Book Reviews – 2016

December

Skyfall (Saga of the Skolian Empire, #9)Skyfall by Catherine Asaro
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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The Last Colony (Old Man's War #3)The Last Colony by John Scalzi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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The Last Colony (Old Man's War #3)The Last Colony by John Scalzi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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The Ghost Brigades (Old Man's War, #2)The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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The Blockade (First Salik War, #3)The Blockade by Jean Johnson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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November

A Mankind Witch (Heirs of Alexandria, #1.5)A Mankind Witch by Dave Freer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Shadow of the Scorpion (Polity, #3)Shadow of the Scorpion by Neal Asher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Absolution GapAbsolution Gap by Alastair Reynolds
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Other Times Than PeaceOther Times Than Peace by David Drake
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Re-treads — some are ok — check out at the library.

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Redemption ArkRedemption Ark by Alastair Reynolds
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Bold (Kris Longknife, #14)Bold by Mike Shepherd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Castaway Odyssey (Boundary)Castaway Odyssey by Eric Flint
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Shadow of Victory (Honorverse: Saganami Island, #4)Shadow of Victory by David Weber
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Disappointing. Way too much concentration on “brushfire” wars and fake planetary uprisings.

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War Factory (Transformation #2)War Factory by Neal Asher
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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October

The Fleet at Flood Tide: America at Total War in the Pacific, 1944-1945The Fleet at Flood Tide: America at Total War in the Pacific, 1944-1945 by James D. Hornfischer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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A Call to Arms (Honorverse: Manticore Ascendant, #2)A Call to Arms by David Weber
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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Shattered Spear (The Lost Stars, #4)Shattered Spear by Jack Campbell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Gentleman Jole and the Red QueenGentleman Jole and the Red Queen by Lois McMaster Bujold
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Warrior WomenWarrior Women by Paula Guran
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

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X (Kinsey Millhone, #24)X by Sue Grafton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good story. Gets a bit convoluted and slow in the middle but finishes up fine.

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A Night Without StarsA Night Without Stars by Peter F. Hamilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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September

The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942-1944 by Ian W. Toll
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Project Elfhome (Elfhome, #4.5)Project Elfhome by Wen Spencer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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August

Alliance of Equals (Liaden Universe, #19)Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well, here we go again. Another fine read in the Liaden Universe – over too soon.

Korval is once again dealing with the Department of the Interior only this time they are far away from both Liad and Surebleak. There are two major threads and one minor one running through the story.

The minor thread, at least in terms of words and pages, concerns the fates of Daav and Aelliana who are in the care of Uncle and Dulsey – and, of course, Korval’s “damned meddling Tree” through its unripe pods. The results promise more action in future stories and several personal complications forthcoming.

The second thread, not minor, except in its use of previously minor characters involves Korval’s response to Theo’s “creation” of Admiral Bunter during her run in with the DOI at Jemiatha’s Jumble Stop. This thread involves Tolly Jones, Hazenthull Explorer and Tocohl Lorlin and their attempt to help the Admiral. It seems to split into two threads of its own late in the book, one of which is left untouched.

The third thread, and the major one in the story, is about Dutiful Passage and its quest to forge new trade links for Korval out of Surebleak. The main concern of this story is not, however, the doings of Shan and Priscilla but of daughter Padi. Padi is Shan’s apprentice trader and in this story she begins to come of age as a trader in her own right. However, she is also haunted by her fears stemming from her time at Runig’s Rock and must learn to deal with them.

No story spoilers from me – I shall not divulge the outcomes of any of the above except to say that I really don’t want to wait until next May to find out what happens in The Gathering Edge.

Alliance of Equals is the latest in a thirty-year line of books and stories, a universe rich in characters and their histories. If you’re familiar with this universe, you’ll find this a worthy edition.

If, however, you’re new to Liad and Korval a few words of warning. The Liaden Universe is addicting. It consists of eighteen other novels and three collections of short stories – and you’ll want to read every one – soon.

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July

Death’s Bright Day by David Drake — 3 of 5 stars

Rebel by Mike Shepherd — 3 of 5 stars

A Study in Sable by Mercedes Lackey — 4 of 5 stars

Barrayar by Lois McMaster Bujold — 3 of 5 stars

Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds — 3 of 5 stars

Shards of Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold — 4 of 5 stars

June

The Hydrogen Sonata by Iain M. Banks — 2 of 5 stars

House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds — 3 of 5 stars

Leviathan (The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier #5) by Jack Campbell — 4 of 5 stars

Undaunted (Kris Longknife, #7) by Mike Shepherd — 3 of 5 stars

Dark Intelligence (Transformation, #1) by Neal Asher — 3 of 5 stars

May

Silence (Serrated Edge, #9) by Mercedes Lackey — 3 of 5 stars

April

The V’Dan (First Salik War, #2) by Jean Johnson — 3 of 5 stars

The Terrans (First Salik War, #1) by Jean Johnson — 3 of 5 stars

Phoenix Ascendant by Ryk E. Spoor — 3 of 5 stars

March

The Dragon Never SleepsThe Dragon Never Sleeps by Glen Cook
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“He lies ever upon his hoard, his heart jealous and mean. Never believe he has nodded because his eyes have closed. The dragon never sleeps.” –Kex Maefele, speaking to the Dire Radiant

So opens Glen Cook’s tale of a self-perpetuating human military society. The Guardships have solved the problem of succeeding generations losing the idealism of a founding generation — memories are periodically recorded and impressed on a new clone when the original dies. When an individual of sufficient merit retires/dies, his or her memories are uploaded to the Guardship (and to Starbase) where they electronically continue to live. Should the Guardship be destroyed, it is re-created by Starbase along with its original crew.

The Guardships have guarded the human empire (Canon Space) for some four thousand years, but change is coming. Humans, artifacts (genetically engineered clones) and aliens, from within and outside Canon, have teamed together to overthrow the Guardships. Interstellar war on a grand scale forces change, in some cases long overdue, on the Guardships and Canon.

The story centers around:
The Guardship VII Gemina and two of her crew: Hanaver Strate and Jo Klass;
House Tregesser and Lupo Provik;
Aliens: Kex Maefele, Amber Soul and Seeker and the artifact, Lady Midnight.

There is plenty of action, intrigue and character development.

I have read this book a couple of dozen times since I got it back in 1988 (yes, my paperback copy has begun to fall apart) and found something new each time.

My biggest disappointment is that Cook never wrote a sequel.

Yeah, I’m writing this brief review because I just finished re-re-re-reading it yet again.

P.S. And like Lee and Miller’s Agent of Change, this story contains a Turtle.

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February

Imperfect Sword (The Lost Stars, #3)Imperfect Sword by Jack Campbell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another good story in the series.

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January

A Little RebellionA Little Rebellion by Jay Allan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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An Ancient Peace (Peacekeeper, #1; Confederation, #6)An Ancient Peace by Tanya Huff
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book; I really liked this book; I really wanted to give it four stars, but I can’t. Why not?

Spoiler

Zombies, bloody alien zombies — no, no, No!

 

Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941-1942 by Ian W. Toll
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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ThunderbirdThunderbird by Jack McDevitt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another good McDevitt story, told on a “human” level of individuals rather than governments, fleets or armies. I was a bit disappointed in the ending until I realized how many loose ends there were. He really can’t end the story here, can he? There has got to be another book in the works.

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Grand Central Arena (Grand Central Arena #1)Grand Central Arena by Ryk E. Spoor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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