The eARC for A Call to Vengeance by David Weber, Timothy Zahn, and Thomas Pope was released within the past few days by Baen Books. After getting some work for Day Job out of the way, I purchased and read it. It is the third book in the Manticore Ascendant series, set in the same universe as Weber's Honor Harrington stories. However, it is set several hundred years before Honor's time, before the discovery of the Manticore Wormhole Junction and the growth of Manticoran naval power.
This book picks up mere weeks after the end of the events of the previous one. The young Star Kingdom of Manticore and its navy are recovering from the aftermath of the unprovoked attack by hostile warships whose origin and motivates are a mystery to Manticore. Of course, Manticore can't just be left in peace to recover. . .
As in the previous two books in the Manticore Ascendant series, the main character in A Call to Vengeance is Travis Uriah Long. This book, though, spreads the points-of-view a bit more widely than the previous volumes. The earlier books focused mostly on Travis, with a bit from the view of the antagonists, and only brief segments from the view of others. In this book, Long's colleague (and potential love interest) Lisa Donelly also gets a good portion of the book, as do some members of the Winton dynasty that rules the Star Kingdom of Manticore. Various movers and shakers of interest also get some scenes.
These different perspectives and scenes form what seem to be two nearly-distinct plot lines. One features Travis Long, Lisa Donnelly, and their colleagues in the Manticoran navy and intelligence agencies trying to track down who attacked Manticore and why. The other deals with the small Winton family and (primarily domestic) Manticoran politics. The two different plot lines overlap only lightly. Thus it feels to me slightly disjointed.
However, I also thought both plots are well executed. The quality of the prose itself was fine, nothing that I took note of but also nothing that got in the way or proved distracting. Even though this was an eARC (electronic Advanced Reader Copy), there were few spelling, grammar, or continuity errors to distract.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I hope there are more to follow, because there were too many threads left somewhat hanging at the end. I should note that it doesn't seem to me a good candidate for a stand-alone novel. In my opinion, you should probably check out the two prior books in the series, A Call to Duty and A Call to Arms, for the added background before tackling A Call to Vengeance. I definitely recommend reading this book.
This blog covers my adventures in reading, writing, procedural content generation, and whatever else comes to mind.
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reviews. Show all posts
Friday, December 1, 2017
Monday, November 20, 2017
Book Review: 1637: The Volga Rules
About a week ago, I posted a short note about the recently-released electronic Advanced Reader Copy (eARC) for 1637: The Volga Rules, a new novel in the Ring of Fire (1632) series. This one novel has as its authors Eric Flint, Paula Goodlett, and Gorg Huff, and it is a direct sequel to the earlier 1636: The Kremlin Games.
This most recent installment continues the tale shortly after it left off in The Kremlin Games. It focuses the continuation of the struggle between Czar Mikhail and Director-General Sheremetev for control of Russia and its future. Only two uptimers feature prominently in this tale, for it is mostly the tale of the Russians of the alternate universe and their struggles.
It is a story of compromise, determination, of striving for freedom, of accepting the necessary. There are politics, there are battles, there are betrayals. There is love, there is hate. There are surprises. And there is some of the expected.
If you enjoyed The Kremlin Games, I believe you'll enjoy The Volga Rules. If you were primarily hoping to see more of the "main cast" like Michael Stearns, Rebecca Abrabanel, Harry Lefferts, Ed Piazza, Gretchen Richter, Gustavus Adolphus, etc. or find out more about the events happening in vicinity of Vienna, you may be disappointed. As it was, taking the tale for what it was, I quite enjoyed it.
Unsurprisingly, the political situation in Russia and Eastern Europe remains very much in question at the end of the novel. We must await further stories to learn more about what awaits Russia, Poland, and their neighbors.
This most recent installment continues the tale shortly after it left off in The Kremlin Games. It focuses the continuation of the struggle between Czar Mikhail and Director-General Sheremetev for control of Russia and its future. Only two uptimers feature prominently in this tale, for it is mostly the tale of the Russians of the alternate universe and their struggles.
It is a story of compromise, determination, of striving for freedom, of accepting the necessary. There are politics, there are battles, there are betrayals. There is love, there is hate. There are surprises. And there is some of the expected.
If you enjoyed The Kremlin Games, I believe you'll enjoy The Volga Rules. If you were primarily hoping to see more of the "main cast" like Michael Stearns, Rebecca Abrabanel, Harry Lefferts, Ed Piazza, Gretchen Richter, Gustavus Adolphus, etc. or find out more about the events happening in vicinity of Vienna, you may be disappointed. As it was, taking the tale for what it was, I quite enjoyed it.
Unsurprisingly, the political situation in Russia and Eastern Europe remains very much in question at the end of the novel. We must await further stories to learn more about what awaits Russia, Poland, and their neighbors.
Sunday, November 19, 2017
Book Review: Shikari
As I mentioned previously, I recently purchased and read Shikari, a new science fiction novel by Alma T. C. Boykin. As I mentioned at the time, I enjoyed the novel. It is set in the far future, on a distant colony world settled by humans before they realized their was an indigenous species of sophonts present. These sophonts, the Stare, had a relatively primitive civilization, and welcomed the humans. The story follows two human teenagers who begin to unlock secrets of the past that are a mystery to human and Stare alike, while dodging the ire of those who wish the past to remain buried.
The novel is a lot of fun. The mood and setting are reminiscent of tales set in the India of the Raj. Rudyard Kipling or Talbot Mundy (with aliens!) would not be a bad shorthand. There's a sense of wonder, of the exotic, and of danger, in the story.
Production values were good. It was virtually free of typos or formatting issues to distract from the words themselves. And in my opinion, the words, and story, flowed well.
I eagerly devoured the tale and was disappointed only in the fact that it came to an end. Thankfully, Ms. Boykin appears to have several more in this series planned. (Yay!) I look forward to more.
The novel is a lot of fun. The mood and setting are reminiscent of tales set in the India of the Raj. Rudyard Kipling or Talbot Mundy (with aliens!) would not be a bad shorthand. There's a sense of wonder, of the exotic, and of danger, in the story.
Production values were good. It was virtually free of typos or formatting issues to distract from the words themselves. And in my opinion, the words, and story, flowed well.
I eagerly devoured the tale and was disappointed only in the fact that it came to an end. Thankfully, Ms. Boykin appears to have several more in this series planned. (Yay!) I look forward to more.
Monday, November 13, 2017
1637: The Volga Rules
This isn't really a full review of 1637: The Volga Rules, the latest installment in the 1632/Ring of Fire series. No, it's an explanation that reading the eARC of the new novel is gripping and has distracted me from the post I was planning to make today, about an algorithm I was playing with earlier today. So algorithm and pretty pictures tomorrow.
Sunday, November 12, 2017
What I've Read Lately
These aren't proper reviews, just a few quick shout-outs to some books I've recently read and enjoyed. Shikari by Alma Boykin features two teenagers having exciting adventures on an exotic colony world far from Earth. Pure Poison and Flying by Pam Uphoff are the latest installments in the Wine of the Gods series, and mostly focus on characters and events in the Presidential Directorate on One World.
Chain of Command by Frank Chadwick is an exciting space opera set in the same universe as his earlier books How Dark the World Becomes and Come the Revolution, but with a vastly different tone and set of characters. I have to go back and finish that one. I got to the end of the first part that was released and somehow forgot to go back and read the rest after it was released, something I just realized today - but the half I did read was great.
Chain of Command by Frank Chadwick is an exciting space opera set in the same universe as his earlier books How Dark the World Becomes and Come the Revolution, but with a vastly different tone and set of characters. I have to go back and finish that one. I got to the end of the first part that was released and somehow forgot to go back and read the rest after it was released, something I just realized today - but the half I did read was great.
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Book Reivew: The Sea & Civilization
Last month at a Half Price Books I stumbled across The Sea & Civilization by Lincoln Paine, a lengthy tome of maritime history. The description drew me in instantly and I purchased it, but as I was mostly reading it in small portions during my lunch, it took my well over a month to work through its 599 pages. That may sound lengthy, and it is, because it needs to be. It is very broad in scope, covering the entire globe across tens of millennia.
It features archaeological, anthropological, and historical sources to reconstruct human travel along rivers and across seas. Based upon the area and era, the mixture of sources vary, but Paine uses whatever is available to paint the best picture he can of the maritime matters. He covers both civilian shipping and war at sea, and how they related to civilizations at a given time.
The topic of goods being traded and the maritime merchant world generally get more space than the naval matters, the life of a sailor, or the details of the ships. In part this is because of what written record survives, which often offered little insight into the life of the common civil or naval sailor, and little reliable about the ships involved. Some naval battles are discussed briefly to demonstrate typical technology or tactics of an era and civilization, or if a battle had an especially large impact upon history.
Whenever enough details are available about the ships and crews, from the written record or archaeological finds, Paine discusses them in suitable depth, but where they're scarce or unreliable short blocks of informed speculation hold sway instead. In part, this is an artifact of the times. Major merchants have long needed some degree of literacy, especially those who traded far and wide and needed to communicate with other merchants abroad. Most sailors were not very literate until recent centuries. Historians often went nowhere near the sea, and if they did, their unfamiliarity with ships and seafaring often resulted in vague descriptions. Even learned passengers those who traveled by ship and wrote of their journeys often left little reliable detail about the ships and crews.
Despite that, I found that this book helped the maritime past come alive in my mind's eye. It filled in many blanks in my knowledge, particularly with respect to the maritime practices of the Indian Ocean and East Asia. I'm definitely glad I read this book and intend to retain it as a reference.
There is an extensive section of source notes and bibliography at the end. There were no noticeable issues with typos or printing. However, I do not like the deckle (rough, untrimmed) edges of the printing I purchased.
I would definitely recommend this book to anybody with an interest in seafaring, naval history, or history in general. If you're not reading it in 15-20 minute portions, it will probably be devoured at a much faster pace than I managed.
It features archaeological, anthropological, and historical sources to reconstruct human travel along rivers and across seas. Based upon the area and era, the mixture of sources vary, but Paine uses whatever is available to paint the best picture he can of the maritime matters. He covers both civilian shipping and war at sea, and how they related to civilizations at a given time.
The topic of goods being traded and the maritime merchant world generally get more space than the naval matters, the life of a sailor, or the details of the ships. In part this is because of what written record survives, which often offered little insight into the life of the common civil or naval sailor, and little reliable about the ships involved. Some naval battles are discussed briefly to demonstrate typical technology or tactics of an era and civilization, or if a battle had an especially large impact upon history.
Whenever enough details are available about the ships and crews, from the written record or archaeological finds, Paine discusses them in suitable depth, but where they're scarce or unreliable short blocks of informed speculation hold sway instead. In part, this is an artifact of the times. Major merchants have long needed some degree of literacy, especially those who traded far and wide and needed to communicate with other merchants abroad. Most sailors were not very literate until recent centuries. Historians often went nowhere near the sea, and if they did, their unfamiliarity with ships and seafaring often resulted in vague descriptions. Even learned passengers those who traveled by ship and wrote of their journeys often left little reliable detail about the ships and crews.
Despite that, I found that this book helped the maritime past come alive in my mind's eye. It filled in many blanks in my knowledge, particularly with respect to the maritime practices of the Indian Ocean and East Asia. I'm definitely glad I read this book and intend to retain it as a reference.
There is an extensive section of source notes and bibliography at the end. There were no noticeable issues with typos or printing. However, I do not like the deckle (rough, untrimmed) edges of the printing I purchased.
I would definitely recommend this book to anybody with an interest in seafaring, naval history, or history in general. If you're not reading it in 15-20 minute portions, it will probably be devoured at a much faster pace than I managed.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
A Brief Note
Winter is set to return to southwest Ohio. I am not happy about that. I've been making slow but somewhat steady progress on renovation of my gutted Airstream trailer. Cold temperatures will interfere with glues, sealants, paint, etc. They will also make evening walks much less comfortable. Alas, weather control is not exactly something we have here in 2017 Earth. Perhaps in the future, or somewhere "beyond the heavens" so to speak?
On the plus side, I'll likely have a bit more time to catch up on some things for this blog. For now, I must content myself with the hope that the sealant I applied last night seals the few leaks I've so far found in the Airstream, for the rains come tonight.
I made no more progress last night on reading Alma Boykin's steampunk novel; I was too tired after I'd finished working on the trailer, taken my evening walk, and cleaned up for the evening. Only a few tens of pages were left. She's got a review up on her blog of a book on the search for the Sarasvati river, the vanished river around which lived the ancient, mysterious, and long-vanished Harappan civilization.
I've almost finished up The Sea & Civilization. I've made it through WWII and the Korean War and am in the middle of the containerization revolution. The statistics quoted in the book show an approximate 97% reduction in costs loading and unloading a freighter with containerization. That's pretty drastic and explains why it took hold relatively quickly, despite the need the completely reconstruct or replace port facilities and ships to accommodate it. Very interesting stuff. I shall probably finish reading it at lunch today.
On the plus side, I'll likely have a bit more time to catch up on some things for this blog. For now, I must content myself with the hope that the sealant I applied last night seals the few leaks I've so far found in the Airstream, for the rains come tonight.
I made no more progress last night on reading Alma Boykin's steampunk novel; I was too tired after I'd finished working on the trailer, taken my evening walk, and cleaned up for the evening. Only a few tens of pages were left. She's got a review up on her blog of a book on the search for the Sarasvati river, the vanished river around which lived the ancient, mysterious, and long-vanished Harappan civilization.
I've almost finished up The Sea & Civilization. I've made it through WWII and the Korean War and am in the middle of the containerization revolution. The statistics quoted in the book show an approximate 97% reduction in costs loading and unloading a freighter with containerization. That's pretty drastic and explains why it took hold relatively quickly, despite the need the completely reconstruct or replace port facilities and ships to accommodate it. Very interesting stuff. I shall probably finish reading it at lunch today.
Monday, March 6, 2017
Book Review: Dripped, Stripped & Dead
Last Friday, I purchased Dripped, Stripped & Dead, a cozy mystery by Sarah Hoyt (writing as Elise Hyatt). I finally had a chance to read it last night. It totally hit the spot.
Dripped, Stripped & Dead tells the tale of Dyce Dare, a divorced mother of one who is desperately trying to make ends meet by finding, refinishing, and selling furniture. Unfortunately for her, one of her fines was sheltering a corpse, and she soon finds herself investigating a murder while her life gets complicated and disturbingly worrisome. I found it to be a great read, and completely enjoyed it.
The language was easy to read without being simplistic, and really drew me in. The descriptions of meals, buildings, and furniture conveyed a strong sense of the scene without being excessive. The cover is colorful and evocative, and gels quite well with the story. There were few typos or formatting gaffes, but nothing major. All in all, a good book.
If you like cozy mysteries, you should definitely give Dripped, Stripped & Dead a try. I understand the next volumes are being re-released soon, as well, and I look forward to getting my hands on them when they do.
Dripped, Stripped & Dead tells the tale of Dyce Dare, a divorced mother of one who is desperately trying to make ends meet by finding, refinishing, and selling furniture. Unfortunately for her, one of her fines was sheltering a corpse, and she soon finds herself investigating a murder while her life gets complicated and disturbingly worrisome. I found it to be a great read, and completely enjoyed it.
The language was easy to read without being simplistic, and really drew me in. The descriptions of meals, buildings, and furniture conveyed a strong sense of the scene without being excessive. The cover is colorful and evocative, and gels quite well with the story. There were few typos or formatting gaffes, but nothing major. All in all, a good book.
If you like cozy mysteries, you should definitely give Dripped, Stripped & Dead a try. I understand the next volumes are being re-released soon, as well, and I look forward to getting my hands on them when they do.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Book Review: The Undercover Captain
Earlier this week, I purchased and read The Undercover Captain, by Henry Vogel. It is the second book in his series focusing on the adventures of Captain Nancy Martin, late of the Federation Navy. I'd previously read the first book, The Counterfeit Captain, and enjoyed it, so I was glad but not surprised to find I enjoyed this second book, as well.
The story takes place after the main events of the first book, but before its concluding chapter. You have no need to have read that first book to enjoy this one, though it is worth a read in its own right. This book opens to a more Captain Martin drinking herself into a stupor as the dramatization of events play upon the screen in a bar. The few bits of backstory you need are picked up rapidly enough.
Soon, Nancy Martin is dragged into a more sober pursuit: finding and rescuing an entire class of missing school children, who authorities believe to have been taken by a slave ring. She goes undercover with a government agent in hopes of rescuing the children and breaking the ring - playing up her storied past when it is most advantageous.
It is filled with tension as the key questions hang over the entire operation. Will they save the children? Will they stop future kidnappings? Will they bring the criminals to justice? Read it to find out the answers.
The book was free of distracting typographic or formatting issues. The language is comfortably simple without being childish, so it reads quite easily and quickly. The fast-paced plot also helps it move. I read it in one two hour sitting, and enjoyed it quite a bit. I recommend this novel to anybody interested in mysteries, science fiction, or space operas.
The story takes place after the main events of the first book, but before its concluding chapter. You have no need to have read that first book to enjoy this one, though it is worth a read in its own right. This book opens to a more Captain Martin drinking herself into a stupor as the dramatization of events play upon the screen in a bar. The few bits of backstory you need are picked up rapidly enough.
Soon, Nancy Martin is dragged into a more sober pursuit: finding and rescuing an entire class of missing school children, who authorities believe to have been taken by a slave ring. She goes undercover with a government agent in hopes of rescuing the children and breaking the ring - playing up her storied past when it is most advantageous.
It is filled with tension as the key questions hang over the entire operation. Will they save the children? Will they stop future kidnappings? Will they bring the criminals to justice? Read it to find out the answers.
The book was free of distracting typographic or formatting issues. The language is comfortably simple without being childish, so it reads quite easily and quickly. The fast-paced plot also helps it move. I read it in one two hour sitting, and enjoyed it quite a bit. I recommend this novel to anybody interested in mysteries, science fiction, or space operas.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Movie Review: The Lego Batman Movie
Last Friday I went to watch The Lego Batman Movie. As a fan of Batman, Legos, and the original Lego movie, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.
As with a number of previous Batman stories, one of the themes of The Lego Batman Movie is Bruce Wayne's struggle to cope with the long-ago loss of his parents. In this particular movie, he's even more out-of-touch with his emotions than in most, to the point of denying any exist. Overcoming this is a central element of the overall story.
Batman's nemesis in the film is the Joker, supported by every Batman villain I can ever recall and more besides, from the 1960's television series through the movies of more recent years. Riddler, Catwoman, the Penguin, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Mister Freeze, and King Tut were among those I recognized. I'm not even sure all of those who appeared were actually in previous Batman works, or if some were added just to be even more over the top. Later in the film, even more villains make their appearance, from beyond the world of DC Comics. I will not offer details to avoid spoilers, but will mention that fans of science fiction and horror should recognize most of them, and they're a scary lot.
I saw the film in traditional format, not in 3D. I thought it worked quite well in that format. Lego-ized versions of scenes from earlier Batman movies, and an actual clip from the Batman TV series, are part of the movie, and various bits of music and costumes from decades of Batman works make their appearance. It lacks the infectious "Everything is Awesome" song of the original Lego movie, but is a fun-filled romp nonetheless.
If you like Batman or enjoyed the original Lego movie, you will probably enjoy this movie. If you like Batman and enjoy the original Lego movie, you should definitely check it out. I enjoyed the heck out of it. It was a decent way to spend 1:45 minutes on a cold winter day.
As with a number of previous Batman stories, one of the themes of The Lego Batman Movie is Bruce Wayne's struggle to cope with the long-ago loss of his parents. In this particular movie, he's even more out-of-touch with his emotions than in most, to the point of denying any exist. Overcoming this is a central element of the overall story.
Batman's nemesis in the film is the Joker, supported by every Batman villain I can ever recall and more besides, from the 1960's television series through the movies of more recent years. Riddler, Catwoman, the Penguin, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Mister Freeze, and King Tut were among those I recognized. I'm not even sure all of those who appeared were actually in previous Batman works, or if some were added just to be even more over the top. Later in the film, even more villains make their appearance, from beyond the world of DC Comics. I will not offer details to avoid spoilers, but will mention that fans of science fiction and horror should recognize most of them, and they're a scary lot.
I saw the film in traditional format, not in 3D. I thought it worked quite well in that format. Lego-ized versions of scenes from earlier Batman movies, and an actual clip from the Batman TV series, are part of the movie, and various bits of music and costumes from decades of Batman works make their appearance. It lacks the infectious "Everything is Awesome" song of the original Lego movie, but is a fun-filled romp nonetheless.
If you like Batman or enjoyed the original Lego movie, you will probably enjoy this movie. If you like Batman and enjoy the original Lego movie, you should definitely check it out. I enjoyed the heck out of it. It was a decent way to spend 1:45 minutes on a cold winter day.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Book Review: Scaling the Rim
Yesterday I purchased and read Scaling the Rim, a novella by Dorothy Grant. Scaling the Rim is the first published book by Dorothy Grant. It is a gripping tale of political intrigue and a struggle against the elements by a small group of academics, technicians, and soldiers. Set on a partially-terraformed colony world, the characters must face lethally frigid temperatures as they travel to the top of a crater rim to install a weather station that could help save lives.
The main characters are Annika, a technician from the Federation, and Restin, a captain in the military of the Rus. The tensions between Federation and Rus, the perfidy of the Federation, and its totalitarian methods, are ongoing elements within the story. Despite that tension, Annika and Restin work together as best they in an attempt to triumph over adversity. Both characters are almost instantly understandable and easy to relate to. Within a few pages I couldn't help but wish them well. For other characters, well wishes were understandably hard to summon - I believe this was as the author intended.
One thing I wish the story had was just a little bit more on the backstory of the world, particularly the origins of the Rus. It is mentioned in very broad strokes in pieces through the story. I found the setting fascinating, but the details are little more than brief references and hints here and there. On the other hand, the lack of such details do little to deter understanding of the story - and the lack of too much exposition on the subject does keep the story flowing very well.
The book was great fun and quick read. I literally read it one sitting with no breaks of any sort. In my opinion, it was neither too short nor too long - for the story being told, it was just right. Their were no formatting and scant typographical errors to be noted. The cover is pretty and memorable. I heartily recommend this book to any who enjoy science fiction, adventure tales, or thrillers - it has elements of all of them in it.
The main characters are Annika, a technician from the Federation, and Restin, a captain in the military of the Rus. The tensions between Federation and Rus, the perfidy of the Federation, and its totalitarian methods, are ongoing elements within the story. Despite that tension, Annika and Restin work together as best they in an attempt to triumph over adversity. Both characters are almost instantly understandable and easy to relate to. Within a few pages I couldn't help but wish them well. For other characters, well wishes were understandably hard to summon - I believe this was as the author intended.
One thing I wish the story had was just a little bit more on the backstory of the world, particularly the origins of the Rus. It is mentioned in very broad strokes in pieces through the story. I found the setting fascinating, but the details are little more than brief references and hints here and there. On the other hand, the lack of such details do little to deter understanding of the story - and the lack of too much exposition on the subject does keep the story flowing very well.
The book was great fun and quick read. I literally read it one sitting with no breaks of any sort. In my opinion, it was neither too short nor too long - for the story being told, it was just right. Their were no formatting and scant typographical errors to be noted. The cover is pretty and memorable. I heartily recommend this book to any who enjoy science fiction, adventure tales, or thrillers - it has elements of all of them in it.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Book Review: Loose Ends
Loose Ends is the third and latest volume in John Van Stry's Hammer Commission series. Earlier this week I read it in one long sitting. Loose Ends continues the tale of Mark Levin, Army veteran, werecougar, and agent for the Vatican's Hammer Commission. The agents of the Hammer Commission handle demons, devils, and other dark forces in the world. This volume finds him still on loan to FBI, and dealing with some loose ends from a previous mission.
The book was a great read. It wasn't a particularly light story, given the dark elements involved, but neither does it wallow in the dark. As dark as humanity can be at times, nothing in the novel implies it is universal or inevitable.
You don't need to have read the previous two volumes to understand what's going on, though a few points here and there will definitely reward those who've read the earlier novels. Typographical errors were wonderfully rare. The language was not oversimplified but was not overly complex, either, making it a moderately easy read.
I would definitely recommend this book and the others in the series. It was quite engrossing - I read it in essentially one sitting, stopping only to use the restroom a couple times. I hope anybody who chooses to follow this recommendation and check out this novel will be as entertained as I was.
The book was a great read. It wasn't a particularly light story, given the dark elements involved, but neither does it wallow in the dark. As dark as humanity can be at times, nothing in the novel implies it is universal or inevitable.
You don't need to have read the previous two volumes to understand what's going on, though a few points here and there will definitely reward those who've read the earlier novels. Typographical errors were wonderfully rare. The language was not oversimplified but was not overly complex, either, making it a moderately easy read.
I would definitely recommend this book and the others in the series. It was quite engrossing - I read it in essentially one sitting, stopping only to use the restroom a couple times. I hope anybody who chooses to follow this recommendation and check out this novel will be as entertained as I was.
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Book Review: Scout's Law
I recently purchased and read Scout's Law, the fourth and latest installment in Henry Vogel's series that starts with Scout's Honor. Like the other volumes in this series, it is a gripping tale story in the tradition of classic planetary romances, like Edgar Rice Burroughs or Leigh Brackett. It is told in the first person, and the main viewpoint character is our returning hero from the previous volumes, David Rice, along with his talented, brave, and beautiful wife, Princess Callan of Morden. Some other favorite characters are also seen once more.
In this novel we return to Aashla, the once-lost colony world that only a decade ago made contact with the Terran Federation, as told the events in the previous novels. Modern galactic technology from the Federation isn't supposed to be distributed on the world - and its sudden appearance presents a pretty pickle for our pretty princess and her beau.
Prose isn't fancy, but it doesn't need to be. The story and plot kept me quite enthralled without any tricks of prose. In fact, not to be critical of the late Burroughs, the modern prose employed by Vogel makes it an easier read. For me, it was also a swift read, given the prose and the relatively-short length. I read it in one sitting, and enjoyed every minute of it.
I can't recommend this book enough. I don't think reading the previous novels is strictly necessary to enjoy this one, though there are a few spoilers for previous ones. The price for Kindle editions of the whole series is quite reasonable, though, so if you do want to read the others as well, it won't set you back much - about $12 for the whole set.
Monday, January 30, 2017
Reading, Writing, and Plate Tectonics
I made more progress yesterday with the Plate Tectonics simulator, almost finishing it. I tweaked the variables and all worked well at a 256x256, 512x256 and 512x512 resolution. Alas, I discovered that when the resolution is increased to 1024x512, certain parameters that are currently constants need to be changed, otherwise the results look clunky. So I need to go back and turn six constants into variables, expose them, and update the UI so they can be altered by the user. Probably another few days for release, because I'll want to run a lot of simulation cycles to be able to set decent defaults and provide recommendations for different setting levels.
My writing of The Forbidden Valley bogged down temporarily, but as I sit drinking hot cocoa, I think I know how to resolve the problem in the scene I'm working on. I'd written ahead of that point, but hadn't been able to resolve the problem in that scene. I think I have now, though, so snippets may be forthcoming again soon.
I read three novels yesterday: Loose Ends by John van Stry, and Scout's Law and The Fugitive Heir by Henry Vogel. All three were a lot of fun and I intend to write reviews when I have a chance - including brief ones on Amazon. I am also continuing with reading Lincoln Paine's The Sea & Civilization, a non-fiction maritime history, and have made it to just short of the one-third mark. This is a long but engrossing work, but is definitely a slower read than the romps provided by the novels I mentioned at the start of the this paragraph.
My writing of The Forbidden Valley bogged down temporarily, but as I sit drinking hot cocoa, I think I know how to resolve the problem in the scene I'm working on. I'd written ahead of that point, but hadn't been able to resolve the problem in that scene. I think I have now, though, so snippets may be forthcoming again soon.
I read three novels yesterday: Loose Ends by John van Stry, and Scout's Law and The Fugitive Heir by Henry Vogel. All three were a lot of fun and I intend to write reviews when I have a chance - including brief ones on Amazon. I am also continuing with reading Lincoln Paine's The Sea & Civilization, a non-fiction maritime history, and have made it to just short of the one-third mark. This is a long but engrossing work, but is definitely a slower read than the romps provided by the novels I mentioned at the start of the this paragraph.
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Book Review: 1636: Mission to the Mughals
The snippets of my ongoing effort at a story, The Forbidden Valley, will continue in the near future. Today I am reviewing the new eARC of the 163x (Ring of Fire) novel by Eric Flint and Griffin Barber, 1636: Mission to the Mughals. As many may already be aware, the series relates the tales arising from the displacement of Grantville, a small town in 2000 West Virginia, to the southern Germany in 1631. The cultural, political, scientific, and technical changes arising from the entrance of this small town and its people and knowledge into the middle of The Thirty Years War have proven fertile ground for dozens of novels and anthologies, and an ongoing electronic magazine. I previously reviewed two other novels in this series, 1635: The Wars for the Rhine and 1636: The Ottoman Onslaught.
This novel is a departure from many others in this series in that it takes place far from Europe, and featuring none of the previously-established major characters in any significant way. While some major characters such as Mike Stearns and Francisco Nasi appear in the early chapters, and Mike and Rebecca Stearns appear in the epilogue, the rest of the main cast are minor or new characters, a diplomatic mission from the new United States of Europe (e.g. basically a unified Germany) to the Mughal Empire, which controlled much of what is now India and Pakistan. The main purpose of the mission is to obtain trading rights so as to obtain opium for painkillers and saltpeter for gunpowder production. The story focuses as much, or more, upon the members of the Mughal dynasty as it does upon the diplomatic mission.
Technology from the future plays the smallest part in this story, though knowledge from the future is a major driver for all factions. Unlike 1635: The Wars for the Rhine, even radio is absent from this tale. Without spoiling things much, on the science and technology side it is only really knowledge of medical practices and the presence of a few modern firearms that influence the plot, and only in a few key points.
Rather, the knowledge of future British domination of India, of future Mughal dynastic politics are what drives the behavior of the Mughal characters, in combination with their own personal and political ambitions. The characters are largely interesting and believable. I found their motivations understandable, even if the religious fanaticism of certain characters may be alien to my own mindset. The story does a good job ending certain plot threads, and reaching a nice stopping point for others, while leaving clear openings for a continuation and resolution of the issues left outstanding - I'll leave it at that to avoid spoiling the plot.
The plot moves along with admirable speed, but without feeling rushed. Despite this being an eARC, typographical errors were thankfully few. For a new author (Griffin Barber), even teamed up with an experienced professional author like Eric Flint, it was excellent quality. Overall, I enjoyed the novel. I would recommend it to any fan of general altered history, and perhaps even to fans of historical fiction. If you're strictly looking for a technology-driven story, though, this isn't it - modern technology and medical knowledge do play key roles in the story, but it isn't really a major theme or topic permeating the novel. To any fan of fiction, I urge you to give it a try - the free sample chapters should let you know if you'll like it. So, in summary, a fun read, and I'd recommend it.
This novel is a departure from many others in this series in that it takes place far from Europe, and featuring none of the previously-established major characters in any significant way. While some major characters such as Mike Stearns and Francisco Nasi appear in the early chapters, and Mike and Rebecca Stearns appear in the epilogue, the rest of the main cast are minor or new characters, a diplomatic mission from the new United States of Europe (e.g. basically a unified Germany) to the Mughal Empire, which controlled much of what is now India and Pakistan. The main purpose of the mission is to obtain trading rights so as to obtain opium for painkillers and saltpeter for gunpowder production. The story focuses as much, or more, upon the members of the Mughal dynasty as it does upon the diplomatic mission.
Technology from the future plays the smallest part in this story, though knowledge from the future is a major driver for all factions. Unlike 1635: The Wars for the Rhine, even radio is absent from this tale. Without spoiling things much, on the science and technology side it is only really knowledge of medical practices and the presence of a few modern firearms that influence the plot, and only in a few key points.
Rather, the knowledge of future British domination of India, of future Mughal dynastic politics are what drives the behavior of the Mughal characters, in combination with their own personal and political ambitions. The characters are largely interesting and believable. I found their motivations understandable, even if the religious fanaticism of certain characters may be alien to my own mindset. The story does a good job ending certain plot threads, and reaching a nice stopping point for others, while leaving clear openings for a continuation and resolution of the issues left outstanding - I'll leave it at that to avoid spoiling the plot.
The plot moves along with admirable speed, but without feeling rushed. Despite this being an eARC, typographical errors were thankfully few. For a new author (Griffin Barber), even teamed up with an experienced professional author like Eric Flint, it was excellent quality. Overall, I enjoyed the novel. I would recommend it to any fan of general altered history, and perhaps even to fans of historical fiction. If you're strictly looking for a technology-driven story, though, this isn't it - modern technology and medical knowledge do play key roles in the story, but it isn't really a major theme or topic permeating the novel. To any fan of fiction, I urge you to give it a try - the free sample chapters should let you know if you'll like it. So, in summary, a fun read, and I'd recommend it.
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Book Review: Hero of the Emipre
Last month, I was browsing in a bookstore and stumbled across the book Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill. As its title implies, this non-fiction book by Candice Millard covers what was an early adventure* in the life of young Winston Churchill. I had previously read and enjoyed Millard's River of Doubt regarding a journey of exploration which Theodore Roosevelt helped lead in Brazil, after his presidency, so the book seemed promising. Alas, life was rather hectic and I did not finally get to read it until Christmastime.
It was almost as good as I had hoped. It first summarizes the events of Churchill's life prior to the outbreak of the Boer War, then the geopolitical circumstances leading up to the Boer War. It only covers in detail up through the end of the titular "daring escape"; Churchill's subsequent participation in the Boer War is merely summarized. So is his subsequent success in the election held shortly after the war's conclusion, an electoral success made possible only through the events presented in the book. The post-war formation of the Union of South Africa from Britain's Cape Colony and the conquered Boer states is also briefly mentioned.
In between the summaries are the real meat of the book. Early in the Boer War, the forces of the British Army in what is now South Africa were largely overwhelmed and forced to retreat, with a large part of the British force besieged at Ladysmith. When Churchill arrived as a war correspondent with the British reinforcements, he traveled to Estcourt, the British position nearest Ladysmith in the hopes of reporting upon the situation. The small British force at was helplessly outnumbered by the Boers besieging, but was attempting a reconnaissance of the rail line to Ladysmith by means of a hastily-constructed armored train.
With Churchill aboard, one such foray by the train was met by a daring Boer raid. In the ensuing action, Churchill helped in attempting to fight off the Boer, and was captured. In many cases, a war correspondent would simply have been released, but many had witnessed Churchill's participation in the battle, and he was treated as a prisoner of war instead. He was imprisoned in Pretoria alongside the British officers.
His subsequent escape almost involved too much luck and coincidence to be believable if it were fiction. It involved travel of hundreds of miles across a hot, sun-baked, arid African landscape, by foot and by surreptitious travel aboard freight trains. Across this landscape, there were few who wished him well, and many who wished him ill - yet he stumbled across the one place in hundreds of miles where he might find a sympathetic reception. When he was finally safe and able to write of his capture, captivity, and escape, he was lauded throughout the empire. And then he volunteered, practically begged, to go back with the British Army as an officer once more.
I found the tale to be completely gripping. If I hadn't been reading it in the midst of travel, I likely would have read it in one sitting. I had to force myself to put it down and go to sleep one night, then force myself to stop reading it after I finished breakfast the next morning and got back on the road. The language is not fancy but is smoothly constructed to present the tale in question. The drama is skillfully accentuated in parts, but the situation lends itself naturally to that, so it doesn't feel forced. There were few typos or other distractions, although I seem to recall the term "knots per hour" used at one point.
I would recommend this book to anybody interested in military or adventure tales, as well as to lovers of history. The story, while factual and historical, is fundamentally a great adventure tale.
* Churchill's first great adventure, as an officer and war correspondent covering a campaign by the British and Indian armies along the North West Frontier of what was then British India. It is detailed in Con Coughlin's Churchill's First War: Young Winston at War with the Afghans, which I read a couple years back. That's also good book. Churchill himself wrote The Story of the Malakand Field Force: An Episode of Frontier War about that experience.
It was almost as good as I had hoped. It first summarizes the events of Churchill's life prior to the outbreak of the Boer War, then the geopolitical circumstances leading up to the Boer War. It only covers in detail up through the end of the titular "daring escape"; Churchill's subsequent participation in the Boer War is merely summarized. So is his subsequent success in the election held shortly after the war's conclusion, an electoral success made possible only through the events presented in the book. The post-war formation of the Union of South Africa from Britain's Cape Colony and the conquered Boer states is also briefly mentioned.
In between the summaries are the real meat of the book. Early in the Boer War, the forces of the British Army in what is now South Africa were largely overwhelmed and forced to retreat, with a large part of the British force besieged at Ladysmith. When Churchill arrived as a war correspondent with the British reinforcements, he traveled to Estcourt, the British position nearest Ladysmith in the hopes of reporting upon the situation. The small British force at was helplessly outnumbered by the Boers besieging, but was attempting a reconnaissance of the rail line to Ladysmith by means of a hastily-constructed armored train.
With Churchill aboard, one such foray by the train was met by a daring Boer raid. In the ensuing action, Churchill helped in attempting to fight off the Boer, and was captured. In many cases, a war correspondent would simply have been released, but many had witnessed Churchill's participation in the battle, and he was treated as a prisoner of war instead. He was imprisoned in Pretoria alongside the British officers.
His subsequent escape almost involved too much luck and coincidence to be believable if it were fiction. It involved travel of hundreds of miles across a hot, sun-baked, arid African landscape, by foot and by surreptitious travel aboard freight trains. Across this landscape, there were few who wished him well, and many who wished him ill - yet he stumbled across the one place in hundreds of miles where he might find a sympathetic reception. When he was finally safe and able to write of his capture, captivity, and escape, he was lauded throughout the empire. And then he volunteered, practically begged, to go back with the British Army as an officer once more.
I found the tale to be completely gripping. If I hadn't been reading it in the midst of travel, I likely would have read it in one sitting. I had to force myself to put it down and go to sleep one night, then force myself to stop reading it after I finished breakfast the next morning and got back on the road. The language is not fancy but is smoothly constructed to present the tale in question. The drama is skillfully accentuated in parts, but the situation lends itself naturally to that, so it doesn't feel forced. There were few typos or other distractions, although I seem to recall the term "knots per hour" used at one point.
I would recommend this book to anybody interested in military or adventure tales, as well as to lovers of history. The story, while factual and historical, is fundamentally a great adventure tale.
* Churchill's first great adventure, as an officer and war correspondent covering a campaign by the British and Indian armies along the North West Frontier of what was then British India. It is detailed in Con Coughlin's Churchill's First War: Young Winston at War with the Afghans, which I read a couple years back. That's also good book. Churchill himself wrote The Story of the Malakand Field Force: An Episode of Frontier War about that experience.
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Book Review: A Carpathian Campaign
Today I purchased and read A Carpathian Campaign, a novel by Alma T. C. Boykin. The novel is an alternate history with some science fictional / fantastic elements. The world of A Carpathian Campaign is recognizably similar to ours on the surface, but there are some clear differences that extend back in time, and others that take place as we watch: battles gone differently, borders subtly shifted, personnel changed.
It is set in the early 20th century, and covers the early years of an alternate Great War (World War One). The protagonist and main view point character is István Eszterházy, a young Hungarian aristocrat serving in the army of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As events are largely seen through his eyes, the focus is most often on immediate and familial concerns, though the big picture and grand strategy do play a part in his thoughts. He is also a largely understandable character, his concerns and perspective easy to related to - even for those of use who aren't HalfDragon Hungarian aristocrats of a century ago.
I've only read a few books on the WWI Eastern front and its aftermath. This novel fits well with the ambiance depicted in such books. The battle fronts tended to be far more fluid than on the Western front, with massive advances and retreats common. Victories and defeats of massive scope and scale could and did occur. Sieges tended to be limited to fortresses and strategic terrain, not continent-length lines. All of that is shown fairly well in A Carpathian Campaign.
The novel is set in the same universe as Boykin's A Cat Among Dragons series, but requires no knowledge of those stories. This novel stands well on its own. (Actually, it stands even better with a separate map so its clear when the story is in the titular Carpathian mountains, but that's a minor nit - and there's a map in the book, but its inconvenient to reference while reading.)
I'd definitely recommend this book. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It does leave a lot of open questions. When it ends István Eszterházy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire alike are facing a uncertain future. Dragons, Houses, Gifts, and the Powers are not fully explained. That's fine for the first volume in a series, of course, and hopefully more volumes will follow that continue the story and help explore some of these topics further.
It made a nice treat on my first day back, recovering from the return trip after visiting family over the Christmas holiday. I hope everybody reading this had a splendid Christmas, Chanukah, or even Festivus. I managed to read a few books over the holiday time so expect a few more book reviews in the near future.
It is set in the early 20th century, and covers the early years of an alternate Great War (World War One). The protagonist and main view point character is István Eszterházy, a young Hungarian aristocrat serving in the army of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. As events are largely seen through his eyes, the focus is most often on immediate and familial concerns, though the big picture and grand strategy do play a part in his thoughts. He is also a largely understandable character, his concerns and perspective easy to related to - even for those of use who aren't HalfDragon Hungarian aristocrats of a century ago.
I've only read a few books on the WWI Eastern front and its aftermath. This novel fits well with the ambiance depicted in such books. The battle fronts tended to be far more fluid than on the Western front, with massive advances and retreats common. Victories and defeats of massive scope and scale could and did occur. Sieges tended to be limited to fortresses and strategic terrain, not continent-length lines. All of that is shown fairly well in A Carpathian Campaign.
The novel is set in the same universe as Boykin's A Cat Among Dragons series, but requires no knowledge of those stories. This novel stands well on its own. (Actually, it stands even better with a separate map so its clear when the story is in the titular Carpathian mountains, but that's a minor nit - and there's a map in the book, but its inconvenient to reference while reading.)
I'd definitely recommend this book. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It does leave a lot of open questions. When it ends István Eszterházy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire alike are facing a uncertain future. Dragons, Houses, Gifts, and the Powers are not fully explained. That's fine for the first volume in a series, of course, and hopefully more volumes will follow that continue the story and help explore some of these topics further.
It made a nice treat on my first day back, recovering from the return trip after visiting family over the Christmas holiday. I hope everybody reading this had a splendid Christmas, Chanukah, or even Festivus. I managed to read a few books over the holiday time so expect a few more book reviews in the near future.
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Movie Review: Rogue One
This evening I went to see Rouge One, the latest installment in the Star Wars saga. Aside from the opening scene, set just a few years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, the movie takes place shortly before the events of A New Hope. "Shortly before" as in it starts no more than a few weeks before and ends almost immediately before the first scene of A New Hope.
As anybody whose seen even a little bit of the trailers and commercials knows, it is the story of how a team of misfits from the Rebel Alliance sought to acquire the plans to the Death Star, which played such a pivotal role in the original Star Wars movie (Episode IV: A New Hope). Since the plans were clearly in Rebel possession at the start of A New Hope, it might lead you to wonder if there's any room for meaningful tension.
In fact, there is. Leaving aside the possibility that our band of misfits fail and the plans were acquired in other ways, there is of course the question of what fate befalls the characters. Over the course of a movie that runs for about two hours and fifteen movies, a band of misfits forms and goes off on the mission. First there is Jyn Erso, the semi-orphaned young woman whose father was forced into Imperial service as a weapons designer. Then there is the Rebel spy, Captain Cassian Andor, and his droid sidekick, K-2SO. Then we come to the warriors Chirrut Imwe and Baze Malbus, who join them from the moon Jedha, and the defected Imperial pilot Bodhi Rook.
This band of misfits witness the Death Star devastate a world even when firing at only partial power. The power of the Death Star cause any who believe the tales of existence to fear. It is for this reason that our pluck band of misfits seek the Death Star plans, which they believe can lead them to stop it. The quest to acquire the plans proves to be epic.
Enough about that. That's likely as far as I can go without too many spoilers. Go watch the movie or read the novelization if you want the nitty gritty details of the plot. The plot moves fairly fast, but it slows down in a few spots where it needs to. I am quite happy with the pace and plot, more so than with The Force Awakens. While it does retread ground tangentially addressed by the opening crawl of A New Hope, it is nonetheless not a rehash.
There are a few tropes and cliches, but none should mistake it for the near pastiche or homage that was The Force Awakens. It is good in its own right, but ties in quite tightly with A New Hope. Despite that tight connection, a viewer of Rogue One needs no real knowledge of any Star Wars movies. There's a few spots where those unfamiliar with Star Wars might be left with a few questions, but nothing very problematic.
It does feature quite a few cameos by characters (and a few actors) we've seen in Star Wars before. I will not list them, for they might spoil things, but I will say that villains and heroes Star Wars fans know well do make their appearances. A few favorite locations from the past also make appearances, and the movie does a good job of making you feel like you're in the same universe as A New Hope. What do not make an appearance are Jedi (unless in they're in the audience).
There are battles in air, on the ground, in space. There's sneaky spy stuff. There's a few slower bits, about politics and choices, and about doing the best one can in difficult circumstances. There is joy, there is sadness, there is fear, and there is here and there an occasion for laughter. There is also a strong sense of the true evil of the Empire, displayed quite well, and repeatedly, for any who might doubt it. The only "shades of gray," so to speak, are in the actions of some of the Rebel spies, and that is addressed directly. To crudely paraphrase one of them: "We did a lot of things we weren't proud of. Let's make it count for something."
All in all, I quite enjoyed the movie. It felt like a Star Wars movie, it sounded like a Star Wars movie, and it looked like a Star Wars movie. The plot made sense, the pace made sense, and it fit into the universe seamlessly while still having enough of its one scope not to feel too predestined.
The acting was good. I thought all of the characters were portrayed as they were meant to be. Characters who were portrayed by actors other than the originals still seemed to fit well,
The effects were plentiful but restrained - they were seldom gratuitous. It looked like they made extensive use of practical sets, based upon the visuals and the multiple filming locations indicated in the credits. Everything felt more real than what resulted from the green screen and CGI sets of the prequel trilogy.
As you might guess from this review, I did in fact enjoy the movie a lot. I would definitely recommend going to see it. Much fun was had watching the movie. Then more was had watching the Jedi couple use the light from their lightsabers to help search for something they'd dropped on the floor during the film. :)
There are a few tropes and cliches, but none should mistake it for the near pastiche or homage that was The Force Awakens. It is good in its own right, but ties in quite tightly with A New Hope. Despite that tight connection, a viewer of Rogue One needs no real knowledge of any Star Wars movies. There's a few spots where those unfamiliar with Star Wars might be left with a few questions, but nothing very problematic.
It does feature quite a few cameos by characters (and a few actors) we've seen in Star Wars before. I will not list them, for they might spoil things, but I will say that villains and heroes Star Wars fans know well do make their appearances. A few favorite locations from the past also make appearances, and the movie does a good job of making you feel like you're in the same universe as A New Hope. What do not make an appearance are Jedi (unless in they're in the audience).
There are battles in air, on the ground, in space. There's sneaky spy stuff. There's a few slower bits, about politics and choices, and about doing the best one can in difficult circumstances. There is joy, there is sadness, there is fear, and there is here and there an occasion for laughter. There is also a strong sense of the true evil of the Empire, displayed quite well, and repeatedly, for any who might doubt it. The only "shades of gray," so to speak, are in the actions of some of the Rebel spies, and that is addressed directly. To crudely paraphrase one of them: "We did a lot of things we weren't proud of. Let's make it count for something."
All in all, I quite enjoyed the movie. It felt like a Star Wars movie, it sounded like a Star Wars movie, and it looked like a Star Wars movie. The plot made sense, the pace made sense, and it fit into the universe seamlessly while still having enough of its one scope not to feel too predestined.
The acting was good. I thought all of the characters were portrayed as they were meant to be. Characters who were portrayed by actors other than the originals still seemed to fit well,
The effects were plentiful but restrained - they were seldom gratuitous. It looked like they made extensive use of practical sets, based upon the visuals and the multiple filming locations indicated in the credits. Everything felt more real than what resulted from the green screen and CGI sets of the prequel trilogy.
As you might guess from this review, I did in fact enjoy the movie a lot. I would definitely recommend going to see it. Much fun was had watching the movie. Then more was had watching the Jedi couple use the light from their lightsabers to help search for something they'd dropped on the floor during the film. :)
Monday, December 12, 2016
Movie Review: Doctor Strange
I finally caught the latest Marvel film, Doctor Strange. This long-planned theater excursion was delayed by the Thanksgiving holiday, a birthday celebration for a friend, miscellaneous Christmastime fun - and the fact that my usual movie-going friends found the movie, er, strange. That is to say, they saw the trailer and like the slogan from the 1980's called for, they decided to "Just Say No." So I drove through the cold rain to watch it by myself this afternoon. (Afterwards, I walked the halls of the adjacent mall ran into a fannish friend as well as a retired co-worker. Small world.)
Anyhow, onto my impression. I enjoyed the movie, and felt it was well worth the eight dollars I spent. The plot maps fairly well to the classic "hero's journey" model, which seems only right for a superhero movie. I'll delve into details a bit more than I typically do with books, as there will be few spoilers for anybody who has seen the trailer.
The movie divides into roughly four parts, plus prologue and epilogue. The prologue introduces us very briefly to the villain of the piece, Kaecilius. In part one, our hero, the eponymous Doctor Stephen Strange, is introduced as a talented but arrogant neurosurgeon. We see a little of his life before a distracted-driving accident leaves his hands a shattered mess. Thus begins the second stage, in which he desperately seeks healing to resume his old life. This seeking leads him to the ends of the Earth. The third stage is his mystic training. The fourth, climactic part is when he is, at first unwillingly, drawn into the conflict with the villain Kaecilius. And finally there's the epilogue, consisting of a mid-credits scene and a post-credits scene. I'll not discuss the epilogue, other than to mention they're good, and you should watch to the end.
I think each of the parts works fairly well in and of itself. There's a good, if slow, build up of tension - and thanks to the prologue Kaecilius looms large over the whole story, even if he is totally absent for the first two parts and merely mentioned a few times in the third. About the only criticism I could level with respect to plot is that the fourth part, the renewed conflict with Kaecilius, feels a little bit rushed. There's a long, slow build up throughout the movie until the training ends and the conflict begins. The conflict feels slightly bit rushed by comparison. I don't think this is a major problem, but it seemed just slightly off to me.
The acting was fairly solid. The dialogue and characters seemed good, for the most part. There was a bit of cliche in a few spots, but it wasn't terrible. I think the actors did a good job portraying the characters, and the writing (cliches aside) had the characters acting in understandable (if not always wise) ways.
The visual effects were quite stunning, but I found myself slightly disoriented in certain scenes. When the world is being visually warped by mystic power such that it seems M. C. Escher was involved, it can be disconcerting. Still, the effects were excellent, even if they felt on the edge of overwhelming in a few places.
Lastly, there is the red cape. It is awesome.
The movie was good, but perhaps not quite great. I'd give it a B+ or a solid A, but not an A+. It was worth the price and I would definitely recommend watching it.
Anyhow, onto my impression. I enjoyed the movie, and felt it was well worth the eight dollars I spent. The plot maps fairly well to the classic "hero's journey" model, which seems only right for a superhero movie. I'll delve into details a bit more than I typically do with books, as there will be few spoilers for anybody who has seen the trailer.
The movie divides into roughly four parts, plus prologue and epilogue. The prologue introduces us very briefly to the villain of the piece, Kaecilius. In part one, our hero, the eponymous Doctor Stephen Strange, is introduced as a talented but arrogant neurosurgeon. We see a little of his life before a distracted-driving accident leaves his hands a shattered mess. Thus begins the second stage, in which he desperately seeks healing to resume his old life. This seeking leads him to the ends of the Earth. The third stage is his mystic training. The fourth, climactic part is when he is, at first unwillingly, drawn into the conflict with the villain Kaecilius. And finally there's the epilogue, consisting of a mid-credits scene and a post-credits scene. I'll not discuss the epilogue, other than to mention they're good, and you should watch to the end.
I think each of the parts works fairly well in and of itself. There's a good, if slow, build up of tension - and thanks to the prologue Kaecilius looms large over the whole story, even if he is totally absent for the first two parts and merely mentioned a few times in the third. About the only criticism I could level with respect to plot is that the fourth part, the renewed conflict with Kaecilius, feels a little bit rushed. There's a long, slow build up throughout the movie until the training ends and the conflict begins. The conflict feels slightly bit rushed by comparison. I don't think this is a major problem, but it seemed just slightly off to me.
The acting was fairly solid. The dialogue and characters seemed good, for the most part. There was a bit of cliche in a few spots, but it wasn't terrible. I think the actors did a good job portraying the characters, and the writing (cliches aside) had the characters acting in understandable (if not always wise) ways.
The visual effects were quite stunning, but I found myself slightly disoriented in certain scenes. When the world is being visually warped by mystic power such that it seems M. C. Escher was involved, it can be disconcerting. Still, the effects were excellent, even if they felt on the edge of overwhelming in a few places.
Lastly, there is the red cape. It is awesome.
The movie was good, but perhaps not quite great. I'd give it a B+ or a solid A, but not an A+. It was worth the price and I would definitely recommend watching it.
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Book Review: Stoke the Flames Higher
The latest release in author Peter Grant's Maxwell Saga came this past weekend. Stoke the Flames Higher is an action-packed space opera that was filled with suspense from start to finish. I heartily recommend it.
While the story continues the tale of Steve Maxwell, a member of Lancastrian Commonwealth Navy, it requires little to no knowledge of Maxwell's previous exploits. Peter Grant has done an excellent job in this novel of making sure you learn enough of Maxwell's background when relevant, while neither regurgitating past tales nor leaving you wondering too much. (You should buy the earlier novels, anyway, because they're great fun, too. They start with Take the Star Road.)
In this tale, Steve Maxwell is supporting a diplomatic mission by his Lancastrian Commonwealth. The diplomatic mission seeks to help a planet ensure that members of a religious sect aren't supporting fanatical, terrorist members of that sect in a nearby star system. Supporting a diplomatic mission may not sound like the start of an action-packed story, but it is. I shall say little more on the specifics of the plot, to avoid spoilers, but I will say it accelerates rapidly, and has quite a few twists and turns through to the end.
There was a minor formatting problem in the initial release, which has since been fixed. Otherwise, formatting and typography were quite well done. The book is nearly free of typographical errors, a rare situation even in major publications these days. Thankfully, this book is quite clean in that respect. If I have even the tiniest complaint, it lies elsewhere.
There were a couple places where the main character, Steve Maxwell, makes suggestions that were good, but should have been obvious to another character. Yet the other character seems somewhat surprised and thankful. This is at most a very minor annoyance, and story flows so well that I was quickly back to being completely engulfed in the story.
In all, I really liked this book. Plot, characters, and language all were excellent. Production values were good. It is a solid, entertaining, gripping story. If you liked the previous books in the series, you'll probably like this one. If you haven't tried the previous books, that's fine, too - give it a try! The price is right - only $4.99 as I write this.
While the story continues the tale of Steve Maxwell, a member of Lancastrian Commonwealth Navy, it requires little to no knowledge of Maxwell's previous exploits. Peter Grant has done an excellent job in this novel of making sure you learn enough of Maxwell's background when relevant, while neither regurgitating past tales nor leaving you wondering too much. (You should buy the earlier novels, anyway, because they're great fun, too. They start with Take the Star Road.)
In this tale, Steve Maxwell is supporting a diplomatic mission by his Lancastrian Commonwealth. The diplomatic mission seeks to help a planet ensure that members of a religious sect aren't supporting fanatical, terrorist members of that sect in a nearby star system. Supporting a diplomatic mission may not sound like the start of an action-packed story, but it is. I shall say little more on the specifics of the plot, to avoid spoilers, but I will say it accelerates rapidly, and has quite a few twists and turns through to the end.
There was a minor formatting problem in the initial release, which has since been fixed. Otherwise, formatting and typography were quite well done. The book is nearly free of typographical errors, a rare situation even in major publications these days. Thankfully, this book is quite clean in that respect. If I have even the tiniest complaint, it lies elsewhere.
There were a couple places where the main character, Steve Maxwell, makes suggestions that were good, but should have been obvious to another character. Yet the other character seems somewhat surprised and thankful. This is at most a very minor annoyance, and story flows so well that I was quickly back to being completely engulfed in the story.
In all, I really liked this book. Plot, characters, and language all were excellent. Production values were good. It is a solid, entertaining, gripping story. If you liked the previous books in the series, you'll probably like this one. If you haven't tried the previous books, that's fine, too - give it a try! The price is right - only $4.99 as I write this.
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