( L ) Books - Page 5

Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America

Jeph Loeb, Ed Brubaker

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The dream is dead...for now 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

In the aftermath of Civil War, Steve Rogers, AKA Captain America, met his apparent end via sniper's bullet. With Cap dead, Fallen Son focuses on the aftermath of his demise, and the effects it has on fellow heroes Wolverine, Spider-Man, and his one time ally and opposing force of the pro-registration act, Iron Man. The comics collected in Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America, are the various Fallen Son one-shots written by Jeph Loeb, who marked this as his return to Marvel. The biggest flaw of Fallen Son is that there are so many great ideas here that never really come to fruition. Loeb has managed to garner emotion in his previous, more higher profile works for Marvel (Daredevil: Yellow and even Spider-Man: Blue), but his attempts to do so here just seem stale. There's great artwork throughout though, including the talents of the great John Romita Jr., Ed McGuiness, and Planetary and Astonishing X-Men artist John Cassaday as well. That being said, you'll either dig Fallen Son or you won't, depending on how you feel about an icon like Steve "Captain America" Rogers getting laid to rest (for now). All in all, Fallen Son is worth a look at the very least, but don't expect anything special.

Editorial Review:

"Fallen Son: The Death Of Captain America Premiere HC".

Ultimate Power (Marvel Comics)

Brian Michael Bendis, Jeph Loeb, J. Michael Straczynski

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 2.5 of 5

See two whole universes jump the shark 1 out of 5 stars.
5 of 9 people found this review helpful.

The Supreme Power series and Ultimates series each provided a fresh take on old characters and stories, injecting a new level of "realism", depth, and consistency in characterization and plot. Those elements have weakened over time in the Ultimate universe, at different rates in different titles, but until now remained strong in Supreme Power. This book destroys both universes. The characters become two dimensional at best and act completely against their established personalities and storylines to advance arbitrary action and plot twists. Perhaps the authors spent too much time working on "traditional" comics, or perhaps their individual genius was lost in committee, but either way the magic is gone - and unfortunately the "canonization" of the events in this series makes it unlikely to return.

Editorial Review:

The Fantastic Four's leader, Reed Richards, has accidentally punched a hole into an adjacent universe in a desperate bid to gain the knowledge he needs to cure his friend Ben Grimm - The Thing. But something has come through the aperture from a realm known as the Supremeverse: The Squadron Supreme! They are angry and here to arrest young Reed for high crimes against their world! Collects Ultimate Power #1-9.

The Endless Knot (The Song of Albion Trilogy, Book 3)

Stephen R. Lawhead

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 33 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Hooked on Lawhead 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Mr. Lawhead is one of those authors that you discover and wonder why you have never read him before. I started out on his new book Hood and hve not stopped. I devoured the whole Song of Albion trilogy in out four days and have also just finished Bynantium. While his story lines are certainly not always the same, he is always an excellent and entertaining read. You should of course have already read the first two volumes of the trilogy before you read this one but The Endless Knot will definitely satisfy the readers need for conclusion even if a quirky one.

Editorial Review:

Fires rage in Albion: strange, hidden fires, dark-flamed, invisible to the eye. Llew Silver Hand is High King of Albion, but now the Brazen Man has defied his sovereignty and Llew must journey to the Foul Land to redeem his greatest treasure. The last battle begins, and the myths, passions, and heroism of an ancient people come to life as Llew faces his greatest test yet.

The ancient Celts admitted no separation between this world and the Otherworld: the two were delicately interwoven, each dependent on the other. The Endless Knot crosses the thin places between this work and that, as Lewis Gillies begins his ultimate quest, striking the final resounding chord in the Song of Albion.

Firebird (Fairy Tales, Book 1)

Mercedes Lackey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 47 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

            Ilya, son of a Russian prince, is largely ignored by his father and tormented by his larger, older brothers.  His only friends are three old people: a priest, a magician, and a woman who toils in the palace dairy.  From them Ilya learns faith, a smattering of magic, and the power of love--all of which he will need desperately, for his life is about to be turned upside-down.
            The prince’s magnificent cherry orchard is visited at midnight by the legendary Firebird, whose wings are made of flame.  Ilya's brothers’ attempts capture the magical creature fail.  When Ilya tries to catch the Firebird, he sees her as a beautiful woman and earns a magical gift:  the speech of animals. 
            Banished, the young man journeys through a fantastical Russia full of magical mazes, enchanted creatures, and untold dangers.  As happens in the best fairy tales, Ilya falls in love with an enchanted princess, but to win her freedom will be no easy task. 

Pendragon (The Pendragon Cycle, Book 4)

Stephen R. Lawhead

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Reads like left-overs but eventually warms up 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I have long admired Stephen Lawhead's writing. He has the uncanny ability to create worlds and characters that spring to life through his poetic images. He has definitely breathed new life into the Arthurian legends with his Pendragon Cycle. But "Pendragon", the fourth book in the series, is perhaps the weakest link.

"Pendragon" is not a continuation of the story that was started through "Taliesin", "Merlin", and "Arthur". Rather what Lawhead does in this fourth installment is revisit some stories about Arthur's life that either weren't in the previous books or that weren't expounded upon. This makes the beginning of the story read like left-overs that Lawhead cut from the original work. There are even times when the story is word-for-word the same as the previous novel. That being said, "Pendragon" does begin to build about halfway through the book and the story of Arthur's struggle to save Britain from a barbarian invasion comes to life.

While perhaps not the strongest link in the cycle, "Pendragon" is a continuation of Lawhead's magnificent rendering of Arthur's life. He has crafted Arthur as a king who is both strong and intelligent, fearless and faithful, seemingly invincible but also somehow mortal (even though he is the forever king). If readers can stick out the ramshackle beginning, they will not be disappointed in the end. Especially when the legend of the grail comes into question. But, as Merlin says, "that is a different story" and one this reader is looking forward to.

Editorial Review:

At the dawn of his reign, a young king must prove his greatness...or lose a realm.

Arthur is king -- but darkest evil has descended upon Britain's shores in many guises. Fragile alliances fray and tear, threatening all the noble liege has won with his wisdom and his blood.

In this black time of plague and pestilence, Arthur's most trusted counselor Myrddin -- the warrior, bard, and kingmaker whom legend will name Merlin -- is himself to be tested on a mystical journey through his own extraordinary past. So Arthur must stand alone against a great and terrible adversary. For only thus can he truly win immortality -- and the name he will treasure above all others: Pendragon.

The Cyberiad

Stanislaw Lem

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 45 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Where Are We Coming From? Where Are We Going To? 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Lovely book dealing with several philosophical issues. A collection of falsely simple short stories with deep insights. Recommended both to adults and children.

Philosophical gem 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is an ultimate classic for those that love Kafka, mathematical games and philosophy. In a series of fantastic stories Lem shows to be a master in crafting compelling stories, all vivid and laden with simple yet deep wisdom. All stories do leave philosophical traces that may positively linger on in your head for days.

The translation is outstanding. Originally written in Polish, yet the translation of Michael Kandel is perfect. If you wouldn't know better, you'd think the book was natively written in English.

Editorial Review:

Trurl and Klaupacius are constructor robots who try to out-invent each other. They travel to the far corners of the cosmos to take on freelance problem-solving jobs, with dire consequences for their employers. “The most completely successful of his books... here Lem comes closest to inventing a real universe” (Boston Globe). Illustrations by Daniel Mr—z. Translated by Michael Kandel.

Ultimate X-Men

Stan Lee

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 39 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Not Free SF Reader 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Looks like Amazon has incorrectly combined this with an encylopedia for some reason, as the cover photo, the publisher details, page count are all from the Berkley anthology and have nothing to do with a coffee table type graphic book.

An anthology of stories taking a look at a wide selection of the X-Men course, and as usual, managing to slip Wolverine in more than once. For this sort of book, the quality of the stories is actually pretty good, so certainly worth a look for X-fans.

Ultimate X-Men : 01 It's a Wonderful Life - Eluki Bes Shahar
Ultimate X-Men : 02 Gift of the Silver Fox - Ashley McConnell
Ultimate X-Men : 03 Stillborn in the Mist - Dean Wesley Smith
Ultimate X-Men : 04 X-Presso - Ken Grobe
Ultimate X-Men : 05 Four Angry Mutants - Andy Lane and Rebecca Levene
Ultimate X-Men : 06 On the Air - Glenn Hauman
Ultimate X-Men : 07 Summer Breeze - Jenn Saint-John and Tammy Lynne Dunn
Ultimate X-Men : 08 Life Is But a Dream - Stan Timmons
Ultimate X-Men : 09 Order from Chaos - Evan Skolnick
Ultimate X-Men : 10 Hostages - J. Steven York
Ultimate X-Men : 11 Out of Place - Dave Smeds


A man with Amberesque reality shifting powers goes on the run after an attempt to help someone goes horribly wrong. A black ops government team with a new anti-psionic weapon is after him, and he just about makes it to Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters.

3.5 out of 5



Wolverine, out hunting by himself helps out a pregnant silver fox, and comes across a woman trapping.

3.5 out of 5


Gambit goes back to his hometown and finds a zombie project.

2 out of 5


Cannonball, having a bad day, heads into New York City. Here he stumlbes across Zelda's beatnik coffee joint after catching a pickpocket, and finds Cyclops.

3.5 out of 5


Bobby Drake has been called for jury duty in a trial involving a mutant and a human supremacist group, and Logan and Xavier go along to observe, and soon unconver something bad.

3.5 out of 5


Warren Worthington is interviewed on radio, post-wing trauma and corporate recovery.

4 out of 5


Warren Worthington is interviewed on radio, post-wing trauma and corporate recovery.

3 out of 5


Rogue runs a Danger Room simulation of what might have been.

3 out of 5


Storm goes to Egypt to help out on old friend, taking Jubilee, and getting involved in fractal magic.

3.5 out of 5


Logan and Jean, out separately for air, come across a bizarre murderer with a mutant symbiont and split personality.

4 out of 5


An illness causes Psylocke to unconsciously start altering the memories of her teammates.

3.5 out of 5




3.5 out of 5

Editorial Review:

An action-packed new anthology of more than a dozen original tales featuring the X-Men follows the mutant super-heroes as they take on some of their greatest archvillains while coping with the day-to-day problems of being a mutant. Original.

The Paradise War: Book One in The Song of Albion Trilogy (Lawhead, Steve. Song of Albion (Westbow Press))

Stephen R. Lawhead

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 60 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Eh, why such good reviews? 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Another series created out of the idea that a run of the mill dude discovers an alternate world, where he all a sudden becomes courageous and forgets his past. Besides that, the build up of a great magical climax is greatly over hyped, as it falls flat. Dont buy this novel if you are looking for your next great fantasy read

A good beginning 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This was a good and exciting read. I was first exposed to Stephen Lawhead when I read Hood. The Paradise War was reminiscent of Hood and Scarlet of the King Raven trilogy. Lawhead's knowledge of Celtic lore and his story telling is intriguing. I highly recommend this to all readers of fantasy and mythology.

Editorial Review:

From the dreaming spires of Oxford, Lewis Gillies drives north to seek a mythical creature in a misty glen in Scotland. Expecting little more than a weekend diversion, Lewis finds himself in a mystical place where two worlds meet, in the time-between-times--and in the heart of a battle between good and evil.

The ancient Celts admitted no separation between this world and the Otherworld: the two were delicately interwoven, each dependent on the other. The Paradise War crosses the thin places between this world and that, as Lewis Gillies comes face-to-face with an ancient mystery--and a cosmic catastrophe in the making.

Lankhmar Book 1: Swords And Deviltry

Fritz Leiber

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A Note On Kindle Edition 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

To those purchasing this on Kindle. I found a bit of a flaw in the coding that only allows you to properly view the text on the 3rd setting of your font size. I usually read on 2 or 1 so when I opened this book I was a bit miffed that the first sentence of every page was sliced horizontally in half. After a few experimental changes in font size I discovered the only one that allowed proper viewing was 3. If you can't see the third font size in comfort and need a higher setting then this may not be for you. There was another flaw as well that I couldn't repair. For every "chapter" number that appeared in the text....the bolded number was superimposed OVER the text. While I could read around this flaw some may find it a bit annoying at the beginning of each new chapter.

Now as for the story itself...great quick read for anyone who enjoys classic magical fantasy with heroic characters and questionable villains.

One other note...seems Mr. Lieber seems to hate all of his females. Ok that may be a bit rough...however thre is not a single noteworthy female in this entire book. Even the dead ones are horrible. The first women you are introduced to are savage jealous spiteful witches, the next character is a promiscuous stripper with a need for using men to take her revenge, then there's the princess who is so meek and spineless without an ounce of redeeming qualities, and her dead mother who was a ruthless brutal masocist. Perhaps his view of women improves later in the series and for the most part I started to find it terribly amusing whenever a new female was introduced into the story as I couldn't wait to see what was wrong with her!
But ya know what...it didn't really bother that much just something I noticed and thought I'd share. I still really liked the story...viscious wenches and all.

Editorial Review:

One of the most influential and critically acclaimed fantasy writers of all time, Fritz Leiber pioneered the sword-and-sorcery genre! In the ancient city of Lankhmar, two men forge a friendship in battle. The red-haired barbarian Fafhrd left the snowy reaches of Nehwon looking for a new life while the Gray Mouser, apprentice magician, fled after finding his master dead. These bawdy brothers-in-arms cement a friendship that leads them through the wilds of Nehwon facing thieves, wizards, princesses and the depths of their desires and fears. Superb writing and brilliant, believable characterizations highlight the first entry in Leiber's seminal series.

One Good Knight (Tales of the Five Hundred Kingdoms, Book 2)

Mercedes Lackey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 43 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

One Good Book... 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

After devouring The Fairy Godmother, I wasted no time in getting my hands on a copy of One Good Knight and I am so glad I did. I was a little worried because the reviews weren't all glowing. The heroine of this story, Andie is a poor little rich girl, the daughter of a Queen. She is undervalued and overlooked, and tends to blend into the background. She enjoys reading, researching, and spending time with six guards, who are the only people she considers friends. One day, the Queen and her 'consort', a wicked wizard, take notice of Andie's smarts and hire her on to provide information to the Palace. Shortly thereafter, a dragon is spotted making havoc in the small Kingdom. While they send for help from another Kingdom (one where Godmother Elena prosides), the palace begins a Lottery of young virgins. If that person's name is picked, they are offered up in sacrifice to the Dragon. Now Andie must find a way to free the Kindgom from the dragons and stop the sacrifices...maybe they will finally get help from a good Knight? You really should pick up this book and see how the story unfolds. There is adventure aplenty. There are also several interesting twists that work well here. The characters are charming and smart. They don't often make silly mistakes for the sake of advancing the plot. The brief visit with Elena and Alexander is exciting. In my opinion this is another five star novel. I have alredy picked up the next in the series.

Editorial Review:

When a dragon storms the castle, what should a (virgin) princess do?

Why, turn to her studies, of course! But nothing practical-minded Princess Andromeda of Acadia finds gives a definitive solution. The only Traditional answer, though, is soothing the marauding dragon by a virgin sacrifice. Things are going fairly smoothly with the lottery--except for the women chosen, of course--until Princess Andromeda herself is picked!

But facing down the dragon doesn't go quite as planned, and now, with the help of her Champion, Sir George, Andromeda searches for the dragon's lair. But even--especially--in the Five Hundred Kingdoms, bucking Tradition isn't easy. It takes the strongest of wills, knowledge, quick wits and a refusal to give up, no matter what happens along the way….