Angels and Demons
By: Dan Brown
From: Corgi
Leave your brain behind for some pure escapism. A lot of what is portrayed in this book is just what the book is - fiction.
What Dan Brown does well is tell a story, provoke some critisism from the right places, enough to generate controversy and let publicity do the rest.
The story takes place before The Da Vinci Code and is a much darker story. A long hidden society has struck and there is a race against time to stop murder and destruction.
A cracking pace, suspense on each page, obstacles to overcome, lies and conspiracies. A tailor made combination for a blockbuster, and you are not disappointed.
I have to argue with some of the scientific claims made in this book, yes it is fiction, but it is presented in such a way as to make it seem like fact. This is a comon trick used by the author, surround a questionable fact with lots of real facts to prop it up and soon you can't see the fiction for the facts.
The parts concerning CERN concern me. If enough people now believe even half of the bad fiction printed in the book, then years of scientific endeavour are all for naught. Not only is it bad writing, it is dangerous to present fiction as fact without clarifying what is and isn't possible.
I consider myself intelligent and had to check some of the facts to see if they were possible or had even taken or would be taking place.
Still, all in all a good holiday read.
Sunday 28 June 2009
Monday 22 June 2009
Your Suggestions Please
I have had several positive comments from you about the books in this blog.
What I do not have is any suggestions for any 'Extras' you would like.
This would not stop the review process in any wa, but would be an extra article or two a week.
Would you be offended by links to other articles - with an appropriate extract.
How about competitions.
Reviews of audiobooks.
How about reviews of book purchases. How would we choose the Gold standard against which we compare all others.
Thoughts for you all, and I look forward to your comments.
What I do not have is any suggestions for any 'Extras' you would like.
This would not stop the review process in any wa, but would be an extra article or two a week.
Would you be offended by links to other articles - with an appropriate extract.
How about competitions.
Reviews of audiobooks.
How about reviews of book purchases. How would we choose the Gold standard against which we compare all others.
Thoughts for you all, and I look forward to your comments.
Tuesday 16 June 2009
Strangers - Dean Koontz
Strangers
By: Dean Koontz
From: Headline Features
Like all Dean Koontz books the characters are cut straight from a mould and pasted in to the story. That said, this story is actually quite entertaining, if implausible.
It is longer than most of his other books and draws you in. You find yourself still reading, long after you should be tucked up in bed.
The story is based on the idea that a group of people spread across America have strange nightmares, phobias and memories and gather in a motel where they all feel something happened. No-one can really decide if they should be scared or happy as it is different for each of them.
What happens next is definitely surprising, if a little contrived.
I give this a solid four out of five
By: Dean Koontz
From: Headline Features
Like all Dean Koontz books the characters are cut straight from a mould and pasted in to the story. That said, this story is actually quite entertaining, if implausible.
It is longer than most of his other books and draws you in. You find yourself still reading, long after you should be tucked up in bed.
The story is based on the idea that a group of people spread across America have strange nightmares, phobias and memories and gather in a motel where they all feel something happened. No-one can really decide if they should be scared or happy as it is different for each of them.
What happens next is definitely surprising, if a little contrived.
I give this a solid four out of five
Monday 15 June 2009
The Nano Flower - Peter F Hamilton
The Nano Flower
By: Peter F Hamilton
From: Pan
This book will suffer ultimately, not because it is bad - it is very good, because it is almost prophetic in some of the scenarios laid out.
Several themes, that in 1995 would have seemed dramatic, have started to bear fruit. The issue of global warming and freak climate runs through the book, with parts of Norfolk flooded, in real life they now talk of letting the sea reclaim parts of Norfolk. Petrol driven cars are a rarity, in real life hybrids and electric cars are starting to gain traction and movements are underway to ban large petrol guzzlers from city centres.
So I suppose you should best view this as an alternate universe, similar to ours, just out of step slightly.
Anyway, back to the book - Greg Mandel is called back to find out who sent Julia Evans a very unusual flower.
Building on the characters introduced on the other books in the series - 'Mindstar Rising' and 'A Quantum Murder', this story takes place a few years later and gives you quite a ride. You discover that even the best of friends can feel betrayed and protected, and the best of protectors cannot always protect. Sometimes, as always you have to face your own inner demons and live your life.
Instead of suffering from 'end-of-series'itis, this book delivers an unexpected finale and concludes, I feel the trilogy very well.
By: Peter F Hamilton
From: Pan
This book will suffer ultimately, not because it is bad - it is very good, because it is almost prophetic in some of the scenarios laid out.
Several themes, that in 1995 would have seemed dramatic, have started to bear fruit. The issue of global warming and freak climate runs through the book, with parts of Norfolk flooded, in real life they now talk of letting the sea reclaim parts of Norfolk. Petrol driven cars are a rarity, in real life hybrids and electric cars are starting to gain traction and movements are underway to ban large petrol guzzlers from city centres.
So I suppose you should best view this as an alternate universe, similar to ours, just out of step slightly.
Anyway, back to the book - Greg Mandel is called back to find out who sent Julia Evans a very unusual flower.
Building on the characters introduced on the other books in the series - 'Mindstar Rising' and 'A Quantum Murder', this story takes place a few years later and gives you quite a ride. You discover that even the best of friends can feel betrayed and protected, and the best of protectors cannot always protect. Sometimes, as always you have to face your own inner demons and live your life.
Instead of suffering from 'end-of-series'itis, this book delivers an unexpected finale and concludes, I feel the trilogy very well.
Saturday 13 June 2009
Firestarter - Stephen King
Firestarter
By: Stephen King
From: Futura
A father and daughter are on the run from a shadowy governmental organisation that wants to lock them up like lab-rats, at best or, take them apart to see how they work at worst.
The father can 'push' people he meets into doing things. A kind of mental persuasion that drains him each time he uses it, while his daughter can start fires with her mind. And this has the government, read three letter acronyms, excited.
The back story, reveals how this family came to be, and is believable for the thinking of the time. The story is well researched, laid out and hangs together coherently. Which is surprising seeing as the author, by his own admission, was not always 'sober' at this time.
This must be one of the most overlooked of Stephen King's books. The story stays on track, you empathise with the characters and the story draws you in.
One of the few five out of five ratings from me.
By: Stephen King
From: Futura
A father and daughter are on the run from a shadowy governmental organisation that wants to lock them up like lab-rats, at best or, take them apart to see how they work at worst.
The father can 'push' people he meets into doing things. A kind of mental persuasion that drains him each time he uses it, while his daughter can start fires with her mind. And this has the government, read three letter acronyms, excited.
The back story, reveals how this family came to be, and is believable for the thinking of the time. The story is well researched, laid out and hangs together coherently. Which is surprising seeing as the author, by his own admission, was not always 'sober' at this time.
This must be one of the most overlooked of Stephen King's books. The story stays on track, you empathise with the characters and the story draws you in.
One of the few five out of five ratings from me.
Thursday 11 June 2009
Red Storm Rising - Tom Clancy
Red Storm Rising
By: Tom Clancy
From: Harper Collins
As with most military fiction this book is filled with the crack of rifle fire and the dust of explosions. Where it differs from most other books of its genre, is the depth of political machination.
The characters are, mostly, human and by that I mean they are prone to faults, forgetfulness and moments of panic.
On the whole this book is well researched and laid out and, though dated, is applicable to modern warfare today, where as it is put - the battle consists of moments of sheer panic interspersed by hours of utter boredom. Things sometimes are happening so fast that it is machine-v-machine, and the warriors are relegated to the role of spectator.
At times the read becomes a trifle gung-ho and is most definitely pro-American, nevertheless, the story is entirely plausible in these days of media manipulation and inflamed passions.
By: Tom Clancy
From: Harper Collins
As with most military fiction this book is filled with the crack of rifle fire and the dust of explosions. Where it differs from most other books of its genre, is the depth of political machination.
The characters are, mostly, human and by that I mean they are prone to faults, forgetfulness and moments of panic.
On the whole this book is well researched and laid out and, though dated, is applicable to modern warfare today, where as it is put - the battle consists of moments of sheer panic interspersed by hours of utter boredom. Things sometimes are happening so fast that it is machine-v-machine, and the warriors are relegated to the role of spectator.
At times the read becomes a trifle gung-ho and is most definitely pro-American, nevertheless, the story is entirely plausible in these days of media manipulation and inflamed passions.
Tuesday 9 June 2009
The Postman - David Brin
The Postman
By: David Brin
From: Orbit
Set in a post apocalypse world, this story is a journey of discovery. One man's desperation leads him to assume the identity of a postman, so he can have shelter for the night.
When he is given letters to pass on he only carries on because, as he reasons, he may get some shelter and food out of it.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear to him that a postman represents external authority, hence a challenge to autocratic leaders of isolated communities, and, as long as he keeps on moving is in no personal danger. There is the realisation that by having become part of something larger than the communities he serves he can no longer belong to them.
Without giving too much away, there are stories within stories in this book. While some parts of the plot seem to have been shoehorned in to make the story move in the direction required by the author, the overall read is pure enjoyment.
This is a dark book of hope. The film by Kevin Cstner does not do the book justice at all, and changes several parts for purely Hollywood reasons.
A solid read and a very decent four and a half out of five.
By: David Brin
From: Orbit
Set in a post apocalypse world, this story is a journey of discovery. One man's desperation leads him to assume the identity of a postman, so he can have shelter for the night.
When he is given letters to pass on he only carries on because, as he reasons, he may get some shelter and food out of it.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear to him that a postman represents external authority, hence a challenge to autocratic leaders of isolated communities, and, as long as he keeps on moving is in no personal danger. There is the realisation that by having become part of something larger than the communities he serves he can no longer belong to them.
Without giving too much away, there are stories within stories in this book. While some parts of the plot seem to have been shoehorned in to make the story move in the direction required by the author, the overall read is pure enjoyment.
This is a dark book of hope. The film by Kevin Cstner does not do the book justice at all, and changes several parts for purely Hollywood reasons.
A solid read and a very decent four and a half out of five.
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