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.

Art: Margaret L Rohde

Margaret is an artist who has a diverse portfolio of works in watercolor, oil, lino & wood prints, wood carving, potter, etc. Here are 6 prints that were up for sale at Sunday’s annual fund raiser for the Australia East Timor Friendship Association SA

ML Rohde, Brachychiton, Wood Cut, Hand Coloured

ML Rohde, Gravillea 2007, Lino Cut

ML Rohde, Stenocarpus, Wood Cut, Hand Coloured

ML Rohde, Iris Bowl 1988, Lino Cut, Hand Coloured

ML Rohde, Flowering Gum, Wood Cut, Hand Coloured

ML Rohde, Native Orchid 2001, Lino Cut, Hand Coloured

Star Trek Movie 2009

Saw the latest Star Trek movie this week. My first time in Gold Class seats – luxury!! I liked it. Not being a Star Trek expert makes it much easier to enjoy.

Here are just 2 reviews, by non-Trek experts, that put things into perspective for people like us.

I wonder if this might not be the best space-adventure movie ever made
- Orson Scott Card

Another Review
@ bscreview.com - good comments to read too

Lastword: for all those ready to pick the faults because xxx technology wasn’t/was available at that time, get a l***! It’s an alternate time line to what we know, history may be different. The “new” crew can go where no one (read trek fan) has gone before – exciting?!?!

CD Compilation PickMe#17

The 17th compilation in my PickMe series is called “Dance My Heart“

01 Take My Heart (Chris Isaak)
02 Green Day (Mo’ Horizons)
03 Kings of the World (Mississipi)
04 Summerfling (k.d. Lang)
05 Singin’ in the Rain (Gene Kelly)
06 Moonglow (Artie Shaw & His Orchestra)
07 School Boy (Wynton Marsalis)
08 Dance by the Light of the Moon (Seals & Crofts)
09 Dance Me to the End of Love (Leonard Cohen)
10 Make Someone Happy (Jimmy Durante)
11 Just One of Those Things (Lionel Hampton & Oscar Peterson)
12 ‘D’ Keyboard Blues (Captain & Tennille)
13 Shall We Dance? (Stacey Kent)
14 In Black of Night (Slow Train)
15 Moondance (Van Morrison)
16 Lament I, “Bird’s Lament” (Moondog)
17 Dance With Me (Debelah Morgan)
18 Fairytale (Alexander Rybak)

I started out compiling a quiet album, but it evolved into jazz and then this.. somethingelse!!

Track Notes: 01 My favourite track from Isaak’s latest album “Mr Lucky” 03 found this one on one of the Underbelly Soundtracks 04 been wanting to put this track on a compilation for ages, but it was always cut 05 from the Clockwork Orange Soundtrack would you believe – timeless 07 the best track from trumpeter Wynton Marsalis’s “He and She” album – don’t like the other tracks much 12 did you know that the Captain & Tennille put at least one instrumental track on every album? more will be seen in future compilations 13 Women of Jazz – a nice track from Putumayo World Music  18 Eurovision Song Contest 2009 winner – excellent and annoyingly stays in the head for ages.

One for Sorrow

by Christopher Barzak
ISBN 978-0553384369 (Bantam)
Trade paperback, Sep 2007

At the beginning of the year, I reviewed Christopher Barzak’s second novel “The Love We Share Without Knowing” – a set of tales centered around death, despair and loneliness in contemporary Japan.

This review is about his first novel, “One for Sorrow”, set in a small town in Ohio.

It is a tale about how the death of one teenager (Jamie Marks) affects those around him. The Girl that finds the body, and the boy that felt he could have been more of a friend – Adam McCormick.

It explores the relationships between young adults and their families and community in somewhat rural, small town.

Jamie’s ghost appears and draws Adam into various adventures where it is hard to distinguish reality from dream. So much so that in one adventure I was lost in that dream world with Adam until he began to come out of it.

In between his adventures with Jamie, Adam experiences stress at home. A strict father, domineering brother, and wheel chair bound mother. And to top it all off, there’s the woman who caused his mothers injury, insinuating herself into their family.

Some timelessness about the story. Loss of innocence, etc.
And a happy ending – of sorts!!

Worth a read.

The Love We Share Without Knowing
Blog – christopherbarzak.wordpress.com

Susan Boyle’s Got Talent

Adding all the youtube views quickly goes over 50 million.

Heres a link to a full length, High Quality & Wide Screen version, of Susan Boyle’s audition. It has gone past 2 million views

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luRmM1J1sfg