Book Review: The Jongurian Mission by Greg Strandberg (three stars)

Book Review: The Jongurian Mission (Jongurian Trilogy #1) by Greg Strandberg (three stars)

“They seem happy to have more power now, following the Civil War. But I don’t really see how having more power has made their lives any better.”

Could have been an engaging epic fantasy of a farm boy’s introduction to a greater world and a destiny. Protagonist and antagonists well developed.

Next to it was the trade office, where the farmers came to sell their grain each autumn harvest and get price projections on next year’s crop.

Glacial pace. A lot of telling. Describing. Details for the sake of details, not for the sake of the story. Odd words used badly.

Edgyn had the ship skirting the coast half a dozen leagues out.

Lacks verisimilitude: Author exhibits ignorance of economics, farming, sailing, warfare, and geography—especially distances. Based on eighteenth-century mercantile theories of trade and politics. Quaint. Apparently leagues in this world are shorter than three miles—anywhere from a furlong to a mile. These “what’s he talking about?” moments knock the reader out of the spell of the story.

For more times than he could now count Bryn wished again that he had never left Eston.

Book Review: Legacies by L. E. Modesitt Jr. (Three Stars)

Book Review: Legacies (Corean Chronicles #1) by L. E. Modesitt Jr. (Three Stars)

“Don’t you feel trapped? It doesn’t matter what we feel. It doesn’t matter what we want.” “That’s life. Someone always wants what someone else has. If you don’t fight for it, you lose what you have. If you do, some people die and lose anyway.”

Formulaic, but well done. Here is a master of epic fantasy starting a new series. World- and character-building two generations of fans love.

“…The brave, the craven, those who do not care, will all look back, in awe, and fail to see, whether rich, or poor, or young or old and frail, what was, what is, and what is yet to be…”

Heavy on stage directions and over-telling, but enjoyable nonetheless. It’s all too easy; never get a sense of existential crisis.

“What else could I say? What did you say?” “Same thing. I also told them you were part of the attack.” “That…and a bullet…will get them the same grave.” “You and I know that, but you’ve got a reputation.” 

Book Review: Feast of Souls by C. S. Friedman (Three Stars)

Book Review: Feast of Souls (The Magister Trilogy #1) by C. S. Friedman (Three Stars)

“Tonight . . . tonight that last precious spark will go out. And if she is lucky, if she is strong, if she is above all else determined … something else will take its place. Whether she can endure living with that something is another question entirely.”

Semi-epic fantasy fiction following a woman who becomes a Magister, thought to be impossible in her world. Based on the athra (soulfire) witch magic of a previous Friedman series, these stories ramp up the sorcery through men, who obtain their power through the soulfire of others, not themselves. But it’s not so simple. Slow paced series opener, establishing atmosphere and characters.

“You dare not regret what you are. Not even for a moment. Human sympathy is anathema to the power that keeps you alive.”

 Lots of emotion and misdirected motives. Good conflict and inner voices.

“Tomorrow could not be better if one failed to survive today.”

Manages a satisfying conclusion to the first story with sufficient hooks to draw the reader into subsequent books. Satisfying is a relative term, as some readers will be shocked and dismayed at the denouement of this story.  

“He will not be a hero himself, though he will help bring a hero into existence. His strength will never be measured, but he will test the strength of others. He will attend upon Death without seeing it, change the fate of the world without knowing it, and inspire sacrifice without understanding it.”

Book Review: The Legend of Huma by Richard A. Knaak (Three Stars)

Book Review: The Legend of Huma: Heroes Book 1 by Richard A. Knaak (Three Stars)

“You are every part the knight that Bennett and his lapdogs are. More so. You’ve not lost sight of the true world.”

A Chosen One tale about a hero who doesn’t see himself as one. Well-written, if pedestrian and linear. No matter how big the obstacle or opponent, the hero muddles through.

“I was lucky.” “Luck is a skill. Were you to live much longer, you might learn that.”

Refreshing to read epic fantasy which takes itself seriously. Owes a lot to Tolkien. The only surprise is telegraphed so vividly that only Huma doesn’t know.

“My head tells me that you are wrong, but my heart listens to you. I think, in this matter, I will go with my heart, for that is where belief begins.”

Not familiar with Dragonlance universe, but I suspect this is an origin tale added later. It has a filling-in-the-blanks feel. Not bad, just not original.

“You understand honor. We say—say ‘Est Sularis Oth Mithas’ in the old tongue. ‘My Honor is My Life.’

Book Review: The Crown Tower (The Riyria Chronicles #1) by Michael J. Sullivan (Four Stars)

Book Review: The Crown Tower (The Riyria Chronicles #1) by Michael J. Sullivan (Four Stars)

“Fear made all the difference between rational and insane and could even masquerade one for the other. Once a herd starts stampeding, only a fool stands in the way.”

Great origin story. Sullivan captured the spirit of his first series–written some time ago–so well. In fact, he manages–in the early chapters–to make Royce seem even more sinister (from Hadrian’s point of view) and Hadrian less intelligent (from Royce’s point of view) than in the Riyria Revelations books. Appropriately so.

“Nothing works the way it’s supposed to. And it makes me act stupid… like you.” “You’re aware I’m in the process of trying to save your life, right?” “What part of stupid don’t you understand?”

Readers of Revelations and other Sullivan stories know how much he favors plot twists and happy surprises. This story has them. And humor.

“What are you doing?” Royce asked. “Welcome back.” “You’re an idiot.” “I liked you better when you were unconscious.”

That Gwen has an important role readers of Revelations already know, so including her back story is well done.

“This is going to hurt.” “Probably only for a second.” Royce chuckled. He’d given up caring and discovered all that was left was the absurd. “Always the optimist, aren’t you?” “Jump already!” “Okay, set?” “Yes.” “One… two…” “Before I die, please.”

Book Review: Return of the King by J. R. R. Tolkien (Five Stars)

Book Review: Return of the King (Lord of the Rings #3) by J. R. R. Tolkien

(Five Stars)

(This review is of the 1990 unabridged audio recording by Rob Inglis.)

“The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so the rightful king may be known.”

Have read this series at least once a decade since college (many decades ago) and it continues to be fresh and refreshing.

“A traitor may betray himself and do good he does not intend.”

Great story and great storytelling. Excellent narration, especially the rendition of the songs as songs. This audio volume includes Tolkien’s appendices on Hobbits and Smokeweed.

“Twice blessed is hope unlooked for.”

Still the gold standard for fantasy.

Still round the corner there may wait,

A new road or a secret gate.

And though I oft have passed them by

A day will come at last when I

Shall take the hidden paths that run

West of the moon; east of the sun.

Book Review: The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien (Five Stars)

Book Review: The Two Towers (Lord of the Rings #2) by J. R. R. Tolkien

(Five Stars)

(This review is of the 1990 unabridged audio recording by Rob Inglis.)

“For I was talking aloud to myself. A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to; the long explanations needed by the young are wearying.”

Have read this series at least once a decade since college (a few decades ago), and it continues to be fresh and refreshing. Often imitated; seldom

Book Review: The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien (Five Stars)

Book Review: The Fellowship of the Ring (The Lord of the Rings #1) by J. R. R. Tolkien

(Five Stars)

(This review is of the 1990 unabridged audio recording by Rob Inglis.)

Great story and great storytelling. Even after all these years, the gold standard for epic fantasy. Excellent narration, especially the rendition of the songs as songs, but I still recommend reading the book for the initial pass. (See below) Inglis is superb but can’t help interposing himself between Tolkien and the reader.

Before listening to audiobooks or seeing movies based on a book, read the book. Some movies are completely different stories. You’ll hardly spoil

Book Review: Age of Empyre by Michael J. Sullivan (Four Stars)

Book Review: Age of Empyre (The Legends of the First Empire #6) by Michael J. Sullivan

(Four Stars)

“That’s what stories are for, Brin realized. They are magic that aid people in times like this. They provide hope, a light to see by when all others are snuffed out.”

Appropriately complex and satisfying close for this six-volume epic fantasy. Concludes a visit to the underworlds begun in previous books and has a big climax, but leaves enough loose ends that the reader understands that history has not ended. In fact, contrary to Sullivan’s normal practice, it’s not what everyone would call a happy ending, but one that makes sense in this context: nobody is completely successful or happy. Life goes on.

“With the world as his mother, the sky his father, and immortality granted from Alurya’s gift, he might be the only true god. Unfortunately,

Book Review: Age of Death by Michael J. Sullivan (Four Stars)

Book Review: Age of Death (Book Five of the Legends of the First Empire) by Michael J. Sullivan

(Four Stars)

“You see, Persephone, I sent them to—” “Their deaths. You killed them!” “True.” He held up a finger. “But I’m sending help.”

Another chronicle of the first empire in the world of Elan. This tale is rich in deep backstory as Sullivan starts connecting the dots for the coming climax. There’s no ending, no closure, just a big fat cliffhanger at the end. No, several cliffhangers.

“I thought life was misery because of the unending succession of trials and tribulations. But now, I see that challenges are what life is all about.”

I’m good with Sullivan’s decision to expand