Book 8/50: Ender's Game

Ender’s game is another of those books that I passed up on several occasions for no real reason. Ender’s Game was written by Orson Scott Card and it was adapted from an earlier novelette of the same name.

Andrew “Ender” Wiggin lives on a Earth that has become massively overcrowded. The people are kept in check by a balancing of three separate power structures. All working together in the face of a common enemy. That common enemy is the Buggers, insectile creatures that have invaded the solar system on two occasions. The Buggers massive superiority was only defeated by the presence of a tactical genius in the right place and the right time. If the human race are to survive the next buggers attack they will need the right person to lead the defence. Ender and his siblings Peter and Valentine are part of a program to find this special tactician. Peter and Valentine were promising but both failed the cut, but due to their promise Enders parents were given permission to have him, a “third” [child] a position that carries great stigma. After a final exam which involves removing Enders monitor and seeing how he deals with persecution at the hands of his class mates, Ender is chosen to attend Battle School. The school were the pilots, officers and soldiers that will fight the next bugger attack are trained. Ender however will receive slightly different training, as Commander Graff believes that Ender is the person they need to lead the whole fleet and they need him now.

I love this novel its hard to put down. Ender is a likable character even though he is often aloof. The sub plots of Peter and Valentines [mis]use of their genius after Ender is taken to battle school, comes to a delicious conclusion. The book deserves the awards it has received over the years and can easily stand toe to toe with other classics of the genre.

Book 7/50 : The Lost Fleet Fearless

Courageous is the third book in Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet Series. It follows the first book Dauntless, and the second book Fearless. It continues the story of Captain ‘Black Jack’ Geary as he endeavours to get the alliance fleet home through enemy territory.

While the narrative continues on, it takes sometime to get going. Campbell continues with trying to flesh out the characters. While I understand why he’s doing this, part of the charm of the first book was the fact that apart from Geary the characters were paper thin. After all this is a military sci fi book you don’t need characters to be anything more than efficient/good/team-players , sloppy/insubordinate or just plain baddies. Sometimes the scenes between Geary and Victoria are rehashes of earlier scenes in this and the other books. Like he is trying to hammer home the format of their relationship so that everyone in the class fully understands. The fleshing out isn’t all negative the series does benefit from the view into fleet politics. Loyalties are shown not to be so black and white. It turns out those that support Geary aren’t all angels and those that don’t are not necessarily idiots.

The arc plot continues as Geary’s theory on a third party involvement in the hypernet is all but confirmed. Although the interesting nugget is added that maybe they aren’t alien rather they may be a third group of Humans, as there is very little evidence either way. While the impact of Geary’s previous victories on the syndicate worlds are shown. As its hinted that his good treatment of civilians is causing a softening of feeling towards the alliance and that this may lead to a revolution as syndic civilians seem to only be kept away from open revolt by their belief that there is no alternative.

I’m still really enjoying these books, I am however getting a little bit pissed at paying full price for each book. Lets not beat around the bush here, I’m on “book” 3 and while each "book" has a distinct start and finish its one story really. Add this to the fact you can easily read each book in a few hours and the only conclusion is that these books should have been published in omnibus form.

Book 6/50 : The Lost Fleet Fearless

Fearless is the second book in Jack Campbell’s Lost Fleet Series. It follows the first book Dauntless and continues the story of Captain ‘Black Jack’ Geary as he endeavors to get the alliance fleet home through enemy territory. Campbell brings to ahead several background plots of his earlier book, as a wrong headed but passionate POW is freed and tries to wrestle the fleet from Geary’s hands. The fleet continues its slow acceptance of Geary’s “strange” methods, as the benefits the fleet receives from adopting a more strategic approach become apparent. We also get some nice continuation of arc plots with regards to the mystery behind the Hypernet and Geary’s suspicions of a 3rd party being involved but unseen.

Like the last book its very pulpy, but enjoyable. Campbell tries to flesh out some of his characters, and introduces (possibly ill advised) love interests to the mix. For which I’ll withhold judgment for now, but I think as the characters are very 2d anyway its possibly an empty process. That said the action is very engaging and again a good way to spend a few spare hours.

7/10

Challenge update.

8 weeks in 6 books down. I’ve used all my surplus time already! I have to average a book a week for the next 44 weeks. Thankfully I’ve got another 4 of these books to go which should take 5 days at the most.

Book 5/50 : Altered Carbon

A book by Richard Morgan.

Altered Carbon is a book that Amazon has begging me to read for years now. It seemed that every time I’d go to book recommendations I’d always dismiss it, and I have no idea why. I’m sure if it wasn’t for this challenge it would stay forever on my recommended but dismissed list. Well it turns out Amazon was right.

Altered Carbon introduces us the former UN Envoy Takeshi Kovacs. Kovacs lives in a society where people can upload and download from their (and other peoples’) bodies. Due to slow space travel the only way to travel from one planet to another at any speed is to be transferred electronically and re-sleeved (be put into a body) when you arrive. That is where the UN Envoy Corps come in. They are specialists trained to cope with the need to adapt to any situation they might find on transmission to a new world, and not to relay on the abilities of the body as they never know what the next body is going to be. Kovacs split from the Envoys corps following a harrowing war, and has been scrapping a living using his skills for crime. Following his capture early in the book, he is “released” thanks to the machinations of a centuries old man to investigate his apparent suicide. What follows is as excellent a Sci-Fi thriller story as I have read, it easily stands up to the Greg Mandel books (high praise indeed.)

I'd rate this book as 7.5/10. Again highly recommended!

Book 4/50 : Join Me

Join Me is a book by Danny Wallace. I like Danny Wallace’s books, he has the ability to instil a lot of fun into even humdrum events. Join Me is one of Danny’s first books and documents one of his (many) “Boy Projects.”

After the death of an Old Swiss Man, an event that Wallace informs us is at the heart of all great stories. This old man happens to be Danny’s great uncle, it comes to Danny’s notice that his uncle had once had a dream of creating a commune. A dream that dramatically failed and is ridiculed by his surviving relatives, that is except for our worthwhile author/narrator. His great uncles dream instantly wake his “boy project” powers. Powers that he has been keeping dormant for the good of his relationship. Danny decides to try and fulfil his uncles dream by simply asking people to “Join Me” in a local paper. That’s where the ride begins and why he describes this story as “how I started a cult by accident.”

Join Me is a very good read and I highly recommend it. Wallace’s righting style is very engaging and he also writes with deep sensitivity of less jovial matters. This is the 2nd of his books I have read which I seem to be reading in quite a chaotic fashion, while this did not spoil the book, as this is non-fiction there are obviously matters of his personal life that evolve through his books.

I rate this book as 7.5/10 worth reading.

Book 3/50 : Moab Is My Washpot

Moab Is My Washpot a mini review.

I'll start this mini review by stating for the record I'm not a biography person. I like my narratives fictional. That fact stated if any book breaks this rule it is this one.#

Moab is my Washpot is an Autobiography of famous "actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter, film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club"(~wikipedia)Stephen Fry. It details some very formative events of his early life.

As you would expect from Stephen the writing is impeccable and its easy to get lost in the events he describes even when he breaks the fourth wall (what is the literary version of breaking the fourth wall?) he only drags you back to his Apartment. He cleverly tells his candid tales in a form were it could be a frank discussion with friends, tears and all. It seems quite a cathartic experience for him, and I hope it was. As he says unlike other biographies (auto or not) this is less a finger pointing quest of a hero to succeed against all odds, but Stephens heartfelt apology for anguish he caused those who cared about him and a story in which he sees himself as more of an anti-hero.

As a description of teenage angst it is easily the equal of masterpieces such as The Catcher in the Rye. Though i would love to use the real life example of his redemption from the edge, as proof of the benefit of social justice over social revenge as espoused by the tabloids. Though I'm not overly sure he would appreciate my politicising of his personal triumphs and demons.

I would give Moab is my Washpot 8.5/10. A very good read. Also at less than £3 its a bloody bargain.


The Challenge Update

So I'm back from Cyprus. I took 4 books with the express intention of getting a proper handle on this challenge. Unfortunately this book demanded I take my time with its consumption and it was the only book I managed to finish.

Book 2/50 : The Lost Fleet Dauntless

The Lost Fleet: Dauntless a mini review.

Jack Campbell real name John G. Hemry is a retired Lieutenant Commander from the US Navy. This really comes across in his writing. His prose is pulpy, and the universe he creates has some logical flaws that he has to cover through character exposition. This is easily countered by his exquisitely crafted space battles. He describes battles between large fleets of ships spread across distances that make the travel time of light a problem, with such detail and so believably you wonder if he hasn't actually been involved in such battles. His navy background is also easy to see as his thoughts on duty, honour and the necessity of following orders are very large parts of the plot.

This is my first delve into the Military Science Fiction subgenre and it was very enjoyable. Its not going to win any literary prizes and its most definitely the first book in a series (as nothing much is concluded,) but its a very good read. Rating 7/10.*

The Challenge Update

Just into week 2 and 2 books down. Helped in no short order by reading this book in less than 24 hours.

*I'm being necessarily harsh.

Book 1/50 : Surface Detail

So Surface detail a mini review.

I'd give Surface detail 8.5/10. As you would expect from Iain Banks the prose is fantastic this really is the acceptable face of Science Fiction literature. Iain's M books (his Sci-Fi books) could easily join his main stream non M books on English Literature courses. What's more it obvious he has great fun with his characters, The Mind who controls/is the General Offensive Unit "Falling Outside The Normal Moral Constraints" is well Generally Offensive but ultimately great fun and though proudly eccentric deeply moral. The story is engaging and thought provoking. Where technology can transfer your mind on death to a virtual reality Heaven, its just as easy to create virtual Hells. The plot centre's on a young women revented (brought back to life,) after her murder at the hands of her owner. With a war in the virtual Heavens, over the virtual hells, threatening to spread to the real. The future of the virtual hells may just pivot on her decisions.

If you aren't familiar with the culture books, this isn't the place to start. The Player of Games is the best place to start.

The Challenge Update

Well into week one and it's going to get harder from here. It's took me a week to finish this book. Time to take my finger out.

My 50 Book Challenge.

ConDem Minister of Education Michael Gove, has said that all children aged over 11 should be reading 50 books a year. I'll get the rant over first before moving on.

Rant 1. So the ConDems are cutting budgets to libraries (indirectly admittedly,) and than they have the audacity to say children should read more. Where are poor families to get these books from? I wonder if any of the Tory's old school chums just so happen to be in publishing?

Rant 2. Surely its not the quantity of reading that is important, but the quality.

Rant 3. ...and the Tory's said Labour where making a nanny state. Next step approved book lists.

Anti-Rant. At least if the next generation are well read they'll be to intelligent to fall for stupid right wing propaganda.

phew rant over. 50 books a year seems excessive to me and I am a prolific reader at times. To that end I intend on taking Michael Grove up on his challenge (yes I know I'm not a child,) but I think it'll be interesting to see how feasible it is. So by the 22nd March 2012 i will have read(or reread) 50 books.

I'll post mini reviews and the name of each book as I go.

First up Surface Detail by Iain M Banks.

Cheating a little here as I have already read the first few chapters but it needs finishing.