A Calculus of Angels, by J. Gregory Keys, is the the second book in the four part "The Age of Unreason" series. This book continues where Newton's Cannon left off, and the intrigue, excitement, and mystery are only enhanced in this work.
The year is 1772, and a second Dark Age seem imminent after an asteroid was called from the heavens to strike at England's crown jewel. London is destroyed, and the rest of Europe is devastated by the destruction caused by the strike, as well as the cold temperatures from the ash in the air. Sunlight is seldom seen, and the hearts of men are heavy indeed.
Sir Isaac Newton, brilliant and/or mad, and his apprentice, the young Benjamin Franklin from the colonies, have taken refuge in Prague. However, safety is not to be found, as they are about to find themselves in the midst of another war. Peter the Great approaches, and the forces of the Russian tsar will not be easily stopped.
Half a world away, other things are brewing as well, as the pirate Blackboard teams up with the Puritan preacher Cotton Mather, as well as an Indian named Red Shoes, and they set sail to find out what has happened to the likes of England, France, Spain, and the rest of Europe.
Prepare fot his book to surprise you as the secrets of the hidden world begin to be revealed, and the dark and sinister forces that are responsible for the destruction of England have the light of the world shone upon them, shocking everyone with the truth of their agenda.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Newton's Cannon by J. Gregory Keyes
Newton's Cannon, by J. Gregory Keyes, is the first book in the "Age of Unreason" series. The series, published by Del Rey in the late 1990's and early 2000's is definitely one that you will want to read.
The first book introduces the reader to a cast of character that will at first seem very familiar, as it is filled with a host of characters from world history. However, these characters are very different than their historical accounts, and Keyes blends historical accuracy with fantasy imagination to create some very unique story lines.
Familiar names such as Benjamin Franklin and Blackbeard are sure to catch the reader's eyes, but the way the characters are developed will keep those eyes riveted. London and France are at way, and the depiction of events with the mix of alchemy, mythology, fantasy, and science leads the reader far from the original historical path.
The first book has murder, alchemy, and intrigue, as individuals from around the globe find their paths interwoven, with disaster potentially around every corner.
This book, and this series, is a must read.
The first book introduces the reader to a cast of character that will at first seem very familiar, as it is filled with a host of characters from world history. However, these characters are very different than their historical accounts, and Keyes blends historical accuracy with fantasy imagination to create some very unique story lines.
Familiar names such as Benjamin Franklin and Blackbeard are sure to catch the reader's eyes, but the way the characters are developed will keep those eyes riveted. London and France are at way, and the depiction of events with the mix of alchemy, mythology, fantasy, and science leads the reader far from the original historical path.
The first book has murder, alchemy, and intrigue, as individuals from around the globe find their paths interwoven, with disaster potentially around every corner.
This book, and this series, is a must read.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
No Book Review - Just Thoughts
There is no book review on this post, but there is definitely a thought that I want to share about trying to post about good fantasy and science fiction. Sometimes, you start a series that is so good that you simply cannot stop reading it long enough to post. I just finished a four book series that falls directly into that category, and I am really looking forward to sharing information about it, the author, and some of his other work in the very near future.
I did want to comment on the amazing way that I found this series, and how thankful I am that despite living in the land of the I-Pad and Kindle, that we still have a few used bookstores. I seriously stumbled across this series by wandering into such a store, and looking for anything they had that was a series, fantasy, and was reasonably long. I know that it wasn't the strongest criteria, and was definitely rolling the dice, but it really worked out in this situation.
I think that is my favorite thing about books that you can hold, versus books that you can download. When you are pondering downloading something, you never randomly pick it up, feel the weight of it in your hand, or see the worn pages and just get the urge to read it. Instead, when downloading, you read a little review, look at a rating, and then decide whether or not you want to click the button and own the book.
That is why for me, no matter what technologies may arrive, I always intend to have a few books lying around. Nothing beats the feeling.
I did want to comment on the amazing way that I found this series, and how thankful I am that despite living in the land of the I-Pad and Kindle, that we still have a few used bookstores. I seriously stumbled across this series by wandering into such a store, and looking for anything they had that was a series, fantasy, and was reasonably long. I know that it wasn't the strongest criteria, and was definitely rolling the dice, but it really worked out in this situation.
I think that is my favorite thing about books that you can hold, versus books that you can download. When you are pondering downloading something, you never randomly pick it up, feel the weight of it in your hand, or see the worn pages and just get the urge to read it. Instead, when downloading, you read a little review, look at a rating, and then decide whether or not you want to click the button and own the book.
That is why for me, no matter what technologies may arrive, I always intend to have a few books lying around. Nothing beats the feeling.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
The Earthsea Quartet by Ursula Le Guin
I recently reread the four books in this series, which have all placed within the confines of the same cover by the publisher, Penguin Books. The original four books, entitled "A Wizard of Earthsea", "The Tombs of Atuan", "The Farthest Shore", and "Tehanu" were favorites of mine as a child, and continued to be so when I reread them all in this quartet.
If you have ever read Tokien, Rowling, or C.S. Lewis, and enjoyed them, then you will likely enjoy this series which is mainly centered around the adventures of the young dragonlord Ged. It follows him from the isle of Roke where he goes to learn the true ways of magic, and shares his adventures all over the land. It follows him from his youthful days as an apprentice to his years as the Archmage, and these epic and spellbinding tales are perfect for any age.
I highly recommend reading these four books as one, or sitting down and just grabbing an original copy of each. You will be extremely happy that you read these books.
If you have ever read Tokien, Rowling, or C.S. Lewis, and enjoyed them, then you will likely enjoy this series which is mainly centered around the adventures of the young dragonlord Ged. It follows him from the isle of Roke where he goes to learn the true ways of magic, and shares his adventures all over the land. It follows him from his youthful days as an apprentice to his years as the Archmage, and these epic and spellbinding tales are perfect for any age.
I highly recommend reading these four books as one, or sitting down and just grabbing an original copy of each. You will be extremely happy that you read these books.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
The Wizard and the Warlord by Elizabeth Boyer
The Wizard and the Warlord was written in 1983 by Elizabeth Boyer, and I encountered the book while visiting a used bookstore as I searched for a New York Birthday gift. I paid the hefty sum of $2.00 to read the book, and that was probably $2.00 more than I should have given for the privelege.
The book could have potentially been great, as the storyline allowed for some interesting options and dynamics. However, the actual implementation of ideas by the writer left a lot to be desired. For starters, the book reads like it is written by a third party with multiple personality disorder, about a character who suffers from the same disorder. The thought processes and emotions of the main character ("Sigurd") are hard to follow, and the decision-making of said character follows an erratic pattern. It gave me a headache trying to follow the character development, and there seemed to be little rhyme or reason to the author's direction for the character in most of the book.
Another problem was the existence of three distinct races in the book. The author seems to be drawing upon some type of analogy to humans, elves, and dark elves, but the attempt to make the races in this book unique leads to all kinds of issues. Perhaps the biggest issue is when the author attempts make all of the races some type of viking-barbarian, and introduces concepts of magic that will leave an experienced fantasy reader pondering whether or not the author was drunk at the time she wrote the work. Another issue is that the author attempts to give the main character's magic a mind of its own, whether in response to need or some subconcious desire of Sigurd. For the majority of book, his abilities exist as a separate character almost, and the reader is left puzzling as to why.
The story is fragmented, flows poorly, and the plot leaves a lot to be desired. The central theme of the book seemes to be Sigurd's growing up, but instead what is portrayed is the story of a bumbling oaf suffering from some type of paranoid schizophrenia.
If you have $2 and some time you want to lose forever, this book might be a decent read, but it isn't one that I recommend in the least.
The book could have potentially been great, as the storyline allowed for some interesting options and dynamics. However, the actual implementation of ideas by the writer left a lot to be desired. For starters, the book reads like it is written by a third party with multiple personality disorder, about a character who suffers from the same disorder. The thought processes and emotions of the main character ("Sigurd") are hard to follow, and the decision-making of said character follows an erratic pattern. It gave me a headache trying to follow the character development, and there seemed to be little rhyme or reason to the author's direction for the character in most of the book.
Another problem was the existence of three distinct races in the book. The author seems to be drawing upon some type of analogy to humans, elves, and dark elves, but the attempt to make the races in this book unique leads to all kinds of issues. Perhaps the biggest issue is when the author attempts make all of the races some type of viking-barbarian, and introduces concepts of magic that will leave an experienced fantasy reader pondering whether or not the author was drunk at the time she wrote the work. Another issue is that the author attempts to give the main character's magic a mind of its own, whether in response to need or some subconcious desire of Sigurd. For the majority of book, his abilities exist as a separate character almost, and the reader is left puzzling as to why.
The story is fragmented, flows poorly, and the plot leaves a lot to be desired. The central theme of the book seemes to be Sigurd's growing up, but instead what is portrayed is the story of a bumbling oaf suffering from some type of paranoid schizophrenia.
If you have $2 and some time you want to lose forever, this book might be a decent read, but it isn't one that I recommend in the least.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
The Incredible Hulk: What Savage Beast by Peter David
Fans of the Incredible Hulk will really enjoy this book, authored by Peter David (author of dozens of novels and hundreds of comic books). This novel introduces us to a side of the Hulk that many may be unfamiliar with, especially those who have only recently became acquainted the green behemoth. In this book, the intellect of Bruce Banner is intact in the body of the Hulk, but with an interesting twist. Normally, when Bruce Banner gets angry and loses control he becomes the Hulk, but if the Hulk gets too angry and loses control in this book, he becomes a deranged, angry, 120lb. weakling who wants to "SMASH!" everything in sight. It is definitely an interesting take on the Incredible Hulk.
The book is well-written, with the occasional humorous allusion in it. There are several instances in the writing that allude to the television series that starred Lou Ferrigno, including the use of the name "David" instead of "Bruce" in that series. It also ties in nicely with the comics, and provides an interesting and easy to follow story.
The plot of the story is interesting, and follows the Hulk/Bruce Banner and hsi wife, Betty, as they attempt to live normal lives hiding in a suburb of Chicago. However, as the fates would dictate, their peaceful happy existence is short-lived, as a robot marauder draws the Hulk out of hiding to face a new enemies. However, what makes this book great is not the easy-to-see story line, but rather the hidden plot that is developing as trusted allies become bitter enemies, and involves a unique time travel/alternate reality dimension of story-telling that readers will certainly enjoy.
If you are a Marvel fan, like the Hulk, or merely looking for an entertaining read, you will likely enjoy reading this novel. As a bonus, each chaper has a beautiful illustration that mirrors the storyline, which fans of George Perez (renowned comic artist) will certainly appreciate.
The book is well-written, with the occasional humorous allusion in it. There are several instances in the writing that allude to the television series that starred Lou Ferrigno, including the use of the name "David" instead of "Bruce" in that series. It also ties in nicely with the comics, and provides an interesting and easy to follow story.
The plot of the story is interesting, and follows the Hulk/Bruce Banner and hsi wife, Betty, as they attempt to live normal lives hiding in a suburb of Chicago. However, as the fates would dictate, their peaceful happy existence is short-lived, as a robot marauder draws the Hulk out of hiding to face a new enemies. However, what makes this book great is not the easy-to-see story line, but rather the hidden plot that is developing as trusted allies become bitter enemies, and involves a unique time travel/alternate reality dimension of story-telling that readers will certainly enjoy.
If you are a Marvel fan, like the Hulk, or merely looking for an entertaining read, you will likely enjoy reading this novel. As a bonus, each chaper has a beautiful illustration that mirrors the storyline, which fans of George Perez (renowned comic artist) will certainly appreciate.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Transformers Exodus
Transformers Exodus, by Alex Irvine, is a unique twist on the Transformers plotline (conveniently released around the time "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" came out). The book takes the reader back in time to the days before the Transformers arrived on the Earth, to a time before there were Autobots and Decepticons, before there was an Optimus Prime or a Megatron.
The book introduces us to Orion Pax, a mere librarian working on Cybertron, who learns of a gladiator that has risen through the nameless ranks of laborers and pitfighters and taken the name Megatronus. Orion finds his curiousity piqued when this gladiator utters the immortal and world-shattering words, "Freedom is every Cybertronian's right!" These words lead Orion to think of the world in new ways, and start him down a path that will change the course of Cybertronian history.
Irvine does a great job with the book, laying the foundation to introduce us to a myriad of characters that fans of the Transformers have come to know over the past twenty-five years, and provides a fascinating timeline for the period prior to the rise of either the Autobots or the Decepticons. Fans of the series will want to read this book and have their minds open to a new way of thinking about the Transformers. Those who read this "official history of the war for cybertron" will find that there is more to the Transformer's history than meets the eye.
This is a recommended read for anyone who grew up playing with Transformers toys, is familiar with the cartoons, or has enjoyed any of the recent movies.
The book introduces us to Orion Pax, a mere librarian working on Cybertron, who learns of a gladiator that has risen through the nameless ranks of laborers and pitfighters and taken the name Megatronus. Orion finds his curiousity piqued when this gladiator utters the immortal and world-shattering words, "Freedom is every Cybertronian's right!" These words lead Orion to think of the world in new ways, and start him down a path that will change the course of Cybertronian history.
Irvine does a great job with the book, laying the foundation to introduce us to a myriad of characters that fans of the Transformers have come to know over the past twenty-five years, and provides a fascinating timeline for the period prior to the rise of either the Autobots or the Decepticons. Fans of the series will want to read this book and have their minds open to a new way of thinking about the Transformers. Those who read this "official history of the war for cybertron" will find that there is more to the Transformer's history than meets the eye.
This is a recommended read for anyone who grew up playing with Transformers toys, is familiar with the cartoons, or has enjoyed any of the recent movies.
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