Science Fiction Fantasy Books

Snow Crash was brilliant, this story was pathetic and poorly put together. There is no point to the majority of what happens in this novel and the ramblings of the author could have easily been cut in half. Worse still, all the possibly interesting contents -- Hackworth's story, Dr. X, CryptNet -- weren't flushed out and instead ignored in this tale about nothing. A war happens at the end, unexplored and for no purpose to the plot. Read a different novel, as this one isn't worth your time. I want the time I spent on it back.

I'd read Snow Crash about a year ago, and despite some problems with pacing and blatant Deux Ex Machina, I liked it enough to give Stephenson another go.

I gather Diamond Age is his second novel, and he certainly has improved in style over his original offering (Snow Crash.) This book consciously imitates Victorian (late 18th-century English) prose and dialogue, which can be awkward to the unsuspecting but is very much justified by the narrative framework.

The setting was intriguing, and quite-likely cutting-edge for when it was written. Nanotechnology plays a major role, and Stephenson does a good job of running with it to show the logical conclusions: a superficial utopia that is quite dark once one delves beneath the surface. To his credit, the technology isn't heavy-handed in this, and anyone with even the most basic scientific knowledge can follow (and appreciate) what's going on. I also have a soft-spot for Chinese history and culture, so he gets a few bonus points for including it as a setting subplot. Speaking of subplots, Diamond Age includes one that at first struck me as suspiciously similar to one of the subplots of Mona Lisa Overdrive (ie: an interactive book that helps a young girl cope with her surroundings) but I quickly found the similarities were superficial and Stephenson does go into new territory with his handling of it.

That said...

The last 75 pages of this book were a jumbled mess, with key plot points being introduced way too late, others (from earlier) completely forgotten, and overall left me with a feeling of "where the heck did THAT come from?!?" It honestly struck me as if 400 pages into it, he got tired of writing it and just wound things down as quickly as he could. Ironically, there's a fair amount of padding in that last section (notably a too-long sequence of a character at an interactive theatre.) Most of my complaints about the book come from the last 75 pages, but alas, I can't give specifics without breaking my personal reviewing oath of not divulging spoilers. Suffice to say that he again resorts to intervention from the Gods of Plot Convenience **a couple of times** in ways that are as unconvincing as they are unsatisfying.

That said, if you liked Snow Crash (or presumably any of his other works) you will probably like Diamond Age. It **is** necessary to keep your expectations in check, though. On a personal level, one of the aspects I really liked about Snow Crash was the wry narrative tone woven throughout, and that was very-much lacking throughout Diamond Age (I think I cracked a smile twice.) By all means, give it a go, but beware: the ending isn't so much a "let down" as a "plummet from 75 stories up."

As is often the case within the science fiction genre, the novel relies too much upon the whiz-bang intricacies of a Victorian-retro future ruled by nanotechnology. Too often it veers into tangential details about this gizmo or that advancement which can be tiresome after a few hundred pages. Even worse, the conclusion of the novel features an abrupt, extreme shift in gears which seems forced, at best. However, despite all that, it retains Stephenson's manic charm, his innate ability to combine the wry and the cool into something more. There are dry spells, to be sure. Stephenson offsets them with moonlit martial arts duels, dashes of steampunk, swarm technology programs/orgies, and etc... It is a patchwork fantasy, and flawed. But it is still a great read, especially in snippets. Personally, I kept it in my bathroom for a few weeks. Worked well. Recommended for those who need some idle, interesting reading with more continutiy than the funny pages or Popular Mechanics or... yeah. Buy it and see! Or don't! }:-)

Diamond Age is a fascinating read although it loses steam half way through. Stephenson writes about the future with nano technology as if hes been there. The characters are well written (more believable than Snow Crash) and there is a lot of insight into differences between cultures (philes). Stephensons background in Geography and Physics is quite evident here. I would give it 4.5 stars and it would be even better if the plot was cleaned up a little as it starts to drag and become convoluted in the middle. Still worth the read.

The Diamond Age is an ambitious book, and one that kept me enthralled through about 350 of its 450 or so pages and then impatiently waiting for what turned out to be a highly improbable, fairly confusing, Hollywood style ending (where at all odds and in spite of massive casualties on all sides and the cataclysmic world-changing significance of the events they are caught up in, all of the main characters we're supposed to care about get the kind of familial reconciliations they want).

I didn't want to end up being disappointed by this book because I love Neal Stephenson's style and have enjoyed immensely every one of his other books -- I haven't gotten around to the few books he co-wrote with a relative, but they don't strike me as up my alley. The problem, it seems, with this book is the problem Stephenson confronts but admirably resolves in every one of his other books: it is the balance of story and background, of worldmaking and storytelling, or (in his most recent books) of history and speculative historical fiction. Here the balance between these seemed to oscillate back and forth until the weight of the world began to overwhelm my interest in the characters, and the trouble was that the world historical developments he was painting would be difficult to follow even for a contemporary.

When the story focuses on Nell and her primer it's exciting: like a futuristic version of Rousseau's Emile, where the problem is not merely to raise a child as independent in a world where we were increasingly dependent on others, but to raise a child capable of transcending and subverting a fully networked world in which interdependence is indispensable.

Where it gets into trouble is the effort to paint a shift from a "feed" based nanotechnological society (at least one or two technological revolutions beyond ours) to a "seed" based society (that I don't really understand at all even though he makes the political implications clear enough).

This is a good read, and a nice step forward in scope from Snow Crash -- but it gets a bit unwieldy and Stephenson doesn't to my mind quite pull it off. He does admirably in his next four books.

A friend of mine has a son who is 12 and since he knew that I loved the Harry Potter series, he decided to share with me this series. He said it was better than Harry but I have to disagree with him on this one. While this series is beautifully written, it is nothing like Harry.

That said, I can assure you that this is a beautiful series of books that I would recommend to youth ages 9 and older. I definitely would like my boys to read this one when they're older. It is beautifully written, lyrical and inspiring enough to keep me reading through the entire series in one week. It is about the classic battle between good and evil, using old Welsh myths and lore (which I know nothing of). I wish I had read this as a kid because I think I would have appreciated it much more than I do now. As an adult, I am jaded and don't appreciate the lovely story as much as I should. I kept looking for more of the story-line when it is simply done as an excellent story.

Out of this series, my favorite books are: The Dark is Rising (the second book) and Silver on the Tree (the final conclusion). Silver on the Tree really had most of the background information that my heart desires. It has a wonderful conclusion to the stories. There were some twists in the book I did not expect.

This is a wonderful series for youth and their parents to read and to discuss. I am looking forward to the day when I can discuss these with my own children.

7/17/08

I'm re-reading the series. The first time I read it, I was 10, but I'm finding that 14 years later, the story is still good. Enjoyable plot and characters.

I had forgotten how great these books by Susan Cooper are. I had a hard copy book set when they first came out. I love stories about the quest, and the battle of Light vs Darkness, and The Arthurian legend. They also fit into the Narnia Chronicle mode too. Susan writes with a descriptive style that makes you feel like you are right there experiencing Will Stanton's Adventures and the Drew family too. I recommend them for teens and anyone who loves fantasy fiction.
D. Sutton

"The Dark Is Rising" series is a beautifully written series based on British folklore. It is a children's series, but adults with an interest in British lore will enjoy it as well. The characters are well drawn, and the rising suspense makes this a page-turner for all. These are books you may well find yourself rereading as an adult!

(Some Minor Spoilers below.)

The Dark is Rising sequence is one of those ubiquitous book series that all children seem required to read, and although I had it on my "to-read" list, I never got to it as a kiddo. So, when I saw this nice boxed set I thought it was my chance to catch up with a series I had neglected.

Now I wish I had read it when I was younger; I think I would have found them more entertaining. As it is, I feel that the series is average. This isn't to say that singular books weren't exceptional -- but that the whole is not greater than its parts.

The first book, Over Sea, Under Stone, is my favorite of the five. I would easily give it 5 stars. It had me on my toes throughout the entire narrative! The children were sympathetic, realistic, and interesting characters; the plot, entertaining; the tension, quite real. For the first time in a long time, I wondered if the little heroes could pull through all right. Of course, the jaded adult in me said, "Of course they can! It's a children's book!" But this book is so well written, so entertaining -- like "The Goonies," or a child's Indiana Jones -- that I couldn't help but throw my jaded predisposition to the wind and just enjoy the ride.

The second book, The Dark is Rising, I was not so certain about. It reveals Will, the last of the Old Ones, and his mission to find all of the Signs necessary to stop the Dark in the final battle. In my opinion, this is where the series gets awkward. At first I was excited for Will, who finds out he is capable of great things and can set objects on fire with just a word (which I think everyone wants to do at some point). The Dark seemed doubly sinister -- the Dark Rider was a downright thrilling villain, and the Dark attacks people Will holds dear, controls the weather, and altogether seems capable of anything.

And yet, as the story progressed, it seemed Will became less and less a character I cared for, and more and more static and uninteresting. I didn't understand, and still don't understand, the limits of an Old One -- what they can and can't do in our world, what laws govern them in general. Furthermore, the Dark -- this supposedly terrifying, very powerful force -- seems incapable of really touching Will himself, a boy who has not completely grown into the power of an Old One. I found myself wondering if the Dark could really do anything at all, or if the author gave them all this "power" for show and no brains to go with it, for their powers and plots all came to naught with what seemed little effort. I couldn't help but compare them to the villains in the first book -- villains who were terrifying precisely because they could be anybody, anywhere, working in broad daylight just as well as behind the scenes. In a way, this made the fear more visceral and brought it home to the real world -- the Dark could be the hobo in the street or, just as easily, your neighbor. This is lost when Ms. Cooper transforms the Dark into a bogeyman.

A final problem: Ms. Cooper brings up old legends without any backstory, which I would have really appreciated (as I am not an Arthurian aficionado). A little blurb in the back of the book would have been perfect.

When I moved on to Greenwitch, and realized Will and the Drews would join forces, I looked forward to it. Will then proved himself to be an annoying pretentious little twit who I wanted to kick. Merriman told the Drews they were necessary, but as the book progressed I wasn't sure why -- it seemed that what the Drews did, anybody could have done. Although I enjoyed Jane's larger place in the narrative, and the ending was very satisfying, the Drew children ended up "tools," which is really unforgivable. This book also introduced a regretful element that Ms. Cooper abuses: making people forget the incredible things they have seen. Yes, this was done in The Dark is Rising, but I felt it was done for a good reason; it was to protect Will's family and the people in his community, and I had the feeling that Old Ones were to remain absolutely undetected at all times (which was reasonable). Here, it was not done for anyone's safety, and rather, seemed completely indiscriminate. "No, we can't have you Drews seeing Will and Merriman jump off a cliff and float away. I mean, sure you guys know about the fantastical Dark and all, but we can't trust you with any more, even though you helped us find the Grail and Simon saw some creepy supernatural thing happen to Barney and Jane is talking to a nasty spirit in her dreams."

The Grey King picks up, and is the second book in the series that I would give 5 stars to. Will becomes capable of making mistakes, actually manages to forget something, and is generally an interesting fellow. The new character, Bran, was equally as fascinating. The story picked up the same sharp tension that was so wonderful about the first book, and I enjoyed it the whole way through. I didn't completely understand the Arthurian elements, but that was all right; it was just as entrancing. The Grey King himself, and his horrible foxes, were delightful foes. This book would make for a fantastic movie.

Silver on the Tree was my least favorite in the series and brought to a head all of the problems plaguing the series. Ms. Cooper was just too vague and arbitrary. Why were some choices bad and some choices good? I'll never know. Why did they do this and not that? Heaven knows why. WHY did she take a character I love and turn them to the Dark? Why, why, why does she make the Drews and Bran forget everything at the end? When Bran tried to give Jane his green pebble I wanted to cry. It's like Ms. Cooper utterly undid any sort of character development that may have gone on in the entire narrative. All the elements that could have made this book satisfying -- Bran meeting his father and realizing his destiny -- might as well have never occurred. Sure, the Lost Land was all sorts of wonderful fun; sure, the Mari Llwyd was utterly terrifying. But it doesn't make up for what seemed to be a storyline thrown together at random and a world whose rules I never quite understood (if there were any at all).

Long ago, I realized that a book can only be as good as its villains. I sometimes wonder if Ms. Cooper really thought through what the Dark was responsible for... what it really meant to banish it, and what it meant to have it in the first place. Because it's when she dives into the supernatural, and what being an Old One really means, and how Old Ones relate to the world, that the plot, characters, and Arthurian legend start to seem muddled, forced, and rushed. Two huge questions remained for me at the end of this series: Why was it important to banish the Dark if evil still dwells in the heart of man? What was so dangerous about it in the first place?

My final word: get these books at the library, and read them while you're young. Maybe there's something you'll see that I can't anymore.

Continuing on the footsteps of Jacob here is the second installment on Jacquelyn Frank's Nightwalker series.
I really love Jacki Frank's novels as I love Frank's writing style. She's created a magnificent world of Nightwalkers, so real you almost believe that they exist.

I found myself looking forward in reading GIDEON as I had so enjoyed the first installment - JACOB. GIDEON was a great book - though it had a few flaws and I was a little disappointed. The premise, plotline and characters are memorable - created with great depth, drawing you into their lives - almost like they are family members. However - the huge amount of prose, description and narration - makes you feel at times this is a James Mitchener novel! LOL

GIDEON is the most Ancient and powerful of Nightwalkers - having existed for centuries. Being present even when the Demon and Druids wars took place, he remembers those awful days. Having recently come out of a nine year self-exile and being a Medic Demon - he must ensure that the Enforcer's wife Bella - the newly found Druid/Human is taken care of during her pregnancy.

Every since Magdalegna was Summoned by the Necromancers, she has been experiencing a surge in her powers. A Mind - Empath Demon, she realizes that these powers don't manifest themselves until a Demon is an Elder. Legna has no choice but to confide in Gideon - as she doesn't understand these new powers.
After Gideon conducts his Medic exam - he realizes Legna is his destined mate and she has inherited some of his powers since he rescued her from the Summoning.

He's carried tremendous guilt and inner turmoil, as he was in the Counsel that approved that Druids were removed from their Demon mates and therefore die without each other. He doesn't believe in absolution and he's forever dammed to carry that guilt in his soul.

After a brutal attack by the Necros almost kills Bella and her unborn child, the Demon race realize that the evil of the Necromancers has grown powerful and they are about to launch a war of extinction on all Nightwalkers.

I enjoyed GIDEON, but as I mentioned the narration and self-reflection got way out of hand. I agree that considering the complexity of the story, events that took place in JACOB needed to be revisited, but it felt that this was a re-telling of JACOB all over again and Gideon's and Legna's was dimmed for all the recounting.

There was not enough interaction and involvement between Gideon and Legna and the story revolved too much around the Necro confict. Also, the battle that ensues between the all-women-necro forces VS the Nightwalkers is a bit ludicrous and found myself skimming.

The book ends with the Beltane wedding celebration. There is rejoicing and mourning as well - as Demons and other Nightwalkers have been killed in the battle. For the first time in Centuries, Demons, Lycanthropes and Vampires are putting aside their differences to fight a very real foe, as a Demon traitor is now leading the Necros in a fight to extinguish all the Nightwalkers.

I am looking forward in reading ELIJAH and I hope that the story revolves around Elijah and Siena - Lycanthrope Queen - I hope that the storyline revolves around them and not entirely the Necro war.

I really didn't enjoy the first book (Jacob) in Frank's Nighwalkers series... It seemed that book was a bit rushed and didn't really include much in the way of a story... BUT, since I had purchased the first and second books together, I decided I would give the second book a go... WOW am I ever glad I did!

This book was fun, interesting, and even romantic! I felt that I really connected with the characters and was hoping for the relationship with Gideon and Legna to bloom. I appreciated the demon world Frank designed so much more this time through because the bulk of the book was written in it! Frank took her time developing the connection between the main characters, so those super steamy love scenes felt quite sensual and sweet.

Frank has definitely won me over with Gideon and I have already picked up the next book in the Nightwalker series and am counting down the hours until I can explore the next character!

Overall, GREAT romantic read with a wonderful paranormal setting! Well done Frank!

I liked Jacob (Book 1) and Gideon (Book 2). A little wordy, there are many repetitive descriptions. I like the concept behind the series and the story lines. The mind reading thing between couples gets a litte old, but that is across the entire paranormal romance genre. Looking forward to Elijah next.

Gideon is the most powerful and oldest demon. He has the ability to heal. Magdelegna is still considered a child in demon years and she is still learning how to control her powers. They are destined to be together whether either one wanted or expected the union.
This book explores how even a healer can be broken and how the young can teach the old. It also demonstrates how the weaknesses in one person may be the strengths in the other person, and together they are whole. Both characters have to overcome internal and external battles to that happy ever after, but it's a battle of which the reader wants to be a part.
This book delivers a powerful lover story. Jacki Frank is a master story teller.

I am sorry to say that I struggled with this one. It was an act of sheer will and perseverance that allowed me to even get to the end. I can't say that I didn't skim a few pages hear and there...but I did finish it!

I loved the first book, Jacob, and couldn't wait for this one. I could've/should've waited and saved my time. Legna is someone I couldn't wait to hear more about. I loved her heart and soul that she showed in Jacob, but unfortunately it didn't continue in this one. I found her character boring and "overworked" for much of the book. She did not live up to what her potential was.

Gideon as well fell flat for me. As he is called the "Ancient" because he is the oldest of the demons, very powerful, and a healer..I felt that he was ANCIENT. He was boring and tired and felt "old" to me. I struggled to find him as mysterious and intriguing as I did in Jacob.

This book is nicely setting up the next book Elijah. Sounds familiar. Jacob set up Gideon and Legna's story beautifully and then just "mailed it in". I hope the same will not be true of Elijah's story or we might be looking at a one hit wonder!

So, I had this book sitting on my shelf forever as I had heard so much about it, as well as both authors. I hadn't ever read anything written by either of them previously, so this gathered dust until I had a real craving for something funny. I had seen someone reading this book on a train one time and they kept busting out laughing so I figured it probably fit the bill.

It most certainly did. That was the number one appeal of this book. It simply just made me laugh and it was often very clever in its description of hows and whys of heaven versus hell, good versus evil and the like. Some of the things Gaiman and Pratchett thought of could even easily be categorized as "ingenious." I really loved how a lot of the book was certainly aimed to make the reader laugh, but at the same time it really did you make you think about certain things, as well. It's a very light and fast read but none of the jokes are cheap shots. You can already tell that a lot of the jokes are going to age really well and remain funny for a long time.

Overall, I really liked it. My only problem is with the ending. It all seemed a little too easy, and for some reason that always turns me off a bit. But, actually, now that I think about it a little more it's actually kind of hilarious because of the whole "ineffable" aspect to the way things just worked out in the end. Haha, good one, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. You got me. Five stars for you.

These two authors are terrific in this novel. the book is witty, sarcastic and hilarious. ( first class lurkers, for example as they describe some of the characters!)
i have not read any Prachett books yet, but neil gaiman has been on my shelves for years( not literally, of course!)

If you enjoy absurd fiction with snappy dialogue, this is for you! i recommend it to everyone along with Chris Moore's book, "Lamb" and also, any thing by Jasper Fforde.

Good Omens (1990) is supposedly a parody based off the movie The Omen (1976) written by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, which I did not know about when I read the novel and have not seen the film either. So you could say my opinion of the novel alone remains untainted.

It took me awhile to get through it, as while it was interesting, it wasn't compelling enough to keep me reaching for it, until it hit the last fourth of so. It starts out pretty slow, but with a great premise, the Antichrist is placed into an American diplomat's family to be raised in Britain as their child so as to never really know the difference between good and evil. Unfortunately the minions at the hospital screwed up and the real Antichrist is off living elsewhere, a normal, regular life with friends, a dog and a active 11 year old boy's imagination.

There is an angel and a demon, Heaven and Hell representatives on Earth (respectively) who have become quite comfortable with their lifestyles amongst the people on Earth and humanity and upon hearing that the End Times is near, begin to grow closer and even work together to keep an eye on the Antichrist. Rather, who they think is the Antichrist. They start coming in handy at the end when they realize they might actually have some compassion for the people of Earth.
Now you might ask, where does this Agnes Nutter, witch, part fit in. Because I sure was asking myself that. The witch part doesn't really materialize until the latter half of the novel, in which it is revealed that this witch, Agnes Nutter, in the 17th century, made a whole lot of predictions about the future, published them in a book and then was promptly burnt at the stake like all good witches. I won't spoil what this particular witch did as her revenge, but the prophecies turn out to be extremely true and the last copy in existence being held by a distant relative who has made it her life's work to follow the progress and decipher the prophecies. Upon figuring out that the end of the world is near, she begins to look for the real Antichrist, knowing that there was a mix up at birth.

Enter the Four (updated) Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It's at this point that novel gets a lot more interesting, particularly since one of the horsemen is actually a horsewoman and pestilence has become pollution and so on.

Without spoiling it, since the best part is where it picks up at the end, I'll stop here! If you enjoy tales with satire on Heaven, Hell, Christ and Death, than this tale is for you. I ended up reading it because I liked Christopher Moore's A Dirty Job so much, but in this case, A Dirty Job is still the winner.

The quick wit, wry humor and awesome imagery of this book push it quickly into one of the most fun and imaginative out there. One understands the characters' behavior intimately and enjoys the roller coaster ride of a story while hilarious and ominous events constantly unfold.

I think my favorite part of the book is the representation of specific English accents and slang -- the reproductions in my head were enough to make me chuckle on more than one occasion. I don't think anyone with a sense of humor could avoid enjoying this book.

"God does not play dice with the universe; He plays an ineffable game of His own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other players [i.e. everybody], to being involved in an obscure and complex variant of poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a Dealer who won't tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time."

The end of the world is coming.....what are you going to do? For angel Aziraphale and demon Crowley, that is the question. After spending centuries on Earth, they've become friends....sort of. And they actually LIKE it here. They don't want a war between the "sides". So when the Antichrist is born, the two of them take it upon themselves to "watch" him to see if they can stop him from becoming evil. If they work together, maybe they can keep him from choosing between Good and Evil, and postpone Armageddon. Sounds like a good plan, doesn't it??

But due to a mix up at birth, the son of the American Diplomat is not really the Antichrist. He's just a normal 11-year-old boy. The real Antichrist is named Adam, and he lives in Lower Tadfield, England. Raised by normal English parents, he has friends and a dog (the Hell-Hound has become a normal, little dog that likes to terrorize cats). He doesn't even realize the power he possesses. Can this seemingly normal little boy actually become the purveyor of the end of the world??

All of this has been prophecized by Agnes Nutter, a witch in the seventeenth century. She was the only true prophet that ever lived. She even wrote a book, called The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch. Unfortunately, the book didn't sell very well. In fact, it didn't sell at all. Not that it mattered to Agnes; she just wanted the author copy anyway. And that copy is now in the hands of one of her descendants, Anathema Device, a witch of her accord, who is also trying to stop the end of the world.

There are also the four horseman of the Apocalypse, who have assembled to usher in the end of the world. However, they aren't horseman, but bikers. REAL Hell's Angels to be exact. War, Famine, Death and Pollution (Pestilence had to retire after the discovery of Penicillin). Now the race is on to find the real Antichrist, and depending on your side, either save or end the world!

A satirical look at Armageddon, this book is also kind of parody of the movie, The Omen. When Warlock (the boy everyone THINKS is the Antichrist) is young, his Nanny buys him a tricycle. But she can never get him to ride it in the house! The irony and wit in this book astounds me! A. Crowley (ie Crawley) was the serpent in the Garden of Eden; The tempter. Aleister Crowley, in real life, was the famous Satanist or occultist. Which makes this line even funnier:
"Crowley always found [Satanists] embarrassing. You couldn't actually be rude to them, but you couldn't help feeling about them the same way that, say, a Vietnam veteran would feel about someone who wears combat gear to Neighborhood Watch meetings."

What Pratchett and Gaiman have done with this book is take a horrible, scary, evil happening and make it humorous. But in the midst of all the fun, they make some really valid points:
"There had been times, over the past millennium, when Crowley had felt like sending a message back Below saying, Look, we may as well give up right now, we may as well shut down Dis and Pandemonium and everywhere and move up here,there's nothing we can do to them [humans] that they don't do themselves and they do things we've never even thought of, often involving electrodes."

But in the end, they leave it up the wisdom of an 11-year-old kid, who just happens to be the Antichrist. And I guess this says something for the whole nature vs. nurture debate.

"I don't see what's so triffic about creating people as people and then gettin' upset 'cos they act like people," said Adam severely. "Anyway, if you stopped tellin' people it's all sorted out after they're dead, they might try sorting it all out while they're alive."

I realize I'm kind of all over the place with this review. That's because the book is kind of all over the place. It's not the easiest book to review, that's for sure. But I'll tell you this: This is one fantastic book!! If I didn't already have a total crush on Neil Gaiman, I'd fall in love all over after reading this one. Of course, now I'm totally enamoured with Pratchett too. The end of the world doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. It can be positively hilarious!! Gaiman and Pratchett just proved it!!

This book started my love affair with Koontz's wrting. Its a wonderful, witty, well written story. Mystery, humour and a rarity for Koontz - a little romance. The characters are perfect and the story beautiful. Read it.... become a Koontz junkie too.

And I was not dissapointed! I understand that this book is a little different than most of his stuff, but that is what makes him such a great author, is that he can transcend genres. I am very intruiged by the concept of time travel, and this is certainly one of the best and smartest time travel books I have read. Also, even though the book is 20 years old, it still reads great. It was kind of fun to have a flashback to my child hood considering I am about the same age as her Laura's son Chris. Great book!

I loved it. It has that Terminator, Sliders, Quantum Leap feel to it. I put this book alongside "Intensity, Hideaway, and Odd Thomas" as one of his best.

A very good book from beginning to end. Christopher Lane did a great job of reading the book.

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...which is to say Fantastic.

What would you do if you could move through time and create the ideal future? Here is one take.

One of the things I really liked about this book is that I have lived in many of the areas where the story unfolds, and even came down from Big Bear by way of a dirt road....it's more of a deer track than a road, but still....

Robert Sabuda is a genius, no doubt about it. In this book there are dimensional fairies peeking from foliage, brownies hiding in corners, and trolls waiting to create trouble for passers-by. Some figures "magically" transform from one thing to another, just as we might imagine them to do in fairy tales. I give it only four stars because the engineering falls just a little short of the "wow" factor, and the text is somewhat depressing. Nonetheless, this and the Limited Edition version will certainly remain in my collection to be enjoyed for years to come.

I'll admit I've become a little jaded regarding Sabuda's books. How can he possibly top some of the earlier ones? This one doesn't disappoint though.

Despite the sad-looking fairy on the front cover, FAIRIES AND MAGICAL CREATURES by Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda is lovely to look at and great fun to read. The first installment in the Encyclopedia Mythologica series, it is a colorful and imaginative pop-up book that goes beyond the simple unfolding of paper.

Reinhart and Sabuda's text is simple and straightforward, though far from dull. They explore the myths of fairies and magical creatures from all around the world. Most of us are familiar with the "Fay" of European folktales, and they are just the starting point for the authors, who bring us the Pegasus of ancient Greece, the Chinese baku, the Inuit Kul and the aquatic Mami Wata of South Africa.

Though this is a children's book, there is nothing silly about it. On the first page we learn how the tale of the fairy queen Titania inspired Shakespeare and how in 1695 a French courtier named Charles Perrault became the father of the fairy tale when he began to write stories for children.

From the familiar figures of goblins, hobgoblins, elves and gnomes to the less familiar but equally interesting Middle Eastern karkadan, Brazilian Yemanja and the Serbian cikavac, readers will be enchanted. From mythological (hamadryads and sylphs) to folkloric (brownies and sprites) to infamous hoaxes (P.T. Barnum and the Cottingley cousins), this book packs in tons of information in less than 20 pages.

FAIRIES AND MAGICAL CREATURES is treasure-filled with a big pop-up on each page surrounded by more little pop-ups, flaps and even flaps within flaps. Some of the pop-ups move as the pages are turned to give readers a sense of action and transformation, a perfect complement to the book's theme. It feels hefty and has quality paper and gorgeous illustrations, sure to invoke a sense of wonder and amazement in readers of all ages. The construction is complicated but doesn't distract from the stories Reinhart and Sabuda are trying to tell. Instead, the whole of this book seems as magical as the creatures it describes.

While a bit feminine in appearance and perhaps in theme, this is not strictly a little girl's book. In it are fierce and mischievous figures sure to capture the imagination of children (and adults) with all kinds of interests.

--- Reviewed by Sarah Rachel Egelman

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3MJS3EVVU91O This book lives up to the standard that Matthew Reinhart and Robert Sabuda have set with first rate pop-up engineering. Every page has a central pop-up that is beautiful and interesting. Each page is further embellished with a minimum of two corner pull-outs that are also pop-ups in themselves with history as to the folklore of fairies. From this perspective, it is top notch.

The area where I was a little disappointed was in the history of the fairies themselves. It starts out interesting enough explaining that fairies appear in the legends of every continent. But it tends to focus on the darker aspects of the folklore. I've never researched the history of fairies, but I prefer to think of them as benevolent beings. Most of the stories focused on their pranks and the misfortune they can bring. The final corner pullout talked about the English girls who supposedly played with fairies and set up a camera to catch them on film. It was a well publicized case because it was later exposed as a hoax. They had used cuts out from an old children's catalog. The girls admitted their prank but claimed that one photograph was authentic.

I loved the artwork and pop-ups, but the actual text made me feel creepy sometimes, and in the end, sort of sad. While I will show it to my children, I will use my own words to describe the fairy world. If you're really into pop-up books, this is worth adding to your collection, but if your true interest is the lighter side of fairies, I prefer the pop-up book How to Find Flower Fairies by Cicely Mary Barker.

I'm a big fan of this series, and the latest book is no exception. Everything is very high quality - the writing, the story line, the romantic side, etc. Frankly I think this series is second only to the BDB by JR Ward. I can't wait to get my hands on "Noah" (book 5).

If you enjoyed her past books this will be another gem. The saga continues, this time with the Prince of the Vampires and a Lycanthrope. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to the next installment in the series.

I loved the two main characters. Why, becuase they are the same yet different. All the characteristics you love about paranormal characters, strength, beauty and whatever special power their species has, but not what makes some of the paranormal series boring after awhile. The characters were different enough to make really keep themselves,the book and the series interesting. DAMIEN had surprise after surprise in it and I thank Jacquelyn Frank for that. I will not spoil any of them for the reader. I say buy the book and judge for yourself. I really enjoyed this refreshing book.

THE MUSE HAS NOT DESERTED JACQUELYN FRANK; SHE STILL DESERVES A NUMBER ONE RANK!
Jacquelyn Frank and creativity are synonymous. Her Nightwalker Series demonstrates an amazing grasp of the paranormal genre. The fourth book in the series tells of Damien, the reigning Vampire Prince, who tires of the pleasures of the world, devotes his energies to protecting his people.

Ruth, the rogue demon, returns and captures the lycanthrope Princess Syreena. Damien rescues her, and they agree to combine forces to fight Ruth and her gathering army.

As per usual with Frank's books, the plot is clear, the action exciting, the romance erotic, and when you have finished the book, you may find yourself looking for the nexr one, which will be 'Noah' in the Fall.

In a literary environment where we are steeped in tales of the supernatural, the paranormal, hunters and huntresses of all kinds and mega magical beings, it becomes important to the reader to latch onto the authors that are pleasing to him/her and may contine to be OR NOT!!!

But for me Frank never ceases to entertain!!!!

The Vampire Prince, Damien, has heard about the recently located Nightwalker Library. When the Demon King, Noah, first asks Damien is he knows of any vampire scholars to join the other Nightwalker races in exploring the library, the answer is no. However, his most trustworthy vampire companion, Jasmine, seems to thrive on knowledge, curiosity, and intriguing ideas, making her the perfect vampire for the task. When Damien escorts Jasmine to the library, he spies Syreena, the younger sister of Siena (Queen of the Lycanthropes). Damien has been fascinated with Syreena's be-colored hair, opposite-set harlequin eyes, and fierce protective nature ever since he met her in the recent past.

When Syreena is captured and taken away by the powerful Demon traitor named Ruth, Damien races to her rescue. To save Syreena's life, Damien must bite her, which is against vampire law. Before the pair knows it, they are too attracted to one another to stay apart. Can the Vampire Prince and Lycanthrope Princess find a way to be together? And when Ruth gets a powerful new partner, can anyone stop them?

**** There seems to be some filler pages in installment of the Nightwalker series. The entire prologue seems unnecessary to me, as well as the mentioning and information of some characters. Otherwise this story is as great as the ones before it. This is not the author's best work, but it is enjoyable. A note to possible new readers, be sure to read this series in order or you will have major spoilers. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I read The Uglies and could not put it down. It is a great book.

The Pretties annoyed me with the whole doing things to be "bubbly." They used this term all the time. That, and things are "happy making" and "pretty making" and "funny making." They were supposed to be like mindless robots, but this use of language got on my nerves.

I loved the Uglies and the description of the sights and sounds Tally experienced in "The Smoke." It was so exciting to watch Tally learn how to do simple things outside of her ultra modern city.

At the end of the Uglies when she turned herself in in order to help Shay become cured, I was so excited to see what would happen, when David would come rescue her.

It was so annoying how long it took for her to become reunited with David. Her friendshipe with Shay completely fell apart, and Shay ended up being hte completely mindless one, when in the first book, Shay was the adventurous one with a mind of her own who was all for staying ugly and running away.

I was just extremely disappointed in what I thought was going to be an extremely promising book.

Tally has become pretty and it looks like everything is working out for her at last. She pretty, she's popular, has a fantastic wardrobe and boyfriend, but looks can be deceiving and in this case they are. Tally has received a letter from her past self and remembers why she became pretty in the first place and why it needs to be fixed. This knowledge is dangerous and the authorities don't want her to live to talk about it.

Pretties is the second volume of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Trilogy. It picks up almost exactly where Uglies left off and the story is fairly involved so I strongly recommend reading Uglies first. If, however, you decide to ignore me, here's a brief explanation of what's going on which will necessarily include spoilers (and yes I am quoting my own review):

"Uglies is set in the distant future after a mysterious global catastrophe precipitated changes to the foundations of what readers would call modern society. Fearful of war and violence cities now operate as independent states (think Renaissance Italy as opposed to contemporary Italy). Isolated and self-sufficient, the cities have agreed to certain standards for the greater good.

"New technology ensures that citizens never want for food or luxury items, weapons of any kind are largely illegal, and at the age of sixteen everyone undergoes a series of extreme surgeries to better conform to societal standards of beauty. The logic being that, since humans are preconditioned to respond to certain visual cues in each other already (big eyes are non-threatening, a clear complexion and good teeth indicate that a person is healthy), applying these beauty standards will reduce conflict and create a more harmonious society.

"But in a world where everyone is movie-star-gorgeous (oldies like Rudolph Valentino and Greta Garbo are considered "natural pretties"), normal people are so not pretty. In short, they're ugly."

At the end of the first book, our heroine Tally Youngblood also learns that normal people are smarter than the Pretties. As part of the government's plan to keep the population in line, Pretties' brains are surgically altered with lesions to make Pretties more complacent. The government's logic can be summed up in four dangerous words: for the greater good.

At the end of Uglies, knowing now that the operation has to be stopped, Tally makes the ultimate sacrifice--she allows herself to undergo the Operation in order to become an undercover operative of sorts. The only problem is that, because of the Operation, she forgets everything she learned about the Operation, the government, and perhaps most importantly about Special Circumstances (Westerfeld's interpretation of secret service/black ops types).

In other words, Tally starts Pretties with a basically clean slate. She and best friend Shay know that they lived with the resistance group known as The Smoke, but little else. Looking for something "bubbly" to do as Pretties, the girls decide to join the Crims--a clique known for pulling dramatic stunts in order to stay bubbly and consequently think a little more clearly than Pretties usually do. As Tally becomes more involved with the Crims and their leader, Zane, pieces of Tally's past begin to fall into place. But, the more Tally learns about her past, the more confusing things become as she has to decide between her past and her present.

Of the trilogy, this one is my least favorite. The characters, being Pretties, seemed the most unreal. Although Westerfeld evoked a very realistic world in Uglies it all rings a little less true here. I love how much slang these novels use and how easy it is to follow, but that too got to be a bit much.

The novel ends on a dramatic note, Tally once again rallying against those who would maintain the status quo. But at the same time, like in Uglies, she is once again a victim of circumstances. So, although the ending is great, it's also a bit too familiar. Since Pretties is part of a trilogy, it is a must-read to see what happens to Tally. But, in this reviewer's opinion, the second installment in the trilogy doesn't quite live up to the hype created by the first.

I'm more of a person interested in good stories. I love Star Wars, Harry Potter, Narnia, etc...This book and the others that are in the Trilogy fit right into that genra for me. Good read! And, great purchase!

Before I started reading this book, I thought I'd be disappointed, because a friend had said she didn't like the other ones as much as the first book, Uglies. It started out OK because Tally changed completely as a pretty because of the leisures. Then things changed again and it got very exciting. She went through new adventures, some quite scary, and made new companions such as the very important, Zane. The action in these books are great! There were, however, some boring moments for me when she was having trouble with something, but that's just because I liked reading about when she was with her friends.

I won't say much more because I actually can't stand hearing people's thoughts on a book before, or while I'm reading it. Maybe not even after. And I don't want to spoil the suspense-filled story for anyone.

I suggest any type of person to buy these series. I am not a big fan of scientific theories and such, but these books are just eye-catching; you just can't let go of the book once you get into the story! They have a lot to do with just, life itself. I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to reading the other two, Specials and Extras, but until then, I need a break from reading!^-^

I am currently on the 5th book in the series (I am hooked), but this has been my favorite so far. I love the characters! I felt like I got a little closer to them when I read this one.

Ok, bad - I wasn't really ever into the Vampire Erotica. Thankfully it only seemed to crop up once per novel a bit like it was the "obligatory erotica". Of course, that's the genre the book is supposed to be in so it's not like I wasn't warned or had the opportunity to not read it - nothing I consider offensive just not my thing. The good part of that aspect was, it seemed fairly well done and not excessive.

The good - there was quite a bit of it mostly in the stories. Some items were a bit abbreviated but it wasn't really until around the 5th book of the series that I began to catch on to the overall story line of this series. No, not dense, it's just that in the earlier books much of the story had the feel of "fire and forget"...complete stories that had a feeling of being done. I'd call it a lack of cliffhanger endings - again, however, the stories felt like they hadn't been condensed at the end nor were dozens of pages left on the editing room floor because it was too long. Call it "just right".

A few elements didn't fit well but seemed to be things that had to happen to get the main protagonist where she needed to be for the next book in the series. I'd label one of those as the death of her Vampire Boyfriend. It could be I was just disappointed because it seemed like a relationship that was intended to last, but it clearly made her available for what happened in the new few hundred pages (including in succeeding books).

The story line had potential to be exciting, and the book started off with action. Unfortunately the author developed the lead character, Rachel Morgan, into a sex starved witch who evaluated each male (elf, werewolf, vampire, even demon) she encountered from a sexual standpoint. It was really annoying when it became so pervasive, maybe she was writing to other women.

Additionally, the author allowed the lead character to squeak out of mistakes through luck instead of clever intelligence. And the constant whining by the lead character of negative events that were affecting her also annoyed me. I wanted the lead character to take charge and develop into a strong person, and kept listening to the book because of tantalizing moments of action in which the heroin succeeded in overcoming the challenge of the moment.

Still frustrating waiting for those moments, and having to listen to the constant whining and sexual evaluations of the males in the book.

I love the concept behind this series but, it seems to me that Rachel just gets dumber by the minute. How many deals can one person make with demons. It seems that she never thinks about the consequences of her actions. She only deals with the aftermath of what she has done after the fact.

I am not even going to comment on the "Ivy" factor. I feel bad for her and I don't think that Rachel takes into account her feelings or how the way she flaunts her "male" relationships in front of her affects her.

I do hope that as the series continues she finally gets a clue!

This series is a wonderful surprise. I read this in one gulp of fresh air - it's humorous, very real and the characters are so detailed that you actually feel that you know them in your real life!
So many reviews here compare it to Anita Blake, but I read the first few books in that series - and NOTHING compares to Rachel Morgan.
First off, Rachel Morgan is a much more complex individual, and Harrison creates a world of characters that you actually care for. In Anita Blake, I didn't feel any sympany for her or anything bad that happened to her . Moreover, the story is so stupidly plain and simple that leaves no room for imagination.
I also tried to read the Dresden files (read 2 books) - AWEFUL!!!!!!
The closest I could find to the style of writing and the intricate little things that happen all around in the book is the Sookie Stackhouse series which I also am thorouly enjoying right now. Can't wait for the next book in the Rachel Morgan series!!!

I thought it was good, but it had a hard time catching my interest but when it did I got into the book okay. Once it did, it was a good book. I won't read the next one in the series, however, I like the author and enjoy her books.

I've been a fan of Marjorie M. Liu's urban fantasy romances for a while, so I jumped on this new series. The Iron Hunt shows Liu's ability to keep the reader guessing and the intensity keeps the pages turning throughout. Although this book has been tagged by some as a paranormal romance, it's not a romance at all. If you're looking for love, go to her Dirk and Steele series.

I loved the action and that the plot was so unpredictable. Too many books follow expected paths, allow readers to figure out where the line is drawn beween the good guys and the bad ones. This book even questions the heroine in places. The people you ant to believe in are the people you're not sure you can trust.

I was dissappointed with some aspects of this book, though. One major difference between this title and Liu's previous books that I have read is this one is in first person and the perspective seems to limit descriptive elements. It's as if the character of Hunter (Maxine) doesn't feel the need to talk about things she already knows, which in turn leaves the reader in the dark on many things. As an example, she never gave a good description of her living tattoos, in fact I was left with conflicting mental images of traditional inked imaged covering her and her entire body being a solid black.

Another problem was the lack of definitions or explainations for the terminology used. Every fantasy book has it's own anguage and meaning. Readers need a clear definition of new terms to help build the alternate reality. This book had nothing. Many times I was left trying to figure out exactly what a given word meant in the context of the story and came up blank.

Her lack of description and explainaton left me floudering in several action passages. I had to go back and figure out what was happening and how we got to such a strange point. The reader will be yanked out of one strange situation and into another with little to no transition.

The book is the first in a series, and there are many situations left unresolved an waiting for the next installment. Don't look for any clean endings in this one. Hopefully some of the terminology questions will be resolved in the next book, too.

Overall, "The Iron Hunt" is a very exciting read and I recommend it with the warning that it's not a good book to put down and pick up later. It's not a light read and is best suited fo someone who wants to get lost in a book for a while, preferable someone who can read it in one to three sittings. Like her other titles it's also intense and not for the squeamish, so be prepared for a bit of an "eew" factor.

If I had to sum up this book in one word, the word would be WEIRD.

During the whole book Maxine is confused, scared and clueless. I was pretty confused also. The author tried to be poetic & dramatic, but there is nobody in the book to really care about, they were are all so flat.

Maxine Kiss has problems that most people wouldn't understand - what with her tattoos becoming demons at nightfall and her family legacy of demon hunting to protect humanity. But Maxine has broken a couple of rules that all the women in her line have lived, and been kept alive, by - don't settle in one place too long, no personal relationships, none, and constant practice to keep their deadly skills razor sharp. During the day, her "boys," the living tattoos, sleep within her skin, making her invulnerable to everything from cold to intense pain; but at night the "boys" peel themselves off Maxine's body and become the only constant in her life since her mother's death and her companions in the hunt.



However, these days Maxine lives in the homeless shelter her former priest boyfriend, Grant, runs while he attempts to reform zombies - humans possessed by demons; she is sadly out of practice in her hunting skills, relying almost exclusively on her "boys" for protection; and she is completely clueless as to her destiny as a hunter and the power she is destined to wield in order to save or doom humanity.



But the days of Maxine willfully ignoring her destiny have come to an end as she is slowly surrounded by other supernatural beings that she never even suspected existed and which will help or hinder her, as their interests demand, forcing Maxine to face her terrible destiny...



The Iron Hunt is an absolutely mesmerizing urban fantasy book that will suck you into it's universe and leave you wanting for more. Marjorie M. Liu does an outstanding job of creating a world parallel to the "known" world and infusing this universe she creates with enough mystery, action and danger to keep you glued to the pages well into the night to find out if, and how, Maxine will survive. Maxine is a compelling character as she is a mass of contradictions. Maxine, with her need for human contact - hence Grant, and her deadly potential against demons and other beings will keep you spellbound and on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Almost as interesting as Maxine is the collection of secondary characters that slowly, but inexorably, surround her and become involved in her fight against evil in the most unexpected ways and from the most unexpected sources. I was absolutely floored by The Iron Hunt from start to finish, especially during the most confusing times when I floundered along with Maxine to understand what was going on, and more importantly, why. This book has made me a fan of Marjorie M. Liu and I will be most eagerly waiting for the next installment of what is sure to become a legendary saga! However, it must be noted that the romance in this novel is really a secondary, supporting, storyline along with all the other people she unwillingly, and inadvertently, collects to aid her in her quest. Pick up The Iron Hunt when you are looking for a spellbinding urban fantasy read that will intrigue you and have you panting to catch your breath at it's action packed, fast paced plot!

Sabella

"Silver smoke winds around my torso, peeling away from my ribs and back, stealing the dark mist covering my hands and lower extremities...tattos dissolving into demon flesh, coalescing into small dark bodies. My boys. The only friends I have in this world. Demons.

"I am a demon hunter. I am a demon. I am Hunter Kiss."

These are the words on the back of the book to intrigue a potential reader into buying and reading. Plus, look at the cover illustration--the woman covered in tattos. Doubly intriguing. I bought the book and here I am reviewing this supernatural thriller or urban fantasy. Take your pick.

I am not particularly a fantasy fan, but when Maxine Kiss's tattos came to life and slithered off her body into their unique demon forms, I was totally mesmerized. Such imagination hooks me every time.

Several reviewers wrote about the confusing elements of the story. Indeed, things seems to be left out or unexplained, but I figured there must be sequels to carry forth. This first volume in the Hunter Kiss series is all about Maxine, the last Hunter. When the story begins she has already done major battle, but this story is about Maxine's developing powers. Long ago, demons were locked in this prison away from humans, but the veil is coming up and demons are escaping. It is a hunter's job to kill them.

Marjorie M. Liu, the writer, is a wonderful craftswoman of style and use of language. When Maxine's lover moves a stack on books on Mesopotamia, Liu is inserting a basic piece of information. The great epic about Gilgamesh plucking an eternal life-giving plant after an impossibly long swim references Maxine's equally long swim and gaining of the eternal ring so important to later events. Like Gilgamesh she "loses" it as well. The only reference to this ancient story is that stack of books. The reader must be well-read enough to know the story. I like that.

Some reviewers found the story confusing, as did I, but I liked that mix of story elements that didn't quite make sense. Oturu is a horrible demon with knives for feet, but he is also a friend and keeper of the ring. Maxine herself is a demon and demon hunter. No one is ever what they seem in this story which references real life. Are we ever really what we seem? The demons who live in her tattos keep life-threatening secrets from Maxine, but their job is to protect her. Contradictions.

The second most interesting character is Grant, a human--is he?--Maxine's lover, who can alter a being's personality and life flow by the music from his flute. We never learn why he limps.

I was fully engaged in this novel from beginning to end. At the conclusion, I thought how well-ended this is. It was satisfying as a book unto itself, or as an introduction to a whole series. Thank goodness there will be a Book 2. Can't wait!