Archive for December, 2007

In Enemy Hands

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

David Weber

This is an excellent entry in the Honor Harrington series. Honor is captured, much adventure ensues, and the politics of her nemesis, the Peoples’ Republic of Haven, is further developed. The ground is prepared for even more interesting situations in the subsequent books.

1634: The Baltic War

Monday, December 17th, 2007

Eric Flint, David Weber

Modern Americans, thrust back in time along with their town continue to encounter - and change - the 17th century. I like this alternate history series, I really do, but this volume begs for some heavy editing to expose the entertaining novel that’s hidden in it’s pages. It takes Flint and Weber 400 pages of setup before they get to the war. Why is it so slow? Why is there so much exposition and detail that doesn’t move the plot forward? Why does every 17th century character comment on every page about “the Americans’ clever expressions”? Why do the authors think “quirked” is a word?

It’s a good book in a good series; if only the authors would refine each individual book more rather than treating them like slices of an endless sausage.

On the Third Day

Monday, December 17th, 2007

Piers Paul Read

This novel is about the discovery of the bones of Christ, yet it’s a Christian, distinctively Catholic book concerned with sin, redemption, faith, and salvation. In parts it seems a bit talky, but the story moves faster than the reader is aware of: suddenly, 40 pages from end I was thinking, “how will Read get the characters out of this?”

Guitar Man

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

Will Hodgkinson

Thirty-something British writer Will Hodgkinson decided to learn guitar. The result, “Guitar Man”, is the story of that attempt embellished with travel, history, close encounters with some guitar legends, and self-deprecating wit.