Book Review: The Drifting Classroom, Vol. 3 by Kazuo Umezz

The Drifting Classroom, Vol. 3 by Kazuo Umezz
My rating: 8 of 10 stars

Pages : 752

Year : 1974

Genre : Post Apocalpytic

Series : The Drifting Classroom, Vol. 3

This is the third and final novel on the series and it was a very entertaining, depressing journey to say the least. In this volume they are in the future and trying to escape some monsters that appear, they turn on each other like Battle Royal or Lords of the Flies, they kill, they died, they eat (cannibalistically) yet some are trying to do the right thing and finally there is a way to return home... will they do it? Well not going to spoil you but since is a 2000 page manga I am going to do it for you in the end.. I will warn you before

So what's bad about this all series, well is the easy way some stuff is resolved - like an operation, or battle scars or even forgiving your enemy after tens of death's through their hands. BUT this are child, lest we forget, this are kids from 6 to 10/11. Yet they are more prepared at times than grownup's.

So, I promised spoilers.. here you go

In the end, they meet a computer who says they can return in the same place where they went. They must replicate the energy released back in that day. It seems one of the boys brought a dynamite stick to school (yes....). So they try and failed. But after some, intervention they learn how they should yet they decide not to go. The world is going to die. So the vast majority (except one) stay behind. Poor mother...

Spoilers end.

I would advise anyone to read it if they enjoy Lord of Flies stuff 

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Book Review: No Guilt of Bloodshed by John Baltisberger

No Guilt of Bloodshed by John Baltisberger
My rating: 3 of 10 stars

Pages : 166

Year : 2023

Genre : Splatterpunk, Weird Western

Series : Splatter Western

This is my review. Don't forget that as you read this, it's my opinion. But you being a normal adult , you take your own thoughts on the book after reading the novel.

So I am going against the vast majority, if not all of this reviews.

The book is gory, no doubt about it. It's full of splatterpunk gore and mayhem but I notice here a couple of stuff that make me cringe a lot... You know I can compare Malechai with Captain Marvel and to me that's what wrong with fiction today. I like gore and grimdark but I don't like characters who are so overpowerful that no matter what you throw at them it's barely an inconvenience and that's what I felt every time , in every page. Since page one you know that this guy won't suffer fuck and I can't connect with him at all.

Don't get me wrong, the book is good in terms of gory and sexy scenes but when you can't really linked to the character (and I love evil characters) it's rather boring. That was my main problem. THe other one was the hate towards white people. This book is really fruit of his time. It's a time when hate towards against white (christians) is not only okay but rather acceptable. You are a good human being if you hate your own skin/religion (if white). Here the portrayal is just that... every other race is good, acceptable , white christians? Let's kill them all. Man, in page 40 or so, he even has the audacity to say to white christian "You think because you follow a certain religion that the rules of decency don't apply o you. Your dead god gave you permission to be an asshole..." bla bla. But he, a Jew is even worse than him.

Man, I am not even Christian. But this book was a just a vent towards white Christians. This is a book for you if are Leftist, Anti-White person. Yeah, I don't care.

BUT if you love gore and can ignore the times we are reading, or reading this in 2035 then probably this good splatterpunk

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Book Review: Lair of the Crystal Fang by S.A. Sidor

Lair of the Crystal Fang by S.A. Sidor
My rating: 8 of 10 stars

Pages : 363

Year : 2022

Genre : Lovecraftrian Horror

Series : Arkham Horror 

This was probably my favourite Arkham Horror novel. Why you ask?

My main gripe with this series is the lack of interest because apart from one or two characters from the boardgames most are rather new stuff that we can't connect. Here is a bit different, you've got a handful of them. You've got Charlie (the politician - here is the mayor of Arkham) helped by Mandy Thompson, in another part we've got Carolyne Fern, Wendy Adams plus 3 from previous novel by Sidor Andy, Maude & Jake). You also got Rex Murphy the unlucky reporter. This tale is as I said different... With a vast characters we jump from one chapter to the next to one party and that's the first bonus point. You've also got the point view of evil people and neutral ones.

Apart from this the story is good. They are building something in the sewers and find a crystal shard of a bygone era that is affecting them differently. You've got this two parties of "good" then a bunch of witches and the Lamprey (the evil one). They all have their interests and goals. That's the another interesting stuff.

So, what I didn't enjoy? Well, since you've got a vast cast of "named" characters you know that they can't be killed. So, there is a bit of lack of connection with the characters. Then is the Evil presence, that instead of being an evil one is Chaos God I've never heard of... Probably in the RPG or something. Then you've got the ending... IT was over in four of five pages.

Apart from this things it was undoubtly my favourite. There are still extra stories that could come from this characters. Nothing that I can consider woke came to this novel (you know my problem with previous ones) 8/10

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Book Review: Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card

Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 9 of 10 stars

Pages : 382 (feels longer)

Year : 1986 

Genre : Sci-Fi

Series : 2 on Ender's Saga

One of the best novels I've read for a while. It started slow and I was not enjoying as much as ender games but as the book progress it turn philosophical and I started enjoying the novel each page more and more... The novel follows the first one , well in a way 2000 years after the one. So how are they alive? Shenningans of time Travel. Travelling from one planet to another can take 20 years of "real" time but for those travelling it takes 2 weeks. So basically you can be immortal. It's a bit strange to be honest.

So, Ender is now a Speaker for the Dead where he goes from place to place talking about people who died, telling the true and so on... A bit strange but ok.

You've got , for the first time a new world called Lusitania (ancient name of Portugal) where a bunch of people went to live there and find out a sentient species. There the first xenobiologits try to talk with them, learn but never interfering for fear of what happened 2000 years ago (Ender went from an hero to the most evil person)

There are lot here, we've got as I said philosophy, there is Christianity beliefs and interaction between and science, you've got questions on how humanity should approach other species, you've got questions about morality, about personality, about community and most of all character development. In the end it was a very good book that make me think a lot. I know why it won so many awards.

Just a warning, although I would rate the same as Ender Game, it's totally different book. Different approach. Different themes and flows. This is no action.

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47/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

So, one week to go to November and I already read around 4000 pages. I am truly amazed to be honest. I know to some may not seem much but for me it's one of the best months of ... well, ever. I only got one novel Ship of Fools. Next month will be a month of restrain (although I am waiting for a book haul of John Norman of Gor 16 novels. Apart form that, is the residual book here and there.

Already Finish

1. Samhain Sorceries - Anthology -                           210p - 2/11/2023  - 2⭐
2. Elephants can Remember - Agatha Christie            299p - 4/11/2023  - 7⭐
3. The Sailors on the Seas of Fate -Michael Moorcock 128p - 9/11/2023 - 7⭐
4. Jack Finney - The Body Snatchers                          226p - 10/11/202 - 5 ⭐
5. Your Dreams Will Come True When You're Dead - John Comunale 186p 15/11/2023 - 6⭐
6. Sea Change - James Powlik                                      481p 17/11/2023 -7⭐
7. Lair of the Crystal Fang - S A Sidor                          363p 18/11/2023 - 8 ⭐
8. The Drifting Classroom, Vol. 3 - Kazuo Umezz          768p 18/11/2023 - 8 ⭐
9. No Guilt of Bloodshed -  John Baltisberger               168p 19/11/2023 - 8 ⭐
10. Dead Eleven - Jimmy Juliano                                 439p  20/11/2023  -7⭐
11. Watchers in Death - David Annandale                    198p   20/11/2023 - 8 ⭐
12. Wool - Hugh Howey                                              540p   25/11/2023 -   

Ongoing

1. The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan               164/705pp (23%)
2. Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy          101/469p  (21%) 
3. Ravencry - Ed McDonald                          112/415 (30%)

October Reading Goal (my goal is 10 to 12 of them)

1. Jack Finney - The Body Snatchers 226p (Solo) 
2. Lair of the Crystal Fang - S A Sidor 363p (solo)
3. Sea Change - James Powlik 481p (solo)
4. Elric Saga - The Sailor on the Seas of Time 130p ( 2/3)
5. Agatha Christie - Elephants can Remember 299p (38/39)
6. Agatha Christie - Curtain: Poirot's Last Case 283p (39/39) Finish The Series
7. Ursun's Teeth - Graham Mcneill 256p (2/2) Finish The Series
8. Thunderhead - Neal Shusterman 515p (2/3)
9. Watchers in Death - David Annandale 198p (9/12)
10. The Last Son of Dorn - David Guymer 241p (10/12)
11. Shadow of Ullanor -  Rob Sanders 204p (11/12)
12. The Beheading - Guy Haley 250p (12/12)
13. Last of the Ravagers - Bryan Smith 256p
14. No Guilt of Bloodshed - John Baltisberger 158p
15. Childhood's End - Arthur C Clarke 237p (solo)
16. Thanquol's Doom -  C L Werner 416p
17. Road of the Patriarch - RA Salvatore 373p
18. Uma Aventura nas Arábias  (Portuguese children's book) 228p (Solo)
19. The Deadly Grimoire - Rosemary Jones 344p
20. Shadows of Pnath - Josh Reynolds 332p
21. In the Coils of Labyrinth - David Annadale 345p
22. The Ravening Deep - Tim Pratt 330p
23. Year Zero - Jeff Long - 498p (solo)
24. Crowfall - Ed McDonald - 454p

TBR Pile, Books received piling up...

1. Chancy - Louis L'Amour 195p
2. Vran: The Chaos Warped - DM Ritzlin 200p
3. Once a Killer - Anthology 307p
4. The End and the Death  Volume 2 - Dan Abnett 745p
5. Cold West - Clayton Snyder 159p
6. Conan of the Aquilonia - Antholgoy 159p
7. Of Darkness and Light - Ryan Cahill 688p
8. A Thunder of Stars - John Kippax
9. Seed of Stars - John Kippax
10. The Neutral Stars - John Kippax
11. Where the STars Guide - John Kippax
12. Conan the Mercenary
13. Conan and the Sorcerer
14. Conan and the treasure of Tranicus
15. Conan and the Flame Knife
16. Conan the Liberator
    
17. Conan The Sword of Skelos
18. Conan The Road of Kngs
19. Conan and the Spider God
20. Conan the Rebel
21. Conan the Defender
22. Conan the Destroyer
23. My Lord Barbarian - Andrew Offut
24. The Eyes of Sarsis - Andrew Offut
25. Web of the Spider - Andrew Offut
26. Demon in the Mirror - Andrew Offut
27. The Iron lords - Andrew Offut
28. All of Your Dreams Will Come True When You're Dead - John Wayne Comunale - 186p
29. Redwall - Brian von Jacques -333p
30. Untamed Realms - Anthology (Sigmar)
31. Galaxy of Horrors - Anthology (40K)
32. Da Gobbo Rides Again - Rhuairidh James 105p
33. Ship of Fools  - Paulo Russo 368p

Expected to Arrive

1. Conan the Barbarian  (ebay)
2. The Silence of Ghosts  (ebay)
3. conan the unconquered (ebay)
4. Timeliner Trilogy - Richard Meredy (ebay)

Book Review: Fear Me by Tim Curran

Fear Me by Tim Curran
My rating: 7 of 10 stars

Pages : 105

Year : 2011

Genre : Horror

Series : Solo

This was a very fast read. I read in one day.
This is a tale about a prison where a new inmate is arriving and although he looks that is going to be someone b*tch, the prisoners feel strange around it. He says that if someone hurts him his brother will avenge him. When the first guy tries he suffers an horrible death. From that moment all hell breaks loose.

Tim Curran is one of my favourite writers in horror as you know. He really depicts prison in a way that feel believable. He doesn't shine away from violence, rape etc.

What lacks here is the ending, the "brother" stuff. I hope for more 50 pages of the story depicting this. 7/10



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Book Review: Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie

Elephants Can Remember by Agatha Christie
My rating: 7 of 10 stars

Pages : 300

Year : 1972

Genre : Mystery

Series : Herculae Poirot

This is my second to last novel to finish all Poirot stories. The last one is going to be Poirot Last Case.
Everything afterwards from Poirot was not written by her (I know there is a new novel - but I won't read it).

This novel focus a lot on Ariadne Oliver aka Agatha Christie. Basically she is a mystery written who is questioned regarding her god-daughter and she becomes embroiled in a investigation from a a crime\suicide of over 10 years. She asks the help of Poirot and we get some chapters with her investigating and others with Poirot. We can see she (Agatha) really wants to focus on her but unfortunately people bought a Poirot novel not Oliver so that's that. Interesting is that finally we learn that Oliver was married (it was just a side note). Don't know if Agatha made a mistake or she really wanted to give that away.

Overall it's a interesting tale but due fairly easy to get to the solution. She was almost 70 something. Overall it was good. Let's see the last one (written in the 40's so there's that).

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Book Review: The Sailor on the Seas of Fate by Michael Moorcock

The Sailor on the Seas of Fate by Michael Moorcock
My rating: 7 of 10 stars

I've read this book in 2007 and then at 2023 and this is one reason why I am against re-reading. I didn't enjoy this novel compared with first one. I remember enjoying a lot and reading the first three in one go. This is why you shouldn't re-read. I read this book when my knowledge of fantasy was Dragonlance and forgotten realms. This was something awesome. Now, I've read 1300 novels. This is not as good novel. I would rate 2 stars nowadays. BUT since I gave 5 stars before I am dropping to 4.

It's a bit confusing, compare with the first where we follow Elric travelling throughout time and space in the future, past and present. We get to see the first glimpses of Erokese, Corum among other characters that will be important if we continue to read in the multiverse.



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Book Review: The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney

The Body Snatchers by Jack Finney
My rating: 4 of 10 stars

Pages : 226

Year : 1995

Genre : Horror, Sci-Fi

Series : Solo

The body snatchers is a okay, just okay novel. It's not good and it's great. It's okish. it's a book that to me, didn't age well (this book is almost 70 years). I believe that when it was written it was a good interesting novel, I Bet. There was nothing like it. Beings from another planet, come to ours and create some beings totally identical with humans but they are aliens. Some people start to see and be aware that those are not their love ones. The novel itself it's kind of week and remind me of Puppet Masters by Heinlein written 4 years prior.

The novel it's a bit convoluted and I had watch a couple of movies based on this novel and they were a bit darker. Here the bad guys were that dark to be honest or evil for that matter. I never felt they were in danger you know? The ending was quite ... bad compared with the movies. It's more easier and optimistic... This is a way I would say, watch the movies...

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Book Review: All of Your Dreams Will Come True When You're Dead by John Wayne Comunale

All of Your Dreams Will Come True When You're Dead by John Wayne Comunale
My rating: 6 of 10 stars

Pages : 186

Year : 2023

Genre : Weird Western , Horror

Series : Splatter Western Series

Another quick read. I received this and read in two days. It has around 180 pages and with 3/4 pages chapter. They are fast paced and you read it in a couple of hours.

So, was this good or bad? Well it's hard to classify this book. It wasn't good. I expected much more from the synopsis and cover and got basically the life of a not-so-good guy passing some adversities and challenges. at the same time we get to see the development of a young kid to adulthood (which I thought it was another timeline for the character but I was surprised). There were also the calamity trio, plus a young girl and one guy trying to bring doom to earth. Unfortunately they all fell a bit flat and the ending was the weakest part. To be honest it was a bit anti-climatic. I read it as too easy...

Not the best on the splatter western series(the fourth after their soft restart, this and the recently release don't have numbers) but not the weakest. I would rate 6.5. I think the author would have gain a bit more with more 50 pages or so. That's my impression. You may feel it different reading it.

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Book Review: Sea Change: A Novel by James Powlik

Sea Change: A Novel by James Powlik
My rating: 7.5 of 10 stars

Pages : 478

Year : 1999

Genre : Thriller 

Series : Solo

Let's talk about this book... this book sure feels long but only has 450 pages. The problem with it is that they took to long to get anywhere and sometimes it drags in some places.

The story is set near canada\usa border near Seattle. Something is killing animals and people. Nobody knows what it is, some kind of weird water phenomenon. Enter our main protagonist and ex military and now turn environmentalist, divorcee and now roaming the waters with his crew. Meanwhile his ex-wife who knows of his knowledge contacts him and with the help of money from her now-husband they track down the culprit.

It's not that easy, you've got other characters like a medic who treated two people who died plus a bunch of others side characters that are there to help our main protagonist.
I learn a lot reading this novel, from pfiesteria to plankton to other stuff related to the sea. I think since James is a marine biologist he knows his stuff and tried to set the story within people who are not versed in marine biology but at times it enter the realm of science which was interesting since it made me search for stuff.

There are some interesting parts, this thing than can kill humans (and it seems it exists) but taken to extreme, the author at times it seems it gave it a personality/intelligence that I don't know they should have.

Either way, the vast majority of the book is the characters talking about possibilites, about plan of actions and at times we see the destructive power of this being. IT was interesting. As I said, it's slow and I can understand people don't like the novel, or why it has a minus that 4 rating. There is another novel very similar to this one called the Swarm written 3 or 4 years later. It was based on this one so you get to see similarities - the main issue for me is that it's a 900 page novel.

Either way, this is a good novel BUT be prepared for slow burn.

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46/52 Friday Update - Books Read; Currently Reading & TBR (and bought)

 Last week I had a problem and couldn't put the correct information on it. It's of no importance I guess and I will add everything this week. So in terms of reading was not that good a week to be honest. At least my purchases arrived all within this week. Only a couple ones to come 

Already Finish

1. Samhain Sorceries - Anthology -                           210p - 2/11/2023  - 2⭐
2. Elephants can Remember - Agatha Christie            299p - 4/11/2023  - 7⭐
3. The Sailors on the Seas of Fate -Michael Moorcock 128p - 9/11/2023 - 7⭐
4. Jack Finney - The Body Snatchers                          226p - 10/11/202 - 5 ⭐
5. Your Dreams Will Come True When You're Dead - John Comunale 186p 15/11/2023 - 6⭐
6. Sea Change - James Powlik                                      481p 17/11/2023 -7⭐
7. Lair of the Crystal Fang - S A Sidor                          363p 18/11/2023 - 8 ⭐

Ongoing

1. The Great Hunt - Robert Jordan               164/705pp (23%) (In Hiatus)
2. Hunt for Red October - Tom Clancy          101/469p  (21%) (In Hiatus)
3. Wool - Hugh Howey                                221/540p  (38%)   
4. Ravencry - Ed McDonald                          112/415 (30%)

October Reading Goal (my goal is 10 to 12 of them)

1. Jack Finney - The Body Snatchers 226p (Solo) 
2. Lair of the Crystal Fang - S A Sidor 363p (solo)
3. Sea Change - James Powlik 481p (solo)
4. Elric Saga - The Sailor on the Seas of Time 130p ( 2/3)
5. Agatha Christie - Elephants can Remember 299p (38/39)
6. Agatha Christie - Curtain: Poirot's Last Case 283p (39/39) Finish The Series
7. Ursun's Teeth - Graham Mcneill 256p (2/2) Finish The Series
8. Thunderhead - Neal Shusterman 515p (2/3)
9. Watchers in Death - David Annandale 198p (9/12)
10. The Last Son of Dorn - David Guymer 241p (10/12)
11. Shadow of Ullanor -  Rob Sanders 204p (11/12)
12. The Beheading - Guy Haley 250p (12/12)
13. Last of the Ravagers - Bryan Smith 256p
14. No Guilt of Bloodshed - John Baltisberger 158p
15. Childhood's End - Arthur C Clarke 237p (solo)
16. Thanquol's Doom -  C L Werner 416p
17. Road of the Patriarch - RA Salvatore 373p
18. Uma Aventura nas Arábias  (Portuguese children's book) 228p (Solo)
19. The Deadly Grimoire - Rosemary Jones 344p
20. Shadows of Pnath - Josh Reynolds 332p
21. In the Coils of Labyrinth - David Annadale 345p
22. The Ravening Deep - Tim Pratt 330p
23. Year Zero - Jeff Long - 498p (solo)
24. Crowfall - Ed McDonald - 454p

TBR Pile, Books received piling up...

1. Chancy - Louis L'Amour 195p
2. Vran: The Chaos Warped - DM Ritzlin 200p
3. Once a Killer - Anthology 307p
4. The End and the Death  Volume 2 - Dan Abnett 745p
5. Cold West - Clayton Snyder 159p
6. Conan of the Aquilonia - Antholgoy 159p
7. Of Darkness and Light - Ryan Cahill 688p
8. A Thunder of Stars - John Kippax
9. Seed of Stars - John Kippax
10. The Neutral Stars - John Kippax
11. Where the STars Guide - John Kippax
12. Conan the Mercenary
13. Conan and the Sorcerer
14. Conan and the treasure of Tranicus
15. Conan and the Flame Knife
16. Conan the Liberator
    
17. Conan The Sword of Skelos
18. Conan The Road of Kngs
19. Conan and the Spider God
20. Conan the Rebel
21. Conan the Defender
22. Conan the Destroyer
23. My Lord Barbarian - Andrew Offut
24. The Eyes of Sarsis - Andrew Offut
25. Web of the Spider - Andrew Offut
26. Demon in the Mirror - Andrew Offut
27. The Iron lords - Andrew Offut
28. All of Your Dreams Will Come True When You're Dead - John Wayne Comunale - 186p
29. Redwall - Brian von Jacques -333p
30. Untamed Realms - Anthology (Sigmar)
31. Galaxy of Horrors - Anthology (40K)
32. Da Gobbo Rides Again - Rhuairidh James 105p

Expected to Arrive

1. Conan the Barbarian  (ebay)
2. The Silence of Ghosts  (ebay)
3. Ship of Fools  (ebay)
4. conan the unconquered (ebay)
5. Timeliner Trilogy - Richard Meredy (ebay)

TBR November & December (Redesigned)

I initially thought of reading some novels but now I am changing. I want to finish a couple of series before next year... Let us see if I can 

What I am going to read. The same logic. I've read three so far, let us see the next ones (5967p)

1. Jack Finney - The Body Snatchers 226p (Solo)  (Read)
2. Elric Saga - The Sailor on the Seas of Time 130p ( 2/3)   (Read)
3. Agatha Christie - Elephants can Remember 299p (38/39)   (Read)

1. Agatha Christie - Curtain: Poirot's Last Case 283p (39/39) Finish The Series
2. Ursun's Teeth - Graham Mcneill 256p (2/2) Finish The Series
3. Thunderhead - Neal Shusterman 515p (2/3)
4. Watchers in Death - David Annandale 198p (9/12)
5. The Last Son of Dorn - David Guymer 241p (10/12)
6. Shadow of Ullanor -  Rob Sanders 204p (11/12)
7. The Beheading - Guy Haley 250p (12/12)
8. Lair of the Crystal Fang - S A Sidor 363p (solo)
9. Last of the Ravagers - Bryan Smith 256p
10. No Guilt of Bloodshed - John Baltisberger 158p
11. Beast in Velvet - Jack Yeovil 280p
12. Thanquol's Doom -  C L Werner 416p
13. Road of the Patriarch - RA Salvatore 373p
14. Crowfall - Ed McDonald - 454p
15. Lair of the Crystal Fang - SA Sidor 363p
16. The Deadly Grimoire - Rosemary Jones 344p
17. Shadows of Pnath - Josh Reynolds 332p
18. In the Coils of Labyrinth - David Annadale 345p
19. The Ravening Deep - Tim Pratt 330p