April 24, 2012

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

April 9, 2012

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
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