Dragon and Judge
(The Dragonback Adventures, Book 5)
Timothy Zahn
Starscape
Fiction, YA Sci-Fi
**** (Good)
DESCRIPTION: Young interstellar thief Jack Morgan and Draycos, his symbiotic K'da poet-warrior companion, are hot on the trail of the enemies intent on destroying the refugee K'da fleet, due to arrive in less than two months. They've also picked up a pair of allies: Alison Kayna, a young girl with a past just as checkered as Morgan's own, and Taneem, a female K'da who was merely a subsentient "Phooka" on a forgotten backwater world until she bonded with the human Alison. Jack barely knows the first thing about Alison, let alone what her motives might be, but she's come through for him in a few scrapes, and he and Draycos are in no position to turn down assistance.
While en-route to an outpost of the Malison Ring mercenaries, trying to track down more information on the whereabouts of Arthur Neverlin and his dark allies, Jack makes a detour to the small spaceport at Semaline... where a group of rustic local aliens, the Golvins, promptly mistake him for a circuit judge. They take him to their isolated canyon home, in the middle of a vast desert, to deal with an eleven-year backlog of petty issues. Simple as they seem, the Golvins aren't to be trifled with, and the boy finds himself as much a captive as any prisoner. When Jack learns that his late parents were the last judges, his desire to learn the truth about their deaths overwhelms his desire to escape, and even Draycos cannot sway the boy.
Alison, meanwhile, has problems of her own. An excursion to find Jack turns into an abduction for her, as well - only her captors are Malison Ring employees seeking skilled thieves and safecrackers for a very special job. She finds herself thrust into the very heart of the conspirators plotting to destroy the K'da people. If she plays her cards right, she might find the clues Jack and Draycos have been searching for... or she might buy herself (and Taneem) a one-way ticket to an unmarked grave.
REVIEW: The second-to-last Dragonback book ratchets up the tension at a nice pace. Jack's sentimental sidetrack to Semaline, so pivotal to the plot, has the faintest whiff of plot convenience, but he manages to have some interesting adventures as he learns what happened to his parents. Alison gets a good half of the book to herself, as she simultaneously must use her wits to stay alive in the proverbial lion's den and continue the education of Taneem, who still has a lot to learn about being a K'da and a companion. The story reads fast, and the ending is reasonably satisfying. That's pretty much what I wanted when I picked it up, so it gets a solid Good rating. Hopefully, I can track down the final volume sometime to see how Jack and Draycos's adventures end.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Cold Magic (Kate Elliot)
Cold Magic
(The Spiritwalker trilogy, Book 1)
Kate Elliot
Orbit
Fiction, Fantasy
**+ (Bad/Okay)
DESCRIPTION: Catherine, a girl on the brink of womanhood, lives on the edge of a changing world. Machinery and science are slowly dominating the old ways of gods and magic. The voiceless masses grow restless under the yoke of numerous princes and the powerful mage Houses. Cat and her cousin Beatrice even attend an academy like boys do, learning of new contraptions such as floating airships that will revolutionize the world as they know it. Even children of the much-maligned Kena'ani (erroneously branded Phoenicians by the lying tongues of Roman scholars), widely considered unscrupulous spies and double-dealers, might find their fortunes raised.
But worlds do not change easily, nor do the old ways yield easily to the new... especially when there is much more than ignorance and superstition behind their power.
Cat is wakened to this truth most unexpectedly when a cold mage - a much-resented breed of magic worker, in whose presence flames extinguish - turns up on the doorstep. By claim of magic contracts of which she knows nothing, the arrogant man rips her from everything she has known, everything she had thought she might become. Even as she despairs, she learns that far greater forces are at work. In a world where magic and science cannot coexist, where war seems inevitable, Cat must learn fast if she is to land on her feet... and choose a side.
REVIEW: Alternate worlds like this one - a re-imagined Industrial Revolution-era Earth, where Celtic princes rise in the wake of a shrinking Roman empire, where feathered-reptile "trolls" from across the ocean introduce dangerous, radical ideas to the populace, where northern mages use their powers as much to enforce their own tyranny as to protect the public - can be a treat to visit. I enjoy a well-thought-out new world to explore. That doesn't mean, unfortunately, that I will accept page after page after page of endless worldbuilding, tracing histories and lineages and ethnic migrations and so forth, set against a smothering backdrop of geography lessons, in lieu of a story. The author even repeats several stories and history lessons multiple times. In between lectures, I had to endure a heroine I didn't particularly enjoy and a slew of largely heartless (or seemingly heartless) and manipulative supporting characters on a journey that moved in agonizing fits and starts, careening from plot-stopping "story time" to breathless escapes from enemy clutches. Strong whiffs of politics grew into a choking stench by the end of the book, which - being the first book in a stated trilogy - didn't resolve too much. Instead of eagerly awaiting the second installment, I merely felt a sense of relief that I'd finally finished the thing.
I give Kate Elliot marks for depth of research in planning her alternate Earth. Unfortunately, the tidal waves of research drowned the story, and her characters' unlikable and annoying traits overwhelmed their commendable ones. Needless to say, I won't be following this trilogy any further.
(The Spiritwalker trilogy, Book 1)
Kate Elliot
Orbit
Fiction, Fantasy
**+ (Bad/Okay)
DESCRIPTION: Catherine, a girl on the brink of womanhood, lives on the edge of a changing world. Machinery and science are slowly dominating the old ways of gods and magic. The voiceless masses grow restless under the yoke of numerous princes and the powerful mage Houses. Cat and her cousin Beatrice even attend an academy like boys do, learning of new contraptions such as floating airships that will revolutionize the world as they know it. Even children of the much-maligned Kena'ani (erroneously branded Phoenicians by the lying tongues of Roman scholars), widely considered unscrupulous spies and double-dealers, might find their fortunes raised.
But worlds do not change easily, nor do the old ways yield easily to the new... especially when there is much more than ignorance and superstition behind their power.
Cat is wakened to this truth most unexpectedly when a cold mage - a much-resented breed of magic worker, in whose presence flames extinguish - turns up on the doorstep. By claim of magic contracts of which she knows nothing, the arrogant man rips her from everything she has known, everything she had thought she might become. Even as she despairs, she learns that far greater forces are at work. In a world where magic and science cannot coexist, where war seems inevitable, Cat must learn fast if she is to land on her feet... and choose a side.
REVIEW: Alternate worlds like this one - a re-imagined Industrial Revolution-era Earth, where Celtic princes rise in the wake of a shrinking Roman empire, where feathered-reptile "trolls" from across the ocean introduce dangerous, radical ideas to the populace, where northern mages use their powers as much to enforce their own tyranny as to protect the public - can be a treat to visit. I enjoy a well-thought-out new world to explore. That doesn't mean, unfortunately, that I will accept page after page after page of endless worldbuilding, tracing histories and lineages and ethnic migrations and so forth, set against a smothering backdrop of geography lessons, in lieu of a story. The author even repeats several stories and history lessons multiple times. In between lectures, I had to endure a heroine I didn't particularly enjoy and a slew of largely heartless (or seemingly heartless) and manipulative supporting characters on a journey that moved in agonizing fits and starts, careening from plot-stopping "story time" to breathless escapes from enemy clutches. Strong whiffs of politics grew into a choking stench by the end of the book, which - being the first book in a stated trilogy - didn't resolve too much. Instead of eagerly awaiting the second installment, I merely felt a sense of relief that I'd finally finished the thing.
I give Kate Elliot marks for depth of research in planning her alternate Earth. Unfortunately, the tidal waves of research drowned the story, and her characters' unlikable and annoying traits overwhelmed their commendable ones. Needless to say, I won't be following this trilogy any further.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Site Updated, Reviews Archived
Been a while, I know. Sorry... the holidays really ate into my reading time, not to mention my site maintenance time. As the new year gets underway, I hope to get back on a monthly updating schedule.
Anyway, I archived the previous five reviews on the Brightdreamer Books website. I also rotated the Random Recommendations while I was at it.
The observant may notice a new sidebar feature. I thought I'd try listing the books I'm currently reading (or attempting to read, as the case may be.) I read different books at different rates, so appearance on the list is no guarantee of when (or even if) I'll finish and review it.
Enjoy!
Anyway, I archived the previous five reviews on the Brightdreamer Books website. I also rotated the Random Recommendations while I was at it.
The observant may notice a new sidebar feature. I thought I'd try listing the books I'm currently reading (or attempting to read, as the case may be.) I read different books at different rates, so appearance on the list is no guarantee of when (or even if) I'll finish and review it.
Enjoy!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Constructive Anatomy (George B. Bridgman)
Constructive Anatomy
George B. Bridgman
Dover
Nonfiction, Art
****+ (Good/Great)
DESCRIPTION: With over 500 illustrations, this book describes the forms of the human body and how they fit together.
REVIEW: I've seen it recommended more times than I can recall in online art communities, so I decided it was worth a shot. At first blush, the drawings look a bit scribbly around the edges, but there's a method to the perceived messiness. Bridgman emphasizes shape and form over specific detail, with blocks and masses interconnecting to create a whole. Once in a while I found the text unhelpful, but working my way through this book image by image has certainly proven useful and educational. I'm sure more advanced or dedicated art students would get even more out of it.
George B. Bridgman
Dover
Nonfiction, Art
****+ (Good/Great)
DESCRIPTION: With over 500 illustrations, this book describes the forms of the human body and how they fit together.
REVIEW: I've seen it recommended more times than I can recall in online art communities, so I decided it was worth a shot. At first blush, the drawings look a bit scribbly around the edges, but there's a method to the perceived messiness. Bridgman emphasizes shape and form over specific detail, with blocks and masses interconnecting to create a whole. Once in a while I found the text unhelpful, but working my way through this book image by image has certainly proven useful and educational. I'm sure more advanced or dedicated art students would get even more out of it.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
The Art of How to Train Your Dragon (Tracy Miller-Zarneke)
The Art of How to Train Your Dragon
Tracy Miller-Zarneke
Newmarket Press
Nonfiction, Art/Media Reference
****+ (Good/Great)
DESCRIPTION: One of the standout animated movies of 2010, Dreamworks' spellbinding tale of the misfit Viking boy Hiccup and the dragon Toothless, based on the children's book by Cressida Cowell, captured the imaginations of dracophiles young and old. It displayed a marvelous mixture of realistic lighting and textures combined with surreally exaggerated designs, wrapped around a deftly-crafted story that ultimately broke free of the book that inspired it. This collection looks behind the scenes, revealing conceptual art and the artistic evolution of the award-nominated blockbuster.
Includes a preface by author Cressida Cowell and a foreword by Craig Ferguson, who voiced Gobber the blacksmith.
REVIEW: First off, if this movie fails to win an award, it's evidence of exceptionally poor taste and judgment... moreso than even I expect out of the industry.
That said...
As one might surmise, I loved the movie; it easily ranks in the top 5 animated films I've ever seen... and the top 5 films I've seen, period. This book made an excellent companion, revealing the story's long and sometimes awkward path from sketch to screen. Some of the text got a little thick with industry terms, but otherwise I highly enjoyed it. Anyone who loved the movie should get this book, to see how it all came together.
Tracy Miller-Zarneke
Newmarket Press
Nonfiction, Art/Media Reference
****+ (Good/Great)
DESCRIPTION: One of the standout animated movies of 2010, Dreamworks' spellbinding tale of the misfit Viking boy Hiccup and the dragon Toothless, based on the children's book by Cressida Cowell, captured the imaginations of dracophiles young and old. It displayed a marvelous mixture of realistic lighting and textures combined with surreally exaggerated designs, wrapped around a deftly-crafted story that ultimately broke free of the book that inspired it. This collection looks behind the scenes, revealing conceptual art and the artistic evolution of the award-nominated blockbuster.
Includes a preface by author Cressida Cowell and a foreword by Craig Ferguson, who voiced Gobber the blacksmith.
REVIEW: First off, if this movie fails to win an award, it's evidence of exceptionally poor taste and judgment... moreso than even I expect out of the industry.
That said...
As one might surmise, I loved the movie; it easily ranks in the top 5 animated films I've ever seen... and the top 5 films I've seen, period. This book made an excellent companion, revealing the story's long and sometimes awkward path from sketch to screen. Some of the text got a little thick with industry terms, but otherwise I highly enjoyed it. Anyone who loved the movie should get this book, to see how it all came together.
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