2.6� Good old-timey ( '40s'-50's) science fiction by one of John W Campbell's acolytes. It follows Simak's non conventional view of humanity's destiny 2.6� Good old-timey ( '40s'-50's) science fiction by one of John W Campbell's acolytes. It follows Simak's non conventional view of humanity's destiny from the mid Twentieth Century to thousands of years into the future, in a series of interrelated stories, collected here in one volume. Some of Simak's themes here are also some of Issac Asimov's favorite topics: the future of human settlements (cities); interaction with artificial intelligence ( robots); agoraphobia. Had something to do with the mid-20th gestalt, I guess. Age has rendered the stories a bit quaint but there's no denying the imagination....more
2.4� Henry Palace, the hero of Ben Winters "Last Policeman " trilogy has to be the most beaten up detective in fiction. He's even clobbered more often 2.4� Henry Palace, the hero of Ben Winters "Last Policeman " trilogy has to be the most beaten up detective in fiction. He's even clobbered more often than John Nyquist in Jeff Noon's books ( and that's impressive). Palace had been averaging two severe thrashings per book, up to this point in the series. In "World of Trouble" I lost track ( kicked by a horse and set on fire being the two I remember). Alas, all that pain for little gain.
The premise of the series was promising. Despite an impending extinction level asteroid crash, Palace plugs away at his cases, solving murders and finding missing persons as the days count down. The first book, 'The Last Policeman ' was a decent murder mystery. The last two, in my opinion, relied on government conspiracies/atrocities or unconvincing con jobs and are more loosely plotted, with less character development.
Still, Winters is a practiced and clever writer and is able to get readers to invest in his much abused hero ( and his goofy dog). I stuck it out to the end but it was a hard slog at times....more
2.4� Disappointing middle book in the Last Policeman trilogy. Where the first novel was inventive and engaging this one just parodies itself well out b2.4� Disappointing middle book in the Last Policeman trilogy. Where the first novel was inventive and engaging this one just parodies itself well out beyond the limits of suspension of disbelief. Our last policeman is looking for a missing husband as the clock runs down on the world-ending asteroid crash ( "boomsday").
But I have to call the plotting just lazy, as the unbelievable coincidences pile up culminating in a ridiculous rescue (deus ex helicopter). It's a shame because the concept had promise. The writing is still ok but Winters skimps out on his characters, this time, in favor of increasingly bizarre action scenes. I'll likely check out the last book ( I've come this far) hoping for a third period rebound. -30-...more
Old school sci-fi/fantasy story about a quest to kickstart civilization after an apocalyptic fall.
It's a decent short novel, told in Simak's somewhat Old school sci-fi/fantasy story about a quest to kickstart civilization after an apocalyptic fall.
It's a decent short novel, told in Simak's somewhat talky style. It's reminiscent of A Canticle for Leibowitz, with humanity's rejection of science and technology and with a few remaining outposts of learning, awaiting the renaissance.
There's also a touch of Lord of the Rings, as a band of heros quests for salvation from darkness. A quick, untaxing read....more
A disappointing year. I read more than the 28 books listed, but mostly 'comfort' rereads and not new works.
I had started the year wanting to 'read haA disappointing year. I read more than the 28 books listed, but mostly 'comfort' rereads and not new works.
I had started the year wanting to 'read harder,' ie more nonfiction; less genre fiction but that didn't happen, maybe in 2025. As always, the best part were the reviews and comments by my many GR friends, a bright spot....more
Read this in the mid 70's. Grim, believable depiction of the Eastern Front in WWII. Great characterization and writing.Read this in the mid 70's. Grim, believable depiction of the Eastern Front in WWII. Great characterization and writing....more
Bought this for 85 pesos from the remaindered bin at a Puerto Vallarta bookstore, as a beach book. It proves the expression 'you get what you pay for.Bought this for 85 pesos from the remaindered bin at a Puerto Vallarta bookstore, as a beach book. It proves the expression 'you get what you pay for.' I've seen worse writing in military sci-fi, but the big turn off for me was the war porn: gratuitous descriptions of charred corpses, scattered body parts, soldiers trying to stuff their intestines back in, brutally sadistic training, etc. I'm not adverse to graphic descriptions of war when it authentically serves the story ( Sven Hassel's books being one example) but here it seems to me calculated and titillating. It's evident Kratman knows some military history and throws in bits of it: St. Patrick's Battalion, the MInute Men, the Greeks-again ( is there a single aspiring military sci-fi author who hasn't read 'Gates of Fire'?) As for the right wing ideology, I found that boring. He appears to want to emulate Heinlein's libertarianism but without Heinlein's knowledge of how politics and society actually work. The story also bears a resemblance to some of John Varley's later books. I got a chuckle out of the cover illustration, of an elven amazon in a full metal tank top, toting a huge, phallic, futuristic rifle. It doesn't seem in touch with the gritty, nasty tone of the book but it's a welcome bit of comic relief. The book did it's job, it kept me occupied on the beach. I'll never be fan but I recognize there are many who will love it. "To each, their own."...more
3.4� So what is this thing? Apocalyptic Police Procedural? End Times Noir? Both of those but also a pretty decent mystery.
It's the end of the world, cras3.4� So what is this thing? Apocalyptic Police Procedural? End Times Noir? Both of those but also a pretty decent mystery.
It's the end of the world, crashing asteroid variety, with 6 months to go before the big crunch. Things are falling apart, the centre is not holding, but in Concord, New Hampshire, there's an honest policeman left. Newly minted detective Henry Palace, is assigned what looks like a run of the mill suicide ( there's a lot of that going around). But something just feels off, to our man Hank.
Author Ben Winters is a solid journeyman writer. Clean, lean prose to get you where you want to go. Aside from the main murder storyline, Winters throws in a murky government conspiracy sub plot, which looks to me like it's going to be the thread that ties this trilogy together. So now I'm off to read book two, Countdown City. I'd suggest this as a good book for those who like their Noir, extra dark and their heros true blue. -30-...more
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