August 29, 2008 at 10:49 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Favourite Books, Mystery and Suspense, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
Mind Fuck by Manna Francis (Science fiction)
This isn’t an easy book to summarize, and for once, I think the book’s blurb actually does a good job:
There are no bad guys or good guys. There are only better guys and worse guys.
One of the worse guys is Val Toreth. In a world in which torture is a legitimate part of the investigative process, he works for the Investigation and Interrogation Division, where his colleagues can be more dangerous than the criminals he investigates.
One of the better guys is Keir Warrick. His small corporation, SimTech, is developing a “sim” system that places users in a fully immersive virtual reality. A minnow in a murky and dangerous pond, he is only beginning to discover how many compromises may be required for success.
Their home is the dark future dystopia of New London. A totalitarian bureaucracy controls the European Administration, sharing political power with the corporations. The government uses violence and the many divisions of the feared Department of Internal Security to maintain control and crush resistance. The corporations fight among themselves, using lethal force under the euphemism of “corporate sabotage,” uniting only to resist attempts by the Administration to extend its influence over them.
Toreth and Warrick are more natural enemies than allies. But mutual attraction and the fight for survival can create unlikely bonds.
The story begins when Toreth and Warrick meet at a conference where Warrick makes a presentation about the new sim technology being developed by his corporation. A proposition by Toreth leads to sex, but in Toreth’s mind, that doesn’t constitute enough involvement to turn down a case involving SimTech. A student intern at the corporation has been found dead while using the sim, and the similarity to a previous death that was ruled accidental is enough to bring in I&I.
Mind Fuck is actually the first novel in a series of stories, of varying length, which make up The Administration series. I first read it online, and it is still available to be read for free. I’ve been in love with this series for a few years now, so I was delighted to find that a dead tree version is now available.
I ordered Mind Fuck and its sequel directly from Casperian Books, a self-publisher small press. I was a little concerned about the quality of the books, and the shipping time, since they ship only through US media mail. I needn’t have worried; the books arrived in exactly three weeks, reasonable for a package shipped from the US to Canada. The editions are wonderful, with beautiful covers and a crisp, clean internal layout that I find very pleasing, and very appropriate to the content. Each of the books came with a matching bookmark, printed with the book’s cover on one side, and the blurb on the back, which I thought was a very nice touch. I was also impressed with the quality; it’s my first time ordering online direct from a press, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.
Even the price was reasonable–$15 US apiece compares favourably to the standard Canadian price for trade paperbacks, and even with the shpping charge included, they were pretty much equal to what I’d pay at an ordinary brick-and-mortar bookstore.
Mind Fuck is set in the near future, and has some of the best science fiction world-building I’ve ever read. Although the technology is new, most of it is clearly the result of believable advances in today’s technology. There is mention of terraforming of Mars and of deep-sea habitats, but the only new tech that gets any focus is the sim. And what a shiny new piece of tech it is.
The way the author writes about it, you would think she had already built and programmed a sim system herself. Without going into tedious detail, she gives an amazing idea of the scope of the sim project and the limitations and liabilities that come along with it. It really is hard to believe that no such system exists in the real world. That it all came out of her head.
The same is true for all the day-to-day details of the world of The Adminstration; from criminal law to corporate contracts, a few well-placed details make the Administration so real it’s hard to believe it doesn’t exist. The characters, too, though they are so different from anyone I’ve ever met or imagined, are walking, talking, breathing people so alive I wouldn’t be surprised if they walked off the page and into my living room.
I’m not a fan of police procedurals, nor dystopian fiction, nor books with graphic sex scenes, yet this novel is all three, and somehow I love it because of, rather than in spite of, those traits. Part of it is that Mind Fuck is, at its foundation, a difficult, fascinating, engaging mystery. The first time I read it, yes, I wanted to know what happened to the characters, and more about the world, but I also wanted, quite desperately, to know the solution to the case. When the book did give me the answer, it was perfectly satisfying, even though I hadn’t seen it coming.
The police procedural format is, surprisingly, one of my favourite aspects of the book. I find the world of the Administration fascinating, and no part of it more so than its criminal investigation procedures. Toreth is also a great viewpoint character, because his thoughts about his interviewees and the about the policies he has to follow are always amusing.
As for the dystopia aspect…Mind Fuck isn’t 1984 or Brave New World. It’s not a cautionary tale, and both Toreth and Warrick are more privileged than victimized by the system, so I find it interesting rather than depressing. The sex scenes, although they are graphic, are not gratuitous. When sex is shown, it always advances the plot or deepens our understanding of the characters in some important way.
I could write much more about how utterly amazing this book is, but ultimately, all I really want to say is: go read it. As I said above, it is available to read online for free, or you can buy a print copy directly from Casperian Books, or from Amazon (though the author and publisher get a bit more money if you buy direct from Casperian.)
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, A ~ Z Reading Challenge, Manna Francis, R.I.P. III, The Administration
August 29, 2008 at 8:01 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Historical Fiction, Mystery and Suspense, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
Pride and Prescience by Carrie Bebris (Historical mystery/horror)
I generally avoid all Jane Austen pastiches because they are usually crap. At the age of thirteen, having devoured all six of her novels, I tried a few of the modern sequels written by Emma Tennant and her ilk, and gave them up in disgust. And anything that I considered too sappy, implausible, and contrived to be bothered with in the eighth grade is something I would not now touch with a ten-foot pole.
However, I read good things about Carrie Bebris’s series, which now consists of three novels, with a fourth soon to be published. Featuring the new Mr. and Mrs. Darcy as the protagonists, these books add supernatural mysteries to Austen’s world, which the Darcys must unravel. Through the course of the series, they meet characters from the other novels.
The switch from romance/social satire to supernatural detective story is what makes this series more tolerable than other Austen continuations, since it sticks to imitating Austen’s style which, though tricky, is far easier than successfully reproducing her substance. Even the style isn’t perfect: unfortunately, a number of modern words and idioms break the flow of the narrative. The biggest flaw, though, is in the presentation of Elizabeth, whose sudden belief in the supernatural is entirely out of character. And anyone who’s read Northanger Abbey will appreciate why mixing genuine supernatural occurrences with Austen characters doesn’t work well.
Still, the book was entertaining enough, once I forced myself to suspend my disbelief. After their wedding, Darcy and Elizabeth are looking forward to starting their new life together at Pemberley, so they’re disappointed when Caroline Bingley’s sudden engagement and wedding spoil their plans. Only hours after the wedding, the Darcys find Caroline wandering in an unsavoury area of London, with no explanation for her presence. Her strange behaviour soon escalates, and mysterious and dangerous events plague a house-party at Netherfield, culminating in the murder of one of the guests.
I am clearly not the ideal audience for this series, being (a) an Austen fan(atic), (b) persnickety about historical detail and period tone, and (c) less than enthused by supernatural mysteries. Pride and Prescience was okay, and actually had some genuinely funny moments, but it just wasn’t my kind of book. I also found the solution too obvious, but it’s at least believable that none of the characters would have figured it out. (It’s not so much that the characters were dim, but that for some reason the author felt the need to hit the reader over the head with really obvious clues–when in fact there was no need to give the reader any kind of clues at all, much less to hammer them home like that.)
Verdict? Meh. I’m reading the sequels, but I advise against spending money on this one, unless you’re sure it’s your cup of tea. I’ve heard the next two are better, so…we’ll see.
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, A ~ Z Reading Challenge, Carrie Bebris, Mr. and Mrs. Darcy Mysteries, R.I.P. III
August 29, 2008 at 4:13 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Mystery and Suspense
A Right to Die by Rex Stout (Mystery)
If you’ve never read a Nero Wolfe novel, this one would actually be a pretty good place to start. Reading any popular novel written in 1964 that deals explicitly with race and racism is always going to be taking a chance, and Rex Stout (or at least his characters) aren’t particularly enlightened on the subject, by modern’s standards. Surprisingly, A Right to Die tackles civil rights and interracial marriage head-on, and although it doesn’t really come to any conclusions, I’m still somewhat impressed. A Right to Die also compares favourably with other Wolfe mysteries, although the way Wolfe figures out the case is a little strange–I’m not sure where Rex Stout was going with it.
I managed to snag a used copy (in really excellent condition) of the first edition, and I absolutely love the cover. All in all, a very pleasing purchase.
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, A ~ Z Reading Challenge, Nero Wolfe, Rex Stout
July 18, 2008 at 9:18 am · Filed under Book Reviews, Favourite Books, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
100. Red Prophet by Orson Scott Card (Historical fantasy) ? p.
In this book, Card continues to tell the story of Alvin Maker, a young White boy who is more than he seems, with a magic beyond what anyone has seen, and an implacable enemy to go with it. The Tales of Alvin Maker is about more than its titular character, though–with this series, Card has set out to create a fantasy grounded in pioneer America, rather than medieval Europe. In this process, he’s created an alternate history and a rich mythology, full of magic and wonder. Red Prophet is less about Alvin Maker than it is about Tecumseh and the Battle of Tippecanoe–or at least, the versions of them that exist in this series.
So far, this is a great series, one that has some wonderful stories in it. I think, though, that those stories would likely resonate more with actual Americans, who presumably know and care more about American history than I do. (An alternate Canada appears in this book, but it’s so different from the real Canada, and so peripheral to the story, that it doesn’t interest me in any particular way.)
Card gives his characters distinct speech patterns and accents, which was a little jarring for the first few pages. Once I got used to that, though, it helped make the story come alive. And that’s one of the best things about this series–all the stories are alive in the way that all really good myths and legends are alive.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Pages read: ?
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, A ~ Z Reading Challenge, Cardathon Challenge Redux, Orson Scott Card, Tales of Alvin Maker
July 7, 2008 at 4:07 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Children's Literature, Favourite Books, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
90. Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer (Juvenile fiction, science fiction, fantasy) 385 p.
Long ago, humans and fairies fought a war that drove the fairies underground, but there was one group who chose instead to take their island out of time, isolating it, but protecting it from humans. Now the demons are coming re-appearing, creating a threat to the secrecy and survival of all other fairies. And when it comes to saving fairy civilization, there’s no better team than Artemis Fowl and Holly Short.
In The Lost Colony, Artemis and Holly face a number of threats, including another child genius. Minerva Paradizo is only twelve, not much younger than fourteen-year-old Artemis, and just as intelligent. Worse, Artemis is finally feeling the effects of puberty, and may not be quite as focused as he usually is. This book is as good as any of the previous books in the series, and introduces some interesting new characters. Imp N°1 is my favourite, but I quite like Minerva as well, and I’m eager to see what Colfer will do with her in The Time Paradox, which is due to be released next week. In it, Artemis will face his most clever and diabolical foe: himself.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Pages read: 26,516
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, A ~ Z Reading Challenge, Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
July 7, 2008 at 3:51 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Children's Literature, Favourite Books, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
89. Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer (Juvenile fiction, science fiction, fantasy) 497 p.
This is the fourth Artemis Fowl novel, following Artemis Fowl, The Arctic Incident, and The Eternity Code.
Opal Koboi, one of the villains from the The Arctic Incident, is once again on the loose, and this time it’s personal: she’s after Julius Root, Holly Short, and all the others, both human and fairy, who helped to foil her plot–including Artemis Fowl. The big problem? No one knows she’s escaped, she soon has Holly on the run from the law, and at the end of The Eternity Code, Artemis was mind-wiped to prevent him from ever divulging fairy secrets. Somehow, Holly has to find him, convince him that fairies really exist, and enlist his aid against one of LEPrecon’s greatest foes–all without being apprehended herself.
The Opal Deception is another fun, fast-paced adventure. Despite the handicap of remembering nothing he once knew about fairies and fairy technology, Artemis is at his brilliant best, and Holly is as tough and competent as ever.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Pages read: 26,131
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, A ~ Z Reading Challenge, Artemis Fowl, Chunkster Challenge 2008, Eoin Colfer
July 7, 2008 at 3:38 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Children's Literature, Favourite Books, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
88. Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer (Juvenile fiction, science fiction, fantasy) 309 p.
This is the third in the Artemis Fowl series, preceeded by Artemis Fowl and The Arctic Incident. It easily matches the quality of the first two books, with a similarly frenetic plot, fun characters, and interesting world-building. It’s written for children, so the characterization, though good for this type of novel, is not notably complex or nuanced.
After his experiences with the fairies and his father’s sudden growth of a conscience, Artemis has decided to go straight. As soon as he transacts one last shady deal. Unfortunately, that deal leaves Butler, his bodyguard and friend, on the edge of death, and endangers the entire fairy world. Artemis must once again team up with his old nemesis, Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance (or LEPrecon) officer Holly Short, in order to save her world.
As usual, Artemis and Holly make a great team, and the inclusion of Juliet Butler and Mulch Diggums just makes the story better.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Pages read: 25,634
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, A ~ Z Reading Challenge, Artemis Fowl, Eoin Colfer
July 7, 2008 at 3:24 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Children's Literature, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
87. The Chessmen of Doom by John Bellairs (Juvenile fiction, horror) 155 p.
This is one of the later books in Bellairs’s Johnny Dixon series, and one I never read as a child. I don’t know if it just isn’t as good as the others, or if the fact that I have no nostalgia for the story makes a difference, but I didn’t like it as much as most of Bellairs’s work.
When Professor Childermass’s brother dies, he leaves a cryptic rhyme and a series of instructions in his will, leading the Professor, Johnny, and Fergie to stay in his broken-down mansion for the summer. While there, they have some msyterious and sinister experiences, and uncover a malign plot to end the world.
These books, unlike some of the other juvenile and young adult fiction I read, are really strictly for children. Although they aren’t a bad way to occupy an idle hour, there’s really nothing in them that would appeal to an adult whose never encountered them before, except perhaps the charm of the 1950’s setting. As a child, Bellairs’s books scared me and my roommate (and childhood best friend) to death, but no one over the age of ten would feel the slightest twinge of anxiety. They’re ideal for seven- or eight-year-olds, though!
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pages read: 25,325
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, A ~ Z Reading Challenge, John Bellairs, Johnny Dixon
May 27, 2008 at 2:50 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Favourite Books, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror
81. Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov (Science fiction) 224 p.
I was eager to read this sequel to Foundation, but I didn’t expect it to live up that book. And it didn’t.
Foundation and Empire is made up of two short novellas. “The General” takes place some forty-odd years after the end of Foundation. Although the Galactic Empire is dying, the visible decay on its periphery has not yet penetrated to its heart. A young, successful, and loyal general named Bel Riose targets the Foundation for Imperial conquest. It seems that another Seldon crisis is at hand, this time pitting the Foundation against the might of the still-powerful Empire.
Other than my complaint that, once again, Asimov seems to believe that women will never have anything of value to contribute to politics or history, “The General” is a pretty good story, but it lacks the force and excitement of the earlier stories. There’s a very good reason for that, but it made me glad that the story was fairly short (only 82 pages.)
“The Mule” takes place three centuries after the Foundation was first established. Quite some time has passed since “The General”, and the Empire is a dead husk. On the Periphery, a new power has arisen, known to followers and enemies alike only as the Mule.
Although “The Mule” is a much longer and better story than “The General”, it suffers from greater problems, too. From very early on, I found the identity of the Mule pathetically obvious. Even though there’s a partial explanation at the end for why no one figured it out, it’s still annoying. And as before, Asimov’s attitude toward women is profoundly disturbing, such that their presence in this part of the series bothers me as much as their earlier, unjustified absence.
Even with all its drawbacks, Foundation and Empire is well worth reading, an enjoyable return to the world of Foundation. It reveals more about Hari Seldon and the original Foundation project, and takes the plot in an unexpected new direction, setting the stage for the final instalment in the original trilogy, Second Foundation.
Pages read: 23,781
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, 888 Challenge, A ~ Z Reading Challenge, Foundation, Isaac Asimov, SF Subgenre Challenge
May 27, 2008 at 2:40 pm · Filed under Book Reviews, Favourite Books, Historical Fiction, Mystery and Suspense
80. Dark Assassin by Anne Perry (Historical mystery) 308 p.
I’m not really a fan of this series. I like Perry’s Thomas and Charlotte Pitt novels, but William Monk has never appealed to me, and although his wife Hester’s part of the story is always interesting, it’s never prominent enough to carry the book. I found that to be true in Dark Assassin, even though I enjoyed it more than I expected to.
Now an Inspector in the Thames River Police, Monk and some of his men are on the river when they witness a tragedy: a young couple standing on a bridge seem to struggle, then both fall into the water far below and are almost instantly drowned. From their vantage point on the water, in the twilight gloom, neither Monk nor any of his men are sure whether the couple’s fall was suicide or murder.
It soon becomes clear to Monk that whatever the cause of the incident, it is tied up with the apparent suicide of the young woman’s father weeks earlier, and with the sewer construction taking place all over London. Six years earlier, the Great Stink—when the Thames and its tributaries overflowed with raw sewage—turned much of London into a giant cesspit.
Although I appreciate Anne Perry’s mastery in creating a character like Monk, a flawed human being who develops and comes to know himself better with every book, I don’t really like Monk himself, and I don’t take much pleasure in reading about him. I liked Dark Assassin mostly for Hester’s part in it, and for some of the other interesting characters, like Runcorn, Orme, and Scuff. The mystery plot was about average for Perry, good but not spectacular. If you like the Monk series, though, there are a lot of interesting developments; some of them actually made me want to pick up later books in the series, just to see how those ongoing plot lines turned out.
Pages read: 23,557
Tags: 50 Book Challenge 2008, A ~ Z Reading Challenge, Anne Perry, William Monk
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