Here's my first review!
The making of mage Author Ed Greenwood
The Making of a Mage is a book for strong fantasy roleplaying fans, and then especially for those who love the Forgotten Realms setting by TSR. The book tells the first part of the story of Elminster the most powerful magician in the world. He starts out as little boy after a terrible tragedy in the family, and finds himself on the road to becomming a mage. Off course, this is not a easy road, and the young Elminster is constanly being challenged for his choice in "profession". Among other trials he is transformed into a woman! We follows him into his first encounters with the godess of Magic, Mystra, and the start of their special relationship. Well, as I said do you love the Forgotten Realms you probably will enjoy this book. Greenwod is an exellent game designer (maybe the best) but as an author he becomes to simple. It never becomes exciting and you feel that you always know what will be on the next page.

[ 11-15-2001: Message edited by: Sir Byronas ]</p>

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Kaz:

Does anyone here read Shadowrun? It's a very interesting sci-fi RPG series, however I can't bring up the energy to summarize it right now.

<hr></blockquote>

Yes, read two series and also some novels. The series are pretty ok, one about a shaman and one about a special unit that worked for Dunkelzhan. Also there are some books about a detective that is also good. Don´t know the names from memory, but will try to find ém for you! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Yeah!

Finished Inversions!

Awesome! I picked up another of his...Excessions, might not start it for a bit but am looking forward to it! The cover and one passage i read in it seemed totally awesome! Maybe some one has a review of it already?

Also got some computer books, ugh! But will be fun when i am master of the web!

Finished another book - here's the usual thumbnail review [img]graemlins/wavey.gif[/img]

Probability Moon by Nancy Kress

Nancy Kress is a Nebula and Hugo Award winner. With such credentials, you expect a certain minimum quality level. This book attains it (but only just imho). There are two main strands in the plot. Firstly there is the developing story of a research team’s interaction with and discovery of the alienness of a seemingly closely related humanoid race. Then there is a sort of grand space-opera plot strand involving a mysterious artefact, a ruthless alien enemy and conspiracy theories. Though there eventually proves to be a link between the two elements, neither seems to really mesh happily. The result is a book which ultimately is less than the sum of its parts. It’s not that it’s particularly bad, it’s just that I was hoping for more.

Dammit - I will not let this thread die [img]graemlins/crazyeyes.gif[/img] - here's my latest brainfart.....

Far Horizons edited by Robert Silverberg

As I keep wittering on about how anthologies are a good way to get a handle on various writer’s styles and subjects I thought it was about time to review one so here goes………..BRILLIANT. Here’s the basic premise. Silverberg has persuaded some of the greats of modern sci-fi to return to their most memorable creations and contribute new short stories. For example, Anne McCaffery revisits “The Ship Who Sang”, Dan Simmons revisits the “ Hyperion Cantos”, Orson Scott Card - the “Uplift Universe”, Joe Haldeman – the “Forever War”. It’s not to say I totally enjoyed everything (Ursula K. Le Guin still escapes me [img]smile.gif[/img] ). On the whole however, for anyone wanting to dip their toe into the vast sea of modern sf, this cannot be too highly recommended.

Thanks Mouse!

That sounds pretty sweet. What was the Simmons contribution like?...i really enjoyed teh hyperion cantos!

(For Djinn's info - it's good and the Shrike makes an appearance!)

Think of me as a lit.crit. Mt St. Helens......run screaming from my pyroclastic flow [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img]

Bloom by Wil McCarthy

HARD SF, BIG IDEAS, SPACE OPERA, ENORMOUS REVALATIONS. All these are strands and concepts familiar to readers of the genre and when they work they are good (sometimes exceptional) When they don’t, they generally suck ;) . It’s a common failing for the some of the less enjoyable exponents of “hard sf” to try to distract you from their inability to handle basic literary essentials such as character development, plot etc. by drowning you in a flood of pseudo-science. When I read the dustjacket precis of this book, I feared the worst. Boy was I wrong. I have never come across Wil McCarthy before, but on the evidence of this I will definitely keep an eye open for more of his output.

Without giving too much away, the book revolves around a near future attempt by a motley crew of a spacecraft from the human colony of Ganymede to revisit Earth and the inner solar system. The major problem is that all that area of space and the planets have been completely infested by a strange organic/nano-tech hybrid called the Mycosystem. That’s the BIG IDEA. What I will say is that the author handles the balance of plot, characterisation and pacing superbly and even the final denouememt is seemlessly integrated into the whole structure. Highly recommended !

And it came to pass that Mouse happened upon this thread and saw it was sorely afflicted.

"Thou shalt no longer languish in the abyss of despair (aka page 2). By this short review I shall raise thee up to thy former exalted level"

Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card

I have a confession to make, for all the SF I have read over the years, I have never read any of the “Ender Saga” series. I knew they were out there and had a good reputation, but having read (and been not particularly impressed by) one of the Alvin Maker books by the same author, I was in no great hurry to dive into Orson Scott Card’s work.
This is not a bad book though ;) . Anyone looking for another chapter in the life of Ender Wiggin might be initially disappointed, as he only appears as a secondary character in this book, however, the main protagonist in this novel is more than interesting enough to carry the story. In brief (and without giving away too much) this is another look at the events first portrayed in the original “Ender’s Game” seen with a fresh and unique perspective. My only criticism would be that sometimes the simplicity of the characters self-revalatory discoveries jars a bit with his supposed intelligence. Overall verdict – recommended.

Ah Mouse...just wont let it die will you...you the only one!

thanks! ;)

I've read the Enders books and agree with you about them. I really liked the first one and recommend it but i thought the others were a little boring.

Heres a short review for you! (keepin it real Mouse! hehe! :D )

Inferno
Dante
Illustrated by Gustave Dore

Everyone knows it. And for good reason...its incredible, the vision of Hell by Dante Alighieri. Every rhyme drips with metaphor and though written so long ago the emotions and feeling is just as relevant today.
But really i wanted to comment on the Dore copy. If you get a chance to read this book try to get a copy that has been illustrated by Gustave Dore. His pictures are simply amazing.
Hell has never looked better. Gloomy dread filled images that fit the mood of the story perfectly.


Heres a sample:


http://www.dirthurts.com/images/djinn/inferno.jpg

Ha ha - thought you could hide away on page 2 did you. Trust me there is no escape [img]graemlins/1dizzy.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/crazyeyes.gif[/img]

ON by Adam Roberts

A bit of a weird one, this [img]graemlins/wow.gif[/img] . It’s the story of a young boy and his misadventures on a radically changed Earth. The physics of the whole thing are semi-explained in the Appendix, but that bit made my head hurt and in any case, is not essential to understanding the narrative.

The closest comparison I can think of is the classic “Hothouse” by Brian Aldiss and that in itself is a compliment to On’s author. His narrative is tight and controlled and he has some moments of genuine alien horror (claw-caterpils ugh!!!). I was a bit worried about 75% of the way through when a sort of deus ex machina appeared, but not to worry, that was handled fine as well. Just don’t expect a happy ending. Overall - recommended :D

[ 01-22-2002: Message edited by: Mouse ]</p>