HOLY FIRE -- Bruce Sterling

Bantam Books -- hc
New York -- ©1996 -- 294pp
ISBN: 0-553-09958-2

In an era when life expectancies stretch 100 years or more and adhering to healthy habits is the only way to earn better medical treatments, ancient "post humans" dominate society with their ubiquitous wealth and power. By embracing the safe and secure, 94-year-old Mia Ziemann has lived a long and quiet life. Too quiet, as she comes to realize, for Mia has lost the creative drive and ability to love--the holy fire--of the young. But when a radical new procedure makes Mia young again, she has the chance to break free of society's cloying grasp. (Amazon review)

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Ouch. A Bruce Sterling book that didn't work for me.

Like many of the other reviews here for this book, Sterling has some nifty concepts and a strong character and setting, but the follow-through is slow and meandering.

I never got the 'holy fire' aspect. Yes, I understand that it's our heroine's search for her 'holy fire' (art), but it isn't delivered strongly enough to carry on as the theme of the book (and if that isn't the book's theme, then what is?).

This book felt as though Sterling had a pretty good concept, but had trouble finding his own 'holy fire' to accomplish the goal and the publisher was breathing down his neck for a finished product.

Just not fulfilling.

THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN -- Mitch Albom

Hyperion -- hc
New York -- ©2003 -- 196pp
ISBN: 0-7868-6871-6


On his 83rd birthday, a maintenance man tries to save a young girl from a failing ride and meets his demise. He then goes on an afterlife journey, meeting five people in heaven who help him understand his life.

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I was in the library, looking for a 'quick read' and, starting in the 'A' section of the fiction shelves, came across this book. I'd heard about it, seen Albom on Letterman or Ferguson, and decided to give it a try.

First, it IS a quick read. Easy language; short, consecutive, predictable chapters. But these don't necessarily mean 'cheap' writing. Albom still manages to do a nice job getting a message across.

Second, the message. This IS a feel-good, message book. Part of me would sarcastically define this as 'chick-lit' because of the feel-good message, but it defies the label because the hero isn't a young, available, hero. He's an old, dead guy (and that's not a spoiler...if you're meeting people in heaven, as the book title suggests, you kind of have to assume that the person is dead).

So, what is this book? It's two hours of your time, after which you'll likely think "Aw, I hope it's like that."

But will the book stay with you? Will you think about it suddenly while driving in rush-hour traffic, or while cutting up celery to go with a Sunday dinner? Probably not.

Despite the accolades this book has received, it won't be a treasured book in your home or something that you insist everyone read. It will be a book you recommend to people at a party, but that you don't push.

THE WILLIAMSON EFFECT -- Roger Zelazny, editor

Tom Doherty Associates Book -- hc
New York -- ©1996 -- 349pp
ISBN:0-312-85748-9

A collection of short fiction; a tribute to Jack Williamson.

Introduction: A World in Love with Change -- David Brin
"The Mayor of Mare Tranq" -- Frederick Pohl
"Before the Legion" -- Paul Dellinger
"Inside Passage" -- Poul Anderson
"Risk Assessment" -- Ben Bova
"Williamson's World" (poem) -- Scott E. Green
"Emancipation" -- Pati Nagle
"Thinkertoy" -- John Brunner
"The Bad Machines" -- Fred Saberhagen
"The Human Ingredient" -- Jeff Bredenberg
"Child of the Night" -- Jane Lindskold
"A Certain Talent" -- David Weber
"Nonstop to Portales" -- Connie Willis
"No Folded Hands" -- Andre Norton
"Darker Than You Wrote" -- Mike Resnick
"Near Portales ... Freedom Shouts" (poem) -- Scott E. Green
"Worlds That Never Were: The Last Adventure of the Legion of Time" -- John J. Miller

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I have to admit that I am not particularly familiar with Jack Williamson's work. I am aware of his work, but I don't think that I've ever read any of his books. So why buy and read this collection of short stories written in tribute to Williamson? Because it was edited by Roger Zelazny ... whose work I AM familiar with and greatly admire.

It shouldn't come as a surprise then that I found myself really enjoying this stories and now am looking forward to reading some Williamson work.

It has been awhile since I actually finished reading this collection, so the stories are not fresh in my mind, but I don't think that there are any obvious stand-outs for being excellent. Instead, unlike so many collections I read, nearly all the stories piqued my interest, touching on something which I assume is that talent of Jack Williamson.

Fred Saberhagen's story, "The Bad Machines," has made me want to read both Williamson's The Humanoids and Saberhange's 'Berserker' books. Poul Anderson's "Inside Passage" has got me looking for Jack's Darker Than You Think. And I'm very curious to read more of The Legion of Time, and see how much Giles Habibula really is like Falstaff. John Brunner is a fantastic writer, and his "Thinkertoy" was a delight.

All around, this is a fantastic collection. It's a book like this that has me really enjoying short fiction. I've read some great fiction and hopefully discovered a new author or two.

Highly recommended for any sci-fi fan.

TOM CORBETT: SPACE CADET - DANGER IN DEEP SPACE -- Carey Rockwell

Grossett & Dunlap -- hc
New York - ©1953 -- 209pp
Book 2 in the 1950's adventure series
Willy Ley, technical advisor
Louis Glanzman, illustrations

The new space cadets, Tom Corbett, Astro, and Roger Manning, are asked to go on a new adventure, but Roger abandons the team after being found guilty of allowing an accident to happen.

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It surprises me that my boys manage to enjoy these older adventure books, but they do!

What I find when I read these kinds of books is that they are big on exposition, which tends to slow the pace down. However, apparently my boys, ages 10 and 12, seem to have learned how to listen to this kind of exposition.

I read this book aloud to them, at bed time, a chapter a night. They remembered what happened the night before and would often ask for a second chapter each night.

There's just enough plot here to keep the interest. One member of the three-person cadet crew is unjustly accused of allowing an accident, and through the careful conniving of the two men who are actually responsible, the cadet joins forces with them, becoming an outlaw himself. This sets up a nice conflict and obstacle. Cadets and outlaws are racing to the same goal, arrive about the same time, and in typical fashion, square off.

There is some excitement in this adventure, enough to keep us reading, but I still find them generally boring. A little goes a long way, so while we likely WILL read the next book in the series, it will be awhile before we get to it.

MORALITY PLAY -- Barry Unsworth

Nan A. Talese -- hc
©1995 -- 206 pp
ISBN: 0385479530

A troupe of players puts on a new play, the story of a recent murder in a local town, in 14th century England.

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This book was recommended to me based on my interest in medieval theatre. I enjoy reading (and teaching) the old morality plays. I am not generally a fan of the mystery genre ... though I'm certainly not opposed to it, either.

I thought the book seemed well researched, though I also felt it spent too much time setting up the characters and era and style. I also didn't particularly care for the narrator. He seemed generally annoying, though I understand why his vacation was chosen -- it made it possible to do many things that otherwise wouldn't have been open to the people of the time.

Once the actual mystery got going, I was enthralled. A surprise or two for me along the way always makes for a better read than something that I anticipate early.

LOST ON VENUS -- Edgar Rice Burroughs

Ace Books -- pb
New York -- ©1933, 1935 -- 224pp
0-441-49506-4

Second in the Venus series. Carson Napier begins this episode in the Room of the Seven Doors. He can leave any time he wants, but six of the seven doors lead to hideous deaths; only one is the door of life.

After navigating his way out of this logic puzzle, Carson continues his quest to rescue the planet's fairest princess. He pursues this with singlemindedness, even though more terrible dangers lie ahead; even though the princess wishes neither his help or his affection; even though her people will execute him if he enters their country! Such is the honor of an Earthman's pledge. [from Goodread.com]

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While I'm familiar with Burroughs' Tarzan and 'Mars' series', I'd never read any of the Carson/Venus books.

Perhaps this wasn't the right one to begin with as it starts right in the middle of some other action (and I see now that this is book #2 in the series), but it doesn't take much to pick up on the plot and the back story.

What surprised me was how easy it was to read. For whatever reason, I was expecting more flowery prose and plodding story-telling. This was fast action scene after fast action scene.

I did think the 'zombies' where a bit over the top, but the Nazi-like country was frighteningly prophetic.

This makes me want to go back and read the Mars book.

DINOVERSE -- Scott Ciencin

Random House -- hc
New York -- ©1999 -- 282pp
ISBN: 0-679-88842-X

Four junior high students get transported to the Cretaceous Period and inside the bodies of dinosaurs. They have to work together and with the instincts of their hosts' bodies if they are going to have a chance to return to their own time!

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It's sad that there aren't more reviews for this book, because this is really a great book!

I will admit that this has been on my bookshelf for the last decade, and I was never really looking forward to it -- something about the title, and the cover, and the description seemed just a bit less that exciting. But once you crack it open and read a chapter or two, it's totally enthralling.

This book is geared toward the middle school reader. It's four main characters are junior high students [two boys, two girls:] who are transported back in time through a miraculous accident by a machine made by the brainy student of the bunch -- but there's a twist to this time-travel tale ... the students are in the bodies of dinosaurs!

Being written for the student, there are some lessons to be learned, but Ciencin does a fantastic job of weaving the lessons nicely into the plot.

Ciencin is a wonderful writer for youth. I bought this book based on how much I enjoyed his books in the "Dinotopia" series.

When I finished the book, I handed it to my 12 year old son who might be labeled a 'reluctant reader.' He read it through and absolutely loved it. He said that it was "Fantastic!" and that he learned a lot, too! He said, the only bad thing is..."He didn't write a sequel! How can anybody who writes this good NOT write a sequel to it!" He's so upset about there not being a sequel that he's decided to read it again.

THE CAMELOT CHRONICLES: HEROIC ADVENTURES FROM THE AGE OF LEGEND -- Mike Ashley, editor

Camelot Chronicles
Carroll & Graf Publishers -- hc
New York -- ©1992 -- 418pp
ISBN: 0-88184-912-X

A collection of stories in, around, or about King Arthur.

To Camelot -- Theodore Goodridge Roberts
Introduction
Dramatis Personae
"Belle Dame, Sans Merci" - Vera Chapman
"The Winning of a Sword" - Howard Pyle
"The Storming Bone" - Ian McDowell
"The Oath of the Saxon" - Peter Tremayne
"Blueflow" - Don Wilcox
"The Brotherhood of Britain" - Keith Taylor
John, The Knight of the Lion" - Traditional
"Morte D'un Marcheant" - Maxey Brooke
"Sir Lanval" - A.R. Hope Moncrieff
"The True Story of Guenever" - Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
"Sir Borlays and the Dark Knight" - Anthony Armstrong
"Sir Agravaine" - P.G. Wodehouse
"The Romance of Tristan and Iseult" - Hilaire Belloc
"The Coming of the Light" - Phyllis Ann Karr
"Told By Moonlight" - Darrell Schweitzer
"The Quiet Monk" - Jane Yolen
"The Sad Wizard" - John T. Aquino
Appendix: Mountainy Madness - Theodore Goodridge Roberts

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I find that in general, a collection of short stories, based on a theme, will have two or three stories that reach me somehow, with the majority of the stories being mostly forgetable. This collection is no exception.

I've read a fair amount of fiction and non-fiction about the Camelot myths for research on various projects, so when I saw this book for sale on a library book sale table, I knew that I would find it interesting. However, only three of the stories (out of seventeen) ha...more I find that in general, a collection of short stories, based on a theme, will have two or three stories that reach me somehow, with the majority of the stories being mostly forgetable. This collection is no exception.

I've read a fair amount of fiction and non-fiction about the Camelot myths for research on various projects, so when I saw this book for sale on a library book sale table, I knew that I would find it interesting. However, only three of the stories (out of seventeen) have stuck with me since reading it.

The stories I particularly enjoyed are: "Blueflow" by Don Wilcox ... the story of a painter with a bit of a magic touch, thanks to Merlin; "The Romance of Tristan and Iseult" by Hilaire Belloc...an immensely readable, tragic tale; and "The Sad Wizard" by John T. Aquino which had a twist that I was expecting.

With authors such as Jane Yolen, Darrell Schweitzer, Phylliz Ann Karr, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Pyle, and others represented here, I did expect to really like more than just these three. Though I should add that having only mentioned three doesn't mean the others were 'bad' -- they simply weren't as outstanding as the three I mention above.

An interesting collection. Very glad for the three stories that I really enjoyed, but wished more of the stories were of a better quality.

ROARING BOYS: SHAKESPEARE'S RAT PACK -- Judith Cook

Sutton Publishing -- tpb
Gloucestershire -- ©2004 -- 226pp
ISBN: 0750933690

Professional theatre flowered in London during the 1580s. It became a magnet for a series of talented and ambitious young men who became the 'Roaring Boys'.

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This seemed as if it would be an interesting book, but the reality is that it's a bit unfocused. A book about the group of playwrights who were Shakespeare's contemporaries would be fascinating, but this book really only contained one chapter of such. The rest was history of the era and the Elizabethan theatre.

I know there are bios of these individuals out there, but I was definitely looking forward to a combined sort of bio.

I guess I need to keep looking.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN IN MAYHEM IN MANHATTAN -- Len Wein and Marv Wolfman

Pocket Books -- pb
New York -- ©1978 -- 176pp
ISBN: 0-671-82044-3

The Amazing Spider-Man in his first, full-length novel.


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Comfort fiction. A quick, easy read with characters that are incredibly familiar. Nice to have a book written by people who write the comics, rather than those by novelists who happen to read the comics.

As incredible as it may seem, I think I've owned this book since it came out in '78 or '79, but have only just now read it. I might have found it much more interesting and exciting had I read it when I was 18, but hen again, perhaps not.

There's nothing earth-shattering here. No new information or new take on the classic comic book characters. The story itself seems to be straight out of a comic book.

Would I recommend it? No. Would I discourage anyone from reading it? No. Am I glad I read it? Yes, but only because it's been in a box in my room thirty years.

SURVIVE! (Dinotopia #13) -- Brad Strickland

Random House -- tpb
New York -- ©2001 -- 135pp
ISBN: 0-375-81108-7
Number 13 in the Dinotopia series

A young boy loses his memory when he falls and hits his head (the result of an earthquake) and he must rely on skills his doesn't know he has as he explores a rarely-visited part of an island. His dinosaur friend must also rely on skills as he proves himself worthy of joining the party hunting for the lost boy.

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I've said it before, and I'll say it again to anyone who'll listen...this Dinotopia series of books is the best series out there for young readers. They are creative, innovative, unique, adventurous, moral, and exciting. They teach great lessons without being overtly didactic. What young boy wouldn't want to be on an island where dinosaurs talk and are best friends with human youth?

This particular book seemed a little simpler and even a little more didactic than most of the others that I've read, but I'd still place any book in this series above most other children's series of books.

Do you have a reluctant reader? Particularly if that young reader is a boy, please check out this Dinotopia series.

I AM NOT JACKSON POLLACK -- John Haskell

Farrar, Straus and Giroux -- hc
New York -- ©2003 -- 180pp
ISBN: 0-374-17399-0

Stories.

"Dream of a Clean Slate"
"Elephant Feelings"
The Judgment of Psycho"
"The Faces of Joan of Arc"
"Capucine"
"Glenn Gould in Six Parts"
"Good World"
"Crimes at Midnight"
"Narrow Road"

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I love short fiction and was eager to read this collection, despite being less than enthused by Haskell's OUT OF MY SKIN. But what I read was a collection of stories that all seemed the same to me. Each story associating two dis-similar entities. Each story about what something is NOT (hmmm...a pattern here? "NOT Jackson Pollack" and his OUT OF MY SKIN could have been titled "I Am Not Steve Martin"). And sadly, his writing style struck me as dull.

As some of the other reviewers here mention, you do need to be in the right frame of mind for this style of book, but I'm not sure what that frame of mind is. Lost? Confused? And then you can nod appreciably at recognizing another lost soul?

I love looking for and finding an author that I can enjoy and who isn't someone that you will find on the NYT Bestsellers list. (For instance, my discovery of Paul Watkins still strikes me as an enjoyable 'find'.) But Haskell is not someone that I will continue to read.

VISIONARY IN RESIDENCE -- Bruce Sterling

Thunder's Mouth Press -- tpb
New York -- ©2006 -- 294pp
ISBN: 1-56025-841-1

Stories.

I. Science Fiction
"In Paradise"

II. Fiction about Science
"Luciferase"

III. Fiction for Scientists
"Homo Sapiens Declared Extinct"
"Ivory Tower"
"Message Found in a Bottle"

IV. Architecture Fiction
"The Growthing"

V. Design Fiction
"User-Centric"

VI. Mainstream Fiction
"Code"

VII. Cyberpunk to Ribofunk
"The Scab's Progress" (with Paul Di Filippo)
"Junk DNA" (with Rudy Rucker)

VIII. The Past Is a Future That Already Happened
"The Necropolis of Thebest"
"The Blemmye's Stratagem"
"The Denial"


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I tend to rate Bruce Sterling as one of my favorite authors because he has a very unique voice ... something lacking in much sci-fi/fantasy (in my opinion). I know that when I pick up a Sterling book, it will be unlike anything else out there.

And of course it's no secret that I really enjoy short fiction. A short story or a one act play are personal favorites. To tell a story, efficiently and succinctly, is a challenge, and I enjoy being the voyeur into these efforts.

WIth that out, I must say that this collection is sorely lacking. Not all novelists are great short story writers, and not all short story authors can put together a great novel. Bruce Sterling is NOT a great short story writer. As I thumb through the book (it's been about a month since I read it, now), only one story stands out as being a memorable read. "Junk DNA" is unlike anything I've read -- really good stuff.

"User-Centric" takes a classic idea (telling a story through letters [this time, email:]) with a modern theme. It certainly reminds me of a 'Dilbert' cartoon.

But over-all, these stories are just fair. Nothing outstanding, nothing horrible. I'll stick to Bruce Sterling novels for the time being.

BLUE LIGHT -- Walter Mosley

Little, Brown and Company -- hc
Boston --1998 --296pp
ISBN: 0-316-57098-20

A strange, extra-terrestrial blue light gives certain Northern Californians supernatural powers. A battle of forces is the only possible outcome.

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This is my first time reading a Walter Mosley book. It was one of those situations where, browsing the library, I decided to try something by an author whose name I recognized but whom I had not read. Perhaps this was not such a good choice.

If I could give this book two and a hlaf stars I would, but I can't quite bring it up to three. It just wasn't that good.

In looking over some of the other reviews here, I would agree with those who say that the first 2/3 of the book were dreadful, but the last portion, when our characters are living rather primally in the mysterious woods, was interesting and attention-getting, even though much less actually happened there. The problem with the earlier portions, where there was more actual action, was that it was very disjointed and seemed to have no focus.

The very end was a cop-out. Cheap and deflating. Someone else here on goodreads called it a 'cold bucket of water' which is very appropriate as well.

I struggled to get through this one and wish now that I hadn't wasted my time.

ME AND JULIET -- Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, II

Random House -- hc
New York -- ©1953 -- 142pp
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number : 53-10704

A story of romance backstage of a Broadway musical.

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It should tell you something that I had never heard of this musical until coming across an old lp and then, more recently, spotting this book in a library. A musical by the same team that created, Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, The Sound of Music, State Fair, and others. What it should tell you is that this isn't one of the better collaborations.

It's a pretty dull story, and a paper-thin plot. Boy likes girl, girl is seeing other boy.

What supposedly makes this unique is the staging of it. Per the description of the set, we see a portion of what is happening on stage as well as what is happening off stage. One of the major characters also happens to be a crew person, up in the fly loft. The sub plot of the conductor staying on because of an admirer in the audience falls flat -- is virtually ignored once it is first mentioned, until the very end.

In some cases, the music helps a weak book. In this case, it does not.

There's good reason to have never heard of this show, and I'm certainly not enriched by having now read and listened to it

BIRD -- Rita Murphy

Delacorte Press -- hc

New York -- 2008 -- 150pp

ISBN: 978-0-385-73018-1

A young girl, deposited by the wind on the doorsteps of a sad and lonely house, looks to the wind to take her away to her freedom.

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There is something very appealing about this book -- partly it's Rita Murphy's writing style, partly it's the just slightly off-kilter characters and story (aptly depicted by the artist of the hardcover version). But at the same time, there's something definitely lacking here. There was no sense of accomplishment; no big "hurrah" for the young girl at the end, and that says to me that we didn't care for her enough.

I've been talking to my theatre class about 'dramatic conflict' and while I know the difference between a book and theatre, even a book needs to have some conflict (an obstacle). Here is where the focus gets a bit muddy. Is the obstacle in the girl's way the house itself? Wisteria (her guardian)? The legend of the missing fortune? Of herself? It's a little bit of all of them, which is why it isn't as clean as it could be.

The story of the missing fortune is not really necessary. It's a subplot that doesn't really go anywhere.

An interesting book that reached for more but didn't quite get there.

GREEN LANTERN: SLEEPERS - BOOK TWO -- Christopher J. Priest & Michael Ahn

iBooks, Inc. -- pb
©2005 -- 304pp
ISBN: 1596871350 (isbn13: 9781596871359)

Alan Scott enters World War II to fight a 17th-century supervillain named Malvolio, an anti-Green Lantern who wants to take over the world.


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Ah, another comfort book, this one actually more comforting than the last because this seemed to have a little meat to it.

Although 'Book Two,' it really had little to do with Book One. There was some tie-over, but this book was more of a 'prequel' to Book One and could easily be read first. This book deals with the origin of the first earth Green Lantern superhero. This was not a story I was familiar with -- although a fan of the Green lantern comics, and knowing that Alan Scott was the first Green lantern, I did not know his story. ANd not knowing the comic originstory, I don't know how accurate this is to that tale, but I found this to be easily acceptable.

This book was a good study in character, showing us more of the growth of the person, Alan Scott, rather than the actions of the Green Lantern superhero. It manages to create some nice dramatic conflict in a variety of ways, and is easy to read as well.

I don't know if there's a 'Book Three' out there or not, but if so, I'd surely pick it up. Christopher Priest has done a fine job of storytelling and really kept my interest.

Recommended for fans of comics and sci-fi/fantasy.

THE RED LEATHER DIARY: RECLAIMING A LIFE THROUGH THE PAGES OF A LOST JOURNAL -- Lily Koppel

Harper -- hc
New York -- ©2008 -- 321pp
ISBN: 978-0-06-125677-6

An old diary, recovered from a dumpster by an ambitious young newspaper reporter, leads to a wonderful glimpse of history through the eyes of another ambitious, intelligent young girl.

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What a wonderful discovery, this diary and this book.

Lily Koppel has done a magnificent job relating the story of Frances Wolfson to the reader, taking the intimate, personal notes of a private journal, and expanding on them through research.

And what a wonderful life, Frances Wolfson lives! The detail and intimacy, shared by a young teen who certainly never expects anyone to invade, is delightful. So many artistic types, male and female, can relate to so much of the anguish and longing for art and culture in their lives.

How fortuitous to find this journal of the young woman who managed to flit in some remarkable circles of distinguished personnel! To get such a personal account of some of these meetings really makes this book a rare gem.

Kudos to Koppel for the excellent work in finding and recognizing what she had and bringing it all together. And kudos to Frances, for a wonderful life, and her willingness to share.