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cavalary's reviews
277 reviews
The Dreaming Earth by John Brunner
3.0
I still like Brunner's ideas... At least what I know so far, being only the second book by him that I read.
The problem here is that he didn't get into the interesting part! I'd have been much more interested in a story told by a character addicted to "happy dreams", to see the progression. As it was, I only got glimpses of its effects, the start and the end, nothing in between. Also, it seems like it's just the beginning of a story... Is there a follow-up or he really stopped just where it was getting interesting?
The problem here is that he didn't get into the interesting part! I'd have been much more interested in a story told by a character addicted to "happy dreams", to see the progression. As it was, I only got glimpses of its effects, the start and the end, nothing in between. Also, it seems like it's just the beginning of a story... Is there a follow-up or he really stopped just where it was getting interesting?
Times Without Number by John Brunner
3.0
Decent as structure and overall action, ok ending, but not much more.
It is actually made up of three short stories, about 50 pages each, which do end up forming a longer story when put together, but it's still not the same thing.
Also, from a visionary like Brunner, I'd have expected a bit more... vision. So the Spanish Armada defeated the English in 1588 and now Spain rules Western Europe, except the north, and the Americas. But, besides the invention of time travel, the Spanish society of 1988 looks very much unchanged from that of 1588. Misses the technological developments that really happened until then but, with the exception of time travel, adds nothing new to replace them.
It is actually made up of three short stories, about 50 pages each, which do end up forming a longer story when put together, but it's still not the same thing.
Also, from a visionary like Brunner, I'd have expected a bit more... vision. So the Spanish Armada defeated the English in 1588 and now Spain rules Western Europe, except the north, and the Americas. But, besides the invention of time travel, the Spanish society of 1988 looks very much unchanged from that of 1588. Misses the technological developments that really happened until then but, with the exception of time travel, adds nothing new to replace them.
Lost Truth by Dawn Cook
3.0
Saying that Dawn Cook has a talent for completely ruining a book at the end is an understatement! Did that for the third one in the series as well, but this tops it!
Not that it'd be so good otherwise either. Well written, things make sense, but not much overall.
Again, I won't even comment; left me too bitter.
Not that it'd be so good otherwise either. Well written, things make sense, but not much overall.
Again, I won't even comment; left me too bitter.
The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop
5.0
I like books, but it's really rare that I'm awed by one, yet this managed that. Authors that try to create original fantasy worlds, with new or at least highly uncommon creatures and systems, also tend to make me raise my eyebrows and think twice, because all too often people struggle to just make something different and forget about making it actually good, but this one is once again an exception, creating a rather unusual world and being brilliant at the same time. And the names of the good characters can still make me snicker when I remember them, long after finishing the book.
There is something to be said about the ending, which features unnecessary scenes but remains forced even with them, and those who are bothered by "perfect" characters will find reasons to complain throughout, yet there's simply too much done exactly right in here for a few perhaps questionable decisions the author made about a few elements to mar the overall impression. So just read it, all right?
There is something to be said about the ending, which features unnecessary scenes but remains forced even with them, and those who are bothered by "perfect" characters will find reasons to complain throughout, yet there's simply too much done exactly right in here for a few perhaps questionable decisions the author made about a few elements to mar the overall impression. So just read it, all right?
The Book of the Short Sun: On Blue's Waters/In Green's Jungles/Return to the Whorl by Gene Wolfe
5.0
I'm quite sure this is the first maximum score I give a book in more than two years, but it's completely deserved. Pity I was quite rushed to finish it...
Don't ask exactly why I think it's so good. It's nothing specific and everything combined, that's all I'll say.
Don't ask exactly why I think it's so good. It's nothing specific and everything combined, that's all I'll say.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling
3.0
Read it through clenched teeth, as every single character annoyed me terribly, seeming like complete morons. But at least I finished it in two days, believe it or not.
Empress of Light by James C. Glass
4.0
The timespan isn't longer than in Shanji, but the changes to the characters are much more severe. Sometimes it can get confusing to go through such a long time in a single book, closely following a few characters...
Otherwise, just like Shanji, great world, great idea, well written, healthy dose of the paranormal/supernatural (both terms equally wrong, but that's how we know those things), and same (few, but nagging) differences of opinions between me and the writer, judging by some recurring ideas and choices that the main characters have and make.
Otherwise, just like Shanji, great world, great idea, well written, healthy dose of the paranormal/supernatural (both terms equally wrong, but that's how we know those things), and same (few, but nagging) differences of opinions between me and the writer, judging by some recurring ideas and choices that the main characters have and make.
First Truth by Dawn Cook
3.0
Nicely written, good atmosphere, but not my kind of fantasy. Way too small of an area covered, way too few characters taking part in the action, little magic in spite of what it promises at the beginning, way too few fantastic creatures...
All in all, a well written book that aims to be fantasy but doesn't really "smell" like true fantasy to me. Then again, it's the first of a trilogy; the next ones may offer more of everything and the series as a whole may actually be good, not just well written.
All in all, a well written book that aims to be fantasy but doesn't really "smell" like true fantasy to me. Then again, it's the first of a trilogy; the next ones may offer more of everything and the series as a whole may actually be good, not just well written.