A worthy sequel to The Hunger Games. Unlike its predecessor, Catching Fire does not throw the reader directly into the action. The first section of thA worthy sequel to The Hunger Games. Unlike its predecessor, Catching Fire does not throw the reader directly into the action. The first section of the book is dedicated to expanding the reader’s knowledge of Panem (which is interesting) and wallowing in a love triangle (which is less so…somehow I doubt that people are running out to print ‘Team Peeta’ or ‘Team Gale’ shirts. But if they are, I am firmly committed to Team Haymitch). This section drags a bit, but soon enough the plot twists and the narrative picks up. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, because while The Hunger Games relied on constant tension and terror to work, what makes Catching Fire interesting are its unanswered questions and unexpected developments. It relies less on pure action and more on mystery than the first book in the series, which I think was a very good choice by Collins.
I mentioned in my review of The Hunger Games that the book felt much more like a stand-alone novel to me than the first part of a trilogy, and I wondered how easily Collins was going to make the transition. While Catching Fire struggles early on in this regard, it soon finds its footing and does a great job in setting up the third installment. Fans of the first book & fans of young adult fiction in general will come away very satisfied. 4 stars, highly recommended....more
So, this was not a book that I was particularly excited to read going in. The only things I knew about The Hunger Games were what I could piece togethSo, this was not a book that I was particularly excited to read going in. The only things I knew about The Hunger Games were what I could piece together from the movie trailer. And that was precious little. Cards on the table: until very recently, I was pretty sure that The Hunger Games was about a bunch of people running around in some sort of horrific future and eating each other. But the glowing reviews on this site piqued my interest, and I finally took the plunge. I am happy to report that I have been fully converted to the Cult of Collins.
The Hunger Games takes place in a future that is grim, but fortunately not quite so grim that people are running around eating each other (at least not regularly). North America has been consolidated into a single nation called Panem, which is divided into 12 districts. To flaunt its power over the districts, Panem requires each district to send one boy and one girl to a contest called the Hunger Games every year. The contestants are then thrown into a giant wilderness arena where they are forced to fight for their lives in a televised death match. The last contestant standing is the winner. Our heroine (Katniss Everdeen) ends up as one of the representatives from District 12, and away we go.
Collins wastes absolutely no time in throwing us into the action, and the pace rarely lets up throughout the book. The first third of The Hunger Games introduces us the society that would allow such a barbaric contest to take place, and Collins does a great job in introducing a unique twist on the dystopian theme. After that comes the games themselves, which are sort of a combination of Running Man and My Side of the Mountain, as the contestants battle both the elements and each other. While the book is aimed at young readers, the violence of the Games is very real and Collins just keeps ratcheting the intensity higher and higher.
One side note: by the time the book was winding down, I did get the feeling that I was reading a stand-alone novel. I knew by that point that this was book one of a trilogy, but if Collins had just twisted a few things around over the last few chapters she could easily have created a superbly satisfying story with a beginning, middle, and end. I'm a bit curious how Collins will go forward from where the book ends, as much of what made The Hunger Games so powerful (mainly the natural drama of the Games themselves) seems like it would be hard to replicate in one sequel, let alone two.
But that's an issue for books 2 and 3 to tackle. The first book of the series was a fantastically entertaining adrenaline ride that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. I'd put it right up there with Harry Potter as the best young adult fiction I've read in recent years. Believe the hype, people. 5 stars, not to be missed....more
Stories of Your Life and Others contains the first eight stories written by Ted Chiang. It's a pretty extraordinary debut. The stories in this collectStories of Your Life and Others contains the first eight stories written by Ted Chiang. It's a pretty extraordinary debut. The stories in this collection are:
Tower of Babylon: A twist on the story of the biblical Tower of Babel, where the builders actually manage to reach the heavens.
Division by Zero: The story of a professor of mathematics who discovers a proof that shakes her profession to its core, which causes her husband to rethink some truths of his own.
Understand: A comatose man is given experimental drugs to revive his brain. These end up giving him superhuman intelligence, drastically changing the way he sees the world.
Story of Your Life: A linguist seeks to communicate with a mysterious alien species. The linguist has to learn a radically new language in order to communicate with the aliens, one that causes her to rethink not only her perspective on language, but her relationship with her daughter and time itself.
Seventy-Two Letters: This story is set in an alternate version of Victorian England where humans have the power to animate golems using strips of paper imbued with kabalistic writing. This power becomes critical when all of humanity is faced with an unexpected threat.
The Evolution of Human Science: A very brief snapshot of what human science might look like in a world where superintelligent beings have provided us with information & technology so far beyond human capacities that we can’t even fathom them.
Hell is the Absence of God: This story is set in a fictional world where angels, both heavenly and fallen, are real. That doesn’t mean they’re comprehensible to mortals though: the arrival of the non-communicative angels results in an inexplicable pattern of miracles and disasters. This superb short story tells the story of three different mortals and how these “acts of God” have affected their lives.
Liking What You See: A Documentary: When scientists discover a method to modify the human brain and turn off the ability to recognize human beauty (or at least superficial, physical beauty), a political debate explodes regarding the implications.
My favorites were Story of Your Life, Hell is the Absence of God, and Tower of Babylon. But all eight stories are interesting in their own way, and there's really not a dud in the bunch. This book will make you think long after you've read the final page. 5 stars, highly recommended. ...more
(Fake) Spoiler Alert: It ends, although you won't want it to. This is a true children's classic, with some extremely imaginative set-pieces and a memo(Fake) Spoiler Alert: It ends, although you won't want it to. This is a true children's classic, with some extremely imaginative set-pieces and a memorable relationship between the main character and his father. Not as famous as the Narnia books, but in my opinion this book is better. 4.5 stars, highly recommended! ...more
This was my introduction to science fiction, and I'll always have a soft spot for Asimov in my heart. I, Robot is a collection of chronologically ordeThis was my introduction to science fiction, and I'll always have a soft spot for Asimov in my heart. I, Robot is a collection of chronologically ordered short stories describing the development of robotics over the course of several centuries. Asimov's prose isn't inspired, but it's to the point and he moves the stories along well. The real selling points are the book's ideas, which are always fascinating and extremely well-developed. FWIW, this book has next to nothing in common with the Will Smith movie of the same name. 4.5 stars, highly recommended....more
I've always liked Crichton more when he's dealing with science-gone-wrong than when he gets into historical fiction. This story of early Viking explorI've always liked Crichton more when he's dealing with science-gone-wrong than when he gets into historical fiction. This story of early Viking explorers in North America falls squarely in the latter category, but it's still an enjoyable read (just not his best). 3 stars....more
Kind of an out-there concept, but Crichton does a good job building the suspense. Not his best work, but definitely better than the uninspired movie aKind of an out-there concept, but Crichton does a good job building the suspense. Not his best work, but definitely better than the uninspired movie adaptation. 3 stars....more
Probably the weirdest book Michael Crichton ever wrote, at least in terms of concept, and doesn't completely live up to its potential. But Crichton doProbably the weirdest book Michael Crichton ever wrote, at least in terms of concept, and doesn't completely live up to its potential. But Crichton does a superb job in building up the tension and horror as the tale progresses, and the sense of claustrophobic dread lingers. This was a fun one. 4 stars, recommended....more
I wanted to be a paleontologist as a little kid, and this book was basically manna from heaven as far as I was concerned. Whether this was Crichton's I wanted to be a paleontologist as a little kid, and this book was basically manna from heaven as far as I was concerned. Whether this was Crichton's best book is debatable (The Andromeda Strain is a strong contender as well), but there is no question that he was in top form when crafting this one. Features an A+ concept along with Crichton's usual fast pace and knack for suspense. 4 stars, recommended....more
I loved Jurassic Park like a fat kid loves cake, but the sequel didn't quite fulfill my expectations. Perhaps I'd set the bar too high - I vividly remI loved Jurassic Park like a fat kid loves cake, but the sequel didn't quite fulfill my expectations. Perhaps I'd set the bar too high - I vividly remember racing to the library every day as a 6th grader, waiting for the lone copy to become available. Still, it features people battling dinosaurs. How bad can it really be? 3 stars....more
A sneaky great thriller starring an all-time antihero. This book is not just a modernist classic, but a real page-turner with a true sociopath at its A sneaky great thriller starring an all-time antihero. This book is not just a modernist classic, but a real page-turner with a true sociopath at its heart. The movie is good, but the book rises to another level. 4 stars, recommended....more
It is the quintessential Steven King book, in a lot of ways. Basically, it's an A+ concept, executed with great sThis is a tricky one for me to rate.
It is the quintessential Steven King book, in a lot of ways. Basically, it's an A+ concept, executed with great skill, but it kinda goes off the rails at times. King doesn't believe in extensive outlining before writing a book, instead approaching each story as a kind of platonic fossil he unearths as he goes along, and I think this is both his greatest strength and his greatest weakness. On one hand, this strategy gives him a lot of flexibility and is probably a major factor in the creativity on display in so many of his books. But on the other hand, it is sometimes clear that he doesn't know what the resolution is going to be, and the roller-coaster ride that King provides seems to culminate in a crash landing every once in a while.
This book is a personal favorite. Without question, this is the scariest fucking book I have ever read. I have never come across anything in its class. It is terrifying at times. As pure suspense/horror, this book is 6-star good. And King deserves a ton of credit for that: this is a book about a killer clown named Pennywise. In the hands of a middling writer, or even a good one, this falls apart almost instantly. A freaking clown as the monster? I know clowns are creepy, but c'mon...this could easily have turned 1-star ludicrous in a hurry (just watch the movie). It doesn't. This book is poop-your-pants terrifying. It's perfectly structured to build the dread higher and higher, and in a lot of ways it's almost perfect.
But it is a flawed gem. Without getting spoilery, I did not think the finale lived up to the rest of the book's promise. Quite simply, it gets weird as hell, and not necessarily in a good way. Also, there is a simply insane section along the way where (view spoiler)[ one of the main characters, a teenage girl, has sex with all the others to get out of a jam (hide spoiler)]. There are some real WTF parts of this book that made me wonder what King was thinking, and I can't give the book five stars in good conscience.
Still. The good parts of this book are so good, and the horror is so squee-inducing perfect, that It will always hold a special place in my heart. I remember reading this by myself at night and having to put the book down and take a break because it was simply so freaking creepy. And that is about the highest praise I can give to a book of this genre. 4 stars, highly recommended....more
The first entry in the famous Harry Potter series is much lighter than some of the later books, both in terms of length and subject matter, but the wrThe first entry in the famous Harry Potter series is much lighter than some of the later books, both in terms of length and subject matter, but the writing is charming and there's plenty of humor. A fun YA read that sets up a very entertaining (and successful) series. 4.5 stars, recommended....more
Has the same charm and smile-inducing humor as the first book in the series, but in a lot of ways feels like a rehash of book #1. Doesn't advance the Has the same charm and smile-inducing humor as the first book in the series, but in a lot of ways feels like a rehash of book #1. Doesn't advance the plot very much, and probably my least favorite of the Harry Potter books, but still thoroughly entertaining. 4 stars, recommended....more
The third book of the Harry Potter series gives us some more information about the history of Hogwarts, especially regarding Harry's parents and theirThe third book of the Harry Potter series gives us some more information about the history of Hogwarts, especially regarding Harry's parents and their friends. Otherwise it's pretty much more of the same - if you liked books 1 & 2, you'll get a kick out of this one. 4 stars, recommended....more
This is the favorite Harry Potter book for many readers, and often gets pointed to as the turning point in the series. That makes some sense; Harry's This is the favorite Harry Potter book for many readers, and often gets pointed to as the turning point in the series. That makes some sense; Harry's getting older, it's the middle book in the order, and it's much longer than its predecessors. But other than the finale, I think this is pretty much more of the same. That's not a bad thing if you're a Potter fan - the fourth entry is just as fun as the books that came before - but for me this is the last book before things turn the corner. 4 stars, recommended....more
I write this review in the desperate hope that George R.R. Martin can finally rise from obscurity and earn the respect and acclaim he deserves. A SongI write this review in the desperate hope that George R.R. Martin can finally rise from obscurity and earn the respect and acclaim he deserves. A Song of Ice and Fire is the best fantasy series you’ve never heard of! OK, /sarcasm off. Unless you’ve been living under Casterly Rock for the last 16 years, chances are you’ve heard of Martin’s magnum opus. So I will keep the summarizing short and sweet in this review but I just want to say a few words about this book and the effect it had on me as a youngster.
A Game of Thrones is the first book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, which is currently five books deep. It is set in a classical fantasy universe, albeit one with (virtually) no extrahuman races or magic. The continent of Westeros consists of seven kingdoms, loosely united under one king. There are three major storylines throughout the series. Up in the north, a ragtag band of misfits man an enormous ice wall against whatever mysterious threats gather against them in the wilderness. Down south, political battles that are partly inspired by the War of the Roses rage. And on another continent to the east, the son and daughter of the (ex) ruler of the seven kingdoms plot and scheme to return and reclaim their ancestral throne. I’m not going to delve into the plot any deeper than this, because there are approximately 1,000,000 reviews that can do that for you. Suffice to say it is spectacular.
I first discovered this book back in 1998*. It was completely random. I was 14 at the time, in an airport picking out a book to read during the flight home. I picked this book entirely because it had a golden sticker on the cover declaring it the “Locus Award Winner for Fantasy Novel of the Year!” and because I couldn’t find anything better. The guy staring at a direwolf on its cover made it look like 100 fantasy novels I’d read before, and I didn’t have very high hopes.
I was wrong. This book was much, much better than almost any fantasy novel I had ever read before. I inhaled it in a couple of days. But I didn’t really understand the book’s full impact until about a week later. My father came home from a business trip and brought me some random book he’d picked up. I tried to read it, but I kept putting the book down in frustration. I didn’t know what the problem was; up to that point in my life I just uncritically mowed through any book that was put in front of me, start to finish, like a reading machine. Then it hit me: I couldn’t enjoy the new book because it was so much worse than reading Martin. It has been 14 years now, but I can still remember sitting on my bedroom floor when this realization hit me and being almost physically upset about it. My first instinct, bizarrely, was to be angry at Martin: I thought he had ruined reading for me. Would every book now pale in comparison? Would all other characters feel wooden and half-realized after A Game of Thrones?
Well, no. But A Game of Thrones was the book that made me, as a young person, start thinking about what I read and why, and actively try to sniff out the good stuff. I suspect that most people who like to read have had a similar experience around that age (and if you’ve made it this far on my jaunt down memory lane, please let me know which book it was for you in the comments!) I have read many books since first reading Game of Thrones, some of which are probably better, but A Game of Thrones is the only book that has fundamentally changed the way I read and I will always have a soft spot in my heart for it because of that.
I have read this three times now, thanks to the long publication gaps between Martin's books. A Game of Thrones is my third favorite in the series, behind the brilliant Clash of Kings and Storm of Swords, but it is not far behind those two and both times I’ve reread this book I’ve been struck by how much fun it is even when I know what’s going to happen. I’ve also discovered new things each time I’ve revisited this book: it wasn’t until reading it for the third time that I finally realized the first book (almost certainly) reveals who Jon Snow’s mother is.** I’ll probably tackle it a fourth time whenever the sixth book comes around, and I can’t wait. 6 stars.
Reread in September, 2005 and June, 2011.
*Because I am, in fact, that cool.
**(view spoiler)[So, really don’t read this unless you want to know Jon Snow’s parentage. As much as I love this series, I don’t spend any time crawling through online message boards so you’ll have to forgive me if this is common knowledge and I’m just slow on the uptake. Anyway, we know that Robert’s rebellion was sparked in large part over Ned’s sister, Lyanna. Both Robert and Rhaegar Targaryen were smitten with her, and when Rhaegar basically abducted her it was the final spark that launched the revolt. All of this is pretty straightforward backstory that unfolds as you read through the series.
The first (and apparently the second) time I read this book, I was trying so hard to piece the backstory together in my head that I didn’t realize the full import of some of Ned’s flashbacks/poppy hallucinations throughout the book. But once or twice he remembers a scene where he (along with Howland Reed and some nobodies) ride out to this weird remote tower. It’s apparently just after the Battle of the Trident, and some members of the Targaryen Kingsguard are, oddly, out here guarding this tower. Other flashbacks make it pretty evident (at least to me) that what they were guarding was Lyanna, who Rhaegar had spirited away before the battle to keep her safe. Ned’s last memories of Lyanna, which appear in this book, are of her covered in blood and whispering “promise me, Ned.” Initially I assumed she had been hurt in the battle or something, but the third time I read this it struck me that Lyanna had just given birth. The mysterious “promise” is to never let anyone know that the baby is Rhaegar Targaryen’s son, which would be a death sentence. So, Ned takes baby Jon back north with him, gins up some story about fathering a bastard, and there we go.
I realize I’ve not done the best job of describing this as I’m too lazy to go flipping through the book to find more concrete evidence. But, after reading all of these books a couple of times, I am 99% certain that Jon Snow’s parents are Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. (hide spoiler)]...more
The consensus opinion seems to be that A Storm of Swords, the third book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, is the best of the bunch. While I think SThe consensus opinion seems to be that A Storm of Swords, the third book in the Song of Ice and Fire series, is the best of the bunch. While I think Storm of Swords is superb, I’d like to take a moment to argue the merits of book #2. A Clash of Kings starts up right where A Game of Thrones left off. War rages in the south as the Lannisters grapple with no less than three usurpers to the throne. In the north, the Night’s Watch prepares to march beyond the wall in force and confront whatever awaits them there. And to the east, the now widowed Daenerys takes her first steps towards doing a little usurping of her own. I am one of the few who thinks A Clash of Kings is the best book in the series and have gathered the following facts to help make my case:
#1: The book features a Ton of Tyrion
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While his brother Jaime is actually my personal favorite character, Tyrion is a close second and probably the most popular character in the series. The Imp is in absolute top form throughout this book. After his father Tywin sends him back to Kings’ Landing to keep Joffrey and Cersei in line, Tyrion finds himself effectively running the Seven Kingdoms. Whether he’s fighting with his sister, putting Joffrey in his place, wenching, fighting, or whatever, Tyrion is pure gold whenever he’s on the page. And he’s on the page a lot in this book. Tyrion is one of the best characters in fantasy and he “owns” this book in a different way from the other four in the series.
#2: A Reconnaissance of Rangers
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Now, I won’t try and deny that the events up north in book 3 are nine kinds of awesome. However, A Clash of Kings is just as strong if not stronger in this area. At the beginning of the book, you have no idea what lies beyond that wall, and Martin builds the suspense masterfully as the rangers drift further and further from civilization. As you slowly realize what’s going on (and realize how much you still don’t know) the story just gets better and better. I am a big fan of “exploring the unknown” type stories and Martin weaves a ringer with this plotline. This is my personal favorite Night’s Watch arc in any of the five books out so far.
#3: Add a Dash of Daenerys…
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On top of all the goodness listed above, this book has my very favorite Daenerys chapter. While lots of people love the famous chapter in Storm of Swords where Daenerys (view spoiler)[”sells” one of her dragons (hide spoiler)], including yours truly, the House of the Undying chapter in Clash of Kings is masterfully done and gets my vote for #1. Unlike Jon & Tyrion, this isn’t Daenerys best book in terms of thrilling plotlines but this chapter is amazing.
#4: Stir in a Hint of H’ghar…
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Jaqen H’ghar is my favorite supporting character in the entire series and I am glued to the page whenever he makes an appearance. This mysterious figure helps spice up a very strong Arya storyline. Valar Morghulis!
#5: A finale that’s a Fathom of Fun
OK, “fathom of fun” might be a sign that I’ve beat this conceit into the ground. But it does not change the fact that the finale of Clash of Kings is the best in the series. And no, I’m not forgetting about (view spoiler)[the Red Wedding (hide spoiler)]. The last part of the book focused on King’s Landing, told from the perspective of multiple characters, is sublime. The Davos chapter in particular, where he’s (view spoiler)[ sailing down the river into the wildfire ambush (hide spoiler)], is fantastic, as are some of Tyrion’s adventures. This is my favorite scene of its kind in the series (i.e., (view spoiler)[this is my favorite battle scene, narrowly topping the battle at the wall in book 3 (hide spoiler)]). Because A Song of Ice and Fire is told from so many different perspectives, across such a large area, the other four books don’t really culminate in one big event like this one does. And while the culmination of A Clash of Kings doesn’t involve every POV character, it involves enough of them to make the book feel like it has a truly epic ending.
And I haven’t even dived into Stannis & Melisandre, Rob the King, the Siege of Storm’s End, etc. But this review is getting to be nearly as long as the book so it’s time to wrap things up. I adore A Storm of Swords, my second favorite book in the series, as my upcoming slobbering worship review will make clear. But A Clash of Kings is the best in the series so far, in this humble reader’s opinion. I have not read as much fantasy as some readers on this site, but I’ve read my fair share and (with all due respect to Mr. Tolkien) this book is probably my all-time favorite fantasy novel. 6 stars.
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