Statistics on the books I've read since 1999
Categorys Alternate Fantasy 20 Alternate History 40 Alternate History: Civil War 2 Alternate History: Steampunk 5 Alternate History: WWII 8 Astronomy 2 Beekeeping 5 Computer 1 Fantasy 122 Fantasy: Contemporary 38 Fiction 4 Fiction: Military 2 Gardening 0 History 58 Humor 2 Lovecraftian Fiction 3 Mythology 27 Non-Fiction 1 Political 4 Roleplaying 1 Sci-fi 352 Sci-Fi: Cyberpunk 0 Sci-Fi: Dystopian 1 Sci-Fi: Military 5 Sci-Fi: Post-Apocalyptic 1 Sci-Fi: Space Opera 4 Sci-Fi: Time Travel 1 Science 9	Covers hardback 433 oversized hardback 1 paperback 205 softcover 84	Collections Borrowed 78 Granddads 157 Moms 4 Shawns 485	Anthologys Anthology 62 Not an Anthology 625 Multi-Author Anthology 37	Books per year 2012: 6 2011: 54 2010: 65 2009: 62 2008: 57 2007: 50 2006: 43 2005: 35 2004: 54 2003: 92 2002: 53 2001: 41 2000: 64 1999: 40
Total books read: (includes rereads) 758		Total unique books: 724

1. I'll be getting rid of this one
2. Really bad
3. Bad
4. Average
5. A good book
6. I'll probably read it again
7. I recommend reading this
8. Read it twice in the first sitting

• Alternate History: A story that takes place in the past in our world which was the same until a certain point. This Point of Departure is the instance where the timeline between our world and the one in the story diverge. The PoD can be caused but time travel or supernatural means but the cause is not generally relevant to the story.
  • Alternate History: Steampunk: The Point of Departure causes the world to develop super science in the Victorian Age. Usually developing steam powered devices and computing machines early. The story is generally set in the Victorian Age or immediately after.
  • Alternate History: WWII: An Alternative WWII takes place. Hitler dies, Hitler lives, America never enters the war etc.
  • Alternate History: Civil War An Alternative American Civil War takes place
• Alternate Fantasy: A story set on a parallel world in a semi-historical time where the supernatural exists. This differs from an Alternate History in that the world was always different from ours but developed along similar lines.
• Sci-Fi
  • Sci-Fi: Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic: The world ends, or nearly does drastically changing things.
  • Sci-Fi: Cyberpunk: near future, dystopian, ai and prostecics are common
  • Sci-Fi: Time Travel: Time Travel can cause an Alternate History or enter a Parallel World but the focus of a Sci-Fi Time Travel story is going back and forth in time not the world created.
  • Sci-Fi: Space Opera: A story that occurs in space with the focus on action rather than science tend have larger than life heroes.
  • Sci-Fi: Military: Involves future weapons and warfare with the focus being on the super technology. Often crosses over with Space Opera but the characters tend to be more normal and the emphasis is on warfare and weapons rather than action.
• Fantasy: Requires the existence of the supernatural. Stories that seem Sci-Fi can be Fantasy because a large portion of the story is explained as supernatural (ie the Force in Star Wars before Lucus retconned it).
  • Fantasy: Contemporary: A story set in the modern world but where the supernatural exists. This is the same as a Alternate Fantasy, but is not a historical story.
• Lovecraftian Fiction: Involves Chthulu, the Great Old ones, and people fighting unspeakable evil which is trying to enter and take over the world. The original genre was Horror but more contemporary literature tends to be campy.

Backyard Beekeeping
[14-Jan-2012] by James E. Tew Beekeeping: 46 pages Very short and to the point but covers all the basics. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Honey bees and beekeeping
[14-Jan-2012] by Keith S. Delaplane Science: 108 pages Shorter than the handbook but well written and packed with info. Stopped several times to note something I read. Seems more tailored for the south than the handbook but still covers northern issues. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

First Lessons in Beekeeping
[09-Jan-2012] by Keith S. Delaplane Beekeeping: 166 pages Nice color photos of just about everything including individual hive parts. Does a good job covering nectar plants as well as bee keeping itself. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Battle of Marianna, Florida
[07-Jan-2012] by Dale Cox History: 187 pages Short but detailed. He relied on a lot of records from the pensioners trying to collect on being in the Confederate army. Interesting details on the actual battle and side trip by accompanying cavalry. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Inferno
[06-Jan-2012] by Larry Niven Fantasy: 237 pages Like Dantes Inferno it seems to jump around with strange things happening for no reason. A lot of the sins are obsolete, as are the people still in hell. Apparently no one but Benito and the 6 he led every get out. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Supervolcano: Eruption
[31-Dec-2011] by Harry Turtledove Sci-fi: 420 pages I think this is the last Turtledove novel am reading. He used to tell a good story but now he wastes too much time on pointless personal relationships. How can you make a story about Yellowstone erupting boring? Well he did it. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Beekeepers Handbook 3rd ed.
[30-Dec-2011] by Science: 190 pages Read it again during a lull in classes. Almost finished when I got the 4th edition for Christmas. Guess Im reading it a 3rd time. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Himmler's War
[18-Dec-2011] by Robert Conroy Alternate History: 368 pages Hitler gets accidentally bombed and dies early in the war. Himmler takes over and doesnt make all of Hitlers mistakes. Skorzeny has a much bigger role, and ends the war after Himmler screws him over. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Time Ships
[08-Dec-2011] by Stephen Baxter Sci-fi: 520 pages It starts out where Wells left off with the Time Machine. The author goes back to the future but finds he is in a parallel world. After a lot of going back and forth in time it gets weird, like 2001 its full of stars weird. Not the best part. Then it comes back full circle. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Monster Hunter: Alpha
[19-Nov-2011] Monster Hunter: Alpha by Larry Correia. Fantasy, Contemporary: 552 pages. Volume 3 in the series Monster Hunter. The story focus is entirely on Harbinger, Pitts not even in the book. You get a lot of back story on him as well as him saving the world. He gets a mate. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Automatic Detective
[12-Nov-2011] by A. Lee Martinez Sci-fi: 317 pages Not the authors best, it improves as it goes along. Its tries to be 1930s detective mixed with sci-fi .Set in a strange techno city where people are mutants a robot who became self aware gets involved in the disappearance of some neighbors that leads to an alien invasion. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

How Firm a Foundation

[08-Nov-2011] How Firm a Foundation by David Weber ed.. Sci-fi: 637 pages. Volume 5 in the series Safehold. 40 pages of characters and glossary at the end. Let it go Weber. Too many characters, not enough focus on the real story. Charis tech grows by leaps and bounds staying ahead of the rest of the world, they inflict devastating military defeats on the enemy but will never be able to invade the mainland so I have no idea where Weber thinks this is going. Maybe thats the problem. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Divine Misfortune

[02-Nov-2011] by A. Lee Martinez Fantasy, Contemporary: 32 pages This is what American Gods should have been. The gods have web sites that are like dating sites where they pick up worshipers, and offer favors in return. Well most of them. Small gods move in with you, other gods are rogue and do things the old way till they get out of line and get the smack down. Legal agreements protect everyone. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Monster
[30-Oct-2011] by A. Lee Martinez Fantasy, Contemporary: 342 pages Cryptos are real, most people forget them after seeing them. Some people hunt them so they can be preserved (they are endangered after all). Sometimes the universe has to fight back against a parasite and it makes a person its vessel, causing weird stuff to happen. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

A Nameless Witch
[20-Oct-2011] by A. Lee Martinez Fantasy: 330 pages An undead witch takes it upon herself to protect a small border town against an evil sorcerer. She takes her cannibal demon duck and soon to be corrupted paladin with her. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

In the Company of Ogres
[19-Oct-2011] by A. Lee Martinez Alternate History: 326 pages Never dead fred is put in charge of a company of Ogres, then he dies, and comes back, and dies again and we find out why he comes back and its better that he does. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Hidden Empire

[19-Oct-2011] Hidden Empire by Orson Scott Card. Sci-fi: 456 pages. Volume 2 in the series Empire. A rare case where the 2nd book is better than the first. A disease breaks out in Africa and politics causes a reshaping of the area, an assassination attempt and kids dying in the line of duty. The only problem was mom should have smacked her 13 year old kid several times, he is not written age appropriate nor treated as such. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Armageddon Inheritance

[16-Oct-2011] The Armageddon Inheritance by David Weber. Sci-fi: 344 pages. Volume 3 in the series Dahak. Its been a long time since I read the first two and this would have been better if I remembered them well. The aliens who destroyed the previous empire are coming. Earth is advancing technologically to defend itself but it will be close. Dahak and crew go off to get aid from the Empire. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Postman
[09-Oct-2011] by David Brin Sci-fi: 321 pages The novel the move was based on but different. Lots of themes dropped from the movie like an sentient AI. Even the Holness is similar but different. I think this would have been better if I had read it before the movie. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Monster Hunter: Vendetta
[07-Oct-2011] Monster Hunter: Vendetta by Larry Correia. Fantasy, Contemporary: 647 pages. Volume 2 in the series Monster Hunter. Putt saves the world, again. The Old One Pitt pissed off tries to get revenge and suffers for it.Questions are answered about the Christmas party and Franks. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

West and East

[07-Oct-2011] by Harry Turtledove Alternate History: 447 pages Possibly the worst alternate history wwii book I ever read. Supposedly the war starts early. Nothing much changes except the Spanish civil war is still going on. Lots of whining from characters no one cares about. The girls story of being trapped in Germany, then Denmark by the nazis is interesting but none of the others are. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

The German Wars
[30-Sep-2011] by Michael A. Palmer History: 248 pages Supposedly a survey of the German Wars 1859-1945. Not very good. The author contradicts himself within pages and says nothing of real interest. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

1945
[23-Sep-2011] by Robert Conroy Alternate History: 432 pages The attempted coup against the Emperor at the end of WWII succeeds and the war continues. It never gets as far as the invasion of Honshu however. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Man-Kzin Wars XII
[22-Sep-2011] Man-Kzin Wars XII by Larry Niven. Sci-fi: 0 pages. Volume 12 in the series Man-Kzin Wars. I think its time for this series to stop. The story isnt as interesting when the Kzin clearly lost and are being reshaped into a viable species. Oh and never write another a slaver in stasis story again, its been done. The Protectors arnt needed either. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Exiled: Clan of the Claw
[11-Sep-2011] by Bill Fawcett ed. Fantasy: 294 pages A world where dinosaurs have mental powers and bipedal cats can dance for magic. A med flood type event separates a group of the cats (Mrem) and they have to fight around the new formed sea. Stirling, Turtledove, Nye, Ringo and Williamson Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Dreadnought
[09-Sep-2011] by Cherie Priest Alternate History: 400 pages Billed as a steampunk zeppelin book, its more about a train. Mention of steam powered and oil powered mechs and some zombies. Really not that interesting however. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

1901

[24-Aug-2011] by Robert Conroy Alternate History: 404 pages This has to be one of the most obscure what ifs I eve came across. After the Spanish American war Imperial Germany decides to invade New York in order to force the US to hand over its newly acquired colonies to Germany. We can all guess the end result once Teddy Roosevelt becomes president after McKinley's heart attack. This is based on some war games form the Imperial archive. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Pheonix Rising
[19-Aug-2011] Pheonix Rising by Pip Ballantine. Steampunk: 402 pages. Volume 1 in the series Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. The British ministry of peculiar occurrences meets a secret society building an army of automotons. This campy with a strong female hero and her archivist sidekick. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Butlerian Jihad
[19-Aug-2011] by Brian Herbert Sci-fi: 695 pages Unfeeling logical thinking machines should not do irrational things (noting that they are not rational). This is horrible. Sure it fills in the early history of the Dune universe, but does it in an unbelievable, unpolitical, and second rate way. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

Desert of Souls
[03-Aug-2011] by Howard Andrews Jones Alternate History: 309 pages This is an Arabian knights type of story, set in Baghdad with evil Sorcerers and Greeks. The author did a good job on the setting but the story was mediocre. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Ghost Story
[31-Jul-2011] Ghost Story by Jim Butcher. Fantasy, Contemporary: 481 pages. Volume 13 in the series Dresden Files. Figuring out who killed Dresden is easy. Figuring out why they were hired is much harder. And just because your dead doesnt release you from vows taken to fairy queens and demon islands. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Gils All Fright Diner
[24-Jul-2011] by A. Lee Martinez Fantasy, Contemporary: 287 pages Typical modern day vampire/werewolf story. A couple of friends find a small town where a young girl is trying to open the gate to the old ones and have to stop her. The friends are the vampire and the werewolf. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

A Dance with Dragon

[20-Jul-2011] A Dance with Dragon by George R. R. Martin. Fantasy: 1016 pages. Volume 5 in the series A Song of Fire and Ice. Having taken an extra 5 years to write this should have been better. It could have been 100 pages short if he had just stopped repeating my name is Reek it rhymes with... Oh and no one is safely dead anymore. Bringing back one character who were dead is a Jump the Shark sign, so I dont know where bringing back all the people he keeps bringing back falls. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

A Boy and His Tank
[06-Jul-2011] by Sci-fi: 266 pages Frankowski wanted to write a Bolo book but isnt a military guy. This is good enough. Its a super tank with a human driver, but humerous not military sci-fi. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Enchanted Pilgrimage
[04-Jul-2011] by Clifford D. Simak Fantasy: 0 pages This took months to read one page at a time. It started off ok and just went to uninteresting. Its the worst book Simak wrote that I read. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

The Annals of the Heechee
[23-Jun-2011] The Annals of the Heechee by Frederick Pohl. Sci-fi: 278 pages. Volume 4 in the series Heechee Saga. The Assassins are a berserker like enemy, then we just magically have peace. I dont buy it. He spends too much time on how slow people are I get it, let it go. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Peshwar Lancers
[18-Jun-2011] by S. M. Stirling Alternate History: 420 pages A comet hits the earth during the late 1800s and the British move to India. This picks up now in that world as the Satan worshiping Russians try to kill the King-Emperor. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Golden Reflections
[09-Jun-2011] by Fred Saberhagen Alternate History: 467 pages A good concept, warring future factions send back a device that allows people to see the future and make decisions good for them altering the future. Bad implementation. The factions are the Aztecs and the Incas. Webers story is the best and even its mediocre. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

The Lost Gate
[08-Jun-2011] by Orson Scott Card Alternate History: 584 pages The ancient gods where beings of power from some other world and are still alive but reduced in strength because they are cut off from the other world. One young member tries to reopen the path way and learns why it is closed. This was a good idea and well done. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Dead in Dixie
[07-Jun-2011] Dead in Dixie by Charlaine Harris. Fantasy, Contemporary: 614 pages. Volume 1 in the series Sookie Stackhouse. The Sookie Stackhouse series. Compared to TV it reads like an alternate world, same people and general events but all the details are different. No bad. Interesting world. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Hot Gate
[04-Jun-2011] The Hot Gate by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 399 pages. Volume 3 in the series Live Free or Die. Craziness continues. Earth invents ramming, a new concept to the Galactics. Most the novel is personal filler he but it ends with a long battle where an asteroid station is almost beaten. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Fuzzy Nation
[01-Jun-2011] by John Scalzi Sci-fi: 0 pages No as good as the original Fuzzy books by Piper. Its a reimaging of the series but lacks the depth the original did. The fuzzies arnt as cute an lovable as in the original either. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

A Feast for Crows
[31-May-2011] A Feast for Crows by . Fantasy: 753 pages. Volume 4 in the series A Song of Fire and Ice. A filler novel. Not much happens. This is the book where we start to doubt if Martin will finish the series. Davos dies, despite what Kris says. Its repeated twice people see the body. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Boneshaker
[24-May-2011] by Cherie Priest Alternate History: 416 pages A giant machine destroys Seattle and lets loose gas that makes zombies in the late 1800s. The story itself is just a mom trying to find her son in that setting and not very entertaining but the environment has promise. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

A Storm of Swords

[10-May-2011] A Storm of Swords by . Fantasy: 973 pages. Volume 3 in the series A Song of Fire and Ice. Littlefinger is screwed. I forgot about Lysa, Ron reminded me and then I read it that night. This is the book where the constant betrayal by everyone starts to get old. Every house that ever had a grudge or wanted more power tries to take it all at once and its a little too much. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

A Clash of Kings
[01-May-2011] A Clash of Kings by . Fantasy: 760 pages. Volume 2 in the series A Song of Fire and Ice. Continuing to read the series again. Getting ready for new book and series. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Behemoth
[27-Apr-2011] Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld. Alternate History: 485 pages. Volume 2 in the series Leviathan Trilogy. A steampunk kids book. The British Darwinists continue to Istanbul encountering the Goeben and Breslau on the way. They have gifts for the Sultan and participate in the revolution. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

A Game of Thrones
[23-Apr-2011] A Game of Thrones by . Fantasy: 726 pages. Volume 1 in the series A Song of Fire and Ice. Reading it again because the series is on. So far they first 2 episodes follow the book but 3 starts to add material. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

The Chronicles of the Lensmen Volume 2
[15-Apr-2011] The Chronicles of the Lensmen Volume 2 by E.E. Doc Smith. Sci-fi: 731 pages. Volume 2 in the series Chronicles of the Lensmen. This we better the first time years ago. I forgot how it keeps going on, defeating bigger and bigger bad guys but not the biggest. Then its kind of anti-climactic how fast they go down. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The First World War in Africa
[14-Apr-2011] by Hew Strachan History: 224 pages I got this for the East Africa portion. The author doesnt seem to like Lettow-Vorbeck. He doesnt do a good job with direction, just listing town names as to where columns (with no sizes or ranks for the leaders) are going. While it covered everything it wasnt written well. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Thermopylae
[12-Apr-2011] by Paul Cartledge History: 313 pages Its hard to write a book when there is only one primary source and your writing a book bigger than that source. There inst enough historical info on Thermopylae to write a book like this so the author spent a lot of time on things peripheral to the story. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Ice, Iron, and Gold
[25-Mar-2011] by S. M. Stirling Alternate History: 407 pages Short stories from several of Stirlings worlds. Mostly alternate history. Includes a long Bolo story that Ive read a small part of before. The book starts with: The cannon were keeping up well with the Chariots; Pharaoh would be pleased. A good way to start a book. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Battle of Natural Bridge, Florida
[07-Mar-2011] by Dale Cox History: 241 pages This is the definitive book on the Battle. It covers everything including the holding action by private citizens at the Newport bridge south of the battle. Complete lists of dead, wounded and participants. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Eagle against the Stars
[01-Mar-2011] by Steve White Sci-fi: 282 pages Aliens arrive and insist on trade. We rebel. A good idea just not executed very well. It of course end with us building a fleet and defeating the aliens. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Citidel
[14-Feb-2011] Citidel by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 389 pages. Volume 2 in the series Live Free or Die. What is better than an asteroid battle station? 2 and making them mobile ala Orion. Humans being a backwater planet defeat a galactic superpower because we are crafty. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Classic Phillip Jose Farmer 1952-1964
[27-Jan-2011] by Phillip Jose Farmer Sci-fi: 215 pages This took me months to read in spurts of a page or two at a time. It just dragged on and on nothing was good enough to actually read for any length of time. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

The Chronicles of the Lensmen Volume 1
[14-Jan-2011] The Chronicles of the Lensmen Volume 1 by E.E. Doc Smith. Sci-fi: 709 pages. Volume 709 in the series Chronicles of the Lensmen. This is classics space opera. A small group of humans get tremendous mental powers and fight the forces of evil across two galaxies in an ever growing war that means the success or failure of civilization. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

The journals of Lewis and Clark
[06-Jan-2011] by Anthony Brandt ed. History: 445 pages This was highly abridged apparently L&C took volumes of notes, mostly on what they shot today from the readings. It was disappointing to find out not only did they know where they were going but English speaking Indians where at the mouth of the Columbia and in contact with British traders. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Cryoburn
[04-Jan-2011] Cryoburn by Louis McMaster Bujold. Sci-fi: 345 pages. Volume 13 in the series Vorkorsigan. Relatively boring, no space battles, no excitement. Mile is stuck on some backwater planet dealing with an internal problem. The best part of the book was the little paragraphs at he end dealing with the funeral. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

First Lords Fury
[31-Dec-2010] First Lords Fury by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 764 pages. Volume 6 in the series Codex Alera. The problem with magic is that it changes the world. Things that should have been thought of hundreds of years before all of a sudden are discovered by the hero (Gaius Tvarus Magnus) and things get crazy, changing the face of a world that should ave already been changed. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Guns, Germs, And Steel
[18-Dec-2010] by Jared Daimond Non-Fiction: 494 pages Hadnt read it in a few years and had a conversation with someone about it so I picked it up again. Still a very good book. Rating: 8 (out of 8)

Paul Reveres Ride

[18-Dec-2010] by David Hackett Fischer History: 445 pages This was really good. It covers the few months before the immediate events of Lexington and Concord. Lots of details that I didnt know and that arnt in the popular mythology. Like that the British conducted several raids for gunpowder before the Concord one, and that an entire British Brigade went out to Lexington to meet the column under fire and save them. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

Against All Things ending

[01-Dec-2010] Against All Things ending by Stephan R. Donaldson. Fantasy: 674 pages. Volume 3 in the series The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Let me save you the trouble of reading this piece of crap; the Wyrm destroys the world. 600 pages of mostly whining by Avery, a little vengeance and not a single action to even attempt to stop the end of the world. Its page 400 or so before they even use the 3 most powerful artifacts in the world, which they have on page 1, to free Avery's kid from possession and then its for no reason because they all know the world is ending and they dont even try and stop it! Dont waste your time with this. Rating: 2 (out of 8)

Monster Hunter International
[30-Nov-2010] by Larry Correia Fantasy, Contemporary: 726 pages More b-sci fi with modern monsters vs monster hunters by Baen. Guy has to kill his werewolf boss, get recruited and ends up getting the girl, killing the demon and being the chosen one. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Brand of the Werewolf
[24-Nov-2010] Brand of the Werewolf by Kenneth Robeson. Fantasy, Contemporary: 138 pages. Volume 6 in the series Doc Savage. Doc goes to western Canada for a vacation that ends up in murder and plots against him. The werewolf part isnt too important. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Out of the Dark
[20-Nov-2010] by David Weber Sci-fi: 381 pages This was an expansion of a short story. Aliens invade the earth. They kick the crap out of us. We fight back irrationally. They decided to kill us all, then they find out about the real predators on the planet who pushed us into what we are. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Intersteller Patrol II
[14-Nov-2010] Intersteller Patrol II by Christopher Anvil. Sci-fi: 903 pages. Volume 2 in the series The Federation of Humanity. This was horrible. The author starts stories out well and has good ideas. But his writing is crap and they stories end crappily with little interest. Rating: 2 (out of 8)

The Polar Treasure
[07-Nov-2010] The Polar Treasure by Kenneth Robeson. Fantasy: 122 pages. Volume 4 in the series Doc Savage. Starts a little slow and wraps up too fast. Most the book is in New York not the arctic. Way to many things happen off scene that show up later and are explained. Doc kills a polar bear with his bear hands. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Beekeepers Handbook 3rd ed.
[05-Nov-2010] by Diana Sammataro Science: 190 pages This is one of the definative beekeeping books. Im a little put off by the number of times they suggest requeening, and the look for mites got a little old. It had step by step instructions on everything you might need to do, with several variations. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Gett Started in Beekeeping
[03-Nov-2010] Gett Started in Beekeeping by Adrian Waring. Non-Fiction: 222 pages. Volume 0 in the series 2nd War between the States. A little UK centric but good. Easy to read. Made it sound a little more involved than the local people did, at least in the spring/summer swarming time. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Side Jobs
[01-Nov-2010] Side Jobs by Jim Butcher. Fantasy, Contemporary: 418 pages. Volume 0 in the series Dresden Files. A collection of short stories that contribute a lot to the other characters in the Dresden world as well as Dresden himself. Thomas, Murphy, Will and Gard all make appearances. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Blameless
[30-Oct-2010] Blameless by Gail Carriger. Alternate History: 355 pages. Volume 3 in the series The Parasol Protectorate. This was better than the previous books, a lot of the victorian girl prattle was left out. Alexia escapes to Italy after becoming pregnant and her werewolf husband denies its his. Italy is a bad idea. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Changeless
[28-Oct-2010] Changeless by Carriger Gail. Alternate History: 388 pages. Volume 2 in the series The Parasol Protectorate. The author has lots of good ideas, souless people who break vampire and werewolf curses even after death, I just wish she would drop the victorian girlish prattle it would make for much better stories. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Shiva Descending
[20-Oct-2010] by Gregory Benford Sci-fi: 396 pages This is the worst asteroid hits the earth novel I have read. Too much interpersonal relationship. They dont even launch till days before it hits and two thirds of the way through the book. Astronauts being just insane and other nonsense. Rating: 2 (out of 8)

Soulless
[15-Oct-2010] Soulless by Carriger Gail. Alternate History: 373 pages. Volume 1 in the series The Parasol Protectorate. You are not to make fun of me for this. Werewolves and Vampires exist in Victorian England n a spinster girl has to thwart the plans of evil scientists trying to destroy them all, with her parasol. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Last Centurion
[01-Oct-2010] by John Ringo Sci-fi: 439 pages If you are a democrat or liberal in anyway do not read this book. Its a great story if you can understand its 200 pages of right wing political rant and 200 pages of story. Guy is trapped in Iran during the superflu/next ice age and has to fight his way back home where they use him for political purposes. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The High King of Montival

[24-Sep-2010] The High King of Montival by S. M. Stirling. Alternate History: 481 pages. Volume 6 in the series Emberverse. This is a transition book. All that happens is Rudi getting back to the west by jumping around and convincing everyone he sees to be his ally. The series is so far removed from post apocolyptic now and into fantasy that Stirling keeps having to remind you its the same world, by wasting time on things like climbing the Toronto tower. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

We Few
[20-Sep-2010] We Few by David Weber. Sci-fi: 559 pages. Volume 4 in the series The Empire of Man. Roger and the few marines return to the empire to confront the assassins that started the whole problem. Good until Web goes all Honor Harrington space battle for a hundred pages at the end. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Protector
[14-Sep-2010] by Larry Niven Sci-fi: 218 pages An alien species contacts earth, and finds out we are really mutations of one of their stages of life. Their post adult stage is a superhuman fighter and one man takes on the whole species after he is converted to a protector. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Dragons Egg
[10-Sep-2010] by Robert L. Forward Sci-fi: 309 pages A neutron star passing close to the solar system is found to have life, which quickly passes us in technology. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Small Gods
[07-Sep-2010] Small Gods by Terry Pratchett. Fantasy: 344 pages. Volume 0 in the series Discworld. The great god Om is reincarnated as a turtle, and only has one believer. Life sucks for Om. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Orion
[01-Sep-2010] by Ben Bova Sci-fi: 432 pages A man travels backwards in time fighting the last neanderthal at the behest of god until he gets back to 50,000 where he is part of a high tech invasion of earth against a peaceful people. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The wind from the Sun
[30-Aug-2010] by Arthur C. Clarke Sci-fi: 178 pages Short stories: Men are really carnivores and cannibals told in the far future where everything is processed. Squid are sentient and attacking deep water projects. Fear will attract the outsiders to destroy us so we must love each other. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Abraham Lincoln Vampire Slayer
[28-Aug-2010] by Seth Grahame-Smith Alternate History: 336 pages Much better than similar books Like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Its a biography of Abraham Lincoln from young adulthood through his presidency and beyond as he is used by one vampire to slay others, and as a consequence fights slavery which is supported by the vampires. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Eye of the Storm

[24-Aug-2010] Eye of the Storm by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 586 pages. Volume 6 in the series Legacy of Aldenata: Posleen War. Mike gets tried for crimes against humanity. Then takes over against a new alien foe. I think when you introduce a new alien empire because the old one is dead you have officially jumped the shark. Despite that is more military scifi than the Cally series so better. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Honor of the Caln
[23-Aug-2010] Honor of the Caln by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 490 pages. Volume 4 in the series Legacy of Aldenata: Cally's War. This brings the Cally War stuff back into the main flow mixing Mike in. Like the rest of this side series not as good as the main series. The Darheel need to die. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Best Science Fiction of the Year #8

[20-Aug-2010] The Best Science Fiction of the Year #8 by Terry Carr ed.. Sci-fi: 311 pages. Volume 8 in the series Best Science Fiction of the Year. I think I have read some of these stories before. The Barbie Murders, a society that tries to make everyone the same has a murder, but if everyone is the same it hard to figure out who did it. Hiss of the Dragon, harvesting berries from geneticly modified organic collectors that act like dragons. To bring the steel, a rich man hires a high price call girl to take care of his kid because the colony he is on says he is an unfit father. The rest are forgettable. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Princess of Wands
[18-Aug-2010] by John Ringo Fantasy, Contemporary: 422 pages Ringos modern Cthulu novel, not campy. The first story is really good, a real warrior of God vs the darkness. The second is mediocre, taking place at a con. The 3rd story is pretty short and easy to see whats coming when the coach tries to traffic with Satan. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Princeps Fury
[08-Aug-2010] Princeps Fury by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 627 pages. Volume 5 in the series Codex Alera. Tavi goes to the other continent. Pretty boring actually. Another Vord attack, Sextus destroys the capitol, but him setting off the volcano was better. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Captains Fury
[06-Aug-2010] Captains Fury by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 512 pages. Volume 3 in the series Codex Alera. The series gets much better. Tavi ends up with a legion, fighting the Canim. We see what real fury crafters can do just just the peasants. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Cursors Fury
[05-Aug-2010] by Jim Butcher Fantasy: 534 pages Tavi leads a legion and holds of the Canim. Furycrafting is shown at its most powerful so far. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Academ's Fury
[03-Aug-2010] Academ's Fury by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 529 pages. Volume 2 in the series Codex Alera. Tavi the guy from the first book goes to the capitol as the page for the Fist Lord and a student. Gets involved with politics. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Tongues of Serpents
[26-Jul-2010] Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik. Alternate History: 274 pages. Volume 6 in the series Temeraire. Temeraire and Laurence are transported to Australia in time for Blighs second mutiny. They also end up discovering Chinese incursions onto the continent. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Thunder on the River
[24-Jul-2010] by Daniel L. Schafer History: 348 pages Detailed account of the Civil War in Jacksonville. Most the information I knew but he goes into a lot of detail, like the names of all the slaves who left the area and joined the 1st US Colored Regiment. A little to detailed at times. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Fuller Memorandum
[22-Jul-2010] by Charles Stross Fantasy: 312 pages Another in the world where the British government has an anti-occult service. They also have a secret weapon that several people are trying to steal, not knowing the British have not only bound it, but its intelligent and working voluntarily for the British now. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Time Spike
[18-Jul-2010] by Eric Flint Alternate History: 467 pages This is the same starting world as the 1632 series but a different portion gets transported back to a different time. In this case a prison in Indiana back to the age of the dinosaurs. Not bad but the prison needed to be a few hundred miles south. De Soto was not that far north. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Furies of Calderon
[15-Jul-2010] Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher. Alternate History: 1 pages. Volume 1 in the series Codex Alera. A roman society in a world with magic. The Romans contact local spirits to do magic for them and are fighting against the natives (the Romans got transported there a thousand years ago or something). Book follows some kid, and a personal agent of the First Lord. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Mission of Honor

[12-Jul-2010] Mission of Honor by David Weber. Sci-fi: 600 pages. Volume 13 in the series Honorverse: Honor Harrington. I think this is my last Honor book. The plot is following to many characters that arnt central to it. I dont care about the Manpower/Mesa plot and frankly dislike it. Its become mainstream. Their capabilities are ridiculous. The last half the book got better but Im not sure it worth dealing with the junk. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Small Favor
[06-Jul-2010] Small Favor by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 423 pages. Volume 5 in the series Dresden Files. I think you can soulgaze and angel. Also has all the info on ley lines. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Wizard Under Fire
[02-Jul-2010] Wizard Under Fire by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 754 pages. Volume 4 in the series Dresden Files. Proven Guilty and White Night. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Wizard at Large
[29-Jun-2010] Wizard at Large by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 740 pages. Volume 3 in the series Dresden Files. Blood Rites and Dead Beat. Undead Tyrannosaurus Rex! Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Wizard by Trade
[26-Jun-2010] Wizard by Trade by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 598 pages. Volume 2 in the series Dresden Files. Summer Knight and Death Masks. Reread both for game. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Wizard for Hire
[22-Jun-2010] Wizard for Hire by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 801 pages. Volume 1 in the series Dresden Files. Storm Front, Fool Moon and Grave Peril. Reread for Rons game. Butcher as an author does get better later. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Warriors
[09-Jun-2010] by Gardner Dozois ed. Sci-fi: 736 pages Short stories by numerous authors about Warriors. Out of the Dark by Weber is amazing and worth the entire book. There is another Egg story by Martin at the end. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Tallahassee A Capital City History
[03-Jun-2010] by Julianne Hare History: 160 pages A history of Tallahassee. Reread for Rons Dresden game. Lacking in the early stuff like most histories. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

A Mighty Fortress
[18-May-2010] by David Weber Sci-fi: 763 pages The series is starting to drag. Too much time spent on people not central to the story. Not enough on the central characters of the kingdom in rebellion. The technology advances are getting out of hand, way to fast and too destructive. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Mall of Cthulu
[16-May-2010] by Seamus Cooper Fantasy: 235 pages A modern day Cthulhu novel where an FBI agent and her do nothing friend stumble across a cult trying to bring back Cthulhu. Like most modern tellings its campy not scary. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

On Britian and Germany
[01-May-2010] by Tacitus Publius Cornelius History: 175 pages Agricola and Germania. Both were much shorter than I imagined they would be. All the references to germanic gods i hoped to get out of them I already had, its only a few lines. Agricola is really just suck up. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Leviathan
[21-Apr-2010] by Scott Westerfeld Alternate History: 440 pages This was a great book even though it was for kids. Its in a steampunk world where the Central powers (Clankers) use mechs and the Allies (Darwinists) geneticly combined creatures. It follows a 16 year old girl pretending to be a boy in the Royal Navy and a scion of the Hapsburgs. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Darkship Thieves
[16-Apr-2010] by Sarah A. Hoyt Sci-fi: 370 pages This was a little to girly. The romance part was obvious it was coming from the start. A girl escapes from a mutiny and is saved by a genetic altered person stealing energy pods. He takes her home to culture problems. They get back to earth and overthrow the system discovering that earth has its genetic manipulators too. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Changes
[13-Apr-2010] Changes by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 441 pages. Volume 12 in the series Dresden Files. Yup changes. Just a suggestion never summon and Archangel, even if you are on good terms his boss gets you back in the end. Of course you might accomplish something amazing first. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Moneyball
[12-Apr-2010] by Michael Lewis Non-Fiction: 317 pages Runs created = (Hits + Walks) * total bases/(at bats + walks). This was interesting. I probobly needed to read the James Baseball abstracts instead. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Ramayana

[07-Apr-2010] by Ramesh Menon ed. Mythology: 697 pages This was the longed 700 page book I ever read. It just wouldnt end. Once the hero wins and returns home its time to stop the story, not keep it going for 100 pages. The Ramayana is an epic comparable to the Illiad. However Id say its really the first anime. The hero and villlians powers are ridiculous, thousands of magic arrows, flying around, carrying mountains etc. We will not beusing tis in the Scion game. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The War at Troy
[23-Mar-2010] by Smyrna Quntius of Mythology: 279 pages Quintus isnt the writer Virgil or Homer was. The descriptions are pretty boring, Trojans run out and get killed by Achilles daily. At least Eurypylus lasted 3 days. Sinon being tortured and still lying to the Trojans was interesting but the rest of the actually sack was lacking. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Live Free or Die
[01-Mar-2010] by John Ringo Roleplaying: 404 pages Aliens arrive and install a stargate in orbit, then inform us we have to deal with whatever comes through. We sell them Maple Syrup, at a ridiculous price. The second half isnt as good. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Last Colony
[28-Feb-2010] The Last Colony by John Scalzi. Sci-fi: 324 pages. Volume 3 in the series Colonial Union. The character from the first book becomes a new colony administrator and imbroiled in the start of an intersteller war. The worst of the trilogy. Plot holes, like where do the werewolves go? He should go back to space marines. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Ghost Brigades
[27-Feb-2010] The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi. Sci-fi: 374 pages. Volume 2 in the series Colonial Union. Not a good as the first in the series. The story follows a different main character and is more political than fighting bugs. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Tuloriad
[21-Feb-2010] The Tuloriad by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 385 pages. Volume 0 in the series Legacy of Aldenata: Side Stories. This follows Tulo, the 5 percenter general from earlier novels as he escapes and tries to rebuild Posleen society after its destructoin by humanity. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Accidental Time Machine
[13-Feb-2010] by Joe Haldeman Sci-fi: 278 pages Started out good, a grad student discovers a time effect that pops him into the future but its one way. About halfway through Jesus shows up and it gets not so good as the story devolves. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Old Mans War
[04-Feb-2010] Old Mans War by John Scalzi. Sci-fi: 320 pages. Volume 1 in the series Colonial Union. This was a great novel about space marines. The only way it could have been better is if it had been subtitled Many Horrible ways to die in the Space Marines and just been short stories about that. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Threads of Time
[03-Feb-2010] by Sci-fi: 219 pages An anthology with both Benford and Simak however these must be the worst stories they ever wrote. Uninteresting. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

The Hobbit
[02-Feb-2010] The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Fantasy: 287 pages. Volume 0 in the series The Lord of the Rings. Its been a decade I think since I read this. It seems much more of a childrens story now than I remember. And the giants, what happen to the giants, Tolkien mentions them several times in the Hobbit but they dont show up in the Lord of the Rings. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

March to the Stars
[03-Jan-2010] March to the Stars by David Weber. Sci-fi: 526 pages. Volume 3 in the series The Empire of Man. The last book of the series, though it clearly begs for a sequ3l. The Marines arrive on the other continent and find a bunch of human sacrificing priests in the way. The book is pretty rushed at the end and kind of anti-climatic for the series. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Dragon Book
[02-Jan-2010] by Gardner Dozois ed. Fantasy: 433 pages A great collection of short dragon stories. There is some real variance in the dragons; good, bad, some stories from the point o view of the dragon, others where the dragon is barley seen. A good story about the first Roman dragons in Naomi Noviks Temeraire world. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

March to the Sea
[31-Dec-2009] March to the Sea by David Weber. Sci-fi: 532 pages. Volume 2 in the series The Empire of Man. The Marines and Roger cross the mountains and enter a more civilized area, under assault be nomadic barbarians and must save the civilization to continue on. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

March Upcountry
[28-Dec-2009] March Upcountry by . Sci-fi: 510 pages. Volume 1 in the series The Empire of Man. A dandy prince and his space marine bodyguard are stranded on a primitive planet and must fight their way across it to seize the only spaceport and return home. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Kull Exile of Atlantis
[24-Dec-2009] by Robert E. Howard Fantasy: 317 pages Kull is Howards pre-Conan hero, both in time and in development. Several short stories of Kulls troubled reign as king of Valusia. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Superfreakonomics
[15-Dec-2009] by Steven Levitt Science: 270 pages 2 Economists look at scientific studies and what the results really say; things like car seats are no safer than seat belts for kids an the guy who has the solution to Global Warming, for cheap. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Maz-Kzin Wars XI
[13-Dec-2009] Maz-Kzin Wars XI by Hal Colebatch. Sci-fi: 489 pages. Volume 11 in the series Man-Kzin Wars. More stories about Raargh Sergeant and Vaemer Riit. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Man-Kzin Wars X
[08-Dec-2009] Man-Kzin Wars X by Hal Colebatch. Sci-fi: 469 pages. Volume 10 in the series Man-Kzin Wars. Entirely written by one of the authors of previous Kzin short stories it mainly focuses on a smart Kzin Sergeant and how he got to be the adoptive parent of the last of Chuut-Riits cubs. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Man-kizin Wars IX
[05-Dec-2009] Man-kizin Wars IX by Larry Niven. Sci-fi: 375 pages. Volume 9 in the series Man-Kzin Wars. Several stories on Wunderland focusing on the Man Kzin interactions both before and after the reconquest. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Metamorphoses
[09-Nov-2009] by Ovid Mythology: 448 pages Ovid has great transitions between the chapters as one story leads into the next, but he rambles a lot and tends to stick things in that arent transforamtions, particularly at the end. There are several passages useful for game. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

A Concise Natrual History of East and West Florida
[05-Nov-2009] by Bernard Romans History: 291 pages This was horrible. The guy rambles about things that are irrelevant like his racist attitude, he cant stick to florida, covering things as far as the mississippi. He gives horrible sailing directions for page after page, and exacting supplies to start a plantation. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

The Lost City of Z
[06-Oct-2009] by David Grann History: 339 pages Biography of Perry Fawcett interspersed with a reporter setting out to find him. There should have been more Fawcett stuff. He make slots of comments about the Gods (plural) making him a good canidate for the Scion game. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Sword of the Lady
[29-Sep-2009] The Sword of the Lady by S. M. Stirling. Sci-fi: 484 pages. Volume 6 in the series Emberverse. The story gets better. They make it to the Atlantic with a wide gap I think should have been filled in Canada. They story ends with another Change. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

American Folktales Myths Legends
[14-Sep-2009] by Conron Leslie ed. Fantasy: 240 pages I was hoping this would be good research for the Scion game, it wasnt. Too many obscure Indian myths. Did cover Rip van winkle, and Pecos Bill and Hiawatha but not well there are really no reason for the ones chosen. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Gateway Trip
[13-Sep-2009] The Gateway Trip by Frederick Pohl. Sci-fi: 244 pages. Volume 0 in the series Heechee Saga. A collection of Heechee stories mostly from the early days, pre-gateway and of the discoveries from there. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Fall of the Roman Republic
[09-Sep-2009] by Lucius Mestrius Plutarch History: 414 pages Selection of Plutarchs Lives from the end of the Republic. Marius, Sulla, Pompey, Ceaser, Cicero and the comparison with the Greeks, but not the Greek biographys which really should have been included if the comparison was. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Emporer
[25-Aug-2009] Emporer by Stephen Baxter. Alternate History: 368 pages. Volume 1 in the series Times Tapestry. The concept is interesting, a woman speaks in tongues about the coming Roman occupation of Britian. Whats unreasonable is the family keeping alive the prophesy for 300 years and running their lives by it. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Berserker Lies
[08-Aug-2009] Berserker Lies by Fred Saberhagen. Sci-fi: 208 pages. Volume 0 in the series Berserker. Saberhagen is repeating stories again. When they are original some are good: a trap within a trap for goodlife. A primative socity and time traveling berserkers isnt very good it doesnt belong in the universe. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

By Heresies Distressed
[06-Aug-2009] By Heresies Distressed by David Weber. Sci-fi: 509 pages. Volume 3 in the series Safehold. This series has gotten much better. The fight against the church continues and goes well. Caleb declares and Empire and there is an attempted assassination on the Empress where Merlin has to break his cover. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Mammoth
[04-Aug-2009] by John Varley Sci-fi: 341 pages The remains of a time traveler are found so a rich industrialist hires a the best to build him a time machine. They end up bringing mammoths into the modern day, then sending one back with the discovered traveler. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Chilhoods End
[22-Jul-2009] by Arthur C. Clarke Sci-fi: 220 pages This wasnt very good for Clarke. Aliens arrive, and peacfully take over earth so the can watch us evolve into a part of the universal being. Something they cant do. The first has implies they have nefarious purposes very well, which the really dont. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Mean Streets
[20-Jul-2009] by Jim Butcher Fantasy: 343 pages 4 stories set in what is best described as 4 different modern fantasy worlds. A Dresden story, a person who sees and talks to ghosts, a really weird story about the dark side of London, and an angel who finds Noah dead. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Unconquerable Bolos Book II
[12-Jul-2009] The Unconquerable Bolos Book II by Bill Fawcwtt ed.. Sci-fi: 275 pages. Volume 2 in the series Bolos. Bolo short stories by several authors including S.M. Stirling. Stories cover the whole range of Bolo time from Mark IIIs in the near future to the last Bolo after the destruction of civilization. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Bolo!
[10-Jul-2009] by David Weber Sci-fi: 483 pages Bolos are giant AI driven tanks, in the 10,000 ton+ range capable of destroying orbiting vessels and defending and entire planet alone. Most stories revolve around some failure of the Bolo to work with their human commander (absent for some reason) or fighting overwhelming odds. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The New Space Opera 2
[10-Jul-2009] by Gardner Dozois ed. Sci-fi: 544 pages I need to stop buying anthologies edited by Dozois, he cant pick stories well. There are a few that are good, but most just arnt, like the last one telling millions of years of history from the point of view of a sentient planet thing, it was crap. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Third Reich Victorious
[04-Jul-2009] by Peter Tsouras ed. Alternate History: 316 pages This wasnt as good as Hilter Triumphant but in the same idea. Germany does better in WWII. Unfortunatly in this one they dont. In lot of the stories Germany still loses and many arnt as plausible as the other book was. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Berserker Base
[03-Jul-2009] Berserker Base by Fred Saberhagen. Alternate History: 316 pages. Volume 0 in the series Berserker. Short stories by several authors framed as visions a captive has under berserker experimentation. The framing is well done. Several good authors: Anderson, Donaldson, Niven, Zelazny. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

The Road to Damascus
[03-Jul-2009] by John Ringo Sci-fi: 682 pages A stand alone Bolo book. Pretty good, most the book is a flash back as the Bolo tries to work out why it cant get past a little boy. It follows the 20 or so years the Bolo is on the planet Jefferson as a bad government takes over and uses the Bolo against its people. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The White Regiment
[26-Jun-2009] The White Regiment by John Dalmas. Sci-fi: 406 pages. Volume 2 in the series Regiment. An Empire that controls peoples violence with drugs, religion and psychology finds itself under attack from another star faring empire. The only unit that can help defend are cadets who havent been given the treatments. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Star Trek Reader IV
[22-Jun-2009] The Star Trek Reader IV by James Blish. Sci-fi: 409 pages. Volume 4 in the series Star Trek Reader. The rest of the novelizations of the Star Trek series and a standalone novella about dual Spocks and a war with the Klingons. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

First Meetings
[22-Jun-2009] First Meetings by Orson Scott Card. Sci-fi: 208 pages. Volume 0 in the series Ender's Game: The Ender Saga. A couple of short stories and another short variant of Enders Game. The short stories are about Enders parents, thier escape from Easter Europe and meeting in college. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Berserker
[15-Jun-2009] Berserker by Fred Saberhagen. Sci-fi: 243 pages. Volume 0 in the series Berserker. Collected Berserker stories framed stories told by an alien race. Some of these are repeats from other berserker books. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Berserkers Planet

[07-Jun-2009] Berserkers Planet by Fred Saberhagen. Sci-fi: 233 pages. Volume 0 in the series Berserker. A primative planet where games are held so the greatest warrior can be elevated to godhood. The planet wide religion however is run by a berserker who stages them to cull the best of humanity. Outsiders interfere in the berserkers plan and games. This is probably the worst of the berserker books. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

Berserker Blue Death
[05-Jun-2009] Berserker Blue Death by Fred Saberhagen. Sci-fi: 282 pages. Volume 0 in the series Berserker. A Moby Dick type of story where a lone guy goes hunting a single special berserker and drags others with him in a nebula where travel is difficult. They discover a new species of intelligent life. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Berserker Man
[04-Jun-2009] Berserker Man by Fred Saberhagen. Sci-fi: 219 pages. Volume 0 in the series Berserker. A contender for worst berserker book. Humans breed a special kid and try and outfit him as a berserker type of combat unitto fight berserkers but a cult of death worhippers interfere. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

The Berserker Wars
[29-May-2009] The Berserker Wars by Fred Saberhagen. Sci-fi: 399 pages. Volume 0 in the series Berserker. The basic berserker book. Includes Stone Place which is near the beginning of the berserker wars but also a large amount of junk like Winged Helmet. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Mastodonia
[27-May-2009] by Clifford D. Simak Sci-fi: 212 pages A man finds an stranded alien creature that can open time portals and goes into the tourism business. He sets up operations in Mastodonia to avoid taxes. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

The Voices of Heaven
[22-May-2009] by Frederick Pohl Sci-fi: 280 pages A man is sent to a colony with wanting to go. He ends up causing a change in society that works with the Leps (giant butterflies) and eventually stays to make the colony self sufficent and keep the apocolyptic cult that predominates on the colony from destroying earth. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Misplaced Legion
[21-May-2009] The Misplaced Legion by . Fantasy: 323 pages. Volume 1 in the series Videssos Cycle. A part of a roman legion is transfered to an alternate world with a Byzantine type of state and have to survive as mercenaries. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Books

[21-May-2009] I have rewritten the sorted list so I can order my library and discovered some books missing. Im pretty sure some of them I have loaned out. If you have my copy of Young Miles Xenocide Mars Prime The Dragon Lord Tunnel in the Sky Planet Pirates A Hero born Days of Infamy Castle amber 1973 annual Worlds Best SF 2010 The Curse of Chalion A Wizard of Earthsea The tombs of Atun The farthest Shore please let me know. I dont need it back right now, i just want to know where it is.

Ancient, My Enemy
[12-May-2009] by Gordon R. Dickson Sci-fi: 215 pages On an alien planet a man and a primative alien fight out an ancient reincarnation ritual. Also other short stories. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Turn Coat
[30-Apr-2009] Turn Coat by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 420 pages. Volume 11 in the series Dresden Files. Once an organization cares more about their appearances than doing the right thing, including sacrificing their best to keep up the appearences its time to replace it. Thats coming in this series. Dresden does a bad thing with the island. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Watch on the Rhine
[28-Apr-2009] Watch on the Rhine by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 485 pages. Volume 7 in the series Posleen. The afterwards mentions that this was written to shock. It does, the first third is a little to pro-nazi. It does come down afterwards. Good story on Germany not using Galtec to defeat the Posleen. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

A Hymn before Battle

[26-Apr-2009] A Hymn before Battle by . Sci-fi: 467 pages. Volume 1 in the series Posleen. I read this again before I loan it to AJ. This becomes the definative power armor book, presenting them better than Starship Troopers since it focuses on the armor and battle rather than the political statements. Aliens come to us and hire us as mercs to defend their worlds, oh and other aliens are about to invade us so we cant say no. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Farenheit 451
[21-Apr-2009] by Ray Bradbury Sci-fi: 451 pages Read this again hoping to glean something for the mage game from it. Didnt do that. The firemen just arnt good secret police and while the theme is approriate, controling information its to done in a manner useful for what i wanted. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Storm from the Shadows

[15-Apr-2009] Storm from the Shadows by David Weber. Sci-fi: 755 pages. Volume 3 in the series Honorverse: Princess Berry. The whole manpower plot makes my eyes glaze over. Stupid little company is going to get destroyed as collateral damage in a War of Manticore vs Sollies that they are trying to start. This overlaps with the last real Honor Book, and bring the Sollie/Manpower plot into the mainstream plot. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Small Favor
[05-Apr-2009] Small Favor by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 423 pages. Volume 10 in the series Dresden Files. The Billy Goats Gruff try and take Harry out. Oh and some demons too. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

White Knight
[05-Apr-2009] White Knight by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 467 pages. Volume 9 in the series Dresden Files. This book should have had a different title. White court Vampires try and set Harry up as a killer of non-Council mages. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Proven guilty
[03-Apr-2009] Proven guilty by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 489 pages. Volume 8 in the series Dresden Files. Michaels daughter Molly is a wizard. Harry attend SplatterCon!!! (got to include the excalamations). Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Dead Beat
[01-Apr-2009] Dead Beat by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 435 pages. Volume 7 in the series Dresden Files. Evil necromancers try and turn themselves into gods. Harry forgets Bob has read a book and has a perfect memory. Harry raises Sue (Tyrannasaur from Chicago museum), which is kind of over the top. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Technocracy: Progenitors

[31-Mar-2009] Technocracy: Progenitors by Edward Winters. Roleplaying: 64 pages. Volume 1 in the series Technocracy. I dont usually enter roleplaying books because I dont really read the entire thing from cover to cover. This one I did. The progenitors are gene/drug manipulators. Good except for the stupid powers they give them that violate the reality they are trying to create. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Historical Atlas of New York City
[18-Mar-2009] by Eric Homberger History: 191 pages Just what the title says. Maps dont always go well with the text but not a bad overview of NYC with maps. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Best of C.M. Kornbluth

[23-Feb-2009] by C.M. Kornbluth Sci-fi: 312 pages There are two important things to do when keeping a log of books: 1. Read a book in a resonable amount of time, not over a full year or so. 2. Record the book when you are done reading, not a month or more later. I remember nothing but the last story, a time travel story when a manhattan project engineer goes forward to a world where the axis won. Then returns to understand why we needed the bomb. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Necropath
[12-Feb-2009] Necropath by Randall Balmer. Sci-fi: 414 pages. Volume 1 in the series Bengal Station. This was sent to me by mistake. It seems like a continuation of a world in a series. Guy can read minds, with a chip thing in his head. Has to stop Cthulu creatures from invading the earth in a religious cult. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Sharing Knife Horizen
[07-Feb-2009] The Sharing Knife Horizen by Louis McMaster Bujold. Fantasy: 453 pages. Volume 4 in the series The Sharing Knife. She is getting deeper and deeper into this being a historical romance rather than fantasy. Dag and Fawn stop gues what... another Malice. This one flies. Fawn has a kid. They start to teach Farmers. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Ecclesiastical History of the English People
[04-Feb-2009] by Venerable Bede History: 445 pages Dry, even for my history reading. Little people do unimportant things. Too much discussion about the date of Easter, again and again and again. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

The War of the Roses

[29-Jan-2009] by Alison Weir History: 462 pages The period of time in England when the Yorks and Lancasters fought over the throne. Has some lead up of course. Gets more interesting towards the end. Geneological tables are hard to read and too much info in some places but not enough in others. The author makes some errors: mentions a sister of Edward IV that doesnt seem to exist and her son as the kings cousin when he has established other parents not related to the king. The war does not cover the ascention of the Tudors (who really had no claim) it is covered in a few paragraphs at the end. Modified a family tree to show most the important people near the end. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Blood Rites
[25-Jan-2009] Blood Rites by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 372 pages. Volume 6 in the series Dresden Files. Better than the last one. Dresden works on a porno as security against curses, that are really in the end directed against him, and his long lost brother. He overthrows another major supernatural faction. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Sister Time

[21-Jan-2009] Sister Time by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 634 pages. Volume 7 in the series Posleen. An improvement on Callys War. Still follows her but less divergant from Ringos other stuff despite the same other author. This is all leading up to the war vs the Darhel. Cally and her mentant sister strike back at some Darhel plots. I dont think they do a good job explaining how Callys husband gets into the tong but the Tong lottery to bypass the Darhel indenture practices is great. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Callys War
[18-Jan-2009] Callys War by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 490 pages. Volume 5 in the series Posleen. This follow Cally a kid in the previous books now she an assassin. The other author (Julie Cochrane) was a clear influence in the sex and love scenes that arnt in Ringos other works. Cally goes to Titan and get caught. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Death Masks
[16-Jan-2009] Death Masks by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 378 pages. Volume 5 in the series Dresden Files. If this was a TV show its the jump the shark episode. Stealing the Shroud of Turin crosses a line. Despite that its not bad, demons are using the shroud to start a plague and Dresden has to help the knights of the cross in recovering it along with his other problems. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Summer Knight
[12-Jan-2009] Summer Knight by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 371 pages. Volume 4 in the series Dresden Files. Dresden gets roped into a war between the Fairy by multiple sides. Some one needs to just wack the Warden cause hes not doing his job. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Hero
[08-Jan-2009] The Hero by . Sci-fi: 392 pages. Volume 5 in the series Posleen. A thousand years later. Clearly written mostly by Micheal Z. Williamson not Ringo it follows a special forces squad on a mission that goes bad. Really drags on and on once the mission goes sour. A good read about the Darhel but really unnessacary. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Hells Faire
[06-Jan-2009] Hells Faire by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 410 pages. Volume 4 in the series Posleen. More Bun-Bun but not as interesting as the previous novel. Then the fleet arrives and its all over. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Yellow Eyes

[03-Jan-2009] Yellow Eyes by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 830 pages. Volume 5 in the series Posleen. The best of the series so far. USS Des Moines (post WWII Cruiser) is rebuilt, given an AI that goes insane and helps to defend the canal zone against Posleen and the interfering Darhel. The best part is the Posleen stuck in barb wire (briar patch) saying dont throw me back into the Darien. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

When the Devil Dances
[31-Dec-2008] When the Devil Dances by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 688 pages. Volume 3 in the series Posleen. Skip forward 5 years from the last book. Humans have lost most the earth but are holding the mountain valleys. Most of this is near Franklin, N.C. and involves Bun-Bun the giant anti-lander tank that is just silly huge and named after a switchblade carrying psycho rabbit. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Gust Front

[28-Dec-2008] Gust Front by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 721 pages. Volume 2 in the series Posleen. I read the first a long time ago and dont really remember much of it. In this one the aliens reach earth. The Darhel, our allies do their best to make the war a Phyrric victory for us. Good scenes of the Corps of Engineers doing their job to slow the aliens and last stands of humans against unlimited numbers of Posleen. The maps need work in the paperback they are unreadable. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Twentieth-Century Germany
[21-Dec-2008] by A.J. Ryder History: 656 pages A dry comprehensive history of modern Germany. Some of the pre-WWII stuff in interesting about how Hitler came to power and reasons for WWI. Also the few years after WWII and recovery but the end really is boring and took for ever to read. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Color of Magic
[21-Dec-2008] The Color of Magic by Terry Pratchett. Fantasy: 183 pages. Volume 0 in the series Discworld. Pratchett Discworld is ok. This one follows a mage and tourist as they are pawns in the gods game and throw in a Conan look alike for a while. Not bad for disk world. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Dragonsblood

[16-Dec-2008] Dragonsblood by . Sci-fi: 436 pages. Volume 0 in the series Pern. Todd isnt as good as his mother. It bounces back and forth in time and does some unexplained psychic stuff that doesnt seem to fit with the world to solve yet another plague, at least this one is a dragon plague not a human one. And more time travel. It was a single use device, not a constant plot point Todd. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Limits
[14-Dec-2008] by Larry Niven Sci-fi: 0 pages Nothing memorable after 1 month. Neither good nor bad. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Legacy of Heorot
[08-Dec-2008] by Larry Niven Sci-fi: 348 pages Another classic scifi. Colonists encounter an alien threat and must defeat it. Unfortunatly their solution make it worse and the colony is almost wiped out. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

King Davids Spaceship

[04-Dec-2008] by Jerry Pournelle Sci-fi: 275 pages A good classics scifi. People on the edge of the industrial revolution are discovered by the resurgent galactic empire and must learn to build a space ship in secret or be subject to colonization. The only part that is bad is the very end the punishment for the main actors. It makes no sense where they are sent since they will cause more problems. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

Hells Gate
[02-Dec-2008] by David Weber Fantasy: 1236 pages Two cultures one magic the other psychic clash via portals to other worlds. The concept is good and most the story. There are parts clearly written by the other author (Linda Evans) that drag. Pages of description of countries and geography that frankly dont matter but despite that a good story and setup for a sequal. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Ender in Exile
[26-Nov-2008] Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card. Sci-fi: 380 pages. Volume 2 in the series Enders Game. Its really filler about details we didnt need, nothing really new added to the story. Peter is again not the evil megalomaniac of the first book which is disappointing. Ender is still whining about killing the formics but not as bad as in Speaker for the Dead. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Claws that Catch
[23-Nov-2008] Claws that Catch by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 343 pages. Volume 4 in the series Looking Glass. When you start out with space faring hamsters, a warp drive sub and Cruxshadows cadences you really shouldnt be surprised by giant christmas tree music hall weapons. I think Ringo is just writing this series to see how far he can go before someone stops him. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Footfall
[20-Nov-2008] Footfall by Larry Niven Sci-fi: 574 pages This is one of the best book in my collection. Miniature elephants invade the earth in the near future/present. Its a classic alien invasion story. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

1862
[17-Nov-2008] 1862 by Robert Conroy Alternate History: 410 pages Ive read this before. It seemed familiar but i wasnt sure till i started reading it and since i was in D.C. I couldnt check the shelf first. The British join the side of the South in the civil war, which makes the war end in favor of the Union quicker. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

American Gods
[09-Nov-2008] American Gods by Neil Gaiman Fantasy: 592 pages Gaiman is not the great author everyone claims, this isnt bad the idea is good but his execution leaves a lot to be desired. Odin is not a two bit con artist no matter how far down he has sunk. This was research for the scion game. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Dragon Harper
[03-Nov-2008] Dragon Harper by Todd McCaffery. Sci-fi: 299 pages. Volume 0 in the series Pern. Todd isnt the writer his mother is. While he does a good job with yet another plague on Pern its getting tiresome. Dont they have other problems? Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Animal Farm and 1984
[31-Oct-2008] Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell Political: 385 pages I had forgotten most of Animal Farm, I think I last read it in high school. Then 1984 takes the anticommunism even further when read in succession. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

By Schism Rent Asunder
[14-Sep-2008] By Schism Rent Asunder by David Weber. Sci-fi: 510 pages. Volume 2 in the series Safehold. Much better than the first book. About halfway you find a new twist that actually make the story sci-fi and interesting rather than the rennisance warfare the the first book was restricted to. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Grave Peril
[14-Sep-2008] Grace Peril by Jim Butcher. Alternate History: 378 pages. Volume 3 in the series Dresden Files. Dresden teams up with a Knight who has real faith and works against ghosts and vampires. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Fool Moon
[09-Sep-2008] Fool Moon by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 378 pages. Volume 2 in the series Dresden Files. Dresden vs werewolves of various sorts. Too many different kinds really, and even one he doesnt really explain. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Greek Alexander Romance
[05-Sep-2008] by Richard Stoneman ed. Alternate History: 196 pages The myths and legends that grew up about Alexander the Great after his death. Including his decent from the Egyptian Pharoahs, journey to the end of the earth and meetings with mythological beings. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Storm Front
[03-Sep-2008] Storm Front by Jim Butcher. Fantasy: 322 pages. Volume 1 in the series Dresden Files. The first Dresden files book. Kris left it here so I had to read it. Pretty much mimics the TV show that was based on it. Chicago wizard vs evil. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The British

[29-Aug-2008] The British by M.L. Ebbutt ed.. Mythology: 374 pages. Volume 0 in the series Myths and Legends. Much better than any other book in the series its first off about the Britsh, and second actually about folktales and legends. The editor did a great job avoiding the cliche King Arthur and Robin Hood instead giving other stories, some which were similar but not the same tired British legends we have heard. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Victory of Eagles
[27-Aug-2008] Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik. Alternate History: 332 pages. Volume 4 in the series Temeraire. I missed a volume of this series somehow. This is after Africa and Lawrence is in trouble for what he did there. Temeraire becomes and officer and Napoleon invades England. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Years Best SF 15
[22-Aug-2008] Years Best SF 13 by David G. Hartwell ed.. Sci-fi: 496 pages. Volume 15 in the series Years Best SF. I need to stop ordering these. They just arnt worth it. One or two stories are worth reading the rest are junk. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Castles of Steel
[05-Aug-2008] by Robert K. Massie History: 865 pages A pretty complete history of the naval conflict between Britain and Germany. Flips back and forth between battles and the major players, admirals and ministers. Very good until the end where is does start to repeat passages and goes into Beattys irrelevant love life. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Doc Savage
[28-Jul-2008] Doc Savage by Kenneth Robeson. Alternate History: 144 pages. Volume 1 in the series Doc Savage. 2 stories The man of bronze and the land of terror. Doc Savage is a great sample hero for my scion game. Nearly superhuman but not quite. Travels to Central America and finds lost civilizations and lost worlds in Oceania while fighting evil doers. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

More Annotated H.P. Lovecraft
[07-Jul-2008] More Annotated H.P. Lovecraft by H.P. Lovecraft. Sci-fi: 312 pages. Volume 2 in the series Annotated Lovecraft. This was no where near as good as the first one. Best was The Call of Cthulhu. The rest arnt even worth mentioning. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Sharing Knife Passage

[01-Jul-2008] The Sharing Knife Passage by Louis McMaster Bujold. Fantasy: 437 pages. Volume 0 in the series The Sharing Knife. The third book but for some reason dont have the second in the database. Dag and Fawn travel down the river towards the sea encountering a rouge lakewalker. Its a bit slower than the others but not a bad book. Dag is well on his way to being an evil sorcerer. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

World War Z

[24-Jun-2008] by Max Brooks Sci-fi: 342 pages The oral stories of the aftermath of the Great zombie war. Pretty good but way to many zombies. A plague killing 200 million Americans is unreasonable (thats 2/3rds of the pop in 1 year the Black Death only got 1/3 of Europes over several decades) getting that many infected by zombie bites it just beyond the suspension of disbelief. Other than that its a great read. The blind Japanese master is the best. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Annotated H.P. Lovecraft

[10-Jun-2008] The Annotated H.P. Lovecraft by H.P. Lovecraft. Alternate History: 360 pages. Volume 1 in the series Annotated Lovecraft. Research for game. Lovecraft short stories. Rats in the Walls: guy takes back over the family home, and its human sacrificing cult site and rats in the basement. The Colour of Outer Space: A meteor lands and changes things for the worst. Kind of like that twilight zone episode that this story was probably the inspiration for. The Dunwich Horror: a rural family breeds a monster, and it gets lose on the world. The Mountains of Madness: The worst of the stories, it just drags on and on. It does set a lot of scene for the later Cthulu Mythos world. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Manxhome Foe

[06-Jun-2008] Manxhome For by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 341 pages. Volume 3 in the series Looking Glass. The space sub Vorpal Blade goes again into space, to investigate a scientific expedition that vanished. They find another race, running from the Dreen. I be Kond, Boss Dude of the big ship. Greetings and sweeties we are is definatly one of the best lines in the book. The Space Marines get to do real Space Marine boarding actions to hold the Dreen off. They trash the Vorpal Blade again. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Complete Idiots Guide to Voodoo

[28-May-2008] by Shannon R Turlington Mythology: 312 pages This is pretty strictly Haitian Voodoo. It starts with a good history of how it developed on the island as a combination of native African, Catholisism and ancestor worship. There is also a great section on zombie moves at the end (where it is pointed out they are all not good Voodoo). This was good research for game and I wish whitewolf had read it before writing scion. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

In the Courts of the Crimson Kings

[22-May-2008] In the Courts of the Crimson Kings by S. M. Stirling. Alternate History: 304 pages. Volume 2 in the series The Sky People. Not as good as the Sky People. This is the alternate Mars, an ancient world wide empire, declining because of the declining planet. Technology is biological. Part of the problem is the difficult phrasing of the translated Martian. Stirling also goes much further into the aliens who caused the terraforming of Mars and Venus. The book does get better at then end as it becomes a political novel over sucession of the throne. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Into the Looking Glass

[11-May-2008] Into the Looking Glass by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 278 pages. Volume 1 in the series Looking Glass. The first book, it makes Vorpal Blade make much more sense. Someone opens a wormhole on UCF campus, nuking it, and spawing more wormholes. Then aliens invade through them and we fight back. Not as humorous as Vorpal Blade but we do spawn some wormholes on purpose on the Muslim extremists while we are messing around. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Pagan Christ
[30-Apr-2008] by Tom Harpur Mythology: 246 pages The premise is that Jesus isnt real at all and is just another mystery religion figure. The author concentrates too much on Horus and not other mystery religions essentially claiming Jesus is just Horus under a new name. His Horus myth has a lot of details I cant find anywhere else either. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Victory Conditions

[23-Apr-2008] Victory Conditions by Elizabeth Moon. Sci-fi: 398 pages. Volume 5 in the series Vatta Wars. Halfway through I thought this was going to be a typical rushed dissapointing ending. The author did well and wrapped up the story as well as had a chapter or two left over to wrap up loose ends. The war against the pirates is ended with a large scale fleet battle. Very little details of the battle in keeping with the rest of the series but more focus on the induviduals and families involved. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Greek Religion

[22-Apr-2008] by Walter Burkert Mythology: 493 pages Apparently this is the definative book on ancient Greek Religion. Ive read passage on the internet but not the whole thing. It is a little frustrating since the author makes some broad statements and cites sources to back himself up but doesnt provide the evidence itself. For instance he says Apollo is not derived from the Hittite Aplu and there is an inscription to prove it, he sites a source for the inscription but doesnt provide it itself. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Galactic Empires

[04-Apr-2008] by Gardner Dozois ed. Sci-fi: 410 pages Modern authors all writing short stories set in Galactic Empire settings. Mostly as part of larger works. Stories The Demon Trap by Peter F. Hamilton. This was a really unique setting. Wormholes are formed on planets and trains run through them to other planets. No space ships required. People commute to work just like in the NE. Oh there is a detective story too thats ok. Owner Space by Neal Asher. A future communistic society represses it citizens, some escapees try and flee to the alien but are drive to a third party that kills the alien on sight. Except this time where he corrects the Human empire. The man with the golden balloon by Robert Reed. I think i read something in this universe before. A giant, like Jupiter size spaceship is found by humans, a small party of them set out to explore an unmapped portion and discover an alien that built the ship. The Six Directions of Space by Alistair Reynolds. While interesting after it got started this was written horribly. There are alternate universes, one where the Mongols survived and came to be spacefarers. They start having problems with demensional crossings to other universes. The Seer and the Silverman by Stephan Baxter. This was crap. Enough said. The Tear by Ian Macdonald. And to top it off one of the worst stories Ive read. Some race that changes names and personalities has some problem and the author tries to follow it, but without explaining crap. Its written horrible and just a boring story till over 2/3rds the way in by which time its unrecoverable. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Urban Legands
[01-Apr-2008] by Thomas J. Craughwell Humor: 687 pages A collection of 666 urban legands. This reads like the Mythbusters episode guide. Most arnt more than a few paragraphs, and many are only one liners. They started giving more info like 100 old sources but this doesnt continue for the whole book. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Egypt
[24-Mar-2008] Egypt by Spence Lewis. Alternate History: 0 pages. Volume 0 in the series Myths and Legends. Finally a book in this series worth reading, its actually about Egyptian mythology, not some other mythology or pottery. It does a good job covering the basics of Egyptian mythology and making some distinctions of how it changed over time. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Greek Folk Religion
[12-Mar-2008] by Martin Nilsson Mythology: 166 pages Borrowed from Craig. The first chapter was excellent. It made Hermes make sense as a god. The others were not bad but not much useful. It covered customs not in the state religions we are familiar with. Information as a whole is lacking. It is interesting how many of those customs still continue today amoung the rural folk. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Vorpal Blade

[07-Mar-2008] Vorpal Blade by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 400 pages. Volume 2 in the series Looking Glass. Didnt realize this was volume 2. Apparently we have wormholes to other planets. We build our first space ship, a sub that converts into and interstellar ship. The book focus on the Marines, now Space marines and get silly with the allies we find: bipedal hamsters on hover boards, fighting demons. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

[04-Mar-2008] by Jules Verne Sci-fi: 437 pages Every so often you go and look for a book on the self and cant figure out why you dont own it. I had to go buy a copy and no one had a hardback. A French scientist is captured by a fantastic submarine and given a world tour. Verne anticipates many advance in submarines that wouldnt take place for 50 years. The only bad parts are the boring descriptions of fishes, over and over and over. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar
[01-Mar-2008] Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Alternate History: 158 pages. Volume 5 in the series Tarzan. Tarzan spends most the book with amnesia, but still manages to save Jane, refuses La, and defeats the evil men involved. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Son of Tarzan
[19-Feb-2008] The son of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Alternate History: 222 pages. Volume 4 in the series Tarzan. Tarzans son, one day just decideds to go all Tarzan for a few years. He ends up with a girl doing the same. Tarzan isnt in this much. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Beasts of Tarzan

[15-Feb-2008] The Beats of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Alternate History: 159 pages. Volume 3 in the series Tarzan. Tarzan acquires a group of animals to track down Jane. If I was going to say one the novels was exaggerated (for game purposes) it would be this one. Tarzans friendship with the leopard is streaching it a bit, as it no one noticing Akut isnt just a gorilla but some other species. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Flight to Opar
[13-Feb-2008] Flight to opar by Phillip Jose Farmer. Alternate History: 212 pages. Volume 2 in the series Opar. Hadon flees the capitol after he returns and the king seizes power. Not as good as the first one but it does set up for another unpublished book, and Opar as seen in the Tarzan novels. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

The Return of Tarzan
[10-Feb-2008] The Return of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Alternate History: 221 pages. Volume 2 in the series Tarzan. The second Tarzan novel. Much of it takes place in Paris, and its not the best beginning. We do find out Tarzan is pretty much immune to pistols. Opar is introduced. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Tarzan of the Apes

[05-Feb-2008] Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Alternate History: 245 pages. Volume 1 in the series Tarzan. The obvious first Tarzan novel. It ends very clearly expecting more. Tarzan is first and Ape, then a French gentleman. Many of Farmers descriptions while accurate were not Burroughs words. The trickster is there but not as emphesized, Tarzan is strong but I think Burroughs stresses his intelligence more than physical attributes. Teaching himself to read, learning French in record time, discovering rope, and other inventions. This was research for game. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Operatives, Spies, and Saboteurs
[02-Feb-2008] by Patrick K ODonnell History: 365 pages Short biographical accounts of OSS operatives in WWII. I was hoping to use this for research for game but its too factual and while interesting not fantastic enough for game. The real problem is that the OSS did not exist until just before WWII. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Hadon of ancient Opar

[31-Jan-2008] Hadon of ancient Opar by Phillip Jose Farmer. Alternate History: 224 pages. Volume 1 in the series Opar. Farmer took the references to Opar in the Tarzan novels and some knowledge of glacial period Africa and developed a civilization for stories. The hero, wins the great games and the right to become king by marrying the daughter of the former king but the former king has plans to overthrow the system and establish a patriarchy and send Hadon off on an expediation from which he is not expected to return. Of course he does. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Tarzan Alive
[28-Jan-2008] by Alternate History: 328 pages A summary of the Tarzan novels written as if they were really true. Farmer tries to clean up some of the discrepincies, and dating issues. This is the basis for his Wold Newton theory that Tarzan and others are all mutant supermen related to each other. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

What everyone needs to know about Islam
[18-Jan-2008] by John L. Esposito Political: 204 pages A FAQ type of book about Islam. They covered a lot of stuff including smaller sects tham just the Sunni and Shii which was nice. They did a good job being pretty unbiased but didnt go into much theology which is what i wanted. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Hero

[30-Dec-2007] by Lord Raglan Mythology: 296 pages I was expecting better but the best part is the list that I already had and his interpretation of the points. He spends the first several chapters denying any historicity to any hero unconvincingly Then tries to argue they are also not completely imaginary but all myths are dramatic rituals, and the gods actors, heroes are mearly gods lowered in stature because they perform no miracles. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Myths from Mesopotamia

[22-Dec-2007] by Dalley Stephanie ed. Mythology: 339 pages This is a new translation of several cunifrom texts. They are really gappy any hard to read, words and even whole sections are missing. There is a lot of repetition in what is there. The Epic of Gilgamesh (2 versions) The Descent of Ishtar to the Underworld Nergal and Ereshkigal (2 versions) Adapa Etana Anzu (2 versions) The Epic of Creation Theogony of Dunnu Erra and Ishum Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Fatal Revenant

[21-Dec-2007] Fatal Revenant by Stephan R. Donaldson. Fantasy: 610 pages. Volume 2 in the series The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. Its hard to write a book about a guy whose died before the series starts. I never really like Linden Avery and this book features her rather than Covenant. There is some interesting things, going back in time to meet Berek Halfhand but overall its not as good as the first series. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Crete and Pre-Hellenic

[19-Dec-2007] Crete and Pre-Hellenic by Donald Mackenzie. Mythology: 361 pages. Volume 1 in the series Myths and Legends. The series is supposed to be about Myths and Legends. Too bad its only by 150 when the author really starts to talk about them, and then goes back to pottery and archeology. This is a useless book. I got more out of Crete and prehellenic from the 2 page pdf on the gods on the Linear B tablets than out of this whole book. Rating: 2 (out of 8)

Encyclopedia of the Gods
[10-Dec-2007] by Michael Jordan Mythology: 337 pages This is a great reference work. It list 2500 deities from all cultures. More prominant ones get entries which include primary sources, and dates of worship. Traces origins and syncretions. Subject and culture indexes at ten end complete the book. Often mentions alternate myths of importance. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

The Voyage of the Argo
[09-Dec-2007] by Apollonius of Rhodes Mythology: 213 pages While not bad I can see why this is not considered as good as the 3 classical epicss. It seems unfinished, and unpolished. It doesnt start in media res and really doesnt wrap of the story at the end. The voyage out is extensive but the return is rushed. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Works and Days and The Theogony
[02-Dec-2007] Works and Days and The Theogony | by Hesiod Mythology: 128 pages 2 poems by Hesiod, Works and Days and Theogony. Works and days is addressed to his brother and describes farming techniques, in brief and other advice. The Theogony is what I was really reading for. I expected a little more details, long sections are just lists of names. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Gods and Myths of the Viking Age

[24-Nov-2007] by H.R. Ellis Davidson Mythology: 251 pages Apparently this is one of the definative books on the origins of Norse mythology. Its published under another title also. Traces the origins of the major deities, but divided up into areas not gods so some gods appear more than once. There is a lack of original source material so some gods that should have long discussions are meerly short mentions. Took notes for game research. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Encyclopedia of Hell
[15-Nov-2007] by Miriam Van Scott Mythology: 308 pages This was junk. Its got too many pop culture Hell references, movies, directors, b grade modern books. Even and entry on t-shirts. The facts are wrong, swashtikas are much older than 800bc. Generally useless. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

Beowulf
[10-Nov-2007] by Howell D. Chickering ed. Mythology: 446 pages More research for the game. Problem is Beowulf isnt a Scion. This version has both modern and old English on facing pages. It has a good discussion on old English pronunciation. Timing also coincided with the movie coming which i dont think ill see now. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Saga of the Volsungs
[08-Nov-2007] by Jesse Byock ed. Mythology: 145 pages The Germanic saga of the Volsung family: Sigmund and Sigurd. Unfortunatly it falls apart as it enters quasi historical near the end. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Primative Mythology
[05-Nov-2007] Primative Mythology by Joseph Campbell. Mythology: 504 pages. Volume 1 in the series The Masks of God. Covers a lot of psychology and early myths. Unfortuntly Campbells archeology is from 1959 so its a bit dated. I also wish he would make more of a distinction between H. Sapiens myths and the other Hominids. This is more research Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Oriental Mythology
[03-Nov-2007] Oriental Mythology by Joseph Campbell. Mythology: 561 pages. Volume 2 in the series The Masks of God. This would probably be better if I cared at all about Indian, Chinese or other Oriental Mythology. Campbell seems to diverge alot into the philosophies of the East that while religion just arnt mythology making the last half really uninteresting. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Occidental Mythology
[31-Oct-2007] Occidental Mythology by Joseph Campbell. Mythology: 564 pages. Volume 3 in the series The Masks of God. Comparative mythology focusing on western civ. This is research material for my Scion game. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

The Sunrise Lands
[25-Oct-2007] The Sunrise Lands by S. M. Stirling. Alternate History: 453 pages. Volume 4 in the series Nantucket left behind. The second generation after the change. Rather than fighting each other they go off on a silly quest to Nantucket, across the continent. I like that Stirling is telling us more about the world left behind, but Im not sure this is the best way. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane
[17-Oct-2007] by Robert E. Howard Alternate History: 414 pages I think these are better than his Conan stories. Solomon Kane roams the killing evil doers and fighting demonic creatures. The high point is when Kane is equated to the heroes of ancient Greece and defeats the last of the harpies himself. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

2001 a space oddessy

[18-Sep-2007] 2001 a space oddessy by Arthur C. Clarke. Sci-fi: 222 pages. Volume 1 in the series Space Odyssey. Read this again because Mark asked about the movie. This book makes so much more sense than the movie. Well till the stuff about the star child at the end. Man finds an artifact on the moon that leads to Saturn, an insane homicidal computer makes the mission difficult and the aliens that have their own agenda. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Foreign Legions

[13-Sep-2007] by David Drake Sci-fi: 308 pages Read a short story once where a Roman Legion is picked up and carried off by aliens as mercenaries, and later another in the same vein about a mideval english group. This book is the collection of all the stories about both groups. Its all ok till the end when it get kind of silly and we send the USS Missouri into space as a battleship against the aliens. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

MacAurthurs War
[09-Sep-2007] by Douglas Niles Alternate History: 492 pages The War in the Pacific run differently, as if MacArthur got his way at almost every turn and the Navys role was minimized. A good section on historical diversion at the end, and a discussion of where they got the info for the alternatives presented. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Von Neumanns War
[08-Sep-2007] by John Ringo Sci-fi: 394 pages This would have been better if it had ended with a more reasonable ending, or finished the war against the machines. Ringo also shows hes a fan of the Cruxshadows using their music and quoting the entire song Citidel at the end. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Only Begotten Daughter
[16-Aug-2007] by James Morrow Sci-fi: 296 pages Jesus doesnt come back but instead god has a daughter in the modern era to a jewish man. She doesnt die, but goes to hell anyway, ad comes back to work in the world. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Three Bags Full
[12-Aug-2007] by Leonie Swann Fiction: 341 pages This sounded like it was going to be a lot funnier than it was. A murder mystery solved from the point of view of the sheep. It had potential but didnt live up to it. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

1634: The Baltic War
[08-Aug-2007] 1634: The Baltic War by David Weber. Alternate History: 728 pages. Volume 3 in the series 1632. Much better than the 1634 set in Italy. It follows a few to many characters around northern Europe however. The USE is doing well despite industrial accidents and the locals catching up to them in technology. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Disunited States of america
[03-Aug-2007] by Harry Turtledove Alternate History: 288 pages Turtledove is really pushing it. How many alternate Americas does he have? This one is where the United States never came togeather. Virginia and Ohio are at war with a Californian trapped in the area, while people from other realities help them along. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Sharing Knife

[29-Jul-2007] by Louis McMaster Bujold Alternate History: 485 pages Not up to the Vorkorsigan standards but not bad. A little too much love story. Bujold creates a world were wizard-lords did something really bad and now their descendants avoid magic and try and clean up their mess and protect the farmers who dont really know what happened. It forms two social classes that dont intermingle, except of course for the main characters. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

[23-Jul-2007] Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling. Fantasy: 759 pages. Volume 7 in the series Harry Potter. Not as good as the others. The first half is boring, it put me to sleep, and I get getting to to do other things since it didnt hold my attention. They waste a lot of time hiding in the woods and chasing another quest thats really useless. The reasoning about the wand at then end is questionable as is the resurrection. I could see the resurrection working if he still had the stone but he didnt so why did it work? Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Fountains of Paradise
[21-Jun-2007] by Arthur C. Clarke Sci-fi: 245 pages This is one of the definitive Space Elevator novels. It reads like I read it before, maybe there was an excerpt in the Liftport book. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Rendezvous with Rama
[17-Jun-2007] by Arthur C. Clarke Sci-fi: 214 pages This is classic space exploration. A alien artifact sweeps through the solar system and a lone ship explores it before it rushes out. They dont understand the inside and whats going on until much too late. Now just can just wait for the next one. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Fuzzies and Other People
[15-Jun-2007] Fuzzies and Other People by H. Beam Piper. Sci-fi: 183 pages. Volume 2 in the series Fuzzies. This is the second Fuzzy novel. Fuzzies are people but their status is still problematic. Most the book follows Wise One, a genius fuzzy in the woods rather than Little Fuzzy from the first books. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

The Fuzzy papers
[10-Jun-2007] The Fuzzy papers by H. Beam Piper. Sci-fi: 309 pages. Volume 1 in the series Fuzzies. This is a good book. What defines sentience? Its more than make fire and build tools. Humans find a race on another planet that bring that into question. A legal case over the murder and defense of one of the creatures solves the issue. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

The 1974 Annual Worlds Best SF

[01-Jun-2007] The 1974 Annual Worlds Best SF by Donald A. Wollheim ed.. Sci-fi: 245 pages. Volume 1974 in the series Annual Worlds Best SF. Its been two days since I finished this and reading the index nothing is memorable except the horrible story by that really bad author Michael Bishop (the guy who wrote Transfigurations, the worst book I own by far). Just because of him this goes in really bad. Rating: 2 (out of 8)

Collapse

[30-May-2007] by Jared Diamond Science: 560 pages No where near as good as Guns, Germs and Steel. Diamond tries to explain why civilizations collapse, and draw parallels to our future. He seems to feel deforestation over and over is a main factor. Interesting was his analysis of the Rawanda genocide. He suggests it wasnt ethnic but class struggle do to over population. He cites villages with only one ethnic group where neighbors killed neighbors in the same percentages that occured elsewhere in the country. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Roman Warfare
[21-May-2007] by Adrian Goldsworthy History: 239 pages A survey of Roman war. The author does a good job describing why the Romans were different than the others and managed to conquer everyone else, and then once the empire can about pretty much stopped expanding. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

On Her Majestys Occult Service
[19-May-2007] by Charles Stross Fiction: 555 pages A cross between Cthulhu and James Bond. The hero does survive and doesnt go crazy so its a little more James Bond but he is fighting a secret war against demons and explaner creatures often left over from Nazi programs. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Off Armageddon Reef

[11-May-2007] by David Weber Sci-fi: 605 pages The premise is that aliens have destroyed humanity except for one colony sent as far as possible to save the species and now that colony is starting to get on its feet. Too bad he doesnt really follow up. It much more of a fantasy novel of a mideval kingdom reinventing rennisance tech and fighting its enemies. It will take him several books to get back to the aliens. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Boy Who Would live Forever
[10-May-2007] The Boy Who Would live Forever by Frederick Pohl. Sci-fi: 465 pages. Volume 6 in the series Heechee Saga. This is the worst of the Heechee books. It jumps around follow several completely unrelated stories none of which are interesting. They at least come togeather in the end. It just still remains boring. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

The Complete Hammers Slammers II
[08-May-2007] The Complete Hammers Slammers II by David Drake. Sci-fi: 505 pages. Volume 2 in the series Hammers Slammers. I think the stories in this one were better than the first volume. More direct fighting. Particularly I liked The Warrior which follows the several year career of a hotheaded tanker who does amazing things but always at the wrong time. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Beyond the Gap

[06-May-2007] by Harry Turtledove Alternate History: 332 pages Set in a civilization between Ice Ages the ice has started receeding and cultures on each side start to clash. Im not sure turtledove did his research well on which animals were in which hemishpere. Even by the end of the story I still cant place which hemisphere they characters start in . This is clearly the first of a roposed series since nothing is resolved. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Command Decision
[01-May-2007] Command Decision by Elizabeth Moon. Sci-fi: 384 pages. Volume 4 in the series Vatta Wars. Less focused on Kylara Vatta it does include her but the important part of the story is Rafe taking over ISC and starting to correct the damage done by the Pirates. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Children of Hurin
[01-May-2007] by J.R.R. Tolkien Fantasy: 313 pages An expanded version of the story of Turin from the Silmarillion. Compiled by Tolkiens son its supposedly the last of Tolkiens works his son will publish. Nothing was surprising in the story just added details from the story we already knew. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

The Sky People
[01-Apr-2007] by S. M. Stirling Alternate History: 301 pages 1930 sci-fi, jungles on Venus, and allusions to cities on Mars discovered by the first probes sent in the 60s but written by a modern author. The cold war has been carried over to the other planets as both America and the Russians establish colonies. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Complete Hammers Slammers Volume I
[25-Mar-2007] The Complete Hammers Slammers Volume I by David Drake. Sci-fi: 395 pages. Volume 1 in the series Hammers Slammers. More research on future tanks. I have read some Hammers Slammers stories before and I remember most of them having more fighting than this set. The Slammers are a mercenary company of tankers traveling fighting on other planets. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Space Opera Renaissance

[25-Feb-2007] by David G. Hartwell ed. Sci-fi: 941 pages I have been reading this forever. Mainly because it was so large i didnt want to carry it around. Some of the stories Ive read before, like the Honor Harrington ones, but most were new. It takes 5 or 6 stories from each decade starting in the 60s that fit the genera. Many famous names, Jack Williamson, Leigh Brackett, David Brin, David Drake, Bujold, Weber, Benford, Le Guin, Baxter, Moorcock as well as others. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

A Boy and His Tank
[22-Feb-2007] by Sci-fi: 266 pages Not only am I getting lax on reading but lax on entering. Its been a month since I read this. Future tanks, AI and human driven the ultimate fighting tools. This was research. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Swamp Sailors
[14-Feb-2007] by George E. Bunker History: 152 pages An account of the Navys actions in the 2nd Seminole Indian War. Basically it traces the development of the Navys involvement from an offshore cruiser force to a riverine force. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Best of C. L. Moore
[06-Feb-2007] by C. L. Moore Sci-fi: 309 pages Another book I started, and put down for months because it just didnt hold my attention. Nothing memorable excapt the title of the first story, shamblue (sp?). Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Empire
[02-Feb-2007] by Orson Scott Card Fiction-military: 351 pages This starts with a good premise America like Rome is starting to transition from Rebpublic to Empire. Then it gets silly, particularly when the mechs show up. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Good Omens
[01-Feb-2007] by Neil Gaiman Fantasy: 330 pages This is one of the funniest books I ever read. An angel and deamon loose the antichrist as a child and he goes his own way. I read it again because I god a hardback copy. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

Hitler Triumphant

[20-Jan-2007] by Peter Tsouras ed. Alternate History: 288 pages This is a series of short stories by a number of authors postulating alternative outcomes to WWII where Germany/Italy do better. In most the Axis dont win the war but arrive at a negotiated peace. The stories are mostly written as history, citing sources real, previous alternative history stories and completely imaginary. It reads like a history book. At the end of each section are a couple of paragraphs describing what really happened and the details the author changed to reach his outcome. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

The Amber Spyglass
[14-Jan-2007] The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman. Fantasy: 518 pages. Volume 3 in the series His Dark Materials. The story wraps up. The Battle against the Authority seems to end, but the Authority mearly retreats. The windows between worlds are closed. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

The Last Templar

[31-Dec-2006] by Khoury Raymond Alternate History: 526 pages The best way to describe this book is the line A sure sign of a lunatic is that sooner or later, he brings up the Templars. The author fits that perfectly. Supposed ly the Templars invented engima machines in the 1200s and used them, but everyone forgot about them after they were gone. The Vatican kept one in a basement and no one noticed. Using the machine some crackpot professor discovers the location of Jesus diary that the Templars used to blackmail everyone into giving them power. Oh then the main characters throw it away because they feel sorry for all the people going to church and dont want to destroy their false (according to the book) belief in God. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Suble Knife

[27-Dec-2006] The Suble Knife by Phillip Pullman. Fantasy: 326 pages. Volume 2 in the series His Dark Materials. The stangeness continues. The main characters start to travel between alternate worlds. Some of which are really odd, like having no adults. Te pick up a weapon that Lyras father will need to wage war against the Creator. A kids book where the kind of good guy fights God? What in the world is going on here? How did this get published? Rating: 7 (out of 8)

The Golden Compass

[25-Dec-2006] The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman. Fantasy: 399 pages. Volume 1 in the series His Dark Materials. This is just strange. Its a kids book, but the author drops you right into an alternate world with no explanations. Its unclear what the time period is,the seem to have a little magic, but there are airships and people exploring the Far North. Armored sentient polar bears have a kingdom up there. Lyra the main characters discovers both her father and mother in the story, and both are gray if no evil, but she still tries to help them (the father at least). Rating: 7 (out of 8)

1635: The Cannon Law
[25-Nov-2006] 1635: The Cannon Law by Eric Flint. Alternate History: 420 pages. Volume 8 in the series 1632. I really dislike the Italian 1600s. This was a good series but it has diverged into history I have no interest in. It got better once the Spanish invaded Rome but I wish they would follow the German part of the story instead. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Strange Gifts

[31-Oct-2006] by Robert Silverberg ed. Sci-fi: 191 pages All of these are about superman, the next human stage of evolution or powers most men dont have. Stories The Golden Man Phillip K. Dick. Danger-Human Gorden R. Dickson. All The People R. A. Lafferty Oddy and Id Alfred Bester The Man with English Horce L. Gold To Be Continued Robert Silverberg Humpty Dumpty Had A Great Fall Frank Bellkamp Bettyann Kris Neville Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Liftport Opening Space to Everyone

[25-Oct-2006] by Fawcett Bill ed. Science: 308 pages part Sci-fi part real information on the Space Elevator. Some of the sci-fi was ok, some was pretty bad. All the science was good info. A lot of it was older and has obviously been revised in recent years. Its also not really up to date on the robots I know liftport has build. Its more on theory than anything that has been really done. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

A Meeting At Corvallis

[25-Oct-2006] A Meeting At Corvallis by S. M. Stirling. Sci-fi: 497 pages. Volume 3 in the series Nantucket left behind. Better than the previous book, less obscure languages with no translation. He did expand more into gaelic than the last book, but at least translated it. This book should have been called the Protectors War since it was more about war between the good guys and the Protecotrate than the last one. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

A Guide to the Battles of the American Revolution
[05-Oct-2006] by Theodore Savas History: 360 pages An account of each battle of the revolution, including battle in the West Indies and far out of the typical theater. It was surprising on how small most the units were, and how few men did in each battle. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Temeraire

[24-Sep-2006] Temeraire by Naomi Novik. Alternate History: 832 pages. Volume 1 in the series Temeraire. This was a great concept. The romans started capturing and training dragons and they are now part of the military forces of the world providing a small arial corp to Napoleonic Europe. The dragons are tied somewhat to a Captain, but he has a full crew riding all about the harness on the dragon, like the crew of a small ship. Boarding actions take place a dragonback, and most combat is dragon to dragon. The story follows a British sea captain who accidently winds up as a dragon captain to a Chinese dragon ment for Napoleon. They fight for England, visit China and return to be present at Jena. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

End of the Beginning

[19-Sep-2006] End of the Beginning by Harry Turtledove. Alternate History: 519 pages. Volume 2 in the series Japan Alternate WWII. The second book. The US retakes Hawaii from Japan with overwhealming force. The book is like the first one that mentions battles only in passing and follows mostly civilians. Im not sure how well a third book will do since most the Japanese officers are gone now. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Dragons Fire

[15-Sep-2006] Dragons Fire by Todd McCaffery. Sci-fi: 366 pages. Volume 0 in the series Pern. Despite the cover saying Anne McCaffery and her son wrote this its clear he did most the work. The time period makes no sense, its early enough that fire lizards are still around, but mines are mined out? I didnt care about any of the characters, the dragon riders are peripheral. Instead we are following mostly a bunch of kids, one of whom is mute yet able to get along find in a mideaval society wander all over the planet alone. Oh and there is no way firestone is so volitile, it would have been destroyed natrually ages ago. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Thy Kingdom Come An Evangelicals Lament

[11-Sep-2006] by Randall Balmer Political: 242 pages Borrowed this from Roberto. Basically its a liberal Christian pointing out how the Religious Right has sold out thier Christian values an become hypocrites. Chapters are on things like how the focus on abortion, which the bible doesnt directly address, but are ok with divorce. He also covers Their attempt to destroy the first amendment, School vouchers, anti-scientific teachings, and environmentalism, and how the Religious Right has twisted all of them to a pont of view thats decidedly not what the bible supported. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern
[08-Aug-2006] Moreta: Dragonlady of Pern by Anne McCaffery. Sci-fi: 331 pages. Volume 0 in the series Pern. This is early history of Pern before they have lost so much and shows how they lose so much. Each plague that comes to the northern continent saps people who remember the old Earth, and its technology until it all becomes myth. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

The Dragonriders of Pern

[23-Jul-2006] The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffery. Sci-fi: 750 pages. Volume 1 in the series Pern. The best fantasy series that really isnt fantasy. Its sci-fi, despite the dragons nothing is supernatrual its all genetically engineered. This is the start of the recovery of Pern where they rediscover their past immigration from Earth and start to fight back against the alien threads that threaten their planet. Its a compilation of the 1st three books Dragonflight, Dragonquest and the White Dragon. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

Time and tomorrow

[19-Jul-2006] by John D. MacDonald Sci-fi: 504 pages 3 stories Wine of the Dreamers, The Girl, the Gold Watch, & Everything and Ballroom of the Skies. None were particualrly good. First one is about a bunch of psychics who dream into us and disrupt Earth progress because of some ancient misguded fear. @nd is a time stoppage story that goes on too long. The third on a secret society recuits the best from earth to rule the universe, but must keep earth in chaos to develop thos e people properly. All these stories had great ideas, they just wenrt well written. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Days of Infamy

[15-Jul-2006] Days of Infamy by Harry Turtledove. Alternate History: 520 pages. Volume 1 in the series Japan Alternate WWII. The Japanese take Hawaii when the attack pearl harbour. The story focuses on the inhabitants of the islands, Japanese-Americans, soliders and civilians. Its kind of drawn out since they dont get much into 1942 before it ends, there are more books to follow. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

A World out of Time

[15-Jul-2006] by Larry Niven Sci-fi: 214 pages Again this was a great idea but not carried through well. Send a man as a pilot of a ramscoop 300 years out to terraform planets, for him its only 50 years. But he goes somewhere else and comes back thousands of years later. To a really stupid crappy earth. Niven did well with the first part but fell apart after the return with the Boys and them keeping adults. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Dream Park
[28-Jun-2006] by Larry Niven Sci-fi: 341 pages This had potential, live action role playing on a semi-real/semi holodeck. Too bad they turned it into a murder mystery and picked the New Guienia mythology to base the story around making it hard it identify with. At least I already knew what cargo was. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Mote in Gods Eye
[22-Jun-2006] by Larry Niven Sci-fi: 475 pages Human discover an alien race trapped at a single planet who lies about thier culture trying to get the humans to help them ut of thier system. They should have let Kutuzov kill them all it would be better for humanity in the end. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

The Fires of Paratime
[18-Jun-2006] by L. E. Modessit Sci-fi: 216 pages Ive read this three or four times before. Its a short book but good. A race of time travelers think they rule the universe, until one of thier own evolves and becomes a god. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

Planet Pirates

[17-Jun-2006] by Anne McCaffery Sci-fi: 890 pages Written with Elizebeth Moon and Judy Lynn Nye this book follows two women, distantly related through a couple of hundred years fighting secret pirates. It slow. They could have cut 300 pages and done a better job. There are to many themes brought up and then just dropped. Like the Jonah theme. And the dissapearence of Lunies story for several hundred pages. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

How few Remain

[13-Jun-2006] How few Remain by Harry Turtledove. Alternate History: 565 pages. Volume 1 in the series 2nd War between the States. An alternate history of the 2nd war between the states. England and France intervened in the first one and will probably do so again. Some interesting people meet each other like Theodore Roosevelt and Lincoln who would have been contemporaries if Lincoln hadnt been assassinated. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Engaging the Enemy

[04-Jun-2006] Engaging the Enemy by Elizabeth Moon. Sci-fi: 401 pages. Volume 3 in the series Vatta Wars. There isnt much engaging the enemy, mostly Ky goes from port to port ending up in trouble and just starts to build a fleet of privateers into a space force. The Vatta family is a good model of the Amber trading houses. Disparate members doing all sorts of jobs, as CEO down to sailors runing a loose trading empire. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

The Belgariad Part I

[31-May-2006] The Belgariad Part I by David Eddings. Fantasy: 759 pages. Volume 1 in the series Belgariad. This starts out very Tolkien like in the world creation. Overall its pretty good fantasy. The author does need to explain why the characters go to some of the places they go to better. They seem to be on a pointless world tour. This volume ends just as the apparent climax is reached. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Bloody Crown of Conan
[25-May-2006] The Bloody Crown of Conan by Robert E. Howard. Fantasy: 366 pages. Volume 1 in the series Conan. This took my forever to read, I think it was the small print. Its not as Cthulu like as the frist set of Conan stories these are all about Conan as a king, who seems to lose his throne on a regular basis and has to reclaim it regularly. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

In Fury Born
[18-May-2006] by David Weber Sci-fi: 848 pages This is pretty standard military scifi, kind of starship troopers like, until about halfway through when Alicia becomes possessed/mingled with the Fury Tisiphone, then merges with an AI spaceship. It stays pretty military scifi but with a definative twist. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

At All Costs

[07-May-2006] At All Costs by David Weber. Sci-fi: 855 pages. Volume 11 in the series Honorverse: Honor Harrington. It started out slow but got better in the end. Weber is obviously considering the stuff other authors write in his universe cannon since he uses it as major plot events. Technology has gotten a little crazy, I think the original ship to ship broad side was much better than the mass missles from extreme distances that he has now. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Sea Battles in Close-UP WWII

[01-May-2006] Sea Battles in Close-UP WWII by Eric Grove. History: 224 pages. Volume 2 in the series Sea Battles. Very detailed accounts of Narvik, the sea battles around the Crete evacuation, the convoys around Malta (by both sides), Java Sea, The attack on the Tirpitz, Operation Neptune, The Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf. The author assumes the reader is a navy person and knows a lot like the relationship of Jelico and Beaty. His captions are constaly pointing out radars, but he barley mentions them in the text, and never actually points out the mast they are on. I would have liked to see table of the ships involved rather than text. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Electric Forest
[19-Apr-2006] by Tanith Lee Sci-fi: 150 pages Its an interesting story, a guy remakes a cripple into a beautiful woman, tied to a capsule every 7 days for rejuvination. Then is devolves into a horrible spy/intrigue novel where he is using her to steal the technology but her duplicate is still alive. Not that good. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Dragon Lord

[10-Apr-2006] by David Drake Alternate History: 320 pages Drake usually writes scfi-fi. This is King Arthur period, with dragons. It advertises King Arthur and company, and delivers the King, Merlin and Lancelot only as side characters to some Irish guy and a huge Dane. Its not a bad story, they steal a skull of monster so Merlin can raise a dragon, then they steal the sword and sheild of Achilles to kill the thing. The whole King Arthur story is just kind of irrelevant. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

An Alien Heat

[04-Apr-2006] by Michael Moorcock Sci-fi: 147 pages Moorcock should stick to Elric. This was pointless, it was like reading the Great Gatsby at the end of time. Stupid vapid characters, little plot and not that good when there was some. In the far future super beings are told the world will end (over half way into the book). A time traveler shows up. One of the people falls in lover with her, instantly I might add. Goes back in time to get her, comes back to the future. Thats about it. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

The Humanoids

[02-Apr-2006] by Jack Williamson Sci-fi: 245 pages This starts out really well. Little black androids take over to help, and essentially take away everything unsafe, which is everything and then start giving happy pills to the people who wont be happy. The second half isnt as good as it jumps away from the starting character to somewhere else to fight them, introduces psychic powers, and the humanoids already control that. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Dies the Fire

[26-Mar-2006] Dies the Fire by S. M. Stirling. Sci-fi: 502 pages. Volume 1 in the series Nantucket left behind. The first of the series, I read number 2 (maybe 3) before knowing it was a series. Something happens and gunpowder, electricity and most every other physical property needed for modern tech stos working. Civilization collapses. The story follows 2 groups of survivors setting up in Western Oregon. One is a pagan group the other more miliant, both fighting against a mideval professor who thinks he is Sauron. I wish he had provided a map of the area. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies

[21-Mar-2006] Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies by C. S. Forester. Alternate History: 280 pages. Volume 9 in the series Horatio Hornblower. I wish Tmark had given me the first one no t the ninth but it was pretty good anyway. Its more a collection of short stories in chronological order than a novel. Each chapter is a seperate mostly unrelated incident in Hornblowers career. Its set in the 1820s so the great fighting from the Napoleonic Wars are over, in fact there is no real combat at all. Its definatly not Honor Harrington. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Boundry

[20-Mar-2006] Boundry by Ryk E Spoor. Sci-fi: 457 pages. Volume 1 in the series Boundry. This was coauthored by Eric Flint, part of Baens mentoring program but it seems mostly Spoors work. A paleontolgist finds an alien skeleton right on the KT boundry. A few years later we find a base on Phobos and they two stories come togeather. Could have been better without all the love story stuff and there were to many things that I caught on to long before the characters (the translation is target not crater for instance). Rating: 4 (out of 8)

1862

[15-Mar-2006] by Robert Conroy Alternate History: 410 pages A good concept, the British enter the Civil War on the side of the South over the Trent incident. Unfotunatly the author was clearly a Union supporter since the British entrace made the war short, and a Union victory. The British were inept, the author obviously never read his Mahan. They raid both Boston and New York, burning the ports, but fail to land troops and take advantage of the fact that all the Union armies are in the South. Then they sit in Canada and wait for Grant to attack them. This would have been a better book if the author was at least fair to all sides. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The 13 Crimes of Science Fiction
[16-Feb-2006] by Isaac Asimov ed. Sci-fi: 455 pages 13 stories some of which only have a passing connection to crime. This took a long time to read because I was doing the MCSE stuff in between. Stories that stood out The Ipswich Phial, and ARM probobly Nivens worst Arm related story. Other authors are Asimov, Phillip K. dick, Simak, William Tenn and others. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Elric Saga Part IV

[12-Feb-2006] The Elric Saga Part IV by Michael Moorcock. Fantasy: 856 pages. Volume 4 in the series Elric. Elric goes off the deep end. The first story The Dreamtheifs Daughter is really an Ulric story. Its a Nazi crossover but thats ok I can see that. After that Elrics descendants become more involved in the stories and he becomes a side character. They interact with Hiawatha in The Skrayling Tree which is told from 3 points of view and jsut wrong. Elric doesnt fit with Indians on dream quests. The last one The Wite Wolfs Son is at least more in genere. Again its mostly Elrics descendants but this time fihgting an evil version of Great Britan, ruled by a strange immortal embryo, The Granbretons are interestig and fit the dark fantasy I expect from Elric but it would be nice if the was the central character. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

Wandering Stars
[03-Feb-2006] by Jack Dann ed. Sci-fi: 243 pages As the subtitle says: An Anthology of Jewish Fantasy ans Sci-fi. It took so long to read because Ive been busy that I dont remember half the stories now. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Crystal City
[28-Jan-2006] The Crystal City by Orson Scott Card. Alternate History: 340 pages. Volume 6 in the series Alvin Maker. I think I missed a book in this series. Alvin continues his wandering, and eventually get to the Crystal City but its not that interesting of a book. Too preachy. The books are going to far to Cards morailty rather than knacks and story. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

A Hymn Before Battle

[26-Jan-2006] A Hymn Before Battle by John Ringo. Sci-fi: 467 pages. Volume 1 in the series Posleen. Needed a book for lunch and this looked good. Its a classic sci-fi story, Aliens arrive on Earth to recruit us to fight the intergalactic war against the evil aliens. Oh and the good ones are looking to screw us in the end because they think we are almost as bad as the evil aliens but without us they wont live. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Crackers and Carpetbaggers
[19-Jan-2006] by John W. Cowart History: 327 pages Andecotes on Jacksonville history. Some are repeated. There isnt a clear progression as time goes on, and the author has a whole section on himself thats useless. Most of this can be found in better history books. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Civil War on the Western Border

[12-Jan-2006] by History: 454 pages I read this before but forgot most of it. It needs maps. Never right a history book about warfare and marhcing without a single map. If nothing else at least one showing the major boundries and battles. Other than that complaint its pretty stright forward. Starts in Kansas 1854 and follows the Kansas-Missouri theater of the civil war with a few references to other places. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Service of the Sword

[29-Dec-2005] The Service of the Sword by David Weber. Sci-fi: 665 pages. Volume 4 in the series Honorverse: Anthologies. More short stories in the Honorverse. All good. Particularly A Ship Named Francis. Stories Promised Land by Jane Lindskold. Women escape from Masada, and Manticore takes a side. With one Stone by Timothy Zhan. The tac officer from the first book is picked up by ONI for a secret mission. A Ship Named Francis by John Ringo and Victor Mitchel. Tester, spare us this day from your Tests. One ship in the fleet has be the one with ALL the rejects. But why Tester did I have to be assigned to it? Lets go to Prague by John Ringo. What happens when secret agents decide to go on vacation, behind enemy lines. Fanactic by Eric Flint. Maybe there is such a thing as being to undercover. The Service of the Sword by David Weber. The story of the first Grayson female midshipman. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

Shadows of Amber

[03-Dec-2005] Shadows of Amber by John Gregory Betancourt. Fantasy: 254 pages. Volume 4 in the series Dawn of Amber. Stupid freaking fairies. This would be a pretty good book if it wernt for the fairy concept. Its not the first series but still better than Zelaznys Merlin series. Oberons kingdom is setting in, Chaos has gone to longer term plots rather than outright attack, and Oberon is starting to take the war to them. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

2010: Odyssey Two
[23-Nov-2005] 2010: Odyssey Two by Arthur C. Clarke. Sci-fi: 291 pages. Volume 2 in the series Space Odyssey. Short. Nothing much happens. Man goes to Jupiter, recovers spaceship, aliens tell man to go away, Jupiter turns into a sun. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

A Feast for Crows
[12-Nov-2005] A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin. Fantasy: 753 pages. Volume 4 in the series A Song of Fire and Ice. Not as exciting as the last books its still good. The book only covers Westeros, not the Wall or the East. Jamie becomes a really good character and Littlefinger pulls off some amazing things by just talking. Oh and Pig boy lives. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Years Best SF 10

[01-Nov-2005] Years Best SF 10 by David G. Hartwell ed.. Sci-fi: 497 pages. Volume 10 in the series Years Best SF. This started out well. Sgt Chip was a good mutated dog goes rogue in the army. The first commandment was an interesting interpretation of gods command to Adam to name the animals, and the results. The battle of york, a retelling of american history after an oral tradition evolves. The others wernt so good. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Bran Mak Morn
[30-Oct-2005] by Robert E. Howard Fantasy: 367 pages Bran is another of Howard heros like Conan. Bran is much later in history, in the early middle ages. Howard should stick to the earlier stuff and not mix real historic races with things he made up. Bran is the last kignof the Picts, no not those Picts, Howards semi-mythical race from as far back as the fall of Atlantis. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Count of Monte Cristo
[30-Oct-2005] by Alexandre Dumas Classic: 441 pages I remember this being better. I remember more action and less junk but then its a classic novel so I dont know why I remember that. I was hoping for some ideas for the amber game out of it but didnt get any. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Years Best Science Fiction

[29-Oct-2005] The Years Best Science Fiction by Gardner Dozois ed.. Sci-fi: 822 pages. Volume 22 in the series Years Best. Most the stories weren't that good, and the worse they were the longer. Stories Mechano was pretty good, an autistic child controls a robot on an island and discovers a castaway. Start the Clock was jsut dumb, about a society where 9 years olds run things, but one decides to grow up. The author was trying to make some statment about age discrimination I think. The Third Party was horrendous. The Voluntary State, a future that makes no sense. Shiva in Shadow was so bad I dont even remember what it was about. Ok forget it. Just the good ones. Mayflower II a good generation ships story The Defenders Short to the point. Grandpa kills the genetic defends before they get too smart. Investments would have been a good story had it been aboute length. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Protector's War

[26-Oct-2005] The Protector's War by S. M. Stirling. Sci-fi: 483 pages. Volume 2 in the series Nantucket left behind. Stirling has written better. I think this is the second of a series that covers the world left behind his Nantucket series. There are a few hints in the text but nothing in the front of the book to make me sure. Its called the Protectors war but the war has barley started by the end, if it really has started. There is too much bouncing around between 3rd person narrative and internal thoughts in italics. Oh and using other languages without translations is ok sometimes, but Sindarin even Im going to have to look that up. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

A Hero Born

[26-Sep-2005] A Hero Born by Michael A Stackpole. Fantasy: 420 pages. Volume 1 in the series Realms of Chaos. A strange novel. It reads vaugly like its part of a preexisting world but its number one in the series. I think thats part of what made it good considering the twist near the end. Apparently Magicians let loose a demonic world that took over half the continent and the people are fihgting against it with long term rulers on both sids making aliiances and such. The hero is the son of a former hero who died years ago fighting the war and is of to live up to his fathers name. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Zulu War 1879

[30-Jul-2005] The Zulu War 1879 by Ian Knight. History: 93 pages. Volume 0 in the series Essential Histories. A short but complete history of the Zulu War. The war includes the famous battles of Rourkes Drift and Isandlwana. The author does a good job until halfway through the war. Then has a whole diversion, about repurcussions, what else if going on in the world and a small segemnt about a Lt. in the war. Its really distracting, like he was done and wasnt going to cover the rest of the war. Then he returns to the rest of the war. It would have been beter in another order. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Job: A Comedy of Justice
[22-Jul-2005] by Robert A. Heinlein Sci-fi: 311 pages This is a great book. God gets Loki to mess with a very devout guy since Satan wont do it anymore. The guy keeps transfering worlds everytime he gets things togeather. Its not a religious preachy book, but an alternate world one with each place being just a little different. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

The Hallowed Hunt

[19-Jul-2005] The Hallowed Hunt by Louis McMaster Bujold. Fantasy: 372 pages. Volume 3 in the series Chalion. Maybe not really the 3rd book in the series since its not realted to the other too at all but its set in the same world. A great world. Bujold continues to expand it creativly adding a pagan animal soul blending with humans to the previous 5 god structure. And she goes into ow the gods deal with the blendings. The social structure of this part of the world isnt as well done as in the last two books, it returned to Dukes and the like but the mystical stuff made up for it. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

[17-Jul-2005] Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling. Fantasy: 652 pages. Volume 6 in the series Harry Potter. Rowling again shows she as a good understanding of classical story telling. The right person dies, after the underworld journey. Though there are some hints he may come back. Most the boot was about horcurxes, storing part of the soul in an object in case you get killed so you can come back. The dead guy knew albout them and seemd to eagar to be killed not to have prepared. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The sorrows of empire

[13-Jul-2005] by Chalmers Johnson Political: 389 pages While the guy has the right idea, America is an empire, similar to rome and bound to fall his arguments are heavily biased and lacking. Statements he makes like an experiment comparable to Hitlers 1937 bombing of the Spanish village of Guernica (talking about using the the bombers on Diego Garcia) are just inflamatory and border on lies. They are just too extreme from the truth. He has few examples of our autrocities, reuses the same ones over and over and never quite explains why everyone else in hte world would give in to having American bases of they are so bad. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

Before the Golden Age
[02-Jul-2005] by Issac Asimov ed. Sci-fi: 912 pages Really old sci-fi, from the 30s. This is a collection of stories Asimov remembered reading as a kid. The science is mostly bad. Its got all other white man is superior overtones of Tarzan but its still good sci-fi. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Misplaced Legion
[26-Jun-2005] The Misplaced Legion by Harry Turtledove. Fantasy: 323 pages. Volume 1 in the series Videssos Cycle. A part of a Roman Legion gets transported to another world into a Byzantium like empire and must become mercenaries. A good book. Turtledove knows his Byzantine history and does a good job creating a new world with a similar empire, with a little magic. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

The Skinner

[22-Jun-2005] by Neal Asher Sci-fi: 424 pages The book dives in with strange terms and acronyms like its the second of a series, and is highly confusing till the author calms down and writes a better story. A water world where some kind of virus gives most the life rapid healing a virtual immortaility unless destroyed. Too bad the author made the only characters worth reading about the AIs. I carted nothing for the people, the infected people (the Hoopers), or the cyborg that eventually gets infected. Not well written I'll pass it on as Clayton suggested. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Tallahassee A Captial City History
[12-Jun-2005] Tallahassee A Captial City History by Julianne Hare. History: 156 pages. Volume 0 in the series The Making of America. Finally a history of Tallahassee that doesnt focus on pictures or something silly. Its rather short, but then not a lot happened here. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Floridas Seminole Wards

[30-May-2005] Floridas Seminole Wards by Joe Knetsch. History: 156 pages. Volume 0 in the series The Making of America. A short history of the Seminole Indians wars. Reads almost exactly like my other history of the wars, so much I wonder how much text is taken directly and which from which one. This one was short and had more left out, making it seem less a debacle than the other book did and presented the war with a more neutral point of view. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Shadow of the Giant

[25-May-2005] Shadow of the Giant by Orson Scott Card. Sci-fi: 367 pages. Volume 8 in the series Ender's Game. Peter continues to try and conquer the world but rather than making him the evil we expect in the first book he seems a rather benign uniter, kind of disapointing. Bean does a lot of the work, and continues to chase after his kids, as the former teachers try and ship all the Battle school kids off to the colonies. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Florida Wildflowers
[12-May-2005] by Walter Kingsley Taylor Science: 370 pages Picked this up to try and identfy the many flower pictures Ive taken recenty. It has 2 parts, the first half detailing eco regions of florida and what to find there. The second on induvidual flowers, descriptions and where they might be found. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The 1981 Annual Worlds Best SF

[07-May-2005] The 1981 Annual Worlds Best SF by Donald A. Wollheim ed.. Sci-fi: 243 pages. Volume 1981 in the series Annual Worlds Best SF. I like the short stories from this period much better than those in the current best SF. I read this along with the others I have years ago and find almost everyting in in good. Stories Variation on a Theme from Beethoven by Sharon Webb Beatnik Bayou by John Varley Elbow Room by Marion Zimmer Bradley The Ugly Chickens by Howard Waldrop. A what if dods had been brought to America, and raised by backwoods folk for years. Prime Time by Norman Spinard Nightflyers by George R. R. Martin. Martin found his calling the later Game of Thrones series. This story definatly wasnt up to that caliber of writing. A Spaceship Bulit of Stone by Lisa Tuttle Window by Bob Lemon The Summer Sweet, The Winter Wild by Michael G. Coney Archanos by Lee Killough Rating: 6 (out of 8)

The 1973 Annual Worlds Best SF

[05-May-2005] The 1973 Annual Worlds Best SF by Donald A. Wollheim ed.. Sci-fi: 273 pages. Volume 1973 in the series Annual Worlds Best SF. Goat Song Goat Song by Poul Anderson. Probobly the worst story he ever wrote. I think its here jsut because of his name recognition. An Orpheus take off. The Man who walked home y James Tiptree. Time travel from the outside observer. Oh, Valinda! by Michael G. Coney The Gold at Starbows End by Frederik Pohl To Walk A Citys Street by Clifford D. Simak Rorqual Maru by T. J. Bass Changing Woman by W. Macfarlane Willies Blues by Robert J. Tlley Long Shot by Vernor Vinge Thus Love Betrays Us by Phyllis MacLennon Rating: 6 (out of 8)

With a Tangled Skein

[24-Apr-2005] With a Tangled Skein by Piers Anthony. Fantasy: 404 pages. Volume 3 in the series Incarnations of Immortality. Read this many years ago along with the rest of the series. Needed a book at All Saints one day. This one follows a girl who becomes the Incarnation of Fate, twice. The concept of people becomeing Incarnations was a great one with the first book but by this point is starting to get tired. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Gateway
[10-Apr-2005] Gateway by Frederick Pohl. Sci-fi: 278 pages. Volume 1 in the series Gateway. Its been many years since I read this and I remember it being better. This time I relized just how much talking Robbie does with the psychoanylast rather than exploring Heechee things in space. Maybe it was the rest of the series that was so much better. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The World Turned Upside Down

[01-Apr-2005] by David Drake ed. Sci-fi: 743 pages A collection of short stories that David Drake, Eric Flint and Jim Bean liked as kids and that got them into sci-fi. Almost everyone of them was a great story and Id read very few of them before. Stories Rescue Party by Arthur C. Clarke The Menace from Earth by Robert A. Heinlein Code Three by Rick Raphael Hunting Problem by Robert Seckley Black Destroyer by Van Vogt A Pail of Air by Fritz Leiber Thy Rocks and Rills by Robert Ernest Gilbert A Gun for Dinosaur by L. Sprauge de Camp Goblin Night by James H. Schmitz The only thing We Learn by C.M. Kornbluth Tigger Tide by Wyman Guin The Aliens by Murray Leinster All the way back by Michael Shaara The last command by Keith Laumer Who goes there? by John W, Campbell Quietus by Ross Rocklyne Answer by Fredric Brown The last question by Isaac Asimov The cold equations by Tom Godwin Shambleau by C. L. Moore Turning Point by Poul Anderson Heavy Planet by Lee Gregor Omnilingual by H. Beam Piper The Gentle Earth by Christpher Anvil Environment by chester S. Geier Liane the Wayfarer by Jack Vance Spawn by P. Schuyler Miller St. George and the Dragon by Gordon R. Dickson Thunder and Roses by Theodore Sturgeon Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Dragonsblood

[08-Mar-2005] Dragonsblood by Todd McCaffrey. Sci-fi: 438 pages. Volume 2 in the series Todds Dragonriders of Pern. I skipped the first novel by Todd not being sure it would be anywhere near as good as his mothers stories. It wasnt as bad as I thought it might be however. The only real problem was an over use of timing it to solve his plot problem. The book is set just after the 1st pass and just as the 3rd starts with the two stories bouncing back and forth as the two almost interact. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Scotland History of a Nation

[27-Feb-2005] by David Ross History: 384 pages I would have rated this book higher but there isnt a single map of Scotland in it. How can you write a history and not even include a map of the country your writing about? Other than the lack of maps its a very general overview of Scotland, the author doesnt go into much detail on anything and spends a lot of time on how people lived, but not too much. The chronology in the back is pretty good. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

Citizen Soldier
[21-Feb-2005] by Stephen E. Ambrose History: 528 pages Stories of the ground troops in WWII from Normandy to the fall of Germany. Most of it is from the point of view of the infantry, and small action, not the genreal and sweeping motions. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

A History of Russia
[08-Feb-2005] by Bernard Pares History: 611 pages A history of Russia from around 800, when recored Russian starts to just after WWII. The fact that the author insists on translating all Ivans to Johns makes me suspicious of the rest of the book. Its not dry enough for my tastes in history, not enough details of battles, and politics. Rating: 3 (out of 8)

The Stars at War

[05-Feb-2005] The Stars at War by David Weber. Sci-fi: 806 pages. Volume 1 in the series Insurrection. Great space battles. 2 Stories Crusade: A fanactical religious sect, created by lost human colonists attacks, and decides the heritic humans are more important to destroy than the aliens they were raised to hate. A good Prime Directive gone wrong story. In Death Ground: The next generations war against a completly inhuman agressive foe that decicdes humans make great food. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Coming of the Cimmerian

[20-Jan-2005] The Coming of the Cimmerian by Robert E. Howard. Fantasy: 463 pages. Volume 1 in the series Conan. The original Conan stories. In general the barbarian runs across a supernatural, and after some trials kills it. Very Lovecraft in places. There are to many stories that are similar to seperate them here, some are fragments and drafts. The font of this book was horrible and I think the stories were better but the font turned me off the book wasnt as enjoyable as it should have been. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

America (The book)
[10-Jan-2005] by Jon Stewart ed. Humor: 227 pages Not as funny as everyone says. There are some cute things like th repeated, we couldn't afford the graphic we wanted here because the other publisher wants to much money. The international chapter at the end is probobaly the best. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Tunnel in the Sky
[01-Jan-2005] by Robert A. Heinlein Sci-fi: 214 pages Was bored at All Saints so I picked this up and read it in about 2 hours. A Lord of the flies type of story where school kids get stuck in a primative place and have to recreate government and society before being rescued years later. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

Crown of Slaves

[31-Dec-2004] Crown of Slaves by David Weber. Sci-fi: 505 pages. Volume 1 in the series Honorverse: Princess Berry. This is really a prequal to the Saganami Island series of books and the first book of that series makes more since now since it had lots of references to this one. The Queen's neice wants to be a spy, the kingdoms spymaster has a daughter her age, so they nanobot them to look more alike and they exchange places. Then there is a kidnapping of the princess (fake one), a slave revolt and the princess (fake one) ends up a Queen, while the real princess gets to play spy. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

A Heinlein Trio

[19-Dec-2004] by Robert A. Heinlein Sci-fi: 502 pages This has 3 stories: The Puppet Masters: The best story in the series, an invasion of the body snatchers good classic sci-fi with an American superagent fighting the evil alien invaders almost alone. I was dissapointed Heinlein couldn't find a better solution than a War of the Worlds ending however. Double Star: Actor replaces politcition during a crisis. Then the politician dies and acotr assumes a permenant role. The Door into Summer: A good time travel story with touches of Rip van Winkle. You can see the ending coming about two-thirds in but its good anyway. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Magic Cup

[07-Dec-2004] by Andrew M. Greeley Mythology: 296 pages This is a retelling of the Irish version of the Holy Grail myth, without the King Authur/Lancelot/Gunevire added on top its just the search for the magic cup/princess. Its a great story. Witch geas young king, young king leaves in searhc of magic cup, has many adventures in a half pagan half christian Ireland, finds princess and cup and brings them back to defeat the witch and take his throne. Great research for the Amber game. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

The Farthest shore
[05-Dec-2004] The Farthest shore by Ursula K Le Guin. Fantasy: 197 pages. Volume 3 in the series Earthsea. The worst of the series. Completly boring till the raft people. Then the dragons show up and you think it might be interesting but no it goes back into boring land of the dead stuff. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

The Tombs of Atuan

[02-Dec-2004] The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K Le Guin. Fantasy: 146 pages. Volume 2 in the series Earthsea. Not as good as the first in the series, half the book is about Tenar and not Ged. When he does show up he does little except almost die in the dark before convincing her to escape with him. While its and obvoius contunuation of the first story, with the nameless ones and the Ring of Erreth-Akbe nothing really happens of interest. Rating: 7 (out of 8)

A Wizard of Earthsea

[30-Nov-2004] A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin. Fantasy: 183 pages. Volume 1 in the series The Earthsea Trilogy. I've read this several times in the past and this time was to refresh my memory before the series comes on Sci-fi so I can complain about the right things. This is a great book, the best of the series. It follows Ged from a young boy to a full fledged wizard, defeating a dragon and his own shadow with hints of his further adventures. For Clayton: Ged is red-brown whatever color that is. Rating: 8 (out of 8)

A Canticle for Leibowitz

[27-Nov-2004] by Walter M. Miller, Jr. Sci-fi: 291 pages Sometimes you come across a book that there is no escuse for not having read it before, this one was of those books. Good classic post apocalyptic scifi. The monks of the Order of Leibowitz try to preserve the knowledge of the pre- Flame Deluge war, and when they see a second Flame Deluge coming, move that knowledge off world. There is a lot of latin in this book. If your not up on it it may cause some problems, thankfully most of its good biblical quotes so once you figure out the reference the rest falls in line. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Marque and Reprisal

[23-Nov-2004] Marque and Reprisal by Elizabeth Moon. Sci-fi: 324 pages. Volume 2 in the series Vatta Wars. The first Vatta book was good, but runs togeather with the Serrano series by the same author. This one was better. Its pretty short but stright forward space opera. Someone attacks the Vatta company/family and leaves Kyla without contact and eventually in charge of the off world assets of the family. And its obviously set up for more books in the series.

Planet of the Apes

[21-Nov-2004] by Pierre Boulle Sci-fi: 191 pages This was the origonal book that both movies were based on. Usually I'm dissapointed with movies beacuse they have changed so much from the book which I read years before but in this case I've seen both movies long ago and read the book for the first time now. There are surprising elements in both movies taken from the book, and lacking from both. The book is really a social commentary on how we treat experimental subjects, much more than the first movie is, yet the same basic story follows, man crashes, captured by apes, treated as an animal, talks, trial, discovery of the ancient human ruins, escape. There is no statue of liberty here however it falls much more in line with the 2nd movie where the hero returns to an well known earth, populated by apes. Also surprising was the sexual tension between the hero (Ulysse in the book, a French man), and Zira an element that seemed way out there in the 2nd movie. Rating: 5 (out of 8)

The Runes of the Earth

[21-Nov-2004] The Runes of the Earth by Stephan R. Donaldson. Fantasy: 594 pages. Volume 1 in the series The Last Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. This is the first volume of the 3 series of the Thomas Covenant series. Thomas Covenant died at the end of the last one so its also the last. Linden Avery returns to the land with Covenant's ring to find Foul once again wasn't destroyed. The Bloodguard have taken over the land and are obviously going down the wrong path, stopping all use of Earthpower. Caesures, time traveling tornados wrack the Land as Foul uses Thomas's wife and her white gold ring to try and destroy the arch of time. Linden must find the lost Staff of Law to fix things. She encounters a lot of old favorites, the Ramen, Wanyhim and Elohim. As well as some things thought destroyed, ur-viles, and Demonidom. It was nice to read a Thomas Covenant book without Thomas being his usual bitter self. Linden wants to be the hero unlike him but she relies to much on WWTD. I think this was better than most the books of the second series. Once again Donaldson has given us a good story in his unique un-Tolkien fantasy world.

The Shadow of Saganami

[14-Nov-2004] The Shadow of Saganami by David Weber. Sci-fi: 755 pages. Volume 1 in the series Honorverse: Saganami Island. Ok the first book with my new comments and rating system added. From now on all the books I read should show up on the main page with some comments. I really bad about reading four or five and entering them all at once so the clustering may look odd sometimes. The rating system I'm using is: 8: Read it twice in the first sitting 7: I recommend reading this 6: I'll probably read it again 5: A good book 4: Average 3: Bad 2: Really bad 1: I'll be getting rid of this one This book started out rather boring. I really wasn't enthused with it at all. There was a lack of naval combat, only 2 battles and a realistic simualtion and that was part of the problem. The book picks up about 2/3rd of the way through when the crew discovers the weapons cache and then procceds on its own to stop the resistance to the annexation. The book concentrates on some younger characters, setting them up as the stars for the rest of the series. There is some obvious forshadowing of a future relationship between two of the midshipmen. Unfortunatly since they are midshipmen they aren't really the movers of action so the book spends a lot of time on other characters, including those we will probably never see again being natives to the Talbot Cluster, though I have a feeling the Montanans will be back because of thier connection to Helen. Rating: 4 (out of 8)

Stalking the Nightmare

[26-Aug-2004] by Ellison Harlan Sci-fi: 299 pages The date read for this book is wrong. I finished it at Javaheads and loaned it to Dan before I could log it so the date is apr. This is the first log on the new system where I get to make comments about the book. And its a bad book to start comments on since its been 3 months since read it. This was a great collection of short stories, not all sci-fi. There are some real life stories, like the day Harlan worked at Disney (3 most important..). It was really interesting to read that, and then to have him act like the same kind of jerk at Dragoncon a few days later. Stories Grail The outpost undiscovered by tourists Blank... The 3 most important things in life Visionary Djinn, no chaser Invasion footnote Saturn, Nov 11 Night of black glass Final trophy !!!The!Teddy!Crazy!!Show!! The cheese stands alone Somehow, I dont think we're in kansas anymore Transceding destiny The hour that stretches The day I died Tracking level Tiny alley The goodness in the ice Gopher in the gilly

Ecological imperialism: the biological expansion of Europe, 900-1900
[27-Mar-2003] by Alfred W. Crosby Science: 368 pages Shorter than the handbook but well written and packed with info. Stopped several times to note something I read. Seems more tailored for the south than the handbook but still covers northern issues. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Heritics of Dune
[04-Mar-2003] Heritics of Dune by Frank Herbert. Sci-fi: 471 pages. Volume 5 in the series Dune. Shorter than the handbook but well written and packed with info. Stopped several times to note something I read. Seems more tailored for the south than the handbook but still covers northern issues. Rating: 6 (out of 8)

Reorg
[17-Jan-2001] Reorganized the list all so it actually shows them all. It sorted into the same sections as my library. There are still a few in here that aren't actually mine. I'll make a new section for that later.

Add Script
[10-Jan-2001] Finally added the Add book script. Until now I've been adding do the database directly, which is why nothing got put in since May last year. No you can't add books. I'll put the code up soon and maybe a sample database.