time and patience.

Nick McIver and his sister Kate live a happy life on an island off the coast of England, spending their days exploring and sailing as the children of the lighthouse keeper. But it's turbulent times in 1939, and Nick's father has been engaged by Winston Churchill himself to watch the waters of the English Channel for prowling Nazi U-boats, and Nick and Katie are eager to help. But one day the discovery of an old sea chest containing a time machine, the sighting of a high-tech U-boat, and the arrival of some unsavory characters launch Nick and Kate into the adventure of their lives and they'll struggle to protect their beloved home from enemies all around them.

From the very beginning of Nick of Time, author Ted Bell enraptures the reader with fast paced and riveting action. The story is constructed with younger readers in mind, but will appeal to older teens and adults as well who don't mind reading about younger protagonists--although the adventure never lets up long enough for them to mind! Some younger, less experienced readers may find it hard to wade through all of the nautical jargon and the two different time periods, but Bell's themes of honesty, loyalty, and courage, wrapped up in fierce determination to do what's right, will hit home with any reader. Historical, exciting, humorous, and suspenseful, Nick of Time has the makings of a classic.

You do not find books like this any more. You can be a kid again in this book. You are pulled into every page. I have read all of Ted Bells books, but Nick of Time is so different you can't wait to turn the page.

Ths is a wonderful series for pre-teen and young adults. I also know a few adults who have read them, because it has a wonderuful, interesting story. This particular book offsets the idea that Scandia's people are the antagonists, because there is another force with intentions of taking over the land of Scandia and perhaps Aruelen.

I have two sons ages 10 and 12. We read these books both together and separately and absolutely love them! These one was a lot of fun, especially as Halt the Ranger and the Skandians work together. We highly recommend it.

John Flanagan has written a captivating book. It does have some swearing so if this bothers you, now you know. My 11 year old daugter picked up on the language quickly. Other than that, it is a book with new adventure ideas. The fantasy is not too unbelievable and the historical relevance is a plus.

Spring arrives at the cabin high in the Skandian mountains where Evanlyn and Will have wintered. Will has shaken his addiction to the insidious warmweed, and Evanlyn has become comfortable with her new survival skills. One day she goes out to check their traps and does not return. Will, still weakened from the brutal life of a Skandian yard slave, goes looking for her, and their adventures begin --- again.

John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series began four books ago with THE RUINS OF GORLAN, about a young boy who is chosen to train to become a Ranger. Rangers function as their kingdom's intelligence-gathering agency, border patrol and guerrilla fighters. They are skilled in stealth, woodcraft and marksmanship. Their acutely trained reflexes, along with their tracking skills and the ability to go unnoticed in almost any environment, give them a reputation that borders on the uncanny.

Initially, Will is disappointed not to be chosen for his kingdom's Battle School, where the knights of the realm are trained. But his respect and affection for Halt, the ranger to whom he is apprenticed, in addition to the role he plays in fighting the evil warlord Morgorath, soon have him committed to his role as apprentice ranger.

The first book in the series has all the hallmarks of typical sword and sorcery fantasy, with a classic good vs. evil conflict. But after Morgorath is defeated at the end of the second installment, THE BURNING BRIDGE, the adventure becomes more complex. Will and his companion Evanlyn are captured by Skandian raiders and become slaves in Skandia. It is only with the help of their captor Erak, who comes to admire the spirit of his young captives, that they are able to escape.

The changing loyalties that were a central piece of book three, THE ICEBOUND LAND, continue in THE BATTLE FOR SKANDIA. Will is reunited with his friends Halt and Horace, who left Araluen against their king's wishes to search for him and Evanlyn. They also discover the large army of Temujai --- fierce riders from the Asian steppes who seem to be based on the Mongols --- and must convince the Skandians to work with them to prevent the Temujai from overrunning Skandia and mounting an attack on Araluen.

Flanagan's strengths as an author are his action sequences and battle strategies. His battle plans and descriptions of fights are so detailed they could easily be reenacted or plotted on a map. He also writes marvelous relationships between the characters. Horace and Will began as enemies, but their rivalry has evolved into a powerful friendship. Halt's gruff affection for Will is clear, and his clever manipulations of the other characters provide much of the book's plot. Erak, a Skandian raider, has emerged as one of the series' most entertaining characters --- alternately fierce and comedic. Evanlyn, who occupies the unenviable role of princess in disguise, holds her own with the other characters, who have often depended upon her for their survival.

A common theme throughout the book is the primacy of personal relationships over loyalties to one's country or duty. This bears fruit when Erak's friendship with Will and his companions enables them to unite the Skandians and the Araluen slaves to fight against their common enemy --- the Temujai (portrayed as people who put their lives and loyalty to the common cause as secondary behind any personal relationships). With Erak's help and Halt's strategy, along with the skills of each of the companions, they mount a stirring defense against the mounted warriors.

THE BATTLE FOR SKANDIA will be enjoyed most by readers already familiar with the first three books in the series. But catching up should not constitute serious hardship for fans of fast-paced action/adventure.

--- Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood

This was a superbly written story that had many heartfelt moments. The end battle scene was amazingly detailed, well thought out and thrilled to the end.

Simply put, this book is the best "time book" I have ever read. It caught me from the first page to the last and I will read it again and again many times throughout my life I am sure. A must read.

Prior to having my recent bypass surgery, I bought a copy of my favorite book, Ken Grimwood's REPLAY, to re-read. [...], but I thought it would be especially interesting to re-read now in light of (a) I am now past the age of Grimwood when he wrote the book, (b) I am roughly the age of its main protagonist, Jeff Winston, and (c) I was in some small danger of dying, either through a heart attack before I ever got on the operating table or there itself.

Even though I knew the twists and turns of the plot, the narrative continued to hold me. I had loaned the book to a close female friend in recent years who had commented that it had a lot of sex in it (which somewhat turned her off, as it was a very male-centric view of sex), which I hadn't remembered, but which I was aware of this time through. It definitely was male-centric, as it is Winston who provides the internal awareness throughout the first half of the book, and in one of his many replays he goes through a very hedonistic phase. Now that I'm over forty, Winston's actions actually seem more realistic than when I read it in my twenties. There's a reason for the June-December romance in our culture, where women are attracted by older men for their money--Winston, in his replays, is always able to make enough quick bets on sporting events to have a sizable bank account in his youth, which enables him to attract such women earlier in his life. What is revealing here is not that Winston seeks out sex in such a way, but that Grimwood makes it a point that such a lifestyle is as hollow as his first replay, where he simply accumulated a vast amount of wealth and prestige. When Winston discovers that there is someone else in the world who is replaying like him, he seeks her out and over time they become many-lives-long soul partners because of their shared experience.

Grimwood also was somewhat prescient about the U.S., terrorism, and how the latter could easily turn the former into a fascist state, by giving us one replay where Winston and Pam actually reveal themselves to the world, only to be co-opted by the government who disbelieves in their story, but keeps them under lock and key, including torture techniques, to get them to reveal the "secrets" of the world. Even though Jeff and Pam provide details that remove certain strong-man governments from power (in the 80s, when this was written, Grimwood's target was Qaddafi in Libya), new terrorist groups form based on the covert U.S. actions, thus starting an overall change in the timeline that Jeff and Pam are unable to provide any details for because it is unlike any replay they've been through. For me, that's the profound illustration of my objection to Bush's tactics since 9/11. Rather than capitalizing on the world sentiment and sympathy for that horrible day to truly direct world opinion against such meaningless violence, Bush and his advisors instead chose the worst possible options of vengeance (in Afghanistan) and pre-emption (in Iraq; let me remind you that Hussein had no use for Al Quaedi, nor that group for him, which seems to continue to be lost in the nattering nabobs of 24-hour opinion news). The atrocities committed in the name of the U.S.'s revenge have only strengthened terrorism, undermined our legal system, and removed any sympathy the globe may have had for us. It may have even contributed to our recent economic troubles, as the continued cost of the occupation of Iraq has been an awful drain. Grimwood saw such a possibility in the 1980s.

Ever since reading REPLAY for the first time, I've said that this is the most "life-affirming" book I know of, and it remains so. Winston's discovery through his many lives (and constant deaths) is that life is worth living right in the moment, but by that Grimwood doesn't mean "for the moment." The motto of this book is not carpe diem, but carpe vitam. It's an important distinction. The former is the refuge of people who think of nothing beyond themselves, in a sense that every day must be conquered and enjoyed and provide fulfillment. Grimwood says, yes, but a day by itself means nothing if it's not surrounded by a life that has meaning, typically shared with others.

SPOILER WARNING

That ending remains as powerful as ever, as Winston dies over and over and over again before the change, and the denouement is as open to interpretation as is the epilogue. If anything, it's that ending, which could not be anything else, that makes this book so fulfilling, so much so that I hadn't even remembered the one page epilogue. Obituaries stated that Grimwood had been working on a sequel to REPLAY when he died, and now I can see what possibilities he had open to him for such, as an exploration of a time and place and a character that was more distant than Jeff Winston and the U.S. of the 1980s. It would have been a difficult book to write well, but I'm sure Grimwood wouldn't have published it if he didn't believe in it. I'm saddened that we'll never see that book.

Thank you Ken for sharing this book with us...

I bought this book based on the reviews written here and once I started it I couldnt stop reading it... Its very well written and very thought provoking...

If you have time please read the book... It will make you stop and wonder about life and how you are living it...

I did it again. I fell for the pro reviews. It was an o.k. read but not great.

This book is more than just a time-travel/sci fi book. For me, it was more in the line of a philosophical book asking me to think about about how I would live my life if I had a chance to do it again, and again, and again. It is also a book that asks one to think about what the author's real message is - as a human species, are we gaining in wisdom, or staying the same? As we age, do we gain in wisdom, or is wisdom something that is not experience or age-related, but more a reflection of the kind of person we are? If you tap deeply into yourself, are you a scholar, a scientist, a spiritualist, a hedonist, an action hero, an acquisitor or a distributor, a humanist? Would your tee-shirt say So Many Books, So Little Time, or something else?
I like books that make me think, and although I was a bit put off by Jeff Winston's early choices about how he would live a life again, by the end, the choices he selected made more sense as a whole. I grew to care about him as a character.

This is an excellent book. I can't wait to receive the third book in series.

The Elves of Cintra makes for good, light, quick entertainment. The plot arcs of the previous installment (Armageddon's Children) are steadily advanced towards what seems like a mostly-predictable conclusion (that is, beyond whatever can be predicted from the existence of the rest of the Shannara series). This book focuses mostly on the Elven fetch quest, though the stories of the other characters outside of Elfland are tended to as well. Complaints of middle-book-syndrome are, I feel, inappropriate, as the book is just as self-contained and story-advancing as the first one (which is to say, "not very" and "fairly so," respectively).

The book's primary flaw, to my eyes, is the consistently uninteresting and often (for me) off-putting writing style. Brooks writes to keep you engaged, but it is simply the fact that you just want to know what happens -- rather than how he tells the story -- that gives any incentive to continue. I will also admit that I am a fan of consistent POV throughout a section, and the fact that Brooks shifts POV within sections (i.e., within a span of text that is not blocked off by a few line breaks or three asterisks) is distracting. It (1) prevents getting emotionally involved with the focal character, and (2) sometimes results in very unnatural language (like people referring to "the Elves" rather than "you" or "you Elves" when addressing Elven folk). I'm not even sure if he knows he's doing it, but whoever edits him should tell him to get a clue (either that, or I'm just too picky).

It's been 20 years since I last visited the world of Terry Brooks. As with almost all other Brooks readers, I was introduced to his writing in junior high school when I discovered the Sword of Shannara. That story enraptured me, and filled my 13 year old head with dreams of high adventure, swords and sorcery, and **you get the picture**. I read the Elfstones at age 15, and enjoyed it thoroughly. I read the Wishsong at 17 ... good but didn't quite meet my expectations. Magic Kingdom For Sale - Sold was a stake through my heart. Total garbage from someone I worshipped.

I didn't get back to Brooks' writing until I was 20 and in college ... I read the first two novels of the Heritage series, and was absolutely disappointed. Those were the last Terry Brooks novels I had read since then. A multitude of other Brooks novels came and went, and I ignored every one of them ... not wanting to feel that sense of disappointment again.

I came across Armegeddon's Children at the public library last week. It looked interesting ... a story set in a post apocalyptic society. I figured I'd give Brooks another chance. Unfortunately, I didn't realize it was a trilogy ... and the hardcover library cover made no mention of Shannara. I finished the first book rather quickly. It was a light read ... almost like a children's book.

I figured I'd read book 2 since I started. The Elves of Cintra isn't a bad book, but it doesn't do anything to recapture that Sword of Shannara magic. Maybe elves, demons, magic stones, powerful staffs, solar powered vehicles with rockets and laser guns, good and evil (and nothing in between) are better suited for the 13 year old junior high school kid.

I think too much time has passed by since I was that young boy engulfed in the pages of the Sword of Shannara. Supposedly, Terry Brooks' writing has improved since then. But to me, the magic is gone. Age, life, and time have whittled away my imagination.

I have been a Brooks fan since the age of 11. I have just went back through the entire series including all shannara books and the Night of the Word series. I love how he has tied the Shannara and Word&Void together. I have about eighty pages left in Elves of Cintra...then I am going to be craving for his upcoming Gypsy Morph. If you are a Shannara fan and haven't read the Word & Void series yet, I SERIOUSLY suggest that you do, then move on to the Genesis of Shannara series. It is brilliant how he has tied the two worlds together. This book delivers and leaves you hanging. I love it!

I have always loved Terry Brooks. The Shannara series is one of my all-time favorites. I really enjoyed the Word and the Void series and to see how he has masterfully spun that series into a prequel to Shannara is fantastic. This book is up there with everything else he has done.

To show you how crazy I am I accidently ordered 4 copies of this book by mistake and didn't realize it until I got all four but not at the same time thank god. It's an good book so go and get you one and enjoy it just don't get four copies.

Rondall Banks

Gods of Night follows four captains and their crew: Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise, William Riker of the USS Titan, Ezri Dax of the USS Aventine, and Erika Hernandez of the Columbia NX-02. In the year 2381, the Borg have waged war on the Federation. And this time, their goal is not assimilation but annihilation. Meanwhile, the USS Aventine is investigating a centuries-old mystery - the Columbia NX-02 went missing in 2156 and has been discovered, seemingly abandoned on a remote, uninhabited world.

With flashbacks between the various ships, not to mention centuries, readers must pay attention or find themselves easily confused. But to help with the large number of main characters, there is a handy appendix in the back of the book, which lists the different crew members of each ship, as well as their species.

Every story that involves the Borg has been suspenseful and intense, and this one is no exception. Everything that the Federation knows about the Borg is now irrelevant. For reasons unbeknownst to anyone outside the collective, the Borg have changed their entire directive as well as other facets which had at least made them somewhat predictable. And Captain Picard's reaction to the Borg invasion is equally as unpredictable, reminiscent of the movie First Contact. With the main cast of The Next Generation, save Data (see Nemesis), either on the Enterprise or Titan, the crew retains their same great qualities and personalities that made them a personal favorite.

Gods of Night contains everything great about Star Trek - advanced technology, intrigue, drama, relationships, danger, action, mystery, aliens, time travel, and blowing stuff up. Ending in a mild cliffhanger, readers will want to pick up the next, Mere Mortals, as soon as possible. With an exciting story, wonderful characters, and insurmountable odds to overcome, this is a trilogy no Trek fan will want to miss.

When I first heard this trilogy was going to deal with the Federation and the Borg I was disappointed as I am tired of the Borg. I did have faith in David Macks writing though. As usual he has a has a winner on his hands. This is a must buy must read book. This is a book that for me was impossible to put down and I read all 400 plus pages in one sitting. Destiny book one starts a trilogy that will shake up the Trek universe. We get a good look at Ezi Dax as a starship captain in this novel. I like what I have seen, someone who has grown since DS9 and is confident and in command. We also see Picard's, Riker's and Hernandez's crews. The 4 crews in this book are well drawn and the action is continuous. I liked the brief parts of the book dealing with the Klingons deciding to come to the aid of the Federation after a Borg attempt to destroy Kitomer. This story is engaging and the story leaves one with many questions and speculations. I enjoyed the way that Mack weaves the story line of 3 of the crews. My only problem with the book is the ongoing Troi/Riker relationship problems. I have never liked the way this has been portrayed and still dont. That said I think Mack handled it in a reasonable way. I think there is more to this situation than it appears on the surface. Mack has a way of doing that. I do hope it is resolved by the end of the trilogy. I can hardly wait to see how the situation with the Borg resolves.

It's hard to talk about this book, both to say what's good about it and what is bad. Ward's books give me a certain amount of frustration in the sense that there is a buried gem of interesting and well-told story surrounded by such drivel. And poorly written drivel at that. This is rather sad, but after this many books, I don't see Ward changing her ways and attempting to mine this goodness. This may be part of her insanity, but I'll get to that.

To begin, her characters come across with a definite bias. She likes and enjoys the male characters, maybe she even identifies with them, so she spends a good deal of time developing their backstories, giving them flaws, etc. They're sort of interesting. The female characters are interchangeable orifices for the males to penetrate. The best example of this (POSSIBLE SPOILERS) is Cormia, a female Chosen who has never seen a man and who spends her time in the book trembling, waiting to be raped, and then hoping to be raped (END SPOILERS). The female protagonist, Jane, is no better. For a supposedly strong-willed surgeon, she just wants a man to protect her. And to have hot sex with said man.

Storywise, there is some interest. There is development in Vishous' backstory and with the Scribe Virgin's story. There is a sweet twist at the end. That's the good stuff.

What's bad is the outrageous "street" slang in the book that I cannot for a moment take seriously when I look at Ward's photo on the back cover. And the notion that these centuries-old vampires behave like 20-something doofuses, smoke pot, screw constantly, and can barely read, after all this time, does not compute for me. The behavior, thoughts, and dialogue of the Brothers comes across to me as nuts, and contrived. What is Ward thinking? Who told her she was capable of channeling street-smart young punks? Even her dedication page in the front makes me think she, like Laurell K. Hamilton, has tipped off her rocker and believes her own foolish hype. But whatever, as the Brothers might say.

In general, the world is poorly described for me and the plot, like any romance novel, is a barely disguised excuse for the main characters to have sex. But eh, there's something there.

I give the book 2 stars as I feel there is hope for this book, and it isn't the worst thing I've ever read, but the series will never be good.

I started the series in the middle reading about Z first and instantley fell in love. Although the Z & Bella bonding was strong, just like the Wrath & Beth bonding, I felt stronger towards V's & Jane's. V's love for Jane reminds me of Ralph Finnes in "The English Patient". A lot passion and determination no matter the obsticles. I love the BDB series and Lover Unbound is my favorite.

This is vishous's story. I can not pick a favorite because every one i read has been great! When i read the others i always thought V was a great friend but he can be a great mate as this book proves! I love it! IF YOU ARE INTO THE BDB SERIES THIS IS GREAT~

Although this was the one book in the brotherhood series that does not have what I would call a perfect ending, it would be hard to skip reading it if you plan on reading the sequels after this one. There are too many other storylines that would leave you confused otherwise. I wish I could have skipped it though. It had the potential to have a great story, but the ending was just too strange for me, and didn't seem very vampire-like at all. But then again, that's just my opinion. . .

No where near as interesting as the third book.
I think JR Ward peaked there and set a high standard that can't be reached again.