The Bradbury Chronicles / Sam Weller

 

The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury by Sam Weller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book holds the distinction of being the oldest item on my Goodreads TBR list. I decided that now was the time to do something about that. I came to Bradbury's writing late. I'd never read a thing by him until I started an idiosyncratic science fiction & fantasy reading project back in 2011, just a year before the great man's death.

As so many people before me, I was blown away by Fahrenheit 451 (having read it in conjunction with Huxley's Brave New World and Orwell's 1984). I was impressed (and I recycled my television set). My reading also included The Martian Chronicles and Something Wicked This Way Comes, which I must re-read some day as I don't think I appreciated them properly. Timing is everything for my reading enjoyment and I think I rushed into these books, not knowing what to expect.

So this account of Bradbury's life was of interest to me. I started out a bit skeptical, as the author was in many ways an acolyte of Bradbury and I wasn't sure that I would get a balanced account of his life. As I read, however, I realized that he was well aware of Bradbury's flaws and wasn't trying to conceal them.

Ray Bradbury must have been both a joy and a challenge to know. Outgoing and charming, he seems to have made friends easily and seems to have been loyal to them. Easy to talk to, but inclined hog the spotlight. Confident in his own vision, but desperate for applause. There is no doubt that he was a unique voice in American literature and deserves his reputation, but this need for approval surely made his life more difficult.

Definitely an original. Thank you, Mr Bradbury for your many kind words about libraries and librarians. As a retired library worker, I appreciate you in return.


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The Spine of the World / R.A. Salvatore

 

The Spine of the World by R.A. Salvatore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Quite a shift from previous Legend of Drizzt books, in that Drizzt doesn't appear in it. He provides some commentary, rather like voice over in television, but other than that he appears only in Wulfgar's memories.

And that was the rub for me, for this is very much Wulfgar's book and he is not my favourite character in this series. I must admit that I now like him better, since he has been tested by life and is emerging from darkness. He has faced awful torment and returned to his essential honourable nature and I can appreciate that strength of will.

Like so many of these rather medieval fantasy worlds, the Drizzt universe is very patriarchal. Cattie-Brie is the rare woman who can run her own life. In this installment, we watch peasant girl Meralda graduate to being the wife of a nobleman. Apparently sexual misadventure is the only source of plot conflict “conceivable” for women by most authors, but for me that is so boring. It reduces women to only their sexual aspect, a very narrow role. Nevertheless, these limitations were and are a reality where birth control and women's rights are missing.

On the plus side, Salvatore has continued with grittier plots with more moral ambiguity and I'm liking that. It will be interesting to see how he integrates previous plot details into this new version of Drizzt's world.

Book number 393 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.



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The Man in the Brown Suit / Agatha Christie

 

The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Anne Beddingfeld is a fun main character, a young woman who is determined to find adventure and of course, a dashing man. So when her paleoanthropologist father kicks the bucket, she packs up her few possessions & pounds and heads to London. Goodreads tells me that this is a Colonel Race novel, but he seems like a secondary character here, rather unfair of Christie. He's a good character, but somehow she lavished her attention on Poirot!

Christie's espionage novels are so entertaining—totally unbelievable, but carried out with such enthusiasm. While reading this one, I thought of M.M. Kaye's Death in … series, published in the 1950s, they could have been modelled on this novel. I was also reminded a bit of Ian Fleming's Diamonds Are Forever, probably mostly because of the diamond angle, and because I know that Fleming was an admirer of Christie's writing.

At least in this novel, Anne gets to spend some time getting to know the man that she has set her heart on rather impulsively. In Kaye's novels (and, frankly, Mary Stewart's) the young women trust far too easily and too soon, committing to men with whom they are barely acquainted. I did like Anne's bravery, even if it did seem foolhardy at times. Really, sailing to South Africa with just a few bucks in her purse!

It was also fun to be reminded of some spots in South Africa that I visited a few years ago. The dusty, hot Karoo and the Kimberley, for instance. All in all, an entertaining couple of evening's reading.



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I Dare / Sharon Lee & Steve Miller

 

I Dare by Sharon Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had meant to read this book later in the year, but I held it in my hands and couldn't resist the temptation to see what happened next. I'm so glad that I was able to indulge the desire.

This novel reads like a thriller, with the Clan Korval separated in space and time, with Plan B in effect, and many family members out of touch. We are quickly introduced to Val Con's cousin, Pat Rin, who never passed his pilot's exam, but is an excellent shot and a gambler of some note. We also meet Anthora, the family dramaliza or wizard, with freaky powers, living in the family house complete with magical Tree and some seriously spooky cats.

Pat Rin unexpectedly shows his genetic heritage in his response to the Department of the Interior. They manage to convince him that he may be the only living member of Clan Korval, leading him to retreat to a backwater planet and take it over. Surebleak is run by various gangs, some better than others but all brutal. Pat Rin moves in and uses his natural leadership skills to improve life on Surebleak for all its citizens.

Lee & Miller take all of the various plot lines that they have running and spin a coherent and gripping thriller out of them. I am always delighted when the Clutch, giant sentient turtles, feature in these novels, so having Edger and Sheather show up with a groovy spaceship carved out of an asteroid was a treat.

Now I truly must move on to other titles and series, but I have enjoyed this visit to Liad.

Book number 392 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.


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Plan B / Sharon Lee & Steve Miller

 

Plan B by Sharon Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I become more and more fond of these tales of the Liaden universe. I also found myself thinking often of Lois McMaster Bujold's Miles Vorkosigan, especially her Komarr and A Civil Campaign novels. There is a similar combination of espionage, battle details, meetings between families, and an undercurrent of romance. In fact, Val Con yos'Phelium very carefully binds to himself a disgraced Yxtrang explorer. This is a very Miles Vorkosigan thing to do.

Just like many of the strays that Miles has bound to himself over the course of the books, Nelirikk Explorer (the Yxtrang in question) is now fanatically loyal to the yos'Phelium line. Funny how being treated fairly and having your skills and knowledge appreciated can inspire devotion, something that many managers should take notice of.

If one ever had any doubt in the plotting and planning abilities of House Korval, this novel will dispense with them. It rapidly becomes apparent that plans have been laid for generations, leaving the reader to wonder exactly what the family is involved in that requires these sorts of machinations. For suddenly Plan B is activated, bringing Val Con and Shan together under less than ideal conditions, unable to enjoy their reunion. Why is the Liaden Department of Interior pursuing them so determinedly and violently?

Needless to say, the desire to read on is strong! Soon, Liad, I will return to see what is happening with my favourite renegade family.

Book number 391 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.


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January Thaw / Jess Lourey

 

January Thaw by Jess Lourey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A fun, fast mystery for my first book of 2021. I have become quite fond of this series and I really enjoy the comedy team of Mira James and Mrs. Berns. This is humour that I can appreciate, something I comprehend. How can I resist Mrs. Berns, who asks questions like “Are you writing a book in your head or are you holding in a fart?” What can I say, I enjoy very simple jests.

It helps that Lourey can plot a pretty good mystery, plus she provides a continuing plot about Mira's love life, her professional development, her friends and neighbours. As much as I love the mystery genre, I really love the soap opera like details of this ongoing story line. I like getting to know characters over the course of several books, giving me a chance to become fond of them. It helps that Lourey doesn't write Mira (or Mrs. Berns) as unintelligent. Both women can add up details to get to results quickly, even if Mira has problems with relationships. At least she seems to be working through her issues, not repeating them ad nauseum (Kay Scarpetta, I'm looking at you!)

I also appreciate the kindness of these main characters, who seem to be acquiring quite a circle of friends and pleasing acquaintances. There's quite enough negativity in the world right now and I find that this depiction of caring people makes me feel better about life, not worse.

I've been plotting my reading life for the New Year and I think I will likely weed out some lesser mystery series to make room for more Mira in my life.


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So Long, 2020!

 

2020 on Goodreads by Various
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2020 Reading Summary

What a weird year! Despite having more time available for reading, I found my attention wandered too much to be very effective at the task. What should have been an exceptional year became an average year and I found myself hiding in genre fiction, unable to face books with serious or heavy subject matter. Whether I enjoy a book or not is usually more to do with me than the book. I don't give 5 stars often or easily, but I may award 4 stars more readily than some. I find most of my choices wind up in 4 stars and this year was no exception.

Total books read: 234

Longest book: The Reality Dysfunction by Peter Hamilton (and for me it was a stinker!)

Shortest book: Silent Night by Milla Vane (a short story)

Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project: 45 books completed.

Favourite reading project book: Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay. I consistently love this man's novels and my only regret is that I have only 3 of his titles yet to read. Thankfully, there is a strong likelihood that he will produce more.

Best new-to-me author: Willa Cather, whose O Pioneers! And Death Comes for the Archbishop charmed me.

Best Mystery novel: Obsidian: A DreadfulWater Mystery by Thomas King. I have loved this series about Thumps DreadfulWater, former cop and current professional photographer, whose life in the small town of Chinook has entertained me for 5 volumes. Sadly, King has pronounced himself done writing, but at least we are left with some excellent re-reading options.

Best Paranormal Novel: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires. Not your average vampire book, this one made me think about many of the assumptions held in common in our society and about the racial inequality that plagues us.

Best Artificial Intelligence: All Systems Red by Martha Wells. Murderbot is such a fabulous character, supposedly nonhuman, but really exquisitely human in so many ways. After all the books that make artificial intelligence seek to become humanity's overlords, this one introduces us to an AI who would rather goof off and watch TV. Brilliant!

Unexpected New Enthusiasm: fiction by women in the early 20th century. For example, Less Than Angels by Barbara Pym, The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim, and Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson. (Not to mention Cather, above).

Most Anticipated New Book: Emerald Blaze by Iona Andrews. Completely adventure/mystery/romance and one of my favourite confections. I will, with great delight, read anything that this husband and wife duo publish.

Best YA Novel: The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White. I've become quite a fan of Ms. White's work and found this retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to be wonderfully disturbing. She took the horror of the original and updated it for the 21st century.

Best Espionage Novel: Nobody Walks by Mick Herron. Another author who has become a “must read" in my opinion. John le Carre may be the undisputed king of Cold War spying, but Herron is master of the 21st century espionage novel, with an unforgettable cast of characters who will amaze you with their twisty minds and their unexpected bravery.

Best Victorian Era Mystery: A Murderous Relation by Deanna Raybourn. Mystery with a good dollop of romance , featuring the irrepressible Veronica Speedwell and the delectable Stoker. The author obviously enjoys these characters, making them a joy to read.

Best Non-fiction: The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold. An extremely well researched look at the five victims of Jack the Ripper, effectively switching the focus from the perpetrator to the crime victims. An enlightening look at Victorian society for me, as usually what I have read dealt with the upper classes, not the working people.

Agatha Christie project: I've read 4 novels and 2 books of short stories by the Queen of Mystery in 2020. I've signed on to a reading group where we are reading through Christie's works, one per month, in publication order, so I expect to read 12 more over the course of 2021.

My Shakespeare Project: This project came to a screeching halt this year when cinemas and theatres closed. Once Covid-19 vaccines are available, I'll be in line, rolling up my sleeve for a jab so that I can enjoy these entertainments once again.

Most anticipated books of 2021: An Unexpected Peril by Deanna Raybourn, Angel of the Overpass by Seanan McGuire, Wild Sign by Patricia Briggs, Sufferance: A Novel by Thomas King, Slough House by Mick Herron, and anything that Ilona Andrews produces! I also look forward to continuing The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, the Finishing School series by Gail Carriger, plus a number of mystery series.

Reading kept me as happy as possible over these pandemic months. I don't know how some people live without books! There were days when I didn't want to cook or didn't bother to get dressed, but there was never a day that I didn't read.

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