Book: No Quarter

Genre: I’m going to say this one’s Crime Fiction

Julia Rating: 10

Comments:  Okay, so when I received this book from the friendly folks at Dark Star Books, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I certainly didn’t think it was going to be a crazy whirl-wind tale of murder and intrigue in New Orleans. (Well, I did kind of guess the New Orleans part… I mean… just read the title.)

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book. I’m not usually a big crime fiction person beyond the occasional short story from Crimewavand CSI and Bones and detective novels… hmmm… maybe I do read a lot of crime fiction.

I digress… back to No Quarter. This book is a murder mystery which takes us deep into the world of the French Quarter, and believe me, the Quarter is it’s own little world. 

The first thing to know is everyone in the Quarter goes by a handle.  Like, some people call me “Scotty” (like “I can’t hold her much longer Cap’n”) because of my last name.  Well, these handles get much more interesting than that.  For example, the murdered woman is named Sunshine.  Her ex is called Bone and a bar friend and confident is called Maestro.  The list goes on.

The basic story is that when Sunshine is knifed with an ice pick in a dark alley, Maestro and Bone set out to find the killer.  This leads them on a wild adventure in which they discover a lot about themselves, about each other and they find just how low the underside of the French Quarter really hangs.

So, I say, go ahead and check out No Quarter. I think you’ll enjoy it.

Oh, and just a reminder, this blog doesn’t pay for itself unless you, yes you, take action and click on one of my links to purchase something at Amazon.com.  So, if you can, click on the links and go hog wild.

Fantasy
For those friends and family members who would be more at home digging around in a dragon’s cave, these are my recommended reads:

- Hogfather or any other books by Terry Pratchett
I reviewed the Hogfather in a previous post.  This is a perfect book for Christmas, since it sort of pokes fun at Santa Claus and hints at the possibility that the jolly old elf may be have come from rather sinister beginnings.   Also, it has the character Death from the Discworld series in it, who is always a good read.  Honestly, I’m fond of anything by Terry Pratchett, so getting any book that strikes your fancy for your friends or family (or even yourself – it’s okay to get a gift for yourself) by Sir Terry is an excellent idea.

- Hood (The King Raven Trilogy, Book 1) by Stephen Lawhead
I only recently finished this book. If you have a fantasy fan who enjoys historical fiction or the Robin Hood tales, Hood is a great book for them. It’s a pretty slow moving, but enjoyable book about the beginnings of Robin Hood.

- Stardust or Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors. His books (in my humble opinion) are a MUST in any fantasy fan’s bookshelf. He has published many books and been involved in a few films, so he really has an abundance of material for your fantasy fan library. The reason I picked Fragile Things and Stardust is:  Fragile Things is a book of short stories with an introduction for each story, which is kind of fun.  Stardust is one of the few books I’ve encountered that everyone I know who has read it, liked it.

- The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King
Stephen Kingis not only the master of horror, but the master of fantasy as well. Seriously. Check out the Darktower series or The Eyes of the Dragon.

- Dead Until Dark (The Sookie Stackhouse Series) by Charlaine Harris
These are the books behind HBO’s True Blood Series. If you have a friend who like vampire love stories, but is not into glittery vampires, and likes the real, burn in the sunlight kind, this series is for them. I’ve reviewed Dead Until Dark – the first in the Sookie Stackhouse series.

- Playing For Keeps by Mur Lafferty
I reviewed Playing for Keeps in a previous post. It’s an over-all fun, action packed, superhero story that really gets you rooting for the underdog.

- Watership Down by Richard Adams
Amazing classic story. Most people may not believe that a story about talking rabbits can be serious and intense, but Watership Down is just that. If you or your friend/family member hasn’t read it, definitely do so.

- Podcastle CDs
Pod Castle is a fantastic fantasy podcast that your friend/family member should be subscribed to (it’s free). But, if they are not subscribed, buy the CDs from Poddisc.com and get them hooked. (I am not sponsored by anyone in the Pod Castle/Pseudopod/Escape Pod network, I just happen to really like them.)

I hope these books/book-like items cover all bases on your friends and family who are fantasy fans!

If you have any suggestions of books I should read or recommend, let me know!

Also, remember that if you shop at Amazonfrom the links I provide, I get a little commission if you buy something, so help a sister out!

Sci Fi
For those friends and loved ones who love Science Fiction, try getting these books/book-like items:

- Old Man’s War or any other book by John Scalzi 
I reviewed Old Man’s Wara while back and now I’m getting it for several of my guy friends. Though it’s about seventy five year olds, I have to warn you there are blood, guts, sex and emotional trauma in this book. It is, after all, a book about war. Withthat said, I think this book is set at a wonderful pace and it really allows you to empathize with the characters and their strange circumstances.

- 7th Son: Descent by J.C. Hutchins
I admit I have not read the published version of Seventh Son: Descent, but I listened to the podiobookand I love J.C. Hutchins’ writing and his style. This is an extremely fast paced and violent sci-fi thriller. You’re welcome.

- The Ultimate Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
I got this book one year for Christmas and I love it. It’s got all the Hitchhicker’s books in one big fat book, plus a fun short about Zaphod Beeblebrox. Guaranteed to put a smile on Hitchhiker’s fans everywhere.

- I Will Fear No Evil or any other books by Robert Heinlein
I Will Fear No Evil is the first Heinlein book I ever read and is still my favorite to this day. As is normal for Heinlein, there is lots of free love in this book, but it’s also got some neat spiritual issues it addresses. Basically, if you were ever leery about the idea of a brain transplant, this book is for you.

- The Adoration of Jenna Fox (which I reviewed) by Mary Pearson
I reviewed this book sans spoilers. So, this is your spoiler alert. Don’t read on if you don’t want a spoiler. The Adoration of Jenna Fox is about a teen who wakes up after a year long coma to find that she not only doesn’t remember what simple words mean, but her body is over 50% synthetic. She has to overcome the normal emotional issues one would have a) being a teen and b) having been in a coma for a year. She also has to figure out for herself if she is, in fact, human.

- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Brave New World is a classic. It’s a bit like George Orwell’s 1984 set in the future. It involves a society which has banned history, books and bearing children (all babies are made in a bottle and – depending on where they go in society – their growth is aided or retarded). Also, the society refuses to allow its denizens to be unhappy by providing constant access to a pleasant, mostly side effect free drug so the citizens may forget their troubles. But, when a human from the “wild reservations” comes into this new, carefree society, how does he cope? Does he adapt, or reject this new society? This book is a very real look into human misery and the tendency for people to simply hide their problems, rather than deal with them openly. Spoiler is: this book does not have a happy ending.

- The Halo Books by Eric Nylund
If your kid or friend are into the wildly popular Halo video games, get them hooked on the book series. I actually did this with my ex-boyfriend who didn’t read and he really liked them – so much so that I picked up the book I bought him and read it myself. They are actually pretty darned good!

- The Immortals by Tracy HickmanThe Immortals is a book about the 10 second decision making society opting to put disease victims into massive concentration camps for them to die off in while a cure is being searched for. However, what the people of the short attention span don’t realize is there’s something much deeper going on, something which shows the world why politics and religion don’t mix and why some decisions need thought and research put into them. 

- Look Into the Sun by James Patrick Kelly
A wonderful Sci Fi story ultimately about a young man who has to go to another planet to come into his own and truly belong. If you want to get a taste of the story – check out Jim Kelly’s Free Reads podcast, wherein he reads the whole book to you in several episodes. This book is actually out of print, but the author (and humble Nebula and two time Hugo award winner), Jim Kelly, bought out the overstock of the book and is offering to sell a signed copy to you direct. Email him at Jim (@) JimKelly (dot) net to get your book, or contact me at JuliaScottDouglas (@) Gmail (dot) com and I’ll get you two in touch. I’m going to order one just for me – I love signed books.

-Escape Pod CDs
No Sci Fi fan’s collection of books would be complete without a subscription to Escape Pod(which is free). Barring that, get them one of the cds of this fantastic podcast of short fiction. I happen to love all three of the podcasts in the Escape Pod/Pseudopod/Pod Castle network, but Escape Pod is what any sci fi fan needs to accompany them through thier journey through short fiction. (I don’t get paid to recommend these guys, I just love them and the short stories they provide really are awesome.)

I hope these books/book-like items cover all bases on your friends and family who are sci fi fans! 

If you have any suggestions of books I should read or recommend, let me know!

Also, remember that if you shop at Amazonfrom the links I provide, I get a little commission if you buy something, so help a sister out!

John Scalzi

Book: Old Man’s War

Genre: Sci Fi

Julia Rating: 10

Comments:

Old Man’s War by John Scalzi is a well written Sci Fi adventure that made me look at old people from a new angle. The idea behind it is, if you are old (75 years to be exact), what would you do to be young again? In the case of John Perry and countless other 75 year olds, he is willing to give up earth and fight wars at far flung planets against alien races.

Scalzi really captures the hopes and desires of a 75 year old man leaving his home forever to participate in battle with unknown races. This book is action packed, but also has an emotional impact that surprised and pleased me. Friendships are made, people die and love blooms.

I can’t wait to read Scalzi’s sequel, The Ghost Brigades

Tim Scott

Book: Love in the Time of Fridges – A Sci-Fi Thriller (of sorts)

Genre: Sci Fi, Humor

Julia Rating: 10

Comments:

This book gets a 10 just for the title. Come on. Who could resist a book called Love in the Time of Fridges? The title is amazing.

I got this book from my awesome cousin for Christmas. She got it because when she went to the book store to buy me a Christmas present, she realized that I’ve probably read all the books she would recommend for me (a kind assumption, but I’m not sure. My cousin’s a prolific reader.)  Anyway, she then bought two books she hadn’t read.  So I owe her my thanks for a great choice in literature.

Now, onwards with the review. Tim Scott reminded me a lot of Douglas Adams. I don’t say that lightly. While Tim’s wacky book occurs on planet earth – in Seattle – it’s got amazing and hilarious Sci Fi bits. I want to quote from his book, but I’d probably need permission and I’d spoil the delight and hilarity you’ll get out of reading it.

The premise is that Huckleberry Lindbergh returns to his hometown – Seattle – to find peace from a past he has run away from. Instead he runs into trouble. He meets a girl who is helping refrigerators (and one tumble dryer) escape from oppression in Seattle. She thinks that’s all she’s doing, but they both discover a deeper conspiracy, involving Fiorentina pizza, but without the egg.

This book contains government control experiments, brain washing, highly mustached police, decrepit public transportation, ominous health and safety warnings, animated furniture, singing fridges and even love.

If this book sounds like the right stuff for you, click here and buy it from Amazon.

Mur Lafferty

Book: Playing For Keeps

Genre: Fantasy

Julia Rating: 10

Comments: I may be a little biased on Playing for Keeps, since I follow Mur’s podcast, I Should Be Writing, so I really like Mur.  In fact, the podcast is the whole reason I read her book – that and her other book Tricks of the Podcasting Masters, which I obviously haven’t been applying – but hope to at some point in the near future.

Anyway, about Playing for Keeps. This is a superhero novel about Keepsie, a woman with a special super power. She lives in a world where super heroes are the norm and property damage from enormous battles between good and evil are tallied on the news daily.

Keepsie’s power isn’t considered good enough to be a “registered superhero”, so she’s created a bar for other “third wave” superheros like herself and employed only third wavers – a woman with an inability to drop a tray and a cook who knows what you are craving.

After being kidnapped by the super villain Doodad, she discovers an item which she protects with her power – preventing anything in her possession from being stolen. Becoming the center of a battle between heroes and villains, Keepsie has to figure out who’s side she’s on – and if she and her friends can be strong enough to save the city.

Additional Review:

Captain the Puppy says, “This book was good enough to eat! Seriously! While Julia was  at  work, I ate the Swarm Press logo off the back cover and it was delicious. I didn’t eat the text or the review on the back because I was too busy reading it.”

Book: Dead Until Dark

Genre: Horror/Murder Mystery/Romance

Julia Rating: 10

Comments: Dead Until Dark is a cute and funny vampire romance/mystery.  I think it’s a little silly to call any vampire book “horror”, but from what I can tell, that’s how the bookstores classify it, so I put the mad combination up there in the “genre” section.

Dead Until Darkis a book about a world that has recently come to accept vampires.  Vampires have “come out of the closet” so to speak, since a new kind of synthetic blood has been produced and they no longer need humans as victims.  It’s the story of a beautiful young telepath (Sookie Stackhouse) finding comfort in another person who is also not quite human.  It’s also the story of Bill the vampire trying to reconnect with his human roots – lost over a hundred years ago.

But, while all this lovey-dovey romance is occurring, murders have hit the small town of Bon Temps where Sookie and Bill live.  The victims all have old vampire marks on them and all have been brutally killed.  Sookie’s brother, Jason, is a bit of a player and he has had sex with all of the victims, so is the prime suspect.  Sookie needs to find the real killer before Jason goes to jail – and she has to investigate Bill in her search.  But, as Bill points out, the girls would have been drained of their blood – not strangled.  Who is the murderer?  You just have to read an find out.

One thing I liked about the book is that while it explores some vampire sexuality, it’s not overdone to a deeply dramatic point.  Some books are almost pornographic and into how much pain and sex are intertwined when it comes to vampires.  Not so with this one.

Also, I started watching True Bloodthe TV show based on this book and I liked it. It mostly stays true to the books, which is always a relief.

10/17/08: PS: If you are into vampires, check out the vampire blog I helped set up. A friend of mine writes for it.

Book: Deadly Harvest

Genre: Mystery/Murder Mystery

Julia Rating: 7

Comments: This is the story of a female police detective moving to a small town where “nothing ever happens”, only to find murder, deceit and deadly intentions.  At first, it reminded me of Hot Fuzz, with a hot-shot British cop moving to a tiny little town and leaving her significant other behind.  The tone of the book changes when the first murder occurs and the hot-shot cop begins to take control.

I liked the book, found it entertaining, but there were too many coincidences that made what was happening too obvious.  There is a significant part of the book where the main character is watching tv and there is an ENORMOUS coincidence there that allows the reader to solve the case, yet have to slough through the last third of the book to find out if they are right (which of course they are).  I don’t know if I’ve read too many mysteries and therefore am jaded, but that’s what happened to me.

All in all I did enjoy the book, I love anything British, so this certainly qualified as some fun and interesting reading.  If you are a mystery buff and like to be able to easily work out what’s going on – read it.  If you are more of a Sherlock Holmes type and want the author to conceal everything until the detective tells you what’s actually going on with an “Elementary Watson”, don’t.

Author: Greg Bear

Genre: Sci Fi

Julia Rating: 8

Comments: Darwin’s Children is a Science Fiction book about evolution. When I say Science Fiction I mean that there is an educated human being writing it who is indeed very into the science of the whole situation.  The only thing I did not like about this book was how much science was in it.  I’m okay with a book that has science as a premise, but I felt it was over-done in this book. The author repeats concepts too much.  I ended up skipping over bits just to get on with the story. 

However, the premise of the story was interesting, the characters were all well developed and likeable and the story was generally fast paced.  It’s a story based on the general premise that a virus has struck the human race, hitting parents and making mothers produce children that are alien to human children.  The “New” or “Virus” children are much more peaceful and communicative than “regular” children.  The have certain physical features and abilities that normal children do not have.

The book opens with a specific “New” child and her family, then switches to many integral players in the world situation, going back and forth between a young girl and the politics of the world she lives in.  I found it fascinating and a true look at what the world would be like after such an evolutionary incident.

All in all, I’d recommend the book, but as I said, you may have to skip bits.