50 in 365
Book 8: The Windup Girl
Mar 2nd
Title: The Windup Girl
Author: Paolo Bacigalupi
Genre: Science Fiction
Pages: 300
Summary
The world after the oil bust is a grim place. Labor is provided by massive animals, expensive methane is the source of most light. Global warming has caused the seas to rise and engulf whole cities while genetically engineered and mutating diseases ravage those who were not drowned.
In this world, the city Bangkok is one of the few surviving population centers, the ocean held back by massive walls and pump systems. The surface calm betrays turbulence as the Environmental ministry and the Trade ministry war with each other over the best philosophy to use to continue survival.
Notes
Ok, first of all, I should mention this book has several fairly sexually expicit scenes in it so if that kind of thing bugs you this is not the book for you.
I almost gave up on this one. I was about 25% of the way through and I had no idea what was going on. There were so many characters, places and random words in different languages (mostly Thai and Chinese) which did a lot to provide flavor for the world, but ended up being really hard for me to get over and figure out what was going on. But I kept reading and right about 1/3rd of the way through everything started clicking and the book took off.
This is the author’s first real novel and I’m hoping it’s not his last. He did a wonderful job of (after the initial confusion and story setup) intertwining multiple threads of story into a single unit. It’s based around 4 sets of characters which have their own independent storylines which run parallel and eventually intersect.
A deep story that presents a realistic example of what might be in wonderfully written prose, I’d have to recommend this book to any fan of science fiction. Just don’t give up on it too early!
Next Book
For the next book, I’m reading Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland & Through The Looking Glass by none other than Lewis Carrol. Not only because I’ve never actually read the book before, but because this month’s City of Heroes FArt Competition challenge is based around Alice. So I’m trying to grab some ideas.
Book 7: American Gods
Feb 18th
Title: American Gods
Author: Neil Gaiman
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 624
Summary
Shadow is released from prison after finding out his wife has died. Unsure of what to do with himself, he joins up with a mysterious man and launches into a journey of self discovery which eventually expands outwards into a journey examining the very fabric of spirituality (not religion, exactly) in the united states.
Notes (Some Spoilers)
This is a fantastic book, and the second book by Neil Gaiman that I’ve read. He’s quickly becoming one of my favorite authors for his ability to entwine multiple plot-lines into one cohesive unit and add hooks and twists to early parts of the book that don’t immediately call attention to themselves (“Oh, so the cat likes to eat tofu. That was random…I bet that’ll be used later”)
But it has the feel of more than just a good work of fiction. Through his story, Mr. Gaiman also casts a critical eye over the spirituality of the entire nation, offering an outsiders perspective on the way our spirituality has changed from the time our ancestors arrived in various ways bringing with them their gods from the old world and how, as time went on people began to lose sight of where they came from, caught up in the next big thing.
The last…oh, half of this book just snared me and I basically couldn’t put the book down. I sometimes zone out when characters engage in dreams and wacky spiritual trips through their own subconscious but that wasn’t the case here. I was glued to the story and left wondering what would happen next. Everything is intertwined from the beginning of the book all the way through to the end in a way that you don’t see coming and yet is believable once all is revealed.
My one small complaint is that some of the interludes between chapters, explaining how various gods arrived in the new world were a bit rough to get through. They tended to happen right as the book was getting good and I was more interested in continuing the story than being diverted.
But overall, I highly, highly recommend this book.
Next Book
The newest Sword and Laser book has been announced, so I think that’s what I’ll be reading next. The book: The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi. Headed back into Sci-fi land for this one. I know nothing about the author or the book, so I’m hoping this’ll be a fun ride.
Book 6: Mass Effect: Revelation
Feb 4th
Title: Mass Effect: Revelation
Author: Drew Karpyshyn
Genre: Science Fiction/Video Game Book
Pages: 336
Summary
The prequel to the video game Mass Effect, this book deals with the events directly leading into the story of the game. David Anderson is tasked with finding our what happened to one of Humanity’s research stations. On the way he meets up with the Turian Specter Saren.
Notes
Here’s the second video game novel that I’ve read recently, the first being the Dragon Age: Origin novel. I’ve got some mixed feelings about this one. From the perspective of a novel designed to give out background information on the story of a video game, this novel excels. The story is interesting (for somebody who knows the events that happened in the game) and learning how Saren got to the point where he was in the game is cool.
As a stand alone novel, however, it falls a bit short. The story is presented well, but the characters never seem to develop their own voices. Especially the various aliens. In the game, each alien species has it’s own mannerisms and phrasing which help make them feel more diversified. This book, could have just as well been a bunch of humans wandering around talking to each other. Every character feels the exact same, and there’s very little actual character development over the course of the story.
It relays the events well, but doesn’t make me care about the characters.
Next Book
I’ve decided that I’m going to finally get around to reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman next. After I borrowed Neverwhere from Wassy a while back, I wanted to check out his other writings.
Book 5: Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne
Feb 3rd
Title: Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne
Author: David Gaider
Pages: 400
Summary
The prequel to the video game Dragon Age: Origins, this book details the struggles of Prince Maric as he tries to gain back his thrown, overthrowing a puppet king placed there by an invading nation.
Notes
Ok. As a rule, I usually don’t generally read video game books. They’re usually not very good at all. Simple stories, so-so writing…sometimes not even really having to do with the game itself. But I’ve made an exception for this book for three reasons
- It’s written by the same guy who wrote the story for the game, so he knows what he’s talking about.
- It’s a BioWare game and they know how to tell a story.
- It came recommended to me by a friend.
So, with that in mind, I picked it up and was pleasantly surprised at just how good it was. David Gaider knows how to tell a compelling story and how to give each character a voice and personality that shines through. I hope he does more writing in the future. The story was interesting, if a bit simplistic, but that can be forgiven.
My major gripe with this book is with the ending. Judging by the exact page count number (400), I have a feeling Tor books was only willing to publish a 400 page book because right around where the climax of the story should be, the book suddenly ends with the equivalent of “And then they won. The end.” There was not climactic final battle against the usurper, no closure to the various romances…nothing. It just ends.
Still a good book, with lots of background for the characters in the game (in particular it was interesting to see how the character of Loghain developed into how he was portrayed in the game) but the ending left me with a “Wha?” sort of feeling.
Next Book
I’m going to be continuing the video game book journey with the less highly regarded Mass Effect: Revelation by Drew Karpyshyn. I’m about 40% of the way through according to my Kindle, and I tend to agree with the general ideas of the reviews. It’s a good story, but very simply written. More on that when I finish.
Book 4: Castle Roogna
Feb 3rd
Title: Castle Roogna
Series: Xanth (Book 3)
Author: Piers Anthony
Pages: 336
Summary
Bink’s son, Dor is sent on a quest to restore the zombie Johnathan to full life again. In the process he travels back in time to the very beginnings of the golden age of Xanth to seek aid of the Zombie Master who was living at the time.
Notes (Minor Spoilers)
As previously mentioned, this is my second read through this book, the third in the Xanth series. It’s probably my favorite of the initial (planned) trillogy of books.
I like the fact that through his adventures in the past, Dor eventually ends up creating many of the strange features of Xanth’s landscape that the characters from earlier books wondered about.
At this point in my book reading, I was starting to get a little burned out by all the puns, so I temporarily diverted myself over to another series to recharge. But I will return back to Xanth soon.
Book 3: Source Of Magic
Feb 3rd
Title: Source Of Magic
Series: Xanth (Book 2)
Author: Piers Anthony
Pages: 336
Summary
Following his quest to prove that he has a magic talent while simultaneously bringing gigantic amounts of change to the world of Xanth, Bink is sent out on another quest to determine the ultimate source of magic. But his efforts are opposed by an unseen enemy that seems bent on stopping him at every turn.
Notes
This is the second book in the Xanth series, so a lot of what I said about the first book earlier still stands. More puns, more adventure, more magic, all just as entertaining as the first book.
Honestly, it seems like the first three books in the series are mostly just setup for the adventures to come, fleshing out the mechanics of the world and building up situations which are then further exploited in the later books.
Book 2: A Spell for Chameleon
Feb 3rd
Title: A Spell for Chameleon
Series: Xanth (Book 1)
Author: Piers Anthony
Pages: 352
Summary
Xanth is an enchanted world where practically everything in it had magic. Names for things are often quite literal. Shoe Trees are trees that grow shoes, for example. In fact, one can find most anything they need growing on a plant. All humans living in Xanth have their own individual magical talents ranging from being able to turn objects different colors to truly fantastic abilities such as transformation and weather control. Everyone except Bink that is. This book deals with his quest to discover exactly what his magical tallent is before he is exiled for not having one.
Notes
I have read this book before, but after reading the Lord of the Rings again, I decided I needed something a little more on the…light side. So I decided to start re-reading the Xanth series. Wassy introduced me to these a while back and I really enjoy them. Puns everywhere! Often times groan worthy puns…but that’s what really makes the flavor of the universe so awesome. They’re quick reads, but very well written and highly entertaining.
Although (at least the early books) they tend to have a bit of a formula to them which makes them tough for me to read in quick succession. I get a little burned out on the puns after 3 or so books, so I ended up taking a break. (The other two books I read will be coming soon…trying to catch up with my book posting)
Book 1: Down And Out In The Magic Kingdom
Jan 21st
So as I mentioned I think I’m going to be giving this 50 in 365 challenge another go. So here’s my first book.
Title: Down And Out in the Magic Kingdom
Author: Cory Doctorow
Pages: 208
Notes: This book is freely available under the Creative Commons license and you can download and read it for free at http://craphound.com/down/download.php
Summary
A look into the future where the internet is embedded in your head, death has been conquered and the economy is based entirely on one’s social standing in relation to others.
My Notes
I tend to avoid Cory Doctorow (Anti-DRM Zealot and creator/author of the popular blog boingboing.net). It’s not that I don’t agree with his message most of the time, it’s that I find he can be a bit preachy. So when this book was selected for the current Sword and Laser book club pick, I was a bit apprehensive about reading it.
Once I started digging into it though, I found I really enjoyed it. I was a little bit worried at the beginning as it’s one of those books that throws you right into the world and doesn’t explain any of the terms being used at all. But that bit is really just setting the tone and understanding what’s going on isn’t strictly necessary. Not only is it an engaging “what if?” type story detailing a future which is extremely plausible, it also raises a lot of really interesting questions relating to that future. Society is depicted in a state that seems too good to be true, with instant access to information anywhere and, more importantly, the defeat of death. Over the course of the book, you start to ask yourself if a “perfect” society like the one described (and the one which humans are striving for in our current time) is really a good thing after all? It’s too bad that I want to avoid spoilers in these entries (although the book is several years old) as I really want to go into the specifics. This is a book that practically begs to be discussed.
My only complaint is that the ending is one of those where it seems as though the author didn’t quite know how to finish it out, so the conclusion is fairly weak. But the ride makes it worthwhile, and it is a forgivable problem since this was the first book he has written.
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