Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt: The Halfling's Gem - R A Salvatore - 07.19.07 ***
Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt: The Legacy - R A Salvatore - 07.21.07 ***
These next two novels in this series continue to follow the adventures of Drizzt and his friends. In The Halfling's Gem, Drizzt and Wulfgar chase after the assassin Entreri to try to save the halfling Regis. Bruenor emerges from the depths of Mithral Hall to find his daughter raising an army to drive out the evil that lives there, and the two of them travel south to join the rest of their companions.
The Legacy begins sometime later, after Mithral Hall has been cleansed of evil and the dwarves have taken up residence once again. Bruenor is preparing for Catti-brie's wedding to Wulfgar, but an unexpected attack from the Underdark puts their plans on hold, as the group must fight against the plans of Drizzt's evil family to kidnap and sacrifice Drizzt to their evil goddess.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Mystery
Hot Rocks, Lev Raphael - 08.02.07 ***
This is the seventh novel in the Nick Hoffman Series, which revolves around Nick, a quiet professor at a small university, and his partner Stefan, a writer. Somehow murder and mayhem seem to follow Nick around no matter how much he tries to avoid it, and this time is no different when Nick discovers the dead body of a trainer, who eveyone hated, in the steam room at his gym. It takes no time at all for Nick and his best friend, Juno, to take up the case, but following the trail of clues will lead them to an unexpected ending.
This is the seventh novel in the Nick Hoffman Series, which revolves around Nick, a quiet professor at a small university, and his partner Stefan, a writer. Somehow murder and mayhem seem to follow Nick around no matter how much he tries to avoid it, and this time is no different when Nick discovers the dead body of a trainer, who eveyone hated, in the steam room at his gym. It takes no time at all for Nick and his best friend, Juno, to take up the case, but following the trail of clues will lead them to an unexpected ending.
Thriller
Silent Waters, Jan Coffey - 07.18.07 ***
An entertaining novel about four people - two onboard a submarine that has just been hijacked by a highly organized and vicious terrorist group, and two people on-shore who are trying to figure out what's happening and how to stop it. While the two on the submarine try to stop the hijackers and sabotage their apparent mission to destroy New York City, the two investigators on-shore discover a trail of secrets even more dangerous than than the weapons that may soon destroy them all.
An entertaining novel about four people - two onboard a submarine that has just been hijacked by a highly organized and vicious terrorist group, and two people on-shore who are trying to figure out what's happening and how to stop it. While the two on the submarine try to stop the hijackers and sabotage their apparent mission to destroy New York City, the two investigators on-shore discover a trail of secrets even more dangerous than than the weapons that may soon destroy them all.
SciFi
Dr Who: The Feast of the Drowned, Stephen Cole - 07.23.07 ***
The Doctor and Rose arrive in London for a visit just as the military is bringing the wreck of a ship back home to study what destroyed it. When ghosts of the deceased crew beginning appearing to their family and friends, begging them for help, the Doctor and rose can't keep out of it, and the race is on to stop an alien life form from killing thousands on british citizens, and possibly destoying the whole world!
The Doctor and Rose arrive in London for a visit just as the military is bringing the wreck of a ship back home to study what destroyed it. When ghosts of the deceased crew beginning appearing to their family and friends, begging them for help, the Doctor and rose can't keep out of it, and the race is on to stop an alien life form from killing thousands on british citizens, and possibly destoying the whole world!
SciFi
The Androids Dream, John Scalzi - 07.17.07 ***
A hilarious futuristic adventure tale that will make you laugh outloud. Scalzi is an excellent writer, as evidenced by his "Old Man's War" series - but while Old Man's War is more serious in nature - exploring themes of life, death, and what it means to be human - The Androids Dream is an exploration of the silly and extreme, and Scalzi does an excellent job of guiding us through the more humorous side of his imagination.
A hilarious futuristic adventure tale that will make you laugh outloud. Scalzi is an excellent writer, as evidenced by his "Old Man's War" series - but while Old Man's War is more serious in nature - exploring themes of life, death, and what it means to be human - The Androids Dream is an exploration of the silly and extreme, and Scalzi does an excellent job of guiding us through the more humorous side of his imagination.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
SciFi
Dr Who: The Resurrection Casket, Justin Richards - 07.14.07 ****
The Doctor and Rose find themselves trapped on the world of Starfall, the last stop before the mining regions, people with prospectors hoping to discover treasure, and space pirates hoping to relieve them of it once they've found it. Modern technology refuses to work - including the TARDIS - leaving the pair in a quandry. How to repair the machine that can't be moved, if they can't move it so it can repair itself? When the Doctor starts looking into a trio of murders, they learn the story of the famous pirate Hamlek Glint, whose fearsome ship and robot crew were the terror of space 50 years before. Everyone wants to find the lost treasure of Glint and his crew, which is said to include the amazing Resurrection Casket - capable of returning the dead to life - and when the Doctor suggests he might be able to find it, a wealthy investor offers the use of a ship that will carry them and the TARDIS beyond the region of space affected by the EMP energy that is crippling the TARDIS. Followed by terrifying enemies, an apologetic monster-assassin named Kevin, oxygen hungry Krarks, the group sets out to find the famous pirate ship - and far more danger than any of them - except the Doctor, of course - could imagine!
The Doctor and Rose find themselves trapped on the world of Starfall, the last stop before the mining regions, people with prospectors hoping to discover treasure, and space pirates hoping to relieve them of it once they've found it. Modern technology refuses to work - including the TARDIS - leaving the pair in a quandry. How to repair the machine that can't be moved, if they can't move it so it can repair itself? When the Doctor starts looking into a trio of murders, they learn the story of the famous pirate Hamlek Glint, whose fearsome ship and robot crew were the terror of space 50 years before. Everyone wants to find the lost treasure of Glint and his crew, which is said to include the amazing Resurrection Casket - capable of returning the dead to life - and when the Doctor suggests he might be able to find it, a wealthy investor offers the use of a ship that will carry them and the TARDIS beyond the region of space affected by the EMP energy that is crippling the TARDIS. Followed by terrifying enemies, an apologetic monster-assassin named Kevin, oxygen hungry Krarks, the group sets out to find the famous pirate ship - and far more danger than any of them - except the Doctor, of course - could imagine!
Fantasy
Belladonna, Anne Bishop - 07.13.07 ****
Belladonna is the sequel to Sebastian in Bishop's Ephemera series (although I don't know if it will continue past this book), and tells the story of Glorianna Belladonna, a Landscaper with amazing powers to control the world. Many, many years ago, powerful wizards sundered the world into various magical Landscapes, connected only by magical Bridges, in an effort to isolate the Eater of the World - a being of darkness and despair, tainting peoples hearts and souls against the Light. In the first novel, Sebastian, Belladonna and Sebastian managed to win a strategic battle against the newly-awakened Eater of the World, and in Belladonna, she continues her fight to hold her Landscapes to the Light and deny the invasions of the Dark. But when an ancient prophecy is found which suggests that the only way to destroy the Eater is for the Warrior of Light to drink the Cup of Darkness, Belladonna must make a choice - remain with her family and wait for the Eater to slowly destroy all she holds dear, or sacrifice herself to an eternity of unending torment to save the world. At one time the choice would have been easy, but now that love has finally touched her heart, will she make the right choice?
Belladonna is the sequel to Sebastian in Bishop's Ephemera series (although I don't know if it will continue past this book), and tells the story of Glorianna Belladonna, a Landscaper with amazing powers to control the world. Many, many years ago, powerful wizards sundered the world into various magical Landscapes, connected only by magical Bridges, in an effort to isolate the Eater of the World - a being of darkness and despair, tainting peoples hearts and souls against the Light. In the first novel, Sebastian, Belladonna and Sebastian managed to win a strategic battle against the newly-awakened Eater of the World, and in Belladonna, she continues her fight to hold her Landscapes to the Light and deny the invasions of the Dark. But when an ancient prophecy is found which suggests that the only way to destroy the Eater is for the Warrior of Light to drink the Cup of Darkness, Belladonna must make a choice - remain with her family and wait for the Eater to slowly destroy all she holds dear, or sacrifice herself to an eternity of unending torment to save the world. At one time the choice would have been easy, but now that love has finally touched her heart, will she make the right choice?
Fantasy
Forgotten Realms:
1. The Crystal Shard, R A Salvatore - 07.02.07 ****
2. Streams of Silver, R A Salvatore - 07.05.07 ****
Awhile back I decided that it might be fun to read some of the Forgotten Realms fantasy novels that I had sampled back in the 1990's. The Crystal Shard and Streams of Silver were original the first two novels in the Icewind Dale trilogy, but are now considered part of the much longer series, the Legend Drizzt Do'Urden. In The Crystal Shard, Drizzt - a Drow Elf, considered an outcast by humans - and his companions help defeat an evil wizard under the spell of an ancient crystal artifact, who is intent on defeating the humans of Icewind Dale and becoming the ruler of the land. The free humans manage to defeat the hordes of evil creatures the wizard summons to his army, and Drizzt manages to defeat the wizard himself, in the process burying the Crystal Shard beneath half a mountain, where it will hopefully remain hidden. At the end, Bruenor, his dwarven friend, tricks Drizzt into accompanying him on a quest to discover the legendary Mithral Hall - the ancient home of Bruenor and the dwarven nation.
In Streams of Silver, Bruenor, Drizzt, Wulfgar (a barbarian raised by Bruenor) and Regis (a halfling thief) set out on their quest to find Mithral Hall. Hundreds of years have passed since the dwarves were driven out of the mountain hall by dark and evil beings from the depths of the earth, and all the Realms consider Mithral Hall to be a legend. Nevertheless, the heroes begin the search, confidant that the can discover its' secret location. As they travel, others carefully track their progess - an assassin who is under contract to capture Regis for a long ago theft, and a powerful wizard who believes that Drizzt still posessess the Crystal Shard and who wants it for his own. When the heroes and their followers finally arrive at Mithral Hall, they find it still occupied by foul and evil creatures, and must use all their cunning and strentgh to survive each other and the escape the dragon of Mithral Hall.
1. The Crystal Shard, R A Salvatore - 07.02.07 ****
2. Streams of Silver, R A Salvatore - 07.05.07 ****
Awhile back I decided that it might be fun to read some of the Forgotten Realms fantasy novels that I had sampled back in the 1990's. The Crystal Shard and Streams of Silver were original the first two novels in the Icewind Dale trilogy, but are now considered part of the much longer series, the Legend Drizzt Do'Urden. In The Crystal Shard, Drizzt - a Drow Elf, considered an outcast by humans - and his companions help defeat an evil wizard under the spell of an ancient crystal artifact, who is intent on defeating the humans of Icewind Dale and becoming the ruler of the land. The free humans manage to defeat the hordes of evil creatures the wizard summons to his army, and Drizzt manages to defeat the wizard himself, in the process burying the Crystal Shard beneath half a mountain, where it will hopefully remain hidden. At the end, Bruenor, his dwarven friend, tricks Drizzt into accompanying him on a quest to discover the legendary Mithral Hall - the ancient home of Bruenor and the dwarven nation.
In Streams of Silver, Bruenor, Drizzt, Wulfgar (a barbarian raised by Bruenor) and Regis (a halfling thief) set out on their quest to find Mithral Hall. Hundreds of years have passed since the dwarves were driven out of the mountain hall by dark and evil beings from the depths of the earth, and all the Realms consider Mithral Hall to be a legend. Nevertheless, the heroes begin the search, confidant that the can discover its' secret location. As they travel, others carefully track their progess - an assassin who is under contract to capture Regis for a long ago theft, and a powerful wizard who believes that Drizzt still posessess the Crystal Shard and who wants it for his own. When the heroes and their followers finally arrive at Mithral Hall, they find it still occupied by foul and evil creatures, and must use all their cunning and strentgh to survive each other and the escape the dragon of Mithral Hall.
Fantasy
Three Days to Never, Tim Powers - 07.11.07 ***
A modern fantasy about a father and daughter (who share paranormal abilities) who may be the descendants of Einstein, and are relentlessly stalked by two shadowy groups intent on finding the key to what might have been one of Einstein's greatest discoveries - a machine that allows one to travel back in time. As the two groups fight for possession of the machine itself, the father and daughter must find a way to save themselves from the two black-ops groups, a demon named Matt, and a mysterious man from the future who is determined to see one of them dead.
Confusing at times, but often amusing, this was good enough for me to give the author another chance in the future - unlike the previously mentioned Joel C Rosenberg, who I will probably never read again.
A modern fantasy about a father and daughter (who share paranormal abilities) who may be the descendants of Einstein, and are relentlessly stalked by two shadowy groups intent on finding the key to what might have been one of Einstein's greatest discoveries - a machine that allows one to travel back in time. As the two groups fight for possession of the machine itself, the father and daughter must find a way to save themselves from the two black-ops groups, a demon named Matt, and a mysterious man from the future who is determined to see one of them dead.
Confusing at times, but often amusing, this was good enough for me to give the author another chance in the future - unlike the previously mentioned Joel C Rosenberg, who I will probably never read again.
Thriller
The Copper Scroll, Joel C Rosenberg - 07.09.07 ***
The Copper Scroll is a religious thriller about a couple of newly-married ex-spies, who become involved in the search for a fabulous mythical treasure of gold, silver and jewels that was once a part of the second temple in Jerusalem. But when an unusual scroll made of copper is found and decoded, it seems to be an inventory list of the treasures, along with a key that points to the hiding place, scholars and archaeologists begin to believe that the treasure may be real after all. And when those same scholars and archaeologists begin dying is violent manners all over the world Jon Bennett and his new wife Erin McCoy find themselves in a race to reach the treasure before the vicious band of terrorists find it.
The Copper Scroll is a religious thriller about a couple of newly-married ex-spies, who become involved in the search for a fabulous mythical treasure of gold, silver and jewels that was once a part of the second temple in Jerusalem. But when an unusual scroll made of copper is found and decoded, it seems to be an inventory list of the treasures, along with a key that points to the hiding place, scholars and archaeologists begin to believe that the treasure may be real after all. And when those same scholars and archaeologists begin dying is violent manners all over the world Jon Bennett and his new wife Erin McCoy find themselves in a race to reach the treasure before the vicious band of terrorists find it.
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