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thecaptainsquarters
Ahoy there me mateys! While drawin’ up me lists of 2016 for me log, I realized a curious thing – out of 134 books read, not a single one was a re-read. In me enthusiasm of discovery and taking suggestions from me crew, I did not revisit a single old port for plunder! And part of what I love about readin’ is re-visitin’ old friends. So I decided to remedy that and thus created me new category where I take a second look at a previously enjoyed novel and give me crew me second reflections, as it were, upon visitin’ it again . . .
I have been meaning to reread this book for ages. It was one of me favourites as a young girl and I avidly read it over and over again. So when I heard that the the September BookBum Club Challenge’s theme be “back to school – reread a “required reading” book you read in school / read a book that’s on school curriculums / reread a book you read while attending school,” I thought the timing was perfect.
And bless me salty heart, this book was as poignant and amazing as I remembered. Part of the fun of the reread was that when I first started reading this book I was younger than the main character, Francie, is at the beginning of the story. I am now older than Francie is at the end of the book. Me perspective of course has shifted quite a bit as I have aged. So it was a delightful blend of new perspectives and old nostalgia.
What hadn’t changed was the awe and love I felt as I was reading. This book is at once an fascinating coming of age story and also a snapshot of life at a specific time in a specific Williamsburg neighborhood in the early 1900s. The story just feels so very real. The people feel real. And yet there is a timelessness to it that makes it feel as relevant today as when I first read it.
And Francie! Ah how much I related to her as a child. Her thoughts about books, her lack of childhood friendships, having an alcoholic father, her big dreams, her family’s poverty, her issues in school, and her daydreams about people and places. I loved her then and wished she could have been me friend every time I read this book. I loved her just as much now. She holds a place in me heart in much the same way as Scout does from to kill a mockingbird.
And like the mockingbird symbolism, I also loved readin’ again about that special tree by the fire escape in Brooklyn where Francie hides, dreams, reads, and watches the neighborhood. It is a perfect symbol for that neighborhood and the people living there. I loved that Francie could see the beauty in ordinary things and triumph in small pleasures. And that tree was one of them.
Overall this book made have tears of sorrow as well as aches of joy. The current time and place disappeared and I was completely captivated by the world of Betty Smith. Me silly, paltry words do this book no justice. But I will not be waiting as long to read this again. Plus Kate Burton did a fantastic job with the narration of this audiobook.
Much thanks to the BookBum Club for giving me the incentive to reread this “back to school” novel.
Side note: I had no idea that this book has been turned into a movie and a musical! I like what’s in me noggin and so will not be watching either of them. Arrr!
See me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
I have been meaning to reread this book for ages. It was one of me favourites as a young girl and I avidly read it over and over again. So when I heard that the the September BookBum Club Challenge’s theme be “back to school – reread a “required reading” book you read in school / read a book that’s on school curriculums / reread a book you read while attending school,” I thought the timing was perfect.
And bless me salty heart, this book was as poignant and amazing as I remembered. Part of the fun of the reread was that when I first started reading this book I was younger than the main character, Francie, is at the beginning of the story. I am now older than Francie is at the end of the book. Me perspective of course has shifted quite a bit as I have aged. So it was a delightful blend of new perspectives and old nostalgia.
What hadn’t changed was the awe and love I felt as I was reading. This book is at once an fascinating coming of age story and also a snapshot of life at a specific time in a specific Williamsburg neighborhood in the early 1900s. The story just feels so very real. The people feel real. And yet there is a timelessness to it that makes it feel as relevant today as when I first read it.
And Francie! Ah how much I related to her as a child. Her thoughts about books, her lack of childhood friendships, having an alcoholic father, her big dreams, her family’s poverty, her issues in school, and her daydreams about people and places. I loved her then and wished she could have been me friend every time I read this book. I loved her just as much now. She holds a place in me heart in much the same way as Scout does from to kill a mockingbird.
And like the mockingbird symbolism, I also loved readin’ again about that special tree by the fire escape in Brooklyn where Francie hides, dreams, reads, and watches the neighborhood. It is a perfect symbol for that neighborhood and the people living there. I loved that Francie could see the beauty in ordinary things and triumph in small pleasures. And that tree was one of them.
Overall this book made have tears of sorrow as well as aches of joy. The current time and place disappeared and I was completely captivated by the world of Betty Smith. Me silly, paltry words do this book no justice. But I will not be waiting as long to read this again. Plus Kate Burton did a fantastic job with the narration of this audiobook.
Much thanks to the BookBum Club for giving me the incentive to reread this “back to school” novel.
Side note: I had no idea that this book has been turned into a movie and a musical! I like what’s in me noggin and so will not be watching either of them. Arrr!
See me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! I have been hearing about Maggie Stiefvater’s work for a long time and have been meaning to read some of it long before now. I picked this one because it deals with water horses and I listened to this one in audio book format.
What is a water horse? It is a mythical creature of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales that lives in the water but usually has the form of a horse out of the water. Many of the myths say that they are carnivores and love blood – especially that of humans. Some claim that they can shapeshift into the forms of men. In pretty much all cases, they are not friendly and are predators and tricksters.
So this book is about water horses that come from the sea and a high-stakes race every November on a certain island. Two riders, Puck and Sean, each have their own reasons for attempting to win the race this year. The story shifts between the two perspectives. I have always enjoyed the water horse legend but I have to say that this was a very odd read. The problem was that I loved the chapters about Sean Kendrick and couldn’t stand the ones about Puck Connolly.
Puck just annoyed me. I should have loved her. Usually the snarky, underdog girl competing in a boy’s game is a winner. But all Puck seems to do was mope about her brother leaving the island and whine. Also she knew nothing about the world of the water horses and to compete with her island pony just seemed so unrealistic and stupid. She just seemed so much younger than her stated age in the book. I honestly would have preferred that her storyline have been cut altogether. And as someone who preaches girl power that both saddens and surprises me.
As for Sean, the real strength in his chapters was his relationship with Cor, the water horse. I thought Sean himself was rather two-dimensional. He was a typical silent brooding type. He is supposedly 19 in the novel but came across as a lot younger as well. But I adored his relationship with the water horses and their magic. It was his perspective on the race and the other horses that made this book for me. His relationship with Puck and the romance that evolved was, unfortunately for me, an unnecessary distraction.
But the real triumph of this novel is in the details of island community and its relationship with the water horses and the culture that has sprung up around them. It is an exciting and wonderful take on the myth of the water horses. I felt like the island could actually exist somewhere. The water horses themselves were vicious and had unique personalities. That was worth readin’ this novel.
I also did not like the ending of the race or novel at all. Some of it seemed so very predictable and I was disappointed. I am not sure if I would read another book by this author. None of her other books seem to appeal. But I am glad I gave this one a shot even if I didn’t love it.
Side note: I wish I could have seen more of Puck’s brother, Finn. He was actually me favourite character (besides the horses that is!)
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
What is a water horse? It is a mythical creature of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales that lives in the water but usually has the form of a horse out of the water. Many of the myths say that they are carnivores and love blood – especially that of humans. Some claim that they can shapeshift into the forms of men. In pretty much all cases, they are not friendly and are predators and tricksters.
So this book is about water horses that come from the sea and a high-stakes race every November on a certain island. Two riders, Puck and Sean, each have their own reasons for attempting to win the race this year. The story shifts between the two perspectives. I have always enjoyed the water horse legend but I have to say that this was a very odd read. The problem was that I loved the chapters about Sean Kendrick and couldn’t stand the ones about Puck Connolly.
Puck just annoyed me. I should have loved her. Usually the snarky, underdog girl competing in a boy’s game is a winner. But all Puck seems to do was mope about her brother leaving the island and whine. Also she knew nothing about the world of the water horses and to compete with her island pony just seemed so unrealistic and stupid. She just seemed so much younger than her stated age in the book. I honestly would have preferred that her storyline have been cut altogether. And as someone who preaches girl power that both saddens and surprises me.
As for Sean, the real strength in his chapters was his relationship with Cor, the water horse. I thought Sean himself was rather two-dimensional. He was a typical silent brooding type. He is supposedly 19 in the novel but came across as a lot younger as well. But I adored his relationship with the water horses and their magic. It was his perspective on the race and the other horses that made this book for me. His relationship with Puck and the romance that evolved was, unfortunately for me, an unnecessary distraction.
But the real triumph of this novel is in the details of island community and its relationship with the water horses and the culture that has sprung up around them. It is an exciting and wonderful take on the myth of the water horses. I felt like the island could actually exist somewhere. The water horses themselves were vicious and had unique personalities. That was worth readin’ this novel.
I also did not like the ending of the race or novel at all. Some of it seemed so very predictable and I was disappointed. I am not sure if I would read another book by this author. None of her other books seem to appeal. But I am glad I gave this one a shot even if I didn’t love it.
Side note: I wish I could have seen more of Puck’s brother, Finn. He was actually me favourite character (besides the horses that is!)
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this young adult fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
Many blue moons ago, I read book one of the author's Talon Saga. I thought it was just okay and as it appeared a love triangle was on the horizon, I never read any further into that series. But I liked the author's writing style enough that I wanted to give her work another chance. So when this came along I gave it a shot and I am so very glad I did.
I loved this Japanese ownvoices story. This tale is told from the perspective of three characters whose stories eventually intertwine.:
Yumeko - a half kitsune who loves to play pranks on the monks who raised her, she is open-hearted and kind and just a bit naive; only now she has been tasked with saving the world.
Kage - an assassin who welds a demon-infused sword that is trying to take over his mind and spirit; because of his training, he is aloof and solitary and must obey his masters in the Shadow Clan no matter what the cost.
Suki - the daughter of a flute-maker, she is sent to the imperial palace to make a new life for herself; with a love of music and an ache for the family left behind, she is determined to bring honor to her family but her new master has other plans.
The chapters go back and forth between these point-of-views. I thought this was particularly well done even when I didn't necessarily want to switch.
I also loved the Japanese spirits and folklore elements - the kami, oni, samuri, and other beings are fantastically woven into the story. I especially loved the ronin. One of the best parts is how these creatures and people traditionally are assigned certain roles and the author has the characters embody those fundamentals. Then she proceeds to play with the tropes due to the circumstances the characters find themselves in. Lost honor can be regained. Kindness can have a ripple effect. Nobles can care about peasants.
Fun stuff. I don't want to get too much into the plot because this one is so wonderful to experience firsthand. Don’t just take me word on it (though yer Captain’s word should be enough!). Check out these other reviews by me crew. Then go get a copy. That’s an order. Arrr!
Aimal @ bookshelves&paperbacks’ review – “GAHHH THIS WAS ONE HELL OF A RIDE!”
my link textMelanie @ meltotheany’s review – “Shadow of the Fox is a bright, shining light in 2018 fantasy! Friends, I loved this from the very first chapter, and was more captivated than I have been reading any other book this year. Like, go into any bookstore, read the first chapters of this book, and I dare you not to want to immediately buy it. Goosebumps. Tears. Perfection. Those are the three words that come to mind, and I just continued to fall even more in love with this story as it progressed.”
So lastly . . .
Thank you Harlequin Teen!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Many blue moons ago, I read book one of the author's Talon Saga. I thought it was just okay and as it appeared a love triangle was on the horizon, I never read any further into that series. But I liked the author's writing style enough that I wanted to give her work another chance. So when this came along I gave it a shot and I am so very glad I did.
I loved this Japanese ownvoices story. This tale is told from the perspective of three characters whose stories eventually intertwine.:
Yumeko - a half kitsune who loves to play pranks on the monks who raised her, she is open-hearted and kind and just a bit naive; only now she has been tasked with saving the world.
Kage - an assassin who welds a demon-infused sword that is trying to take over his mind and spirit; because of his training, he is aloof and solitary and must obey his masters in the Shadow Clan no matter what the cost.
Suki - the daughter of a flute-maker, she is sent to the imperial palace to make a new life for herself; with a love of music and an ache for the family left behind, she is determined to bring honor to her family but her new master has other plans.
The chapters go back and forth between these point-of-views. I thought this was particularly well done even when I didn't necessarily want to switch.
I also loved the Japanese spirits and folklore elements - the kami, oni, samuri, and other beings are fantastically woven into the story. I especially loved the ronin. One of the best parts is how these creatures and people traditionally are assigned certain roles and the author has the characters embody those fundamentals. Then she proceeds to play with the tropes due to the circumstances the characters find themselves in. Lost honor can be regained. Kindness can have a ripple effect. Nobles can care about peasants.
Fun stuff. I don't want to get too much into the plot because this one is so wonderful to experience firsthand. Don’t just take me word on it (though yer Captain’s word should be enough!). Check out these other reviews by me crew. Then go get a copy. That’s an order. Arrr!
Aimal @ bookshelves&paperbacks’ review – “GAHHH THIS WAS ONE HELL OF A RIDE!”
my link textMelanie @ meltotheany’s review – “Shadow of the Fox is a bright, shining light in 2018 fantasy! Friends, I loved this from the very first chapter, and was more captivated than I have been reading any other book this year. Like, go into any bookstore, read the first chapters of this book, and I dare you not to want to immediately buy it. Goosebumps. Tears. Perfection. Those are the three words that come to mind, and I just continued to fall even more in love with this story as it progressed.”
So lastly . . .
Thank you Harlequin Teen!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! This be the last book of a quartet. While I try to post no spoilers, if ye haven’t read the previous three then ye might want to skip this post. If ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .
I love the Murderbot! Basically I have been avidly waiting for this book ever since I finished rogue protocol. Hell, I wanted all four of them as soon as I had finished the first novella. I read this wonderful conclusion and immediately wanted to reread them all. Murderbot has captured me crabby ol’ heart. Murderbot rocks!
In this installment Murderbot’s cover is truly blown and yet it makes a choice to go right into enemy territory. Favourite characters return. Snark ensues. Murderbot continues to evolve and grow in wondrous ways. Tropes are played with. Episodes of Sanctuary Moon are consumed. Murderbot interacts with a new and surprising robot in new and surprising ways. Awesomeness abounds . . .
I don’t want to get into too many details because it is better for the reader to savour on their own. Read about the Murderbot and fall in love.
Side note: I want a full length novel of the further adventures of Murderbot!! I need it now!! And an “I love Murderbot!” teeshirt. And a fancy edition of all four novellas in one stunning collection. I would make them meself but a) I don’t own the copyright; and b) I have no artistic talent besides. Arrr!
Check out me crew members reviews of this one:
Elise @ thebookishactress’ review – “I guess the biggest thing I have to say about this conclusion novella is that it sticks to everything it has already succeeded at. This series is… so much fun, and also one of my favorite examples of playing with tropes I’ve ever seen.”
Niki @ theobsessivebookseller’s review – “I entered into this final installment a little worried. For the character, for my emotions, for that heightened expectations that comes from reaching the end of something truly fantastic and hoping the quality holds up. I was not disappointed. Exit Strategy had the perfect balance of all the amazing elements that make this series so special. ”
I love the Murderbot! Basically I have been avidly waiting for this book ever since I finished rogue protocol. Hell, I wanted all four of them as soon as I had finished the first novella. I read this wonderful conclusion and immediately wanted to reread them all. Murderbot has captured me crabby ol’ heart. Murderbot rocks!
In this installment Murderbot’s cover is truly blown and yet it makes a choice to go right into enemy territory. Favourite characters return. Snark ensues. Murderbot continues to evolve and grow in wondrous ways. Tropes are played with. Episodes of Sanctuary Moon are consumed. Murderbot interacts with a new and surprising robot in new and surprising ways. Awesomeness abounds . . .
I don’t want to get into too many details because it is better for the reader to savour on their own. Read about the Murderbot and fall in love.
Side note: I want a full length novel of the further adventures of Murderbot!! I need it now!! And an “I love Murderbot!” teeshirt. And a fancy edition of all four novellas in one stunning collection. I would make them meself but a) I don’t own the copyright; and b) I have no artistic talent besides. Arrr!
Check out me crew members reviews of this one:
Elise @ thebookishactress’ review – “I guess the biggest thing I have to say about this conclusion novella is that it sticks to everything it has already succeeded at. This series is… so much fun, and also one of my favorite examples of playing with tropes I’ve ever seen.”
Niki @ theobsessivebookseller’s review – “I entered into this final installment a little worried. For the character, for my emotions, for that heightened expectations that comes from reaching the end of something truly fantastic and hoping the quality holds up. I was not disappointed. Exit Strategy had the perfect balance of all the amazing elements that make this series so special. ”
Ahoy there me mateys! I discovered this novel when the author asked me if I was interested in readin’ this one in exchange for me honest musings. The premise sounded fascinating and so I said yes. Those of me crew that have been reading me log these last several days have seen that I had to abandon ship on me last two reads. I was feelin’ rather disheartened and didn’t want to be fighting off the dreaded readin’ slump. So I finally deemed that it was time to read this book and hopefully keep the slump at bay. And it worked! Arrrrr!
I found this book to be an excellent read that was gripping, fun, and certainly lightened me mood considerably. While technically the second book in a series, Matey Bruno assured me it could be read as a standalone and I am so very glad he convinced me. I absolutely loved the world of the Ringers!
The Ringers are descendants from a starship that left Earth to settle on Titan (one of Saturn’s moons) in the face of an asteroid destined to hit Earth. They worked hard and slowly adjusted over the centuries both genetically and culturally. However, some Earth-folk survived and eventually make their way to Titan to co-exist. However Earth disease runs rampant among the immune systems of the Ringers which lead to the Earthers taking over the moon and the Ringers becoming second-class citizens.
In this novel, a Ringer named Kale is struggling to get by. He used to be a small-time thief until he got caught. His mom helped him get a legitimate job aboard a gas harvester. But then his mom gets sick and Kale needs a lot more money to help her survive. Much more than his small salary provides. A seemingly to0-good-to-be-true opportunity comes along which may solve his problems. But what happens if he takes it? A wonderful story that’s what.
Now do not get me wrong, I loved the plot and the characters. I thought Kale was a fantastic protagonist. There were lots of plot twists that I did not see coming. Some of which kinda broke this grizzled Captain’s salty heart. It was a seemingly simple story that has greater depths. But it was the juxtaposition between the Earthers and the Ringers that made the book for me.
Ye see the Ringers have adapted to life on Titan which makes them tall, like extremely cold temperatures, and need lower gravity. The problem is their immune systems are so bad that they go dressed in decontamination suits at all times. Any direct contact with an Earther can be fatal. The Earthers need heat, are immensely strong in comparison to the Ringers, and of course prefer Earth gravity. But they need Ringers to help maintain Titan and their lifestyles. So in situations like cleaning of the gas harvester, the two groups have to work together. But when they clash, and clash they do, it is fascinating to watch them interact.
I really can’t do justice to the world-building in this post. It just felt so real and plausible. The space ships, the jobs, the technology, the relationships are all gritty in many ways. Yet underneath that grit is determination to survive. Kale himself seems to encapsulate love for those in his life and even understanding and compassion for some of the Earthers. Watching his journey was wonderful.
The only small flaw for me was the epilogue which had a character that I didn’t know. But I got the gist and so it was no big deal.
Much thanks to Matey Bruno and I certainly will read the first book in the series at some point. Arrrrrr!
To see me other reviews check out https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
I found this book to be an excellent read that was gripping, fun, and certainly lightened me mood considerably. While technically the second book in a series, Matey Bruno assured me it could be read as a standalone and I am so very glad he convinced me. I absolutely loved the world of the Ringers!
The Ringers are descendants from a starship that left Earth to settle on Titan (one of Saturn’s moons) in the face of an asteroid destined to hit Earth. They worked hard and slowly adjusted over the centuries both genetically and culturally. However, some Earth-folk survived and eventually make their way to Titan to co-exist. However Earth disease runs rampant among the immune systems of the Ringers which lead to the Earthers taking over the moon and the Ringers becoming second-class citizens.
In this novel, a Ringer named Kale is struggling to get by. He used to be a small-time thief until he got caught. His mom helped him get a legitimate job aboard a gas harvester. But then his mom gets sick and Kale needs a lot more money to help her survive. Much more than his small salary provides. A seemingly to0-good-to-be-true opportunity comes along which may solve his problems. But what happens if he takes it? A wonderful story that’s what.
Now do not get me wrong, I loved the plot and the characters. I thought Kale was a fantastic protagonist. There were lots of plot twists that I did not see coming. Some of which kinda broke this grizzled Captain’s salty heart. It was a seemingly simple story that has greater depths. But it was the juxtaposition between the Earthers and the Ringers that made the book for me.
Ye see the Ringers have adapted to life on Titan which makes them tall, like extremely cold temperatures, and need lower gravity. The problem is their immune systems are so bad that they go dressed in decontamination suits at all times. Any direct contact with an Earther can be fatal. The Earthers need heat, are immensely strong in comparison to the Ringers, and of course prefer Earth gravity. But they need Ringers to help maintain Titan and their lifestyles. So in situations like cleaning of the gas harvester, the two groups have to work together. But when they clash, and clash they do, it is fascinating to watch them interact.
I really can’t do justice to the world-building in this post. It just felt so real and plausible. The space ships, the jobs, the technology, the relationships are all gritty in many ways. Yet underneath that grit is determination to survive. Kale himself seems to encapsulate love for those in his life and even understanding and compassion for some of the Earthers. Watching his journey was wonderful.
The only small flaw for me was the epilogue which had a character that I didn’t know. But I got the gist and so it was no big deal.
Much thanks to Matey Bruno and I certainly will read the first book in the series at some point. Arrrrrr!
To see me other reviews check out https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
The cover drew me in and three things convinced me to read this book:
It is a retelling of the Scheherazade tale with alien conquerors;
It is a Subterranean press book and they do great work; and
It discussed the author Robert Silverberg’s genius and I didn’t know who he was . . .
The fact that it was a sci-fi Scheherazade tale would have been enough in and of itself. And this book was a wonderful one. Our Scheherazade, Laylah Walis, is a human from Earth. Earth has been conquered by an alien race. She travels to the forbidden city of Haraar which she knows is punishable by death. Her goal is to meet the emperor. But for what purpose?
Of course the fun of this tale is that the reader is learning Laylah’s story at the same time that the emperor is. She certainly is a compelling character and her stories sped along. The cliffhangers at the end of each night’s tale bothered me as much as the emperor. I needed to know more! The only downside is that by the end of the book, I could have listened to many more of Laylah’s stories. The ending was good but I still need more!
As for the author, I learned from sandy @ fantasyliterature‘s review of this novel several amazing facts. Apparently Mr. Silverberg is the author of no fewer than “78 sci-fi novels, almost 450 short stories and novellas, around 70 books of nonfiction, and around 185 novels of, um, “adult fiction,” in addition to having edited over 130 anthologies.” Talk about prolific! He is currently 82 years old. Goodreads says that he has won 5 Hugos and 5 Nebulas. Also he is a 2004 Grand Master from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Sheesh!
I am regretful that I didn’t know about him before but am delighted to have remedied that fact. If ye be not familiar with this author then mayhaps ye should pick this book up. I certainly enjoyed the foray.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Subterranean Press!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
It is a retelling of the Scheherazade tale with alien conquerors;
It is a Subterranean press book and they do great work; and
It discussed the author Robert Silverberg’s genius and I didn’t know who he was . . .
The fact that it was a sci-fi Scheherazade tale would have been enough in and of itself. And this book was a wonderful one. Our Scheherazade, Laylah Walis, is a human from Earth. Earth has been conquered by an alien race. She travels to the forbidden city of Haraar which she knows is punishable by death. Her goal is to meet the emperor. But for what purpose?
Of course the fun of this tale is that the reader is learning Laylah’s story at the same time that the emperor is. She certainly is a compelling character and her stories sped along. The cliffhangers at the end of each night’s tale bothered me as much as the emperor. I needed to know more! The only downside is that by the end of the book, I could have listened to many more of Laylah’s stories. The ending was good but I still need more!
As for the author, I learned from sandy @ fantasyliterature‘s review of this novel several amazing facts. Apparently Mr. Silverberg is the author of no fewer than “78 sci-fi novels, almost 450 short stories and novellas, around 70 books of nonfiction, and around 185 novels of, um, “adult fiction,” in addition to having edited over 130 anthologies.” Talk about prolific! He is currently 82 years old. Goodreads says that he has won 5 Hugos and 5 Nebulas. Also he is a 2004 Grand Master from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Sheesh!
I am regretful that I didn’t know about him before but am delighted to have remedied that fact. If ye be not familiar with this author then mayhaps ye should pick this book up. I certainly enjoyed the foray.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Subterranean Press!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there mateys! This novel is a sci-fi standalone that I saw recommended somewhere long ago. It features a space pirate (Arrrrr!) so I picked up a copy recently as it fit me mood.
I found this to be a highly enjoyable read. It is set in a time frame where Earth and other planets have been destroyed by unstoppable alien Von Neumann probes called Worldbreakers. Humans have colonized asteroid belt systems and are struggling to survive. A Worldbreaker has arrived in belt three and people are trying to get out of the path of destruction.
Gabriel is a miner, fleeing the Worldbreaker with his crew. He is captured by Keldra, the female pirate, so that he and the crew can be transformed into slaves and sold. The highlight of the book was the relationship between the two main characters, Gabriel and Keldra. Initially out to destroy one another, circumstances find their lots tossed together for basic survival. The two are constantly having a battle of wits. Gabriel is out to survive at all costs. Keldra has an ultimate goal and will take down anyone who stands in her way. There is lots of character growth on both sides which is what I enjoyed the most.
Of course this novel is also action packed with lots of space battles and trickery and plot twists. I loved the end-of-the world setting. It felt different to have the humans be facing extinction and yet still struggling against all odds. They have amazing technology concerning cloning and mind control. Yet for all the tech, humans seem to have hardly evolved at all. The technology is also used as a plot device concerning memory and I loved it.
For $2.99 it was a bargain. A fast read, I heartily recommend it to me crew.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
I found this to be a highly enjoyable read. It is set in a time frame where Earth and other planets have been destroyed by unstoppable alien Von Neumann probes called Worldbreakers. Humans have colonized asteroid belt systems and are struggling to survive. A Worldbreaker has arrived in belt three and people are trying to get out of the path of destruction.
Gabriel is a miner, fleeing the Worldbreaker with his crew. He is captured by Keldra, the female pirate, so that he and the crew can be transformed into slaves and sold. The highlight of the book was the relationship between the two main characters, Gabriel and Keldra. Initially out to destroy one another, circumstances find their lots tossed together for basic survival. The two are constantly having a battle of wits. Gabriel is out to survive at all costs. Keldra has an ultimate goal and will take down anyone who stands in her way. There is lots of character growth on both sides which is what I enjoyed the most.
Of course this novel is also action packed with lots of space battles and trickery and plot twists. I loved the end-of-the world setting. It felt different to have the humans be facing extinction and yet still struggling against all odds. They have amazing technology concerning cloning and mind control. Yet for all the tech, humans seem to have hardly evolved at all. The technology is also used as a plot device concerning memory and I loved it.
For $2.99 it was a bargain. A fast read, I heartily recommend it to me crew.
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! So after writing me second reflections of hunter, I was in the mood for some more of Mercedes Lackey’s work. So I decided to buy and read one of her short story collections that I have had me eye on for a long time. The topic – intelligent cats in space! Of course, I kinda have a thing for ships and cats and ship cats most of all. Yup exactly what I was in the mood for.
The collection contains four short stories about human, Dick White, and his friend the telepathic ship cat named Skitty. I loved that humans had engineered intelligent cats for pest control and partnership and yet they still were cats . . . unpredictable, stubborn, choosy, and lovable. Spoiled too.
These stories are very fluffy and somewhat predictable but I absolutely adored them all. As usual Lackey’s world-building and characters are fun. The only major complaint I have is that I would like a full length novel about the further adventures of Skitty and White. The stories went by too quickly. Super short collection but worth me coin. Arrrrrr!
See me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
The collection contains four short stories about human, Dick White, and his friend the telepathic ship cat named Skitty. I loved that humans had engineered intelligent cats for pest control and partnership and yet they still were cats . . . unpredictable, stubborn, choosy, and lovable. Spoiled too.
These stories are very fluffy and somewhat predictable but I absolutely adored them all. As usual Lackey’s world-building and characters are fun. The only major complaint I have is that I would like a full length novel about the further adventures of Skitty and White. The stories went by too quickly. Super short collection but worth me coin. Arrrrrr!
See me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this sci-fi eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
It was the amazing old-fashioned looking cover that initially drew me eye.
Obviously sci-fi. Retro look. Had to check it out. This is the story of a human guy named Curtis who lives on Earth’s moon and was raised by an unlikely trio – a robot, an android, and a disembodied brain in a drone. Once he is grown, he finally learns the secret of who murdered his parents and sets out to get revenge.
Now the author hearkens back to the day of sci-fi pulp with modern sensibilities. I have to admit that me knowledge of what constituted pulp was very small and practically non-existent. What I did know was blatantly stereotypical and not worth mentioning here. Oh and I didn’t even really understand what this novel was based on. But the concept was fascinating and I was excited to give it a whirl.
This was fun. The main draw for me was of course the characters. Curt, a.k.a. Captain Future, was intelligent, loyal, honorable and a little bumbling. Ye can’t help but like him. His guardians were super awesome as well. The drone holds the brain of a scientist who was friends with Curt’s parents. He is the father-figure and defacto leader. The smart-talking android, Otho, and the higher-than-average intelligent robot, Gage, are his friends and some-time teachers. And then there is the smart cute girl-cop who they meet along the way. All of them quirky in their own rights and all of them lovely to get to know. Add in space pets and what more could ye ask for?
The plot was a little predictable but not overly so. It wasn’t super fast paced but proceeded well. The first part was seemingly geared to set up the world and characters and the second part to really advance the story. The ending whizzed by. I enjoyed the world building and the use of technology. It was silly and dare I say slightly cheesy but so entertaining.
If this is what pulp is now . . . give me some more please.
Also I loved the author’s afterword where he explained how he was influenced to write the story. In 1969 he read a work featuring Captain Future that was originally written in 1942. This led me down the rabbit’s hole into the history of science fiction pulp magazines and the list of the most popular pulp writers of the various decades. That was also enjoyable. I didn’t even know there were that many sci-fi magazines around.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Macmillian-Tor/Forge!
Check out me ship's log at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
It was the amazing old-fashioned looking cover that initially drew me eye.
Obviously sci-fi. Retro look. Had to check it out. This is the story of a human guy named Curtis who lives on Earth’s moon and was raised by an unlikely trio – a robot, an android, and a disembodied brain in a drone. Once he is grown, he finally learns the secret of who murdered his parents and sets out to get revenge.
Now the author hearkens back to the day of sci-fi pulp with modern sensibilities. I have to admit that me knowledge of what constituted pulp was very small and practically non-existent. What I did know was blatantly stereotypical and not worth mentioning here. Oh and I didn’t even really understand what this novel was based on. But the concept was fascinating and I was excited to give it a whirl.
This was fun. The main draw for me was of course the characters. Curt, a.k.a. Captain Future, was intelligent, loyal, honorable and a little bumbling. Ye can’t help but like him. His guardians were super awesome as well. The drone holds the brain of a scientist who was friends with Curt’s parents. He is the father-figure and defacto leader. The smart-talking android, Otho, and the higher-than-average intelligent robot, Gage, are his friends and some-time teachers. And then there is the smart cute girl-cop who they meet along the way. All of them quirky in their own rights and all of them lovely to get to know. Add in space pets and what more could ye ask for?
The plot was a little predictable but not overly so. It wasn’t super fast paced but proceeded well. The first part was seemingly geared to set up the world and characters and the second part to really advance the story. The ending whizzed by. I enjoyed the world building and the use of technology. It was silly and dare I say slightly cheesy but so entertaining.
If this is what pulp is now . . . give me some more please.
Also I loved the author’s afterword where he explained how he was influenced to write the story. In 1969 he read a work featuring Captain Future that was originally written in 1942. This led me down the rabbit’s hole into the history of science fiction pulp magazines and the list of the most popular pulp writers of the various decades. That was also enjoyable. I didn’t even know there were that many sci-fi magazines around.
So lastly . . .
Thank you Macmillian-Tor/Forge!
Check out me ship's log at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
Ahoy there me mateys! Many of me crew had been reviewing this one with high praise. So when the author offered me a review copy for perusal of course I wanted to experience what all the fuss was about.
This be a fairly short story at 133 pages. Yet those pages resonated beyond their size. The premise is that Captain Lincoln aboard the spaceship USNAS Hope Eternal is scheduled for death upon his 80th birthday – the tradition for everyone who reaches that age aboard the ship. And today is his last day . . .
Thus the reader follows along to witness what Captain Lincoln experiences that day and how he processes his emotions of his impending end And by the time ye come to that end, for this reader at least, I was sad to see him go.
And that was the true appeal of this work. It is short and yet compelling; poignant yet uplifting; it was worth the read. I found meself fascinated by the concepts of life aboard the ship (Arrrr!) where there is no disease and 80 is still youthful. As humans make their long way to Earth 2.0, how do they reconcile their past with the possibilities of the future?
This will offer ye glimpses of what humans’ future capacity could be. The only small gripes for me were the quotes, which while appropriate, were many and sometimes pulled me from the story and the artwork which was not to me taste. But the story was enjoyable and is one that I can recommend.
So lastly . . .
Thank ye EXO Books!
to see this and me other reviews, check out https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/
This be a fairly short story at 133 pages. Yet those pages resonated beyond their size. The premise is that Captain Lincoln aboard the spaceship USNAS Hope Eternal is scheduled for death upon his 80th birthday – the tradition for everyone who reaches that age aboard the ship. And today is his last day . . .
Thus the reader follows along to witness what Captain Lincoln experiences that day and how he processes his emotions of his impending end And by the time ye come to that end, for this reader at least, I was sad to see him go.
And that was the true appeal of this work. It is short and yet compelling; poignant yet uplifting; it was worth the read. I found meself fascinated by the concepts of life aboard the ship (Arrrr!) where there is no disease and 80 is still youthful. As humans make their long way to Earth 2.0, how do they reconcile their past with the possibilities of the future?
This will offer ye glimpses of what humans’ future capacity could be. The only small gripes for me were the quotes, which while appropriate, were many and sometimes pulled me from the story and the artwork which was not to me taste. But the story was enjoyable and is one that I can recommend.
So lastly . . .
Thank ye EXO Books!
to see this and me other reviews, check out https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordpress.com/