The second book about the foundation of the Accord Coordinate and featuring Imperial Special ops JimJoy Wright now transformed into Ecolitan James JoyThe second book about the foundation of the Accord Coordinate and featuring Imperial Special ops JimJoy Wright now transformed into Ecolitan James Joyson Whaler with a different physical profile due to the Accord's biotech capabilities, while his DNA identifiable "dead body" was retrieved by the Empire, starts where The Ecolita Operation left off and continues as an old-fashioned adventure sf with military overtones including space battles until the expected end; together with the first volume it forms a long continuous novel and while it generally kept my interest to the end, this one was much more predictable and less fresh than the first half...more
While I have read the final 2 books of the Accord sequence some years back, I never got to the early ones and after the debacle of the ending in the EWhile I have read the final 2 books of the Accord sequence some years back, I never got to the early ones and after the debacle of the ending in the Ethos effect, I decided a more fun adventure novel is in order and this definitely delivered; quite old style sf, but I quite enjoyed it end to end...more
Very absorbing and intriguing until the last few pages when basically the author justifies pre-emptive genocide (there are two instances of genocide iVery absorbing and intriguing until the last few pages when basically the author justifies pre-emptive genocide (there are two instances of genocide in the novel, but one is arguable as the ones who are subject to it have been doing evil things and killing people on a mass scale for centuries, but in the second case it is done to prevent possible such and for example just airing the provable misdeeds of the government that is suspected of planning such for the next few centuries, while noting what happened to the other bad guys so to speak, can start a process to avoid the assumed repetition of misdeeds in centuries to come).
I will close this with one my favorite quotes that shows that sff authors can go off the rails occasionally:
“A realist writer might break his protagonist's leg, or kill his fiancee; but a science fiction writer will immolate whole planets, and whilst doing so he will be more concerned with the placement of commas than the screams of the dying.” Adam Roberts, Yellow Blue Tibia...more
While I am a huge fan of LE Modesitt's fantasies, I am more mixed on his sf (loved some like the Ecolitan series, the Archform 1, Solar Express etc buWhile I am a huge fan of LE Modesitt's fantasies, I am more mixed on his sf (loved some like the Ecolitan series, the Archform 1, Solar Express etc but was so-so on others); this one came by chance into my hands (essentially because it was the only sf by the author at the local B&N and being bereft of other inspiration I opened it and liked it) and while I liked a lot about it, I thought it was a bit overlong - the last part was superb and the first part intriguing, but in-between the novel kind of lagged; I definitely plan to read its sequel The Ethos effect, so will see after that if I still feel that way because sometimes the author's work is better appreciated on second reading when you know what happens...more
Billed as the last Imager book, Endgames starts where Assasin's Price ended and goes for a few crucial months with an epilogue set decades in the futuBilled as the last Imager book, Endgames starts where Assasin's Price ended and goes for a few crucial months with an epilogue set decades in the future; enjoyable but very slow and quite repetitive and predictable by the end (regarding its main villains, motives and even resolution etc), it packs a lot of emotional punches along the way and lots of other goodies (including more references to Vaelora and more anticipation of Rhenn's times) ; still not sure how using Charyn's pov and having imagers just as background worked out finally, but I definitely enjoyed the long book in 2 volumes of which this is the second half, quite a lot overall and much more than the Alastar books, especially the last one there which was the weakest Imager book by far. Ultimately this series volumes rests on the main character and while Rhenn and Quaeryt are still my favorites, Charyn was considerably more interesting than Alastar
Overall recommended, but read first the original Imager books and the Quaeryt ones if not done so...more
Very interesting and well-argued book about England in the 11th century, focusing on the Conquest of course but with a long historical prelude that puVery interesting and well-argued book about England in the 11th century, focusing on the Conquest of course but with a long historical prelude that put it in context and with the follow-up difficult establishment of Norman rule after the battle of Hastings as England has had alien kings before but always shook them off eventually, while the Normans came to stay
Interesting but promising much more than it actually delivered (partly because it is quite hard to describe the indescribable in words); short and verInteresting but promising much more than it actually delivered (partly because it is quite hard to describe the indescribable in words); short and very readable, but nothing really groundbreaking or new there for experienced sff readers at least; will definitely take a look at further books in the series if they will get translated...more
The continuation of the story started in Russian Treasures set in Shanghai among the destitution of the white emigres, the naked exploitation of the lThe continuation of the story started in Russian Treasures set in Shanghai among the destitution of the white emigres, the naked exploitation of the locals by the representatives of the powerful countries hand in hand with the rich locals and the clash of cultures in this 20's Babylon, doesn't disappoint, being a fast-paced novel that cannot be put down once started
The main characters: Klim is still the modern picaresque hero, naive, well-intended and hence taken advantage of all the time, but somehow surviving his many (mis)adventures and even prospering here in a way- and Nina, who resembles to a large extent Maugham's (anti)heroine from Of Human Bondage, interested only to get by, so taking any advantage possible at a given moment, though her "cleverness" may finally lead her into fatal trouble, are joined by an essentially new cast, colorful and entertaining.
Very entertaining novel starting in 1917 just before the Bolshevik coup and then taking place during the Civil war as our heroes fortunes get interminVery entertaining novel starting in 1917 just before the Bolshevik coup and then taking place during the Civil war as our heroes fortunes get intermingled with the desperate attempts of the White forces to get rid of the criminals that took over their country, but the brutality and ruthlessness of the Soviet regime ensure its victory.
Klim - who is as close as it gets to a modern picaresque hero, naive, well-intended and hence taken advantage of all the time, but somehow surviving his many (mis)adventures - and Nina, who resembles to a large extent Maugham's (anti)heroine from Of Human Bondage, interested only to get by (though with extenuating circumstances as she was born poor and then managed to marry a count, only for her husband to die in war and leave her in debt, then getting back on her feet by running a factory only for the Bolsheviks to come and steal everything from her and that is just the start of her saga...), so exploiting Klim's infatuation with her to the maximum, are really compelling characters as is the large supporting cast. And of course, the epic Russian sweep adds a lot to the novel.
Fast paced and on occasion getting a bit borderline to jumping the shark so to speak, but overall kept my interest end to end and volumes 2/3 are definitely next...more
Definitely better than first 2 volumes - here the story should have started imho with the first two volumes compressed into about a half novel; intrigDefinitely better than first 2 volumes - here the story should have started imho with the first two volumes compressed into about a half novel; intrigue, action and cool naval battles finally (the battle in Call to Arms wasn't new as it has already been published as a novella)
Restarted my interest in the series (this one I mean, not the hoped-for going forward into the Honorverse beyond the current point) so will get and read the next one asap for once...more
A fast, fun and engaging read that continued the superb series started in The Spark.
While there is less novelty than in the first book, our narrator,A fast, fun and engaging read that continued the superb series started in The Spark.
While there is less novelty than in the first book, our narrator, (now Lord) Pal has to deal with new monsters, new dangers, and new mysteries, but that's par for the course for him; however dealing with social niceties - May, his lady friend, who is of noble lineage finds normal to bring a young cousin from her provincial estate and demand of Pal to use his status to get him accepted as a Champion, while Pal as the meritocratic boy from the marches finds that unacceptable and decides that the young lord must get in on his merits, which is hard to do when the allure of the capital with bars and women proves irresistible - can actually be much harder...
Another great ending point and quite highly recommended ...more
For about 2/3-3/4 of this novel i thought it was truly excellent and would make my top 10 of the year, but then the author makes some choices with howFor about 2/3-3/4 of this novel i thought it was truly excellent and would make my top 10 of the year, but then the author makes some choices with how to get to the end (which was always kind of clear) that just didn't work out for me so the last 1/4 or so of the novel became a bit of a slog
Overall excellent for most of it but loses energy in the last quarter or so and becomes a fairly banal story of failure after that; the writing and characters still keep it readable but it could have been so much better with a different storyline in the last part (and the same ending more or less as that was the natural conclusion)...more
An excellent guide to Great Britain - featured all the places I planned to visit in my one week trip based in Edinburgh (Edinburgh itself, Liverpool, An excellent guide to Great Britain - featured all the places I planned to visit in my one week trip based in Edinburgh (Edinburgh itself, Liverpool, Hadrian's Wall, Glasgow, Loch Ness) as well as giving ideas for the one day trip I wasn't sure about (ended visiting The Kelpies and the Falkirk Wheel and taking a canal ride there, so after not taking a canal ride in Venice and Amsterdam, we did one in Scotland, as well as the upscale resort and university town St. Andrews on the North Sea);
as usual the guide is Rick Steves opinionated - though here I agreed with pretty much all his suggestions - and it offered lots of good choices for food places too; the tips for driving and parking in Britain were good too, though to be honest I've read them after I drove for a few days there, though they made me understand why one tended to go a little over the left edge of the road a few times before adjusting from driving on the right to driving on the left
Highly recommended and very useful - although our main focus was Scotland since we planned to go to Liverpool and Hadrian's Wall I chose this rather than the Scotland one and it worked well as it hit the high points there quite well...more
Heard of this series (Fortunes of France) for a while - even before the English translation project started a few years back - but while I took a lookHeard of this series (Fortunes of France) for a while - even before the English translation project started a few years back - but while I took a look at it at various times, I never progressed much in the first book; by chance this one (4th book) attracted my attention recently and then it kept my interest though overall while I greatly enjoyed it in parts, it definitely could have been superb - here I think the translation is at fault at least comparing to the famous Druon series, The accused Kings, which I read in both Romanian translation and French original and found it superb in both, while the English translation seemed almost a travesty, butchering it from an interesting series to a run of the mill adventure series that uses 5 common words only so to speak; I cannot say it for sure for League of Spies though i will try to see a French-language sample, but again the language is really childish in many instances and I kind of doubt it was so in the original French; anyway, worth reading but a better translation would help a lot
As for the book itself, it starts in 1574 just after the Huguenot massacre in Paris which our hero has barely escaped (in volume 3 I guess) and returned to his father's estate, and continues the story for a while until things get settled (the hero finally marries his lady love and moves to Paris for good) and then it jumps to 1584, when the narrator, now personal physician to King Henry III in Paris, starts acting as secret agent for the king as troubles with the Duke de Guise and his Holy League mount; as expected the story follows the well-known events of the times and ends with the Blois Estates General and the notable events there in December 1588, but in the meantime, we get to see the Queen of England, hear about the machinations of Spain and the Armada etc; lots of interesting and colorful characters, action, intrigue - this should have been an awesome book, but the language is often very puerile and as noted I strongly believe the translation is just bad...more
Finally, the first Safehold novel after the end of the war in At The Sign of triumph is here and it makes for an excellent read - covering some 15 yeaFinally, the first Safehold novel after the end of the war in At The Sign of triumph is here and it makes for an excellent read - covering some 15 years (March 901 to March 916 after a prelude between Merlin and Nahrmahn's avatar which is probably set in November 900) in shorter or longer snippets at various times and in various places, it starts with a recap (ostensibly from The Life of Merlin Athrawes, Zhakleen Wylsynn,Tellesberg, Royal University Press, 4217) and ends with a bang (almost literally) at a great stopping point, while showing the clear way forward in the storyline.
In the meantime, lots of things happen and there is war, intrigue, romance (the kids have been growing fast after all and there are quite a few weddings to boot), the legend of the Athrawes family is continued by Merlin's (adopted) daughter doing some heroic things too (the son has to do the more boring midshipman duty first I guess), but there are also some wrenching deaths (mostly natural though not always), economic and political turmoil, revolution and dissolution of empires with the tragedies that ensue; new (and old) heroes, new villains, new technologies, old enemies turning friends and vice-versa and generally all one expects in a Safehold novel!
And as a small tidbit, a little text from when Merlin finally gets into the Temple (fairly early on in the story btw) - in disguise of course but still part of visiting Archbishop Staynair guard:
""If I thought Owl could hack the Temple, break into the system and reprogram all this . . . pageantry and turn it around on them..." He put the temptation behind him and focused on the ceremony unfolding all around him."
Highly recommended and a clear early favorite for my top novel of 2019.
Below is probably my favorite passage from the book and one of my favorites from the series with a few names removed just to avoid major spoilers (it takes place in late 911 which should be obvious for anyone doing the math):
"“Because we may be running out of time,” she said very, very softly. “If the ‘Archangels’ are coming back a thousand years after the Creation, and if they don’t react the way we all hope and pray they will, I’ll never see my twenty-second birthday.” His arms tightened around her again, but her eyes never flinched. “If there’s one family on the face of Safehold which will have to be destroyed if they try to reestablish the Proscriptions, shut down industrialization, it’s mine. They can’t leave us alive, if that’s the way they react. I realized that the minute Mom and Dad and Merlin explained it to us. In that respect, I’m Nimue Alban and they’re the Gbaba all over again, *****. “But you don’t have to be. ************* But if you go home, if we arrange to grow ‘estranged’ from your family—and I’m sure Mom and Dad would do that for your parents, your aunts and uncles, even if we could never explain to them why they’re doing it—then you and the other people you love may not have to be on the ‘Archangels’’ list. “So you can go home,” tears glittered on her lashes, “and a part of me wants you to do that, so badly. Wants you to get as far away from me, from my family, as you can. But the selfish part of me wants you to stay, and if we have only four years, then . . . I . . . want . . . those . . . years, *****.” She looked up at him. “I can’t announce our betrothal, not marry you the way I want. Not right now, and I may never have time to do that, to give us and your family that, but I want that time with you. I want to share it with you, to know you and I are husband and wife, whatever the rest of the world knows or doesn’t know. And the question I needed to ask you standing here, with you, is whether or not that’s what you want.”
The moon rode high and silver in a heaven of cobalt blue velvet, and the stars of Safehold were a magnificent diadem, draped across the night. It was cool, for Charis in November, and the private chapel’s open windows admitted the gentle night breeze that fluttered the candle flames. It wasn’t an enormous chamber, although archbishops, as a rule, had larger chapels than mere bishops, and at the moment it was crowded. Indeed, it was far more crowded than the casual beholder might have guessed. Maikel Staynair stood there, smiling as the young man standing at the sanctuary rail turned to watch an even younger woman enter the chapel. She wasn’t on her father’s arm, because her father already stood at the groom’s elbow as his best man. She was on the arm of a very tall man whose sapphire eyes glittered in the candlelight. That had been her parents’ choice, not her escort’s, although Alahnah had agreed with tears in her eyes that if any living being deserved to stand sponsor to this marriage, it was Merlin Athrawes." ...more
Fairly banal storyline (the usual conspiracy theory about the Catholic Church, Pope, renegade monks etc etc etc) set around the early 1400's and makinFairly banal storyline (the usual conspiracy theory about the Catholic Church, Pope, renegade monks etc etc etc) set around the early 1400's and making a tour of the Holy German Empire and Italy in setting (Ulm, Strassbourg, Konstanz and the famous Council with Jan Hus, Venice etc) but very fast paced and a plucky heroine as the main character made the book a cut above such so I read it fast - it was quite engrossing for about 2/3 but then the usual conspiracy overdoing - life and the universe and all and etc etc - sank it to a large extent so I kind of finished it just to finish it so speak...more
a very good overview of the controversies and theories of the foundation of quantum physics with lots of recent interpretations and experiments that ha very good overview of the controversies and theories of the foundation of quantum physics with lots of recent interpretations and experiments that have started to change the "usual" story one reads about (Bohr, Einstein, Heisenberg, Schrodinger etc) in both major and subtle ways
Highly recommended and very readable and accessible without too much math ...more
Excellent history of Prussia dispelling the many myths about the "how Germany would have been different, were to be united by another of its states" Excellent history of Prussia dispelling the many myths about the "how Germany would have been different, were to be united by another of its states" ...more
Very useful for my recent Germany trip - used it for Nuremberg, Munich, Bavarian Alps and the castles, Baden-Baden and the recommendations worked in aVery useful for my recent Germany trip - used it for Nuremberg, Munich, Bavarian Alps and the castles, Baden-Baden and the recommendations worked in all areas - actual visit, parking garages, walks, descriptions of places, maps, hotels, restaurants; as usual with a Rick Steves guide there is a lot of subjective emphasis on this and that and here it worked really well for me; quite up to date on various issues (eg ongoing construction here and there, prices, hours) and highly recommended for travel to Germany...more
Loading...
