Fall Book Reviews and the recent lack of Book Reviews

As you may have noticed, dear readers and viewers, I've not posted anything in the last couple of weeks. I apologize and can only state that I've been busy reading some new books such as John Jackson Miller's excellent Star Wars: Kenobi novel and Lois McMaster Bujold's Captain Vorpatil's Alliance, as well as others, such as James Lovegrove's Age of [insert deity here] series. Doing so has reminded me that I started these book reviews as a way to not only summarize books I've enjoyed but to also give my opinions on them. And in short, I can no longer do that with certain series' that I've started, namely those by Lois Bujold and certain Bantam era Star Wars novels that I've been longing to do.

To start, I'll name the first I will no longer be finishing: The Vorkosigan Saga. This may come as a shock, but I simply do not have the time or resources--or books, for that matter--to track down each of them and reread them. I'm at my limits and have had to come to terms with that. I can, however, briefly summarize Brother's In Arms, Borders of Infinity, and Mirror Dance into a couple of paragraphs. Most of this will be off the top of my head and what I recall happening. Those will be below and the titles of which will be marked in bold. Note, this does not mean I'll abandon almost finished series, such as Lois' Sharing Knife series--I've only got one book left to review, so I may as well finish it.

Another that will take a while will be the Star Wars: X-Wing books by Mike Stackpole and Aaron Allston. First, because I have a strong dislike of Allston's works in that all his characters come across as juvenile wannabe jokers in the maturity range of 13- to 14-year-olds. That and I've loaned them out to a friend who wanted to read them. So they are on hold for a while.

But fear not, for I shall finish the Thrawn Trilogy by Timothy Zahn as well as most of his books in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. But I shall only do them in the order they were published, not chronologically. To this end, I also state that I will do a couple of reviews for the Vorkosigan Saga, namely those of Memory, Komarr, A Civil Campaign, and Captian Vorpatil's Alliance--three of which I enjoyed and one I'm in the process of reading. Also, I'll be trying to get the review for JJM's Kenobi up soon, but it's a really good book and I can't stop rereading it, folks.

To make up for this, I'll do some special reviews in November for the game tie-ins that I didn't get around to, such as The Force Unleashed, The Force Unleashed II, the Star Wars: Dark Forces novella trilogy by William C. Deitz, the Assassin's Creed novels, and maybe the Resistance novels by Deitz. Now, I'm not promising anything, because I'll be extremely busy with school and work, but I will do my best to get as many of those done as I can for you.

Brothers In Arms
Okay, so this is supposed to be a mystery novel. I can handle those, but frankly, this one does seem rather easy to see through. First off, Miles and some of the members his mercenary gang stop at Earth for repairs, but the funds are delayed. Miles doesn't like this, especially when he's detained and held in the Barrayaran embassy to serve Duv Galeni, who is a nice Komarran chap, except he sees Miles as a threat by ImpSec to get him fired or something. (Remember, I'm trying to recall from my memory here, folks.) A lot of people notice that Miles and Admiral Naismith look alike, but Miles brushes it off, trying to keep both identities separate. Add in the fact that he's also having a sort of hard time keeping them apart and you've got the perfect recipe for disaster. But Miles, being Miles, suspects a couple of Komarrans are up to something and is proved right when he comes face to face with his clone. The clone (later called Mark) is to be take over Miles' job and help free the Komarran's from the rule of the Barrayarans. Naturally, Miles won't allow that and does end up stopping them and their leader, who happens to be a relative of Galeni's. Mark, now free, ends up running away to figure out who he is. Galeni is promoted, I believe and recalled back to Barrayar. This marks the last appearance of Ky Tung, who retires to Brazil on Earth to be with his family.

Side note: The actual title for this, in my opinion, should've been Mirror Dance, seeing as how Miles starts to lose it on Earth. This is just my personal opinion folks, please don't yell at me.

Borders of Infinity
This has got to be the worst of Lois' books. It's an anthology disguised as a novel. Basically, it's three stories wrapped around four very god-awful pages of Miles being interrogated in a hospital room by Simon Illyan which is supposed to ferret out an assassination attempt against Aral. I didn't believe it when I read it and I still don't. Anyway the first one deals with Miles investigating a killing in the backwater parts of backwater Barrayar. Apparently, the grandmother did it to spare the child of growing up with some sort of weird genetic mutation. I can't recall what, excatly, only that it was ludicrously ridiculous and had me rolling my eyes. The second story had something to do with picking up a rogue scientist in Jackson's Whole, but there's a complication--as always--and Miles seeks to rid himself of it. In this, he meets a quaddie, and some other creature whose name eludes me. During this, another rival scientist gets his lab burnt down by Miles and the creature-whose-name-eludes-me, and they manage to escape. Straightforward and simple, this is the longest novella in the omnibus--for that's what Borders of Infinity is--and is an enjoyable read. The last one is set during a war and somehow or another, the person Miles was sent to retrieve has died and so Miles helps the resistance movement--if I recall correctly--and then leaves. I don't recall much of this last one, which should be some indication of how forgettable I found it.

Mirror Dance
Ah, lovely Mirror Dance, and it's wacky plot. Mark, impersonating Miles, gets the Dendarii mercs to go to Jackson's Whole and seek revenge while freeing genetic slaves, something that Bel Thorne hates. Well, things go sour, Miles gets involved, relieves Thorne of command, and then Miles dies. He's placed into cryostasis and left on the planet. Mark, under watch by a tempermental and angry Elli Quinn, head back to Barrayar. Elli reports this to Simon. Mark meets Aral and Cordelia Vorkosigan. They treat him like their second son and Mark, unable to stand any of the asinine Barrayaran ways, convinces Elli to help him get Miles back. Meanwhile, a scientist revives Miles and over the course of a few weeks, starts to recall his life. It's only complete when Mark, Elli and the Dendarii free Miles from that and leave Jackson's Whole behind, with Mark--who has fallen for Kareen Koudelka--wants to turn his life around and goes to Beta to begin therapy, or I recall. I know it happened at some point, just not exactly sure which book.

Side Note: the correct title of this book should've been Brothers In Arms, at least, I think so, considering how Miles and Mark fight to rescue each other and how close their sibling bond gets. But maybe that's just me, folks. 

Review: The Sharig Knife 3: Passage SPOILERS!

In May of 2008, Lois McMaster Bujold penned another novel in her Sharing Knife series. This time, more talking and barely a climax await the reader. Synopsis: Volume three in the epic fantasy saga from multiple Hugo Award-winning author Lois McMaster Bujold. Young Fawn Bluefield and soldier-sorcerer Dag Redwing Hickory have survived magical dangers, but the bigotry of blood kin cannot be easily overcome. Leaving behind all that they have ever known, they set off to find fresh solutions to the perilous split between their peoples—a passage that will not be ventured alone. New companions join them on their road: Fawn’s brother, Whit, escaping a hopeless future on the family farm; two novice Lakewalker patrollers fleeing the catastrophic consequences of an honest mistake; a young flatboat captain searching for her vanished father and fiancé; a shrewd backwoods hunter; and a farmer boy unintentionally beguiled by Dag’s growing magery. On an eventful journey to where great rivers join, the ill-assorted crew will be sorely tested and tempered as they encounter a new world of hazards both human and uncanny.

The novel opens with Dag and Fawn--exiled from the Lakewalker camp--head back to Bluefield farm. Dag tries to explain to Fawn's family about teaching "farmers"--non-magic using humans--to recognize malice signs so they can warn Lakewalkers, but Dag fumbles in this even with Whit's help. When Fawn and Dag leave, Whit goes with them. At Glassforge, Whit sells the horses--except for Copperhead--so they can travel with the glass wagon drivers; Whit's taking the job to move at his own pace. After Hod attempts to steal from Dag--and Copperhead breaks his knee--Dag heals him with ground work, killing a tapeworm in the process. The wagon train passes through Pearl Riffle Camp; Dag talks with some young Lakewalker patrollers--two of whom are Barr and Remo. Fawn and Whit arrive at Pearl Bend's wharf boat and meet Boss Berry and Jos; Whit falls in love with Berry at first sight. Dag arrives and learns that Whit plans on joining him and Fawn. Whit finds out that Berry's father, brother, and fiance Adler went missing and she means to look for them. Hod shows up, beguiled out of his mind, and joins.

Dag berates two Pearl Riffle patrollers for not educating farmers in their ways and they call him mad. Dag (and Lois) later performs oral surgery and tells everyone how groundwork works to a mob and a sick woman. Dag and crew then set sail and Remo chases after them. Remo works for his passage, at least until Boss Berry gets to Silver Shoals. Dag starts ground-ripping oats to see what would happen. He also helps Whit continue with his bow work. Hod purposely breaks a knee; Dag, angry and seeing a way to potentially get rid of beguilement, has Remo perform groundwork and heals Hod's knee. Passing by a river town, Berry, Fawn, and Whit hear of former cargo boats going missing; Dag helps Remo sense farmers with his ground. Dag practices ground-ripping on Fawn's pie and gets sick; he decides to go back to oats. Dag--with Fawn, Remo, and Hod--discovers why farmers become beguiled: Lakewalkers don't take farmer ground when they "heal" and that creates beguilement. Dag "heals" Hod's knee and takes Hod's ground and the beguilement disappears. Remo's partner, Barr, chases after them and begs Remo to return before Pearl Riffle Captain Amma blames Barr.

Remo says it's not his problem and decides to stay. Barr tries his best to persuade Berry but Remo and Whit hit him, and Berry kicks him off the Fetch. Barr tracks them down and Dag takes him aside and makes him see sense; Barr apologizes to everyone and Berry lets him back aboard--Barr works for his passage. Along the way, they rescue Captain Chicory and his remaining crew from being stranded in the river. Eventually, Berry finds her Adler, but Adler and his crew want to leave because Crane doesn't want them to mess with Lakewalkers. Adler tells Berry that her father, brother, and Briar Rose were killed in a storm--but everyone and their dog (except Berry) know it's not true; the Lakewalkers can sense it. Dag forces a confession and everyone learns that Adler and his crew are boat bandits (pirates) who work for a Lakewalker names Crane. Crane leads these bandits. Dag, Whit, Chicory, and others go and assault Crane's lair. Fawn tells Berry that Adler isn't beguiled and Berry can't decide if that's worse or not. Crane comes for Adler and starts killing Bo's pets; Crane takes Fawn hostage. Dag and gang arrive and Crane threatens to kill Fawn.

Dag ground-rips Crane's spinal cord just below the neck. Whit kills Crane's bandits and Berry smacks Adler overboard with an oar. Dag learns from Crane why he did what he did; Crane tells Dag to "bury my bones." Fawn gives Whit advice on how to help Berry heal from losing her family and Adler. During the trials, Dag explains Lakewalker rituals and kills Crane to prime a sharing knife. Dag and company travel onwards. Whit asks Berry to marry him and she says yes.

All in all, a slow paced book (but then again, this is Lois McMaster Bujold) and as soon as there's some hint of conflict, she repeatedly bashes it over the head to eliminate it. Enjoyable only for those who love river boating, otherwise it remains a weak mediocre novel that does little except help Dag learn how to get rid of beguilement.

Book Review: Honor Harrginton: Crown of Slaves SPOILERS!

In 2003, Eric Flint and David Weber decided to continue the adventures of the Zilwicki family from the short stories From the Highlands and Fanatic. It should be noted that they MUST be read before starting this subseries to better understand the background and actions of certain characters. Synopsis: The Star Kingdom's ally Erewhon is growing increasingly restive in the alliance because the new High Ridge regime ignores its needs. Added the longstanding problem of a slave labor planet controlled by hostile Mesans in Erewhon's stellar back yard, which High Ridge refuses to deal with, is the recent assassination of the Solarian League's most prominent voice of public conscience indicates the growing danger of political instability in the Solarian League--which is also close to Erewhon. In desperation, Queen Elizabeth tries to defuse the situation by sending a private mission to Erewhon led by Captain Zilwicki, accompanied by one of her nieces. When they arrive on Erewhon, however, Manticore's envoys find themselves in a mess. Not only do they encounter one of the Republic of Haven's most capable agents--Victor Cachat, but they also discover that the Solarian League's military delegation seems up to its neck in skullduggery. And just to put icing on the cake, the radical freed slave organization, the Audubon Ballroom, is also on the scene.

The novel opens with Captain Anton Zilwicki and his adopted daughter Berry visit Queen Elizabeth Winton III. She decides to send them and her niece, Princess Ruth Winton, and the genetic slave-turned-professor W.E.B. Du Havel as her (not the High Ridge government's) official representatives to the funeral of notorious Solarian anti-slavery activist Hieronymus Stein, which will take place on the planet Erewhon, a disgruntled member of the Manticoran Alliance. Berry undergoes surgery to make herself look like Ruth and vice-versa. Upon arrival, they discover that Havenite agent Victor Cachat and his friend Virginia Usher are there, as well as a team of Solarian League marines led by Captain Luis Rozsak and his second-in-command, Lieutenant Thandi Palane; Jeremy X of the Audubon Ballroom; Masadan mercenaries; and the powerful Mesan slaving corporation Manpower Incorporated. Each faction has interests of its own, which collide with those of the others: the Manticorans want to salvage their relation with Erewhon (and upset Prime Minister High Ridge who allowed that relationship to sour); Victor intends to show support for Erewhon and lure them away from the Manticoran Alliance; the Erewhonese want someone to help them deal with Verdant Vista, a Mesan-owned planet which is a threat to their system security; a group of Solarian officers work to further the interests of Oravil Barregos who believes that the League is on the verge of collapse and wants to be prepared for what comes next. The Mesans, simply put, want to stay out of the limelight and prevent all groups from attacking their illegal slave industry--the Solarian League mostly ignores them, which has caused Mesa to grow too powerful! The Audubon Ballroom, and its leader Jeremy X, simply wants to hit Mesa anywhere they can. And the Masadan mercenaries employed by the Mesans have their own agenda: to force Manticore to free several of their imprisoned companions.

Victor accompanies Virginia under a cover story of having an illicit affair with her. Virginia, in an attempt to help Victor, gets completely drunk, nearly causing a "Major Diplomatic Incident of the Minor Variety" by vomiting on a group of Solarian League diplomats. Doing so positions Victor to chat-up the young and voluptuous Naomi Imbesi, who has a wild Erewhonese reputation--which Virginia believes will help Victor get over his fear of being with women. The latter doesn't work, much to Virginia's disappointment, but Victor does end up meeting Thandi, who is unofficially in charge of a group of Amazons--former Scrags--who call her "Great Kaja". The two of them, with support form Virginia, begin a romantic and somewhat kinky relationship. Eventually, the Masadans kidnap Berry on The Wages of Sin believing that she really is Ruth. The kidnapping is spoiled, the Masadans are dead, and Manpower's involvement is discovered. A haphazard alliance between the Manticorans, Solarians, Havenites and the Ballroom is organized to launch an attack on Verdant Vista, popularly known as "Congo". Ruth contacts Manticoran Captain Michael Oversteegen, and he arrives with his ship. They prepare to send a falsely kidnapped Berry over and then have Oversteegen attack and not only "rescue" Berry, but disrupt Manpower's hold. This works and the during the process, Berry temporarily takes charge of the slaves. The planet is renamed "Torch", and it is decided to transform it into an independent star nation for escaped slaves, so that the fight against Mesa finally has a nation sponsoring it. To cement this new authority, the ex-slaves crown their own monarch: Berry I of the House of Zilwicki, Queen of the Kingdom of Torch. Berry appoints Du Havel as the first Prime Minister, Jeremy X as Minister of War, and Thandi Palane as the Commander of Torch's Armed Forces. Keeping Thandi allows Victor to keep seeing her, as well as providing a true neutral ground for the Havenites and Manticorans to meet and discuss politics. Ruth stays on as well, to provide political advice and friendship for Berry.

All in all, a wonderfully packed novel with lots of action, great character driven scenes, and tons of underlying plots that all converge during the finale. David Weber and Eric Flint provide one hell of an entertaining book. It should be noted that this novel concurs with the events of War of Honor and The Shadow of Saganami.