Book Reviews – 2015

October, November and December

 

Unrelenting (Kris Longknife, #13)Unrelenting by Mike Shepherd
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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No More Heroes (In the Wake of the Templars, #3)No More Heroes by Loren Rhoads
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(In the Wake of the Templars #3)  Another good read. Better than #2 but not quite as good as #1. Then again I tend to like first books in a series better than the others because they introduce new characters and worlds.

The ending is both neat and in character, although with less violence than you would have anticipated after reading #1.

Spoiler alert!

I, however, have a bias against time travel solutions to problems. They have a “deus ex-machina” quality to them at odds with the hard work done by the characters leading up to the ending. I would have preferred an ending without the journey back to bring Templar females forward to the main time-frame. A little more work in #2 and the author could have pulled this off.

I did enjoy the stories and recommend them: a good “beach read” or cold evening read in front of a fire with a glass of wine (or something stronger) to hand.

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Kill by Numbers (In the Wake of the Templars, #2)Kill by Numbers by Loren Rhoads
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(In the Wake of the Templars #2)  Again, a good read. A little adventure and character development, but seems to be a placeholder between the first and third books.

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The Dangerous Type (In the Wake of the Templars, #1)The Dangerous Type by Loren Rhoads
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(In the Wake of the Templars #1)  An enjoyable read, entertaining. Not quite what I expected from the blurb on the book. Space Opera, but on a small scale of individuals, not large ships, fleets and empires.

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Raising Caine (Tales of the Terran Republic #3) by Charles E. Gannon 3/5 Stars

Trial by Fire (Tales of the Terran Republic #2) by Charles E. Gannon 3/5 Stars

Fire With Fire (Tales of the Terran Republic #1) by Charles E. Gannon 3/5 Stars

 

July, August and September

Kris Longknife: Tenacious by Mike Shepherd 4/5 Stars

Kris Longknife: Defender by Mike Shepherd 3/5 Stars

Kris Longknife: Furious by Mike Shepherd 3/5 Stars

Kris Longknife: Daring by Mike Shepherd 3/5 Stars

The Cost of VictoryThe Cost of Victory by Jay Allan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another good read in military sci-fi. Less character development than in “Marines” but more fighting in a smaller time-frame.
Also introduced are what appears to be a “secret government” running the Alliance and, at least, some of its enemies, the remains of an alien presence on an Alliance world and familial complications for Sarah.
It’s a good “beach read” but there are too many grammatical, punctuation and usage errors–could have used a good editor and galley proofing.

Re-Reads: These are books I’ve read before and re-read during July and August when I had no new books on hand.

A Rising Thunder – David Weber

Shadow of Freedom – David Weber

The Shadow of Saganami – David Weber

Watch on the Rhine – John Ringo, Tom Kratman

A Cruel Wind (A Shadow of All Night Falling; October’s Baby; All Darkness Met) – Glen Cook

Dread Empire’s Fall: The Sundering – Walter Jon Williams

The Thin Man – Dashiell Hammett

The Glass Key – Dashiell Hammett

The Maltese Falcon – Dashiell Hammett

The Dain Curse – Dashiell Hammett

Red Harvest – Dashiell Hammett

The Truth of Valor – Tanya Huff

Valor’s Trial – Tanya Huff

City on Fire – Walter Jon Williams

The Way to Glory – David Drake

The Far Side of the Stars – David Drake

Ambassador of Progress – Walter Jon Williams

Target (Vicky Peterwald) – Mike Shepherd

The Warmasters – David Drake, David Weber, Eric Flint

Paying the Piper – David Drake

In Fury Born – David Weber

Night’s Master – Tanith Lee

The Birthgrave – Tanith Lee

The Gods Themselves – Isaac Assimov

Judas Unchained – Peter F. Hamilton

Pandora’s Star – Peter F. Hamilton

End Re-Reads

Liaden Universe Constellation: Volume IIILiaden Universe Constellation: Volume III by Sharon Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Phoenix in ShadowPhoenix in Shadow by Ryk E. Spoor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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June

W is for Wasted by Sue Grafton 4 of 5 stars

The Spellsong War (#2 Spellsong Cycle) by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. 4 of 5 stars

The Elysium CommissionThe Elysium Commission by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A mystery with a bit of action on-world and off-world, twists and turns. A good, fun read a bit like the Alex Benedict stories of Jack McDevitt.

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Infinity BeachInfinity Beach by Jack McDevitt

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another good read by Jack McDevitt. It’s a first contact novel and a good one. Suppose the Chinese and the Spanish had met at Panama and someone died. A botched first contact.
The story here is similar. Humanity has, for the most part, given up on exploration having contacted no one in the centuries since the discovery of FTL travel. A private vessel makes contact with another lifeform and messes it up. People die on both sides. The humans hush it up.
Years later the sister of one of the dead learns of the cover up and decides to right things. A second attempt at first contact. Puzzles abound and others don’t want the past re-opened and someone, or something, is lurking in the woods.
A good story, well told.

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Monsters of the Earth (The Books of the Elements #3) by David Drake 3 of 5 stars

The Forgotten Room by Lincoln Child 4 of 5 stars

Steadfast by Jack Campbell 4 of 5 stars

 

Dragon in ExileDragon in Exile by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dragon in Exile is a switching yard for storylines. It takes a rather large number of stories and brings them up to date and then puts them on to other tracks combined with other characters headed in a new direction.
If you’re new to the Liaden Universe, this is not the book for you. You may find it an interesting read in and of itself, but you will have missed so much–Advice?–go to korval.com and read the information on reading order and then get the other books as stand alone novels or in the onmibus editions. Of course, if you don’t want to follow my advice, go ahead and read this book–you’ll find yourself getting the other books anyway and then you’ll re-read Dragon in Exile anyway.
Val Con and Miri are in the story throughout and, although there is little character development dealing with them, are clearly acting as the chief executives of a large multifaceted interstellar organization and delegate many tasks to others while still seeing action.
Pat Rin and Natesa (and the Juntavas) put in their appearances but are largely in the background. Theo is hardly here at all. The same is true for Shan and Priscilla.
Rys and the Bedel figure prominently and should have large parts in the succeeding stories. Syl Vor is discovered of a talent. Hazenthul Explorer’s character is slightly deepened and goes off on a storyline of her own accompanying Jeeves’ daughter, Tocohl, on a task dealing with Admiral Bunter. Ren Zel seems to “gain” a new power which hints at a future pivot point. Yulie Shaper appears several times and so too do the people who want to turn back the clock on Surebleak.
We get some new pairings: Quin and Villy, Audrey and Luken (guessed right on that one) and Kareen and Kamele. Kareen and Kamele? Yes, two formalists in a pairing which is not as odd as it first seemed to me. Kamele and self-defense also work.
The Uncle’s decision to use two birthing units has proven to be if not a stroke of genius, at least, necessary. I’m quite anxious to find out what happens when they get back to Jelaza Kazone and find Kamele “waiting” for them. (Maybe, they’ll hitch a ride back with Theo and Bechimo?)
–Interlude–Mist, two-year-old Siamese female, was sleeping on my legs (I’m in my recliner with my laptop.) and just woke up suddenly from a rather active dream. I now have several scratches and a bit of blood on my shins and calves. She has moved to resume her sleep with her brother, Smoke, on the couch.–End Interlude–
Constellation 3 has stories dealing with this time in the Liaden Universe–get it in August.
At any rate, Dragon in Exile was a good, fun read and over too quickly.
PS–Once you read the book, if you haven’t yet read Chimera, read it. It’s a short story dealing with events in the last couple of chapters of Dragon and, as of two minutes ago, it’s still posted on baen.com.
PPS–Also read Eleutherios in the Baen “Free Library” for more information on the Bedel.
PPPS–Oh, yeah, there are more than enough storylines for the, I think it is, six remaining contracted books Sharon and Steve have.

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Balance Point by Robert Buettner 3 of 5 stars

May

Shadow of Freedom (Honorverse: Saganami Island #3)Shadow of Freedom by David Weber

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Survivor (Vicky Peterwald, #2)Survivor by Mike Shepherd

My rating: 4 1/2 of 5 stars

Good book–do you know what I hate about good books? I read them too quickly–started yesterday and finished this evening. And the next one in the series isn’t coming out until next year.

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The Wright BrothersThe Wright Brothers by David McCullough

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I began this book on the 22nd and finished but two chapters that day, the amount of detail was so great. I thought that, at maybe a half a chapter a day, it would take me a couple of weeks to finish. However, the detail merely enhanced the writing and sense of adventure and discovery conveyed by the author.
Orville and Wilbur, quintessential Americans, modest, hard-working and with an almost single-minded belief in themselves succeeded in doing what none had done before (even with government funding)–flew a powered heavier-than-air craft.
With brains, hard work, perseverance, help from family and a few friends and acquaintances they taught the world to fly. Bravo.

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April

Paradigms Lost by Ryk E. Spoor 3/5 stars

The 47 Ronin Story by John Allyn 2/5 stars
A good story but not well told. It should have been exciting; it was not.

A Confederation of Valor by Tanya Huff: The Better Part of Valor (Confederation #2) 4/5 stars

A Confederation of Valor by Tanya Huff: Valor’s Choice (Confederation #1) 4/5 stars
I’ve previously read #s 3, 4 & 5 in the series:
The Heart of Valor 4/5 stars, Valor’s Trial 3/5 stars & The Truth of Valor 3/5 stars.

The Clone Apocalypse by Steven L. Kent (Rogue Clone #10) 2/5 stars
Grumble, Grumble, Grumble . . . not the proper way to end a series.

March – 2015

The Clone Assassin by Steven L. Kent (Rogue Clone #9) 4/5 stars

The Clone Sedition by Steven L. Kent (Rogue Clone #8) 4/5 stars

The Clone Redemption by Steven L. Kent (Rogue Clone #7) 4/5 stars

Madness in Solidar by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. (The Imager Portfolio #9) 4.5/5 stars

Book Reviews - Castaway PlanetCastaway Planet by Eric Flint and Ryk E. Spoor

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Takes place in the “Boundary” universe but long after the previous stories. Swiss Family Robinson, w/Friday, and a touch of Mysterious Island thrown in.
I liked the islands and the general story, but you just “knew” that the parents wouldn’t die, Friday wouldn’t die and neither would any of the girls–at least, in the first book of the series.
Unfortunately, from my point of view, it got a little pedantic in things like telling how they made vinegar, quicklime, etc.
But, still, a good story–save it for a beach read.
As an aside or postscript to this review another part of the story is available elsewhere. Baen Books has a “Free Library” of novels, short stories and sci-fact articles. One of its Free Stories 2015 is “Disaster” by Ryk E. Spoor. It tells the story of the Outward Initiative, the interstellar from which the castaways came. It’s a good read.

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February – 2015

Undercity (Major Bhaajan, #1)Undercity by Catherine Asaro

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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The Clone Empire by Steven L. Kent (Rogue Clone #6) 4/5 stars

The Clone Betrayal by Steven L. Kent (Rogue Clone #5) 4/5 stars

The Clone Elite by Steven L. Kent (Rogue Clone #4) 4/5 stars

January – 2015

Antiagon Fire (Imager Portfolio, #7)Antiagon Fire  (The Imager Portfolio #7) by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Imager’s Battalion by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. (The Imager Portfolio #6) 4/5 stars

Princeps by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. (The Imager Portfolio #5) 4/5 stars

Carousel Seas by Sharon Lee (Archer’s Beach #3) 4/5 stars

Scholar by L. E. Modesitt, Jr. (The Imager Portfolio #4) 4/5 stars

The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower: A Biography of C. S. Forester's Famous Naval HeroThe Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower: A Biography of C. S. Forester’s Famous Naval Hero by C. Northcote Parkinson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A biography of Horatio Hornblower written as though he lived as a real person and not someone who only lives in our imaginations.

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The Abyss Beyond Dreams by Peter F. Hamilton (A Commonwealth Novel) 3/5 stars