Ranger’s Apprentice Series

by John Flanagan
Random House Australia

Towards the end of September, the first book in the series was being offered for $5. I bought books 1 & 2. It didn’t take long to read them.

Borders were selling the series at 3 books for the price of 2. I bought books 3-8. And just a week or so ago the ninth book was released. All 9 read now!! That ended the current 2 book story, so no loose ends.

The books can be found in the Child Fiction section of book shops. Don’t let that put you off, as the whole series has been a great read. Read in sequence to not miss anything.

John is an Australian writer, and here’s a description of book 1 to whet the appetite.

“Will is small for his age, but agile and energetic. All his life, he has dreamed of becoming a great knight like the father he never knew, so he is devastated when he is rejected as an apprentice to Castle Redmont’s Battleschool. Instead he is apprenticed to Halt, the mysterious Ranger whose uncanny ability to move unseen is thought to be the result of black magic. Reluctantly, Will learns to use a Ranger’s secret weapons: a bow and arrow, a mottled cloak and a stubborn little pony. It may not be the sword and battlehorse he longs for, but when Will and Halt set out on a desperate mission to prevent the assassination of the King, Will finds that a Ranger’s weapons are not so useless after all…”

Books 1-4 comprise the first adventure
Books 5-6 the second adventure
Book 7 is a prequel to 5
Book 8-9 complete the 4th adventure
Book 10 starting a new thread, is due out in Nov 2010

For more information, visit
www.rangersapprentice.com.au

Recommended reading for all ages

This is Me, Jack Vance

ISBN 978-1596062450 (Subterranean)
Hardback, 2009

This is Jack Vance’s biography. His journeys around the world. The people he meets. For much of his career, Vance has been one of the field’s most private writers, an author who preferred to let his work speak for him. this book has been released to coincide with the release of the tribute anthology “Songs of the Dying Earth”.

It is not a story about his works. Towards the end…
“I have been counseled .. to the general effect that since this is the autobiography of a writer I ought to say somthing about writing.” That takes all of 4 pages.

Jack was born in 1916 and led a pretty interesting life thru to 2009. He doesn’t write any more due to blindness. This biography being his only exception.

I gave up reading Jack Vance novels long ago. In my library I have:
- The Dragon Masters
- Emphyrio
- Showboat World
- The Dying Earth

None of which I retain memories of. Maybe I should read them again to remind myself of his writing style.

Jack vance most recent publications have been released through Subterranean Press.
www.subterraneanpress.com
Follow this link to see what’s available, and other reviews.

October Books

My last review was entered on 20th September. Have to catchup with my reviews because this is what I’ve read since:

John Flanagan
- Rangers Apprentice Series. Books 1-9

L.E. Modesitt Jr.
- The Imager Portfolio. Books 1-2

Jessica Hagy
- Indexed

September Reading (not yet reviewed)
Ian M. Banks
- Matter (A Culture Novel)

David Weber
- Safehold Series. Books 1-2

November Reading
I’m currently reading Jack Vance’s biography – interesting.
Other biographic tombs yet to be read include those about H. Beam Piper and Richard Matheson.

Crytpic: Jack McDevitt

Cryptic
The Best Short Fiction of Jack McDevitt

ISBN 978-1596061958 (Subterranean)
Hardback, 2009

Amazingly, this is my first Jack McDevitt book. And it’s content is not something you come across much these days – pure science fiction. No fantasy here.

There are an interesting number of stories that deal with space exploration. The failure to find other space fairing races – are we alone!

One poignant tale deals with a time capsule. You now, those things you chuck a few things in, and marvel at when dug up again in 10, 20 or 50 years. Hopefully not as alarming as in the film “Knowing”.

In this case its’ been put away for a thousand years. Things like novels from popular 20th century authors, were stored in it – Bradbury, Clarke, Swanwick, Tiptree, etc. Wonders to set young minds to asking questions. Especially as man was still stuck in the solar system – external journeys have been put in the “too hard” basket. “To Hell with the Stars”

A few other stories, nearer our own time, deal with the fallout from retreating from space just as achievements are made. Just because we’ve ‘been there, done that’. It makes you think!

And as usual, a smattering of post disaster stories.

The last story “Time Travellers Never Die” seems to be an introduction to a novel of the same name, that is due for release in ACE Hardcover in Nov 2009.

38 Short stories – a great read

This Subterranean Press edition seems to be sold out. Grab a copy wherever you can.

http://jackmcdevitt.com

The Catcher in the Rye

by J.D.Salinger
ISBN 978-0140237504
c 1946

This is the tale of Holden Caufield’s journey home at term break. It’s told in the “first person” from Holden’s perspective.

He’s been expelled and hopes to get home before his parents get the official letter.

He’s having a run of bad luck, and something in the past has left him jaded. He isn’t getting along with his teachers, and the school, tagging them as phony.

He comes from a privileged New York family (father is a lawyer). Cashed up with $100-ish he rents a hotel room and goes out for a night on the town. Naive in many respects, he is lucky to survive the experiences. I don’t think the story would be realistic in today’s New York.

The story is very well written. It is quite detailed, painting a rich canvas of life in the vicinity of Central Park.

A good read.

Strange, but I don’t remember reading it at school, so it’s my first read. Doesn’t enthuse me to read other works by the author.

I picked it up because Christopher Barzak’s novel “One For Sorrow” was said to be as timeless. Maybe..!! – jury is out! Both have some elements that do age – New York has changed since the 1940’s – Small town USA, today, has all these new technologies that can’t help but influence Barzak’s tale.

Barzak’s tale has some supernatural elements, whereas Salinger’s is a clean/direct/realistic narrative.

Read them both – make your own decision.

wiki/The_Catcher_in_the_Rye
books by christopher-barzak

Robert Buettner: Jason Wander Series

Robert Buettner: Jason Wander / Orphan Series

1) Orphanage
2) Orphan’s Destiny
3) Orphan’s Journey
4) Orphan’s Alliance
5) Orphan’s Triumph
ISBN 0446614297, 0446614300, 0316001732, 1841497525 & 1841497624 (Orbit)

Very easy, enjoyable reads

Have just taken 5 days to read the last 2 novels.

Book 1: Orphanage
In homage to Robert Heinlein’s “Starship Troopers”, Buettner recreates the story his way.

Book 2: Orphan’s Destiny
At twenty-five, General Jason Wander has fought and won man’s only alien conflict. Now, after long years in space, he’s coming home…but to what? Earth’s desperate nations, impoverished by war damage and military spending, are slashing defense budgets. There’s just one problem with this new worldwide policy-the first alien invasion was merely Plan A.

Suddenly, the real assault begins: Earth is attacked by a vast armada. To block their invasion, mankind has only one surviving craft and a single guerrilla strike force…a suicide squad led by Jason Wander.

Book 3: Orphan’s Journey
In the years since the last Slug War, Jason’s command style hasn’t made him any friends in the Army. Now, in an effort to keep him out of trouble, the Army has sent Jason to the vast, Earth-orbiting resort called New Moon. At the core of this enormous space station is a starship, a relic from the last war.

When a test run of the ship goes wrong, Jason, along with a handful of others, will be torn from orbit and thrust outof known space. Now, stranded on an alien planet, Jason realizes that not only are his friends are looking to him for rescue, but an entire planet sees him as their only hope.

Book 4: Orphan’s Alliance
As intraplanetary conflicts rage around him, and the personal stakes get ever higher, Jason finds that playing planet-hopping politician can be harder than commanding armies.

When united mankind squares off to battle the Slugs for a precious interstellar crossroad (Mousetrap), Jason will discover that the most dangerous enemy may be the one he least expects.

Book 5: Orphan’s Triumph
Jason Wander is ready to lead the final charge into battle. The Powers That Be want him to retire. Jason stows away as the armada takes the battle to the Slug home world.

The enemy is waiting at the final jump and the fleet all but annihilated. Jason sneaks thru in a small fighter, landing on the home planet. The enemy communicates with him as he monitors the doomsday weapons’ countdown.

Highlights:
- bk5 pg29: Moosetrap :) – gotta find at least one typo!

Similar books to read
- John Scalzi: Old Man’s War trilogy
- Robert Heinlein: Starship Troopers
- Orson Scott Card: Ender Series

Wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Buettner
Blog: robertbuettner.wordpress.com
www: robertbuettner.com

The Best of Lucius Shepard

ISBN 978-1596061330 (Subterranean)
Hardback, 2008

Lucius Shepard (1947- ) is an American writer. Classified as a science fiction and fantasy writer, he often leans into other genres, such as magical realism.

This collection of short stories is just one of many that I have bought recently.

Shepard is a writer new to me. He writes richly. In earlier stories of war, and the jungle, in Vietnam and South America he delivers strange/rich stories – that magical realism…

It is not a book I could dedicate continuous reading time to. For the last few months a few other books have provided a distraction (see earlier reviews). But, for the last couple of weeks I have been determined to finish it. The last 3 tales definitely worth the effort.

Jailwise: an interesting twist on Jails without jailers
Dead Money: Poker with the recently dead
Stars Seen Through Stone: An extra dimension invasion? Why has the occurance of brilliance increased in the smalltown of Black William, Pennsylvania?

On the whole, worth the time to get a taste of Shepard’s style.

Verdict: 4 stars

Wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucius_Shepard
Blog: community.livejournal.com/theinferior4
Home: www.lucius-shepard.com/
this (home page) appears less current with Lucius making more blog entries

The Martian Chronicles

by Ray Bradbury
ISBN 978-0380973835 (William Morrow)
Hardback (2006 reprint of 1997 Avon Books edition)
story copyrights 1946,1948,1949,1950,1958,1972 with 1997 introduction by the author.

With Subterranean Press about to publish a special edition of Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles, and me not willing to part with US$300 for the privilege – especially now the the AUS$ has dropped from “near parity” to US$0.80ish – I grabbed a cheaper copy to renew the reading experience. I did have other copies in the past, but have given them away.

I don’t think I’ve ever had a copy before that delivered the works in chronological order from “Ylla” (first landing) thru to “The Million-Year Picnic”.

Timeline (stories) 2030-2057 [story list added 15/06/2009]
Rocket Summer
Ylla
The Summer Night
The Earth Men
The Taxpayer
The Third Expedition
And The Moon Be Still As Bright
The Settlers
The Green Morning
The Locusts
Night Meeting
The Shore
The Fire Balloons
Interim
The Musicians
The Wilderness (c 1972)
The Naming of Names
Usher II
The Old Ones
The Martian
The Luggage Store
The Off Season
The Watchers
The Silent Towns
The Long Years
There Will Come Soft Rains
The Million-Year Picnic

Not all the stories are as good as I remembered, but it was good to re-live the series. I have other martian stories waiting on the shelves, from Bradbury contemporaries such as Leigh Brackett and Edmond Hamilton.

If you are a Bradbury worshiper, order the forthcoming Subterranean Press edition. For more information, follow this  link..

The Martian Chronicles: The Complete Edition
By Ray Bradbury (to be published in late 2009)
Illustrated by Edward Miller
Introduction by John Scalzi
Limited: US$300
Lettered: US$900
keep an eye out for temporary price reductions.

Verdict: 4 stars – anything by Ray Bradbury is worth reading

The First Law Trilogy

by Joe Abercrombie

1) The Blade Itself – ISBN 978-0575079793 (Gollancz)
2) Before They are Hanged – ISBN 978-0575082014 (Gollancz)
3) Last Argument of Kings – ISBN 978-0575084162 (Gollancz)
Paperbacks.

The final novel was nominated as a finalist for the David Gemmell Legend Award. Abercrombie is in fine company with Marillier, Sanderson, Sapkowski and Weeks also in the running.

I have seen reviews of this series that say each novel in the series just gets better. All I can say is they get fatter. The writing in all three novels was, IMO, even. No book better than another.

The story jumped around a bit too much, and lacked emotion (to me any way) – a bit flat. Maybe I have just read too much better fantasy lately (Brent Weeks, Fiona McIntosh & Karen Miller for example).

That said, the tale was very well constructed, consistent and no loose ends at the conclusion.

Verdict: 3 stars
www.joeabercrombie.com
gemmellaward.com/profiles/blogs/the-short-list

Flinx Transcendent

by Alan Dean Foster
ISBN: 978-0345496072 (Del Rey)
Hardback, May 2009

A Novel of the (Humanx) Commonwealth
and the final Adventure of Pip & Flinx

In this novel, Foster gets to make a tidy ending of the series. Friends and enemies gather to achieve/thwart Flinx’s ambitions. Many entities from Foster’s “Humanx Commonwealth” novels, not just the “Flinx and Pip” adventures, meet to assist in the destruction of the “great approaching evil”.

Foster can’t let a novel go without disecting at least one civilization. This time it is the enemy of the Humanx Comonwealth, the bloodthirsty AAnn (a good way to round up the series). Flinx, again sidetacks from his task, sneaking onto the AAnn homeworld and making friends in the most unlikely places.

Ultimately, Flinx defeats his enemies and gets the girl!!… and boredom.

Verdict: A Great read – recommended (mostly for Pip & Flinx readers)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flinx
www.alandeanfoster.com

I would like to see more Flinx adventures. With the old thread brought to a tidy conclusion, perhaps there is scope for some standalone adventures. Even more Commonwealth stories would be welcomed.