The Crystal Cave by Mary Stewart

Title:  The Crystal Cave
Author:  Mary Stewart
Format: HC
Pages:  519
Genre: Fantasy / Historical Fiction
Publisher: William Morrow, 1970
ISBN-13:    Pre ISBN
Series: Merlin, Book 1

Favorite Quote:  Do you think Uthur is a King, Cadel?  He's but a regent for him who went before and for him who comes after, the past and future King.

Synopsis (PBS):  A big novel of sheer enchantment, this is the story, told by himself, of Merlin, man of magic and eventual guardian of King Arthur.... — Almost everyone knows Merlin as the dark brooding figure mysteriously associated with Camelot and King Arthur's court. — But who, really, was Merlin? Was he the enchanter of fairy tales, the magician in the black robe and pointed hat and wand? Or was he the king and prophet of old legends of Brittany and Wales? How did a man reputed to be the bastard son of the Prince of Darkness, and condemned to death as a child of the Devil, become the chief architect of the first united Britain?

Mary Stewart's answers to these provocative questions form a spell-binding novel that catapults the reader into fifth-century Britain- a land uncertainly emerging from Roman rule and divided by conflicting loyalties, political and spiritual; a land riddled with rumor real and planted, and spear-alert with superstitious fear.

Into this strange world was born Merlin, bastard son of Niniane, daughter of the King of South Wales, and an unknown father. The novel opens in Wales when Merlin is seven, and closes in Cornwall, at Tintagel, with the begetting of Arthur.

Mary Stewart is one of the most widely read novelists writing today. Her great gift as a story-teller, her enviable flair for making places and action come alive have never been more clearly defined than in The Crystal Cave.

This is not a story to be read once, however eagerly, and forgotten. Its imaginative truth will stand the test of time.

Review:  One of the best Merlin stories I've ever read.  I applaud the fact that it is both believable and magical.  The characters are fabulous.  Old Britain is described in almost painful detail.  It is really almost perfect, although I admit I'm a sucker for anything related to Merlin and King Arthur.

Rating:  10 / 10

Digital Fortress by Dan Brown

Title:  Digital Fortress
Author: Dan Brown
Format: PB
Pages:  372
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: St. Martins Griffin, 2000
ISBN-13:     978-0312263126 
Series: Stand Alone

Favorite Quote:  SUBJECT:  DAVID BECKER --- TERMINATED

Synopsis (PBS):  When the NSA's invincible code-breaking machine encounters a mysterious code it cannot break, the agency calls its head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, a brilliant, beautiful mathematician. What she uncovers sends shock waves through the corridors of power. The NSA is being held hostage--not by guns or bombs -- but by a code so complex that if released would cripple U.S. intelligence. Caught in an accelerating tempest of secrecy and lies, Fletcher battles to save the agency she believes in. Betrayed on all sides, she finds herself fighting not only for her country but for her life, and in the end, for the life of the man she loves.

Review:  Okay, pretty standard high-tech thriller with romance tossed in just for fun.  I wasn't as impressed as I wanted to be.

Rating:  4.5 / 10

Ancient Light by Mary Gentle

Title:  Ancient Light
Author: Mary Gentle
Format: PB
Pages:  555
Genre: Science Fiction
Publisher: Signet, 1990
ISBN-13:    978-0451450135     
Series: Golden Witchbreed, Book 2

Favorite Quotes: "...And because you were here before you went back to Tathcaer, and found out what I'd done, I saw myself through your eyes, as you saw me, a friend."

"I won't wait any longer," he said.  "You've delayed and delayed, arykei, and I have thought the cause Ruric, alive or dead, or one of your Company men; and now I've done with waiting, and will have an answer."

"You can leave worlds behind you," he said.  "Where can we go, who can't leave this earth and live?"  His face twisted with disgust.

Synopsis (PBS):  This gracefully written sequel to Golden Witchbreed powerfully depicts the impact of a high-technology civilization on a decaying planet. Ten years after having served as Earth's first envoy to Orthe, which is struggling to survive after a planetwide holocaust millennia ago, Lynne de Lisle Christie returns there as an advisor to PanOceania, one ... more »of Earth's giant multinational companies, which is seeking to discover the technological secrets of the Goldens, the ruling race that had destroyed itself while almost obliterating Orthe. Christie seeks to help the native people, some of whom have been her friends, some her enemies, but all closely bound in her memories and loyalties. Instigated by the last of the Golden, a madwoman seeking domination, war between the poor and starving hiyeks of the Desert Coast and the land-loving telestres of the north is aggravated by smuggled high-tech weapons.

Review:  Argh!  I loved this world and Ms. Gentle wrote the ending so that we humans have destroyed it.  It isn't dead yet, but well on its way and the people will all die with it.  I can't even begin to tell you how disappointed I am.  I tire of Sci Fi sometimes for this very reason.  We humans *always* ruin everything in most of these stories.  While it may be true in some cases that we are careless and thoughtless, couldn't we just this one time not ruin everything we touch? 

Still, grudgingly, I admit I loved all of the book except the very end, although I didn't like it quite as much as the first.

Rating:  9 / 10

Golden Witchbreed by Mary Gentle

Title:  Golden Witchbreed
Author:  Mary Gentle
Format: PB
Pages:  478
Genre:  Science Fiction
Publisher:  Signet, 1985
ISBN-13:    978-0451136060     
Series:  Golden Witchbreed, Book 1

Favorite Quotes:  For my part, I prefer aliens that look alien.  Then when they eat their first-born, or turn arthropod halfway through their life-cycle, it isn't so much of a shock.  You expect it.  Humanoid aliens, they're trouble.

"Christie," he said, "are we to be arykei?"

"I wanted to know if you'd come.  You understand me, Christie, better than my own people.  Did the Goddess birth us on the wrong worlds, do you think?"

Synopsis (PBS):  Orthe - -half-civilized, half-barbaric, home to human-like beings who live and die by the code of the sword. Earth envoy Lynne Christie has been sent here to establish contact and to determine whether this is a world worth developing. But first Christie must come to understand that human-like is not and never can be human, and that not even Orth... more »e's leaders can stop the spread of rumors about her, dark whisperings that could cost Christie her life.

And on a goodwill tour to the outlying provinces, these evil rumors turn to deadly accusations. Christie is no off-worlder, Church officials charge: she is a treacherous and cunning descendant of Orthe's legendary Golden Witchbreed -- the cruel, ruthless race that once enslaved the whole planet. Suddenly Christie finds herself a hunted fugitive on an alien world, where friend and foe on alike may prove her lies in saving Orthe itself from a menace older than time.....

Review:  This is one of my all-time favorite Science Fiction novels.  I can't believe I've never read a novel by this author.  I will be reading many more of her stories, I'm sure of that.  The details and the characters are just incredible.

This story takes you deep into another world, another culture.  The Ortheans are so like us and so not like us.  It's an amazing ride and the paradox just makes it more so.  I want to go there and see the bright sun on the city of Tathcaer and ride a marhaz through the land.  I want to learn to play ochmir.  In other words, I want this story to be true.  I am starting the second (and, sadly, last) book in this series today.

Rating:  10 / 10

What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz

Title:  What the Night Knows
Author:  Dean Koontz
Format:  PB
Pages:  521
Genre:  Horror / Thriller
Publisher:  Bantam, 2011
ISBN-13:    978-0553593075     
Series:  Stand Alone

Favorite Quote:  Making the wheel, Minnie was in the thrall of a higher power, just as the Light ensured that Frodo should be the one Ring-bearer.

Synopsis (PBS):  In the late summer of a long-ago year, Alton Turner Blackwood brutally murdered four families. His savage spree ended only when he himself was killed by the last survivor of the last family, a fourteen-year-old boy. Half a continent away and two decades later, someone is murdering families again, re-creating in detail Blackwood?s crimes. Homicide detective John Calvino is certain that his own family?his wife and three children?will be targets, just as his parents and sisters were victims on that distant night when he was fourteen and killed their slayer. As a detective, John is a man of reason who deals in cold facts. But an extraordinary experience convinces him that sometimes death is not a one-way journey, that sometimes the dead return.

Review:  This book wasn't one of my favorites by this author.  It has plenty of thrills and chills, but it also seemed a little sappy to me.  I really can't think of a better word than sappy.  It took away from the story for me because it was so blatant.  Also, I knew what was going on before the book was even half done and I knew the good guys would prevail.  It was just too easy.

Rating:  5.5 / 10

March 2012

I won't say much except to say that I won't be doing the monthly posts, at least not for a while.  Keeping up with reading and posting my thoughts on the books is enough.  All the other information that I managed to put in my 'End of Month' posts is available on the blog in other places already.

Empery by Michael Kube-McDowell

Title:  Empery
Author:  Michael Kube-McDowell
Format:  PB
Pages:  325
Genre:  Science Fiction
Publisher:  Ace, 1987
ISBN-13:   978-0425098875 
Series:  Trigon Disunity, Book 3

Favorite Quote:  >I understand.  Come, Merritt Thackery.  Come and be one with us.<

Synopsis (PBS):  The first human interstellar civilization was destroyed by the Mizari-alien Sterilizers from a black star in the Ursa Major cluster. Sixty thousand years later, humanity's far-flung remnants have reunited to form a new galactic empire. The Unified Worlds are vibrant, restless, outward bound-and haunted by the ever-present threat of the shadowy Mizari.

A system of Sentinels and Shields monitors the frontier, while mighty Defender ships protect the home worlds. But are they enough to counter the Sterilizers? Defense Director Wells thinks not. He spearheads the development of the world-wrecking Triad weapon to battle the enemy. Chancellor Janell Sujata opposes his plan, and pits herself against the Nines, the elitist secret society of which Wells is a leading member.

But visionary Merritt Thackery will decide the fate of both races, alien and human. The aged explorer races his stolen ship toward the Mizari system, hurling into the unknown risks of imminent contact-or intergalactic extermination...

Review:  A great ending to a great series.  I loved every minute of it.  I won't be reading another Science Fiction right away.  I'm afraid it would pale by comparison.  I love the characters.  I love the aliens.  I love the ships.  I love everything about this story.

Rating:  10 / 10

Enigma by Michael Kube-McDowell

Title:  Enigma
Author:  Michael Kube-McDowell
Format:  PB
Pages:  355
Genre:  Science Fiction
Publisher:  Ace, 1987
ISBN-13:  978-0441206773  
Series:  Trigon Disunity, Book 2

Favorite Quote:  Then, disemboweled and beheaded, the aging Pathfinder finally died.

Synopsis (Back Flap):  Search the stars for planets.  Search the planets for life.

That was Earth's mission, as it made its painful way back from the dark days of chaos at the end of the 20th century.  So simple in concept, so incredible in execution.  One civilization had been found, there must be others.  Whole lifetimes were spent combing the universe for another spark of intelligent response.

Merritt Thackery knew from boyhood that his only dream was to be part of the Unified Space Survey.  He prepared himself with five years of training on an exquisitely boring space tug, and with a specialty in alien linguistics.  When his chance finally came, he was more than ready.  On board the Descartes he could not help but believe that he would see colonies on far worlds and speak to alien beings in their own tongues

His was to be a life of exploration and wonder, in the most exciting years of Earth's history.  But even Thackery's boyhood dreams could not have prepared him for his final mission, beyond the boarders of known space:  to seek out an unknown enemy and win Earth's freedom at last!

Review:  Once again, Mr. Kube-McDowell has created a true Science Fiction classic.  There are so many fine characters and great descriptions in this book, they defy counting.  However, again, I will give too much away of the story if I say much about it.  I can certainly say that I wish the story was true.  I'd love to go and visit the stars.  While I think I enjoyed the first one a tad more, I also think it was only because it was the first, the first really great SciFi I've read in a good, long while.  This book still is a must-read.  


Rating:  10 / 10

Emprise by Michael Kube-McDowell

Title:  Emprise
Author:  Michael Kube-McDowell
Format:  PB
Pages:  304
Genre:  Science Fiction
Publisher:  Ace, 1985
ISBN-13:     978-0441180745  
Series:  Trigon Disunity, Book 1

Favorite Quote:  "Our long journey has been with one purpose, to end at long last all fences between us.  We have grown old with waiting and beg an end to waiting.  We ask for a meeting between us so that homage may be paid to the Founders and all that has been held in trust may be reclaimed."

"Forgive me.  I have been waiting thirty-three years to say that." 

Synopsis (PBS):  The devastating Food and Fuel Wars have turned once-powerful nations into isolated farming communities. Barter has replaced currency, and scientists-considered responsible for the world's misery-are burned at the stake. Hidden in the Idaho hills, astronomer Allen Chandliss secretly monitors his radiotelescope, listening for signs of intelligent life, hoping that aliens will come and improve things on Earth. For seventeen years he has waited patiently. His patience is about to pay off. . . . 

Review:  Set in the very near future (nearly present), this story is one of triumph over incredible odds.  It's also a study in human nature, especially the worst parts.  I loved all the characters, even the horrible ones.  I loved the story.  I loved the ending, which I did NOT see coming until the bitter end.  I have found another great new author to adore.  I really can't say what I want to say without giving the story away so I will simply highly recommend it.

Rating:  10 / 10