CLYDE WISHAM
A good and evenhanded history of the turbulent and bloody period when the Plantagenets lost the throne of England to the Tudors. It is a story of how a perfect storm of pride, misrule, greed, murder, betrayal, treachery, and plain old pigheadedness brought a proud nation to chaos and near ruin. Good book.(It is easy to understand why [a:George R.R. Martin 346732 George R.R. Martin https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1351944410p2/346732.jpg] chose to pattern his Song of Ice and Fire series after The Wars of the Roses.)
The subtitle (How Humans and Their Dogs Drove Neanderthals to Extinction) seems a bit deceptive to me. This book provides much more than a story of humans and dogs driving Neanderthals to extinction. It covers a wide range of evidence and conjecture about that period about 45,000 years ago when the Neanderthal were replaced by anatomically modern humans in Europe and the Middle East. The discussion of anthropological, morphological, chemical/radiological, and genetic evidence is compelling.It is in the final chapters that Shipman discusses the partnership between humans and dogs, and their probable impact on other apex predators such as the Neanderthal. A fascinating story it is. I learned a lot about the human-dog partnership – why it is so strong, why it works so well, and what a truly strange thing it is.[b:The Invaders: How Humans and Their Dogs Drove Neanderthals to Extinction 23502984 The Invaders How Humans and Their Dogs Drove Neanderthals to Extinction Pat Shipman https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445096386s/23502984.jpg 43107657] is not a perfect book. I very much doubt that it will please everyone. How could it be when addressing a somewhat controversial topic? Also, I question some of the terminology. For example, I was mildly irritated by the misuse of the word “fossil” in a few cases when discussing non-fossilized remains. But, that is a minor quibble. All in all, it is a very interesting book with I think some sound conclusions.
[b:Come the Revolution 25110945 Come the Revolution Frank Chadwick https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1429097077s/25110945.jpg 44804686] is a worthy sequel to [b:How Dark the World Becomes 15803177 How Dark the World Becomes Frank Chadwick https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1345678721s/15803177.jpg 21526591].The adventures of gangster turned guardian Sasha Naradnyo continue. He remains one of the toughest protagonists in SF literature. However, in this story he is trying really really hard not to kill people. He succeeds for a while.Good book.
Romance-SF is not a sub-genre I gravitate toward (in fact, I find only five others in my GR book list), but I decided to read this one due to recommendations by folks I trust. Glad I did as I rather enjoyed [b:These Broken Stars 13138635 These Broken Stars (Starbound, #1) Amie Kaufman https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1383578978s/13138635.jpg 18315607].The basic story is one that most of us have read/watched versions of before – a rich girl gets stranded with an ordinary boy. In this case, she is richest girl in the galaxy and a starliner wreck strands her on a strange planet with a military boy. So ho-hum, right? But, in this case it was pretty well done with considerable originality.After the excitement of the starliner wreck the two have to survive a trip across country. This is where the story perhaps drags a bit. However, it does allow the characters to slowly get to know each other as they struggle to survive the dangers of the journey. They also gradually become aware that there is something strange about the planet. When they reach their destination, the story kicks into high gear and things get very curious indeed. Their very survival hangs on their decisions and actions. Also, there is a twist near the end that I totally didn't expect.Pretty good story in general.
I don't read a lot of fantasy, leaning more towards SF and crime fiction. However, I had been eyeing [b:Son of the Black Sword 25110977 Son of the Black Sword (Saga of the Forgotten Warrior, #1) Larry Correia https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1427260371s/25110977.jpg 44804710] as I had heard some good things about it. So, when my book club picked it as a monthly read, I decided to give it a go. I am glad I did; Larry Correia has written one kick-ass book. I quite enjoyed it.This is epic fantasy, but not the Euro-centric epic fantasy that is the norm. It has more Indian and African influence with perhaps a taste of Japanese culture thrown in. It is dark, and it is very violent. The level of violence reminded me of Joe Abercrombie's [b:The Blade Itself 944073 The Blade Itself (The First Law, #1) Joe Abercrombie https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1284167912s/944073.jpg 929009].The main protagonist Ashok, a Protector, is a magically enhanced fighting machine. Using his ancestral black sword, Angruvada, he defeats demons and takes on entire armies of ordinary men. His implacable devotion to and merciless application of The Law has earned him the name Black Heart.Ashok's world is turned upside down when he learns a terrible truth. The perfect “Protector” that carries out orders without question has his life set on a different course.I won't get into details as that would involve spoilers. But, I'll just say that Larry Correia has created a world full of wonders. Demons, warriors, magic, shape-shifters, assassins, prophets, inquisitors, and ordinary people high and low all make their appearance. Action abounds and the plot twists under Correia's skillful writing. What's not to like?
In [b:Savage Run 244105 Savage Run (Joe Pickett, #2) C.J. Box https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388234319s/244105.jpg 236499], Wyoming game warden Joe Picket runs up against a new age range war. Killers have been hired by some shadowy group to kill off environmental activists. Joe gets caught up in the conflict at first peripherally through his job and then directly through a family connection from the past.For the first two thirds of the book, the story builds in two separate lines. One follows the team of killers as they go about the country eliminating victims in imaginative ways. The other follows Joe Picket as he picks up seemingly unrelated clues and begins to tie them together. Then, all hell breaks loose.The last third of the book is all deadly action. And of course, C.J. Box adds one of his trademark unexpected twists to finish off the story.Good book.
Fortey explains geology in a way that is accessible to the layman but still interesting to those with a deeper knowledge. I especially like how he ties in history, culture, and economics and shows the impact of geomorphology and geological processes on all aspects of our lives.
Richard Fortey is a very good writer. Recommended.
I found [b:Arrows of the Queen 13986 Arrows of the Queen (Heralds of Valdemar, #1) Mercedes Lackey https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1296358547s/13986.jpg 834071] to be a quick and fairly enjoyable read. I think I would have liked it more, however, if I had read it as a young man. It had less impact on the old fart I have become. (I had a bit of a feeling of, “Meh, another coming of age fantasy. Whatever.”)
Uhtred, the great pagan warrior, continues his adventures in Saxon England. This wasn't the best in the Saxon series (IMHO), but with almost any book by Bernard Cornwell you get a great story. [b:The Pagan Lord 17853024 The Pagan Lord (The Saxon Stories, #7) Bernard Cornwell https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1370529803s/17853024.jpg 24989806] is no exception.
[b:Fortune's Pawn 15790894 Fortune's Pawn (Paradox, #1) Rachel Bach https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375610325s/15790894.jpg 21512449] is good space opera with a real kickass heroine. The main protagonist, Deviana Morris, is a professional mercenary. She is ambitious, focused on her job, and very aggressive. She takes a job on a trouble ridden trader ship, the Glorious Fool, because she thinks it will get her noticed by the Devastators an elite special forces group she wants to join.Devi soon discovers that the ship deserves its reputation as a danger magnet. The action is fast and violent and Devi is pushed to the limit of her abilities and sometimes beyond on multiple occasions. In addition to the action, mysteries start piling up. Most of them remain unresolved in this story, but I assume they will be addressed in subsequent books in the Paradox series.There is also a romantic element in the story (Devi is pretty aggressive on the sexual front too). This seemed out of place at first; however, by the end of the book the sexy bits proved to be integral to the story (so, OK then).All in all a fun read.
What's not to like? Just look at the characters. First Tarr gives us a teenage ninja polymath and a magic psi wielding stranger from far in the past. Then she tosses in a living starship and a host of other quirky characters. Then she gives them a do or die quest involving an ancient mystery and a danger to the multiverse. Add in a sinister government agency bent on domination and you have all the elements needed for a rip-snorting space opera. Good fun.
Lieutenant Shelley's high tech adventures continue in this the second volume in Nagata's The Red trilogy. This story starts a few months after the end of [b:First Light 23309759 First Light (The Red, #1) Linda Nagata https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435548329s/23309759.jpg 24561453]. Shelly and his “apocalypse squad” are confined while awaiting court-martial for their actions in the unauthorized “First Light” mission. This initially led me to think the book would be one of those tense courtroom dramas, but that part, while strong, turns out to just be a warm-up intro. There are lots of trials to be sure, but they aren't all in the courtroom. Shelly and his team are soon on new and very dangerous missions with civilization itself hanging in the balance. Additionally they find themselves to be targets in international power struggles. Things get very intense.Linda Nagata is a very good and skillful writer and she explores a lot of themes in this book. These include such varied things as PTSD and the camaraderie and brotherhood of combat soldiers as well as extrapolations of present day cutting edge technology into the near future.In summary, “The Trials” is a good sequel to [b:First Light 23309759 First Light (The Red, #1) Linda Nagata https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1435548329s/23309759.jpg 24561453]. Like the first book, it is violent and fast moving. I am quite looking forward to the final book in the trilogy, [b:Going Dark 24885594 Going Dark Linda Nagata https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1439174865s/24885594.jpg 44534204], which will be out later this year.
[b:The Red: First Light 24453551 The Red First Light (The Red Trilogy) Linda Nagata https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1436924487s/24453551.jpg 24561453] is a military techno-thriller placed in the near future. The main protagonist, Lt. James Shelley, leads a squad of soldiers tasked with interdicting and killing terrorists in the Sahel. These are enhanced soldiers. They have received implants for communication and sensing and have exoskeletons that give extra strength and mobility. (Think something part way between present-day boots-on-the-ground grunts and Robert Heinlein's mechanized infantry in Starship Troopers.) Lt. Shelley also has something extra. He seems to have a precognitive gift. He sometimes “knows” when something is about to happen. Some of his team whisper that god talks to him. (Call it the King David connection.) But, is it god or something else?This book is violent and fast moving. It explores technologies that are evolving now and their impact on warfare and politics. It also has some romance and sex (integral to the story), and there some very strange forces at play. (Can't say much more without spoilers.) This is a good and exciting book. Recommended for those who like military SF and/or military-political thrillers.
This novel both pleased and irritated me. Early on I wondered where the story was going as there were seemingly unconnected events involving Chinese history and some people who did incomprehensible things. But slowly, perhaps too slowly (I really would have preferred a faster pace), things began to come together. In the end, I have to say that [b:The Three-Body Problem 20518872 The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth's Past, #1) Liu Cixin https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1415428227l/20518872.SY75.jpg 25696480], though convoluted and overly pedantic, is good science fiction.Liu provides one possible answer to Fermi's question. (“Where are they?”) After reading it, I have to think, perhaps we shouldn't be shouting "Here we are." to the stars.3+ stars.Liu said a lot of interesting things in his author's postscript for the American edition. Two in particular stick in my mind.- Reality brands each of us with its indelible mark. Every era puts invisible shackles on those who have lived through it, and I can only dance in my chains.- But for the universe outside the solar system, we should be ever vigilant, and be ready to attribute the worst of intentions to any Others that might exist in space. For a fragile civilization like ours, this is without a doubt the most responsible path.
I first read [b:Nine Princes in Amber 92121 Nine Princes in Amber (The Chronicles of Amber #1) Roger Zelazny https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1416090973l/92121.SY75.jpg 1383240] decades ago. Recently while perusing my bookshelf for my next read, I picked up the dusty book and idly started reading the yellowing pages. I was immediately hooked again by the story of those powerful, enigmatic, feuding princes of Amber. So it became my next read.It is still a great story.I believe I will continue this time and read Zelazny's entire Chronicles of Amber series.
Three and one-half stars. (Actually I should say 2 stars for the first half, which was a bit of a snooze fest, and 4 stars for the second half.) [b:Ashes of Victory 77742 Ashes of Victory (Honor Harrington, #9) David Weber https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1429189977s/77742.jpg 75080] was a better read the second time through, but that might be because I was able to skim/speed-read through the many data dumps this time and get back to the story. (David Weber is a very good story-teller, but I do wish sometimes that he would spend more time on story editing. But then he would be less prolific, I suppose. Sigh.)In this the ninth book in the direct Honor Harrington story line, Honor is in surgery and rehab to repair the very serious injuries she suffered in previous stories. But, that doesn't mean she is idle; much the opposite. However, others have to carry on Weber's trademark big-fleet actions.This book pushes forward the story lines of the Manticore-Haven war, Honor's positions as a “great-lady” and leader in both Manticore and Grayson, and the human-treecat relationship. There is quite a bit of intrigue and suspense mixed in with the data dumps, and the final chapters are very strong. Overall, though flawed, this book is a must-read for those who enjoy the Honor Harrington series.Update: Better on another reread. Still a bit too wordy, but I am upping my rating to four stars.
This book starts soon after the end of [b:Blood Moon 24062705 Blood Moon (Huntress/FBI Thrillers, #2) Alexandra Sokoloff https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1419473723s/24062705.jpg 24999447]. The huntress, Cara Lindstrom, is in jail accused of murdering an abusive pimp. FBI special agent Roarke is, to put it mildly, conflicted about this as she has previously saved his life and furthermore his life and hers seem bound in some mysterious way. Then fresh murders start happening under circumstances eerily similar to those Cara is suspected of doing. Roarke and his team have a new case. Cara has a copycat. But, who is it and why are they copying her? The plot twists and keeps you off-balance and guessing. In the end – but that would be telling – I'll just say that no one ends where they started.As I have come to expect in this series, there is a dark and evil theme underlying the story. In this case, it is child kidnapping and forced prostitution.Good book. I want more, Alexandra.