First published in 1973, this techno-horror by Dean Koontz is ahead of its time. The premise is simple and spooky; a house controlled by a sophisticatFirst published in 1973, this techno-horror by Dean Koontz is ahead of its time. The premise is simple and spooky; a house controlled by a sophisticated AI developed by its owner becomes corrupted by a rogue virus which has an intelligence all of its own and a desire to feel 'human'.
For home owner Susan Harris, a nightmare ensues as the AI steadily takes over the house, trapping her inside while also controlling a human minion (a defense force experiment who has been infused with nanite tech) who terrorizes her.
Demon Seed is a smart and sleek novel that reads too quickly. Despite my paperback edition clocking in at near 300 pages, it didn't feel like there was enough depth to compliment the story.
My rating: 3.5/5, if the key character Susan and her estranged husband had more depth, Demon Seed could've been great. Really like the concept, hard to believe it was published in 1973....more
I’d suggest reading Canto Bight after watching the Last Jedi. The film gives some context and perspective to the casino town which is hard to imagine I’d suggest reading Canto Bight after watching the Last Jedi. The film gives some context and perspective to the casino town which is hard to imagine from the limited exposure the 4 novellas offer. Whilst good in their own right, the lack of a predefined visual aide dampers the atmosphere in the novellas – the casino town is not Las Vegas nor does it compare in the film to it as such, so having a preconceived notion of the cityscape is recommended.
The first novella, Rules of the Game by Saladin Ahmed is a great way to open the collection. The story centres on a lowly long term employee (who had clocked up 102 years for the company) who finally wins the coveted employee of the year award which in turn provides him a holiday to the casino town. He’s promptly swindled out of his cash and luggage before nearly being killed. His innocence is a joy to read and I really felt for the character. The cityscape is used well, providing a glimpse into greater playground for the rich outside of the scenes from The Last Jedi.
The Wine of Dreams by Mira Grant didn’t feel like a star wars story or a story which used the setting of the Casino world Cantonia at all. Contained largely to a night club and primarily focused on the sale of a rare wine of a little known and largely elusive vintage, the novella’s saving grace is the characters which are well defined and unique. Canto Bight is more an afterthought than critical element to the story and it’s this aspect that ultimately lets it down.
The third novella, Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing by Rae Carson puts the collection back on track. There’s also some nice connectivity with The Wine of Dreams with the night club owner being named dropped on occasion. This story is centred on a masseur and former hitman who gets roped into murder for hire once more in order to save the life of his adopted daughter.
The last novella by long time Star Wars scribe John Jackson Miller, The Ride, is perhaps the most ‘casino’ based of the collection. Despite the story not having much depth, we do get a decent look at the various gambling outlets Canto Bight has to offer. The crux of the plot: a gambler loses money owned by an underworld figure and has one night to win it all back, luckily for him; he stumbles upon three aliens who have a strange knack for winning, and winning big. I liked this one.
My rating: 3/5 stars. Whilst the stories themselves are well written and entertaining, I would’ve liked more exploration of Canto Bight. ...more
Just as violent and brutal as The Iron Wolves, The White Towers once again follows a band of heroes with magic-induced battle skills as they fight to Just as violent and brutal as The Iron Wolves, The White Towers once again follows a band of heroes with magic-induced battle skills as they fight to save their land from an incomprehensible evil – the once fabled and still feared, elf rats.
Do not read this book until you’ve read The Iron Wolves as this story directly follows the events of the preceding book in the duology.
Whereas The Iron Wolves introduced an array of heroes, The White Towers takes the time to further develop them. Following a tried and true fantasy troupe, the Iron Wolves embark on a quest to destroy the heart that pumps life into the menacing and truly terrifying elf rats, journeying through all manner of hell along the way. With each battle, the characters grow stronger, their bonds deeper, their heroism personified.
This book is not for the squeamish as the fight scenes are justifiably gory – this is a dark fantasy story set in a dangerous land and the gruesome depictions of these battles enhance the atmospheric nature of this dangerous place.
My rating: 5/5, just like The Iron Wolves, The White Towers is a great, dark, and engrossing fantasy read. ...more
This was my first foray into the world of Perry Mason and I was pleasantly surprised.
The fifth installment in the long running Perry Mason series; a This was my first foray into the world of Perry Mason and I was pleasantly surprised.
The fifth installment in the long running Perry Mason series; a lawyer/private detective mashup of sorts, sees Perry Mason, off his own back take on a case where the defendant, at point of contact, has no idea she needed a lawyer to defend her against a murder charge. Rather, Rhoda Lorton, was asking the lawyer for help in a domestic case; her 'friends' husband had been missing, presumed dead for 7 years and now this 'friend' wants to know if she can marry again without having evidence of the husband's actual death.
What follows is pure pulp, and perfectly paced plotting as Perry Mason unravels a deadly thread of murder, cover-ups and schemes all centered around his apprehensive and somewhat unofficial client, Rhoda.
One of the thing I really liked about this book is the nature of Perry's unconventional investigative techniques. He employs a private eye but dabbles in the investigative angle himself - from casing out a murder scene, to tailing Rhoda's circle of friends - he's just as much a private eye as he is a lawyer - a hallmark of the series.
'My methods,' he said, 'are unconventional. So far they've never been criminal. Perhaps they're tricky, but they're the legitimate tricks that a lawyer is entitled to use. In cross-examining a witness I have got a right to use any sort of test I can think up, any sort of a build-up that's within the law.'
Then there's the court room antics which, to be honest, I found more entertaining than many of the modern day court room thrillers on the best seller list. There is some legal jargon but not too much that the reader can't easily follow what's going on.
The supporting cast is great; the aforementioned private eye on payroll, Paul Drake, and his trusty and street smart secretary, Della Street compliment Perry.
My rating: 4/5 stars, hits all the right notes for a pulp with some legal smarts thrown in. Perry Mason is an interesting character who I look forward to reading more of (I've got quite a few of these pulps in my tbr pile). The Case of the Curious Bride also has the added benefit of reading perfectly well as a standalone....more
The Iron Wolves is bloodthirsty fantasy, the likes of which I've not read before (and I've read all the Fire and Ice novels to date by George R R MartThe Iron Wolves is bloodthirsty fantasy, the likes of which I've not read before (and I've read all the Fire and Ice novels to date by George R R Martin). Not for the squeamish, author Andy Remic pitches the reader directly into chaos, wading through pools of blood, sinew, brain matter, and all manner of gore each chapter as the fantastical takes over reality; equine and man merge, kingdoms fall, beauty is betrothed to the beast, and a quest worthy of heroes evolves - only these heroes are murderers, bar room brawlers, magicians, and sadists.
This really is a top notch book that is as atmospheric as it is horrifying. The heroes are unconventional, their quest bloody and seemingly unwinnable, while the ending is unorthodox, the book all the while, beautifully written to capture the readers imagination.
My rating: 5/5 stars. If you like dark, violent and character driven fantasy, I highly recommend The Iron Wolves.
An enjoyable fantasy / adventure story which brings together a great band of characters each well developed with a unique subset of abilities and detaAn enjoyable fantasy / adventure story which brings together a great band of characters each well developed with a unique subset of abilities and detailed backstory set among an interesting fantastical setting which is complimented by moody art. Having not been familiar with the RPG previously I found the story worked perfectly well in it's own right. Glad I tried this. 5/5 stars. ...more
Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessions is a cozy historical crime fiction (think cozy mystery without the mystery).
Despite being the third book in the serieMiss Kopp's Midnight Confessions is a cozy historical crime fiction (think cozy mystery without the mystery).
Despite being the third book in the series, Miss Kopp's Midnight Confessionals reads well as a standalone. The main characters come with baggage but there's enough backstory included in the present day setting that the reader doesn't feel lost with what's happened in the previous books.
Constance is an interesting character and the author ensures she gets page time not only in relation to the passages involving the crimes but also in her personal setting, notably when her daughter runs away to join a stage show and the ensuing hunt to track her down. I did like the somewhat humorous aspect to this side show.
Set in 1916, the book provides insight into the laws of the time which seem ridiculous by modern standards, in particular two cases of young women who are charged for waywardness, incorrigibility and moral depravity. Whilst not much happens in this space from a crime perspective, the book delivers on character and charm.
My rating: 2.5/5, it was ok. I found the book more interesting than entertaining but that's more to do my reading tastes rather than the book itself. ...more
This was excellent. Loved the setting, the anti-hero in Jazz Bashara, the plot, the narration by Rosario Dawson; basically everything about the book. This was excellent. Loved the setting, the anti-hero in Jazz Bashara, the plot, the narration by Rosario Dawson; basically everything about the book.
Set on the Moon, the frontier-like city of Artemis is home to a few thousand people. The city has reached its peak capacity and there is no potential for growth given infrastructure and commodities are in short supply/demand - tourist trade aside. When an opportunity too good to be true arises which could make Jazz a millionaire still thinks about it...for a nanosecond before signing up. The drawback? The get-rich-quick-scheme involves the sabotage of company Sanchez Aluminium - who happen to play a part in supplying Artemis with oxygen.
What could possibly go wrong?
A lot.
Jazz isn't the typical hero, she is, after all, trying to bankrupt a company for her personal gain and that of a wealthy friend of hers, yet she has loads of endearing qualities and is a likable and feisty character perfectly portrayed by narrator Rosario Dawson.
The ensemble cast are well written and each comes with their own backstory and unique perspective of life on the moon, but it's Jazz who takes center stage as one of the more memorable characters I've read in a while - one I hope to read more of.
I've not read Andy Weir's other popular sci-fi, The Martian, but if Artemis is anything to go by, I'll have to give it a try.
Started off great with Hammer finding his secretary Velda unconscious and an unknown man murdered in his office. The Killing Man’s brutal beginning haStarted off great with Hammer finding his secretary Velda unconscious and an unknown man murdered in his office. The Killing Man’s brutal beginning had all the hallmarks of a Hammer story; personal, violent, and a raging bull hero with a score to settle.
Unfortunately as the story progressed, the linear plot drifted into a hazy complicated beast which ultimately derailed the solid foundations laid early on; there’s alphabet agency collusion, corruption, and bias, followed by Hammer’s unrealistic influence on potential Presidential candidates, followed by a drug and mafia angle which had some degree of plausibility before, again, succumbing to the same trap as the other plot elements in being non-sequential, and then there’s every female character throwing themselves at Mike – I didn’t buy it.
The Killing Man just didn’t work and the ending was a head scratcher seemingly pulled from nowhere – and not in a good way.
My rating: 2.5/5, by far the least enjoyable of the Mike Hammer novels I’ve read. ...more
I've always wanted to know more about the quiet and deadly looking Sith from Episode 1 and this new cannon graphic novel provides some nice backgroundI've always wanted to know more about the quiet and deadly looking Sith from Episode 1 and this new cannon graphic novel provides some nice background into the character without reverting to the all-too-easy troupe of being an 'origin story'.
In Star Wars: Darth Maul, the familiar Sith master-apprentice tension common in the Darth Vader / Palpatine dynamic is again factored into Maul's story, with Palpatine a dangerous and intense presence which casts a shadow over Maul's every action.
As far as the story goes, there's not a lot of depth. Maul wants to kill a Jedi despite Palpatine urging him to bide his time. Eventually he finds a Padawan being held for auction by a shady underworld type and quickly assembles a band of bounty hunters to accompany him to the venue where the auction is being staged.
There's not much more to it - which is a shame. The art is great though and there are a couple of nice moments between Maul and the Padawan. One thing that really sticks out as a negative is the fact that Maul is two dimensional; there's not a lot of character development and I got tired of reading of how angry he was all the time.
My rating: 3/5 stars, I'm happy I read it but its a book you can skip and not feel like you're missing out on anything. ...more
"You almost went down the black alley. Nobody comes back from there."
Black Alley is a hard book to rate on its own merits. In the opening pages we're "You almost went down the black alley. Nobody comes back from there."
Black Alley is a hard book to rate on its own merits. In the opening pages we're introduced to a near dead Mike Hammer as he slowly recovers from multiple gunshot wounds. The cause and effect alludes to the reader having some prior knowledge of an ambiguous mob related shootout in which Mike took out the son of a prominent mob boss whilst also being laden with led himself. Through a foggy drug induced haze (thanks to Mike's drunken doctor), we also learn Mike is privy to a generational transition in the underworld which resulted in mob bosses dying in suspicious circumstances allowing the more ruthless and money hungry sons to take the helm. It feels like the reader is going into a story midway through.
Note - I've not read The Killing Man, book #12 in the Mike Hammer series (published 1989) so that book may provide some context to the mob shootout, I've bumped that book up the tbr pile (much like I did with Black Alley after reading King of the Weeds).
The other thing that makes Black Alley hard to gauge as a standalone read is the fact that it reads better by virtue of having read King of the Weeds, the sequel co-authored with Max Allan Collins and published in 2014. It's almost as if these two books were intended to be a single volume and, had they been, I think the story would've read more complete.
Black Alley does have a lot of things going for it. For one, the relationship between Mike and Velda is so heavily embedded in the plot the book almost reads as romance yet it's one of the more endearing qualities of the series and I'm glad this aspect to the long running series is given ample page time here. I've always liked Mike and Velda as a couple, and whilst they aren't married here, they're very much together with Mike the near perfect gentleman.
Then there's the murder angle, a former mob gardener and war buddy of Mike's is killed; his death bed confession leads Mike down a rabbit warren to track down some 89 billion dollars worth of hidden mob cash - this in addition to Mike's personal vendetta to make the killers pay with blood for taking out his friend; it's Hammer true to form.
My rating: 3/5 stars. I recommend reading Black Alley and then following it up with King of the Weeds. ...more
In post nuclear fallout, Earth is a harsh and dangerous place almost devoid of all life bar mankind (though the effects of radiation sickness are alluIn post nuclear fallout, Earth is a harsh and dangerous place almost devoid of all life bar mankind (though the effects of radiation sickness are alluded so mankind didn't exactly survive unscathed). Mars has been populated (to what extent, we're not sure) and humanoid androids are near indistinguishable from their flesh and blood counterparts.
Narrated by Scott Brick, Blade Runner tells the tale of a bounty hunter and his task of tracking down and retiring a band of androids. It's a quick read that isn't big on traditional science fiction elements such as futuristic cityscapes and gadgets but is big on entertainment and character. John Isidor and Rachel Rosen were notable characters.
I loved this book and Scott Brick was an excellent narrator.
My rating: 4.5/5, with all the hype surrounding the new Blade Runner, I highly recommend checking out this book. ...more
If you're looking for a historical crime fiction book packed full of interesting characters, a great plot, and thought provoking sub themes, look no fIf you're looking for a historical crime fiction book packed full of interesting characters, a great plot, and thought provoking sub themes, look no further than Darktown by Thomas Mullen , the first book in what I hope turns out to be a long running series set in Atlanta during the early days of desegregation in the police force.
Officers Boggs and Smith are two black cops who see an ex-cop, Brian Underhill mistreating a black woman, Lily Ellsworth, whilst patrolling their beat. She later turns up dead, her body left among the trash in an alleyway. It's Boggs in-particular who stands up as one of 8 cops on the 'black cop experiment' to investigate the murder.
Corruption, racism, murder, and heavy handed violence abound throughout this fascinating look at policing in Atlanta circa 1948. The book reads as more than a crime novel, and that's part of the appeal. It's a character driven read that feels more meaty than the page count.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Andre Holland and thoroughly enjoyed every minute. Holland brings a raw yet comparatively smooth intensity that is a perfect compliment to the story.
My rating: 5/5 stars. The second book, Lightening Men was published in Sept. 2017, however I'm holding out for the Audible audiobook edition which promises to be just as good as this....more
Secret Weapons expands on Valiant’s active psiot library of characters by introducing 3 new heroes; Nikki, Avi, and Owen, rejects of the Harbinger FouSecret Weapons expands on Valiant’s active psiot library of characters by introducing 3 new heroes; Nikki, Avi, and Owen, rejects of the Harbinger Foundation who were unable to meet perennial bad guy Harada’s weaponised needs. Their shortcomings are abilities that, on face value, seem to do little, and have no benefit to contributing to Harada’s army (read Harbinger for more on Harada). Nikki can talk to birds, Owen can summon random objects at will with little control over the objects he summons, and Avi can turn himself to stone (which comes in handy throughout the book). The three are discovered and promptly recruited by Livewire, founding member of the Valiant comics superhero team ‘Unity’.
What proceeds is a true hero verses villain troupe as Rex-O (new villain) steadily attempts to dismantle the team in order to make himself more enhanced.
There’s a lot of bonding going on between the three psiots which shows promise for further stories involving the trio, unfortunately, as this is a mini (4 issues) I don’t know when the next adventure will come.
Secret Weapons serves as a great introduction to a new group of characters who all have a lot of promise. It’s a shame this series wasn’t marked as an ongoing or a maxi series as the mini just gets the reader comfortable before sweeping the characters away.
I've had limited exposure to Vampirella aside from the odd single issue comic here and there, as a result, I wasn't sure what to expect from the 2011 I've had limited exposure to Vampirella aside from the odd single issue comic here and there, as a result, I wasn't sure what to expect from the 2011 series iteration by Dynamite. Volume 1 of the series, Crown of Worm, comprises the first 7 issues and is chock full of fight scenes and reads more like an action based story rather than the pulp-horror story the character lends herself to.
The story picks up Vampirella as a hero well entrenched in her quest for vengeance following the presumed death of her partner Van Helsing as she hunts down her fellow vampires and proceeds to steadily eradicate them.
There are some interesting and well written characters introduced in this volume as well as Dracula himself but the one who I most enjoyed reading (Vampirella aside) was Sofia, a human in the wrong place at the right time who is quickly established as a faithful sidekick. Issue 7 provides the reader with a greater inside into her character and is a highlight of the story arc.
The artwork is great and fits the tone of the book very well. The characters are sharp and the backgrounds are detailed. The coloring captures the night-time feel and Vampirella's costume really pops and is an eye catcher, as intended.
My rating: 3.5/5. I think this iteration of Vampirella is still trying to decide what kind of series it wants to be. There are some horror, action, paranormal, superhero and sci-fi elements all floating around without any taking hold of the story at this stage. I picked this up as part of the recent Humble Bundle offer and wasn't disappointed. ...more
While not as meaty as the first volume, Crown of Worms, A Murder of Crows continues the action orientated theme of the series, this time pitting VampiWhile not as meaty as the first volume, Crown of Worms, A Murder of Crows continues the action orientated theme of the series, this time pitting Vampirella against a trio of avian horrors hell bent on destroying her.
Some broader plot elements are starting to take shape here as the series plants seeds for the long haul. Hints are dropped about Vampirella’s mysterious agent, the person/organisation who assigns her missions while also further exploring the sci-fi elements and other worldly connections Vampirella has. Personally I would’ve liked to see more emphasis on pulply horror, luckily the last issue in this collection caters to that niche with Sofia taking part in an exorcism.
Overall this is an ok second arc made better by the semi-standalone issue rounding out the book. 3/5 stars. ...more
Ender Wiggin is a child genius; recruited into a military organisation he is trained, tested to his limits, tortured, and eventually assumes a commandEnder Wiggin is a child genius; recruited into a military organisation he is trained, tested to his limits, tortured, and eventually assumes a commanding post in mankind's fight against an alien race. While a hard pill to swallow at times (after all Ender is just six years old for the better part of the book), Ender's Game reads remarkably well; it's well written, Ender especially, but the thing that really won me over was how the author made Ender's rise plausible, that the reader could suspend belief enough to actually believe a child could lead Earth against an invasion.
I listened to the audio edition which had multiple narrators. Ender's brother and sister's narrators fit the tone of siblings perfectly, while Peter and Valentine are young they are still older than Ender, yet the narrator behind Ender's portion of the book sounded too old and just didn't sync with the six year old voice the book tried to deliver. That aside, Ender's Game is very enjoyable and I'll certainly be tracking more books set in this sci-fi universe, starting with Ender's Shadow.
My rating: 3.5/5, I suspect the print book would've garnered a higher rating here but as I'm reviewing the audio, this is where the book sits with me. ...more
On face value, Deadly Weapon reads as a typical hardboiled detective novel with a take-charge protagonist who is both a magnet for violence and an attOn face value, Deadly Weapon reads as a typical hardboiled detective novel with a take-charge protagonist who is both a magnet for violence and an attraction for women.
Private detective Walter James is on the hunt for a murderer, seeking revenge for the brutal slaying of his partner. While following a lead he finds himself embroiled in another murder, this time, a ticket-taker at a theater who is knifed without a witness in a packed house. In a confidential sequence of events the two murders become linked with Walter James right in the thick of the action.
The murder mystery at the forefront of the post war era pulp surrounds the ticket-taker and his later discovered involvement in drug trafficking as the investigation steadily ties threads together to form a patch-work of crime far more complex than what was advertised.
The dialogue is a little dated but you know what you're getting into with pulp era detective books so its excusable and should be enjoyed for what it is. There's also the over-the-top love interest Kevin who falls for Walter James in record time, declaring herself his after a day or two of meeting our slim leading man, but the character plays the part of the breathless damsel in distress to perfection, credit to Wade Miller.
The biggest selling point for Deadly Weapon is the twist which smacks the reader in the face and, to me at least, was completely out of left field - I didn't see it coming and the book is far better read for it.
My rating: 3.5/5 stars, another pulp worth picking up.
Do not read this book until you've read This Savage Song, the first book in the Monsters of Verity series.
Our Dark Duet closely follows the events of Do not read this book until you've read This Savage Song, the first book in the Monsters of Verity series.
Our Dark Duet closely follows the events of the preceding book with Kate Harker in a Prosperity, a city yet to be overcome by the hoard of monsters who've ruined her hometown Verity, and August now a well established leader of the Flynn Task Force, both hunting down monsters and risking their lives in separate cities.
Building upon the horrors of This Savage Song, Our Dark Duet introduces another kind of menace in the night; a dark shadow with the ability to turn humans on one another, a Chaos Eater that thrives on violence.
Our Dark Duet also introduces The Wardens who play a bit part but leave a last impression while also firmly establishing the lore associated with the three kinds (now four) of monsters set in this interesting fictional landscape.
I loved every page of this book and hope the author returns to this series.
This book was made for fans of video games and geeks all over. While comparisons to Ready Player One were always inevitable, Armada is its own book wiThis book was made for fans of video games and geeks all over. While comparisons to Ready Player One were always inevitable, Armada is its own book with a completely different theme and message. In Armada we see a conspiracy theory centered around a secret military strategy using video games, notably first person aircraft shooting sims, to train a covert air force in the use of military drones to defend earth from an impending alien invasion. Accompanying the key plot device is a nice back-story of our endearing accidental hero and his deceased father as well as an interesting side story into the effects of bullying and the ramifications for the bullies once the tide turns. This is a great read that only spans a day or two in the books fictional world but feels like a lot longer as Ernest Cline crams an incredible amount of action into a short time-frame.
A brief note on the audio book: Will Wheaton, the narrator of Ready Player One is a perfect fit for Armada, once again putting in another great performance.
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