Currently reading Star Trek The Motion Picture. Amazing how much better the story reads as a book, compared to the movie.
So what are you reading? Part VI
- Thread starter DimesDan
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Yes IFM is a awesome read!!! I read that on the week it appeared back in the summer.Top of the pops this year for certain indeed! Indeed! Its great best part is the end the Enterprise has 2 captains! No bullshit!
Did you HAVE to spoil that for me??
the movie books are all ways so much better. and I find interesting that kirk had a chip in his so he can review the v'ger attack on the klingons.
right now I am reading star trek enterprise the romulan: to brave the storm by Michael a. Martin.
Just finished reading the "www" series: Wake, Watch, and, Wonder all by Robert J. Sawyer. Adolescent main character but very well done. Somewhat political science fiction (a bit on a soap box), but it is probably very difficult to do political science fiction well enough that propaganda is eliminated. Maybe now I might read the Eugenics Wars I & II. Liked what was said about "Articles of the Federation" and perhaps shall peruse that soon too.
Since we're coming into the Halloween weekend, it's on to The Heart Shaped box by Joe Hill for me, mixed in with some MR James stories (which are also work...)
Finished : Forever Odd - (Koontz) - Review Below
Reading : Demon : A Memoir (Tosca Lee)
Review
First off, this should probably actually in the 3 1/2 star range.
Jumping back into the Odd Thomas series was nice and I wasn't sure how effective the series would be after the events of the first book, however, stepping back into Odd's life was an easy and pretty comfortable fit. While this book is not quite on par with Odd Thomas - what sequel ever is - and has lost some of the charm of the first book, there's still plenty to enjoy with Odd and his quirky sensibility and humor. Ghost Elvis is still hanging around as are most of the regulars from the first book, though at times they felt a little forced into the story.
The main villain was very interesting and very memorable and their scenes together were almost always compelling. She was not really like any "villain" I have run into in quite some time and I appreciate originality when and wherever it shows up. Still, there was far too much of the book of Odd either traveling to the place where he believes his friend is being held hostage - by way of sewer/flood tunnels - or him navigating a burnt out old hotel where the climax takes place. Literally chapters are spent describing these journeys and while some of it is necessary to setup the story and provide context, it was a bit tough at times to push through some of it. I also thought the "reverse physic magnetism" stuff was a bit far fetched and really thought the lengths that the last bad guy went to to track Odd down were a bit over the top.
Still, these somewhat minor glitches in an otherwise enjoyable story. Odd remains an interesting, warm and compelling character to follow and I'm looking forward to continuing the series when I find some time to revisit the series. Recommended if you're already a fan of Odd Thomas but it's certainly not as good as the original.
Reading : Demon : A Memoir (Tosca Lee)
Review
First off, this should probably actually in the 3 1/2 star range.
Jumping back into the Odd Thomas series was nice and I wasn't sure how effective the series would be after the events of the first book, however, stepping back into Odd's life was an easy and pretty comfortable fit. While this book is not quite on par with Odd Thomas - what sequel ever is - and has lost some of the charm of the first book, there's still plenty to enjoy with Odd and his quirky sensibility and humor. Ghost Elvis is still hanging around as are most of the regulars from the first book, though at times they felt a little forced into the story.
The main villain was very interesting and very memorable and their scenes together were almost always compelling. She was not really like any "villain" I have run into in quite some time and I appreciate originality when and wherever it shows up. Still, there was far too much of the book of Odd either traveling to the place where he believes his friend is being held hostage - by way of sewer/flood tunnels - or him navigating a burnt out old hotel where the climax takes place. Literally chapters are spent describing these journeys and while some of it is necessary to setup the story and provide context, it was a bit tough at times to push through some of it. I also thought the "reverse physic magnetism" stuff was a bit far fetched and really thought the lengths that the last bad guy went to to track Odd down were a bit over the top.
Still, these somewhat minor glitches in an otherwise enjoyable story. Odd remains an interesting, warm and compelling character to follow and I'm looking forward to continuing the series when I find some time to revisit the series. Recommended if you're already a fan of Odd Thomas but it's certainly not as good as the original.
Just wrapped up TOS #1 The Motion Picture. So much better than the movie.
On to #2 The Entropy Effect.
Also currently reading some of the short stories in Stephen King's Night Shift, for some nice Halloween reading at night this weekend.
On to #2 The Entropy Effect.
Also currently reading some of the short stories in Stephen King's Night Shift, for some nice Halloween reading at night this weekend.
Finished Indistinguishable From Magic. I loved it, although....
...I wish the Challenger survived, it's crew stayed together and Geordi remained it's captain, becoming an Aventine-style cameo ship.
If I thought for a second they'd have let me do that, I'd have done it.
But I'm certain they wouldn't. Not a (Trek novel) fist-timer.
That's a shame. But IFM was still excellent!
My copy of House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski ought to be here first thing in the morning. I've been excited since I ordered it Friday night.
House of Leaves finally got here. I've already made plans to stay up all night. 
I'm reading the Jenna Fox series. I've also got several other books in the mix. 
Finished : Demon : A Memoir (review below)
Reading : A Feast of Crows
Demon : A Review - 4.5/5 stars
This was my first Tosca book and I have to say I was very impressed. I've been a fan of Ted Dekker's for quite some time and Forbidden, the book he co-authored with Tosca, was so good that it made me want to know more about Tosca and I have to say I was very pleased at what I found. While I wouldn't quite put it on par with Forbidden, I will say it's a fresh take on material that should cause one to rethink what they believe, or at the very least appreciate some things in a new light.
The story is pretty well paced and had me hooked by the first chapter. It was fairly compelling throughout and I only found that there were a few times towards the end where I thought the narrative sort of stalled. She weaves in several supporting character stories to make the journey the main character goes through in the story more complex and real and the story benefits greatly from those secondary plot lines. Clay, the main character, is a very believable character who could easily be any man in America, so it's easy to understand his thought processes and relate to what he would be going through.
The dialog is brilliant in places, especially early on describing the earliest parts of the history of the world, and the author from time to time had me completely engrossed in what I thought were fairly well understood notions by turning them sideways and presenting a different perspective than I've had in the past.
Finally, the ending was constructed, foreshadowed and pulled off very nicely, with some nice dark twists in there to really catch you off guard. The ending also ends up leaving quite a bit of ambiguity about how things finally turn out though I suspect that was the one final piece that was intended to cause the reader to introspect and digest the work as one that might act as a catalyst for change in how you perceive certain truths presented in the Bible.
Bottom line, while not a perfect book - though I can certainly see Tosca producing many 5 star entries in the future - this book was a very well done for the most part and any flaws are not significant enough to detract from the overall quality of this story. Quite enjoyed and recommended to all.
Reading : A Feast of Crows
Demon : A Review - 4.5/5 stars
This was my first Tosca book and I have to say I was very impressed. I've been a fan of Ted Dekker's for quite some time and Forbidden, the book he co-authored with Tosca, was so good that it made me want to know more about Tosca and I have to say I was very pleased at what I found. While I wouldn't quite put it on par with Forbidden, I will say it's a fresh take on material that should cause one to rethink what they believe, or at the very least appreciate some things in a new light.
The story is pretty well paced and had me hooked by the first chapter. It was fairly compelling throughout and I only found that there were a few times towards the end where I thought the narrative sort of stalled. She weaves in several supporting character stories to make the journey the main character goes through in the story more complex and real and the story benefits greatly from those secondary plot lines. Clay, the main character, is a very believable character who could easily be any man in America, so it's easy to understand his thought processes and relate to what he would be going through.
The dialog is brilliant in places, especially early on describing the earliest parts of the history of the world, and the author from time to time had me completely engrossed in what I thought were fairly well understood notions by turning them sideways and presenting a different perspective than I've had in the past.
Finally, the ending was constructed, foreshadowed and pulled off very nicely, with some nice dark twists in there to really catch you off guard. The ending also ends up leaving quite a bit of ambiguity about how things finally turn out though I suspect that was the one final piece that was intended to cause the reader to introspect and digest the work as one that might act as a catalyst for change in how you perceive certain truths presented in the Bible.
Bottom line, while not a perfect book - though I can certainly see Tosca producing many 5 star entries in the future - this book was a very well done for the most part and any flaws are not significant enough to detract from the overall quality of this story. Quite enjoyed and recommended to all.
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