( M ) Books - Page 15

Lyon's Pride (Rowan)

Anne McCaffrey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

An exciting, character-driven tale. 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

"The formidable Lyon's Pride," as a character in the next (and final) book of the Talent series calls them, are the children of T-1 Damia Gwynn-Raven and T-2 Afra Lyon; and that "T" rating is a measure of the Talented one's power. Telepathy and telekinesis keep Human and Mrdini commerce operating by moving travelers and cargoes instantaneously across vast reaches of space. Those same Talents enable the two allied species to battle successfully against a third: the implacable Hivers, who covet the same kind of real estate as do Humans and Mrdini.

All eight of Damia and Afra's children have Talent ratings of T-1. All are destined, as adults, to be known as Primes. Some, like eldest daughter Laria, will operate commercial transfer towers - a prestigious and powerful position, but one that can take a young Prime far away from home. Some, like sons Thian and Rojer, will carve out new roles for Talents in service aboard naval vessels. Second daughter Zara's strongly empathic Talent fits her for the career of healer - after it enables her to do what no one else can manage, by communicating (on however rudimentary a level) with a captured Hiver queen. The Lyon's Pride is, indeed, formidable. Its four eldest are reaching adulthood just in time to play key roles, as the Human-Mrdini alliance begins to solve the Hiver threat that first loomed when their grandparents were young.

An exciting, character-driven tale, which only occasionally bogs itself down with shipboard protocols and politics. If you can get past those pacing problems, you'll be glad you did; because "The Tower and the Hive," the next volume in the Talent series, provides a worthy conclusion to the long-running Gwynn-Raven saga.

Editorial Review:

Inheriting their family's paranormal powers that enable them to protect the peaceful people of their world, the children of Damia and Afra Lyon encounter a new enemy in the Hivers, an alien race that is bent on destruction. Reprint. AB. PW.

Moonfall

Jack Mcdevitt

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 41 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

It's the 21st century, and all is right with the world. Or so it seems.

Vice President Charlie Haskell, who will travel anywhere for a photo op, is about to cut the ribbon for the just-completed American Moonbase. The first Mars voyage is about to leave high orbit, with a woman at the helm. Below, the world is marveling at a rare solar eclipse.

But all that is right is about to go disastrously wrong when an amateur astronomer discovers a new comet. Named for its discover, Tomikois a "sun-grazer,"an interstellar wanderer with a hundred times the mass and ten times the speed of other comets. And it is headed straight for our moon.

In less than five days, if scientists' predictions are right, Tomiko will crash into the moon, shattering it into a cloud of superheated gas, dust, and huge chunks of rock that will rain down on the earth, causing chaos and killer storms, possibly tidal waves inundating entire cities...or worse: a single apocalyptic worldwide "extinction event."

In the meantime, the population of Moonbase must be evacuated by a hastily assembled fleet of shuttle rockets. There isn't room, or time enough, for everyone. And the vice president, who rashly promised to be last off ("I will lock the door and turn off the lights"), is trying to figure out how to get away without eating his words.

In Moonfall,McDevitt has created a disaster thriller of truly epic proportions, featuring a cast of unforgettable characters: the reluctant Russian rocket jockey entrusted with the lives of squabbling refugees; the woman chosen to be first on the moon; the scientist who must deflect the "possum" (POSSible IMpactors) knocked from orbit or witness the end science itself. And at the center of it all is Charlie Haskell, the career politician who discovers his own unexpected reserves of only himself and his country, but for all humankind.

Moonfall,is a spellbinding tale of heroism and hope, cowardice and passion played against the awesome spectacle of human history's darkest night.

Elektra by Frank Miller Omnibus

Frank Miller

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Horrible edition 2 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Marvel unfortunately ruined one of the greatest graphic novels ever. "Elektra assassin" script Miller/art Sienkiewicz was an amazing ride; action, magic, cyborgs, spies, and political satire, laugh-out-loud funny and full of suspense, and with art that is as over-the-top insanely beautiful and innovative today as it was 20 years ago. I was so happy to get one of my favorites in a new hardcover version...
But...
This edition is slightly larger than the original (maybe 10%), but it looks as if it was VERY poorly scanned from the original art... The images are slightly blurry when compared to the older TPB. The other stories, with art/script by Miller are better, sharp, with good colors, but "Elektra lives again" (someone called it a "Dark Knight" version of Daredevil...) was A LOT bigger when originally released, and slightly wider, so here you get it at least at a 40% reduction in size!
With the DC "absolute" editions as comparison, this is just an insult...

Editorial Review:

Good ninjas never die, let alone the baddest one of all! Fan favorite Frank Miller ushers his awesome assassin through good and evil, life and death, rebirth and more! Who is the otherworldly entity in pursuit of the presidency? When has Elektra met her greatest triumphs and tragedies? Why did she die, and how did she return? Where do smarmy cyborgs and killer dwarves come from? And What If all this had never happened at all? Guest-starring Daredevil! Collects Elektra: Assassin #1-8, Elektra Lives Again, Bizarre Adventures #28, What If? #35.

Ordermaster (Saga of Recluce)

L. E. Modesitt

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Ordermaster is the 13th book in the Saga of Recluce and the direct sequel to Wellspring of Chaos. The cooper Kharl has no sooner taken possession of the estate bestowed upon him by Lord Ghrant of Austra for his aid in quelling the revolt of Ghrant's dispossessed brother, when he is summoned back to the capital. Hagen, his friend the lord-chancellor, needs help in dealing with rebellious nobles. After a bloody campaign, in which Kharl discovers and is forced to use even more deadly order magery, civil order is restored and Ghrant's throne firmly secured. But Kharl is now a famous and feared public figure, the Lord's Mage, and his notoriety makes him uncomfortable.

To his surprise, Kharl is soon called upon again by Lords Ghrant and Hagen, this time to return to his homeland of Nordla as envoy, because Nordla has become the next target of Hamorian expansion. Back in his hometown of Brysta, he discovers that his old enemy Egen is engaged in a plot with the Hamorians to take the throne from his father and open Nordla to the enemy. Kharl has to find a solution, for the sake of both the land of his birth and his adopted new country.

Black Horses For the King

Anne Mccaffrey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Anne McCafery's historical fiction book set in the time of the Briton and Saxon War ( by a 13 year old ) 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Anne McCafery is back but instead of a fantasy novel she's come out with a great historical fiction book, set in the time of the Briton and Saxon War, Black Horses for the King. Keeping Away from the stereotyped King Arthur and his knights in shining armor, she tries to make it as true and historically correct as possible and yet still make it her own and as fascinatingly unique as possible. This intriguing book is about Young Galwyn who escaped his slave-like life as a seaman under the whip of his cruel uncle. He joined up with the courageous and heroic Lord Artos (King Arthur) who is trying to eliminate the Saxons. Galwyn figured out his calling in life is being a blacksmith, courier and a horse handler. But his most important trade is horseshoeing Lord Artos's great Libyan Horses for the Great War of the Britons and the Saxons; but when someone has a tremendously important job---along comes envy. Like In most books, when there is a hero along comes the "bad guy." In this case it's another horse handler (Iswy) who was (literally) kicked out for trying to attack a horse; Iswy who despises and envies Galwyn tries to ruin and end Galwyn's life. At the end Galwyn and Lord Atoes are both victorious in defeating their own enemy.

Editorial Review:

This fast-moving historical fantasy by bestselling author Anne McCaffrey traces the beginnings of the British cavalry, as recounted by a boy growing up in exciting and perilous times.

After his father’s death, young Galwyn Varianus is apprenticed to his uncle, who puts the boy to work on the high seas. But horses, not ships, are Galwyn’s passion. Luckily, a passenger aboard, Lord Artos (later to rule as the legendary King Arthur), is bound for the great horse fair at Septimania. Risking his life, Galwyn abandons his uncle to serve the gallant leader. Galywn’s calming way with horses quickly impresses Lord Artos and his men. But what no one expects is how crucial Galwyn will be to their upcoming battles—as he masters the secrets of the iron shoes that will protect the exotic horses’ delicate hooves. . . .

The Armageddon Rag

George R.R. Martin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Gives a good idea of the author's development 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

An older book by this author, but a good one. You can see the development of his style from The Armageddon Rag to A Game of Thrones. Worth reading if you are a fan and even if you're not but you like eclectic science fiction/fantasy.

An overlooked classic tale expressing the zeitgeist of the 60's 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

George Martin has written better books, but, perhaps, none closer to his heart. He lived through and participated in a number of the seminal defining moments of the 60's, and has recorded, as well as anyone can do, the pain and the glory of an era. He has presented, in a modern fantasy fiction format, the hopes and dreams of a generation, exalted; and the bitter disappointment when it all falls apart, and the dreams die. You don't have to have lived through the 60's in your youth to enjoy this book. It will give it a special frisson, but being human is enough.

Editorial Review:

Onetime underground journalist Sandy Blair has traveled far from his radical roots in the ’60s—until the bizarre and brutal murder of a millionaire rock promoter draws him back. As Sandy sets out to investigate the crime, he finds himself on a magical mystery tour of the pent-up passions of his generation. For a new messiah has resurrected the once legendary rock band Nazgûl—but with an apocalyptic new beat that is a requiem of demonism, mind control, and death only Sandy may be able to change in time. . . .

Top Ten: The Forty-Niners

Alan Moore

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

Unfulfilled Potential... 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I am afraid to say that the Booklist review listed here is very wrong... This 6-part story is not superior to the original 'Top Ten' books.

While Gene Ha's artwork is fantastic, the one that doesn't come to the show this time is Alan Moore. It's all too crammed, half-baked and without the feeling that 'Top Ten' had. As inventive as some of the elements are, ultimately the writing of the characters and their dialogue is like weak tea compared to what Moore is capable of. It just all feels rushed - a story with a massive world like this needs more time given to it, both in the amount of pages (there's half what there should be) and from Moore himself.

Editorial Review:

This is the tale of Neopolis, a modern metr-opolis with a citizenry made up exclusively of super beings. In this city where everyone is blessed with powers, it takes a unique and powerful police force to protect and serve. The officers of Precinct 10 encounter all manner of the super powered and the supernatural on a routine basis.

The Eisner Award-winning TOP 10 team of writer Alan Moore and artist Gene Ha reunites for a graphic novel that delves into the past, revealing the origins of Neopolis and the first officers of Top Ten. Discover the original Top 10 officers who blazed the trail and made Neopolis the city it is today.

Magi'i of Cyador (The Saga of Recluce)

L. E. Modesitt

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 25 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

L. E. Modesitt, Jr., is one of the standard setters in fantasy today, and his most famous series is the Saga of Recluce. Each novel fills in pieces of the history of this land where Chaos and Order strive to maintain a magical balance.

Magi'i of Cyador marks the beginning of a new tale from deep within the rich depths of the history of Recluce. This is the story of Lorn, a talented boy born into a family of Magi'i. A diligent student of remarkable talent, Lorn lacks only the single most coveted attribute required of a Magus of Cyador: unquestionable loyalty. Lorn is too independent for his own good.

So Lorn is forced to become a lancer officer, and he's sent to the frontier to fight off the all-too-frequent barbarian raids--a career that comes with a 50% mortality rate. His enemies don't expect him to survive . . .

Lorn is a fresh, new character who will enrich one of today's most important fantasy series: the saga of Recluce.

Magi'i of Cyador is the tenth book in the saga of Recluce.

Voice Of The Fire

Alan Moore

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

This book is a work of magic 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

I think that Rebecca Scott explains the book best in her greenmanreview.com review. Here is an excerpt:

"If Voice of the Fire has a protagonist, it must be Northampton itself, because this is the story of the formation of the mythology of that place. It is a geological study of the strata of the collective unconscious of the area. Each of its twelve chapters is the first-person story of an individual who crystallized into the forming stones in the hill of tales, whose bodies fed its grass and trees. Their histories wind through that of the land, bringing us closer and closer to the present day.

Each of the chapters includes a full-color plate, a photographic character portrait by Jose Villarrubia (who contributed to the very fine graphic novel Veils). These glow softly, and have a painterly quality about them that makes even the grimmest a gem. Yet this is a text novel, not a graphic novel, and the words are the things. Very fine words they are, too: "Trust in the fictive process, in the occult interweaving of text and event must be unwavering and absolute. This is the magic place, the mad place at the spark gap between word and world." The language is vivid, graphic (sometimes too graphic for someone who reads while eating). Each chapter, each story, has a distinct voice, radically different from the others...

This book is a work of magic ... If you let it, it will work a change in your consciousness ... So come, climb this hill of tales in the night of myth, draw close to the flames, listen to the voice of the fire, and let it work its spell in you." -- Rebecca Scott, GreenManReview.com

Editorial Review:

In a story full of lust, madness, and ecstasy, we meet twelve distinctive characters that lived in the same region of central England over a span of six thousand years. Each interconnected tale traces a path in a journey of discovery of the secrets of the land. In the tradition of Kipling's Puck of Pook's Hill, Schwob's Imaginary Lives and Borges' A Universal History of Infamy, Moore travels through history blending truth and conjecture, in a novel that is dazzling, moving, sometimes tragic, but always mesmerizing. This edition presents Voice of the Fire for the first time in hardcover format, with full color illustrations by Jose Villarrubia.

Crystal Singer

Anne Mccaffrey

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 37 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Not Free SF Reader 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

A woman is a talented singer, however she is not good enough to be the best there is, so she gets a bit grumpy.

So, she goes and takes a job as a crystal miner on another planet, where, for some reason, the ability to sing in perfect pitch is a very useful ability.

The book really isn't as dumb as that sounds, though.

The crystal they mine is a valued and important technological resources.

liked it 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I really enjoyed this book and the rest of this short anne maccaffrey series. I am a big fan of her dragon books but this was a very interesting read, with a real girl heroine/character. I enjoyed the story through all three books Anyone who likes a nice sci-fi read that isn't too deep but entertaining would enjoy these books. I did, and I have re-read them a couple of times now.

Editorial Review:

Her name was Killashandra Ree. And after ten grueling years of musical training, she was still without prospects. Until she heard of the mysterious Heptite Guild who could provide careers, security, and wealth beyond imagining. The problem was, few people who landed on Ballybran ever left. But to Killashandra the risks were acceptable....