Book Review: Songs of Distant Earth by Arthur C. Clarke

Songs of Distant Earth by Arthur C. Clarke
My rating: 71 of 100 stars

Pages : 256

Year : 1986

Genre : Sci-Fi

Series : Solo

Giving 71 and recommending? Well, yes. First of all, have in mind that this book was written and re-written but it's old. The premises come from the golden age of Science Fiction and it's one of the most memorable being written at that time. IT was then re-written in the 80's. Don't know what was changed but I believe the premises stay the same.

This book deals with space exploration, colonization of a new world. Being a 230 page novel it has a lot of ideas from the ones I mentioned before to interaction between two different branches of humanity (imagine shogun stuff when Europeans saw for the first time Japanese people. They were for all purposes aliens). this book also deals with the end of the earth (due to neutrino problem that was solved a couple of years after Arthur C Clarke died). There is a reason why this is his most beloved novel.

So why the 71 rating? Although it deals with a lot of interesting topics (I forgot xenobiology , encounters with other species, terraforming, spaceships stuff) it never really dwell much on each individual topic. IT's like he crammed all of this interesting topics , probably being the top runner in several, but never really solving\delving to much on them. So, you may find interesting stuff on terraforming, psychology, sociology etc it never really provides anything too deeply and so was a bit boring...

So, I didn't talk about what's the book about right?

So basically earth is doomed and they know it's being destroyed around 3500 (or so). So humanity started exploring other planets with different methods (again we don't really know much about them) but the vast majority just lost contact. In a last stretch finally we discovered something that allow to send people (hibernating) instead of embryos. Hop we go to another planet but had to stop in a previous colonized world to get more ice. One of the things that most annoyed me was the lack of info on this... how did humans who stayed behind felt about being left on a doom planet? Did they revolt? I mean as the time progress I Would think there would be wars and revolt since everyone would want to go and not being on sinking ship...

So as I said, this ship arrived and encounter the inhabitants living in paradise with no knowledge of war, gods and so on. While I would think it would be interesting of more clashes between two different societies it was cool to see. But again very very superficial... This book could have been 500 pages. The end was interesting since it deals with idea of staying on that planet or leaving to their destination... there were dissidents but again too superficial.. Alas... great premise but lack of depth. (

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5/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

Last day of the month.. so update time... I will make the next update on the following Friday. My goal was to read 100 pages per day and althought it seems completed books I've read "only" 2866, counting the four ongoing novels I've read around 3200. My goal to February is the same as January. More than 100 pages per day.

As you are aware I modified the rating so it it's more easy to understand my favourite novels and to make lists. So this month favourite book was Ship of Fools by Richard Paul Russo whilst Hunt for Red October was close second. I read 4 (currently reading the fifth) of 9 books on my reading goal. Not that bad. BTW, Although I didn't mention I Started reading the departure and after 80 pages gave up. I bought 44 novels which is atrocious. One day I will burn..

This next month I am going to receive those novels I me
ntion below (but they are bundles so cheaper) and I am going to Ireland so I will definitely buy a couple of more.

current TBR - no I am not kidding. I have more than this... 

Already Finish

1. The Ice Lion - Kathleen O'Neal Gear               294p- 2/1/2024  - 68⭐
2. The Deep - Nick Cutter (Audiobook)               360 - 5/1/2024   - 32⭐
3. The Last Son of Dorn - David Guymer             256 - 7/1/2024 -  81⭐
4. Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy                 469 - 11/1/2024 - 92⭐
5. Childhood's End - Arthur C Clarke                   240 - 15/1/2024 - 69⭐ 
6. Ship of Fools - Richard Paul Russo                  384  - 19/1/2024 - 93⭐
7. The Songs of Distant Earth - Arthur C Clarke  256  - 23/1/2024 - 71⭐
8. Valuable Humans in Transit - qntm                 101 - 24/1/2024 - 73⭐
9. Thunderhead  Neal Shusterman                  512  - 26/1/2024 - 87⭐
     

Ongoing

1. The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan                         335/705pp (48%)
2. Defiant - Brandon Sanderson                             352/505   (65%)
3. Son of the Slob - Aron Beauregard (audiobook)   90/218 (41%)
4. The Flood (Blackwater #1) - Michael McDowell     60/189 (32%)

January Reading Goal

1. The Ice Lion Kathleen O'Neal Gear
2. The Departure Neal Asher
3. The Last Son of Dorn David Guymer
4. Skyward Brandon Sanderson
5. Generation Ship Michael Mammay
6. Ship of Fools Richard Paul Russo
7. Thunderhead  Neal Shusterman
8. Cthulhu Reload David Conyers
9. We All Died at Breakway Station Richard C Matheson

TBR Pile, Books received piling up...

1. Brass Man  - Neal Asher 
2. Jack Four - Neal Asher  
3. Girdlinked - Neal Asher  
4. The Line of Polity  - Neal Asher  
5. Hilldiggers  - Neal Asher 
6. Line War  - Neal Asher  
7. Polity Agent  - Neal Asher 
8. The Voyage of Sable Keech  - Neal Asher 
9. Orbus  - Neal Asher 
10. The Parasite  - Neal Asher
11. Shadow of the Scorpion - Neal Asher
12. The Gabble  - Neal Asher 
13. The Technician  - Neal Asher  
14. The Skinner  - Neal Asher 
15. Conan the Barbarian
16. Jupiter War - Neal Asher
17. Zero Point - Neal Asher
18. Prador Moon - Neal Asher
19. Graveworm - Tim Curran
20. Hate Machine - Stephen Blackmoore
21. Broken Binding (December Subscription) The Autumn Republic - Brian McClellan
22. Flesh Hell (Autumncrow  High) - Cameron Channey 301p
23. The Resort - Bryce Gibson 170p
24. Hindsight - Ronald Kelly 275p
25. Scott Lynch - The Republic of Thieves  720p
26. Scott Lynch - Red Seas Under Red Skies 629p
27. Conan the Bold - John Maddox Roberts 282p
28. The Dark'un - Ronald Kelly 380p
29. Sons of Darkness - Gourav Mohanty 649p
30. Robert McCammon - The Border 490p
31. Clown in a Cornfield - Adam Cesare 346
32. The Queen of BedLam - Robert McCammon 645p
    
33. Eleventh Cycle - Kian Ardalan 800p
34. Wolf Land - Jonathan Janz 290p
35. Hunters of Gor - John Norman 361p
36. Kajira of Gor - John Norman 443p
37. Speaks the Nightbird - Robert McCammon 797p
38. Nothern Wrath - Thilde Kold Holdt (Broken Binding) 560p
39. The Rosetta Codex - Richard Paul Russo 378p
40. Sebastien de Castell - The Malevolent Seven 526p
41. Neal Asher - Weaponized 373p
42. The Dance of Time - Eric Flint  458p
43. Lords of the Lance - Graham McNeil 396p
44. The Exile - Ryan Cahill 202p
    
    
    

Expected to Arrive

1. Here Comes the Sun (Blackwell)
2. Broken Binding (Never Die)
3. Broken Binding (subscription)
4. 14 novels by Dennis L McKiernan
5. 24 novels by David Drake

Book Review: Valuable Humans in Transit and Other Stories - qntm

Valuable Humans in Transit and Other Stories by qntm
My rating: 73 out of 100 stars

Pages : 101

Year : 2022

Genre : Science Fiction

Series : Anthology

So let's start...

Lenna and I didn't knew about it, was photo and standard test image used in the field of digital image processing starting in 1973. In this tale we follow another character which instead of a photo, the brain was scanned. This is the history of their uses... highly interesting sci-fi (not so distant) where we can achieve for all purposes immortality... but is it a good thing?

If You Are Reading This a story told in blog-like entries and was a bit weird for me

The Frame- it's basically the story of a self-driving car and deciding their actions when they encounter someone right in front of them. You get the supervisor, the video, the brake, the wheel, the abs etc. Very interesting and comedic

The Difference this was a comic , and unsettling story that deals with a man being trapped somewhere while other people log in and out and he tries those people to help him out... (view spoiler)

Gorge a pure sci-fi story about humanity discovering a weird planet... to be honest was a bit confusing

cripes does anybody remember Google People this is a chat log, twitter probably, where a man is talking about a now-defunct google application called Google People which was a bit weird since , it worked like facebook, but it did a lot more things like fake entries, adding randomly people, asking if x or y was known to them etc. It was interesting. the ending was a bit like the Difference story... or was it?

Driver this story follows the first one. If you enjoy the first you going to enjoy the second.

I Don't Know, Timmy, Being God Is a Big Responsibility This tale is very good. It's about a computer, above the most powerful we have nowadays, the quantum computing, and these two IT create a simulation of a world (imagine Populous game) but then things got out of hand and strange stuff starts to happen mixing realities and existences.. (you can deduce by the title)

A Powerful Culture is a story about a world where something is discovered that links this world to another parallel world. And that world is using another earth as a dumping ground of pollution. Great ending.

Valuable Humans in Transit this was interesting tale where an AI narrator saves humanity from an asteroid impact... But there are more stuff in there. I was confused until I re-read again.

Overall a very interesting tales Some were more impactful than others. That's why I will rate 73/100. Because some stories really brought down the top ones... Read in one day. What more can I wish? This person is very good.

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Book Review: Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke

Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
My rating: 69 of 100 stars

Pages : 256 

Year : 1986

Genre : Sci-Fi , Post Apocalpytic Fiction

Series : solo

Let's go...
Arthur C Clarke was a man of ideas and a visionary in the golden age of sci-fi. As you read his books, if you have read, watch and more modern stuff it's almost impossible to not say, well this is outdated. I've seen this and so on. BUT, per example this book was written in 1953. That's 70 years ago. Of course nowadays, someone copied, used and so on.. But the idea comes from him.

This book was interesting and I was getting vibes of "V", you know ? but it went another way. You've got this aliens who drop one day and say to earth people, stop fighting or we will destroy you (Well they never said like this) and after seeing their power, people stop fighting. It was a bit too simple but okay. Probably if you've got a pistol point to your head all the time you will not complain much of your grievances.

So peace was achieved and humanity finally could focus on what was important.. Is it good, right? Right? (insert meme of Padme and Anakin)

The vast majority of the novel, the author didn't really try to focus much on that, showing us good things, some mystery on the overlords and by the end a bit on their planet, their intentions and so on...

I think the author went on a simple path and in one phrase he convey that without adversaties humanity cannot evolve and that's true. Humanity in times of war and strife evolve and then use that stuff for the common man. Please research all the things that were discovered during WW2 or even due to it. Even ideas come out of war, the idea of freedom, equality rose when (in the USA)? when they were at war in the Vietnam. Without it , probably things would not evolve as they did. I believe that difficult, strife and war makes us humans (and at the same time makes us un-human).

The author, either does not believe or try not to talk about it. He wanted to tell a tale about a race of beings being our overlords/guardians... to talk more I will have to into the spoiler section... 7/10
In terms of characters is bland, the only reason to read it would be story itself.

A bit on the spoilers , (view spoiler)[ so, by the end we start to realize the purpose of these beings.. first of all, they very alike demons - that's the reason we have in our mythologies this beings as evil. But the reason they are "evil" it's not because they are our overlords, or trying to kill us. This is linked with reason of their appearance. Basically they are like shepherds who appear on societies that are going to make a evolution transition - basically humankind is evolving from normal human beings to beings that have the means to connect with an overmind (via telepathy and such) So this beings are just there to ensure we don't kill ourselves. After we made our transition they will leave the planet, human beings as we know (homo-sapiens) will die out and our sons\daughters will evolve, transcendence to another state we don't really understand... what happened to those kids we never really understood... Humanity has disappear, even our planet basically cease to exist... And that's why we have demons on our books... They were a warning with their appearance, we would die as a species.. neat, no? I believe the author try to explain as racial memory- It's like we have an instinct fear of darkness or spiders. Nobody teach us. We just are. This is the same. Oh well.. (hide spoiler)]

interesting concepts, interesting plot, poor characters, an ending that leave us some questions...

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4/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

9 Books read so far and 2872 pages. Almost my goal achieved with 5 days to go. My goal is to read one more book - Skyward by Sanderson. Continue on Great Hunt & if I have the time Also read Thunder of Stars by Dan Morgan (I started to read , 40 pages in but didn't count them because I don't know if I am going to read it.

I also substitute how I rate it so now is 1 to 100

Already Finish

1. The Ice Lion - Kathleen O'Neal Gear               294p- 2/1/2024  - 68⭐
2. The Deep - Nick Cutter (Audiobook)               360 - 5/1/2024   - 32⭐
3. The Last Son of Dorn - David Guymer             256 - 7/1/2024 -  81⭐
4. Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy                 469 - 11/1/2024 - 92⭐
5. Childhood's End - Arthur C Clarke                   240 - 15/1/2024 - 69⭐ 
6. Ship of Fools - Richard Paul Russo                  384  - 19/1/2024 - 93⭐
7. The Songs of Distant Earth - Arthur C Clarke  256  - 23/1/2024 - 71⭐
8. Valuable Humans in Transit - qntm                 101 - 24/1/2024 - 73⭐
9. Thunderhead  Neal Shusterman                  512  - 26/1/2024 - 87 ⭐
      

Ongoing

1. The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan               335/705pp (48%)

January Reading Goal

1. The Ice Lion Kathleen O'Neal Gear
2. The Departure Neal Asher
3. The Last Son of Dorn David Guymer
4. Skyward Brandon Sanderson
5. Generation Ship Michael Mammay
6. Ship of Fools Richard Paul Russo
7. Thunderhead  Neal Shusterman
8. Cthulhu Reload David Conyers
9. We All Died at Breakway Station Richard C Matheson

TBR Pile, Books received piling up...

1. Brass Man  - Neal Asher 
2. Jack Four - Neal Asher  
3. Girdlinked - Neal Asher  
4. The Line of Polity  - Neal Asher  
5. Hilldiggers  - Neal Asher 
6. Line War  - Neal Asher  
7. Polity Agent  - Neal Asher 
8. The Voyage of Sable Keech  - Neal Asher 
9. Orbus  - Neal Asher 
10. The Parasite  - Neal Asher
11. Shadow of the Scorpion - Neal Asher
12. The Gabble  - Neal Asher 
13. The Technician  - Neal Asher  
14. The Skinner  - Neal Asher 
15. Conan the Barbarian
16. Jupiter War - Neal Asher
17. Zero Point - Neal Asher
18. Prador Moon - Neal Asher
19. Graveworm - Tim Curran
20. Hate Machine - Stephen Blackmoore
21. Broken Binding (December Subscription) The Autumn Republic - Brian McClellan
22. Flesh Hell (Autumncrow  High) - Cameron Channey 301p
23. The Resort - Bryce Gibson 170p
24. Hindsight - Ronald Kelly 275p
25. Scott Lynch - The Republic of Thieves  720p
26. Scott Lynch - Red Seas Under Red Skies 629p
27. Conan the Bold - John Maddox Roberts 282p
28. The Dark'un - Ronald Kelly 380p
29. Sons of Darkness - Gourav Mohanty 649p
30. Robert McCammon - The Border 490p
31. Clown in a Cornfield - Adam Cesare 346
32. The Queen of BedLam - Robert McCammon 645p
    
33. Eleventh Cycle - Kian Ardalan 800p
34. Wolf Land - Jonathan Janz 290p
35. Hunters of Gor - John Norman 361p
36. Kajira of Gor - John Norman 443p
37. Speaks the Nightbird - Robert McCammon 797p
38. Nothern Wrath - Thilde Kold Holdt (Broken Binding) 560p
39. The Rosetta Codex - Richard Paul Russo 378p
    

Expected to Arrive

1. Here Comes the Sun (Blackwell)
2. Broken Binding (Never Die)
3. Warhammer 40K (Special Edition)
4. Warhammer Old World (Special Edition)
5. Speaks the Nightbird (Ebay)
6. Hunter of Gor (ebay)
7. Kajira of Gor (ebay)

TBR February of 2024 - Apocalyptic World (minus 2)

So, next month I have plan several books, some I won't read them since I will not have the time for all but I want some backups. I am going on vacation to Ireland and I will take one book. I will buy several books there I Bet.

So what's my goal, again I will aim for 100 pages per day so around 2900 pages.

Books TBR February

1. Swan Song - Robert McCammon with 949 (The one I am going to take to Ireland)
2. Apocalypse  - Brian Bowyer 411p
3. Atomic Horrors - Tim Curran 301p
4. Blender Babies - Jon Athan 351p
5. Vampire Hunter D Pale Fallen Angel Parts One - Hideyuki Kikuchi  148p
6. Ice Ghost - Kathleen O'Neal Gear 275p
7. Prador Moon - Neal Asher -222
8. Shadow of Ullanor - Rob Sanders - 204p
9. Malorie - Josh Malerman - 299p

Stand Ups

1. Resurrection - Tim Curran - 666p
2. Apocalpyse of the Dead - Joe McKinney - 501p
3. Earth - David Brin 610p 

3/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

 I finally finish reading Hunt for Red October which I had started in August!. It's not that it was a bad book, other stuff just come and I stop reading it. The Same is happening with Great Hunt. I will be reading Great Hunt this next few weeks and I am going to try to finish before February. Elsewhere I received the last book on the Powder Mage Series by the Broken Binding and Monday , probably I will be receiving a Limited Edition from 40K. Let u see.

I also substitute how I rate it so now is 1 to 100

Already Finish

1. The Ice Lion - Kathleen O'Neal Gear               294p- 2/1/2024  - 68⭐
2. The Deep - Nick Cutter (Audiobook)               360 - 5/1/2024   - 32⭐
3. The Last Son of Dorn - David Guymer             256 - 7/1/2024 -  81⭐
4. Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy                 469 - 11/1/2024 - 92⭐
5. Childhood's End - Arthur C Clarke                   240 - 15/1/2024 - 69⭐ 
6. Ship of Fools - Richard Paul Russo                  384  - 19/1/2024 - 93⭐
7. 
      

Ongoing

1. The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan               335/705pp (48%)
2. Thunderhead  Neal Shusterman            268/512 p  (52%)
4. The Songs of Distant Earth - Arthur C Clarke 58/256p (22%)

January Reading Goal

1. The Ice Lion Kathleen O'Neal Gear
2. The Departure Neal Asher
3. The Last Son of Dorn David Guymer
4. Skyward Brandon Sanderson
5. Generation Ship Michael Mammay
6. Ship of Fools Richard Paul Russo
7. Thunderhead  Neal Shusterman
8. Cthulhu Reload David Conyers
9. We All Died at Breakway Station Richard C Matheson

TBR Pile, Books received piling up...

1. Brass Man  - Neal Asher 
2. Jack Four - Neal Asher  
3. Girdlinked - Neal Asher  
4. The Line of Polity  - Neal Asher  
5. Hilldiggers  - Neal Asher 
6. Line War  - Neal Asher  
7. Polity Agent  - Neal Asher 
8. The Voyage of Sable Keech  - Neal Asher 
9. Orbus  - Neal Asher 
10. The Parasite  - Neal Asher
11. Shadow of the Scorpion - Neal Asher
12. The Gabble  - Neal Asher 
13. The Technician  - Neal Asher  
14. The Skinner  - Neal Asher 
15. Conan the Barbarian
16. Jupiter War - Neal Asher
17. Zero Point - Neal Asher
18. Prador Moon - Neal Asher
19. Graveworm - Tim Curran
20. Hate Machine - Stephen Blackmoore
21. Broken Binding (December Subscription) The Autumn Republic - Brian McClellan
    
    
    
22. Flesh Hell (Autumncrow  High) - Cameron Channey 301p
23. The Resort - Bryce Gibson 170p
24. Hindsight - Ronald Kelly 275p
25. Scott Lynch - The Republic of Thieves  720p
26. Scott Lynch - Red Seas Under Red Skies 629p
27. Conan the Bold - John Maddox Roberts 282p
28. The Dark'un - Ronald Kelly 380p
29. Sons of Darkness - Gourav Mohanty 649p
30. Robert McCammon - The Border 490p
31. Clown in a Cornfield - Adam Cesare 346
32. The Queen of BedLam - Robert McCammon 645p

Expected to Arrive

1. Here Comes the Sun (Blackwell)
2. Broken Binding (Never Die)
3. Warhammer 40K (Special Edition)
4. Warhammer Old World (Special Edition)
5. Speaks the Nightbird (Ebay)
6. Hunter of Gor (ebay)
7. Kajira of Gor (ebay)

Ongoing Book Series (Plans of 2024) + TBR

So this is not counting books I am going to start reading this year but again, I've decided to read more series and finish some of them. So let's go first ongoing series

1) Ongoing Book Series (To Finish in 2024)  (15 books)

• Multiple Authors - The Beast Arises 9/12   (Trying to Finish)
• Graham McNeil - Ambassador Chronicles 1//2 (Trying to Finish)
• Josh Maldernan - Bird Box 1//2 (Trying to Finish)
• Kathleen O'Neal Gear - Rewilding Report 1/3 (Trying to Finish)
• Neal Shusterman - Arc of a Scythe 1/3 (Trying to Finish)
• Hugh Lowey - Wool  1/3 (Trying to Finish)
• Jack Yeovil - Geneviere  3/4 (Trying to Finish)
• Ed McDonald - Raven's Mark 2/3 (Trying to Finish)
• C L Werner - Thanquol & Boneripper 2/3 (Trying to Finish)
• Gav Thorpe - Last Chancers 3/4  (Trying to Finish)
• J Todd Scott - Chris Cherry 1/3(Trying to Finish)

2) Ongoing Book Series (Continuing Reading in 2024) (17 Books)

• Orson Scott Card - Ender's Saga 2/5 (One Book To Read)
• Mark Lawrence - Broken Empire 1/3  (One Book To Read)
• Hideyuki Kikuchi - Vampire Hunter D 10/30 (Two Books To Read)
• R A Salvatore -  Legend of Drizzt   18/39  (One Book To Read)
• Frank Herbert - Dune 3/6 (One Book To Read)
• Terry Pratchett - Discworld  4/41 (One Book To Read)
• J K Rowling - Harry Potter 3/7    (One Book To Read)
• Daniel Barnett -Nightmareland 2/6    (Two Books To Read)
• Douglas Adams - The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 2/5   (One Book To Read)
• 
  
• John Ringo - Black Tide Rising (only main story) 1/4   (One Book To Read)
• Dan Abnett - Gaunt's Ghosts 1/15   (One Book To Read)
• Multiple Authors - Gotrek & Felix (Warhammer) 13/17  (One Book To Read)
• Sandy Mitchell - Commissar Ciaphas Cain 9/12 (One Book To Read)
• Jack Campbell - The Lost Fleet -  6/21 (One Book To Read)
• Multiple Authors - Horus Heresy 3/54  (One/two Book To Read)

3) Ongoing Book Series (Probably Skipping in 2024)

• Robert Jordan - The Wheel of Time 1/14 (Reading book 2)
• Frontlines (Thinking about buying  book 2)
• C J Box - Joe Pickett 1/24   

4) There are also my pallete cleansers for 2024 (continuing from last few years that include: 

• Bentley Little 12/29
• Conan 0/68
• John Saul 1 / 27
• Jon Athan 5/32
• Gor 1/19
• Louis L'Amour 2/99
• Richard Laymon 14/34
• Shaun Hutson 2 /16
• Star Wars Legends 16/164
• Tim Curran 14/39

5) New Series to Read (I am going to start a couple new series) I have a lot here but my goal is to start and finish at least 4/6 series... (The first batch is my first picks - yet to be decided and the second is other stuff to read)

• Joe Abercrombie - The First Law (3 Books)
• Zack Argyle - Threadlight (3 Books)
• War of the Spider Queen (6 Books)
• Glen Cook - Dread Empire (8 Books)
• Monster Hunter International (8 Books)
• Michael Fletcher - Obsidian Path or City of Sacrifice - 3 Books (each)
• David Gemmell  Jon Shannow (3 Books)
• Christina Henry - The Chronicles of Alice (3 Books)
• C L Werner - Matthias Thulmann: Witch Hunter  -  (3 Books)
• Brandon Sanderson - Skyward (4 Books)
• Troy Young - The OTher (3 Books)

• Anna Stephens - Godblind (3 Books)
• R J Barker - The Tide Child (3 Books)
• Multiple Authors - Legend of the Five Rings (6 Books)
• Zamil Akhtar - Gunmetal Gods (4 Books (So far)
• Jeffrey Barlough - Western Lights -  (10 Books)
• Marienburg (Warhammer) 2 Books
• Rob J Hayes - The War Eternal (5 books) or The Ties that Bind (3 Books)
• Thilde Kold Holdt - Hanged God (3 Books)
• Alec Hutson - The Raveling (3 Books)
• Stephen Graham Jones - Indian Lake (3 Books)
• William King - The Macharian Crusade (3 Books)
• Jay Kristoff - The Nevernight Chronicles (3 Books)
• M D Lachlan - Wolfsangel Cycle (5 Books)
• Brian McClellan - Powder Magic (3 Books)
• Peter McLean - War for the Rose Throne (4 Books)
• Graham McNeil - Forges of Mars (3 Books)
• Sandy Mitchell - Blood on the Reik (3 Books)
• Richard Nell - Ash and Sand (3 Books)
• Peter Newman - The Vagrant (3 Books)
• Brandon Sanderson - Reckoners (3 Books)
• Mike Shell - Iconoclasts - (3 Books)
• Mike Shackle - The Last War- (3 Books)
• Morgan Stang - Bartram's Maw (5 Books)
• S A Tholin - Primaterre (4 Books)
• Gav Thorpe - Slaves to Darkness (3 Books)
• Angus Watson - West of West -  (3 Books)
• Tad Williams - Otherland -  (4 Books)

Book Review: The Last Son of Dorn by David Guymer

The Last Son of Dorn by David Guymer
My rating: 8 of 10 stars

Pages : 256

Year : 2016

Genre : Warhammer 40K

Series : Beast Arises 10/12

The 10th book of the series and only two missing. Oh My what a ride. First of all, desclaimer, In the beginning I was not enjoying. It was convoluted story and jumping around confusingly. It seems they were capturing some Ork Psychers but it felt very confusing...

There was interesting political maneuverers between the high lords and Koorland plus among the Space Marines. It was very interesting to see also the clash between space marines (although, in this novel everyone accepted Koorland as the Lord Commander of all forces).

The last part of the novel is the second invasion of Ullanor since the beginning of the war and this time they have a plan. Koorland, Deathwatch Killer Teams, Sisters of Silence, Ogryn, Commissar, Assassins and a Mechanicum force battle in the main throne room to kill the Beast and what a epic battle it was...

Spoilers Ahead;
With the beast dead, the happiness is very short as they found out that this Beast is just one of 6. If billions troops, ships, hundreds or thousands of space marines died to defeat one how can they defeat more 5? Koorland is killed by the second Beast and now It despair time...

The ending was depressing as it can be.. It was strange to see Laurentis a bit sad (he is part of the cult mechanicum and usually not that emotional ) Bohemond of the Black Templars weeping and all hope was lost - But now enters Thane. I bet he will be the most important character in the next books.

My thoughts... I think this was a nice addition to the 9 other, as previous sometimes I think this was rushed and so can be confusing. This second siege of Ullanor could have been a 416 pages altogether. I am going to give 8/10 and the vast majority of these points is for the drama within the last 50 pages 

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Book Review: The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy

The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy
My rating: 9 of 10 stars

Pages : 1984

Year : 464

Genre : Spy Thriller, Military Fiction

Series : Jack Ryan

It took me 4 months to read an it was amazing altogether. I should have read this in a couple of sittings but alas life is that way. Don't know why but sometimes , even If I am loving a book I start another and another...

This book is probably one of the most know from him... it's a tale about a submarine called Red October who is quite knew to URSS navy but just on her maiden voyage it tries to defect to USA. Within are a lot of characters that you get to know, probably the better one is Ramius (captain). On the other side you got Jack Ryan a CIA operative , the head of CIA, of FBI, The president among countless other characters. Most of them probably won't appear on later books (exception being the president and top ones). It's a tale of cat and mouse and it's a very entertaining and interesting story. If you go there in a spirit of learning you get to learn a lot about the navy , about stuff that I didn't even knew it existed and you get a lot of navy, army jargon. I bet this book is a wet dream for military people. Another thing that comes to mind is that this book was written in 1984. Cold War was ongoing and so , reading this book back in the day should have been amazing. Another thing that I have to give credits is that, today if I want to write a espionage, navy book I google stuff. But in 1984 you didn't had the internet so people , to write had to go to library, have experience or books about it. Nowadays I bet most authors don't read history books to inspire and such. They go to wiki, see something cool and write it something. (I am not removing credits for authors of nowadays - I giving praise to this author who with so many detailed information must had experience/study hard).

It's a good thriller, good military fiction focus on subs and espionage. It's political games.. I Am going to read more in the near future , no doubt.

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2/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

I finally finish reading Hunt for Red October which I had started in August!. It's not that it was a bad book, other stuff just come and I stop reading it. The Same is happening with Great Hunt. I will be reading Great Hunt this next few weeks and I am going to try to finish before February. Elsewhere I received the last book on the Powder Mage Series by the Broken Binding and Monday , probably I will be receiving a Limited Edition from 40K. Let u see.

Already Finish

1. The Ice Lion - Kathleen O'Neal Gear               294p- 2/1/2024  - 7⭐
2. The Deep - Nick Cutter                                  360 - 5/1/2024   - 3⭐
3. The Last Son of Dorn - David Guymer             256 - 7/1/2024 -  8⭐
4. Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy                 469 - 11/1/2024 - 9⭐
      

Ongoing

1. The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan               335/705pp (48%)
2. Ship of Fools - Richard Paul Russo            213/384 (55%)
3. Childhood's End - Arthur C Clarke             46/240pp (20%)

January Reading Goal

1. The Ice Lion Kathleen O'Neal Gear
2. The Departure Neal Asher
3. The Last Son of Dorn David Guymer
4. Skyward Brandon Sanderson
5. Generation Ship Michael Mammay
6. Ship of Fools Richard Paul Russo
7. Thunderhead  Neal Shusterman
8. Cthulhu Reload David Conyers
9. We All Died at Breakway Station Richard C Matheson

TBR Pile, Books received piling up...

1. Brass Man  - Neal Asher 
2. Jack Four - Neal Asher  
3. Girdlinked - Neal Asher  
4. The Line of Polity  - Neal Asher  
5. Hilldiggers  - Neal Asher 
6. Line War  - Neal Asher  
7. Polity Agent  - Neal Asher 
8. The Voyage of Sable Keech  - Neal Asher 
9. Orbus  - Neal Asher 
10. The Parasite  - Neal Asher
11. Shadow of the Scorpion - Neal Asher
12. The Gabble  - Neal Asher 
13. The Technician  - Neal Asher  
14. The Skinner  - Neal Asher 
15. Conan the Barbarian
16. Jupiter War - Neal Asher
17. Zero Point - Neal Asher
18. Prador Moon - Neal Asher
19. 
    Graveworm - Tim Curran
20. Hate Machine - Stephen Blackmoore
21. Broken Binding (December Subscription) The Autumn Republic - Brian McClellan

Expected to Arrive

1. Here Comes the Sun (Blackwell)
2. Broken Binding (Never Die)
3. Hindsight - Kelly, Ronald
4. Fresh Hell (AutumnCrow High)
5. The Resort
6. Warhammer 40K (Special Edition)
7. Warhammer Old World (Special Edition)
8. Speaks the Nightbird (Ebay)
9. Hunter of Gor (ebay)
10. Kajira of Gor (ebay)
11. Conan the Bold (ebay)

Book Review: The Ice Lion by Kathleen O'Neal Gear

The Ice Lion by Kathleen O'Neal Gear
My rating: 68 of 100 stars

Pages : 304

Year : 2021

Genre : Post Apocalpytic Fiction

Series : Rewilding Reports #1

 

First book of 2024. As I write this novel I am happy that I finished. This is clearly YA Sci-Fi on which I will be reading another one this month and you can definitely understand why is YA. It's way to simple, the page read goes up effortlessly and I ended up reading a novel in one day if you count only hours. I also read 60 pages of Neal Asher's Departure. So, branding everything sci-fi is just idiotic. There's a reason this is YA and that's hard sci-fi. Here , although alien world, was really easy to get into. You get the meaning of some stuff as you go along and you never really feel lost. On the other hand, neal asher, if you don't understand a word (and you won't ) you feel confused and hoping for a more clear water.

This novel has been on my mind for some mind. With only 300 pages I knew it would be fairly easy read and something to begin the year with. I've been reading several of Gear's novels (both her's and her husband) and although this is the first YA it has their characteristics. If you've read the people of the north America in a post apocalyptic wasteland of ice and cold, then you got it. This tale is told in around 50 chapters, alternate between Lynx and Quiller. Both are 16 and childhood's friends. The problem? Quiller loves Lynx and Lynx chooses another girl to marry but on the wedding night she ends up killed by some lions (ice lions?). Branded as a coward , but not wanting him to be dead or outcast they send him on a mystical quest . There he finds a Doctor Arike which he thinks it's one of the lost Jemen. On the other hand we follow Quiller as she tries to survive this new world without him but being a SIMP. Yeah I know it's usually a male but in this case it's her. Even knowing that he would never choose her, she goes at great lengths to protect him like a mother protects his son. Some dialogues, and actions are pretty YA that makes my black hearth cry thinking that writers a) think people behave like this or b) they are right and people do act like this. Don't know which is more depressing...

Courage isn't the province of the brave Lynx. It's the virtue of the terrified. IT's what happens when you have no option left.

One of the most inters testing aspects is the worldbuilding. There are some interesting stuff here like who are these pseudo-indians (we already know who they , after all in the end they provide some spoilers) and what happened to the world. What is Zyme? What are the Ice Giants etc. There are so much to be found and I want to do it. I will read it. But my enthusiasm dwindle a little to be honest. The market is not me. The market is a 12/16 year olds.

Oh and before I forget, although it's a frozen landscape, rarely they talk about it and how it affects them. It sure as everyone living through it like it's a winter in Portugal. It bothers a little but very bearable. Another thing that upsets me was where the action took place. My god, they travel miles or days yet they always find someone they are looking at. For a frozen landscape with a thousand survivors they sure are all in the same 10 feet.

Another thing that upset me was the length.. This could easily be a duology of two 400 pages book. it ended awkwardly and the justification like they did for another novel "people nowadays want smaller books". Who said it? Probably the publishers and writers since they will sell more. People don't want to pay thrice for a book that could be one or two. I will give this book a 7 out of 10.

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1/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

Happy new year to everyone. I already finish 2 novels (one I started hearing in December). My goal is to read all of those books, around 3000 pages and read Great Hunt & Hunt Red October a couple of pages each day. I want to have a cleanse ongoing by the end of January. Let us see.

As you know my goal is is to read 100 pages per day and to buy far less books. Let us see If I can do it.  It didn't started nice with all those Neal Asher novels bu it's a specific thing and I bought them in December. Blame my old self.

Already Finish

1. The Ice Lion - Kathleen O'Neal Gear               294p- 2/1/2024  - 7⭐
2. The Deep - Nick Cutter                                  360 - 5/1/2024   - 3⭐
      

Ongoing

1. The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan               321/705pp (46%)
2. Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy          240/469p  (50%) 
3. Departure - Neal Asher                             77/497 (15%)
4. The Last Son of Dorn - David Guymer       143/256 (56%)

January Reading Goal

1. The Ice Lion Kathleen O'Neal Gear
2. The Departure Neal Asher
3. The Last Son of Dorn David Guymer
4. Skyward Brandon Sanderson
5. Generation Ship Michael Mammay
6. Ship of Fools Richard Paul Russo
7. Thunderhead Neal Shusterman
8. Cthulhu Reload David Conyers
9. We All Died at Breakway Station Richard C Matheson

TBR Pile, Books received piling up...

1. Brass Man  - Neal Asher 
2. Jack Four - Neal Asher  
3. Girdlinked - Neal Asher  
4. The Line of Polity  - Neal Asher  
5. Hilldiggers  - Neal Asher 
6. Line War  - Neal Asher  
7. Polity Agent  - Neal Asher 
8. The Voyage of Sable Keech  - Neal Asher 
9. Orbus  - Neal Asher 
10. The Parasite  - Neal Asher
11. Shadow of the Scorpion - Neal Asher
12. The Gabble  - Neal Asher 
13. The Technician  - Neal Asher  
14. The Skinner  - Neal Asher 
15. Conan the Barbarian
16. Jupiter War - Neal Asher
17. Zero Point - Neal Asher
18. Prador Moon - Neal Asher
    

Expected to Arrive

1. Here Comes the Sun (Blackwell)
2. Graveworm - Tim Curran
3. Broken Binding (December Subscription)
4. Warhammer 40K (Special Edition)
5. Speaks the Nightbird (Ebay)
6. Hunter of Gor (ebay)
7. Kajira of Gor (ebay)
8. Conan the Bold (ebay)

Book Review: Creature by John Saul

Creature by John Saul
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pages : 329p

Year : 1989

Genre : Thriller

Series : Solo

My first John Saul book. So, first let's talk about why I've read it and where does it integrate. I have some horror writers that I try to read everything and since are mostly solo novels they are good pallete cleansers between other novels. My first two finds were Bentley Little and Brian Keene. Then was Tim Curran, Richard Laymon and now this guy. I have other writers, like RA Salvatore's Drizzt (fantasy) , or Kikuchi with Vampire Hunter D. After watching a couple of videos and reviews I thought to add a couple more this year. One was Michael & Kathleen Gear (I consider them a one) other was Louis L'Amour, The Conan Books (the ones published not by Howard), Star Wars novels and the last was Gor books. I read them at least one per month, sometimes more. They are "safe" readers/reads.

So, this book follows a family as they are going "up" in life as the husband being transferred to a elite place where the top dogs from that company go. It's a idyllic town that sprang up do to the company and everyone works in the company. The company works in every branch you can imagine . The father is Blake, the mother Sharon, the son Mark & the little sister is Kelly. The boy had some health issues and so it is on small side. Blake wants his son to be on the football team with no avail since the boy is so small. The football team (football as American football not the real football played with feet) is the major focus on that small town and their players are the best in the state. One is Jeff which dates Linda , one of the cheerleaders. Linda is an old friend of Mark and as soon as she encounters she is enamoured by him and we get some teen triangle, love stuff. All good, slice of life. So, when Mark suffers from being small (not going to spoil why) his father puts him in a program for the company and soon he starts to develop some muscles, but his demeanour changes, a lot.

First of all, this is not horror. This is at most a thriller novel, at least is a slice of life. Most of the book is basically dealing with Mark development from a very conscious , heartful and loveable to, well a creature. But since this change only happens around page 200, the first 200 is indeed slice of life. There are some thriller (very small horror) moments.

So what's bad, good, and why should you read or not?

- The character development of both Mark and Jeff are quite good. Sharon is home-wife but when she has to put aside that and fight for her family and son she will be a rabid dog. Blake and most of other workers are quite bland and look like American psycho vice-presidents (all the same ). The evil characters - and there are a couple of them - are truly evil. They will go to where they should go to make their point or goal across. There is no greyness. There is nothing in-between. You are either good or bad.

- The bad, well, the characters are well development but they sure make mistakes and are dumb at times. The changes on Mark were too fast, but since we already were on page 250 what would you expect. I hoped for more romance on Linda & Mark, didn't get one. One thing that upset me, and I am not woke at all, is the other female characters are just boring, submissive housewives. This book was written in 1989 so there's that.

- The Ending was very good and very saturday afternoon flick. I didn't , at least one death and was really what?? I was shocked BUT happy. I don't like writers like Dean Koontz that play safe and you know the main /side characters are not going to die. It's boring an predictable. Here it was not. The ending was interesting but expected.

Should you read?

Having not read anything by this author I Would say it's a nice start. There are way better books out there. Being under 320 pages is small so you won't lose anything. IF you want character development then yes. IF you want action and horror, then don't. 7.5/10

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Book Review: Legion of the Damned by Sven Hassel

Legion of the Damned by Sven Hassel
My rating: 7 of 10 stars

Pages : 256

Year : 1953

Genre : War

Series : Sven Hassel #1

This is not my first or second read by Sven. Don't know if you know but Sven supposedly fought in WW2 on the side of the Germans as a Danish conscript. He was a criminal and went to fight as a penal legion (27th) and went from Russia, to France, to Italy to Germany , fighting everywhere. Of course this is a lie.

The author was a liar, enamoured by the prospect to fight for Germany (and he did enlist) but then he was in prison. In this book, the first he wrote we've got several friends like Porta, Old Un (old man) a couple others. In another books he introduce us Legionnaire, Tiny, Heide among others.

And why do we know it's fake? Well, each book (apart from this one) focus on one campaign , from italy, france, greece, balkans, france again, russia and germany. How could they fight everywhere , sometimes at the same time? Bear in mind that although they are fake, it's a good vision on how cheap lives where back in WW2. People died and sometimes rather pointless deaths and not all glamourous warlike stuff. It's grim and it's dark. This one , basically introduce us to Sven. In later novels we get to know him more. He gives some hints that he will tell about other stuff that happened.

Although as I've said him fighting is not true, the vast majority is either true or based on true stories. He wrote stuff that other people told him about or that he acquired so, this people may be really true people. This is brutal stuff, Geneva convention fuck off of the eastern front. You can read this book as anti-war stuff , anti-nazi or better, as a person who probably was swayed like millions others by Hitler and then it was too late. IF you want a grimdark war story, look no further. I do believe he wrote better (I've read some) and I will read more. 7/10

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Book Review: : Ravencry: The Raven's Mark Book Two by Ed McDonald

Ravencry: The Raven's Mark Book Two by Ed McDonald
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pages :  414

Year :  2018

Genre : Grimdark

Series : Raven's Mark (book2)

Why does it take me so much to read books that are part of series? I am enjoying the novel, I will give it a 9/10 but I think I have some bias/mental issue that makes me delay and delay books I am enjoying or part of series. Maybe because I dont' want them to end?

First of all, this books follows the first one, several years after the battle and our main character (Galharrow) is a changed man. There are new characters but we also see some of the old and since it's told in the first person perspective it's quite interesting to see his opinions on them. First of all, the last book ended in a place where if you didn't want to read the second you would have a nice ending. The same happens here. The plots are closed (the vast majority). There is a bigger plot (not directly involved on him - nameless vs deep kings war).

One of the most interesting things on this novel is that we get glimpse and stories about the city and the Misery. Around 100 pages are set in Misery and I think the author could get more books on this since there is so much to explore. Even the stories of the deep kings, nameless, drudges etc could easily be a place where the author could come back. We get to see the Drudge with new eyes and maybe they are not what they seem...

There are new interesting characters and although the world is grimdark there are good stuff there, some characters do the good things. Galharrow is a more ambiguous and can do anything to achieve it's goals - kind of. He is anti-hero. I also enjoy, and I think that's the best part, is the transformation he suffers from the beginning to the end (either due to Esbeth, Amaira, the Raven or the Misery).

So what do I expect from book 3? Well, I expect more grimdark stuff , obviously. I am kidding. I expect a kind of closure for Galharrow and the upcoming battle between the gods with humans and drudge as pawns. This author must know Warhammer 40K. since this is quite the lives of everyone fighting in the name of chaos gods. There are worlds where chaos gods, daemons battle for the sake of it and that's the feeling Ed gives us. The gods are fighting a battle (like in chess) and we humans are suffering the repercussions.. It's awesome.

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