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cavalary's reviews
277 reviews
Beauty's Punishment by A.N. Roquelaure, Anne Rice
2.0
I knew this would serve some purpose... When you feel like crap and know you won't like anything you read, why not read something you knew you couldn't like anyway?
Far better than the first, that's for sure. More sex scenes that can actually be somewhat enjoyable, pain and pleasure are separated at times and there seems to be a purpose for all the crap that's going on in there, though for me it still makes no sense. And maybe a little bit of action here and there too.
Still, and I have noticed this whenever sex came up in her other books as well, in Anne Rice's world there seems to be no risk of unwanted pregnancy, STDs, infection from injuries and so on. Wouldn't that be great? But since it isn't, it's... odd.
Far better than the first, that's for sure. More sex scenes that can actually be somewhat enjoyable, pain and pleasure are separated at times and there seems to be a purpose for all the crap that's going on in there, though for me it still makes no sense. And maybe a little bit of action here and there too.
Still, and I have noticed this whenever sex came up in her other books as well, in Anne Rice's world there seems to be no risk of unwanted pregnancy, STDs, infection from injuries and so on. Wouldn't that be great? But since it isn't, it's... odd.
Litany of the Long Sun: The First Half of 'the Book of the Long Sun' by Gene Wolfe
4.0
It's a good thing there were two books in one. The first seemed quite crappy, really. Sure, entirely new world, but one all too... real for me. And the action happens in a time that's too short and a space that's too small to have any real significance. But everything's different in the second. The real significance of everything starts to trickle out and the story starts to shape up. Also, I'm starting to like Silk.
Thomas the Rhymer by Ellen Kushner
3.0
Fairy tales are not the same as fantasy.
The author took an old folk tale, made it more detailed and an easier read, but I doubt there could be much more than that made of it.
The rating recognizes the amount of work obviously put into it, but that's about it. Just not for me...
The author took an old folk tale, made it more detailed and an easier read, but I doubt there could be much more than that made of it.
The rating recognizes the amount of work obviously put into it, but that's about it. Just not for me...
The Century of the Soldier by Paul Kearney
4.0
As the rating suggests, and despite everything I'll say past this point, I definitely liked what actually was in this book. However, what's missing from it would be enough for another Song of Ice and Fire. Even worse than in the first volume, potentially important characters are barely even mentioned and secondary ones may be introduced and then completely forgotten, entire storylines are reduced to mere glimpses, major plot points may either be limited to a quick presentation of their conclusions or, quite the contrary, completely lack them, and when the time comes to skip forward, the readers are largely left to figure out what happened in the missing years on their own.
I'll say that the author seemed in more of a rush to see the end than the reader would be expected to be. Worse, whether due to lack of skill or lack of will, this haste doesn't merely result in compressed action, but often in completely skipped action. Add the fact that some moments are overly simplified, some timing and editing issues and the countless loose ends left after the last page, and I'll say that this series has the potential to offer a lifetime of work to anyone who'd want to fill in the blanks and flesh it out better... And perhaps somebody should do that if the author himself won't, because it seems to me that it had the potential to become one of the best fantasy series ever written, which makes it even more of a pity that most of it is missing.
I'll say that the author seemed in more of a rush to see the end than the reader would be expected to be. Worse, whether due to lack of skill or lack of will, this haste doesn't merely result in compressed action, but often in completely skipped action. Add the fact that some moments are overly simplified, some timing and editing issues and the countless loose ends left after the last page, and I'll say that this series has the potential to offer a lifetime of work to anyone who'd want to fill in the blanks and flesh it out better... And perhaps somebody should do that if the author himself won't, because it seems to me that it had the potential to become one of the best fantasy series ever written, which makes it even more of a pity that most of it is missing.
Starliner by David Drake
3.0
For most of this book, I was saying it's an entirely run-of-the-mill SF; little to be bothered by, with the exception of what I'll say below about the main character, but next to nothing to remember, so much so that you could probably readily find hundreds like it and never recall which was which after reading them. Add to that the uncorrected conversion issues, resulting in many misspelled or simply wrong words, not to mention all the missing periods, and it's not hard to see why it's given away for free.
Still, if you somehow struggle through to the final portion, it does get notably better. Not enough to make up for the lack of, well, anything relevant up to that point, and definitely not enough to counterbalance the annoying macho hero that appears made of steel while hiding a troubled past and proving instantly irresistible to the hottest women, but enough to make reading it no longer be a complete waste of time.
Still, if you somehow struggle through to the final portion, it does get notably better. Not enough to make up for the lack of, well, anything relevant up to that point, and definitely not enough to counterbalance the annoying macho hero that appears made of steel while hiding a troubled past and proving instantly irresistible to the hottest women
Spoiler
(including an improbably sexually compatible alien)
Taltos by Anne Rice
4.0
Nice to read a book I actually like for a change! Very well written, the "present" story is OK, though the ending seems rushed, but Ash's life story strikes me as the best part of the book.
Rice's obsessions are still there and yet again she contradicts herself. Mona seemed to know all she needed about birth control before, but here it's quite the opposite, and not in events from the book, but from before.
Anyway, I'm cheering for the Taltos. And... Poor Emaleth.
Rice's obsessions are still there and yet again she contradicts herself. Mona seemed to know all she needed about birth control before, but here it's quite the opposite, and not in events from the book, but from before.
Anyway, I'm cheering for the Taltos. And... Poor Emaleth.
Pandora by Anne Rice
4.0
Anne Rice again, and that should say a lot.
For a vampire book, it really lacks vampires for the most part.
I sure will miss Lestat. He's one of the best created characters of all time if you ask me. And since Anne Rice does somewhat alter her writing style when switching characters, things just don't feel the same. Also, it's quite strange to read such details about the mortal life of a vampire and practically nothing about the vampiric one. But those are just things that I'll have to get used to.
That said, I have to go back to line 1 of this comment and repeat: Anne Rice again. The book itself is very good.
Oh, one more thing: Read right after Memnoch; it explains something that the author had in mind with the ending of Memnoch.
For a vampire book, it really lacks vampires for the most part.
I sure will miss Lestat. He's one of the best created characters of all time if you ask me. And since Anne Rice does somewhat alter her writing style when switching characters, things just don't feel the same. Also, it's quite strange to read such details about the mortal life of a vampire and practically nothing about the vampiric one. But those are just things that I'll have to get used to.
That said, I have to go back to line 1 of this comment and repeat: Anne Rice again. The book itself is very good.
Oh, one more thing: Read right after Memnoch; it explains something that the author had in mind with the ending of Memnoch.
La strada del destino by Larry Niven
4.0
Very light style for SF, half of it at least.
It just takes you along for the ride, presenting a world by following a person. Does make you wonder what kind of societies humankind would develop if people would be left to band together in places with very little or no contact to each other and having no proof of their past other than memories fading as generations pass...
Another thing I liked was that the author treated sex just like any other activity. Didn't focus on it, but didn't run through it without any details either. You know exactly when Jammy had sex, who with, and the highlights of the moment if there were any interesting enough.
OK, so that had nothing to do with a SF book really, but I was just pointing out another good thing.
Now the bad things... None really until Jammy reaches the Windfarm. Then things get blurry. While the Windfarm part might be intended as blurry, what follows is really a strain for the reader. Part two ends abruptly and you find yourself at the start of part three, some 20 years later, with all characters except Jammy out of the picture, a new bunch in and details about "who's who" aren't quick enough to follow. The whole part three is pretty bad and the ending leaves something to be desired.
Good world, book in general was good for the first two parts, but... Hasty ending maybe? Still, the general impression is a good one.
It just takes you along for the ride, presenting a world by following a person. Does make you wonder what kind of societies humankind would develop if people would be left to band together in places with very little or no contact to each other and having no proof of their past other than memories fading as generations pass...
Another thing I liked was that the author treated sex just like any other activity. Didn't focus on it, but didn't run through it without any details either. You know exactly when Jammy had sex, who with, and the highlights of the moment if there were any interesting enough.
OK, so that had nothing to do with a SF book really, but I was just pointing out another good thing.
Now the bad things... None really until Jammy reaches the Windfarm. Then things get blurry. While the Windfarm part might be intended as blurry, what follows is really a strain for the reader. Part two ends abruptly and you find yourself at the start of part three, some 20 years later, with all characters except Jammy out of the picture, a new bunch in and details about "who's who" aren't quick enough to follow. The whole part three is pretty bad and the ending leaves something to be desired.
Good world, book in general was good for the first two parts, but... Hasty ending maybe? Still, the general impression is a good one.
Crystal Sage by Kara Dalkey
3.0
Setting fantasy in modern times really seems strange; restrains the writer from a lot of what fantasy should mean, if you ask me. But, even with this problem, I did like it. Well written, nice enough story and quite well built characters. Got to more or less hate Joan, like Miriam, try to understand Gillian and, believe it or not, didn't get to dislike Amadan.
Good enough overall, but, as I said, fantasy set in modern times isn't really my thing.
Good enough overall, but, as I said, fantasy set in modern times isn't really my thing.
Weaveworld by Clive Barker
4.0
Fantasy set in "reality" and written well. The world is completely new, but created so well it is believable from the very beginning.
I remember saying I hated one character from "Crystal Sage" because she kept being down-to-earth and wouldn't accept that what was going on around her was really happening. Of course, the amount of unexplainable things and their scale were lower than in "Weaveworld", but nevertheless I really liked the fact that every character in this book accepts the unexplained and gets involved, even down-to-earth, unbelieving Hobart, after pulling fire out of Shadwell's coat.
And Shadwell... He's an excellent character, seems to symbolize the entire humankind if you ask me, all the sweet talk and hidden intentions, all the greed and deceit, all the dreams and fears, all its searching, all its guilt and, ultimately, its own undoing. In spite of Cal and Suzanna being the main characters, I think Shadwell is the best built one.
But there were a few things that happened to save the main characters that would have been very unlikely even in that unlikely world. Things that made me think "aw, come on, next you'll tell me the aliens appeared and beamed them out of harm's way".
And... I still didn't quite understand exactly what was with The Scourge/Uriel. Little comfort in the fact that it didn't either until the end.
I remember saying I hated one character from "Crystal Sage" because she kept being down-to-earth and wouldn't accept that what was going on around her was really happening. Of course, the amount of unexplainable things and their scale were lower than in "Weaveworld", but nevertheless I really liked the fact that every character in this book accepts the unexplained and gets involved, even down-to-earth, unbelieving Hobart, after pulling fire out of Shadwell's coat.
And Shadwell... He's an excellent character, seems to symbolize the entire humankind if you ask me, all the sweet talk and hidden intentions, all the greed and deceit, all the dreams and fears, all its searching, all its guilt and, ultimately, its own undoing. In spite of Cal and Suzanna being the main characters, I think Shadwell is the best built one.
But there were a few things that happened to save the main characters that would have been very unlikely even in that unlikely world. Things that made me think "aw, come on, next you'll tell me the aliens appeared and beamed them out of harm's way".
Spoiler
Also, I didn't like the lack of a relationship between Cal and Suzanna. What do you mean they share so much they're much more than lovers, so they can't be just that? What is more than love? I'd say sharing all that would make a relationship with anyone not involved impossible. At least Suzanna had Jerichau there for a while; she got the better deal.And... I still didn't quite understand exactly what was with The Scourge/Uriel. Little comfort in the fact that it didn't either until the end.