Science Fiction Fantasy Books

I rarely read fiction and the initial premise of Ecotopia involving the Pacific NW region seceding from the US seemed somewhat far fetched but I was pleasantly surprised by the novel. Callenbach's richly-descriptive portrait of a society based on the concept of a "stable-state" ecosystem was quite thought-provoking. This is similar to the economist Herman Daly's advocacy of steady-state economics. It also parallels Robert Costanza's work in the emerging discipline of Ecological Economics as an alternative to the outdated, ideology-driven concepts of neoclassical economic theory. The centerpiece of the Ecotopia social model is for resource consumption to never exceed sustainable resource limits and to also treat pollution and waste as costs that are not externalized to the commons but are factored into economic decision-making at a fundamental level. Resources are recycled whenever possible and durable low-technology generally takes precedence over high-technology. Ecotopians generally embrace a philosophy of ecological intertwinement and reverence for nature. I see some similarities to James Lovelock's "Gaia hypothesis" and Edward O. Wilson's concept of "Biophilia".
I found the descriptions of the personalities and behaviors of the various characters throughout the novel to be quite entertaining, the women in particular having a more dominant role. Ecotopians are passionate if not quirky. The Ecotopians adopt a neomalthusian approach toward population regulation and this particularly resonated with me since I consider overpopulation and its resultant resource scarcity to be the single most critical issue facing the human species. The chapter on the ritual war games was intriguing and raises significant issues regarding the genetic predisposition toward competitive aggression in males. I was hoping to find some direct references to behavior science and the use of positive reinforcement but I didn't really find any though an Ecotopian model would provide more positive rewards as part of daily life.
Overall, Ecotopia is quite a stimulating read and I'm glad to add it to my small library. The novel is filled with creative approaches to a wide variety of social issues some of which probably aren't feasible but interesting none the less. Two other related books that some might find interesting are "The Collapse of Complex Societies" by the archaeologist Joseph Tainter and "Environment, Scarcity and Violence" by Thomas Homer-Dixon who heads the Conflict Studies department at the University of Toronto.
The mindless waste and hyper consumption of contemporary American culture is simply unsustainable. If I could move somewhere that embraced at least some of the aspects of the Ecotopian model I'd probably do so.

When I first began reading _Ecotopia_ (1975) several years ago, I remember thinking that the basic premise-- that Washington, Oregon, and Northern California could successfully secede from the United States-- was far fetched. But Callenbach has written a "prequel," _Ecotopia Emerging_ (1981), which dramatizes how the revolution occurred. You may or may not find the details of that revolution plausible. But the point is this: Callenbach's utopia does not exist in a vacuum. It has a historical background. You feel that under the right circumstances, it _could_ become a reality. It feels solid.

Let us dispense with a few weaknesses to the novel. First, it uses the Visitor to Utopia plot, which is as old as Thomas More and which is by this time fairly predictable. I hope that readers will not rise up in wrath when I reveal that the hard-headed reporter who enters Ecotopia eventually becomes converted to the Ecotopian way of life. Second, Callenbach is frequently guilty of loading the dice in favor of his society. (The Ecotopians are healthier than most Americans, crime is almost nonexistent, and the sex in Ecotopia is just so doggoned much _better_.) A third problem is that much of what goes on in Ecotopia depends on its being isolated from the rest of the world. For example, hunting, woodcraft, and carpentry are taught as major parts of the school curriculum. This makes a certain amount of sense if your purpose is to give children an education in practical skills that they will need in their own society. But shouldn't education cover content areas that go beyond the boundaries of your own country?

On the other hand, there are some definite strengths to the novel. The narrator, a journalist named William Weston, is intelligent, observant, and engaging. (Many utopian visitors are rather wooden-headed.) His observations of Ecotopia, told in a series of journal and notebook entries from May 3 through June 25, are clear, concrete, and relaxed in style. The novel is, in fact, remarkably easy to read. Well, what are some of the characteristics of the society that Weston is exploring?

First, the technology is-- selective. It has been used to develop elaborate recycling systems, from sophisticated sewer systems to recycling trucks and centers to the use and re-use of biodegradable plastics. Gasoline cars have been outlawed in favor of electric cars, magnetic monorails, and public bicycles. Some electronic equipment (can openers, hair curlers, skillets) are absent, but others (television, videophones, refrigerators) are present. If this seems a bit "low tech" to some readers, remember: It is the task of the utopian author to construct a society that can be built using present-day technology. Utopias based on lots of fantastic, futuristic devices are not, ultimately, believable.

Second, Ecotopia has become more rural and less urban. To be sure, there are still cities such as San Francisco. But there is less urban sprawl (many old business skyscapers have been converted to apartments), more parks and gardens, and less smog (since petroleum cars have been banned). Many people are living in small communities, and the population in Ecotopia has gradually diminished through the use of birth control. Woodlands and farmlands have spread, and many Ecotopians are now forest rangers or cowboys. Dams have been demolished to return rivers to their natural state. Power comes from solar plants, sea power, and a few fusion plants. Animals have returned in great numbers to Ecotopia, and controlled hunting is encouraged.

Third, there has been a breaking away from the Protestant work ethic and large group activities. There is a twenty hour work week, factories are run on an informal basis rather than in an assembly-line manner. Work crews and volunteers for chores do their tasks in an unhurried, gamelike manner. Citizens are encouraged to spend time doing arts and crafts. Individual sports, such as hiking or camping, are encouraged, while spectator sports, such as baseball or football, are virtually nonexistent. As Weston notes, the sports pages in Ecotopia make rather dull reading. But more citizens are physically fit.

Finally, there are the dark-- or at least more controversial aspects-- of Ecotopia. The citizens are direct, emotional, and loudly argumentative. They frequently engage in lover's quarrels and family disputes, and they are often taking sides in a discussion over the quality of food in a restaurant or in political debates. There is also a strong Survivalist element in Ecotopia, and many citizens engage in aggressive war games. (Some Ecotopians may be druidic tree-huggers, but they are _not_ sentimental and weak.) The nuclear family is gradually giving way to communal families. Most blacks have chosen to live in voluntary "city states" in the Oakland area, indicating a kind of _de facto_ separation of racial cultures. Opposition leaders who want closer relations with the United States are an underground movement. They are quickly squashed by the government. One wonders how much freedom of speech is really allowed in this society.

Yet I find, somewhat to my surprise, that I wouldn't mind living in Ecotopia. Our current government is so corrupt, so incompetent, so cowardly, and so little concerned with public welfare that Ecotopia seems wonderful by comparison. This is how utopian satire works. You say, "If this imaginary world, with all its faults, looks good... then what are we to say about the world in which we live?"

In 1980, the states of Washington, Oregon (probably only the western halves - the eastern halves of both states are socially conservative) and Northern California secede from the USA and build an ecological utopia, complete with recycling, alternative energy, a virtual ban on the ICE, and Native American chic. Their government policies stand in relation to the election platforms of Ralph Nader and Dennis Kucinich as the platforms of Nader and Kucinich stand in relation to George W. Bush's policies. For a few years I went to an Internet forum, one of the participants of which was a teacher of wicca and a community activist from Portland, OR with a rather authoritarian personality, who attacked people who advocated scientific rigor in public policy or expressed dislike of the work of her friend Ursula Kroeber Le Guin. She was incensed when somebody called Hillary Clinton "a left-wing politician": the real left-wingers are bell hooks, Barbara Ehrenreich (she gave a few more names that I cannot recollect at the moment). This book reminded me of her, for in Ecotopia, people like her would be in power. Yet while reading Ecotopia, just as when I was reading Edward Bellamy's Looking Backwards, I had the feeling that to some extent, I am living in this utopia, since the political movements that produced the two utopias, ecology in the 1970s and socialism in the 1890s, influenced the culture of this country in various ways.

After reading "Utopias on Puget Sound," I was hooked on the history and all things utopia. I would bet that most people in Washington state and British Columbia would love to form a new country, but alas, we can dream about what life might be like if the west coast were to break away and start an ecotopia.

This novel is a mixed bag, and it's stayed with me for some time since I first read it. On the plus side, I found the book an easy, wonderfully quick read, and a pretty good exercise of world-building. I also found much to like in Ecotopia's vision, such as its environmental policies and progressive educational system, etc.

BUT...there is something decidedly specious about the ideals represented in the book, and in truth it was sometimes hard to tell if Callenbach was being sincere or satirical. Valid objections about the Ecotopian timeline aside, as well as its obvious hippy vintage, Ecotopia's almost enforced diversity--albeit in a non-bourgeois lifestyle--passive-aggression, and occasional totalitarian structure make even a tree-hugging, bleeding-heart liberal like me raise an eyebrow. Ecotopia sounds like a place that's better than Hell, but still ten floors below Heaven.

Recommended, but with a grain of salt; definitely not a play-book for the perfect society.

My children love these books I didn't know if they would like them because they don't have alot of pictures. They just can't get enough

waited for a month to receive the book.

This book is fabulous.
One of the reasons I like it is because it talked about fires, earthquake and natural disaster. Another reason is because it was near our city! The last reason I liked it is because they lost their city but still had hope. I learned some exellent facts. I learned the fire burned 28,000 buildings! They had half a millon people there. The earthquake was called "The Great Shake". It was one of the biggest earthquakes ever! I would recommend this book for three reasons. The characters are fun. Jack likes the realistic and Annie likes the magic. The second reason is the excitement and learning wonderful facts.
Earthquake in the Early Morning is a excellent book.

My 1st grader hates to put it down, he would rather read Magic Tree House books, than play video games. He even reads them to his class and explains the story for show and tell. In his kindergarten class the teacher would also let him read the Magic Tree House books out loud, not to give her a break, but to promote reading out loud. Great books!

I like this book because it is interesting.
It keeps you wondering whats going to happen next.
It is also very funny.
So you might want to read this book.

A well written series about what it would be like for a regular guy to take up the family buisness of being a superhero. Like any one else forced into a family buisness, there is resentment until Jack Knight becomes addicted to helping people.

The Starman Omnibus, Vol. 1

The first of six collected volumes of the critically acclaimed comic book series of the late 90's and early 00's. It's a pleasure to revisit this masterfully crafted comic book series again, which mixes modern storytelling sensibilities with a sincere love for nostalgia. Fans of both Golden Age and Modern Age comic books will love it!

I'd heard so much about this series and I'm glad I waited and didn't pick up the trades because sitting down and reading all 16 issues was a great experience. It's such a great series written by James Robinson. It's an incredibly modern super hero series but also includes the DC tradition of legacy and passing on a super hero name. I adore Tony Harris' art on Ex Machina and it's so great to see his earlier work. If you love comics and are looking for something unique and fantastic than pick this up.

STARMAN, the incredible comic book series by writer James Robinson (who also penned the equally incredible "JSA: The Golden Age") and artist Tony Harris ("Ex Machina", "Spider-Man: With Great Power") ran for 81 issues starting with issue #0 (although the character's 1st appearance is in ZERO HOUR #1 in 1994)and was continuously acclaimed both critically and by fans. It was as much a super-hero book as it was an exercise in family dynamics and the concepts of legacies, history, and courage.

It's a comic that this reviewer completely ignored when it was being released as a monthly.

Don't know why, exactly. Maybe it was because my wallet was already being emptied by a dozen or so (in retrospect, far inferior) titles at the time. Who knows. Either way, by the time I had gotten a hold of a few issues and discovered what a great series it was, it had already come and gone and were being released in trade paperback form (there are ten of them and a few of them are, to my knowledge, out of print).

I was just about to start purchasing the trades when I got wind of this omnibus (which collects issues 0-16). It is the first of six hardcover books collecting every issue, special, and annual of the series (and, yes, even the Batman,/Starman,/Hellboy miniseries). It is a BIT pricey, but the paper and printing quality is excellent and the story itsself is well worth it.

STARMAN is the story of Jack Knight, youngest son of Ted Knight, the original Starman. On the night of his brother's murder, Jack reluctantly takes up the mantle of Opal City's protector. During the course of the issues contained within the Omnibus, Jack meets up with the mysterious villain known as The Shade (who may not be as villainous as he seems) and does battle with his father's arch nemesis The Mist. He finds himself held captive by a bizarre circus sideshow and begins to learn more about the various men who have operated under the name of Starman.

It's a fantastic series and I, for one, am glad it is available in this manner. I'm forced, however, to take one star away simply because I think the book is a bit overpriced at $49.99 (but well worth the lower price Amazon is offering).

This is essentially the first two Starman tpb's in hardcover format. While it does include a couple of stand alone issues that the softcover tpb's left out, there's nothing really special about this collection and at $50 retail it should at least be oversized. The James Robinson essay and sketches are nice, but the original softcovers had nice essays too. (The paper quality is the same) That said, Starman is an absolutely fantastic series and a must-read for any comics fan. One of the best on par with Sandman, Swampthing, Preacher, etc. Would love to have seen this as an Absolute!

This is one of the best Star Wars books that I have ever read. I would love to see more books come out about the ancient Sith lords. This book captured me from front to back. I have read this book five times now and it is still exciting to read.

I purchased this book for my son and he said it was great.Star Wars® Darth Bane Path of Destruction: A Novel of the Old Republic (Star Wars)

Well ever since i first saw Star Wars i always had this feeling that the dark side of the force was much more exciting, more power, more strenth. Anyway thats what realy got me interested in this book and i was not let down. The story starts off with a normal human and how he discovers the force and eventualy how he joins the sith ranks. Well basicly whoever is a Star Wars fan should buy this book and learn about how the sith ruled the land 1000 years before Star Wars: a new hope.

OMG! What a great story. As other people might assume I didnt not expect much from a story like this. I absolutely loved it. Highly suspenseful, shocking, extremely unpredictable. After the second book and I read the last page I didn't want it to end this soon. I really hope that we can expect more!

This book is my favorite Star Wars Novel because it is the only one I have read that really paints a sith as the plot hero. Usually you will find it written so that you root for some random jedi to 'win the day' as it is with both Darth Vader and Darth Maul. Darth Bane is a great character and is rightly the hero of this book. From start to finish you get excellent character development and really feel attached to him. Can't wait to read the sequel!

Honestly, I enjoyed reading the research notes--which, seriously, are an extremely interesting and thought-provoking read--more than I did the book itself. Watts has taken on the challenge of writing a novel cast entirely with characters who barely qualify as human beings investigating an alien form of life whose processes of cognition and perception have almost nothing in common with any form of life on Earth. In places it requires intense concentration to follow what is happening, more than I think should be necessary in a book that is presumably trying to communicate with the reader. But in general the descriptions of complex ideas and events are handled with skill.

I think Watts probably succeeded in his goals, hence the three stars. But by the end I really didn't care. I suspect that's because I'm not a barely socially functional human being or an alien that doesn't really think in self-aware terms. So while many of the extrapolations are brilliant, including the vampires--just about the best version I've ever read--I just don't think the book works very well as a piece of fiction. In order to be invested in the outcome of a novel, I need to generate more than just some intellectual curiosity about what happens to everyone and everything in it. I felt sorry for a few of the characters and disliked others, but even those emotions were fairly mild. The most effective sections were the flashbacks that Siri has to his life on Earth, where at least you have interactions with other characters that are recognizably human. Mind you, I believe Watts can write characters you become emotionally invested in. I'm just saying that in this novel he seems to have consciously decided not to do that.

Ultimately, I'd much rather read this material in a nonfiction work by Watts. The story is just so unremittingly bleak--I would hate to live in the future he describes--and its protagonists so unsympathetic that the elements of horror are blunted. And the science would be just as interesting as an essay or a thought-experiment.

At the dawn of humanity there was a human sub-species which liked to feed off us. A supreme predator, 100 IQ points smarter than us, we drove it to extinction at the onset of agriculture. In the high-tech world of the near tomorrow, there is competitive advantage in using such beings in certain ... leadership roles. And so with paleogenetic engineering, we brought them back. Meanwhile, the AIs have transcended the singularity, baseline humanity is basically useless and those few humans who still have a role are very ... different.

The aliens announced their presence with two to the sixteen kinetic missiles which entered the atmosphere on a global grid. No-one was hurt, but the flashbulb was ideal for imaging. The AI-ship Theseus is sent to make first contact. Its crew are altered and its captain a certain top-predator.

There is a style of SF writing deriving from pulp detective novels: laconic, dry, matter-of-fact, jokey. Think Richard Morgan or Greg Egan. Peter Watts does dialogue well and he's pretty good at high-tech descriptive writing too. Only occasionally was I conscious that I had not got a good picture of a ship scene, or the relative position of Theseus and the alien artefact.

Plot development was also not bad. Contact novels have a problem of tempo: by definition the reader starts -with team-human - in knowing essentially nothing about alien morphology, motivations, capabilities, technologies, intentions. Inevitably, increase in knowledge takes time and the interest-level can sag. Blindsight is not immune from this effect, but there is always enough going on to encourage the reader to persist in the middle section of the book.

Watts is both incredibly smart and well-educated. He weaves a lot of advanced concepts into the plot: advanced propulsion technologies, artificial intelligence, nanotech, genetic engineering, neuroscience and consciousness studies. Without introducing plot spoilers, the crux of the novel is centred around the nature and rationale of consciousness itself. Watts has managed to find another, orthogonal dimension of alien difference.

Blindsight does not avoid the traditional problems of concept-heavy SF. Towards the end, there are chunks of the novel which are indistinguishable from an article in New Scientist magazine. But Watts manages to keep the story on the rails and delivers a suitably bleak conclusion.

It is possible to imagine a further final polishing of this novel which integrated expository material more organically into plot development and produced a more compelling account of the final redemption of the main protagonist, Siri Keeton.

I read the whole thing in a few intense hours. I really think, though, that this is a novel it's essential to read twice. It's rare and rewarding to encounter something which has passion and humour behind it, which radiates intelligence and which is happy to assume the reader is educated and smart too. More, please, Mr Watts.

This is excellent hard science fiction, but it is not a light read.

The world that the author creates is great. He takes current human society and, given some reasonable technology, creates a new world and explores how society has been shaped by technology. The basics are hard science and I loved many of the ideas presented.

I did want more details in the writing; more visuals of the world. The author has some brilliant ideas and I wanted more explanation of the technologies. Admittedly most of the book takes place on space ships, but I wanted to 'see' more of what the world was like and what it would be to live there as a 'normal' human. While the thrust of his book wasn't about the technology, it was so compelling I wanted more.

The thrust of his book was an exploration of what consciousness is and what it is to be human. There are a number of sci-fi stories that cover similar ground, but this was one of the few books that really took me there. After reading I was able to touch the ideas that the author presented and it stretched me. I imagine I will be digesting this for a while.

It is not the easiest read, but the different characters and perspectives are necessary to build the idea(s) the author is exploring. If you are willing to put some effort in to reading then the book can take one to a very unusual place in looking at the nature of mind/ consciousness/ 'being human' from outside of it.

The book tends to be somber, but I think it helps to tell the story and keep the reader focused on the possibilities, both positive and negative, of what it is to be human.

Dark, vivid, cold as ice, frighteningly brilliant - this is the book that's been lying in wait under my bed to ooze up and touch me in the middle of the night. Relentlessly intelligent, thoughtful, well-written SF such as this is truly a rarety - and Watts' scientific meticulousness makes the the story that much more chilling and real.

This is the first Watts book I've read, I haven't yet gotten hold of his Rifters trilogy - but I'm ordering that now.

With a central premise that is truly amazing, fiercely drawn characters, and aliens that are truly, utterly, alien (but completely plausible), this novel has been on my mind daily since completing it two months ago.

'Blindsight' is a hard sci-fi novel well written enough for everyone to enjoy. Unique characters keep the mood while detailed descriptions set the atmosphere.

First let me introduce you to the eclectic cast:

Theseus - a ship with AI whose "body parts" (such as hatches) have reflexes. She's the Captain of the expedition.

Siri Keeton - Half of Siri's brain was removed when he was young, a dramatic cure for epilepsy that left him incapable of emotions such as empathy. Through observation, he can almost psychically predict the actions and thoughts of others. He's known as a Synthesist.

Isaac Szpindel - The crew's biologist, a mostly human looking cyborg

Susan James - The crew's linguist with surgically induced multiple personality disorder (known as The Gang, including Susan, Sascha, Michelle (Meesh) the Synesthete, and Cruncher)

Major Amanda Bates - The crew's "security", a professional soldier who's career defining moment involved consorting with the enemy. She shaves her head.

Jukka Sarasti - A sociopathic, genetically engineered vampire with the ability of conjoined intelligence with the Captain.

Robert Cunningham - Another biologist, also a cyborg, who doesn't use pronouns and chain smokes.

After an event called Firefall on Earth, when thousands of probes fell from the skies, Theseus was sent out into space to follow the trail back to the source of the probes. The crew comes out of "the crypt" where they have been kept inert and death-like for the trip, near Big Ben - a failed disc-shaped, black star. Orbiting Ben's chaotic field is an alien vessel unlike anything ever seen before. Then the ship makes contact, speaking their language and calling itself the Rorschach. Susan and "The Gang" communicate with Rorschach until, unbelievably, Susan cuts off communication, announcing that it's not a sentient presence they are speaking with. So what exactly is Theseus and the crew dealing with? Sarasti, working with the Captain, decides to send the crew over to the alien ship though from every aspect they have viewed it from, the Rorschach seems uninhabitable, uninviting, and possibly unfriendly. What they find, or what they don't find, will keep you reading right up to the very end. Between Scramblers, vampires, constructs, and AIs, the crew has their hands full.

The story is told in first person by Siri, and though it sometimes seems to slide to a different POV, its simply Siri using his talents as a Synthesist to project their thoughts through translating their speech and behavior. Believe it or not, Watts makes the concept work. There's even a first person glimpse from Theseus's POV. Siri also uses flashbacks to his relationship with his ex-girlfriend Chelsea to give us deep glimpses into who and what he has become after his childhood surgery.

Within the book, intriguing issues of sentience and intelligence are brought up. What defines sentience or consciousness for that matter? Free thought? Self-awareness? Speech? Higher brain? Brain stem? Reproduction? What separates a dandelion from a human? The story is rich and complex without losing any entertainment value, even when delving deep into these subjects.

The book is 362 pages, with acknowledgments following. There's also a section titled Notes & References, covering vampirism, human sight, "telematter", sun types (the "superJovian") Scrambler anatomy and physiology, Sentience/Intelligence, and misc notes. This section includes bibliography footnotes.

I think it would be fantastic if they made a movie from this book. I highly recommend it, whether you're a fan of hard sci-fi or not. Enjoy!

This is another in Warren's "Others" series. And her writing just keeps getting better. She creates a wonderful world of fictional inhabitants that interact with humans. Each book introduces more of her other worldly people.
A great read. Be sure to get the others and read in order of publication to get the full benefit of these books.

Christine Warren is under-rated, under-reviewed and one of the best authors of her genre. I love this series and havent read a bad book as yet.Cant wait for the next one.......

I love the world of the Others and actually enjoyed this book very much. But that could be because I absolutely adored Rule! Also, I don't think Abby is quite as bad as some of the reviewers make her out to be. Granted, she definitely acts like a spoiled child, at some points, without any regard for the situation she is causing to those around her, but I think that's what makes her a real character, even though not always a likeable one. The Others have now been exposed to the world at large and things are chaotic. People are running a little scared and there are near riots (I did think this was a little excessive on the author's part, especially when you consider this is New York City, where they probably wouldn't notice, or care even if they did!)

In Abby's defense though, how well would any of us react if we found ourselves possessed by a demon (or fiend, which is a rogue demon), a being we don't know to exist and then kidnapped for our own protection, especially when you're used to going you own way, doing you own thing, and having a commando brother to call in if you get in a bind. Lou, the fiend possessing Abby, definitely has more personality. As for Abby getting angry being out of character, I'm afraid here I disagree. I think her character is a little selfish and self-absorbed, so blowing things out of proportion fits.

Rule, the demon and hero of this story, is totally awesome and very well rounded out by the author.

I have been a fan of Christine Warren's for a while now, having read her e-books at Ellora's Cave where the world of "The Others" started. "Fur Factor" and "Fur for All" are great! If you're looking for a serious werewolf, or more traditional science-fiction type paranormal story, this is not the one for you. If you enjoy a more fun approach, similar to the Argeneau vampire family from Lydsay Sands, you will enjoy this series.

I am a fan of this series. Christine Warren has a fabulous voice that will make you smile frequently. Her characters, despite being Others, are ones you can truly identify with. The adventure is packed and the romance sensual and sizzling. Sex, danger, and laughter, need anything else for a great book? Don't miss out!

The Demon You Know (The Others, Book 3)
As a research grunt at a local television station, Abby Baker tends to blend into the background, which is where she's most comfortable. But when she ends up being the last resort to cover a hot story, Abby discovers a whole new side to her personality when she is possessed by a fiend--a type of rogue demon. Suddenly everyone wants a piece of her. And now the demon Rule--also a hunter of his own kind who have gone astray--is Abby's only hope...

Meanwhile, the Others--vampires, werewolves, and witches have come out of the supernatural closet and the rest of the humans are all aflutter. Mischief is afoot in the demon realm, and Rule knows that Abby is key to figuring it all out before the fiends tip the fragile balance between the newly-discovered Others and the humans over into an epic battle. Now it's up to two lost souls to make love, not war.

A lot of fun and one of my favorite in the series. Good read.

This book is a worthy sequel to Raven's Shadow. It has more action and provides an enjoyable completion

I don't know if it possible but Patricia Briggs has astounded this reader once again. She has outdone herself with Book 2 of The Raven Duology.

Vivid, imaginative, full of mystery, supsense and magic. What more can you ask for?

I picked up Raven's Strike based on the strength of the reviews for the prequel. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. I will read nearly anything in the speculative fiction realm, and I did finish the book over the course of several months.

A few positive items first. Briggs has a good feel for pacing dialog, and she did a great job with the verbal interactions in the book. Briggs does a good job with descriptions of landscapes and the use of multiple senses in her descriptions.

Now on to the main plot ...

[Spoilers]

The premise of the book is interesting. Long ago there were two primal gods, the Weaver (creator) and the Stalker (destroyer). The Stalker fell in love with a mortal, and, when the mortal died, the Stalker took actions that would have destroyed the world, but the Weaver cast a spell that separated the two primal gods from intervening directly in the world. Instead a group of six lesser gods was placed in the world to draw off and balance the energy of the Weaver and Stalker.

All was well until a proud mage disrupted the balance. The goddess of magic, the Raven, was worshipped in the great city of the land. One day a powerful mage elected to strip the powers from the god of war to make his son a great warrior. In completing the ritual, the god of war was slain. This allowed the Stalker's destructive powers to be unleashed into the land and threaten the world's existence. The wizards collectively with the Raven's help sacrificed the city and the gods to put the veil back in place between the primal gods and the created world.

The problem was that the newly created balance was unstable. A clever wizard could reach through the veil and tap into the Stalker's energy. This being the power of destruction, it caused death and chaos to follow in the wake of the newly elevated wizard. Wizard's that used these procedures were called Shadowed.

The book revolves around the quest to find out the information described above and to find a way to defeat a powerful shadowed mage. Of course, the group is successful.

There are a number of lesser plots in the books. One of the involves figuring out why one of the character comes off as ancient, but appears young. (Yes, it is the obvious answer.) Another challenge is trying to figure out how the shadowed has drawn the power of the clans (the god given powers) away from some of the Travelers (what the mages are called) into gems (this one kind of sputters out at the end). While you have the fantasy explanation for what happened, it really is not a solution at all. And, there are others.

The main action in this book occurs almost entirely in the last 25 pages of a several hundred page book and could have done with some excitement earlier in the book.

While I appreciated the interesting idea of a purposely layered cosmology, I found the execution to be a bit uneven. Sometimes abilities worked, and sometimes they did not. Rather than feeling like this randomness was a part of the story, you feel that it is forced. The main antagonist should have been found out early on. The emperor should not have been able to break the spell holding him. (But, I did appreciate the D&D reference!) If the Weaver could not have helped at the end then how did he help out earlier in the book. If the Stalker is the destroyer then why did he not just let his pawn destroy the world. Etc.

If you enjoyed the first book then you will probably enjoy the last fifty pages of this book, but I do not recommend the first several hundred.

_Raven's Strike_ is a continuation of _Raven's Shadow_. _Raven's Strike_ starts with the magicly gifted Seraph going home with her husband Tier, their sons Jes and Lehr, and their companion Hennea. At the end of _Raven's Shadow_, Tier had been rescued from an evil cult by the others, and the kingdom's young emperor had been saved at the same time. Tier had been badly beaten, but also had demonstrated a gift for a type of magic usually only seen within Travelers such as Hennea, Seraph, and Seraph's children Jes, Lehr and Rinnie.

Once they get home, things don't slow down for Tier and Seraph and their family. The new emperor Phoran needs help rooting out a conspiracy against him; Tier is sick and steadily getting sicker; and there is a Shadowed enemy still around who is killing Traveler clans. Jes and Hennea are still trying to sort out the nature of their relationship, or whether they even want to have a relationship, while Seraph and Hennea are trying to work out the pecking order between two very strong-minded and dominant females. In the middle of all this, it becomes necessary to find a lost city that hasn't existed for over a thousand years, before the emperor is overthrown and Tier fades away into a mindless shell.


I read _Raven's Strike_ without having read _Raven's Shadow_, the first in the series. Consequently, there were comments and concepts in _Raven's Strike_ that I didn't understand right away. It would probably be better for the reader to start with _Raven's Shadow_.

With that admission out of the way -- I loved this book! The action scenes tended to be a bit brief, but watching the growing relationships between characters was a worthy trade for that. I liked the strong characters, the explanations of magic and how the Traveler magic works was interesting, the mermori and library with its Scholar were fascinating to read about, and the whole story of the dead gods and the balance of the Weaver and the Stalker was really well done.

However, before I suggested this book to anyone, I would recommend they read _Raven's Shadow_ first.

I really liked the story and the characters. There was just the right blend of serious, funny, action and interaction among the characters. I would recommend this to anyone who liked sci-fi fantasy.

If you love sequential art, give this one a try. It's a unique and touching story, exploring the question of what love brings out in us (both the good and the bad.)

Summaries of this book make it seem simplistic, but there is a lot here. The art, and the story, are messy, violent, sad, and beautiful. I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's a shining example of what sequential art can be.

this is by far one of the best manga i've ever read. i'd gotten away from manga, but decided to pick this up when it was published in a single volume. entirely worth. highest possible reccomendation.

Excellent manga and anime. I didn't think I would like the animation but it's amazing. I especially liked White's dream sequences.
The Black & White in the title does refer to the characters. The original title of the manga is Black & White. Also, Viz does a lot of mangas in the left to right format. This one wasn't singled out for special treatment.

"Duh" and yet five stars? That Duh was for me. I was disappointed because when I opened the Amazon box and discovered TEKKEON KINKREET was in black
and white.

I'd thought that B&W label referred to the main
characters, Black and White. See? Duh. On me.

Other than that, I'd thought the cartoon style would reflect the anime, which is great and in full color, which prompted me to buy this book.
Duh #2, then.

Still, it's a very good, very big book and very Zen-like.
So Five Stars. See the anime, it's great. Now Ima gonna go
and actually read the book.

During a trip to Japan recently I came across the film version of this book, which had just won many awards. When I learned it was based on a graphic novel, I scoured the bookstands here in the US for it to no avail. Luckily Amazon had it (along with the English-subtitled movie). Tekkon Kinkreet is a richly engaging graphic narrative, its visual language referencing French comics but with the horizontal, angled paneling of more traditional Japanese Manga. Though it's about two scrappy kids, this is most definitely NOT a comic book for children: it's full of violence and references to the seedy underworld of the city (gangsters, strip clubs, etc.). Though those things would usually turn me off, I found this to be a completely absorbing narrative. Beyond the violence it elegantly explores the issues of gentrification, friendship, identity, and change. The film's great too, but you should definitely read the book first. Totally different visual styles going on. Great stuff. Check it out.

Although I had already watched both movie adaptation, I wanted to read this book. It was well worth it. Anyone who gave this novel one star is being dishonest, and I doubt they read the book. If someone didn't enjoy the story they should not give it one star unless the writing it self was poor, and Dune is written well. That is why it won both sci-fi awards for best novel.

I really like how more indepth the book is, which is always the case vs a movie adaptation. You learn so much about the characters, their motivations, etc, that the movies do not show.

If you have not seen the movies, then the book is going to blow you away. if you like this sort of thing. The last line almost made me cry, and only one book has ever made me cry, and that was Swan's Song. Where the red fern grows came close.

Everybody else has already grokked "Dune" to the high heavens, and it definitely deserves all such praise. Here I just want to mention a few thoughts I have about "Dune" that should add to its lustre and help explain (but not explain away) its runaway success.

1) "Dune" is extraordinarily well-written on a literary level. Most sentences have the look of having been polished to a high sheen. Not that they necessarily were... point is, there's no "filler" here at all. Every word is in its place. The richness of detail is overwhelming, especially sensory detail. The narrative is well constructed, there is masterful use of 3rd-person omniscient narrator, and the plot unfolds at exactly the right pace.

2) Frank Herbert never wrote anything as good before or since. Not even close. The "Dune" sequels? No way. They don't even feel like they take place in the same universe, although the same terms, organizations, characters, etc... are still there. Why? Because starting with "Dune Messiah", Herbert's writing lost that hallucinogenic vividness. Speaking of which...

3) "Dune" is the only fiction book I've ever read that has the power to raise my awareness every time I read it. This comes from two sources. The first is something I mentioned above - the extraordinary sensual richness of the writing. The second is that Herbert is describing human beings with extraordinary powers of perception. Somehow, Herbert hit on a manner of describing human beings with psychedelic levels of awareness which is vivid, authentic, and subjectively-congruent enough to actually bring this level of consciousness out of the person who is reading his work. To read any part of "Dune" is to have your senses immediately sharpened. You don't just read about the Bene Gesserit "voice" -- you actually sense its power within you. You don't just read about the psychedelic power of the "spice" -- you actually consume the spice yourself as you read, and feel its power. You don't just read about "plans within plans" and intricate Machiavellian strategies -- you actually gain access to this level of strategic intuition within yourself. You don't just read about the knife-fights -- you actually feel your muscles and nerves becoming more subtly attuned and your reflexes sharpen as you read.

I don't know quite how Herbert managed to pull this off... but pull it off he did, and it's wonderful.

Seasoned readers might sympathise about this being my 2nd Sci-Fi experience - Lord of the Rings was the first. Tough acts to follow, and 35 years later I'm still trying.... Dune is breath-taking for the sheer feat of imagination. The combination of medievalism and high-tech is particularly well wrought, as is the polico-economics of spice and water.

Its a total immersion experience and one that's hard to let go at the end.

Dune truely is one of the absolute finest fantasy (and sci-fi) novels ever and subsequently has become a role model for many science fiction works that came after including George Lucas' Star Wars. The complex plot throughout is stunning, how Herbert creates a fantasy world that is so flawless down to every little detail shows how much dedication he took in writing it.
The only problem with Dune is--the writing isn't as smooth and easy to read as it should to make this a true masterpiece. Herbert might be capable of creating a plot around his entirely fictional world flawlessly, but Dune is not a fast easy read. Unlike writers like Kurt Vonnegut for example you find large parts of this book are far too wordy, making it at times a slow, and other times, occasionally Dull. Plot events don't just flow from one part to the other. Herbert also has a strange habbit of throwing in far too many obscure vocabulary words into characters dialogue. In descriptions this is actually a blessing, but in all seriousness, who talks like they're reading out of a thesarus in conversation? With better writing this book would be totally flawless. Because of the writing the plot is occasionally cumbersome and jagged, but the ideas behind it are so stunning that the read is certainly worthwhile. Rest assured...if you have ANY bypassing interest in this genre check this out.

I read Dune before and was very confused by the story at first. Maybe that happened because I read much too quickly. Then I recently re-read it and was immediatly drawn into Herbert's world. His creation truly is epic. It's obvious to see how it has gained so much attention. Herbert creates a world filled with political strife, internal problems and real mental dilemmas, particularly in Paul Atreides as He delves deeper into the Muad'dib persona and continues on throughout the later books.

Dune is a great read for sci-fi fans and anyone who enjoys a riveting tale of adventure and loyalty.

PARTY ON, DUDES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The two Ultra Marines return after completely their Death Oath in defeating the Chaos demon. The Warhammer 40k sci-fi story of their adventure continues as they arrive at a world suffering from over a decade of rebellion by former Imperial Guard descendants and the current Imperial Guard Regiment given the honor to settle there.

The story revolves around the ethics of rebellion and methods used to occupy and "pacify" the rebels. There is also the tale of leadership, how strict narrow minded bureaucrats can rule with no regard to the how their "subjects" think and interact. The book could have described in greater detail on how the governor was despised by both the civilians and soldiers. Instead, the book tends to repeat several statements over again on how Uriel and Pasanius long to return home with Uriel also trying to find a way to help the Unfleshed.

Am not happy about the recent Horus Heresy books as the characters are dull and bland. McNeill is able to add more personality and creativity to both major and minor characters in this Ultra Marines series. The book is a quick and easy read, only a few hours. Hope that the Ultra Marine series will continue. Maybe the Iron Warriors will return with the Uriel clone in a future novel? Overall, a decent library book to borrow or wait for the paperback. A bit expensive in hardbound form.

Continuing the storyline of Graham McNeil, we find ourselves once again following Pasanius and Uriel Ventris, Ultramarines banished from their Chapter and sent on a Death Oath. But their oath has been completed, and miraculously, they survived to escape. After finding themselves on an Imperial world that was conquered and colonized by a brutal and ruthless former Imperial Guard regiment, the two Space Marines must try to find a way back to Ultramar, while surviving the attentions of a bitter insurrection as well as disquieting psyker activity.

McNeil manages to bring Uriel and Pasanius out of the standard cliche one-dimensional super soldier character, and makes them evotive and recognizable as still being human, which is a failing of many novels based around the Astartes. The scenery and detail expressed in his characters, as well as the heartbreaking story of the titular Killing Ground and the fate of the Unfleshed is gruesome and caustic, just the flavor for the Warhammer universe. Also appearing are the Grey Knights, who also manage to break free of the even more restrictive cliche character of one-dimensional super soldier secret police officer. The monsters, both human and not, all manage to evoke a distaste even through the page, and its hard not to relish the fate of the villian of the piece.

McNeils storyline drags briefly from time to time, somewhat hindered by the political backstory and the insurrection portion of the tale, but has a steady stream of combat and action, as well as new scenes and iconography, including the memorable Inquisitorial Trial. While I'll always be more sold on Caiphas Cain and Ibram Gaunt, Uriel Ventris definitely sweeps aside all previous Marine characters.

Two Ultramarines, Pasanius Lysane and Uriel Ventris, have escaped from the Eye of Terror. They well know that no one comes back from there unchanged and they have no idea if they will even be welcomed back by their brothers. After all, they had fought alongside renegade Space Marines, made a pact with cannibal mutants, and even freed a daemon creature. It may not matter that each decision had been made with the best intentions or for the right reasons. The pair, along with some of their mutant allies (the Unfleshed), travel homeward within one of the Iron Men's vile, daemonic machines. Upon arriving, the Unfleshed hide in the mountains until such time the Ultramarines may figure out what planet (and year) they are on and explain the mutants to any locals.

The planet is named Salinas. A designated army of conquest has claimed the world as theirs. Yet after fighting in some of the most horrific war zones in the galaxy year after year and killing countless enemies, they find themselves unable to simply turn off the instincts that had kept them alive. Needless to say, the conquered locals hate their new leaders even after ten years. Everyone remembers the massacre of innocents in the city Khaturian a decade ago. It is referred to as the Killing Ground. A rebel group calling themselves the "Sons of Salinas" still fight against the new ruling government. Eradication of the rebel group is proving difficult and the possibility of a traitor is high.

When the infernal conveyance delivering the Ultramarines and the Unfleshed ripped its way through to Salinas and then tore a hole back through the gates of the Empyrean, a lot of energy came through too. The walls that separate Salinas from the warp were worn very thin and something that feeds on death and bloodshed had been attracted to the Killing Ground. The souls of those who died in Khaturian were now massing. They now had a very real, very dangerous wellspring of power to draw upon. And they hunger for vengeance.

Pasanius and Uriel must battle terrible powers and somehow keep an oath to the Unfleshed until their brothers can come for them. Only then will they be able to get home to Ultramar and redemption.

***** "The bar was crowded and the summering air of resentment that filled its smoky depths was like a current running through Hanno Merbal's body. He could sense the hatred of what he represented in every muttered syllable, every furtive glance and every hostile stare. He lifted the glass before him and knocked the harsh spirit back in one gulp." (Used with permission of the publisher, USA branch.)

By simply reading those first three sentences of this story I knew it would be awesome. An author who is able to put such a detailed description of angst within a few simple sentences KNOWS his stuff. From the beginning to the end I found myself compelled forward and into many forms of battles (mental and physical). By the time I finished the story I found myself wondering if the author, Graham McNeill, actually had talent oozing from his pores. The story is so well written that I could almost feel the heat and smell the carnage. The ending left me with the feeling of euphoria, yet a sense of loss too. I only hope there will be more Ultramarine stories in the future. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.