Jawas Read, Too!

The Dream of Perpetual Motion by Dexter Palmer

2010-06-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

JRT has moved to a new blogging platform. Please update any direct URLs or RSS feeds.

To read this and my other reviews, visit the new location at WordPress!

After a few weeks, I will no longer update Blogger.

The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin

2010-06-19T11:27:00.000-07:00

The Summer of Series event is going strong! June has been productive with lively discussions and many participant reviews. Visit JRT's new location to read reviews and discussion on Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle.

As a reminder: JRT has moved to WordPress. I will no longer update Blogger in a few weeks.

Special Preview

2010-06-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

To read a special preview of Brandon Sanderson's upcoming book, The Way of Kings, please update any direct URLs or RSS feeds and visit JRT at its new location!

Again, JRT has moved; after a few weeks I will no longer update Blogger.

Everwild by Neal Shusterman

2010-06-19T11:21:00.000-07:00

JRT has moved! To read this and other reviews, please update any direct URLs or RSS feeds and visit the new site.

After another few weeks, I will no longer update Blogger.

A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin

2010-06-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

The Summer of Series event is in full swing. June has been very productive so far and there's already been a giveaway!

Visit JRT's new location to read reviews and discussion on Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle.

Star Wars Fate of the Jedi 5: Allies by Christie Golden

2010-06-19T11:17:00.000-07:00

JRT has moved locations! To read this and other reviews, please visit the new site and update any direct URLs or RSS feeds.

Again, JRT is no longer hosted at Blogger.

The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham

2010-06-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

May is at an end and that means... a review of The Price of Spring! We've wrapped up The Long Price Quartet and are moving on to June's selection: Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea Cycle.

We've moved!

Read the review and discussion for The Price of Spring and sign up for June at the new location for Jawas Read, Too. Please update any direct links or RSS feeds.

Everlost by Neal Shusterman

2010-05-28T16:21:00.000-07:00

I review the first book in the Skinjacker Trilogy: Everlost by Neal Shusterman.

You can read my thought at JRT's new location.

The Girl With the Mermaid Hair by Delia Ephron

2010-05-27T16:21:00.000-07:00

I did a guest review of this Contemporary YA book...

See my thoughts and where it was reviewed on the new Jawas Read, Too!

An Autumn War by Daniel Abraham

2010-05-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

Someone pointed out I had the wrong link up yesterday. Instead of directing people to the new WordPress site, I had them redirected back here!

In any event, my review for Daniel Abraham's An Autumn War, the third book in his Long Price Quartet, is up on the new Jawas Read, Too! (And yes, that link works just fine. :) )

Please remember to update your RSS feeds and any direct URLs to JRT.

JRT has moved!

2010-05-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Please update any RSS feeds and links.

I apologize for how quick this change may appear, but I hope you'll join me at the new WordPress location?

Hopefully I won't lose any of you in the move, but if I do: it was wonderful to have you here. For a while I will post reminders and redirect as many of you as I can to the new blog.

My first post is up already. Coincidentally, TJ of Book Love Affair decided to move her site as well to a new location and with a new name: Dreams and Speculation. Since she's been a bit busy this month, I've helped by contributing a guest article, which has been posted today! Take a look over there and join me at my new WordPress site?

A Brief Announcement

2010-05-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

My review of Daniel Abraham's An Autumn War has been postponed until Monday.

JRT is in the final stages of a move that has taken a couple of months to complete. The review will follow an announcement for the new location for JRT. Please be aware you will have to update RSS feeds and any direct links to the main site.

All other review-specific links will no longer work after a short grace period. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Guest Review: Feed by Mira Grant

2010-05-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

Far be it from me to question the methods of the Jawas (they can be so temperamental). They let me know ahead of time how they had managed to wrangle a review out of someone other than me and would I mind posting it on the blog? I don't know which surprised me more: that they conned someone to the task, or that they showed some initiative.

Today's review comes from someone very special to me. He's not shy by any definition of the word, but doesn't believe he'll "cause much of a stir." I'd ask you to get riled on his behalf, but then would have to deal with the consequences. Instead, enjoy JRT's second review of a book we really enjoyed: Feed by Mira Grant.

It was requested by the Jawas that I would do a review of Feed by Mira Grant after I commented about purchasing the book after reading their review. I'm not quite sure why they picked me but when a dozen or so Jawas ask you to do something, turning them down can be very bad for your health.

Feed sounded like an interesting book at first glance because I grew up with zombies. And I grew up with zombies without ever seeing a George Romero film. Instead my experience started with Capcom's Resident Evil series. Upon reaching an age where I could appreciate the horror of the living dead, the pixelated experiment gone wrong burst into popular culture and the youth of our generation.

I'm saying this because I love zombies, but rarely see them executed well. Feed makes every attempt to buck the tropes of bad horror and says "What-if" on a scale that will make nerds quiver with joy. What if humanity wasn't full of idiots that run upstairs and remove their ability to safely egress the house? What if people were armed to protect themselves? What if loved ones were a secondary concern over self preservation? All of these scenarios and more come together to paint a world where humanity has survived the global epidemic of zombie infestation, and it bleeds into every corner of the book.

However, zombies are only half the theme of Feed. Anyone who has been on the internet in the past 5 years can recognize the symbol on the front of the book as the RSS icon written in blood. Bloggers are one of the only factors that kept humanity alive during its darkest of hours. The rapid spread of information across the web during the outbreak kept individuals informed and in some cases got them to safety. This was in contrast to the print and televised media that downplayed the outbreak and got a good deal of people killed. As a result the bloggers are now respected individuals for news and entertainment.

As intricate and interesting as the world is, its inhabitants lack something, development. I appreciate a lot of the characters that Mira Grant tried to create, but I never really felt a connection to them. The main character, a female named George, is an interesting protagonist. As a blogger for a news website, she is cool and calculating, and almost overtly dark and brooding. Her brother, Shaun strives to be the opposite. He has made his career out of picking fights with zombies and filming the encounters, earning himself the title of an Irwin. The contrast of these characters and the supporting cast seems almost to be an afterthought. A lot of the interactions seem forced and the idle time spent by the characters is filled with odd obsessions with monologues about the post-zombie apocalypse world, banter between to adopted siblings whick seem way too familiar, and obsession with coca-cola.

Despite this, the book is impossible to stop reading. The attention to detail in the setting paints the scene that will make zombie nerds squeal inside. As a result it really is a set of boring and strangely behaving people in a spectacularly executed fantasy. The one unifying element that tied the setting and characters together for me was the blog entries. No matter what happened in the story, I never lost the perspective that I was watching this unfold over a set of rss updates, and streaming media from a Ustream video.

I recommend this book, on my personal scale the book was at a 3 and one adolescent jawa, but in the end it hit a solid 4 jawa rating. Read this book if you've ever wondered the "what ifs" of a zombie attack. Read it if the idea of alternate media taking over the information super highway excites you. Most of all read the book if you ever find yourself engrossed in an intricately crafted universe only to find out that 2 hours ago you should have been sleeping. In the spirit of the book I spent my time writing this review on my iPhone, with my shotgun safely within arms reach. You never know right?

Pete thinks this many Jawas would recommend this book:

Sisters Red (ARC) by Jackson Pearce

2010-05-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Sisters Red, Sisters Red #1
Author: Jackson Pearce
Reviewed Format: Advance Reading Copy
Release Date: June 7, 2010
Pages: 336

Scarlett March has always kept an eye out for her younger sister’s well-being. It isn’t as if Rosie can’t take care of herself, but being the oldest, Scarlett feels responsible. Now that the sisters have been orphaned, they rely on each other and the kindness of Silas--a young man raised in a family of woodsmen and living a short walk in the woods from the March cottage. There’s a dangerous secret that ties the three together, a secret so terrifying they would do whatever it takes to protect young, innocent girls around the country from being exposed to it. The sisters would even doll themselves up and wrap warm red cloaks around their shoulders, pull the hoods over their dark hair and lull unsuspecting men into complacency…

I was very lucky to win an autographed ARC of Sisters Red from a contest Tessa Gratton held on her blog. It was a book I’d been curious about; fairy tale retellings are some of my favorite types of books, but Little Red Riding Hood is one I’m especially drawn to. I don’t want to read too much into the book, but know the fairy tale itself has often been studied for its commentary on feminine sexuality; I’m hard-pressed not to approach a reading without scrutinizing that theme. It would seem Jackson Pearce had a similar idea.

The story opens in a rural country cottage which could be anywhere in the world, but some place quaint where two young sisters feel safe enough to play in their yard alone—safe enough where a strange man walking up the path doesn’t immediately send them running indoors, but merely alerts them to potential danger. These girls are smart, I thought. They’re wary and right not to be so trusting of a man with strange big eyes, the better to… well, you know the rest.

That famous line, truthfully, sent a little shiver up my spine. It was a nod to the familiar tale, but from a man—not a wolf. Already the fairy tale is changing. Ah, but with the story there is also a woodsman, the male savior—the Knight In Shining Armor, in other words. But what if Little Red didn’t need to be rescued, but rather, does the rescuing herself with the help of a friendly neighbor woodsman? He’s not even a very reliable woodsman. Silas, we discover, abruptly left small town Georgia for San Francisco, leaving Scarlett and Rosie to wonder if he’d ever return. Not to mention, they had to hunt down werewolves by themselves. Rosie the Riveter would be proud.

To stress how she's reclaimed female competence, Pearce emphasizes the way Scarlett and Rosie lure their enemies to their deaths. The girls apply make-up and don their famous red cloaks—arming themselves for battle with an enemy weakened and drawn by pretty faces, swinging hips, and the color red. Scarlett and Rosie are fenris (werewolf) hunters. From a thematic standpoint, I was impressed with Sisters Red. The fairy tale has been re-imagined to empower females who then protect other females when males are not only unreliable, but become problematic themselves (or have the potential to—pun intended if you’ve read the book). Scarlett and Rosie are not pawns. On the contrary, they orchestrate their own future and manipulate their femininity rather than allowing others to take control. The March sisters are strong in this way, earning physical scars that remind us literally how much is lost and changed by losing innocence. In other ways, they left a lot to be desired.

Rosie and Scarlett are two very different girls. Scarlett is obsessed with hunting; Rosie isn’t. She’s also eager to lead what she believes is a “normal” teenage life. Her obligation to Scarlett causes inner turmoil for Rosie when her efforts begin interfering with the hunt. This sets Scarlett off on an angry crusade which begs the question: Can Scarlett rise above her obsession and predictable characterization? The short answer is: no. The long answer is: of course she forgives her sister for being “normal.” I’d be shocked if she didn’t. There is, however, little character growth for Scarlett (who merely learns to live without her sister, but continues life as before)—Rosie, as the most convincingly conflicted and adventurous of the two comes across as the bravest.

With Rosie we see a girl truly divided by two worlds and two lives: live like Scarlett or pioneer a new path. Rosie’s struggle for balance was the most compelling part of the book. Her extracurriculars may come across as blasé at first, but not when we consider how hard she attempts to ameliorate her hobbies. There is a point where Scarlett is supposed to be torn by betrayal and abandonment, but her convictions were lukewarm at best. I had trouble identifying with her, especially when she was so quick to betray her own friend and just as quickly forgive and forget a couple of chapters later. But if I found Scarlett to be rash and predictable, I found Rosie to be far too giggly. That’s a minor point that speaks more to my experience as a reader feeding into a book that is meant for a much younger audience.

As a YA book, I think it does well, if a little implausibly at times. I was curious why their fake stories brushed off Child Protective Services and nosy townsfolk for so long, but as with many YA books, adults are messy and get in the way: make them the enemy or be rid of them altogether. Teenagers, at least in fiction, can take care of themselves. That independence makes for a whimsical and dangerous mix of adventure that doesn’t always work, but in this case, I think it does, if only just. The red cloak the sisters wore were also a bit ludicrous, especially when I realized they would not be hunting in some historically alternate German countryside where cloaks are commonplace. Wandering the streets of modern Atlanta with a red cloak would definitely draw my attention. How those two remain unnoticed for so long is beyond me. It was a cute salute, but too anachronistic. I could have done without it. The girls could have improvised with other red clothing to the same effect, I think.

In any event, Jackson Pearce does some very interesting and wonderful things with the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale. She plays with responsibility and independence, empowering Little Red beyond needing male intervention. The girls can now choose their help (if needed) and that choice makes all the difference. There’s also a lot of action in which Rosie and Scarlett prove they can fight just as well, if not better than, any boy. I’m not sure how the rest of the series will play out (other than the inevitable), but I’m curious to find out.

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Weekend Discussion: The Nebula & Andre Norton Winners

2010-05-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

The Nebulas were this weekend, but the ceremony to announce the winners in all categories was held last night. I only mentioned the Best Novel, Novella (well, sort of), and Andre Norton nominees and so, I will tell you which books won in those categories:

For Best Novel: The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi (link goes to my review)

For Best Novella: The Women of Nell Gwynne’s by Kage Baker

The Andre Norton Award: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making
Congratulations to all of the nominees! I had hoped Bacigalupi would win and was touched when his speech (I watched the ceremony on ustream) came unprepared because he honestly thought he would not win. The Windup Girl was definitely one of the BEST Science Fiction novels I read last year. :) If you haven't read it, I highly recommend that you do.

A full listing of all winners can be found here.

Be ready for tomorrow: I'll have a review of the upcoming Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce.

A Betrayal in Winter by Daniel Abraham

2010-05-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Title: A Betrayal in Winter, Book 2 of the Long Price Quartet
Author: Daniel Abraham
Reviewed Format: Hardcover
Release Date: August 21, 2007
Pages: 320

For Otah Machi and Maati it’s been 15 years since the events A Shadow in Summer. The end of that book saw a happy, if wary ending for Liat and Maati. Otah was troubled by his friend’s confession and preoccupied with the Galtic involvement threatening thousands of innocent lives. As Betrayal in Winter opens, we discover things have turned out quite differently for our protagonists, except, perhaps, for Otah, than when we left them.

Otah’s father, the Khai Machi is dying. Already there are rumors about which brother will be the first to strike and begin the murderous journey to the throne. Ignored for being a woman, but operating under the radar is Idaan, Otah’s sister, who is determined to marry for love, not obligation. The Khaiem isn’t kind to women and the roles they are expected to play in society, but Idaan refuses to be contracted out of the family. When her brother is suddenly found dead it’s the worst news to come: already the killing has started and the Khai is still alive. Idaan’s chance at a prosperous marriage is in danger of dissipating. Eager to discover Otah’s involvement, if any, in the murder, the Dai-kvo sents Maati to investigate without arousing suspicion. There he finds a library and a curious young Poet with a large andat who frequently reminds Maati of his failure to successfully bind Seedless. Will Maati’s new assignment be met with success--will he draw Otah out into the open and clear his name or will he discover a new, deadly secret about his one time friend?

A Betrayal in Winter is a fantasy of politics and court intrigue. With a healthy dose of betrayals, murders, and conspiracy it’s no wonder the pacing is sped up from the slower meditations of A Shadow in Summer. This difference is not only noticeable, but pulled off with an expertise I’ve come to respect of Abraham. As a sequel, I wouldn’t expect anything otherwise. It doesn’t fail to deliver, especially from the prolog (which is long, like the epilog--I don’t think Abraham could write a shorter one). The lapse of years between books was unexpected, but not unexplained. Despite the years, the events in between the books are doled out by pieces until by the end we discover Maati’s slow-crushing downfall that led to his new assignment and Otah’s journey to escape his past yet again. A lot has happened; seeing familiar characters so much changed by events outside of the text is only part of what makes A Betrayal in Winter so innovative and refreshing.

Because we aren’t just catching these characters immediately after we last left them, they’re allowed to grow and change without our supervision. At this point, they could be different characters, with different lives that wind up making an interesting sequel. With its convoluted plot riddled with drama and a dynamic cast of characters, Abraham has given readers a book and series (of the epic variety) worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy. This is a series that could easily span generations as the inclusion of children bodes portentous outcomes. Already the difference in time between the first and second novel beg for a scale not constrained by any one group of characters, but of their influences and the consequences of their actions. Otah’s decision to leave Machi has, as it turns out, ultimately decided his fate for him. There is indeed a long price to pay for this and other events throughout the two books already.

I like how different Machi is from Saraykeht with an economy built around metal mines instead of the textile industry, not to mention the changes in weather and way of living. Once again I’m impressed with the spiritual, supernatural beings that are the andats treated as slaves eager to escape their earthly prisons. The relationship between Poet and andat is organic and complex, as hated as it’s been made necessary. The game that Cehmai and Stone-Made-Soft play is exemplary of their constant struggle against each other.

Both, however, are products of a long-standing tradition, one of many in this world. Otah, for example describes the succession to his father’s throne as an “idiot system” (p. 219), a definition I’m inclined to believe. Andat and poet, Khai and sons, women of the Khaiem--all are constrained by ritual and tradition with aged foundations and made miserable in the process. Of those groups, women took the spotlight in this book with Idaan as a new character point of view. She made for an interesting choice, one that I’m not sure compliments the way women have been portrayed in this series so far.

Of the few women we’ve been introduced to, Amat seems to be the strongest example of what’s possible for a woman to accomplish outside the ordinary bounds of society. In A Shadow in Summer she may have suffered silently, but had and used her influence and power to her advantage. It could be argued that Idaan does the same thing here, but the difference is one of morality, in shades. Having been reduced to a jealous, bitter villain driven to murder by a lust for power and a desire to be recognized, Idaan comes off as weaker than I would have liked. Her plight ingratiates her decisions to me, though, as does the painful deterioration of her relationship with Adrah. It’s heart-breaking to read about, especially when I consider: what other options did Idaan have? I think the irony of Otah, the son who ran away, coming back with little alternative will be reflected in Idaan’s sentiment that she, too, like her brother once said of himself, will never return.

If Idaan has a larger role to play in the last two books like I believe she does, I still have to wonder why she, along with Liat, if they are not given their due in society, is driven, or chooses, to cheat on her significant--male--other. It’s yet to be seen if this is ultimately a sexual power play--Liat and Idaan’s roles having been diminished by society to the point where their bodies are literally all they have left to control. Whether it’s this or Abraham’s female characters are just unsavory moral citizens remains to be seen. Kiyan, while independent, didn’t impress me as much as I would have liked, especially as she’s now being defined, like Idaan, by her relationship to men--she’s the Khai’s wife, mother to his child, and only one of what tradition dictates will be many wives. I’m curious to see where this goes in the remaining two books. I can only hope she escape the disappearance into irrelevance Biitrah’s wife suffered at his death.

A Betrayal in Winter is a satisfying sequel. Abraham’s writing invites a slower reading that I think benefits the scale of his story. It’s rare that I see epic fantasy this dynamic and innovative. For all that the world creates interesting avenues for Abraham’s narrative, this is really Otah’s (and perhaps also, Maati’s) story. I can’t wait to see where his journey takes him. And in all honesty, the poses and gestures I found so intrusive and distracting before didn’t bother me nearly as much. Abraham didn’t appear to use them as often, but also I think I’m becoming desensitized. Whatever the reason, it was not an issue this time.

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Discussion!

Did you review the book? Let me know and your link could be the first. :)

Calico Reaction's review

A Few Rules:

Be respectful.
Rude or inconsiderate comments will be deleted without question.
No vulgarities allowed.
Be considerate. If you have read the rest of the series, avoid posting spoilers.

Did you miss a book for the challenge so far?

A Shadow in Summer Discussion/Review

Remember: have fun! We're all here because we love to read. Discuss anything about the book that comes to mind. The topics I've written below are only for consideration and do not necessarily need to be answered.

Still haven't signed up? Do so here.

Topics to Consider for Discussion:
(These are only rough guidelines meant to encourage discussion, not lead it)

1. Consider the role of women in this series so far. What do you like or dislike? How does the treatment of women affect (or not affect) how you read the books?

2. Many characters are the product of systems constrained by tradition. Do you think this leads to a lack of responsibility as characters default to their respective positions? Or do you think Abraham is building to a greater call for change?

The Book Faeries - May Edition #2

2010-05-13T15:25:00.000-07:00

Real life has been keeping me busy the past week or so, but I do have some surprises in store for JRT readers. :) To begin, I want to thank TJ from Book Love Affair for holding an impromptu Twitter contest for a President Ryman campaign button (I won). It arrived in the mail with a surprise book light - goes to show how awesome TJ is!

(I apologize for the grainy photo. My MacBook's camera is not so great.)

Ryman is a character from Mira Grant's (aka Seanan McGuire) book Feed. If you haven't read it, you should. Not to brag (I will be), but my review convinced Pete to not only buy a copy to read for himself, but one for a friend as well. We love the book that much! So, thank you TJ for the fun button and the book light. :)

Second, there will be a guest review soon. It's a secret, so until then, be on the lookout.

But you can't deny you're just a little curious about the books that arrived in the past few weeks for review...

Rampant, Killer Unicorns #1 by Diana Peterfruend

When I first heard a book was released about unicorns, I wasn't interested. I had never read Peter S. Beagle's The Last Unicorn - the only experience I had was an old anime called "Unico" which, while good for nostalgia factor, isn't something that left a lasting impression on unicorns enough for me to be a fan as an adult. When I heard Rampant was a book about killer unicorns, I was sold. It's taken me this long to find a copy I could afford, but I imagine it's well worth the wait. Not to mention, I can finally make an educated decision on the Unicorns vs. Zombies debate.

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

The Affinity Bridge by George Mann

I first heard of George Mann through the press surrounding his newest book, The Ghosts of Manhattan - a lovely superhero and steampunk combination I knew I couldn't resist, but did not have the budget for. Recently, Thea from The Book Smugglers reviewed The Affinity Bridge for Steampunk Week and piqued my curiosity. Instead of pining for a new book I knew I couldn't afford, I searched until I found a copy of The Affinity Bridge that I could. It's the first in a new series (Newbury & Hobbes Investigation), which is a bit exciting. It's not often I see a steampunk series, for all that the subgenre has been in the spotlight as of late. Thea gave it a favorable review and that's good enough for me.

Genre: Steampunk

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

Crystal Rain by Tobias S. Buckell

Aztec Science Fiction. What a wonderfully obscure combination - one that I knew I couldn't live without having read. The cover is also compelling. An airship, a man leaning out with a pistol. It evokes pirates and the type of swashbuckling action see in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, but with Aztec aliens and it's Science Fiction. I still can't wrap my head around it. This will be my first Buckell book. I hope it lives up to that wonderful cover and the very interesting premise.

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

Ragamuffin by Tobias S. Buckell

Ragamuffin is the sequel to Crystal Rain. Only one was on sale so I took a bit of a risk and decided to get both. Like Crystal Rain, Ragamuffin has a cover that just looks like a lot of fun. And I hear there are wormholes in this series. What other cool SF tropes are we going to throw in? I'm eager to get started on these and see if I wouldn't like to go ahead and look for the third book, Sly Mongoose.

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

Green by Jay Lake

I'll be honest with you: what attracted me to this book wasn't Lake's writing (which I haven't read) or the premise (which I know nothing about). It was the cover. The beautiful, gorgeous cover lush with that saturated green hue and the strange girl hanging upside down from a tree. Frankly, the mediocre ratings and so-so reviews aren't swaying me in any one direction. I'm determined to read this book and develop my own opinion (shocking, I know). It isn't steampunk (I believe Mainspring and Escapement - as well as the third in that series, Pinion - are, though), but rather more of a fantasy about a child raised to be an assassin. The potential for a strong female protagonist is there. There are also interesting magical elements I'm curious to see executed.

Genre: Fantasy

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

Replay by Ken Grimwood

I looked for this after reading a favorable review by Calico Reaction. I find this cover distracting and unappealing. The repeating photograph is important when the premise is taken into consideration: a man is allowed to relive his life over and over. In that context, the cover is understandable, but I'm still not a fan. I don't think I've ever read a time travel story where the protagonist relives moments of their lives - the closest I got was a slightly off-definition story by Ursula K. Le Guin and that episode of "Xena" where she relives the same moment over in one episode until whatever it is she's supposed to prevent is prevented. Yes, I used to watch "Xena." It's wonderfully corny.

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

Orsinian Tales: Stories by Ursula K. Le Guin

Yet another Ursula K. Le Guin short story collection to add to my repertoire. I don't think I could get enough of her. If you haven't read anything by Le Guin before, I don't think I recommend starting from her short fiction. To be fair, I don't know anyone who has been introduced through her work that way. If you have, or know anyone, would you say it makes a difference rather than leaping into something like The Left Hand of Darkness or The Dispossessed?

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson

I have never read anything by Neal Stephenson before, but thought I could start with Cryptonomicon. I think I made a mistake. I should probably start with Snow Crash. In any event, I have both this and Anathem in my persona library now. I don't know when I'll get to either, but both compete for dictionary-sized fiction. I was surprised this was left in excellent condition for my local library's bookstore for only $1. Not a bad investment.

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via Library Bookstore

The Girl With the Mermaid Hair by Delia Ephron

You might be asking yourself: Erika, why do you have a YA romance book? This book is a surprise. I cannot tell you about it now, but in a couple of weeks, you'll know why it's in my possession. :)

Genre: Young Adult Romance

Received: via ...? :)

And that's it! Let me know what you think in the comments. :)

Weekend Discussion: (On a Monday) Hugo Nominees

2010-05-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

I think I mentioned this before, when I discussed the Nebula and Andre Norton award nominees, but an award sticker or mention on a book usually influences my decision to purchase or read a book very little. The distinction is usually nice if I've already read the book; I appreciate feeling like my opinions are validated about as much as the next person (who doesn't like to be told they have good taste?).

About a month ago, the Hugo nominees were announced. I bring this up, not because I feel obligated over the nature of the content of this blog (lots of Science Fiction and Fantasy reviews), but feel this year's going to be exciting. Of the six nominees in the Best Novel category, I've read three. I do believe that's a first for me. This means I can root for a winner.

The list for Best Novel is as follows:

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
The City & The City by China Miéville
Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America by Robert Charles Wilson
Palimpset by Catherynne M. Valente
Wake by Robert J. Sawyer
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi

Also of interest, John Scalzi's The God Engines has been nominated in the Best Novella category (the same for the Nebula); for Best Graphic Story, Fables vol. 12 (I have only read up through 11, sadly). A few of these titles overlap with the Nebula nominees, which is interesting. Since this is the first year I'm keeping track of both awards, I can't say whether this is rare or pretty common. I would guess it's more common than not - the awards will inevitably overlap when both focus on the same areas of literature.

But listen to me going on. I haven't even explained what the Hugo awards are. Taken from the official website, here is a succinct definition that works wonderfully for me:

The Hugo Awards, given annually since 1955, are science fiction’s most prestigious award.

That's about it. The name is given in honor of Hugo Gernsback, the founding editor of Amazing Stories, a groung-breaking American SF magazine (Amazing was THE first SF magazine in the US) that helped shape, promote, and revolutionize the genre to the reading public. Some of the most prominent SF/F writers saw their early careers published within the pages of Amazing Stories (for example, Ursula K. Le Guin). The other thing we can all thank Gernsback for? He was the first to coin the term "Science Fiction." I think having an award that honors and recognizes SF named after him is only fitting, don't you? To be fair, the award also recognizes Fantasy, but comes from a long history rooted in Science Fiction.

Now, I know what you're thinking: doesn't the Nebula also recognize Science Fiction and Fantasy? Why do we need two awards? True, but there is a difference. The Hugo Award reaches across many different mediums and areas - short story, screenplay, graphic story, editor, artist - the Nebula only considers novel, novella, novelette, short story, and most recently, best script. Both awards are also judged from separate bodies of members, albeit I don't doubt some are members of, and can vote for, both awards. The huge different in those voting blocs is who is elegible to become a member.

The Hugos have their basis in the SF fandom - Amazing Stories was the first to create a collective for fans to gather in print, read across the nation and develop a sense of togetherness that has forever bound readers of SF together (whether arguments arise over definitions relating to the genre, we must all realize in the end: we all love SF). If you are a paying (yes, you have to pay) member of the World Science Fiction Society, you are eligible to vote for the Hugos! Of course, you must pay each year to vote, but still, you are eligible. Fans can vote - that's part of what makes this award so wonderfully weird.

The Nebulas are more discerning in who gets to vote. Only active members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America are eligible. This means you either need to have a qualifying novel, three short stories, and/or a full-length dramatic script. It's not easy.

The Nebula winners (including the Andre Norton) are announced next weekend, but the Hugos will have to wait until the award ceremony at AussieCon 4 on September 5th - the site of this year's WorldCon. Am I partial to any one book? Maybe. I would love to read the remaining three.

Do I have a favorite picked out for the Nebula and Andre Norton? You'll have to wait for the announcement and my follow-up post for that. :)

Comic Review: Archaia FCBD Flip Book

2010-05-07T21:41:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, May 1st, was Free Comic Book Day. Free Comic Book Day was started to help introduce locals to their independent comic book stores and to share the love of comics with others. Participating shops offer comics for free to anyone who comes to visit. My brother was nice enough to pick up some of the issues I knew were being released as part of the promotion.

Megan from Po(sey) Sessions is having a Comic Book Month. To celebrate, she asked if I wanted to review some of those one-shot comics as a guest blog. Of course, I said yes!

Of the few I do have, I decided to review the Archaia flip-book featuring Fraggle Rock on one side and a Mouse Guard story on the other. I've never reviewed comics before. Admittedly, I was nervous. If you want to hear my thoughts, visit Megan's blog and let us know what you thought in the comments. :)

The Gardener (ARC) by S. A. Bodeen

2010-05-06T20:12:00.000-07:00

Title: The Gardener
Author: S. A. Bodeen
Reviewed Format: Advance Reading Copy provided by the publisher
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Pages: 240

S. A. Bodeen’s The Gardener is a frightening glimpse into a world desperate to adapt to a life without food. Food as we know it will become scarce; modern production and packaging lines will feel the stress of a population that outgrows manufactured and ready-to-buy products. Overpopulation specialists speculate on the need to return to self-farming and whether humans will ever be able to adapt as a species without intervention. Bodeen’s premise raises questions of population, ethics, and genetic manipulation, but in truth provides only a surface examination of those issues.

The main character, Mason--or Mace as his friends refer to him--is young. His off-beat dialogue often contradicts his mature behavior, but it reminds us of how tenuous adolescence is. We are frequently told his love of heroics is more of a compulsion; Mason can’t resist helping other people--something we are initially forced to take at face value as part of his character. This habit proves no different when he meets a strange and distressed girl with almost paralyzing fear of someone she calls the Gardener.

The time frame became a concern when I considered the amount of information and events crammed into the better part of just one day: his mother’s drunk enough she can’t drive home, but sobers within an hour or two to work in a nursing home; a girl borders on comatose, but awakens and throws Mason (well over 6 feet tall, 200+ pounds of muscle) over walls he can’t jump himself; there’s a drive to Portland for a book signing; a snow mobile accident; the list goes on. Not to mention the intense relationship he develops with the girl. And Mason barely questions his involvement. To be fair, he takes everything in such marvelous stride until the end of the book--I don’t know how I would react if I were given the same choices. He has some base instincts that kick in and allow him to do whatever it takes to protect a girl he’s only just met--and he doesn’t even know her name. It still felt as if there was too much that happened, or too much that needed to happen in a short about of time and darned if Bodeen wasn’t going to make it happen.

Whatever whimsical adventure, however dark, could come of this was a bit too fantastical and unbelievable for me. I do think if I were younger, it would be appealing. What younger reader wouldn’t be enchanted by a dangerous adventure to save the Sleeping Beauty and take down the Evil Witch and her Castle all because they offered to help? It’s a grim fairy tale our protagonist is a part of, one that I think is better suited for MG than YA readers.

The writing is very accessible, but at times failed to fully attract my attention with a sparse exposition more conducive to action and suspense rather than an appreciation of this eerie future world we might imagine is not too far from our own. I thought the science behind the experiment was vague, if imaginative. If I was younger, it would be enough for me to know a problem exists and TroDyn (I would like to know if this name has any significance I am missing) is solving it, but doing some dangerous things in the process. I was concerned more at the doomsday nuance to Dr. Emerson and Solomon’s dialogue. It was a bit outlandish in its immediacy, as if famine and pestilence are literally down the block and around the corner, next year rather than generations away. I found that urgency distracting and disingenuous, if motivational to certain characters.

There isn’t too much character growth in The Gardener. It’s fast-paced and action-packed with little room for anything else. The consequences are minimal; certain actions are condoned under the pretense of messy politics and preservation. No one is really punished. Blameless they may not be, but certainly TroDyn’s actions betray that. This may make the story more interesting (one character may “get away with it,” but it sets up tension for a possible sequel), but the evil characters were so obviously evil I couldn’t help wanting Bodeen to be rid of them.

I was disappointed the metaphor behind the butterfly tattoo was explained so openly. The subtlety I’ve come to appreciate from certain literary devices was not here. My personal preferences aside, the explanation is one that some readers might find helpful, even critical to understanding the nature of the experiment. I could have done without it, had I been left to draw the appropriate connections myself.

Despite the action, I felt the suspense was a little lax. I had the ending figured out the moment I read the jacket copy--before I even started reading the book. Though, I wonder if the point wasn’t to create such a dramatic reveal, but to set up the potential for a sequel. And the framework has been put in place for one.

Younger readers or dystopia fans who want a quicker read may appreciate The Gardener. Although I felt the characters lacked a richness or sometimes fell victim to caricatures (in particular, I am thinking of Eve), the book was still entertaining. Certainly, I don’t believe I am the intended audience, but would recommend this to fans of MG speculative fiction.

Thank you to Feiwel & Friends for the review copy!

How many Jawas recommend this book?

A Shadow in Summer by Daniel Abraham

2010-05-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Title: A Shadow in Summer, book one in the Long Price Quartet
Author: Daniel Abraham
Reviewed Format: Hardcover
Release Date: March 7, 2006
Pages: 336

Saraykeht is a thriving port city in the Khaiem with an economy built around the cotton trade. It’s a world where gestures and poses convey what words cannot, where Poets shape manifestations of thoughts and ideas into living beings called andats. Andats have curiously powerful magic reflected in their names. Seedless can remove seeds from plants, such as the cotton Saraykeht relies on. He’s become indispensable to Heshai-kvo, the Poet who controls him, and Saraykeht’s local monopoly on cotton and the textile industry. Seedless can also remove a child from a mother’s womb. Aborting an unborn child is known as the “sad trade.” Unfortunately for Saraykeht, a conspiracy is well under way involving Seedless, the “sad trade”, Heshai-kvo’s apprentice, a laborer with a mysterious past, his lover, and her teacher (our myriad cast) that threatens the literal threads holding the city together.

The “prolog” for A Shadow in Summer is one of the longest prologues I’ve ever read. In fact, I think it’s the longest. After 36 pages the present story begins. At first, I worried that this was a sign of things to come. If the rest of the novel took as long getting to the point, it did not bode well that I had already purchased the remaining books in the series. Luckily, I was very wrong. Not only is the prologue important to the series (if not immediately resolved in the events of the novel), but Daniel Abraham’s prose invites a slower reading that doesn’t necessarily relate to an abundance of unnecessary narrative. I found his writing to be quite gentle. That’s not a word I’ve ever used to describe someone’s writing, but it’s true. Abraham is very respectful of his characters and their environment--his prose is considerate of their private moments, his diction concise. In other words: job very well done on his first published novel.

His characters are realistic and substantive--humanistic rather than predictable caricatures meant to fill an assigned role (was I the only one impressed with Amat?). Abraham’s characters are what gives this story its momentum. The fantasy world and magical elements aside, this is a novel about consequences that affect vividly imagined individuals with complex relationships that just so happen to live in a fantastical land that doesn’t exist. That’s impressive.

I was also surprised by Abraham ascribing the city’s power to a Poet and his “ideas tamed and given human shape” (p. 25). This is a not so subtle commentary on the power of poets in the real world and ultimately, on the power of words--of poems, literature, and language. Heshai-kvo lives the consequences of what happens when words get the better of us. The flighty nature of the andats and their loyalty to no one but themselves is a cruel (in the context of the story) reminder, albeit a necessary one, that we imbue meaning to language. By itself it is just sound and symbols without human interaction to control and manipulate. Writers maintain an intricately complex relationship to their words.

If I ever had any doubt of the merits A Shadow in Summer has as one of the better Fantasy novels (consequently, series) in publication, Abraham’s successfully executed motif of trade put that to rest (I didn’t, by the way, but if I did…). We are reminded about a third into the book how “everything in Saraykeht was for trade” (p. 129). Everything, we learn, has a price. Whether that’s Otah Machi deciding to leave school, Liat having an affair, Amat pursuing justice, or the ultimate consequence of the “sad trade,” everything must be paid with a consequence. These characters bargain in deals that never seem wholly beneficial. This element surprised me only in its realism. Choices are often messy and can become disastrous. Life is nothing but forked roads; we navigate by trading futures. Nothing is resolved happily (or, at least, solely for that purpose); there are lesser evils to be attended to. Everything comes with another set of problems--human problems, which makes Abraham’s fantasy world that much more relatable.

As impressed as I was with Abraham’s thematic concerns (of which I am sure I only touched the surface), realistic characters, and compelling prose, I did have one problem. The poses and gestures everyone used bothered me. It wasn’t that I couldn’t imagine a society built around them. We use gestures and poses right now; a wave, a shrug, a vague fluttering of the hand--body language intended to convey what words cannot. In the terms of the book, though, I felt everything was grossly out of context. There was nothing to stop me from imagining a pose of submission to be someone wildly waving their arms above their heads and pausing with one leg sticking out midair. Nothing. I’m sure that was not Abraham’s intention, but that I could do this frequently jarred me out of the narrative.

The cities of the Khaiem clearly draw on Asian influences. Whether it’s a vague combination of several ethnic groups or just one (the name suffixes were reminiscent of Japanese honorifics and endearments, for instance), I couldn’t be sure, nor could I initially figure out, if that was something good or something bad. Surely Westerners would object to someone imagining a world where Americans, Britains, and Canadians are all lumped together into one vague culture and people. Perhaps I’m too unfamiliar with the intricacies of any one Asian culture to notice whether his world is complimentary, but I believe he did not mean to offend. He cares too much about the details that are so important to his characters. We can see this by the way he never forgets to include certain poses between characters and additionally use their different classes to create moments of softness, brief breaches of etiquette for the sake of friendship.

In any event, I appreciated the Asian influence all the same. The opportune word here is influence. Even if he’s picking and choosing customs to modify for his own world, that I can’t tell which culture any of it is from is a testament to his successful adaptation of those customs to the Khaiem. I think it brought something fresh to the Fantasy genre I haven’t seen that much of. Too often Fantasy is divided into Feudalistic systems and settings reminiscent of something Medieval and European. A Shadow in Summer was anything but that and the restorative I needed to venture back into epic fantasy.

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Discussion!

Did you review the book? Let me know and your link could be the first. :)

Calico-Reaction's review
Michael's review

A Few Rules:

Be respectful.
Rude or inconsiderate comments will be deleted without question.
No vulgarities allowed.
Be considerate. If you have read the rest of the series, avoid posting spoilers.

Remember: have fun! We're all here because we love to read. Discuss anything about the book that comes to mind. The topics I've written below are only for consideration and do not necessarily need to be answered.

Still haven't signed up? Do so here.

Topics to consider for discussion:
(These are only guidelines and do not necessarily have to be answered like test questions ;) )

1. Abraham frequently mentions the “price” of each character’s decisions. Do you think this was intentional to set the tone for the remainder of the quartet with a name like The Long Price? Do you believe what happened to Maj will affect the events in the remaining three books or do you think it already has? What, other than the ones mentioned in the review, are some examples of characters having to pay a price for a decision?

2. Heshai-kvo imparts rare wisdom to Maati early on in the book. The following passage is from page 82:

“It’s a fallen age, boy. The great poets of the Empire ruined it for us. All that’s left is picking at the obscure thoughts and images that are still in the corners. We’re like dogs sniffing for scraps. We aren’t poets; we’re scholars."

What do you think Heshai-kvo means by this? Do you think Abraham is also speaking of the current state of literature where, essentially everything that can be written, already has been?

3. With all of the poses each character had to remember and execute, this could be considered a novel of posturing in the same way there are comedies of manners. Do you think these ritualistic practices made the novel more interesting?

4. The prologue is long. Let’s not lie to each other. Did you feel we really needed to know that much background for Otah and Maati? Do you think theirs is a history that is only beginning to be uncovered?

The Book Faeries - May Edition #1

2010-05-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

I may be more than slightly addicted to Bookcloseouts.com. There's no other excuse for my inability to stay away. Although, I think I may have to as I've slowly been running out of room. Things have been piling on the floor for many months now.

The Price of Spring by Daniel Abraham

The final book in the Long Price Quartet and the last book I'll be reading for the May portion of the Summer of Series reading challenge here at JRT. I was quite lucky to catch this at BCO - the book isn't even in paperback yet and some hardcovers made it on the site. There were very few, but I made absolutely sure a copy was in my cart and purchased before they sold out.

Genre: Fantasy
Received: via BookCloseouts.com

The Margarets by Sheri S. Tepper

This will be my first Tepper book! I'm eager to get started, especially since I'm always keen to read anything by female authors - female SF/F authors in particular. This one seems to be a dystopia of overpopulation with concerns over ecology. I don't think I've read a book about overpopulation yet, which means I might start using this as my base reference for any future reads...

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

Inferno edited by Ellen Datlow

Ellen Datlow is one of those editors who's compiled a lot of anthologies. I own a few and thought Inferno, with its premise of stories sure to cause discomfort, horror, and other squirming, was one I couldn't pass up. I don't normally gravitate towards books that can disturb me, but this one is a special case. It's a little bit Fantasy and a lot of Horror. I've been worming my way into the Horror genre, against my better judgement.

Genre: Horror

Received: via BookcCloseouts.com

Cyteen by C. J. Cherryh

Cherryh is another female SF author I've heard very good things about, but haven't read anything by. Cyteen will be my first and at 696 pages, it's quite large. I was confused and thought I'd made a mistake in assuming this was more than one book gathered in an omnibus, ~~but it isn't - it really is just one book. And a long one at that~~. (Thank you Calico for verifying my first thoughts! This is definitely a collected volume of more than one book.) It sounds interesting (a geneticist, a murder, and politics). Perhaps it will be a fantastic 696 pages?

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

The Dream of Perpetual Motion by Dexter Palmer

TJ from Book Love Affair first brought this book to my attention on one of her Friday Finds. It's not only steampunk, but I've been reading that it's a steampunk-SF spin on The Tempest. That's only one of my most favorite of Shakespeare's plays. Considering I also have Prospero Lost to read, I might do an ode to Shakespeare by reviewing them back-to-back. :)

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via St. Martin's Press for review

The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson

I had the chance to meet KSR 2 years ago when I was taking a Science Fiction course at my University. He came to speak to our class and offered, very graciously, to sign our copies of Icehenge. He's intelligent, but also one of the most personable authors I've ever met. I made a promise to myself to try and read as much of his work as I could. Fortunately, there is Paperback Swap and I used one of my credits to get a copy! Next on my list for his books is his Mars trilogy. I'm hoping this wins on one of the book clubs I lurk around at GoodReads. If not, I'll be reading this instead of the winner. ;)

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via Paperback Swap

Doomsday Book by Connie Willis

I want to send this Paperback Swap member a thank you letter. This book arrived in the exact condition I look for in used books. It's not perfect, no, but it's been kept in very good condition. In fact, I gushed about this member to PBS and told them over PM that I'd love to swap with them again.

In any event, I was so taken by To Say Nothing of the Dog that I couldn't wait to find a copy of Connie Willis' other titles. This came up first on the list of available copies. If anyone can recommend any of her other books, please do so! I already have Blackout.

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via Paperback Swap

And that's it. Let me know what you think. :)

Summer of Series Begins!

2010-05-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

It's here! Are you excited? I know I am! Also, a little apprehensive. With 36 books to read in the next 4 months, the size of my task is slowly sinking in. You'll forgive me if I'm as anxious as I am determined to bring you the best review and discussion section for each book. I did have a giveaway planned, but unfortunately, decided I couldn't afford it. Perhaps later in the summer I'll be able to make it up to anyone who was looking forward to this. I apologize and hope there'll still be enthusiasm for the challenge?

I've already been a little flaky; has anyone else noticed a distinct lack of Weekend Discussions lately? I hope to bring them back. It's been difficult to find topics of discussion lately. If anyone wants to offer a topic, I'd be more than happy to accept the challenge.

In any event, today kicks off JRT's Summer of Series Reading Challenge! All Summer of Series posts will feature the above graphic, for consistency.

This month's selection is a promising series published by Tor: Daniel Abraham's The Long Price Quartet. We start with A Shadow in Summer. (Sign up here)

Some time in the next week I will be posting my review along with a set of ideas/themes/issues to discuss. Of course, I want these discussions to be as open-ended as possible. Anyone can bring up something from the book to share. There will also be some rules to follow--mainly: be polite. If it takes you longer to read the book, don't worry. I'll welcome your comments throughout the duration of the challenge! I would like to try and get as many participating during the week, or at least the month of, each series, but time constraints and other obligations are completely understandable. Things can and will happen.

But that's enough talk. Grab A Shadow in Summer, find a comfortable place to curl up, lay down, sit, or position yourself and let's have fun this summer!

Winners of The White Queen Giveaway

2010-04-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Thank you for an amazing number of entries! And a big thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for providing 5 copies of The White Queen to give away. Otherwise, I would never have been able to make this open to international contestants. Aren't they great? :)

But I'm sure everyone would love to know the winners...

THE WINNERS ARE:

1. Lin
2. Anne
3. Marilyn
4. Dawn
5. Giada

Congratulations! An e-mail will be sent to the address you provided. If any of the 5 do not respond by Monday May 3, 2010 at 11:30pm PST a replacement will be picked. Thank you to all participants! It was a lot of fun. :)

The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia

2010-04-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

Title: The Alchemy of Stone
Author: Ekaterina Sedia
Reviewed Format: trade paperback
Release Date: November 1, 2009
Pages: 293

This was read for Calico-Reaction's April book club. :)

Ayona is known as the “City of Gargoyles” as much for the dark statues along the city’s architecture as it is a concession to the way Ayona was conceived: birthed through the magic of the gargoyles who once had an ability to manipulate stone. Now these reclusive creatures are part of a triumvirate of government leaders including the Alchemists and the Mechanics. The Alchemists are preoccupied with spiritual and magical concerns; the Mechanics are focused on things physical. Together they represent the gargoyles who “shape the physical with their minds” (p.69). When the Mechanic Loharri constructs Mattie, an automaton, he doesn’t intend for her to be more than a helpmeet. In the unorthodox manner that will forever mark her character, Mattie is asked to be emancipated to learn the art of alchemy. As she gathers ingredients for bizarre concoctions to sell in her little shop, a war begins brewing between opposing sides of the city. Ayona has been polarized by an explosion that changes Mattie’s life. Now the gargoyles are flying into her window with a request…

The Alchemy of Stone is a wonderfully thematic book. With concerns over alienation, immigration, origin, ownership, trust, power, and industrialization it’s a testament to Sedia’s skills as a writer that this book wasn’t longer. Though, the best things often come in the smallest of packages. In just under 300 pages, The Alchemy of Stone explores these themes (and others) through government, class, and what it means to be an automaton in a world full of humans. The alchemical government, for one, was one of the most interesting aspects of the novel. From the very start it’s a combination putting sides often opposed in the same arena and told to work together toward the same end. This is a bit like asking Church and State to get along and ignore the friction of their underlying belief systems. The awkward relationship is one of tension and thinly veiled hostility, but serves to represent on a larger scale the unique relationship between Mattie and Loharri.

Loharri is, unfortunately, one of the nicer Mechanics. At first it seems he might be well-intentioned, if a bit problematic. As the narrative unfolds we discover he’s merely the best of the worst. Fixing things that aren’t broken are the least of his problems, especially as those relate to Mattie--the C-3PO to his Anakin Skywalker. He doesn’t trust her, is wildly possessive and only manages to achieve an underhanded loyalty. Loharri is a loathsome character, to say the least, but he’s an ugly necessity. If it weren’t for him, Mattie wouldn’t exist.

For having no soul, Mattie’s managed to become quite a complicated thinker when it comes to love and friendship. She feels petty slights against her just like anyone else would and it’s not entirely clear if Loharri intended this or not. Mattie has a right to be wary of him--a man she can barely tolerate for his cruelty. She pities him his rare moments of vulnerability, but cannot stand his selfishness at using the key she needs to wind her body as leverage. He’s an abusive manipulator in this way, but Mattie has used this to her advantage. She’s learned to manipulate human emotions to elicit desired responses, responses she can recognize in herself in the analytical and detached way she has. She’s keenly observant of her own actions (particularly, her loudly ticking heart) as well as of those around her. Mattie’s point of view reflects her mechanical nature as much as it does her desire to emulate very human emotions and behaviors; she’s acutely aware of how many in society view automata.

She must choreograph her world against the human demands that make certain alleviating gestures necessary. Mattie realizes she is not human; most humans are distrustful of automata, especially one that can talk. Therefore, putting humans at ease is important, especially since she’s required to interact with them on an almost daily basis. I like how Mattie is still questioning whether her actions are believable. I think that doubt is wonderful in how human a reaction it is. It shows how marvelous Mattie has adapted to not being human and the extremes Loharri went to produce an automaton that works above and beyond the typical mindless drone. At the same time, though, her humanness makes her vulnerable to Loharri’s unfairness and trickery.

I love how brilliant Mattie is. She’s so inquisitive and eager to be as human as is possible. Ironically, she comes across as one of the most human characters, especially in comparison to Loharri. A few days after finishing, I’m still thinking about Mattie and what an impressive heroine she is. While Mattie had most of my attention, the gargoyles were also quite interesting. I’m not sure what to make of the stylistic choice to have their point of view all in italics. It does graphically show the leap from Mattie to the gargoyles, but adds something urgent to their speech. A dying breed would speak urgently, I would think. I wish I could have learned more about their magic or how it works. The vague explanations seemed a bit too ethereal for a book that also focuses on concrete things such as Mattie’s alchemy or the Mechanic’s machines. Granted, we never question how Mattie sentience works either, it just does. I suppose the magic of stone operates under the same presumption.

Sedia has created an amazing character in Mattie; I think the book is worth reading for her alone. She’s strong and assertive, at one point telling another, “I am not a thing” (p. 119). The Alchemy of Stone is a complicated study of humanness that grapples with complexities of the heart. Mattie’s story must be read. Her convictions and desires are enough to convince you she could be human, if she just wished hard enough.

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Release Date for The Wise Man's Fear Announced!

2010-04-28T11:49:00.000-07:00

I was a bit busy early this morning and so, was not able to post this right away, but it's true.

Pat Rothfuss announced it on his blog and it's been spreading across the internet like wildfire.

MARCH 1, 2011

The Wise's Man's Fear will be released March 1, 2011. This is an extra special day for me. Not only will the much anticipated (understatement, such an understatement) sequel to The Name of the Wind be hitting store shelves, but it's my birthday! What an awesome birthday present that will be. :)

Just a reminder: The Summer of Series reading challenge starts this Saturday! We'll start off with Daniel Abraham's A Shadow in Summer. My review and a discussion post will be up some time next week. There will be a reminder and celebratory post on Saturday. So don't worry, you don't have to have the book read by Saturday. Just be prepared to start reading by then!

Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

2010-04-26T18:13:00.000-07:00

Title: Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron
Author: Jasper Fforde
Reviewed Format: Hardcover
Release Date: December 29, 2009
Pages: 352

Eddie Russet has plans--big plans. He has a higher-than-average red perception, is developing an advance system of queueing, and is on half promise to Constance Oxblood, even if his poetry is a bit unimaginative. In Chromatacia where society is ranked according to their perception of color, Eddie, as a red, could do with moving up the spectrum. Although his poetry isn’t winning her over, Constance and the Oxblood family are eager to strengthen their hue. A marriage to Eddie would be socially secure. But Eddie’s plans quickly change when he’s relocated with his father to East Carmine, a city on the Outer Fringes. For Eddie, it’s an opportunity to conduct a chair census and learn some humility; for his father, it’s a temporary position to replace the loss of the town’s color swatchman.

Fearful he’ll lose out to Roger Maroon for Constance’s hierarchal affections, Eddie’s completely preoccupied until he meets Jane, a rebellious Grey who, as a Grey, doesn’t even have a place on the scale. Ironically, it’s Jane who opens Eddie’s perceptions to a side of the Colortocracy he’s never thought of before and introduces him to doubt. Now Eddie begins to go against 20 years of indoctrination by questioning the rules and regulations intended to enforce a predictable, simplistic, and complacent lifestyle. Will he discover the “Something That Happened,” make it to High Saffron, or conform to social norms and marry into a family with an acceptable hue, all while avoiding the Mildew?

Jasper Fforde took an extremely detailed approach to Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron. There were so many euphemisms there were times the narrative threatened to overwhelm me. Despite this, I found most of Fforde’s writing to be quirky, humorous, and wickedly observant. Colors are personified as people emulate the shades they perceive (Purples are lofty and bossy; Greens are a bit pushy; Yellows can have cruel streaks); Fforde is consistent in his representation of each. In fact, he never relents in his dedication to make Chromatacia as fully realized as possible. The world-building isn’t bogged down with long, unnecessary expository musings--Fforde provides the information as it becomes necessary, to execute witticisms, as Eddie comes across something we may be unfamiliar with. He immerses us into his world by pieces, as if we had fallen into East Carmine ourselves and began experiencing this strange and colorfully strict future first hand.

While most of the narrative has the type of developmental inertia that strips the fiction of any lingering and dispensable prose, the thematic concerns seemed to fall just short of what I’d been expecting. Shades of Grey is the first in a trilogy--that might explain some of the dissatisfaction I felt with areas that were left unexplored. I can only hope the “answers” Jane gave Eddie are explained in the next two books. Cursory motivations and speculations are fine for a first installment, but I was a bit put off Shades of Grey was all introduction. The ending was surprising, especially considering the efforts of Jane and Eddie. It sets up the trials sure to affect them in the other books, but it’s all too bureaucratic, convenient, and conventional for my tastes. I’ll definitely be drawing on my patience to see the end result of this trilogy!

The plot aside, I thought many of the characters were hilarious. Some were deliciously scheming and intolerable, which made them all the more troublesome and intrusive for poor Eddie. That being said, I do wish some of the characters weren’t so one-dimensional. I kept hoping one or the other would break with protocol and act against their color, or at the very least, act against their character. To avoid spoilers, I’ll just say I wished some were less predictably evil. To be fair, it’s their predictability that makes for some of the most uncomfortable and funny moments; not everyone sticks so steadfastly to their stereotype, though. In not sticking to a characteristic stereotype, they do fall victim to Spectrum conformity, which is, I suppose, a different aspect of the same thing. Eddie realizes it’s going to be a long and difficult road unwinding the Collective’s “built-in resistance to change. Not just in technology and social mobility but in ideas” (p. 244).

It seems Eddie and Jane’s seditious plans have only yet begun. They work quite well together, despite her open loathing and disrespect of him throughout most of the book. There really are many endearing eccentrics in East Carmine--I was a huge fan of Lapis Lazuli, the resident librarian whose grasp of historical facts is clearly the result of an oral tradition not entirely reliable (Chuck Naurice; M’Donna; The Complete Sheer Luck Homes). The characters fit well in their nonsensical world with all of its outlandish and arbitrary rules.

Shades of Grey is a fun combination of British humor, mystery, romance, and satire. Fforde’s attention to detail is impressive, if a bit overwhelming. It was easy to become absorbed within the political machinations of East Carmine, even more with Fforde’s disarming humor. I’m curious, to say the least, where the next book, Shades of Grey 2: Painting by Numbers will take us. Whether it ventures into the mind of the Collective or not, it’s a sequel I’ll be eagerly looking forward to. While I wait, I think I'll try his Thursday Next series!

Thank you to Viking Books for my free review copy.

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Ship Breaker (ARC) by Paolo Bacigalupi

2010-04-24T15:49:00.000-07:00

Title: Ship Breaker
Author: Paolo Bacigalupi
Reviewed Format: Advance Reading Copy
Release Date: May 1, 2010
Pages: 336

Nailer scavenges dead ships for component parts--copper, scraps, sheeting, anything the shipping companies can buy and reuse in their sleek new Clipper ships. Since he’s still small in comparison to some of the other kids in Light Crew, he has the undesirable duty of crawling in spaces where people were not meant to crawl. Eager to escape his life as a ship breaker and get as far away from his drunk, addicted, and abusive father as possible, Nailer is quick to bargain a deal with a girl found in a shipwrecked mess on another part of the island. Scouring the beach after a storm for anything of interest with his friend and crew mate Pima, they mistake Nita for dead. Rather than kill her and run with her valuables, the two have devised a plan sure to win them a Lucky Strike. With the promise of money to motivate them, Pima and Nailer begin imagining the possibilities that lay beyond their dirty and forgotten island. All they have to do is keep the Swank (slang for rich person, i.e. Nita) a secret from Richard Lopez.

In this post-oil world stricken by global warming, it’s hard not to find similarities between Ship Breaker and Bacigalupi’s debut, The Windup Girl--positive similarities. As in his adult SF release, Nailer’s future Earth is not pretty--in fact, it’s quite desperate. Progressive rebuilding has resulted only in ruinous achievements. New Orleans has been reincarnated not once, but twice after the public realized it was prone to flooding. The worlds suffer similarly, as do the people. The privileged few oversee large corporate entities; the underprivileged majority do the worst possible jobs to get by every day (one has to wonder if this isn’t happening right now). The divide between the rich and the poor is drastic.

Both are gritty dystopias. The worlds are, quite literally, falling apart. China is still a world powerhouse and humanity won’t stop engineering composite lifeforms. Sea levels are rising at alarming rates, cities have been drowned. Despite the compulsion I felt to make a comparison, Ship Breaker is not entirely similar to The Windup Girl. There’s something piratical that marks it distinctly from his debut and not just because there were large bodies of water and ships involved. Thievery mentality and loosely based support systems thrive along the wasted Gulf Coast. I couldn’t help feeling that I’d never quite left Emiko’s world, though. Things are not exactly the same--it’s unfair of me to declare Ship Breaker the YA version of The Windup Girl. What is fair is to say the similarities I found in these two books are the same types of outcomes seen in a wide variety of dystopias.

It might be the thematic predictability of such books is what’s turning a brilliantly adventurous book into something that didn’t quite go as far as I would have liked, but I don’t think so. Making the fantastical extrapolations that these dystopias do seems natural. The world is realizing our resources are not finite; the weather is acting strangely. These things are happening right now. Why not imagine a future where we do one day run out of oil, where the weather’s gone to the extremes?

The characters are all a bit quirky with mono- and disyllabic names and a broad range of ethnicities and skin tones. What’s amazing about this is how subtle and normal Bacigalupi makes this information. It’s so offhand and inconsequential to what’s really important that I wanted right there and then to tell him how much I appreciate this. Not making a fuss out of skin color is just as amazing as including minority representation.

One of the more interesting character elements was the inclusion of Tool. Tool is an odd collection of genes (hyena, tiger, dog, human) engineered to have utter loyalty, a fierce temperament when needed, but has the unfortunate side effect of having a face that looks a bit canine. While he may not look pretty, Tool’s face is supposed to inspire fear, especially since half-men like him are mostly used as thugs and bodyguards. Tool makes a unique case. His rebellion against the natural order of half-men (and the irony of his name) has elevated him to the mysterious and aberrational ranks of Emiko. And here is one other similarity I found between Ship Breaker and The Windup Girl. What frustrated me the most wasn’t the connection between how Tool acts and how Emiko acts--both break with convention and “go against their programming”--but rather the lack of a backstory. Tool keeps his past shrouded in mystery, constantly reminding Nailer and those around him how unexpected his actions are. I didn’t stay frustrated for long; Tool’s origins are probably best left unanswered, especially since I realized it was not knowing combined with how anomalous he was that became so fascinating. His right to secrecy allows him the dignity his social status wouldn’t provide otherwise.

I did, however, wish I’d gotten more information on half-men in general so I could really relate to everyone’s incredulity rather than being told how loyal they are and how unorthodox Tool’s behavior was against those conventions. That would have helped me believe the other character’s reactions much better. Ship Breaker is such a short book relative to the events that happen--I can see why Bacigalupi may have stylistically left that out. There was so much suspense and multiple rescues that I felt the book could have done well as two! We’re never in any one place for very long before something happens. I found myself wanting to linger at certain scenes, but couldn’t when Nailer was quickly whisked away to the next.

I think there’s room for a sequel. I say this because I want a sequel. I want more adventures and the implications are there for another. Ship Breaker is one of the bestYA books I’ve read, not just this year so far, but ever. And this is the best solution I can think of when I say I want more. I wasn’t quite ready to leave Nailer’s world and wouldn’t mind going back for another visit. Bacigalupi proves yet again he has the talent to write an engrossing story with very human considerations at heart.

Thank you to Little, Brown & Co. for my free review copy!

How many Jawas recommend this book?

The Book Faeries - April Edition #2

2010-04-22T19:46:00.000-07:00

I went a little crazy this month - BookCloseouts.com is having a $1.99 sale on several genres. Naturally, I peeked at the SF/F sections and couldn't stop adding books to my cart. For about $25 (and change), including shipping and handling, I walked away with 6 hardcovers (one signed edition) and 1 trade paperback. I'm more than a little obsessed with that website. It makes it so difficult to resist my monthly book budget!

The Gardener (ARC) by S. A. Bodeen

Isn't the cover something else? The premise is what intrigued me the most about this book, before I even knew what the cover looked like. Although, now that I've seen the cover, it's all a bit self-explanatory. Bodeen takes us to a world where humans are grown, just like plants, in another one of those weird YA dystopian books I can't seem to get enough of.

Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Received: via Feiwel & Friends for review

She Thief (ARC) by Daniel Finn

Unfortunately, the cover I received doesn't look anything like this one. I received this book by accident (I think), but it sounds interesting, although not something I would have picked on my own. The main character is a thief in the barrio with, I'm sure, lots of moral dilemmas. I'm worried this one will disappoint me like If I Grow Up did, except with Latino characters in predominantly Latino neighborhoods instead of African Americans in predominantly African American neighborhoods. This will probably be read for a Flash Review (which I promise to make shorter next time!)

Genre: Young Adult
Recieved: via Feiel & Friends for review

Elom by William H. Drinkard

Drinkard used to be a Senator. I'm a little fascinated by a fiction book written by someone who's spent a good portion of their life in politics. I did not look up anything about him before I purchased this, but now that I have it, I'm curious. Elom is about engineering human reproduction to produce desirable traits--something that's not far off from reality. Of course, I can't wait to see where Drinkard takes that idea. It's ambitious, that's for sure.

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

Mainspring by Jay Lake

The premise of this book sounds absolutely fascinating. The world is a little bit religious, a little bit secular. Imagine the earth being comprised of springs and cogs at its very core. Imagine God (or a god, I suppose!) put them there. Earth is, essentially, a huge clock in the late 19th century (that would make it Victorian). The protagonist has a mission: rewind the Earth's core, but first the key must be found. This will be my first Jay Lake book and it promises to deliver positively. Mainspring sounds adventurous, suspenseful, and steampunk-y. It doesn't have high ratings on Amazon, so I'm not sure how well Lake pulls this off, but if anything, is sounds great. Also, my edition is signed. It feels weird to purchase a book that has already been signed. Part of the fun involved in a book signing is meeting the author face-to-face, gushing about their books, and watching as they sign the book for you. Seeing my own name in their handwriting makes the occasion a bit more memorable. While it's great to have a generically (albeit genuinely) autographed copy, I can't say it makes the book any better than one that isn't signed. Thoughts?

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

Escapement by Jay Lake

This is the sequel to Mainspring. If you've read it, don't tell me what happens. I like surprises. Although, I suppose we find out if Hethor finds the key and/or successfully rewinds the Earth at the end of Mainspring. Maybe there's the threat of the world stopping if he doesn't; maybe he fails and discovers the seedy underbelly of the religious dogma with religious leaders and Archangels using the threat as a front to continue fear-mongering the world's population. I really have no idea.

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

Hunter's Run

There are a few authors that contributed to this collection of short stories. George R. R. Martin and Daniel Abraham are two of them. The stories are all thematically aligned with ideas familiar to SF: exploration, humanity, etc... By the time I get to this, I'll have already read at least one of Abraham's books, but I've never read anything by George R. R. Martin or Gardner Dozois. Perhaps this will give me a taste for their writing, especially Martin. I've been dancing around picking up his Song of Ice and Fire series. Authors tend to excel at one or the other--short or long fiction--so this may not even be a good estimation of what he's capable of. Ah well.

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

The Ordinary by Jim Grimsley

I hope this isn't a sequel because it's set in the same world as a previous novel. That doesn't necessarily mean sequel, right? More like, companion book. Speaking of SF themes, this one tackles another trope or two familiar to regular SF readers: exploration and first contacts. This is made even more intriguing by the existence of a technologically advanced culture coming head to head with one that's seen as a bit backwards. Can land and curiosity be the real reasons the tech-savvy culture wants to go beyond their borders?

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

The Last Green Tree by Jim Grimsley

This is the sequel to The Ordinary. Same rules apply as before: if you've read it, please don't spoil it for me! I have no idea what could possibly be in this one. A tree? The last one? Is this some extended metaphor for the culturally backwards people of The Ordinary?

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

Territory by Emma Bull

No, I haven't read War for the Oaks, but I have heard nothing but wonderful things about Emma Bull. I don't often hear about American folktales or legends; Territory re-imagines the legend of (the very real) Wyatt Earp in Tombstone, Arizona--with magic. I imagine he's something of a hero, but you'll have to forgive me if I haven't a clue who he is or what it is he's supposed to have done and how. Like I said, I don't often hear about American tales. Shouldn't that be taught in all schools? I think so...

Genre: Fantasy

Received: via BookCloseouts.com

The Confessions of Catherine de Medici (ARC) by C. W. Gortner

I don't review a lot of historical fiction, but that's only because I'm so picky! So far I have yet to read anything about the Medici family, but with stories of poison and murder it's ripe for scandal and suspense. I'm a bit embarrassed to say historical fiction has become my jumping off point to learning real history. By itself, the subject doesn't do much for me. Dress it up with fiction and I'm there 100%!

Genre: Historial Fiction

Received: via GoodReads First Reads Giveaway

The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia

I had so much trouble finding a copy of this in bookstores. Turns out, Borders doesn't carry it in their stores - only online! It took me awhile to be able to afford a copy, but I've got it just in the nick of time for Calico Reaction's April bookclub. :) It's a strange steampunk book with an "automaton" as the protagonist. That alone makes me want to read it, especially after Paolo Bacigalupi's The Windup Girl. That it's steampunk is an extra bonus.

Genre: Science Fiction
Received: via Amazon.com

That's it for the rest of my April books. If you've seen something you like, or something you've read, let me know your thoughts in the comments. :)

Don't forget to enter to win 1 of 5 paperback copies of Philippa Gregory's The White Queen! You have until the 29th - one more week.

The Summer of Series Reading Challenge starts May 1st. Have YOU started reading A Shadow in Summer yet?

Kiss of Life by Dan Waters

2010-04-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Kiss of Life, Book Two of the Generation Dead trilogy
Author: Dan Waters
Reviewed Format: UK Trade paperback
Release Date: July 6, 2009
Pages: 320

This review will contain spoilers. I don’t know how else I could review it without revealing information vital to the last few pages of Generation Dead. You have been warned.

Kiss of Life is, first and foremost, a sequel. Most importantly, it’s a sequel that segues into the third and final Generation Dead book, Passing Strange (to be released this summer). It’s also the unfortunate victim of being 2 of 3--the fabled red-headed stepchild that doesn’t exactly bring the novelty of the first book, nor the closure of the third. It’s a tall order being book number two. I liked it, but not nearly as much as I did Generation Dead.

Life is different for Phoebe now. Her best friend, Margi, is spending more of her time with Colette--her formerly living friend--after the two reconciled their guilt and hurt feelings. Her other best friend can barely talk; it’s considered a good day for Adam if he doesn’t keel over from an utter lack of coordination. Zombies tend to have severe cases of stiff limbs stubbornly refusing to recognize synapse signals and do what the brain so eagerly wants them to do: move. Adam, being a new differently biotic teen, wasn’t spared this experience. Perhaps in gratitude, or perhaps in guilt, Phoebe won’t leave Adam’s side longer than she has to. Can she sort out her feelings without ruining her relationship with Adam? Will she ever be able to forgive Tommy for not moving to save him? And just why didn’t Pete Martinsburg go into a coma so long and deep it removed him from the narrative for at least three quarters of the story?
Like Generation Dead, Kiss of Life is told from three points of view: Phoebe, Adam, and Pete. Stylistically, Adam’s sections are written to mirror the difficult and sluggish nature of his zombie thoughts. At first the odd syntax and repetition came off awkwardly. I do, however, appreciate the attempt--how else are we supposed to hear Adam’s voice? Adam is already such a sympathetic character, I just wasn’t sure how necessary it was. It’s all a bit obvious how difficult the transition is to go from living to dead to zombie. Reading the dialogue of several zombie characters, filled with ellipses, and descriptions of prolonged movement is enough to get the point across. I’ll be honest, though--I skimmed the punctuation and read the dialogue straight through. Having entire chapters with repetitious and tedious inner dialogue in Kiss of Life forced me to read at the pace Adam thought. Adam’s frustration became my frustration. While it bothered me at first, I finished the book thinking Adam’s POV made his situation that much more heart-wrenching.

Pete doesn’t grow much as a character. He was a troubled teen before, haunted by his past, and he’s still a trouble teen, even more rotten and cruel, but this time, he has an adult on his side. I feel little to no sympathy for him. I can’t even buy his excuse for all the zombie hatred. I can only hope something (I don’t know what) happens in Passing Strange that either convinces me he’s changed or gets rid of him. I’m not surprised he has an adult around to validate his psychological issues, but am surprised at how consequential their relationship has turned.

Some revelatory connections are drawn that tease us with more shocking innuendos--just who are the men in the white vans and what’s their agenda? If you were hoping for explicit answers, they aren’t given. What is given, though, is a glimpse into a movement intended to safeguard and make zombies fell welcome. Phoebe and her friends are apparently isolated in Connecticut. The open and ordinary celebration of teenagers--zombie or otherwise--at Aftermath (a 24-hour dance club and hang out joint) is the best acceptance for the kind of differences polarizing Oakvale. It was entertaining and became the perfect stage for our protagonists to explore their relationships to each other outside of their different biotic sessions. Everyone is branching out, taking the story beyond the confines of Oakvale High. The larger picture begins to make a bit more sense.

I think the reason I didn’t enjoy Kiss of Life nearly as much as I did Generation Dead is simply the lack of closure on a lot of issues I’m too impatient to wait until the third book for--but I will anyway. Adam and Phoebe are in a better place, albeit I’m still cranky Adam had to be the one that turned into a zombie. I also thinks it was too convenient and easy on Phoebe and Adam to have Tommy leave. Maybe Tommy has a bigger role to play. Maybe his on-the-road Journalism sets him up to be something other than a figurehead. Waters sets up the third book without using a cliffhanger, which is nice. He gives you just enough to crave the ending, but not enough to ruin it. A more astute reader may be able to guess where the plot is going (I for one have some inklings), but it’s been and promises to be a pleasant journey toward the end.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for the review copy!

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Solar by Ian McEwan

2010-04-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

Title: Solar
Author: Ian McEwan
Reviewed Format: hardcover
Release Date: March 30, 2010
Pages: 304

There’s a lot of physics in this book--physics and a deep preoccupation with global warming or, as it’s more recently been called, climate change. I suppose it wasn’t in Pete’s best interest that I asked if I could quote him some passages from Solar, a few days before he took the EIT, to see if Ian McEwan’s grasp of certain theories was correct. The poetics of certain musings relied on the science being described; I wanted to understand everything as clearly as I could. I forgot the cardinal rule of dating an engineer: never ask for an explanation unless you have plenty of time to hear the answer. I didn’t and so, the conversation had to be cut short. In the crazy rush of last minute test prep and the long 8 hour exam, I didn’t ask again, but really, I feel, the book gets the point across, if a little haltingly.

The physics, Pete said, were OK, but McEwan tended to jump around a lot. Really, I have no other way of explaining this other than to say: you need to read this book. The underlying fiction of the physics (the expository extrapolation), the connections drawn between the literature and science, the magic that comes of Ian McEwan’s transformative diction and phrasing makes quantum mechanics and Heisenberg’s principle transcend science and reach an entirely new literary understanding. The jumpiness fits well with the character of Michael Beard, a theoretical physicist who wins a Nobel Prize for his pioneering work in physics. Beard is an egotistical man riding the success of his award well past the point where he’s stopped researching and begun impatiently lecturing wayward postulations on the theorems and science he knows best.

He’s not an entirely likable character. In fact, I found him incredibly disagreeable. He’s pedantic and petty, selfish and self-centered. At one point I was overwhelmingly in league with Pete, thinking here is McEwan, making a mockery of modern engineers and physicists, painting a caricature of an egomaniac obsessed with nothing other than science, cleverly hidden away beneath shrouds of complexity. He rationalizes every character flaw and bad habit, even going so far as to admitting talking previous spouses into abortions to escape any potential responsibility on his part. I wanted to strangle him.

Quite honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever liked a character less. I also don’t think I’ve read a more successful example of a character created that may not be intended to gain our sympathies. Ian McEwan has convinced me, yet again, how marvelous an author he really is. I am no longer of the opinion that he’s making a mockery of any one thing, but rather, using Solar and the conflicts within to present a satirical novel of human ambition, self-deception, and failure.

Michael Beard’s personal life is in shambles. He’s on his 5th marriage, working toward a divorce, unable to pursue the scientific endeavors most important to him and so half-heartedly puts his academic weight behind a center to promote research on energy-saving technologies. He’s a perpetual daydreamer; McEwan’s narrative luxuriates in these long inner dialogues and imagined scenarios where Beard takes the initiative and acts on his impulses rather than merely thinking of being strong, brave, or caring. He can, at times, be pathetic and comes off a bit deranged. There’s one particularly bizarre scene that sees Beard desperately executing a bluff of epic proportions to make his wife think a television set and his improvised thumping on the stairs to be his mistress, laughing at his cleverness, boldly leaving the home while his wife is still there. The first part of the novel, 2001, has Beard obsessed with his wife and her affairs. At least he recognizes his jealousy for what it is: coveting that which another man desires. This also failed to ingratiate him to my good side.

His other relationships aren’t any more endearing. In flashbacks we come to understand how he treated his first wife like an exercise in ego. She, an English major and he, a burgeoning physicist eager to prove how brilliant he is above all others, even those in the arts. One of my favorite scenes was Beard relating to an English professor later on how he, a man of science, came to understand Milton just as, if not better than, his contemporaries studying Literature after only having read four of the best essays on the author, and several books. The professor, naturally, was quick to point out the error of his ego. He put Beard in his place and I, for one, clapped in relief.

The character of Michael Beard aside, there is more to appreciate in this novel than I think anything I say in a review could do proper justice. The writing is polished, poetic, and stunning. Like any of his other novels, Solar has a few horrifying scenes that shatter any sense of complacency and completely turn the narrative around. There is also something absurd in these tragedies, a ridiculous gravitas that puts Beard’s experiences into perspective for him, if not for us. These moments corralled his wandering mind to the present arena and displayed his priorities and preoccupations for all to see--all reading the book, that is. The amount of evidence against a case for Beard’s deep affection for humanity may not be necessary for observant readers. Rather, it helps set up the question of whether he can successfully save the world from global warming, change the habits of humanity--change our relationship with the world, if he cannot save his relationships with other people.

I thought some of his portrayals of Americans and American culture were a bit over-exaggerated, but wasn’t bothered enough to be put off entirely. Most of the book is concerned with his personal and professional life. The two frequently mix together, never with good results. At first, I felt something was off with this book. I took longer than I usually do getting into the rhythm of his prose because I kept sensing a cynical bitterness lingering around the character of Michael Beard. Once I decided to stop being bothered by this, the rest came quite beautifully.

I encourage anyone who reads this book to read the Appendix. There’s one line in particular that stood out to me. It wasn’t until I read this line that I finally felt the novel come together in an intelligent assembly of theorems and thematic concerns. And please, don’t be discouraged by the science. McEwan only gives what’s needed for the science to transcend its objectivity and elucidate his literary concerns. Solar is a marriage of science and literature. Both are needed to understand the themes and titular dynamics propelling readers deep into the narrative. I highly recommend it to Ian McEwan fans, or even readers that are new to his writing.

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Giveaway: The White Queen

2010-04-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

The White Queen by Philippa Gregory is a little special to me, and not just because I really, really loved reading it. It was the first review I posted to JRT when I created the blog in August, even though I'd read the book in June. I was that excited about it.

The first in a stunning new series, The Cousins War, is set amid the tumult and intrigue of The War of the Roses. Internationally bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings this family drama to colourful life through its women, beginning with the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the White Queen
The White Queen tells the story of a common woman who ascends to royalty by virtue of her beauty, a woman who rises to the demands of her position and fights tenaciously for the success of her family, a woman whose two sons become the central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the Princes in the Tower whose fate remains unknown to this day. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores the most famous unsolved mystery, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills.

Thanks to the fabulous Ally at Simon & Schuster UK, I have a surprise for you! The paperback release of The White Queen was April 15th (today). To celebrate, JRT is giving away 5 copies!

All you have to do to enter is comment with:

1. Your name
2. Your e-mail address

Contest closes April 29th - 5pm PST.

That's it! The contest is open internationally. You must provide an e-mail address so I can contact the winner for mailing information at the end.

If you're curious about my review, it's available here to read. Good luck! :)

This contest is now closed.

Flash Review #1

2010-04-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

This is my first Flash Review! Flash Reviews are reviews are for books I receive that fall outside of my preferred genres. I'm always curious about what comes my way and am appreciative of publishers who think of me for their titles. The distinction between these and normal reviews is made to prevent disappointment in current or future JRT readers. I don't want to mislead any of you into thinking I make a habit of reviewing Contemporary YA or Romantic Comedies (i.e. Chick Lit). That doesn't mean these are problematic genres, but like anyone, I have my favorites and I tend to stick to them. :)

The big difference you'll see is these reviews are shorter and unrated. I think it's unfair to judge these on the same merits as I do normally since they've already got one thing against them, not being books I'd pick out on my own.

I hope you enjoy them! And you never know: you may find something new for yourself or to recommend to someone else...

If I Grow Up by Todd Strasser

If I Grow Up chronicles the teenage years of DeShawn, a young boy living with his grandmother and older sister in the Frederick Douglas projects. I was worried as I began reading that this book would suffer from alienating stereotyping and overdone caricatures. The struggle of inner-city children and life in general is nothing I haven’t heard or seen before, albeit nothing to be taken lightly--If I Grow Up proved no different. The book didn’t tell me anything new, but that’s just my point. It didn’t tell me anything new, but it could enlighten a broad readership, especially younger readers able to relate to twelve-year old DeShawn as he grows older.

Strasser writes a book so well-researched it threatens to make his agenda too transparent. It’s clear he wants to be respectful of his characters; their dialogue attempts to be inoffensive and painstakingly real, their fates are half unexpected and tragically predictable. But I ultimately found everything a bit too choreographed. With a cast of mainly peer-aged boys and girls, DeShawn also has a loyal and loving relationship with his sister and grandmother, as well as a somewhat detached and disinterested relationship with Mr. Brand--a Teacher--and Officer Patterson. These two adult figures are inconsequential and negligible as DeShawn, not surprisingly, ignores their encouragement. Even with such strong stand-in supporters, Strasser illuminates the range of complexities of DeShawn’s life--the different stressors influencing his limited decisions and the ultimate eye-opening events that cement his future.

Strasser packs so much into this short read that I felt the epilogue suffered as a result. It felt even more preachy than the rest of the book, a bit like Strasser letting himself speak to us through DeShawn in a more direct way than the character would ever do himself. To pass this difference off as experience, remorse, or age is perhaps what I should do. I couldn’t help feeling unconvinced. The rest of the narrative was plausible enough for readers to draw their own conclusions, conclusions that DeShawn states explicitly, albeit a bit unnecessarily. This was, however, a minor concern. Relative to the rest of the book, the epilogue may have been weakest for me, but may elucidate very crucial points for many readers and draw important conclusions for those who need to be told DeShawn Learned His Lesson, even if it was too late.

My Single Friend by Jane Costello

"Surely fancying someone is about so much more than what they look like." - Henry, p. 109

I don’t usually read Chick-Lit. I have, in fact, read only two that I can think of. Romantic Comedies don’t usually engage my attention, but I was in the mood for something out of character, something light and relaxing. My Single Friend was good for this. It’s endearingly British with the type of humor I’ve come to adore, even though some of the Pop Culture references were lost on me, being raised this side of the pond. My British Slang iPod Touch app is not as helpful as it is amusing.

Lucy Tyler’s job at a PR firm is more successful than her love life, which isn’t saying much if you consider she gets more action out of her sleazy co-worker than the men she’s been going out with lately. To soothe her pathetic romantic life is her best friend since childhood, Henry Fox. If that name doesn’t stir the literary waters of foreshadowing, the impromptu makeover dubbed Project Henry will. After Lucy and her friends, Erin and Dominique, take it upon themselves to unleash the hidden Sex God within, Henry turns out to be quite the catch.

I think you know where this plot is going. It’s a little Bridget Jones’ Diary and a little My Best Friend’s Wedding, but ultimately a very funny, light, and endearing book that focuses more on developing Henry and Lucy’s backstory than it does Lucy’s increasing discomfort and jealousy. This is what saves the novel from being a bit too contrived and cliché. Jane Costello’s characters are blessedly flawed and faulty. The bumbling sweetness of her friends and the wickedly vileness of bad dates and coworkers can come off a little predictable, but play into the strengths and weaknesses of Lucy wonderfully. Costello’s ability to build up and execute some horrifyingly devastating and hilarious situations doesn’t hurt at all, though.

My Single Friend can be tortuous at times--we all want poor Lucy to See The Light. That she doesn’t immediately catch on is part of the charm. I had fun reading it, especially because it made me feel less weird about the relationship I, a 26-year old, have with my 27-year old brother that still resembles grade school-aged bickering. I don’t care if Lucy and Dave are fictitious, I feel validated.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for my review copy of both books!

Generation Dead by Dan Waters

2010-04-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Generation Dead, first in the Generation Dead ttrilogy
Author: Dan Waters
Reviewed Format: UK Trade paperback
Release Date: July 7, 2008
Pages: 400

Oakvale High has one of the highest concentrations of the living impaired--zombies, if you will--in the greater Connecticut area. When the school gets the opportunity to host a program by the Hunter Foundation for the Advancement of Differently Biotic Persons, Phoebe Kendall signs up right away. She convinces her best friends, Adam and Margi to join her, but neither is as enthusiastic or as politically-minded as Phoebe. Will Pete Martinsburg--the resident Bad Apple--make high school even more miserable than it already is? Or will the contentious integration fail before it’s even had a chance to get off the ground?

Generation Dead is an ambitious social commentary on prejudice and discrimination. As if high school wasn’t difficult enough, Dan Waters contemplates the consequences of random zombification--a phenomenon singular to American teenagers where death is not the end, but rather the beginning of an entirely new set of problems. So many rights end at death that some legislators argue the “living impaired” should have the same designation as illegal immigrants, with all the inequality and intolerance that provokes. No one can really explain why some teenagers, and only American teenagers, aren’t staying dead. Of several theories (mold spore, too much junk food, Chernobyl fallout video games, signs of the coming Apocalypse, religious fervor), only one thing remains true: zombies need a brain to survive in their new state of being. This makes them a bit more vulnerable than one might imagine.
Waters’ narrative is ever so careful of the socio-political implications of several phrases when seen from the perspective of zombies. The words life and living, for example, are a no-no. Asking where one lives is to recognize the meaning behind the word--zombies aren’t alive, so they can’t live somewhere, but they can reside, or stay with someone, somewhere. This careful dance of social sensitivity brings an awareness to the idea of what Waters wants to do, that unfortunately, is overshadowed by the relationship between two Trads--traditionally biotic persons--Adam and Phoebe.

There are many light-hearted witticisms that ignore the careful verbal acrobatics encouraged by the Hunter Foundation and reclaim pejoratives for minority empowerment. Rebirthed teenagers prefer to be called zombies--and why not? It’s much better than the alternatives: living impaired, corpsicle, dead heads, or the syllabic-happy term: differently biotic person. The term zombie doesn’t have to be explained. On the same note, even traditionally biotic--or living--teenagers are susceptible to the anger of their dead counterparts. Blood bags, beating hearts, the breathers--the names are no less creative or hurtful.

Generation Dead attempts to consider these differences in a larger scale as well. There’s even a proposition to issue rebirth certificates to zombies, allowing them the same rights they had before they died. All around the country, zombies are being, for lack of a better term, murdered (can you murder something that isn’t living?), but the news fails to report these second deaths. Conspiracy theories abound between the local zombies and their sympathizers in the Hunter Foundation’s program at Oakvale High. Some students are so in tune to their zombie classmates, they’ll even go out on dates with them or bring one to prom. As expected, decisions like those bring protestors and negative attention that threatens the safety of students who haven’t died yet.

While Generation Dead does take a lot into consideration, I was frequently reminded that this is only the first book. It serves well to introduce us to the characters and settings of Oakvale, Connecticut. What ultimately brought the plot around was the relationship between Adam and Phoebe. Tommy Williams or Colette, two zombies, were only two components influencing an already established dynamic, a brief interruption that for the moment, was sidelined--an affect that weakened what could have been a much stronger and consequential book. Because Adam and Phoebe stole the show, as much as Waters placed Tommy in the foreground as a distraction, some of the zombie-related concerns began to resolve themselves--especially those regarding zombie-Trad relationships.

I did, however, really enjoy reading this book! I’m eager to read Kiss of Life and the upcoming, Passing Strange. Generation Dead ended in such a way that I can’t help wanting to find out what happens next--between the characters themselves and the unexplained experiments to increase zombie functionality. If you want a different perspective on zombies, especially of the teenage variety, you should consider Generation Dead. Some might call Waters’ message too heavy-handed, but the book was pleasant enough that his commentary appeared in keeping with the atmosphere of the rest of the book. If you think you can handle a few bad puns and some esoteric Star Wars references then I’d recommend Generation Dead.

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for my review copy!

Weekend Discussion: Zombies & Me - A Weird Accidental Relationship

2010-04-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

My discussion of the Hugo nominations will be pushed back to next weekend. I found a more pressing topic to bring to you. :)

Lately I've noticed the amount of books I've read that have zombies in them has been increasing. This hasn't been intentional--I don't particularly like zombies; I don't particularly hate zombies. I'm pretty ambivalent about the walking dead, or whatever endearing euphemism you want to use. The only explanation I have for this rare surge in niche fiction is best expressed through one word: accidental.

When I first started Jeff Carlson's Plague Year books, I was unaware he'd planned for a zombie appearance or two in the third and final installment, Plague Zone. I picked them up for the Apocalyptic SF aspect. But I was in too deep, I had to see the trilogy through and really, the zombies made it all a bit more dramatic. I had no indication Cherie Priests's Boneshaker had zombies in it, but everything else I enjoyed made up for my lukewarm reception of what I otherwise felt was an inconsequential (i.e. I didn't mind) trope. Priest's zombies intrigued me--were all zombies this much a curiosity? And let's face it: the only reason I picked up Deathtroopers is because it was Star Wars. That, and entirely other set of discriminating tastes. Or namely, the lack of it.

Like many people who grew up in the late to early 90s, I'm familiar with the Resident Evil games. My brother on the other hand, is more than just "familiar"--he's obsessed. His interest has gone from Umbrella (after years of searching, we finally found an official Umbrella umbrella at WonderCon this past weekend. I made him wait until we ate lunch before he ran to the Capcom booth to purchase everything he could afford--in addition to his green herb hoodie, replacement t-shirt, and assortment of pins he'd cleared out from the Stylin' Online booth. If you wanted one after Friday early afternoon, I'm sure he won't apologize.) and Resident Evil to horror movies and anything zombie he can find.

I'm not blaming my brother's interest in my lack of curiosity. In fact, I owe it to him that I'm so open-minded about zombies. If I read something with zombies, it means I can suggest it to him. Touching, no? We bond.

Suffice to say, that I--someone who has little interest and doesn't actively seek them out--have stumbled upon a few books with zombies in them, means zombies are clearly on the rise (pardon the pun). Recently, I was given the chance to review an ARC of Mira Grant's (aka Seanan McGuire) upcoming new book, Feed. It's the first in a new trilogy called Newsflesh--self-contained, a story with an end, something we hopefully won't see in her Toby Daye books for awhile. This third zombie book I've read, you see, has also been accidental. It was sent to me, without my asking, by the publisher, but I'll be damned if I wasn't intrigued enough to read it. Seanan McGuire, whom I know best for writing her gritty Faerie PI books (Rosemary and Rue; A Local Habitation), and…zombies? Add politics into the mix and she manages to show us all how flexible her talent is. The plot doesn't revolve around the zombies so much as the way people have learned to work around them--how people live and deal with this invasion is most important. It's a novel very much about humanity.

I suppose whatever has come to interest me in zombie involvement at this point is the close ties to survival narrative those books share with other books I already like: The Hunger Games, Unwind, The Windup Girl, etc… If characters are running away or doing their best to avoid zombies it means they're trying to survive in spite of the invasion. That kind of protracted fear can successfully fuel the duration of a story for me in ways the Reavers in "Firefly" did not (oh, don't get me started.).

What all this long rambling means is: now that I've accidentally come to appreciate the use of Zombies in fiction, it doesn't mean I'm going to begin actively seeking zombies wherever I can. I think zombies will remain mostly tangential to me, never the deciding factor. Mostly. But I do think they're clearly in a prime position to rival vampires and werewolves. I now have in my hands the first in a trilogy of YA books (set to wrap up this summer with Passing Strange) I requested specifically because of the premise: it's a zombie teen high school romance. I don't know about you, but that alone makes me want to laugh. The absurdity of a zombie romance when seen against its paranormal teen contemporaries, like Twilight or Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver that I'm more familiar with, makes me wonder how practical it would be to fall in love with something people usually run far away from. Daniels Waters' Generation Dead and Kiss of Life will, hopefully, keep me as entertained (albeit humorously) as the other zombie books I've grown rather fond of.

So what about you, JRT readers? Has there ever been a certain type of book you've accidentally come to develop a bit of a soft spot for?

Feed (ARC) by Mira Grant

2010-04-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Feed, Newsflesh Trilogy Book One
Author: Mira Grant
Reviewed Format: ARC
Release Date: May 1, 2010
Pages: 608

The year is 2039 and bloggers have taken over the world. Twenty five years ago the Kellis-Amberlee virus went live. Infected humans and animals began reanimating after death--some underwent spontaneous change--to become walking feeding machines. With an appetite for the truth as insatiable as a zombie’s diet, Georgia--George--Mason and her brother, Shaun, have climbed the ranks of news bloggers around the world. Their ratings have everything to gain from their recent invitation to join a senator’s political campaign. Now they’re on the road providing coverage of what’s promising to be the campaign trail for the next President of the United States of America. There’s only one problem: wherever they go, KA begins breaking out, putting the team at risk. Will they survive to see their candidate win the Republican ticket?

Feed is Seanan McGuire’s third published book, but first under the pen name Mira Grant. Fans of her October Daye books will recognize some similarities between the two series. Mainly, these are minor--writers will invariably develop quirks that nuance their writing. Georgia is an independent, no-nonsense workaholic with a license that requires her to carry a gun and a disease that makes it impossible for her to cry. Clearly Grant likes writing strong female protagonists. They lean toward the flinty end of the spectrum and stop just short of growling when not amused.

It might appear at first that the inability to cry is going a bit overboard. It isn’t necessary to literally remove a reaction stereotypically associated with the female gender to show how tough she is, but Georgia makes it clear how frustrating Retinal KA really is. She wants access to that human reaction and is frequently reminded of the deprivation, however much reliant she is on it when the situation requires stoicism. Here is a character fighting against two polarities. Her tears were stolen and without the necessary moisture, she can’t even “tear up” about it. Add to this being adopted by parents making the gesture for the ratings and Georgia’s developed into a very sympathetic character. She’s had a difficult life--who wouldn’t, growing up in a world where fear of contagion has kept people indoors and glued to their computer screens? What makes her--and her fellow bloggers, Shaun and Buffy--different is knowing when to put fear and terror aside to keep living.

How they earn that living is very interesting. When established media proved untrustworthy reporting the first outbreak, the world turned to bloggers. Bloggers spoke for the common good--as much to inform themselves as the frightened public. They helped make sense of the unexplained chaos breaking out across the nation. Enter Shaun and Georgia, sponsors willing to fund their efforts, and After the End Times was born. Grant manages to build a convincing news body which isn’t too far from the truth. Some people already rely enormously on the internet and trust amateur bloggers for any number of needs. Grant’s astute observations integrate this relationship with her own universe to mesh into the working framework of her narrative.

Grant’s characters are solid; her universe well-established. It’s so established that readers may become as exasperated over the meticulous mention of blood testing kits and procedure as the characters were to get tested. Grant has thought of everything--not just the small details to consider when and how an outbreak could occur. Feed is politics-heavy, not just because George and Shaun are on the campaign trail. Kellis-Amberlee is cause to reconsider things like the death penalty (why kill someone when a dormant virus goes live at death, thus endangering the public at large), gun control laws, pet ownership, and public gatherings. Playing in the backyard now depends on the danger level your neighborhood has been zoned for. Presidential candidates are made or broken on a campaign trail riddled with archaic practices now seen as brave instead of expected.

I do have one, and only one, thing to nitpick about. George’s relationship with her brother Shaun was a bit too unrealistic for me. I say this only because I have a brother and we’re pretty inseparable, but would never share the same bed with each other, let alone the same room. I suppose it’s a bit immature of me, but I couldn’t relate to certain aspects of their relationship and so didn’t appreciate how close they were as much as I could have. Other readers (who have siblings) may feel otherwise--I can only hope they do. After all, this is a fault of my own. About as close to understanding as I came was realizing they also had a working relationship that functioned best under those circumstances. And in the end, they were a strong pair. I can’t complain too much.

With Feed, Mira Grant proves she’s an author to be reckoned with. The book may be lengthy (almost 600 pages), but we have to remember it’s the first in a self-contained trilogy. There’s such a large and complex story to tell--a lesser book would not be this involved. If readers haven’t already started paying attention to Seanan McGuire because of her October Daye books, Feed will do the trick. There may be similarities between it and her other books--mysterious murders, resilient and accident-prone female protagonist with ready access to pain medication and a constant need for good night’s rest, deranged bad guy, suspect good guys--but you also can’t let yourself miss a book where one of the main characters runs around in a chain-mail shirt for fun, can you? And, there’s a kitty. You can’t beat kitties.

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Thank you to Orbit Books for my review copy!

Feed will be available for purchase either April 27th (the most likely candidate--it being a Tuesday), or May 1st, the official Orbit release date. I suggest you pre-order it now. It will be well worth the price. I do not know when its sequel, Deadline, will be out, but I'm looking forward to it. I hear it has epileptic teacup bulldogs.

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

2010-04-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Kindred
Author: Octavia E. Butler
Reviewed Format: Trade paperback
Release Date: February 4, 2004
Pages: 287

Dana expected a quiet day in her new home to celebrate her 26th birthday by unpacking boxes with her husband. It isn’t very long at all before she becomes dizzy and quite suddenly disappears. Instead of being surrounded by piles of books, she’s surrounded by nature and confronted with a choice: save a boy in the river from drowning or remain in shock and hope it’s all a dream. The next few weeks of Dana’s life prove to be some of the worst. As she’s repeatedly pulled backwards and forwards in time between 1976 California and an 1819 ante-bellum Southern plantation. Her fate is tied with that of the plantation owner’s son, Rufus. Until she can figure out who he is, what he was meant to do, and why she continues to travel through time, Dana is in danger. The ante-bellum South is no place for a black woman living in the 20th Century; to make matters worse, each time Dana returns, her visits are longer and the consequences more dire. Will Dana become stuck in time or will she die before she has a chance to return home?

Kindred begins at the end. An ominous and unexplained prologue lifted from the last chapters of the book left me feeling anxious and uneasy. This was compounded by the narrative not resuming that conclusive thread until the epilogue. Knowing what ultimately happens to Dana at that point didn’t spoil the suspense of wanting to know how she got there. The journey is what made this book utterly compelling. That disruption in what would otherwise be a linear narrative jarred me into understanding nothing would be as expected in this novel. Everything, even time and the frame of the narrative itself, would be challenged.

Butler delves into the psyche of all of her characters, making them as sympathetic as they are disagreeable. They’re vivid and rich--Butler’s grasp of this era’s history is best expressed through a studied development of the relationships and personalities of her Southern slaves and their masters. All of them felt real; all of them could have leapt from the pages, pulled steadily through with the power of my imagination and Butler’s polished, convincing prose. Dana may have a working understanding of slavery, but we have to remember: her knowledge is from education, not practical experience. This makes her the best narrator for the story. Hers is the personality most people can identify with.

The injustices of the ante-bellum South are just accepted, it’s a way of life--Butler shows the ease with which “people could be trained to accept slavery” (p.101) on one side; on the other, the gross negligence and presumptive nature adopted by slave owners and the populace at large. Dana is as shocked by this as she is sobered. She finds herself mystified at how easily she falls into her role in the past. Butler made Dana’s experience personal. No one bats an eye if a slave is beaten for being out at the wrong time of day--that’s just how it was, however wrong it is. It’s frightening how quickly Dana assimilates, but it’s either survive or submit; the two are not the same. I will admit: I was a bit put off with how fast Dana and Kevin took to their respective roles. And they’re just that--roles.

Dana doesn’t fool herself into thinking she has no alternatives or hasn’t better experiences, but she also doesn’t take for granted how precious her life is, especially if she were to become injured in the past. What made this more than play-acting was Dana’s inability to control when she would be pulled into the past and what life-threatening situation would bring her back. She remained at the mercy of her ancestor, Rufus, just as his life remained in Dana’s hands. Theirs was one of the most interesting relationships of the book. As a relative of his, Dana had to acknowledge those roots and accept how entwined their existence with each other is. To go back home, to 1976, is to go back to the relatively pampered life possible only through his existence.

So much of what Butler does is best appreciated by just reading this book. I remain amazed at her talent, a talent that re-imagines and reclaims racial stereotypes. At every turn, a new character or relationship is confronted in ways that alter the rhythm of complacency. The narrative is bold and thematic, pulling from unlikely sources to build a new perspective both complex and difficult to swallow. She toys with several dichotomies including (but not limited to) master and slave; husband and wife. The politics of race become an even more frightening reality for Dana and her husband, Kevin (a Caucasian). To contend with an already heavy narrative, Butler examines gender politics--not only what it means to be black or white, but to be male and female while having racial distinction.

I can’t talk about this novel enough, nor do I feel I am ever going to articulate well what I want to say about Kindred. The last line is powerful; the metaphor of Dana and her missing arm, even more so. It brings up questions of reality and identity. If a piece of Dana will literally always be in the past, what does that say as it transcends the narrative of any of us who get “caught up” in our own past? Are we so preoccupied with today that it takes an experience as jarring as Dana’s to render us forever changed? Or does attempting to understand the past have the potential to draw us in and empathize so deeply? I would recommend this book to anyone and think if more people haven’t already read it, they should. As it stands, I already feel I need to re-read it, or study it to really grasp everything I might have missed the first time.

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Summer of Series Reading Challenge Sign-up Post

2010-04-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

At the end of February, I announced JRT's first ever Reading Challenge. Starting in May, participating readers will have the opportunity to read one book series each month until August--that's four months; four series. I've named the hosted event:

The Summer of Series Reading Challenge

The rules are listed here. If you have any questions, please look there first and ask for clarification as a comment second. I need this to be as hands-off for me as possible. That will leave me more time to dedicate to reading these books and writing reviews and discussion sections for YOU!

There are a couple of things to consider: For May, the last Long Price Quartet book, The Price of Spring, is only available in hardcover right now. For August, the lastest Inda Quartet book, Treason's Shore, won't be out in mass market until October, but it is available as a hardcover until then. You can decide if you are able to get these titles from your local library or new & used bookstores; it may even factor in whether you want to participate those months at all. I leave that up to you.

You can participate in any of the four months you choose, any combination, or all four! Simply write your name (or blog name) in the form below and in parenthesis please let me know which month(s) you expect to participate in. If you do not have a blog URL, you may leave that field blank.

For example: if you are participating in May and July and your name is Judy with no URL, your entry should appear as: Judy (May, July).

If you are participating in all months and have a blog URL, your entry should appear as: Jawas Read, Too! (ALL)

I've already filled in the first slot as an example.

I will be reading roughly one book each week with my review put up by the end of each full week in each month (this will be altered slightly for months with series lesser or more than 4 books). That way, everyone can have the post ready to come back to in case they finish after that time. In fact, I hope the discussions last all summer! I will also post links to reader reviews. More of this kind of detail will come with my first review post.

To promote the Summer of Series Reading Challenge, TJ of Book Love Affair has very kindly taken time out of her own busy schedule to make these fantastic banners for you to use! Take whichever you want for whichever months you plan to participate and proudly display them on your blog. Feel free to promote the entire challenge by using the banner and linking back to this post.

I hope this will be as much fun for you as I expect it to be for me! Look for a very special SOS related post sometime this week.

A Brief Explanation of Things & An Apology

2010-04-05T13:42:00.000-07:00

I want to apologize to all of you JRT readers. My life has suddenly gotten very busy in the past week. To spare you the long details, here is what has been and will be taking priority over JRT:

1. I tutor adults in English; I'm currently helping my student become a US citizen; integrating history lessons with my duties as an ESL tutor is a bit difficult.

2. My little cousin was accepted to my alma mater for fall admission- we took a walking tour of campus; she realized I knew as much as the tour guide when her information became an echo of mine. I've suddenly become a larger resource.

3. WonderCon was this weekend! I went, I saw, I had another fun year. (Max Brooks, Peter S. Beagle, Steve Leialoha...I missed Michael Chabon who appeared unannounced on Saturday)

4. I'm a bridesmaid in a cousin's fall wedding. It's time to choose dresses.

5. Pete (my SO) has applied to a position in San Jose (very close to where I am); this is exciting, but adding to my anxiety and increasingly scatter-brained-ness of the past few weeks.

What all this means is I have a lot to contend with in addition to reading (which I do quite naturally). Unfortunately, writing reviews and tending to JRT has become a lower priority. I will promise to do as much as I can, when I can, especially with the Summer of Series reading challenge coming soon! All I ask for is some patience and understanding. Real life is, and should always be, my first priority.

If I appear absent-minded, disorganized, or if my comments are shorter than usual or strange in any way it's only because I have many things on my mind and am doing my best to sort through them.

Coming this week:

1. A review of Kindred by Octavia E. Butler (tonight, actually)

2. A sign-up sheet for the Summer of Series Reading Challenge (will be up immediately after this post)

3. A review of Feed (ARC) by Mira Grant (aka Seanan McGuire)

4. An extra-long Weekend Discussion post on the Hugo nominations.

Thank you and please know I haven't forgotten about you...

The Book Faeries - April Edition #1

2010-04-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

I'll be honest with you, readers: I never stop being amazed at 1: how many good books are out there and 2: how many kind and generous publishers let me read their titles. I must be doing something right.

Unfortunately, there is no special giveaway with this Book Faeries post. You'll have to settle for an eclectic assortment of titles I'm excited to read. Hopefully, you'll see something that interests you as well?

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

I was interested in reading this book when it was first released a few years ago, but never bothered to pick it up. Wildwood Dancing is a re-telling of The 12 Dancing Princesses, a fairy tale. I've read good recommendations of Marillier's writing, love fairy tales (especially re-tellings) and was lucky enough to see an ex-library hardcover copy at my library's bookstore (in EXTREMELY good condition; I don't know why it was withdrawn from circulation) for $1. Of course I bought it!

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Recieved: via Library bookstore

The Merlin Effect by T. A. Barron

One of the bad things about being in the library so often is having extra time to sneak into the bookstore there and get some rare treats at a cheap price. I found a copy of this book with the Borders price sticker still attached to it! This isn't part of Barron's Merlin series (well, it might be as a prequel?), but the jacket copy mentions this is rumored to be the book that "started it all" in a sense. Whatever the reason for writing it, I really like Arthur myths, am obsessed with the BBC's "Merlin" show; for 50 cents this purchase was a no-brainer.

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Received: via Library bookstore

On Beauty by Zadie Smith

I recently saw this in the library bookstore ($1) and figured I'd give it a try. I've never read anything else by her, but think Smith is an author I should add to my repertoire. If anyone has read one of her other novels, or has anything to say on this one, please let me know your thoughts! :)

Genre: African American Literature

Received: via Library bookstore

Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

Most, if not all, of the reviews I've read about this book have been positive. Of course, aside from the fascinating premise (social commentary and satire using colors to separate different levels of society), there have been some concerns over how much is too much. How successful is Fforde's concept? I like to form my own opinion and made up my mind I wanted to read this for myself to join the discussion. Luckily, Penguin obliged my request completely by surprise.

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via Viking Books for review

Everlost by Neal Shusterman

Where do we go after we die? Neal Shusterman gives us his take on this question in his Skinjacker trilogy, starting with Everlost. I have this and the immediate sequel, Everwild, and am pretty excited to see what he has in store for readers this time around. His previous novel, Unwind, was so engrossing it made me forget about all the small details I found to nitpick about.

Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction

Received: via Simon & Schuster UK for review

Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky

I'm making an effort to read and review more fiction here on JRT. I seem to have forgotten that JRT is supposed to be eclectic! My tastes are being grossly misrepresented (I love SF/F, but I also love Contemporary Fiction and Literature) and that needs to be fixed. Lucky for me, my library just read this title for their book club and some participants donated their brand new, very gently used copies to the library's bookstore ($1). I'd been eyeing this title ever since it was released--at the time I was working in a bookstore--and I think now's a good enough time as any to finally alleviate that desire, don't you think?

Genre: Historical Fiction

Received: via Library bookstore

Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon

I won a copy of this courtesy of a giveaway at Book Love Affair. Elizabeth Moon's been one of those authors I've been eying for awhile, but have yet to read. With Oath of Fealty being the follow up to a previous trilogy, I'm curious if it makes any difference to understanding or enjoying it if I haven't read the others. I'm going to give myself plenty of time to decide which to do first: buy the trilogy (available as an omnibus) and read it first or forget about it and dive into Oath of Fealty without reservation. I'm geared up for Moon's Vatta's War SF series for my Summer of Series reading challenge, but love that she writes in both genres.

Genre: Fantasy

Received: via Book Love Affair giveaway

Heroes of the Valley by Jonathan Stroud

I remember reading and really enjoying The Bartimaeus Trilogy. I even got to meet Jonathan Stroud at a local signing. He was kind and talked to me about being an Editor (a thing at the time I very much wanted to do) and becoming an Author. He even drew little Bartimaeus faces next to his signature (poor guy, he obliged when I held up 4 of his books). I had no idea he'd written another fantasy book until I saw this withdrawn hardcover Library copy at my Library's bookstore on sale for $1. It was in excellent condition so I've added it to my personal library.

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Recevied: via Library bookstore

Storm Front, book one of The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

I had a co-worker who didn't so much recommend these, as point out that I might like them every now and then. She was very subtle and I have to say, the one deterrent was how many books are in the series. At this point, there are 12. Luckily, I joined PaperBackSwap and used my first credit to make this purchase. After hearing someone on Twitter mention there isn't a Dresden Files book without a Star Wars reference, I knew I had to at least try the series.

Genre: Fantasy

Received: via PaperBackSwap

Solar by Ian McEwan

This was my big splurge of the month. Amazon had it for the pre-order price of $14 and some change. This latest from Ian McEwan--one of my favorite authors--has so far received lukewarm reviews. It's a little unfortunate that the book is constantly being compared in reception to Atonement or Saturday, but I suppose if an author writes something that does exceptionally well, that goes with the territory. I'm looking forward to it anyway.

Genre: Literary Fiction

Received: via Amazon.com

I hope you'll forgive my not-so-subtle price checking. My library is amazing; I wanted to share with you just how awesome their bookstore prices are. I've gotten very lucky finding some wonderful used copies in phenomenal shape. Did you see anything of interest? Let me know what you think in the comments! :)

Poll Results #4

2010-04-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

I want to apologize in advance. Real life is keeping me busy this week and the weekend will be even busier. There may or may not be a second review by Sunday (I'm currently reading Octavia Butler's Kindred). That isn't because I won't have the book finished. On the contrary, I plan on finishing it today! Finding the time to write a review that isn't riddled with typos, excessive commas, or run-on sentences will be the problem. I promise I will try to make it up to you next week. There will be a Book Faeries Post and (hopefully) a Weekend Discussion, in addition to today's post on the fourth JRT poll results. Speaking of which:

It's award season! Voting for the Nebula award just ended on Tuesday, but JRT readers had an extra day to speculate and voice their opinion on the most recent poll featured here.

Thank you to everyone who voted. There was a great turn out this time, but as with all polls, the results must be analyzed...

When asked which book JRT readers thought would win the Nebula, I thought the answers might vary across the board. I was surprised. Frankly, one book had an overwhelming amount of support; another two didn't get any votes. I felt a little weird voting myself. Out of the 6 nominees, I've only read half and didn't feel comfortable picking one title I had read over another I hadn't--it did not feel fair. But I, like you, placed my vote. My only conclusion could be either, like me, other people picked their choice based only on the nominees they'd read or some books weren't received as well as the others.

(Please excuse the small print on my poll results graphic)

With an overwhelming amount of votes (16 of 37), JRT readers think Cherie Priest's Boneshaker will win the Nebula!

Tied for second place is Paolo Bacigalupi's The Windup Girl and--bless your little hearts--the Jawa that comes and claims the prize for herself. Seven of you have ingratiated yourselves into my outermost inner circle of Really Cool People on the Internet. Makes you feel special, don't it? The Jawas, they appreciate your vote.

Unfortunately, China Miéville's The City & The City missed a three-way tie by one vote; Jeff VanderMeer's Finch received only one. Here's to the underdog--I'll make the time to read your book soon.

And coming in last place (the real underdogs), with absolutely no votes (no votes! Unimaginable!) were Christopher Barzak's The Love We Share Without Knowing and Anne Gilman's Flesh and Fire. Now, I really shouldn't say anything. I'm just going to share with you, my dear readers, that I assumed maybe one or two of you would have read either one and perhaps, liked it best to win above all others. Clearly, those of you that have read one--or both--didn't think either would win. The lack of confidence is not terribly inspiring.

I don't know what it says when a fictional creature is imagined as winning over not one, but four books, but the readers of JRT have spoken. I'm sure Judgment Jawa had nothing to do with that, right?

We won't know the real winner until May. In the meantime, take your fellow JRT readers' advice: read Boneshaker. It was a good book. Or pick one of the other titles you haven't read. Expand your horizons. And don't forget to look to the left for the latest poll: Which book do you think will win the Andre Norton award?

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

2010-03-30T17:53:00.000-07:00

Title: To Say Nothing of the Dog

Author: Connie Willis

Reviewed Format: mass market paperback

Release Date: December 1, 1998

Pages: 512

When Ned Henry begins to pet Mr. Spivens and wax poetic about the role dogs have played as Man’s Best Friend throughout the centuries, he suddenly finds himself yanked out of 1940 and back in the year 2057. Ned is a time traveller. He also has a serious case of time-lag--Mr. Spivens is not a dog. Time-lag is the wonderful after effect of extraneous time travel with little to no sleep or rest in between. It renders its victims confused and sleepy; if you are suffering any of the following symptoms: Difficulty Distinguishing Sounds, Blurred Vision, Slowness in Answering, a Tendency to Maudlin Sentimentality, then you may be time-lagged. The only cure is rest.

Unfortunately for Ned, he works directly under Lady Schrapnell--an American woman who’s taken it upon herself to commandeer every available time travel agent and send them through the Net and across time in her obsessive attempt to rebuild Coventry Cathedral, in Oxford. Her schedule is rigorous and unforgiving. The consecration is in seventeen days and Ned’s just been prescribed two weeks of bed rest. To complicate matters even further, he’s been sent back to 1888 Victorian England where he’s supposed to fix a possible incongruity for Mr. Dunworthy, avoid Lady Schrapnell, find some rest and relaxation, and not worry about finding the Bishop’s bird stump until after his new mission’s completed. The only problem is he can’t remember what he’s supposed to do, with whom, or where. At least the Maudlin Sentimentality will help him fit right in.

Connie Willis’ To Say Nothing of the Dog combines elements of Science Fiction, Mystery, and Historical Fiction with a healthy dose of British humor. Part of what makes this book work so well are the diversions of dialogue between characters in which Nothing Gets Done. The characters themselves are hilariously depicted, sweet caricatures of the Spoilt and Silly Girl, the Distracted Father, the Butler, and the Fainting Mother that argue around each other in comical displays of affection that somehow manage to keep the plot rolling in suspense and plodding along delightfully. It’s a novel built around Flaubert’s idea that, “God is in the details.” Willis masterfully takes that quote and constructs a theme that sprouts marvelous allusions, showing readers her ability to create one of the most complicated and enjoyable mysteries I’ve ever read.

There’s many references to the namesake, Jerome K. Jerome’s Three Men In a Boat, To Say Nothing of the Dog. I’m not familiar with it and, after having read through Willis’ book, don’t think it’s necessary to know anything about it (but it’s out there somewhere for recommended further reading). It’s more important to take the references into context with the rest of Willis’ novel and see how the jumble of seemingly incongruous pieces begin to make sense as a working whole. Mr. Mering and Professor Peddick are constantly discussing the details affecting various important moments in history, coming to the conclusion that it’s always the minor and least expected thing that must have altered history to bring contemporary events about. Mr. Dunworthy has sent Ned on this mission in deep worry one of those niggling details will forever change the outcome of one of the worst wars in history. There is always a Big Idea, to Say Nothing of the Details which, as we all know, are just as important. The forest would be nothing, if not for the trees, right?

Jerome K. Jerome is not the only author with works prestigious (or related) enough to earn multiple allusions in To Say Nothing of the Dog. Most of the Romantics (Tennyson, in particular, with my favorite poem,“The Lady of Shallott,” which is under Terence’s constant scrutiny) make appearances; Shakespeare, various romantically tragic couples, and some hilariously phonetic Middle English words are there as well. My favorite two phrases would have to be, “Tha kahna bay” (p. 396) and “Guttgottimhaben” (p. 397). If you’ve ever tried to read Middle English (i.e. Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales) and had trouble contorting your palate to articulate the words on the page your brain was telling you look one way with familiar letters, but are not pronounced in contemporary ways at all, then you might be grateful for Willis’ clever and helpful spellings. You might even, as I did, literally laugh out loud at her handiwork in appreciation for her efforts to make a trip into the Middle Ages as least stressful and reminiscent of English class as possible. Having loved my Middle English courses (I originally and still want to get my MA in Medieval Literature, a little bit) with little to no problem reading and understanding non-translated Chaucer, I still found myself laughing.

Don’t worry if the Middle English bothers you at all--I focus on a small portion of the book, a few pages really. To Say Nothing of the Dog was so much fun to read that even if that makes you hesitant, Willis’ wit will win you over and have you smiling before long. It’s a lovely and absurd book filled with precious characters, sublime settings, and picaresque landscapes. But the characters, they really steal all the attention. I became so invested in the Victorians (an odd bunch of manner and decorum-driven individuals) that I was disappointed when Ned had to switch through various times. What complicates the mystery so much is the time-travel and Willis’ convoluted yet simple explanations of How It All Works (this is also what made it so riveting for me). Despite figuring out who the elusive Mr. C was pretty early on in the book, I found myself enjoying the ride anyway.

Overall, it’s a frabjous book with one of the most romantic lines I’ve ever read, talented writing and story-telling, Victorian exclamations, but to top it all off: it has kittens. I had a hard time putting this book down. I do have a warning, though: the humor is mostly subtle. If you like to get your laughs in other, mysterious ways, consult a medium and have the Other Side direct you in the proper direction. Also: I still can’t find a definition for “fenoxidils.” Is it some type of facial hair?

How many Jawas recommend this book?

I read this book as the March selection in Calico Reaction's LiveJournal book club.

Shadow Prowler (ARC) by Alexey Pehov

2010-03-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Title: Shadow Prowler, first in the Chronicles of Siala Trilogy

Author: Alexey Pehov

Reviewed Format: UK ARC

Release Date: April 1, 2010 in the UK; February 16, 2010 in the US

Pages: 400

Shadow Harold is a professional thief. His latest Commission (thieving job) has gotten him in a bit of trouble. He hasn’t exactly gotten caught, just noticed by the wrong people. The kingdom of Siala is overrun with a mysterious yellow fog and demons that hunt in the shadows. Everyone thinks the Namesless One is to blame--a figure of darkness both evil and powerful who sends his minions forth to carry out terrible deeds. The Order of Magicians bring Harold forward with a proposition: journey to Hrad Spein and the Palace of Bones to retrieve the Rainbow Horn or be sent to the Gray Stones for his perpetual thieving crimes. The Rainbow Horn is a magical instrument sure to break the bond that ties the Nameless One to this world; the Gray Stones is the worst prison imaginable. Harold doesn’t have to think very hard about his decision and it isn’t long before he’s off to the Forbidden Territory in search of a map that will help him navigate Hrad Spein.

Shadow Prowler is an interesting mix of races and characters looking and acting out of the ordinary from what I’m used to seeing in Fantasy novels. It’s laughable for dwarves to have beards--only goblins partake in that particular ritual; elves aren’t beautiful in the classic waifish way so associated with their multiple literary appearances--they’re almost as ugly as orcs, their cousins, but only slightly more appealing. Siala itself is a city built around thieves with statues and monuments erected to one of the best around. The characters and setting are unorthodox and quirky. The writing, however, I had some trouble with.

Originally, Shadow Prowler was written in Alexey Pehov’s native Russian. What I read was an edition translated to English. Translators have a hard job. It’s difficult to capture the literal events of the narrative and remove them to another language. It’s even more difficult to capture the sentiment and ambiance in one language and bring it to another. Words change, meanings change--preserving literal meaning may come at the sake of the poetics and vice versa. Translators have a precarious balancing act to perform; I don’t envy them the job.

When I write, I do so in two languages, mixing English and Spanish to get my point across. Sometimes what I want to express is best felt in the essence of one word or phrase in one language and not the other. It works for me, I enjoy doing it, but what sometimes comes naturally, that decision, the need, to choose between one language and the other, isn’t always easy. I’m constantly reminded of translators who do professionally what I every once in awhile trouble over at my leisure for a word or phrase. Translating an entire work of fiction is hard, to say the least.

I hesitate to bring this up because I am so appreciative of how complex and involved professional translating is, but it’s important here. In the case of Shadow Prowler I think the translation from Russian to English is part of why I didn’t enjoy as much about the book as possible. The other part, and what makes this a bit of a sticky review for me, is realizing the original language may have been just as disagreeable to me. This particular translation, albeit it will be the only one available in English, is not for me. Other readers may like it; I’m almost sure what bothered me won’t affect everyone else in the same way. Let me give you some examples.

Harold frequently referred to himself in the third person. He also used “we” instead of saying, “I.” At first I thought this was to add flavor to his cocky, self-assured nature. As I read further, it became a choice of style I couldn’t warm up to. There’s also some weird metaphors that I found too heavy-handed and awkward. The translation in these areas, I thought, might have been too literal. In addition to some mixed tenses, the inclusion of a bit too much detail, backstory, and flashbacks awkwardly placed in the narrative, reading Shadow Prowler became an act of choosing what to ignore and what to enjoy. In this case, what I enjoyed was overshadowed by my inability to navigate smoothly through the text.

I thought the goblin fool, Kli-Kli was an interesting addition--I’ve never thought of placing a creature so typically thought of as nasty and cruel, in a position of levity. Although the clever nature of the quintessential goblin came through, I appreciated it better coming from the most unlikely of sources. In this case, I was reminded of the Fool in King Lear who tends to know more and comment on topics and events no one would suspect him of having an opinion on. Harold’s relationship with Vukhdjaaz, the demon looking for a horse, was comical in the beginning. I’d hoped he’d be included more, but was removed from the plot about halfway through the book. I was also disappointed in the disproportionate lack of female characters. This was only made worse by Harold’s constant inner dialogue as he toyed with the idea of flirting or starting a relationship with Miralissa (the female). I will never understand why an author places one female in the text only to be surrounded by males who automatically want to consider her as a romantic or more intimate partner. Why should she even be considered at all? Her role was much more involved, much more pertinent than it might otherwise have been had she also began sneaking off for secret rendezvous with Harold.

Unfortunately, since I reviewed an ARC, I’m not able to quote passages from the text to support my sentiment. In fact, I don’t even know if the final edition reads better than the ARC. It’s out in hardcover in the US already (mine is a UK copy), but do I really want to re-read the entire thing to find out? Take what I’ve said here into context. I read and reviewed an ARC. This is not the finished product. What you find in bookstores might be more polished with less minor contradictions or inaccuracies caught before final publication. Clearly, Harold has a larger role to play in an unknown future with the hint of prophecy lingering about him. The story was enough to compel me to finish reading. I never put the book down because I was so put off by the negatives, nor did I “force” myself to continue reading. As much as I found to enjoy, overall, I was not impressed. I don’t think I’ll be looking for the second installment in this trilogy.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for my review copy!

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Weekend Discussion: The Deal With Epic Fantasy Is...

2010-03-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

I'm going to admit something to you that I used to not care about, but am now embarrassed to bring up.

Over the past few days, I've been reading a book. It's in a genre I used to stay far away from, but have since stopped being hesitant to read. This particular book reminded me why I used to avoid these novels like the plague as I wrinkled my nose in distaste, reaching for Fiction/Literature or Science Fiction instead.

I have a slight prejudice against epic fantasy.

Now, before anyone tries to defend epic fantasy or comment with the positives before reading the rest of this post, or skimming and pretending you've read it, I do have experience that backs up my preferences and remember: it's now a slight prejudice. I'm only hesitant now, not completely avoiding of it. That I was even reading this book is proof of that.

I remember the first fantasy book I read (note: fantasy, not epic). I'd just spent an entire summer devouring Star Wars books and thought I'd be brave and adventurous. I was in a grocery store, saw a book with a black dragon on the cover against a snowy background and was intrigued. The jacket copy convinced me I wanted to read it. I bought it. I've since come to regret that decision.

The book was not to my liking. In fact, I disliked it so much, I was put off from the entire genre for another few years. A classmate in high school recommended the first in an epic fantasy series (after noticing I had read and loved Dune and Ender's Game). Thinking the years had distanced me enough from what I felt was a silly bad first experience and not wanting to let that ruin an entire genre of books for me, I took his advice and bought the book.

I couldn't get past the first 100 pages. Unlike the other book (which I still own as a reminder to my experience)--in which the writing didn't bother me, just the plot--this book, I felt, needed more editing. I now know that lots of fantasy books suffer (yes, suffer) from a gross overabundance of unnecessary descriptions. These descriptions don't add anything for me. In fact, they detract from the way I like to read a book. Why should I be pulled away from the momentum of the story when the author forces me to stop and look at one character and what they're wearing, or what they look like? I find it awkward.

I am very embarrassed to say this book didn't improve my outlook on fantasy. It lowered my expectations. What's worse is the degree that I pushed my experience of these two books onto any future experience I might have reading any other fantasy book.

Enter my job at a bookstore in college with a co-worker who ABSOLUTELY LOVED epic fantasy and politely teased me about my snot-nosed snobbery when it came to authors I'd never even read before. She recommended another fantasy title. Again, it'd been years and I thought I'd be able to rise above my silliness, but no. That book wasn't any better than the others. I'd spent my money, I was disappointed again and thought I was hopeless.

Then I shelved a new release called Elantris by Brandon Sanderson and fell in love. His writing was engrossing; his plot, engrossing; his themes, literary and mythic (I immediately drew a connection between Egyptian mythology and this book and LOVED it because of this--I had fun pointing it out to my co-workers and our company newsletter via phone--to anyone who would listen). I'd finally found the author that broke me out of my slump and I was excited. Sure, he didn't completely pull away from the conventions I'd come to dislike, but there weren't any dragons; there weren't any elves, there wasn't any magic like I'd been so used to seeing magic; there were no dwarves; there was no bad dialogue; it wasn't a derivative of Tolkien's (whom I like, mostly) work. He showed me fantasy could be good.

But to get back to my main point… I've skimmed the surface about why I dislike fantasy and epic fantasy--it probably sounds shallow. After Sanderson, I began trying other fantasy books with success. The problem? I still haven't been able to find an epic fantasy book (Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy was good, and so was Warbreaker, but neither has managed to impress me as much as Elantris) that completely Wows me. The Name of the Wind came close, but like the other books I picked up, I put this one down just as quickly; a lot of convincing went in to getting me to pick it up again and keep reading because "trust me, it gets better." Honestly, it did, but I want to be able to put down an epic fantasy book after having finished it all on my own and think, "I've found another favorite book."

And honestly, the book I'm reading now, that brought all of these awful memories back and threatened to bring my prejudice rising to the surface in ways it hasn't been present in years, didn't really bother me because of the plot, or because it had dwarves and elves in it. My dislikes are due to completely different reasons altogether that could be applied to any book in any genre. It just so happened to be an epic fantasy book. And so, when I began to feel my nose wrinkling, I immediately remembered the last time(s) I'd felt disagreeable toward fantasy and epic fantasy in particular. It was then I was reminded tangentially of why I tend to stray from epic fantasy.

What I'm asking you, my fantastic readers, is this:

Recommend to me a stand-alone or epic fantasy series that you think I might like. Frankly, I'm tired of this prejudice, but am reminded how picky a reader I still am when I try to dive into one of those books and absolutely can't stand it. Poor writing, poor character development, unnecessary tangents, incredulous abuse of arbitrary magic system, gratuitous exposition, history, details, or descriptions that do nothing but make something prettier--they don't even comment on some other theme or line of thought that can be extrapolated from the text--there are a lot of things that bother me and I hate to say my experience has found an exaggerated presence of these things in fantasy and epic fantasy.

Please, prove me wrong, but remember that I've tried to be as honest and open and polite with you as I hope you are with me. I really am asking and not trying to rub anyone the wrong way. I'd love to hear what you have to say.

If my track record is anything to go by: I do listen to advice. Did you see how many times I tried books that were recommended to me? My trust, however wary, is there and proof enough that I am open to trying new things! And that I'm stubborn, determined, and convinced I will one day find something I like. I didn't open each book with a groan, rolling my eyes and steeling myself for the worst. I went in thinking, "so and so thought this was good--let's give this a go with a blank slate."

Offer me your recommendations! Ask me for any clarifications! I'm eager to see your recommendations. :)

A Local Habitation: An October Daye Novel by Seanan McGuire

2010-03-23T21:39:00.000-07:00

Title: A Local Habitation: An October Day Novel #2
Author: Seanan McGuire
Reviewed Format: mass market paperback
Release Date: March 2, 2010
Pages: 400

It’s been a few months since Tobes stepped back into the world of Faerie. She’s no longer working for Safeway thanks to getting her P.I. license reinstated. She works among mortals hunting down cheating spouses, which isn’t exactly rivaling the Faerie world’s idea of investigative assignments. With barely enough time to get back to ‘normal,’ Toby Daye receives a phone call from Sylvester Torquill, Duke of Shadowed Hills and her liege. When Sylvester says jump, Toby obligingly responds, “how far?”

The two have a good working relationship. Mostly that’s because they’ve developed a genuine friendship over the years; Sylvester doesn’t abuse Toby’s loyalty and Toby would do a lot for him, even if he didn’t ask, but sometimes Sylvester has to pull rank. His niece, ruler of a neighboring Duchy, has stopped responding to his calls. Tamed Lightening is in a precarious position. It’s nestled in between Shadowed Hills and Dreamer’s Glass--the Duchy of Riordan, a typically ruthless Fae eager to claim any extra land for herself. It’s a political game of Operation: can Toby step in as an impartial outsider, find out what’s going on with January and bring that information back to her uncle without starting an inter-Duchy war?

In the second October Daye book, A Local Habitation, Toby confronts ALH (A Local Habitation) Computing--the computer company that fronts the mortal entrance to January’s Duchy. It’s a hilarious meeting of necessity that reminds us all that Toby was covered in scales during 14 very technologically vital years. The social awkwardness of navigating an answering machine is nothing compared to the stares Toby gets for not having a cell phone. Not that I blame her. For all the luck she doesn’t have with modern technology, she does enormously well solving mysteries in a world very much changed from the last time she left it.

Change is above and beyond the theme of the day. Whether it’s growing up, moving on, refusing it, or yearning for it, “change is the only constant” (p. 367). Faerie might resist its existence, mortals may rely and plan on it, but A Local Habitation brings the issue close to home. The only reliable thing, aside from the inevitable loss of what’s become familiar, are what we believe in: friendship, family, ideals--the relationships we create and nurture out of the “airy nothing” (p. 1) of possibilities. Toby reminds the reader, “Something endures, no matter what happens. Something lasts” (p. 347). It’s that feeling of hope we take with us as we close the book on more deaths, more blood, more betrayals.

It’s also the feeling that fuels the other theme of heroes Toby finds so much a reminder of her own failures. She rushes to January’s rescue because Sylvester can’t; Tybalt rescues her on more than one occasion throughout the book, thus firmly cementing my desire for the two to run off to a passionate getaway involving something less degrading than catnip and more romantic than candlelight; Dare considered Toby her hero before she died. McGuire gives us these Fairy Tale heroes for very modern and un-Fairy-Tale-like situations. It’s not as ill a fit as it might seem at first. After all, “reality is what [we] make it” (p. 361) and heroes come to us from the most unlikely of places. Whether we choose to recognize them as such is up to us.

There was so much to love about A Local Habitation; I think I said the same of its prequel, but it’s true. I’m not sure if I liked it better than Rosemary and Rue or if there are just different things in each to appreciate. I was frustrated with Toby for not figuring out Alex’s secret earlier, surprised to find out who the real killer was (okay, I lie, I knew--sort of), and amazed at the new assortment of curious and quirky characters McGuire introduced. Elliot, bless his soul, and his hesitation every time he asked, “May I clean you?” (p. 38) was adorable. I never knew Faerie would have its own clean freaks, let alone magical ones. The dynamic between Toby and Tybalt was hilarious (their relationship is anything but saccharine). Anything involving Tybalt, I’m all for. I couldn’t stop laughing at the image of Marcia rattling a can of cat food muttering, “here kitty, kitty” (p. 117) to get his attention. I think McGuire has captured the cat personality better than I ever thought possible. Clearly she’s a cat person and I’m grateful for it. It’s one more quick-witted aspect of her prose that works wonderfully with her sarcastic, wry observations and gritty, grisly descriptions.

A Local Habitation is another magical olfactory exercise with a Cyber-Dryad, a lovesick teenager, and yet another make-out session between Toby and someone she probably knows she shouldn’t be kissing anyway. Twice is a coincidence; three times is a trend. We’ll see what McGuire has in store for Tobes in An Artificial Night. I can only hope it involves more Tybalt and, perhaps, a lingering glimpse of Amandine. Despite her protests to the contrary, I’m also hoping Toby wakes up and listens to her own advice: “No matter how far I run, Faerie catches up with me in the end.” (p. 370)

Yes it does, Toby. Yes it does.

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Winner of Changeless Giveaway

2010-03-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

First, I want to apologize for not posting a Weekend Discussion. I was a bit busy, but I promise there will be one next weekend! :) Now that I've gotten that out of the way...

There were significantly more people who entered my Changeless giveaway: to each and every one of you who entered, thank you!

This particular contest was a bit of a big deal for me: I've never had the privilege to share an ARC before. Thanks to the wonderful people at Orbit Books, someone gets to read the second Alexia Tarabotti novel a few day sooner than it hits store shelves. I'm happy the second book I could offer on JRT was such a popular pick.

But all of that aside, I'm sure you'd much rather find out who random.org picked to win...

And the winner of JRT's Changeless Giveaway is...

Lily Child!

Congratulations! An e-mail will be sent to the address you provided. If the winner does not respond in two days (by Wednesday), another will be picked from the eligible entries.

Thank you again to everyone who entered!

Changeless, The Parasol Protectorate: Book the Second (ARC) by Gail Carriger

2010-03-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

Title: Changeless, The Parasol Protectorate: Book the Second

Author: Gail Carriger

Reviewed Format: ARC

Release Date: March 30, 2010

Pages: 400

Alexia Macoon, once again, has a few problems on her hands: supernaturals are losing their abilities all around London, ghost are being exorcised, and she can’t seem to keep her clothes on when her husband is around. The latter is, inarguably, the result of her new status as Lady Maccon, wife to Lord Conall Maccon, Earl of Woolsey and Alpha of the biggest wolf pack in England. The others are matters that must inevitably be explored in Gail Carriger’s second Parasol Protectorate book, Changeless.

When Alexa finds herself in a dreary and damp old castle in Scotland, with her dim, but sweet best friend and one of her impossible sisters, it’s more than just a social call. It’s a miracle her retinue managed to make the journey at all; what does one pack for a dirigible ride and will the food be up to Alexia’s rather generous, but hardly forgiving standards? What she meets upon arrival with hatboxes, suitcases, and brightly colored ladies flouncing about the Scottish Highlands in their English best, are the in-laws and an ancient Egyptian mummy. Neither are predisposed to the common courtesies, but Alexia is up to the challenge.

Following the precedent set in Soulless, Changeless is filled with ludicrous and lovable characters. Everyone is, of course, a bit eccentric with odd quirks that separate them from the status quo. Rather than be embarrassed by this, all are blessedly embracing of their peculiarities. Alexia in particular has developed the habit of carrying a parasol wherever she goes--a fashion statement and staple to a proper lady’s ensemble when not being used to bash untoward and highly suspect individuals about the head. Her trademark gets an upgrade from a French inventor, Q-style. One does not have to be James Bond to get all the best toys. Carriger doesn’t balk at introducing other new technologies. In fact, Changeless is filled with curious gadgets and inventions sure to please skeptical Steampunk fans left wanting after reading Soulless.

Not only does Alexia travel aboard a dirigible, but she eagerly uses the instrument that’s replaced the problematic telegraph: an aethographic transmitter. Leave it to her dear friend and Vampire, Lord Akeldama, to have the latest available version making it possible for the two to gossip via the aether. This new development becomes integral to the plot, as does Alexia’s bizarre new inventor; Madame Lefoux is full of surprises. She dresses, quite scandalously, like a gentleman, owns a hat shop to front her scientific endeavors, and has a mysterious and familiar octopus tattoo on the back of her neck. Unlike Soulless which introduced a small army of octopuses and left us in ignorance, Changeless takes the reigns successfully. The octopuses are finally explained. Not to mention the playful dynamic Madame Lefoux sparks between Alexia and Lord Maccon makes for an interesting diversion. I think she’s become my favorite character, after Lord Akeldama, of course. If it’s to be believed, my favorite Vampire not only meets willingly with a Werewolf, but a naked one at that.

Changeless is in many ways so much better than Soulless. I was a bit put off by the excess of sexual innuendos and encounters in the latter--the second half of the Paranormal Romance subgenre I did not realize it fell categorically under. Perhaps it’s because I approached Changeless with previous experience, but the romance didn’t bother me nearly as much. It could also be that Carriger significantly cut back. Although there are a few scenes that I felt were unnecessary, Changeless would not be as charming, witty, or frivolous without them. In short, I wasn’t bothered enough to let a few scenes scattered throughout the book get in the way of me absolutely adoring this novel. To be fair: I don’t normally read romance books, let alone Paranormal ones. Had I known Soulless was a Paranormal Romance before I read it, I might not have bothered to buy a copy. As it is, my misconception introduced me to an author and series I’m very glad to be a fan of.

The ridiculous denial and flirtation between Maccon and Alexia, now that they are married, is taken up by another burgeoning couple (dare I spoil things and say love triangle?). Both manage to make the courtship appear silly and melodramatic, but always entertaining--far more entertaining than I ever found Alexia and Lord Maccon (no offense). Not to be outdone, Alexia and her new husband are clearly in love and suffering blessedly, but the balance between the two couples is carried out very well. Everything I found a little awkward in Soulless is executed with practiced ease here--Carriger has found her stride.

The Parasol Protectorate books are about adventure and bravery as much as they are about decorum, romance, and fashion. Carriger’s prose is overabundant with clever and deliciously wicked observations. She doesn’t pause much to give an extended exposition and build a world for her readers, but she doesn’t have to. It may seem at first Carriger is taking for granted the alternatives of her world we are unfamiliar with. In truth, she gathers each new element with the historical, adds some silk, ribbons, and etiquette until the entire ensemble comes out as an entirely new character. The absurdity of her world is matched only by that of the Vampires, Werewolves, and other delightfully ravishing and charismatic characters surrounding Alexia. I get the feeling that Carriger has only begun to unravel Alexia’s world. It’s an exercise in patience and imagination waiting to appreciate (because I know I will) what she has in store for us next.

Quite masterfully, Carriger drops unanswered questions and dangling plot elements at the mercy of our expectations. Noticing these in the narrative herself, it may seem heavy-handed or extremely leading for a character to point out an unanswered question by the end of the book. I’d like to think those references are in the spirit of the series. The prose has an awareness of itself that I think, in pointing out what hasn’t been addressed, remembers to include us on the outrageous journey. For a character to remind Alexia, “but what about…” it is really Carriger taking us by the hand, handing us a cup of tea and sitting us down to relax with a delicious bite before the next journey begins. There will be more, this says, but one must always take time for tea.

Thank you, Orbit Books, for my Advance Copy of Changeless!

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Blameless, the third Parasol Protectorate book will be out in September, but I warn you: stay away from any blurbs about the book. There are huge spoilers involved on a scale so massive, I hesitate to even hint about it here.

Liked the review? Looking forward to the release at the end of the month? I have an extra copy to give away! Contest only open to US residents and ends tomorrow, March 21st.

Star Wars Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth by Karen Miller

2010-03-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

This review can also be read at Club Jade, a Star Wars fansite. :)

Title: Star Wars Clone Wars #4 Gambit: Stealth
Author: Karen Miller
Reviewed Format: trade paperback
Release Date: February 23, 2010
Pages: 432

Karen Miller’s high regard and curiosity concerning Obi-Wan Kenobi is quite charming. In her second Star Wars book, Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth, every character has a lot to shoulder in the war, even (and especially) Obi-Wan.

Ahsoka has more to consider as Anakin’s Padawan than the teachings of the Jedi Order. She cares for his well-being and has learned how to read her Master’s emotions to help herself navigate and deal with his temperament. Anakin struggles with the responsibilities of being the Chosen One. What he feels they should do, what he should do as such a prominent figure, conflicts often with the wider doctrine of the Jedi, not to mention how delicately he juggles his forbidden relationship with Padmé. Obi-Wan still wrestles with his misgivings as a teacher and his emotions over the health of a dear friend. It’s clear, though, that as Bail Organa brings a frightening new element in the war to the Jedi’s attention, this cast of extraordinary beings have rather ordinary problems.

All things considered: Obi-Wan and Anakin, for as much as they remain larger than life figures, symbolic of the Jedi Order and its potential, are still forced to deal with their very human emotions and drama. After a harrowing skirmish on Kothlis, Anakin and Obi-Wan are forced to realize they both need some much needed rest. Obi-Wan is still running a bit ragged from his encounter on Zigoola; Anakin and the entire galaxy agree. The pair are sent to Lanteeb anyway--a planet of no consequence until recent Separatist actions pique the Republic’s curiosity. Their physical wounds may be healed, but Anakin and Obi-Wan learn the hard way: some scars never go away.

Gambit: Stealth is the first in a two-part mini arc that ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger. While the Lanteeb mission propels the action forward, the dynamic between Anakin and Obi-Wan is the strongest undercurrent of the novel. As Karen Miller reminds us, it’s rare at this point in the timeline for Obi-Wan and Anakin to run around together as they often did as Master and Apprentice. This realization is poignant when Obi-Wan considers his regret over Anakin; he wonders if Anakin ever really learned anything taught to him or if he’ll ever learn. He frequently reminded himself he was no longer Anakin’s Master--that old relationship is over, however much Anakin remains forever respectful of Obi-Wan.

Miller strategically removed Ahsoka from the narrative. This helped move us away from just seeing Anakin as a Jedi Knight (with a Padawan) to consider his new role and relationship with Obi-Wan. The two can now face each other as adults, so to speak. Anakin’s undergone his right of passage and, while not an equal yet, is able to meet his former Master’s gaze without the guilt or shame associated with having done something wrong. Obi-Wan’s displeasure is the least thing from his mind. On this new, more level playing field, their dynamic comes to us as a war of values and beliefs.

Obi-Wan is the consummate, duty-bound Jedi: cool, professional, objective, detached. Anakin is demonstratively compassionate, always willing to help someone in need; his emotions are close to the surface where Obi-Wan’s are tightly controlled. Anakin always feels the need to be involved. I think what Karen Miller does best--what she showed us in Wild Space--is her talent for creating character studies by placing two disparate personalities together and seeing what happens. In this case, two very different Jedi--one raised traditionally, the other not--ultimately come head-to-head in an argument fundamental to the the job description.

Obi-Wan learns quickly that old habits die hard. As he fights the urge to teach lest he offend Anakin’s sensibilities and abilities as a Jedi Knight, he also works to understand the qualities in himself that have made him so different from his former Padawan. I loved the phrase Miller uses when she reminds us, “Obi-Wan Kenobi was a far more complicated man than a first glance would suggest” (p. 386). We learn, too, the dimensions of Obi-Wan’s psyche that are just as warm and inviting as Anakin, but honed through years of rigorous discipline growing up surrounded by other Jedi. Obi-Wan’s emotions are always checked by caution and propriety, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have them. He just deals with them differently. Karen Miller helps make this obvious through many touching scenes where Anakin is characteristically tormented and driven by his feelings, watched by Obi-Wan who must always remind him that the first thing about being a Jedi is prioritizing.

The two have never been more different, have never been more in tune to each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Miller captures their relationship wonderfully. They banter and feed off each other’s unspoken body language; they disagree and argue over intentions and dogma. Ultimately, they’re very respectful of each other and mindful of the consequences each action or word may bring.

I was impressed before with the fresh perspective Miller brought to the Star Wars universe. With Gambit: Stealth she reminds readers what she does best is unearth the mechanics that drive characters like Obi-Wan to act as he does. I don’t think we could ask for a more staunch supporter of such a wry manipulator.

As pleased as I was about this book, I am curious about one thing: if Star Wars has skittles, does that mean they have Starburst or Twix bars, too?

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Star Wars Fate of the Jedi 4: Backlash by Aaron Allston

2010-03-14T14:37:00.000-07:00

This review can also be read at Club Jade, a Star Wars fansite. :)

Title: Star Wars Fate of the Jedi 4: Backlash

Author: Aaron Allston

Reviewed Format: hardcover

Release Date: March 9, 2010

Pages: 328

Luke and Ben seemed to have abandoned their mission to uncover the murky truth of Jacen’s turn to the Dark Side during the third FOTJ book, Abyss, when a weird new tribe of Sith caught their attention. In Backlash, the adventure continues. Luke’s on the prowl, metaphorically sniffing out Vestara Kai like some crazy bad ass Jedi hunting dog; with his blood splattered on her person after a lightsaber battle that ended with the death of her Master, Vestara’s unaware she’s even being tracked, but you can bet she’s looking for a place to hide. Ben’s aware of his father’s exhaustion, despite Luke’s protests, and elicits the help of the Jedi via an encrypted, sneaky, and very under-the-radar message intended to make absolutely clear it isn’t Luke who’s asking (which would violate the terms of his parole), it’s his son. Eager to help and reminding us the “good thing about the Solos and Skywalkers” is they “never run out of things to do” (p. 6), Han and Leia pack Allana and her pet nexu aboard the Falcon and head to the only place Luke and Ben can guess is the most likely location Vestara would land: Dathomir. And here, ladies and gentlemen, is where the fun begins. What follows is a witty and wild adventure in which Daala realizes she’s in over her head, Han gets a flamethrower, and a nexu manages to elicit more pathos out of me than Allana ever will.

Now that there’s more time between FOTJ releases, the page count per book can go up and fans like me can feel we’ve bought something worth the cover price. Let me make this clear: the extra pages were not only needed, but they’re everything that made Backlash read like a complete installment in the series rather than a rushed addition or careless afterthought. Every success reveals a new failure, though and unfortunately, no matter how much I’m enjoying this series, something went wrong. To be fair, there’s many things going on behind the scenes that have affected FOTJ. One of those is the release of the Lost Tribe of the Sith books as e-books. Sure, they’re free, but they’re e-books. I don’t know about you, but I hate e-books. Sitting to read in front of my computer for extended periods of time isn’t as easy as sitting with a physical book. There’s considerably less eyestrain; not all of us can afford fancy e-book readers with e-ink (or to keep printing each story). Some of the plot in those books, which I still haven’t and refuse to read until they’re in print, would, I hear, have helped clear up some of my confusion over the latest band of Sith apparently no one’s ever run into before. With the release of Crosscurrent, I finally got a lot more information and backstory that I really should have gotten before I read the first FOTJ book, Outcast. It might be too much to ask for books to be released chronologically, but it would have been really, really helpful.

I bring this up because suddenly Zekk’s madly in love with someone named Taryn. I was as baffled as everyone else--when did this happen? I can only guess, after a kind fan suggested, theirs was a romance forced to bloom behind the scenes, after Blood Oath was cancelled. Honestly, though? I think these kind of “surprise!” revelations lose any real relevance when they come out like this, especially because Zekk played a larger role in LOTF and has since then suddenly dropped out of existence. His return is lukewarm, unexplained, and unfortunate in execution. Allston, to his credit, was doing the best he could. It’s not his fault Blood Oath was cancelled, and I’m sure at some point, if it wasn’t him who corralled Zekk back into the narrative, it’d just be another author. Kudos to you, Allston, for taking the bullet.

Now that Zekk’s back, I couldn’t really understand his role in Backlash. Luke and Ben have made it on planet and are tracking Vestara when they run across a clan of Witches and a little bit of trouble; Han and Leia are off to investigate when they leave Allana in the Falcon with the droids and nexu; Zekk and Taryn are supposed to be watching the kid, but fail to intervene or even notice when Allana successfully outmaneuvers 3-PO (we all know how hard it is) and sneaks off to rescue Artoo. He shoots something once (I think) and is never brought to task for her being scared half to death and the nexu getting a concussion. Someone please correct me and point out where I misread Zekk’s actual involvement. I’m not above being corrected, I’m just confused.

Zekk and Allana aside, the return to Dathomir was, surprisingly, most of what made this book so much fun for me. Sine Luke’s last visit, the Dathomir Witches have evolved a little and emancipated their men--they can leave clans, form others, own property, vote, and wear pants, too. There were many jibes at the expense of traditional Dathomiri gender roles made even more entertaining when the gang is politically caught up in the elaborate process of the joining of two mutually exclusive, gender-polarized clans in the one thing that I never knew was missing from Star Wars: Dathomir Olympics. It’s about as backwater as you’d expect: rock throwing, sharp shooting, wrestling--you get the idea. There’s even medals; Han wants to make his into coasters. Dathomir’s also famous for rancors and darned if there isn’t an influx of them and some skirmishes that bring to memory Luke’s caged battle with Jabba’s wee baby pit monster. Delicate political negotiations aside, the diversions of the games was a great balance to Ben’s investigation into Vestara’s real motive.

We also get to meet some new and interesting characters. In particular, I’ve grown fond of Dyon--a Force-sensitive and unsuccessful Jedi candidate Ben hires for the cause at 5 credits, apparently the going rate for Jedi. Dyon is the little character that could and the type we don’t see enough of in a world saturated with familiar heroes and villains. Speaking of villains, Allston’s portrayal of Daala turned into a bit of a caricature of the stiff woman we’ve come to know and expect. At times it seemed she was making fun of herself, or perhaps it’s just Allston’s characteristic touch of humor that unclenched the Chief of State and finally started letting her realize just how big a can of worms she’s unleashed. Although, if you ask me, “policing” the Jedi is not the same thing as sending Mandos in for guerilla attacks when no one’s looking and causing hundreds of thousands of credits worth in damage. She needs a dictionary as much as everyone else needs more ginko bilboba in their diet.

Everyone (Han, Leia, Jaina, Jag) is not only surprised when there’s a Mando attack, but act as if it didn’t just happen in Abyss or as if Wyn didn’t try to warn them about it through Fel, who as we all know by now, failed miserably at being the good guy by not passing along the information to everyone who should have found out about it sooner rather than later. The powerful dynamic and tension created from that misstep in the last book is gone from Backlash. Jaina and Jag are, blessedly, hardly ever front and center, which I’m glad for, not caring for either as a character and being lukewarm at best to their relationship. Unfortunately, there’s bound to be more Jag with the direction the plot is going, but I’ll deal with that when it comes.

Overall, Backlash was just as good, in my opinion, as Abyss, but a little less weird. I really love that Luke’s not allowed to do any real important Jedi-related activities. It’s as if the entirety of Star Wars has said, “Enough. You’ve been sitting at a desk and meditating too long on the academic abstractions of the Force. Time to go out, play with a lightsaber, and have some fun.” Really, I can’t be the only one that misses Luke going out to take care of business when he’s been acting like the Grand Master mentor figure for so long. The story is definitely picking up and moving along, even though it took the gang an entire book to figure out if Vestara was really “evil” or not. Their doubt made way for some entertaining distractions, sleuthing, and allowed a couple of backwater no-fame secondary and tertiary characters shine like only Allston can make them. Dyon and Tarth, here’s looking at you, kids.

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Weekend Discussion: Flash Reviews

2010-03-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

I've gotten a small pile of books in over the past couple of months or so that I wouldn't normally read. They're also the kind of books I don't usually review on JRT, but I have a good working relationship with this publisher and don't want to disappoint.

I may have a solution.

Some of you may be interested in these books, despite the fact that they are not "speculative fiction" or the type of literature I am used to (and prefer) to read. Since it's my hobby here to provide you with my honest opinion of books in the hope that you read, and then recommend your friends read them, why not do something a little different to celebrate the unique quality of these books?

I present to you: FLASH REVIEWS!

Flash reviews would be shorter reviews, perhaps 2 per post, of a book received for review that I'm curious about but normally don't cover--nor will I make a habit of covering--on JRT. This is an exception I'm more than happy to provide since I love this publishing company so much.

How many of you would be interested in such a feature?

The books up for discussion are as follows:

Daughters of Fortune by Tara Hyland
If I Grow Up by Todd Strasser
Suspicion by Kate Brian
My Single Friend by Jane Costello

I'm making this decision in part with your help because I want it to be clear the reason I'm not making a habit of changing my review policies is simple. I've started to establish the sort of readers that are attracted to my blog. I do not want to disappoint a future audience by misleading them if they return and discover I don't continually review Chick Lit or non-SF/F YA titles. Flash reviews seem the best way to get my thoughts out and share these books with you!

Let me know what you think in the comments. :)

An extra note: Terribly sorry this post isn't a review! Like the Jawas mentioned earlier in the week, I'm in the process of reorganizing my reading schedule and so, have taken a bit of a breather to rejuvenate the way I review.

Winners & New Giveaway!

2010-03-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

I want to thank everyone who entered JRT's first giveaway. I learned some things that will hopefully make the next contest easier on you as well as myself. With all of the new followers the contest attracted, I'm a little sad to say JRT didn't quite make it to 50; the contest will not have an international winner.

There is a winner, though! I counted all of everyone's valid entries and picked one winner at random.

The winner of JRT's first giveaway is...

TJ!

Congratulations! You've won a mass market edition of Zoe's Tale. An e-mail will be sent to the address you provided. Coincidentally, TJ had the highest number of entries. Be happy Random.org appreciates your determination, TJ! :)

If the winner does not respond in 3 days (by Monday), I will pick another from the elegible entries.

Speaking of contests, here is the second part of this post:

Do you like free books? Would you like an opportunity to win another one?

If you answered yes to both questions, you're in luck! Thanks to Orbit Books, I have one extra copy of Gail Carriger's upcoming novel, Changeless, the sequel to Soulless and the second in her Parasol Protectorate series.

To enter: simply comment on this entry with your e-mail address telling me what your favorite scene from Soulless was. You must confirm that you follow JRT publicly (i.e. show up on the Follower widget to the left) and live in the US to enter.

Remember: this contest is only up for a week (and an extra weekend)! It will end Sunday, March 21st, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. PST. The winner will be chosen at random and announced on Monday.

Good luck and spread the word!

This contest is now closed.

The Book Fairies - March Edition #2

2010-03-11T07:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers of JRT: you are amazing. No, really--you are. For about 7 months now I've been bringing you reviews here on my official book review blog and I couldn't be more thrilled at the amount of fun I've had so far. Here's what arrived in my mailbox this past week; I'm happy to say I get to share with one lucky reader more than just a photograph this time. :) (that's also why this Book Faeries post is being put up so close to the previous one)

Changeless: An Alexia Tarabotti Novel #2 (ARC) by Gail Carriger

While not out until the end of the month, the very kind folks at Orbit Books (with a note from Alex that reads: "Braaains & parasols...") have sent me an advance copy of the next book in Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series. If you haven't already read Soulless, I suggest you do so. They are ridiculously fun.

If you missed the latest buzz, Orbit released the cover (and a short video for) of the third Parasol Protectorate book, Blameless. It's another stunning design. This series has such eye-catching covers.

Genre: Fantasy

Received: via Orbit Books

Star Wars Clone Wars: Gambit: Stealth by Karen Miller

Let me use this space to reiterate my utter devotion and Pavlov reaction to Star Wars books.

LucasBooks: Look fans, a new book!

Me: *buys*
I'm just sad it took my copy so long to finally arrive. ;)

I'm looking forward to this one--Karen Miller proved herself more than capable of playing in George Lucas' sandbox.

Genre: Space Opera

Received: via Amazon.com

Star Wars Fate of the Jedi 4: Backlash by Aaron Allston

It's time to see if the FOTJ series has finally found its momentum. With all of the back story provided by Crosscurrent and the Lost Tribe of the Sith e-books (which I still haven't read), I'm hoping I won't be so lost or confused. Still, the series loses points for introducing some important supplemental material a third of the way through. I could be less picky, but I won't.

Genre: Space Opera

Received: via Amazon.com

Kindred by Octavia Butler

Unfortunately, this did not arrive in time for Calico Reaction's February book club. I had been wanting to read it anyway so I ordered a copy. Even if I don't get to participate in the discussion, it prompted me to pick up a book that's supposed to be really good by an author I've come to respect and appreciate.

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via Amazon.com

Feed (ARC), Newsflesh Book 1 by Mira Grant (aka Seanan McGuire)

I'll be honest with you: all I know about this book is what's on the jacket copy, which I shall relate to you here because after reading it, I'm kind of excited:

The Year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beaten the common cold. But in doing so we had created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies ad minds with one unstoppable command: FEED.

NOW, Twenty years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives--the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.

[the typo is as is]

The premise reminds me a little of Jeff Carlson's Plague Zone, the third and last of his Plague Year books. It sounds like a post-apocalyptic zombie thriller, which is turning out to be something of a niche interest for me. I'm still not a huge zombie fan, but do look forward to reading this, especially since it's written by Seanan McGuire under a pseudonym. As you all know, I recently read and fell in love with Rosemary and Rue.

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via Orbit Books

I have an extra copy of ONE of these books. Tomorrow I will post a Giveaway entry--with rules--revealing the title you can have a chance to win! Is it Star Wars? Butler? Or perhaps... an ARC for you of either Feed or Changeless? Keep an eye out on JRT in the morning for the announcement. The contest will only run for one week and will only be open to US Residents.

In addition, I will also reveal the winner of the Zoe's Tale giveaway! You have the rest of today to enter.

Dark Secrets 1: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell by Elizabeth Chandler

2010-03-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Secrets 1: Legacy of Lies and Don't Tell

Author: Elizabeth Chandler

Reviewed Format: UK Trade paperback

Release Date: August 4, 2009

Pages: 496

Dark Secrets is the first volume in what I’m assuming will be a regular series of YA paranormal-romance-mystery-thriller duologies. In this first volume, Elizabeth Chandler, pseudonym for University of Rochester Professor Mary Claire Helldorfer, takes readers to the North Eastern town of Wisteria. Like any other small US town, the residents of Wisteria are all familiar with each other and share stories and strange pasts with visitors and tourists. Of course, because a river runs through the town, there’s a lot of strange activity residents ascribe to ghosts. If you’re familiar with some of the tenets of paranormal activity then you know how water is said to act as a conduit for spirits; wandering souls are attracted to the river and the town as a result for being so close to the Sycamore and two other creeks. Even though Dark Secrets is one volume, it’s composed of two complete novels: Legacy of Lies and Don’t Tell. Both explore not only the strange town of Wisteria, but the surge of ghost activity and deaths through the eyes of two long-time visitors that had me wondering just how safe this town actually is.

In the first story, Legacy of Lies, sixteen-year old Megan Tilby is sent to visit with her maternal grandmother. Megan’s mother doesn’t have the best relationship with Grandma Barnes. Megan has never seen her grandmother as a result. To help smooth things out between his wife and mother-in-law, Megan’s father has accepted Grandmother Barnes’ stiff, brief invitation to visit and it’s out of Tucson and in to Wisteria for the next two weeks. There are several reasons why Megan’s mother and grandmother don’t get along: she married outside of her race, her politics differ, and the fact that she adopted not only Megan, but two other children as well--to say Grandmother Barnes is uptight is putting it lightly. I found it strange that Megan is essentially a pawn in her family’s social agenda to gain pathos with her Grandmother and heal a rift Megan really has nothing to do with. This was even more confusing when, despite sending the invitation, her grandmother acts still as if she would rather not have Megan in her home. However, as the story unfolds I discovered there’s something more than a little strange going on in Scarborough House.

Megan’s cousin, Matt, lives at Scarborough House and seems to be as agitated and disturbed by her arrival as her grandmother. He’s not so much cruel (at first) as he is dismissive and disinterested. He clearly goes out of his way to ignore his cousin. When Megan begins experiencing dreams that are weirder than usual and realizes she may be sleepwalking, she worries, especially after her grandmother accuses her of moving things around the house. Could Megan have done something in her sleep and just not remember? The only problem is confronting her grandmother about this. She seems to become even more unhinged and snappish, quick to anger and accuses Megan with each unexplained event in the house. The plot dissolves fairly easily, though, when, after so much mystery and anticipation, Chandler readily spells out that Megan has become reincarnated as her grandmother’s murdered sister. Not only is there little to no confusion over whether Megan is really just fantasizing and feeding her imagination on local ghost stories, but Chandler compounds the lack of suspense by including everyone she’s had contact with during two very long weeks in this elaborate reenactment of the past.

There is a convoluted love triangle that turns into a quadrangle, a foreboding second murder and a Happily Ever After ending that I found a little too incredulous to believe.

The second story, however, did well where Legacy of Lies let me down. Lauren Brandt, a Washington Senator’s daughter, has returned to Wisteria after seven years. It was there, in the Sycamore River that her mother drowned, behind her good friend, and Lauren’s godmother’s house. On the advice of her Grief Counselor, Lauren finally decides it’s time to confront her past. She arrives and explores the waterfront, seeing old childhood friends from her summers spent with her Aunt Jule (godmother) and her two daughters, Nora and Holly; in the two weeks she’s in Wisteria (like Megan) discovers there’s something more to her mother’s death than she’s ready to face. Haunted by nightmares of weird knots appearing in every day objects right before her mother’s death, she tries not to panic when she begins seeing knots everywhere--the rope swing, a lamp cord, her necklace. Not to mention Nora’s bizarre behavior and a water phobia that’s blown into something frightening and debilitating.

Lauren doesn’t find it easy to find closure in Wisteria; her extended family’s weird behavior, Aunt Jule denying Nora needs psychiatric help, and the overall tension she feels from everyone who thinks she’s had the world handed to her on a silver platter make it even more difficult. The suspense I found a lacking in Legacy of Lies is stronger in Don’t Tell. I found myself actually creeped out and frightened, gripping the pages as each disturbing event brought on some of the most despicable character reactions I’ve ever read. In both of these stories, people like to make wild accusations with no evidence to support their claims. They also very rarely apologize, even when the accusations are followed or punctuated with name-calling or other hurtful statements. Aunt Jule, for example, said many reprehensible things. I was surprised when Lauren just stood there and, after one or two angry-yet-composed responses, didn’t feel the need to continue to defend herself or her mother. Several times, after arguments had occurred and time had passed, neither person apologized. Aunt Jule acted as if nothing happened; Lauren was happy the drama was over and accepted things going back to the good old ways.

I thought those scenarios were unbelievable--especially because it happened in Legacy of Lies as well, between Megan and her grandmother. With so much preexisting prejudice against her granddaughter, it didn’t take much for me to accept this behavior from Grandmother Barnes. Aunt Jule, however, has been like a second mother to Megan. Her reactions and behavior were most often nasty, petty, and rude. Both characters--Grandmother Barnes and Aunt Jule--were cruel characters that ultimately proved to be sources of great comfort. The polarity of each relationship from beginning of the stories to the end, was so radical, I struggled with accepting the resolution for both.

I can’t figure out if it’s the nature of the pieces--their length--that dictated the quick surprise, upside-down endings or if it’s just the way Chandler normally handles her prose. I did find myself drawn to the narrative of each story despite my frustrations, compelled to find out what happened next, but did not feel the urge to read the next installment, Dark Secrets #2. This was a quick, enjoyable read (even with the painful relationship dynamics that developed) and I would recommend it to fans of Paranormal Romances, ghost stories, or thrillers. There’s enough betrayal, double-crossing, jealousy, mystery, and of course, romance to please fans looking for an engrossing afternoon read.

The second volume, Dark Secrets 2: No Time to Die & The Deep End of Fear comes out at the beginning of May.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for my review copy!

How many Jawas recommend this book?

A Message From The Jawas #3

2010-03-09T09:46:00.000-08:00

Dear Readers,

Did you miss us? Did you even know we existed? Erika's kept us under lock and key, slaving away, reading all of these great books she gets in; the faster the better. Don't even get us started on our food regime (we prefer to call it dietus lack...etus. How that Latin* for you, eh?).

Err.

Erika would like us to retract the previous statement in lights of the blatant lies we've, apparently, deceived you with. We thought it'd be more dramatic and sassy; she thought it was crass and rude. Anyway. She's sending us out from the back rooms and into the bright and piercing sun of daylight, blinking our sensitive eyes against the pain to give you this very important message:

Erika has a lot of books waiting to be read. A lot. We could give you a number, but we won't because she says that's bragging and it's impolite. We also won't go into the definition of the word impolite, nor the word hypocrite.

We digress.

In order to make room for all of the fantastic and exciting Advance Reading Copies she has as well as the books she's been planning to read (gifts, self purchases) she's going to be changing her reading schedule to reflect her dedication to this blog.

ARCs will now be read a little closer to their publication dates. This should please readers who are compelled to look for a great book and then realize they have to wait another month or two until it's released.

Other review copies (books received specifically for the intent to review) and new releases will have the next priority.

Everything else Erika has her eye on will have the lowest priority, but will be interspersed throughout Priorities 1 and 2 to feed something she calls instant gratification. Really: you can say in that case, everything's become a priority, but we won't correct her on that. Let's just keep it between you and us, OK?

Because she wants to continue giving quality reviews, there will probably be one review less each week. Roughly, she's been churning out 3 or 4, depending on the week, but that will now most likely be 2 or 3. Remember: she wants you to get quality over quantity. There has been a bit of a backlog here and she's determined to relieve us of the pressure and work her way steadily into early blindness. Don't worry--she loves every minute of it.

Happy Reading,

The Jawas

*We apologize to Latin, the language, and its admirers or anyone who actually speaks/writes/reads it well enough to be offended by our creative word play.

P.S. The ladies at The Book Smugglers asked Erika the following question over the weekend, "What do you think Steampunk is?" Her answer is one of those featured on Steampunk Appreciation Week!

The God Engines by John Scalzi

2010-03-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

Title: The God Engines

Author: John Scalzi

Reviewed Format: Subterranean Press Trade hardcover

Release Date: December 31, 2009

Pages: 136

John Scalzi’s best known for a lot of things: his blog, Whatever, where he talks about whatever’s on his mind at the moment, and his Science Fiction series, Old Man’s War, are only a couple. When he announced his upcoming Fantasy debut in 2009 I was surprised and quickly realized I needed to read a copy as soon as I could. Not to mention, the cover art for the Subterranean Press hardcover is only a glimpse of the artwork inside. The God Engines is a fascinating take on Fantasy that really overlaps with Science Fiction enough to please Scalzi fans approaching the book familiar with only Old Man’s War.

Captain Ean Tephe and his crew are on their way back from a failure at Ament Cour aboard the Righteous. When the book opens, readers are hit with one of the most eye-catching first lines I’ve ever read: “It was time to whip the god” (p. 7). From there on, there’s little I can say that wouldn’t ruin the book for you, but I’ll try not to; the beauty of this book is in reading it for yourself. As the title suggests, The God Engines is going to be about something to do with the latter two words: gods and engines; as the first line suggests: the god has done something reproachable. Scalzi quite literally imagines a time far into our future where the science of space travel has transcended the boundaries between what is quantifiable and what is not. Space travel is possible on a level entirely different from what we know or typically imagine today; the journeys we still aspire to between and among the stars has transformed and evolved (this is probably not the best word) into the nebulous and almost magical realm of religion. The gods of Tephe’s universe are given human form as they have been broken and anchored to the only thing that keeps them under control: iron. With methods unknown to mortals, the gods can draw on the faith of their followers to become the engine of the ships built around their iron prisons. It’s the particular god on Tephe’s ship that’s gotten a little out of control and begun attacking members of the crew that has him, and the Priest Andso, worried.

Tephe’s god is creepy, demented, and viciously feral and cruel. It refers to itself in the plural, uttering “we” and “us” in place of “I” and “me.” It grins and giggles savagely with the blood of its victims caught still between its gleaming teeth. This god is deranged. Not all gods are so disturbed--Tephe relates the past assignments he’s had on various ships with gods as varied and with as many different personalities as you’d expect any mortal to have. It’s only Tephe’s dumb luck he’s been stuck with this one. Of interest to note is the subtext Scalzi weaves into The God Engines. There are questions over Faith being metaphorical or literal and whether one definition has any advantage over the other. One thing is true: Faith has become the science of this book so much that The God Engines comes dangerously close to being Science Fiction itself.

It’s a new marriage of the genres that blends the tangible and measurable applications of iron (for one example) and the very personal and immeasurable quality of religious belief. The juxtaposition of what is real and what has always been subjective churns out a new element: Faith that is physically consequential with significant and inarguable results. If a ship’s crew were to lose faith, its on-board god would sense this and their engine would fail, leaving them stranded in the dead cold of space. Faith literally drives humanity through the stars, from one destination to the next. This gives trusting in technology to do what it’s there to do to an entirely different meaning. When faith is more dire than fate, have the humans of Scalzi’s future come to depend on technology so much it’s (or more apt: it’s ability to work) become the thing which they pray to? Tephe’s dilemma--a problem that affects everyone on the Righteous--will test the strength of his faith and raise some interesting ideas about religion.

Overall, Scalzi impressed me yet again. The writing is not what I’m used to from him. It’s slightly elevated to give the text an atmosphere I hesitate to say is necessary, but works well. To be honest, I found myself getting caught up on some phrases which, while not awkward, were worded very particularly; the quick wit and frank dialogue of his Old Man’s War trilogy are not entirely here, if at all. I think it’s because I was reading the book so slowly that I even bothered to notice eight grammatical and punctuation errors--and that’s before I stopped writing them all down. There are a few more than come to mind from the last third of the book. I don’t mention this to be pedantic, but to wonder why, if this is such a slim book, the errors were not caught? In any event: The God Engines surpassed anything I expected from Scalzi, errors not even considered. His characters are dynamic, shrewd, intelligent, and never failed to engage. The prose is still compelling. I may have experienced nostalgia for the exposition and dialogue of his Old Man’s War books, but let me remind you: I had to force myself to read this slowly. I did not want to devour it because its length dictated I could. I was drawn into this book and I hope when you read it you will be, too. Just a warning: The God Engines is graphic. If you’re squeamish and bothered by gore, you may want to tread carefully.

How many Jawas recommend this book?

The Book Faeries - March Edition #1

2010-03-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

This may be one of my most favorite Book Faeries post yet! I was hoping a few more titles would arrive that I've been expecting (orders, special surprises) before I showed you, but alas: there have been delays. I'm not complaining--far from it! There's a lot of ARC surprises, birthday presents, and some extra goodies in this entry waiting for you to take a peek inside!

Sisters Red (ARC) by Jackson Pearce

Completely by accident I stumbled upon Tessa Gratton's blog when she was holding an awesome contest: name a monologue from any of Shakespeare's plays you'd love to see Tessa perform solo and you could win a copy of Sisters Red! I had to enter--if only in the hope that my entry would win and I'd get to see Tessa act out the opening scene of Macbeth ("Double, double toil and trouble;/Fire burn, and cauldron bubble"--you know the bit, right?).

Guess who won? Not only do I have the opportunity to read Sisters Red before it hits bookstores, but Tessa's going to be a good sport and work on that monologue!

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Received: via Tessa Gratton's blog contest

Ship Breaker (ARC) by Paolo Bacigalupi

That's right! The wonderful people at Little, Brown publishing have given me the opportunity to read Paolo Bacigalupi's break-out YA title, Ship Breaker, before it hits store shelves! I can't begin to explain how ecstatic I was to receive their e-mail. I really loved The Windup Girl (recent Nebula award nominee)--it was one of my absolute favorite books from 2009 and one of the best SF books I've ever read. I'm really looking forward to (i.e. can barely contain my manic glee) reading Ship Breaker!

Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction

Received: via Little, Brown Teens

Shadow Prowler (ARC) by Alexey Pehov

The early reviews of this book have been mixed. It's a new fantasy series by a Russian author and so, this particular edition has been translated. I'm always interested in translated texts. As hard-working and excellent translators are, there will always be something missing from a translation, removed of its original language. The ambiance, the essence, something is utterly changed when we experience it second-hand, in a sense. I do look forward to reading this one, though!

Genre: Fantasy
Received: via Simon & Schuster UK

Blackout by Connie Willis

I caved and treated myself to a birthday present! Connie Willis interests me because she mixes SF and Historical Fiction elements. I couldn't pass this up--nor can I wait for another SF/HF book: George Mann's Ghosts of Manhattan.

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via Amazon.com

Bright of the Sky, Book One of The Entire and the Rose series by Kay Kenyon

This is one of those series I've been meaning to read ever since I saw this book as a new release when I was working at Waldenbooks/Borders Express. I even checked the first three out from the library last year, but didn't even get to them. At least now that I own it, I can finally dig in. The curious thing is: I've heard mixed reaction to Bright of the Sky. Categorizing it as Science Fiction doesn't seem to work well with those that think the Fantasy elements far outweigh anything else. We'll see what I think once I get to it!

Genre: Science Fiction? Fantasy?

Received: via Amazon.com

Finch by Jeff VanderMeer

Quite uncharacteristically, I bought the sequel before having read its predecessor! Admittedly, I was influenced by the recent nomination of Finch for the Nebula, but figured: why not? I'm hoping I'll be as excited after finishing a Jeff VanderMeer book as I am a China Miéville one (the two have been compared), but that remains to be seen. I'm always excited about fresh new SF titles and this seems to fit the bill.

Genre: Science Fiction

Received: via Amazon.com

The God Engines by John Scalzi

I'm such a huge Scalzi fan, I couldn't keep myself from buying this one in hardcover. It's short, but worth the price (I'm all for supporting Scalzi writing more books). I'm interested to see how he handles Fantasy, but a brief discussion with Calico Reaction hinted at more SF elements--the mix is certainly something to watch out for.

Genre: Fantasy

Received: via Amazon.com

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

This was a birthday present from one of my closest friends! I was pretty excited to see this in the mail--I've been wanting to read this book for awhile and am so glad he got it for me! Neil Gaiman is one of those authors that's so popular, fans have divided into two camps: you like his work or you don't. I know what you're thinking, "but Erika...that happens with every author." You'd think so, wouldn't you? I happen to like the way Gaiman writes, but the rebellious naysayers can be pretty adamant in their preference of other authors. I don't really care. I think he's got talent. :)

Genre: Fantasy

Received: via friend

Deadful Skin by Cherie Priest

This was also a birthday present from the same friend! How many Priest titles do I have now, after only having read Boneshaker? With Deadful Skin I now own almost all of her novels (I am missing at least one that I know of)! It didn't take much for me to warm to Cherie Priest's writing. It's wonderful and refreshing. There's an almost tangible confidence in her work that I really appreciate.

Genre: Fantasy

Received: via friend

A Local Habitation: An October Daye Novel by Seanan McGuire

I recently read and fell in love with Seanan McGuire's first October Daye book, Rosemary and Rue. The only books I go out to buy on the day (or week of) release are Star Wars titles. McGuire's series is so much fun, I couldn't wait. I had to get it right away. My to-be-read pile is already a teetering tower, but I'm going to find a way to squeeze this into my reading schedule because I'm so over the moon for these books!

Genre: Fantasy

Received: via Borders

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, The Inheritance Trilogy Book One by N. K Jemisin

None of you are aware of this, but I really, really, really did not like Christopher Paolini's Inheritance Trilogy. When I found out another fantasy trilogy was coming out with the same name as his, I made it my mission to find out who wrote it, what it was about, and then get my hands on a copy to devour and scrutinize. I entered a couple of contests to win this, won neither, and so, used a coupon to get it at a price I could afford. There's lots of buzz around this title and the cover? I like it.

Genre: Fantasy

Received: via Borders

What do you think? Let me know in the comments! :)

Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi

2010-03-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

In lieu of a Weekend Discussion, I am posting my review of Zoe's Tale to promote the giveaway that ends next week. :)

Title: Zoe's Tale, a novel of the Old Man's War Universe
Author: John Scalzi
Reviewed Format: hardcover
Release Date: August 19, 2008
Pages: 336

Sixteen-year old Zoë Boutin Perry is your average teenaged girl. She has a best friend, a boyfriend, a lovable--if clueless--pet, and two alien bodyguards (whom she, at a much younger age, named Hickory and Dickory) trained and prepared to eliminate any and all threats to her well-being. I guess Zoë has a couple of things that separate her from the average teenager after all. Fans of John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War Trilogy will recognize Zoë as the adopted daughter of Jane and John Perry and a young woman who became rather pivotal in the plot of both The Ghost Brigades and The Last Colony. Zoë’s Tale is, in fact, a book that parallels The Last Colony but isn’t really dependent on it or the trilogy to sustain the narrative. It’s a witty and intelligent addition to the existing Old Man’s War library that not only illuminates large swathes of plot before left shrouded in mystery, but does it from the point of view of a teenage girl--an experience John Scalzi admits, he has never had.

For as much as I read and review them, I still consider myself new to YA books. Also: I’m picky; I’ll only read YA titles if they’re Fantasy of Science Fiction, otherwise I lose interest very quickly. Despite this, I think I’ve developed a good idea of what a smart and sharp YA protagonist should sound like. That and let’s not forget: I was once a teenage girl. Taking both factors into consideration I would like to say I think John Scalzi did a great job! Zoë is incredibly self-aware, articulate, and has a wicked sense of humor. There are enough diversions and digressions into fights with Gretchen (best friend) or Magdy (boyfriend’s best friend), PDA-deprived boredom, and singing contests to temper the maturity she exhibits quite spectacularly throughout the narrative.

Living on Roanoke may be boring, but Zoë learns that disobeying her parents sometimes has its advantages, saving people is hard work, and family (even best friends) is the most important thing in her life. She has a lot to contend with, being used as a bargaining chip to prevent war between the Obin and the Colonial Union. Because of her involvement in the peace treaty between these two Universe powerhouses, Zoë’s had more than a few years to adjust to the nuances of political manipulation and negotiations. It doesn’t mean she’s ready to emotionally deal with it all, though. When Roanoke turns out to be the-next-best-thing-to-Roanoke, the colonists aboard the the Magellan believe, albeit angry at the unfairness of it all (the gall of their government--taking away their PDAs and cutting off contact from the rest of humanity), the CU diverted their colony for altruistic reasons. If you had to choose between safety and possible annihilation or guaranteed annihilation, which would you rather have? What follows is a mountain of unearthed complications, hidden agendas, and unspoken treaties. Zoë becomes integral, point and center, to some dangerous and risky negotiations when, after landing at Roanoke and beginning to colonize the old-fashioned way, the colony learns it isn’t just the local life that wants to destroy them, but the Conclave--an intergalactic cooperative seeking to populate entire planets with its members; join them or be destroyed. Matters become stickier when Zoë discovers she can’t rely on her Obin companions to help save the colony, at least not without some creative rethinking.

Zoë’s Tale is hilarious. Scalzi’s quick wit and disarming observations make for very accessible prose I’d recommend to new SF readers as quickly as I would to veterans of the genre. He also always challenges the classic “first meeting” trope with songs and subtext. It’s imaginative and impressive, especially considering he figures out how to make the sweetly ridiculous, always touching behaviors and motivations work to benefit the plot. There may be aliens, inter-planetary movement, and galactic considerations of consequence, but Scalzi always brings the narrative back to the core of what makes SF (and literature in general) so special: it’s a medium to explore what it ultimately means to be human.

It doesn’t matter that Zoë’s is a timeline far into the future. No amount of technological advancements or social awareness makes it any less easier growing up as a human teenager. We all have to navigate hormones, parents, peer drama, and hope we turn into the kind of adults our parents, or we, can be proud of. Luckily for Zoë, it seems she’s on the right path. The right decision isn’t always the easiest one; sometimes we have to give up what we love the most, not because it’s the right decision, but because it’s the most beneficial one. Weighing the nebulous unwritten rules of Being a Decent Human Being between very human desires and base needs to find a successful balance (i.e. decisions you can live with) is usually a difficult thing for an adult. Zoë manages this at the age of sixteen. I don’t just recommend Zoë’s Tale to fans of YA or YA Science Fiction--I recommend it to anyone who wants an engaging and fun read that always assumes an intelligent reader. You won’t want to put it down.

How many Jawas recommend this book?

Liked the review?

You can win a copy of this book! Open to US residents, enter JRT's first ever giveaway for your chance to win a mass market paperback edition of Zoe's Tale!

Remember: read all of the rules and read them carefully. There are a few things I require for entries to be considered for the giveaway. You have until March 11, 2010 to enter. The contest runs through that day; a winner will be picked the next day at random. Good luck and happy reading!

A Reminder

2010-03-04T14:33:00.000-08:00

There is one more week to enter for your chance to win Andre Norton nominee Zoe's Tale by John Scalzi.

At the moment, the contest is open to US residents only, but if I hit 50 followers I will make it open to international contestants as well. Since the contest opened, I've gained close to 30 new followers. I'm flattered and shocked! Thank you everyone who's joined JRT so far.

I would like to take this post to remind you of a two other points:

1. Only 3 people have correctly entered the contest. Please remember there are rules to abide by, information I must get from you in order to consider your entry for the prize!

2. Zoe's Tale is an Old Man's War book. That is to say, it's part of the collective series, but does not necessarily need to be read after Scalzi's OMW trilogy. It does stand alone well by itself.

I'm currently reading the book and will post my review over the weekend. Here is a hint: it's absolutely fantastic!

Dark Life (ARC) by Kat Falls

2010-03-03T17:14:00.000-08:00

Title: Dark Life
Author: Kat Falls
Reviewed Format: UK Advance Reading Copy
Release Date: April 29, 2010 (May 1, 2010 in the US)
Pages: 304

Imagine that we didn’t live long enough for scientists to prove Global Warming true--nature takes care of that for us. In her upcoming novel Dark Life, new author Kat Falls tackles this issue with a world broken by tumultuous waves and overwhelmed by rising ocean levels. The East Coast has fallen off the United States (and we all thought it’d be California) into an eerie deep sea canyon; it’s a myth whether anyone’s ever been down to see it. Armed with more wit than weapon, Ty Townson is exploring Coldsleep Canyon to seek the truth when a derelict sub catches his attention. What he finds inside is a strange Topsider girl, lots of blood, and a member of the Seablite Gang--a group of rogue pioneers turned pirate, raiding supply ships and scaring the locals. The three have more in common than he realizes. Now Ty and his fellow Benthic Territory pioneers face more than just worries over the local harvest. The Commonwealth has stopped all supplies to the burgeoning underwater city unless they capture or debilitate the Seablite Gang.

Dark Life reads more MG than YA at times with more action than reflection and more dialogue than exposition. This bothered me at first. I couldn’t find a balance between what I wanted out of the book and what I kept getting. For all that we’re privy to Ty’s point of view, we don’t get much, if any, internal dialogue or more than quick, cursory emotional checks. I was a little disappointed, if only because in all the SF/F YA titles being published lately, it’s rare to find one from a boy’s perspective. Here was a great opportunity to step outside of what I’ve become so familiar with. I suppose it’s because I’ve become used to something deeper than the shallow (not in the worst sense of the word--I mean here only that Falls just seemed to skim the surface) exploration of Ty portrayed through the narrative. The most engrossing thing about him was the secrecy surrounding his earlier visits to the doctor. Other than this, I’d have to say, I wasn’t too impressed with Ty. He did perk up when Gemma came around, though. I can’t say whether this type of approach, where dialogue and action take precedence over exposition, is characteristic of younger texts or not (if it is, and even if it isn’t, this is not necessarily a bad thing), but the lack of description to the extent I’m used to in YA books made Dark Life feel a little younger. It doesn’t ingratiate the text too well for my sensibilities, though. It felt more like I was watching a movie. Coincidentally, I do believe Dark Life is going to be made into a film. Not so coincidentally, Kat Falls teaches screenwriting--an interest that’s extremely evident in the way the narrative is executed.

I did eventually get caught up in all of the action, with one minor hitch. There’s a little suspense surrounding the mysterious and rumored existence of Dark Gifts, which are mentioned briefly a few times before becoming an integral part of the story more than halfway through the book. After a Topside doctor publishes reports concerning the health and development of one of the first children born under water, people begin to fear living underwater will turn them into mutants. Dark Gifts are new abilities special to underwater inhabitants. The fact that these abilities can develop whether a pioneer is born underwater or not has Topsiders anxious. It also makes dealing with Gemma difficult. As a Topsider, she has as many preconceived notions of what life must be like for the pioneers; everything is new to her and she gawks appropriately. Ty, who’s quite used to and fed up with being poked, prodded, and stared at for his skin’s unique shimmer--a physical byproduct of his underwater diet--has a short fuse when it comes to Gemma’s curiosity over how shimmery he looks. He’s self-conscious and discreet, she’s loud and obvious; the two make quite the adorable, humorous pair. While this awkwardness made for a great relationship between Gemma and Ty, Gemma’s sporadic curiosity over Dark Gifts, especially when connected to Ty, fell short of keeping my interest sustained when the issue finally became important. Her interest, at best, was negligible. It made the narrative a little awkward when suddenly the reader finds out they’ve been dealing with an untrustworthy narrator this entire time, just for the sake of surprise. The text doesn’t directly support the revelation that comes near the end, but it does hint very vaguely in that direction. I wish it would have been something the reader could have worked out on their own--not that Ty has a Dark Gift, which is pretty obvious, but what exactly his gift is.

For all of my concerns, there were things I did enjoy about Dark Life! The world building was fascinating and filled with little things to help shape Ty’s surroundings: aquatic descriptions and expletives (these were cute), maritime phrases and technology; the Pioneers of Benthic Territory have adapted very well to their new circumstances, albeit with a shortage of females. I especially liked the comparisons between Ty’s home and Gemma’s living quarters as a ward of the Commonwealth. Since space has become such a hot commodity, she marvels at the luxury a home with multiple rooms represents, especially since she shares a single room with another ward. I was pretty amused when one of Ty’s neighbors gamely (and persistently) offers Gemma any room in his home, if she’s willing to marry him--a man old enough, I would imagine, to be her father. The secondary characters were quite charming; Kat Falls has a sense of humor that’s hard to miss--I only wish I could do it more justice in this review.

I was intrigued by the New Puritans, a religious sect that’s built on the doctrine that global warming is punishment for humanity’s sins. They weren’t, however, too consequential and were easy to forget since they were part of the narrative only in passing. I thought there would be some kind of conflict where the New Puritans got involved, making things difficult for Ty and the pioneers by adding to the list of antagonists Benthic Territory kept racking up (Falls is good at making bad guys), but it wasn’t so. I can’t say I loved it, but think if you’re looking for an exciting, funny read with creepy bad guys and a twist ending, Dark Life may be the book for you!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for my review copy!

How many Jawas recommend this book?