Friday 30 November 2012

The Great Yellow Doom Bird - Jon A. Hunt



Title: The Great Yellow Doom Bird
Author: Jon A. Hunt
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2011
Formats: Ebook

Available at:
Amazon
Smashwords
Kobo
Amazon UK

“The Great Yellow Doom Bird” by Jon A. Hunt is a rather manic novel that blends science fiction, surreal fantasy, humour into an enjoyable and entertaining story. The story itself is set during the later years of World War II and follows the escapades of Patrick Digby, a young boy who lives in sleepy Florida retirement town with his great uncle. His rather subdued life is thrown upside down when a 7-foot tall, orange haired character called Stultus arrived on a flying sailboat. Stultus takes Patrick on an adventure where he encounters friendly sea monsters, terrible pirates, Eskimos, floating islands and many other strange and wonderful things, including the fabled Great Yellow Doom Bird.

The story is superbly imaginative with Hunt’s rather quirky writing style really adding to surreal and amusing elements. There is no doubt that this rather madcap adventure will appeal to children but I do think some of the finer detail of the plot could be lost on them. In addition its length may be off putting for some but I could still imagine reading it slowly over several weeks with both myself and children enjoying its entertaining charms.

I found the characters to be wonderful, Patrick in particular was charming, polite and I loved seeing his subtle confusion at times as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. Stultus however does steal the show as his eccentric look is matched by an even more eccentric personality that just jumps off the page; he quite simply had my smiling throughout the novel. The minor characters are also diverse, interesting and detailed to ensure that I was happy no matter who the story was following at the time, be it Patrick’s slightly eccentric elderly neighbours or the cruel and vicious pirates.

Overall, this was a fantastic novel that should appeal to people of all ages with its surreal adventures and colourful characters. The book really did remind of some other eccentric children’s stories such as Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Lemony Snicket so if those types of books amused you then I think you will love this one. Personally, I can only hope that Hunt is planning to create a sequel as there are some open ended elements to this novel that I would love to see resolved in addition to just following the Stultus’ future adventures.

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Ebook Reading Challenge (Workaday Reads)
Free Reads Challenge

Friday 23 November 2012

Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark is Rising Book 1) - Susan Cooper



Title: Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark is Rising Book 1)
Author: Susan Cooper
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 1965
Formats: Hardback/Paperback/Ebook

“Over Sea, Under Stone” by Susan Cooper is the first novel in a Children’s fantasy series known as “The Dark is Rising” sequence. What I find interesting about this series is that even though it supposedly quite famous, I had never heard of it until there was a movie made based upon the 2nd book in the series. This is a shame as I imagine that a 8 year old me would have loved this book much more than I did when I read it as an adult.

The story follows the antics of the Drew siblings, Simon, Jane and Barney, who spend their summer holiday in Cornwall alongside their mysterious great-uncle Merry. Whilst exploring the house rented by their Uncle Merry, they find a treasure map that appears to be related to the various legends of King Arthur. They soon decide to embark upon an adventure to try and follow the map to discover what ancient treasure has been hidden. Of course, it turns out that they are not the only ones interested in following the map and it soon becomes clear that they are now embroiled in a conflict between the light and the darkness that has been going on for millennia.

One of the first things I noted as I read this story was that it really did feel like a book aimed at children. For example, the characters are all rather simple in how they are portrayed with only Uncle Merry really offering any sort of complexity. Don’t get me wrong, I found the Drew siblings to be quite endearing and I enjoyed seeing how they would get scared and doubt their own actions but it was all very one-dimensional in a manner that I think will appeal much more to children than it does adults.

Another aspect of the story that highlighted its target audience is that the action, thrills and excitement aren’t drawn out with any exposition, they are direct and immediate. This of course ensures that children are kept entertained but it does limit some of the bigger picture type scenarios and ensures there is very little suspense that lasts more than a few pages.

Quite simply the entire novel reminded my quite strongly of an Enid Blyton style adventure that many children will love. However, I felt that there was a little bit more depth to this story as Cooper has included elements of fantasy and hinted at a potential epic good vs. evil scenario. I enjoyed this little diversion from the standard children’s mystery novel and think Cooper has done a good job at trying to gently introduce young readers to the fantasy genre.

Overall, as an adult reader I would have to admit that this book could only really be classed as being okay. I did find it both enjoyable and endearing but the simplicity in both the characters and the way the plot is presented does limit its appeal somewhat. However, I can really imagine sitting down and reading it to my daughter in a couple of years and this is where I believe the book will shine. I have been told that the next books in the series are aimed at a slightly older audience so I am now looking forward to seeing how Cooper manages to progress the series in both plot and in style.

Available at:
Amazon
The Book Depository
Kobo
Amazon UK

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Speculative Fiction Challenge
Year of the Fantasy Classic Challenge

Friday 16 November 2012

Snow Crash - Neal Stephenson



Title: Snow Crash
Author: Neal Stephenson
Genre: Sci-Fi
Published: 1992
Formats: Hardback/Paperback/Ebook

Available at:
Amazon
The Book Depository
Kobo
Amazon UK

Reading “Snow Crash” by Neal Stephenson was my first ever venture into the Science-Fiction sub-genre of Cyberpunk. I actually read it as part of the Sci-Fi Reader Challenge which has already helped introduce me to other types of Science Fiction novel. What I found was a book full of cyber-noir locations, eccentric but rather stereotypical personalities and a complex, roller coaster ride of a plot that brings together elements of science, technology and religious thought.

The story itself revolves around two main characters, a hacker known as Hiro Protagonist and a 15 year old skateboarding courier known as Y.T. The novel initially focuses on the accidental meeting between Hiro and Y.T. and uses this to highlight the dystopian United States, where everything has been privatised and communities are organised into their various franchised mini nations. However, the plot line soon develops into a mad cap and rather comic adventure as Hiro and Y.T. get pulled into fighting against a group conspiring to control humanity though a virus in both the real world and cyber world.

The first few chapters in the story really are quite superb, as they take the reader on an action packed, high octane narrative of a Pizza Deliverator who must deliver the pizza on time or he faces unknown punishment from the company that he works for which is owned by the Mafia. Stephenson did a great job with this early section of the novel as the quick pace and enjoyable thrills ensured that I was hooked right from the beginning.

Of course the pace doesn't stay that fast for ever but the plot itself continues to provide many enjoyable and varied elements that have probably helped to give the novel such a high place in geek culture. There are TRON style motorcycle races, sword-fights, supersonic attack dogs, nuclear powered Gatling guns and a rather intriguing if rather dry look at Sumerian myths and ancient viruses that help to create a fun and enjoyable read. The only issue that this vast menagerie of differing plot points is that it turns the book into a rather complicated and messy affair that is not easy to follow. However, due to the fact it was both entertaining and fascinating I was willing to put in the work so that I could understand it all.

Whilst the plot is quite original, the characters themselves seemed rather unimaginative. Yes, Hiro is quite likeable but there is very little development to his character and I felt that he was mainly used as both a way to infodump Sumerian history to the reader. Y.T. seemed a little bit more developed and I found myself being amused by her spunky attitude. However, at times I kept thinking that she just came across a rather stereotypical view of what many young teenage computer literate boys would fantasize over.

However, my biggest issue with the story was the ending; it was over rather suddenly and didn’t provide any real closure to the characters journey. I had thoroughly been enjoying the adventure so it was a bit disappointing to end the story thinking “Oh, is that it?” It would have nice to understand more about what happened to everyone after the various incidents that formed the finale to the novel.

Overall, I found this to be a really enjoyable foray into the cyberpunk genre and I am sure I will now sample other similar books. I am not sure how much someone who isn’t interested in the cyber world would get out of reading this book but it should be thoroughly entertaining for my fellow computer geeks, especially those who were around in the 90’s when virtual worlds and the internet really began their rapid growth.

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Speculative Fiction Challenge
Sci-Fi Reader Challenge

Wednesday 7 November 2012

Tending The Fire - Erin L. Snyder



Title: Tending The Fire
Author: Erin L. Snyder
Genre: Fantasy
Published: 2011
Formats: Ebook

Available at:
Amazon
Smashwords
Amazon UK

“Tending The Fire” by Erin L. Snyder is a short story collection that explores some of the more classical elements of the fantasy genre. Snyder, keeps well away from the current trend of urban fantasy and has created stories in the style of epic fantasy that involve creatures such as elves, dragons and goblins. As someone who still has a place in their heart for this style of fantasy story I was actually looking forward to exploring the ten stories contained within the collection.

I found that the stories were all quite varied with them ranging from humorous adventures to dark and foreboding tales. The variety really helped keep the collection feeling fresh and enjoyable as I was never sure what style of story I would be faced with next. As the collection is so varied I decided that I will discuss a few of the stories to highlight the differences and then leave the rest for the reader to discover by reading the book.

The initial story I want to highlight is actually the first story in the collection which is entitled “The Envoy from Durelle”. The story follows a diplomatic envoy that is not what he appears to be who must undertake a secret mission that would result in his death should he be caught. I found this story to be an entertaining tale of deception and espionage that really made my brain work as I tried to deduce through the various twists and turns what the Envoy’s true mission was. It really was a brilliant and clever story to kick of the collection which ensured that Snyder had my full attention right from the start.

Next I want to mention “The Carpenter” which is about a carpenter living in a mountain village. His peaceful life is altered however when a knight appears and starts to train all the men to fight a dragon due to recent attacks. When the dragon does attack the village, things don’t go as you would normally expect with this type of tale. What I loved about the story was that the story didn’t result in a heroic battle and conclusion that I was predicting. I can’t say much without spoiling it, but what we do get is a look at what really matters to the carpenter, fame and heroics or family and love.

“The Worst Assassin in Kalbrin” was a story that really highlighted the variety in the collection to me due to its rather comic tone. It details the story of Leit Pesril, an assassin so bad that he is hired by people wishing to make a point to a target as they know there is no chance he will succeed. However, when Leit succeeds in an assassination through accidental luck, the entire city is thrown into chaos as people refuse to believe he was the killer and recriminations fly back and forth. I was quite impressed that Snyder managed to create a tale here that mixed humour with some rather poignant moments. This is especially so at a point in the story when Leit is talking with another assassin shows that he is not as stupid as people would have actually believed.

The final book I wanted to highlight is “The Lord of the Eastern Mountain” which is a story that explores faith and the cultural clashes that can occur between different groups of people. It follows the events at a village where people worship a massive being in the mountain as their god. However, the rather simple life in the village is changed forever when a large kingdom decides to bring the village under its protection and introduces the people there to new ideas and beliefs. This was probably the slowest paced story in the collection but this worked well as the story was more about society and debate than action and adventure.

Overall, this was a well written and enjoyable collection of stories that would serve as a good introduction for someone wanting to explore the fantasy genre. As a fan of fantasy already I loved it, the stories were varied, entertaining and paced perfectly. On a personal level this collection has introduced me to the works of Erin L. Snyder and I suspect that very soon I will have one of her novels in my collection.

Challenges Book Counts Towards:
Ebook Reading Challenge (Workaday Reads)
Speculative Fiction Challenge

Saturday 3 November 2012

Ashen Winter (Ashfall Book 2) - Mike Mullin



Title: Ashen Winter (Ashfall Book 2)
Author: Mike Mullin
Genre: Science Fiction
Published: 2012
Formats: Hardback/Ebook

Available at:
Amazon
The Book Depository
Kobo
Amazon UK

“Ashen Winter” by Mike Mullin is the second novel in his “Ashfall” series which is set in a world that has suffered a super volcanic event. Whilst I will try and minimise any spoilers, I would advise people to read the first novel in the series, “Ashfall” prior to reading this review. If anyone is interested then they can find my review for “Ashfall” here.

The story picks up several months after the conclusion to “Ashfall” with Alex and Darla now living with Alex’s Aunt & Uncle on their farm near the town of Warren. Whilst a volcanic winter has descended upon the United States the farm itself is a relatively safe environment and they are managing to survive. However, things change when a bandit attack on the farm results in a gun being dropped that had previously been owned by Alex’s father. Alex, realises that these bandits may know what has happened to his parents are he therefore sets out with Darla to locate the bandits and see if they can provide information on his parents whereabouts. Their journey across the bleak and frozen landscape however is much tougher that what they faced previously as the people they encounter have become much more desperate, ruthless and brutal.

I was a little worried when I first picked up this novel and second books in many series tend to be rather weak. They are usually just filler and an attempt to set up an epic conclusion which doesn’t normally entertain the reader much. “Ashen Winter” however bucks the trend superbly as it is full of action, adventure, danger, friendship and has enough of a conclusion to the plotline that most readers should put the book down satisfied but still looking forward to seeing more in the future. I believe that any fan of the first novel will be fully entertained from start to finish.

An element of the book I was impressed with was the way in which Mullin has used the story to really study and identify the way in which humanity could act under extreme duress. Despair and fear lead to brutality, violence and neighbour turning against neighbour. Some people even turn to cannibalism and gang mentality in an attempt to face the bleak life they now endure. Alex’s own family members even engage in torture and execution with their excuse being that this is what they must now do to survive and protect those who depend upon them. I found this image of humanity’s descent into the savagery, sickening and yet completely believable.

Alex and Darla continue to be engaging and inspiring characters with Alex's determination and faithfulness to the ones he loves showcased to great extent by his refusal to give up, even in the worst of cases. There are also a few new characters thrown in, all of which I found believable and well developed. I specifically loved Ben, an autistic teenager with a vast knowledge of military equipment and tactics who had me smiling throughout. Mullin’s research into autism and military hardware really came across during Ben’s elements of the story.

Overall, I found “Ashen Winter” to be a brilliant sequel to “Ashfall” that will entertain and thrill you from start to finish. Both the characters and social fabric of humanity have continued to be developed in a believable and enjoyable manner. If you have read the prequel then don’t delay in picking this book up as you will not be disappointed.