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Wednesday May 31, 2006

Recently Read (April 2006 - May 2006)

Here's a list of the books I've read in the last two months, (that haven't already been reviewed by me), with an Amazon-style star rating and a few comments.

Demolition Angel - Robert Crais
The Forgotten Man - Robert Crais
I've almost read all of Robert Crais' novels now, and I've enjoyed every one of them.
Magnetic Field(s) - Ron Loewinsohn
Very cleverly done in three interwoven parts.
Conventions of War - Walter Jon Williams
Space Opera on a grand scale. One of one favorite science fiction themes. This finished off a trilogy.
Anything You Can Do - Randall Garrett
A novel length story from a master of the short story.
Timepiece - Brian N. Ball
I don't give up on many books, but this was one of them. I just couldn't get into it.
Dinosaur Summer - Greg Bear
Another book I couldn't get into. It reminded me more of a juvenille Jurassic Park rather than in-the-style of Rider Haggard.
Here Comes the Sun - Tom Holt
Tom Holt is one of my favorite comedic writers. This wasn't one of his best works but still readable.
Popcorn - Ben Elton
A truly excellent page turner that ended up giving me nightmares (in more ways than one). I would love to see a film version of this done by somebody like Quentin Tarantino, but I suspect that would be a career limiting move.
Promised Land - Robert B. Parker
Walking Shadow - Robert B. Parker
Playmates - Robert B. Parker
The Judas Goat - Robert B. Parker
Thin Air - Robert B. Parker
This month it was a Spenser binge. A very similar plot for each novel. Good witty dialogue. Tough guy action. Easy reads. (The Judas Goat even gave away his first name).
Poodle Springs - Raymond Chandler / Robert B. Parker
A Philip Marlowe novel. The first four chapters were by Chandler just before he died. Never before published. Parker wrote the rest of the book. It reads like a Spenser novel. As one of the reviewers on Amazon commented:
"I can tell you that about 1/3 of the way through the book I just started imagining that Marlowe was Spenser in some sort of time warp..."

Still very enjoyable though.
The West End Horror - Nicholas Meyer
The Mandala of Sherlock Holmes - Jamyang Norbu
Two Sherlock Holmes novels that nicely reflect the writing style of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Mandala is a departure from the norm. All previous Sherlock Holmes stories I've read depend on the master using his superior powers of intellect to find clues and solve puzzles in a scientific manner. This one also includes supernatural and unearthly powers. I still enjoyed it, but prepare to suspend your belief.
From Doon With Death - Ruth Rendell
I'm really starting to get into Rendell's style. I expect there will be a binge of her work soon.