The Book Shelf: Sumerian Mythology by Samuel Noah Kramer

Yesterday after work I finished Sumerian Mythology by Samuel Noah Kramer. The book provides a glimpse into an ancient culture that I know entirely too little about and the way that they understood the universe. Most of the myths are given summaries with key passages written out though there are a few which appear in their entirety (or at least as much as we had available at the time Kramer was writing this volume).

I really enjoyed this little book.

Kramer's writing style is often dry as he glosses over exciting events in the collection of Sumerian writings (like when a professor, I forget his name, climbed a plinth with ancient Sumerian script on it only to get shot at by World War I soldiers and captured) but you can palpably feel his excitement when he begins discussing the myths directly. It makes the myths feel more important than they are and causes what could otherwise be a slog to become a quick read.

If you like ancient mythology then this is an excellent book to pick up. Check it out when you get the chance.

Oh, and if you use the link above it's my affiliate link with Amazon. Even if you don't buy the book any purchases that you do make through the link will help add a little bit of revenue to the blog. So if you're looking for socks now's a great time to pick them up and help out the Dyvers in the process.

The Book Shelf: The Radioactive Redhead by John Zakour & Lawrence Ganem

One of my favorite series right now is the Zachary Nixon Johnson adventures. The titles to the books in the series always read like they're from some pulp era magazine and this latest addition to my collection, The Radioactive Redhead, is no different. The books themselves have a definite formula: Zach has his life endangered by some outside group - be it mutants, criminal organizations, robots, or genetically modified superhumans - shortly thereafter he's contacted by a seductive woman that needs his help, and of course the situation always gets more complicated the deeper in he goes. They're just a fun and enjoyable read. 

The Radioactive Redhead is slightly different from some of the other stories I've read in the series as it largely feels like a scenario that you might find in any modern detective story. A singer, Sexy Sprockets, is being pursued by an obsessed fan and that obsession has begun to turn violent as there have been increasingly hostile acts done towards her. She then hires Zach to guard her and from there things quickly go away from the usual and solidly into more familiar territory for the series as acrobatic assassins, psychics, and even crazed television producers all make an appearance in this entertaining adventure tale. If I'm being a bit vague here it's because I genuinely don't want to ruin anything in this story for anyone who might pick it up. 

It's just really a fun, little read. 

I picked up my copy on Amazon with the Ballistic Babes Omnibus, which contains both the stories The Radioactive Redhead and The Frost-Haired Vixen, for $4.20 used since the omnibus is no longer in print. I keep hoping that Zakour will pick the series back up but there haven't been any new stories in about three years so I'm going to keep making my way through those he's published and hoping new ones are percolating. 

By the way, in the interest of full disclosure, if you click on that link it's through my Amazon Associates program so I get a small referral payment if you purchase anything. Thank you if you do, and thank you for reading. 

Cthulhu and the Old Ones Sing the Blues: The Beast in the Cave

The Beast in the Cave is the first story published in The Complete Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft. The story was written by H.P. Lovecraft when he was only 14 years old and shows signs of the author's inexperience. The story is short, only six pages, and builds towards a conclusion that makes little sense in connection with the information the author provides his readers. 

Still there are hints of the weird fiction elements that would become more pronounced in his later works once the Beast makes its appearance. While it's an early effort by Lovecraft it still has the hallmarks of his prose which make for an enjoyable, if all to light, read. Largely a forgettable story that leaves me unfulfilled. 

If you haven't read this one yet, then you're not missing anything.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Beast in the Cave

The Alchemist

The Tomb

Dagon

A Reminiscence of Dr. Samuel Johnson

Polaris

Beyond the Wall of Sleep

Memory

Old Bugs

The Transition of Juan Romero

The White Ship

The Street

The Doom that came to Sarnath

The Statement of Randolph Carter

The Terrible Old Man

The Cats of Ulthar

The Tree

Celephais

The Picture in the House

The Temple

Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family

From Beyond

Nyarlathotep

The Quest of Iranon

The Music of Erich Zann

Ex Oblivione

Sweet Ermengarde

The Nameless City

The Outsider

The Moon-bog

The Other Gods

Azathoth

Herbert West - Reanimator

Hypnos

What the Moon Brings

The Hound

The Lurking Fear

The Rats in the Walls

The Unnamable

The Festival

Under the Pyramids

The Shunned House

The Horror at Red Hook

He

In the Vault

Cool Air

The Call of Cthulhu

Pickman's Model

The Strange High House in the Mist

The Silver Key

The Dream-Quest of Unkown Kadath

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward

The Color Out of Space

The Descendant

The Very Old Folk

History of the Necronomicon

The Dunwich Horror

IBID

The Whisperer in the Darkness

At the Mountains of Madness

The Shadow Over Innsmouth

The Dreams in the Witch House

Through the Gates of the Silver Key

The Thing on the Doorstep

The Evil Clergy Man

The Book

The Shadow Out of Time

The Haunter of the Dark

Cthulhu and the Old Ones Sing the Blues: Introduction

I like big projects and series that tend to push me to accomplish things with my blog that I wouldn't otherwise attempt. It keeps me honest. It motivates me - and right now I need that because I have a lot that I want to do on the blog this year. Anyway, way back in December, 2016 I got this bright idea that I was going to do a complete read through of H.P. Lovecraft's fiction so I purchased a copy of The Complete Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft from Amazon and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Then it arrived  earlier this week and I was thrilled. The book looks to be of a fair quality and I absolutely love the subdued cover.

So here's the deal.

Over the course of this year I'm going to be reading all 69 short stories and novellas contained within this weighty tome. As I go along I'm going to be publishing my thoughts on the stories here on the blog under the series Cthulhu and the Old Ones Sing the Blues because I think that title is hilarious and it's my blog. You're more than welcome to join along in the process as I would love to hear your thoughts as we progress.

Now I should mention that the works of H.P. Lovecraft are in a kind of nebulous space within copyright law as there is a party that claims ownership of the copyright but has not yet produced proof of it so far as I've been able to ascertain online. You see you can read all of his works online, for free, from places like hplovecraft.com and the internet archive yet you have a copyright holder who is trying to assert their claim and from here things get into legal terms that I'm unskilled in describing or involving myself in. So instead I'm going to be very clear from the outset that I will be using quotes form H.P. Lovecraft sparingly and only in furtherance of the discussion of his works as is covered under Fair Use. I have no intention of circumventing anyone's claim on the property and have no interest in being sued. My only goal is to explore his works and to gain from them as a writer, reader, and Game Master. 

With that out of the way, welcome to the Cthulhu and the Old Ones Sing the Blues!

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Beast in the Cave

The Alchemist

The Tomb

Dagon

A Reminiscence of Dr. Samuel Johnson

Polaris

Beyond the Wall of Sleep

Memory

Old Bugs

The Transition of Juan Romero

The White Ship

The Street

The Doom that came to Sarnath

The Statement of Randolph Carter

The Terrible Old Man

The Cats of Ulthar

The Tree

Celephais

The Picture in the House

The Temple

Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family

From Beyond

Nyarlathotep

The Quest of Iranon

The Music of Erich Zann

Ex Oblivione

Sweet Ermengarde

The Nameless City

The Outsider

The Moon-bog

The Other Gods

Azathoth

Herbert West - Reanimator

Hypnos

What the Moon Brings

The Hound

The Lurking Fear

The Rats in the Walls

The Unnamable

The Festival

Under the Pyramids

The Shunned House

The Horror at Red Hook

He

In the Vault

Cool Air

The Call of Cthulhu

Pickman's Model

The Strange High House in the Mist

The Silver Key

The Dream-Quest of Unkown Kadath

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward

The Color Out of Space

The Descendant

The Very Old Folk

History of the Necronomicon

The Dunwich Horror

IBID

The Whisperer in the Darkness

At the Mountains of Madness

The Shadow Over Innsmouth

The Dreams in the Witch House

Through the Gates of the Silver Key

The Thing on the Doorstep

The Evil Clergy Man

The Book

The Shadow Out of Time

The Haunter of the Dark

The Book Shelf: City of the Chasch by Jack Vance

The City of the Chasch is the first novel in the Jack Vance's Planet of Adventure tetralogy and it's also the first novel I've ever read by the author. Having hear of Vance's reputation for years before picking up this story I had high hopes for what was to come, but the first 16 pages almost did me in. Vance begins writing the conversation his introductory characters are having in what I recognize as a Robert Heinlein style only he clearly doesn't have Heinlein's ability for delivering a quick paced and witty dialogue. Thankfully Vance quickly abandons the style for ground where he's clearly more comfortable. 

The lead character of the Planet of Adventure series is Adam Reith - a quasi-combination of scientist, engineer, and Green Beret - who crash lands on the newly discovered planet of Tschai and is promptly captured by a bunch of savage humans who mysteriously live on the planet. It's here that we meet one of his two long time companions in Traz Onmale. Traz is the leader of the tribe Reith has been captured by and the two slowly but surely develop a report. Soon, however, events transpire to make their report Traz's downfall and the two are forced to flee from the tribe and make their escape across the wilds of Tschai. It's in their escape across Tschai that the adventure really begins in earnest as Reith meets his third companion, Ankhe at afram Ancho (simply referred to as Ancho by Reith and Traz), and then encounters a wide variety of aliens deadly wildlife. 

Vance's writing really shines in the scenes where Reith, Traz, and Ancho are making their way through the wilds and encountering the early dangers of Taschai. Every new encounter feels familiar and yet alien enough to remind the reader that Reith isn't on just another version of earth but on a whole new world. It's a clear sign of a master working at his craft. Which leads me to the other thing that I really love about this book, and about the series as a whole, and that is how Vance skillfully blends the use of futuristic technology with medieval weaponry. In the same scene where you'll see aliens flying about in sky cars he'll also have sword wielding human beings and gun totting bandits. It's a juxtaposition that serves him well and that makes these wild moments where Reith is racing to save himself or one of his companions all the more exciting. His exploration of the Chasch city and his revenge on the bandits who control the city of Pera exemplify why this juxtaposition works so well. 

Overall the City of the Chasch was an excellent introduction to Vance and a very enjoyable book. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I do have some advice to offer if you plan on picking it up; though, instead of purchasing the four individual books in the series save some money and buy the omnibus like I did. 

Also, check out this bitching cover without the text on it. Not at all how I pictured the Blue Chasch but it's pretty fucking awesome all the same. 

The Book Shelf: A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr.

Without question A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. is one of the best novels I've read in my life. Miller has an amazing writing style that allows him to be absurdly funny one moment and then tragically prophetic the next without the typical sanctimonious preaching that can accomplish such things.

The novel follows the story of a single church through periods within the lives of three monks, of vastly different time periods, that illustrate the steady progress of man after having survived the self-inflicted nuclear annihilation of the planet. Each monk's life dominates a single section of the book with each life's story exploring a different aspect of humanity's climb back from the abyss while at the same time examining the importance of religion within an individual's life and it's importance in our collective survival.

Now when I picked up A Canticle for Leibowitz it was without ever having heard of it before. I had no idea that I was getting ready to read one of the classics of Science Fiction or post-apocalyptic fiction - and if I had I would have been far less likely to pick it up. So often when you see a book that is presented as universally praised it tends to be terrible. The writing is either overly stylized, nebulous to the point of pointlessness, or overly complicated for no other reason than to complicated. Books like that have an audience and it is small for a reason: because the vast majority of people who tell you about them haven't actually read them. These books take on a life of their own were people talk about how great they are without ever having read them because that's what everyone else thinks. That isn't the case in A Canticle for Leibowitz. Miller's novel is perfect in every way. The writing is brilliant; the characters are pitch perfect, and I cannot recommend it enough. Do yourself a favor and pick up this classic work today.

The Book Shelf: The Broken Cycle by A. Bertram Chandler

The Broken Cycle is part of the John Grimes adventure line of novels from A. Bertram Chandler and it's the first of that series that I have ever had the opportunity to read. Chandler has an easy to read style that makes the book feel more like watching your favorite TV show than working your way through some dense volume of immense and importance. As a result it's a lot of fun to read.

At times the story moves at a breathtaking pace with Grimes and Una Freeman, his only companion throughout much of the novel, desperately trying to find their way home after being hurtled through space and time. The aliens they meet along the way are interesting, and while not as terrifying as the plasmoids in Spider Robinson's Telempath, they nonetheless get the job done. On the whole this aspect of the novel has made me glad that I picked up several other John Grimes novels when I was at the used book sale because the character has a lot of potential and Chandler's writing is quite enjoyable.

That isn't to say that the novel doesn't have its issues. The character of Una Freeman is an unsympathetic mess who I often found myself wishing had died along the way. In a lot of ways it seems that she is a caricature of the modern woman (of the late 70s fashion). By turns she is independent and strong, then she turns caustic, then she turns into this sexually liberated individually who gleefully jumps into Grimes' bed even though she doesn't actually care much for him as a person. Without question she was the most difficult part of the story as she often bounced from one personality to the next with little connection to the events surrounding them.

Still, the novel was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from the Grimes series in the future. If you have the chance to pick this one up for a good price then I highly recommend it.

The Book Shelf: Telempath by Spider Robinson

I picked up Spider Robinson's Telempath for $0.50 at a library book sale a couple of weeks ago and finally decided to give it a try this past weekend. Like many of the books that I'm into lately this one takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where society has collapsed. Only unlike the majority of those type of books this time the end was brought about by a virus that affects our ability to smell and our sudden discovery of another species that has been living on our planet since the days when it was a fiery inferno.

I really enjoyed Spider's writing as he managed to make the main character, Isham Stone, feel real and the danger that he experienced throughout the novel felt dangerous. I actually caught myself leaning forward as I was reading the book and completely forgetting the world around me - which is the best compliment that I can give this book. It is cleverly done and has sold me on reading more of Spider's books.

If you're looking for a good, quick read then this novel will not disappoint. Also, fun fact, it's been published by a bunch of different companies over the years and many of the editions have really excellent covers. My version was a Berkley Medallion Book and had these trippy plasmoids floating across the cover with a barren landscape behind them. I dug this cover I showed above more though so I used it. Cool book.

The Book Shelf: Ready Player One: A Novel by Ernest Cline

Since it first debuted in 2012 Ready Player One: A Novel has been garnering a lot of praise not only from traditional literary reviews but from sectors that don't typically review many books (like gaming websites). As a result of all the positive press I went into this novel with high expectations and with a fair bit of trepidation.

The novel starts out quickly and then almost immediately drops into a nihilistic bent that nearly made me put the book down. This turn comes as a result of the world the book is couched in, a possible future where things have gone completely over the edge. Traditional fossil fuels have finally run out and as a result people have over crowded the cities leaving their cars to rot behind them when they ran out of gas. In a lot of ways it feels like the worst predictions of our potential future coming home to roost. But then there's the game.

The game, OASIS, is a massive, online game that players encounter through a sophisticated virtual reality world that far exceeds anything we have today but that is nonetheless plausible. It's in the OASIS simulation that most of the book's action takes place. These segments in the OASIS are often exhilarating moments filled with intrigue and intense action. Cline brilliantly uses the depressing and dull real world that the main protagonist, Wade Watts, lives in as a counter part to the more vibrant, virtual reality that dominates much of the story to pace the action and steadily lull the reader into a false sense of security where it's all just a game. Wade isn't in any real danger - that is until events cross over and his actual death becomes an imminent possibility.

The story of Ready Player One: A Novel is propelled forward by a treasure hunt within the OASIS for the greatest prize imaginable. It's creator has left a multibillion dollar prize, and control of his company, for whoever can solve his puzzles and complete the challenges within the game. Cline's tight writing excels at making the moments of discovery within the game feel exciting and his pacing throughout the novel is fantastic.

I won't lie, though, I struggled to get through the first thirty or so pages as the bleak world picture that Cline created felt like an oppressive weight pressing down on me; but just when things felt like they were becoming too much he picked up the pace and the whole book changed. It became a fast read that I had trouble putting down at times as I wracked my own memory trying to solve the puzzles and held my breath hoping that Wade would make it through the next scene without dying and losing everything.

In the end the novel surpassed my expectations and made me a huge fan of Cline's writing. This book deserves every bit of praise it has received and more. Pick it up if you have the opportunity and you won't be disappointed.

From the back of the book: In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines - puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.

But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win - and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

The Book Shelf: Leviathans of Jupiter by Ben Bova

The Leviathans of Jupiter follows Deirdre Ambrose from her home in Chrysalis II to Jupiter and into an adventure of a lifetime with the massive Leviathans within its depths. The pacing of the book is fast and the 500 page volume is easy to quickly read in large chunks as Bova's writing style is pitch perfect for the adventure within. 

Where Bova excels in this novel is when he's describing moments of action - the Faraday's first trip into Jupiter's endless sea, the crew's first contact with the Leviathans - and in moving his characters quickly through the plot, developing them along the way into nuanced and relatively complicated individuals. But it is in the development of those characters that a major weakness for this novel is exposed: the interpersonal relationships make no sense. 

The main villain of the book, Katherine Westfall, goes from being power hungry to a full blown psychopath without any reasonable explanation. Which is a shame because early in the book it's easy to root for her, as well as, Deirdre and her friends. Westfall is manipulative yet her drive makes her relatable and then she suddenly shifts gears and becomes a psychopath with no warning beforehand. It's as if the woman who's trying to become your company president suddenly decided that instead of bribing people to get what she wants she takes a .38 and starts shooting people. It just makes no sense with where the character was earlier in the book. 

Then there are the romantic relationships. These just appear to come to fruition without any explanation or actual, real build-up and yet we're supposed to accept that these are meaningful to the characters in a way that simply doesn't happen. It's an upsetting aspect of the book that found me putting it down and wondering why it was done.

The Leviathans of Jupiter is a book that succeeds on many levels, yet falls into contrived pitfalls of the author's own making at times. I will definitely be reading another Ben Bova book as this one was very enjoyable other than the few, minor, issues with Westfall and the romances. Well worth picking up if you can find it for a good price.

By the way the cover of Leviathans of Jupiter was made by John Harris and was the whole reason why I originally picked up this book. It's fantastic and I am actively saving money to pick one of the prints from his website.

Leviathans of Jupiter by John Harris

The Book Shelf: Prince of Fire by Daniel Silva

Daniel Silva's Prince of Fire begins quickly, with an explosion and machine gun fire, and only gets better from there as Israeli operative Gabriel Allon searches for a terrorist before he strikes again. This is the fifth book in the Gabriel Allon series from Daniel Silva and it's the first one I've read. The book does draw on events that have taken place previously in the series but Silva's easy writing style makes reading the earlier books unnecessary as there's just enough time spent establishing why things are important without belaboring the point or being so brief that they become a mystery.

The writing style is very quick and allows for a reader to just devour large chunks of the book in a single sitting. Its pacing is generally pretty good with moments of intensity followed by lulls that will almost allow you to catch your breath before then next attack. However there are some areas where the book falls flat (about 30 pages in total). These are generally scenes where Silva attempts a different narrative writing style (such as the chapter told from Leah's perspective) than the rest of the book, yet these are so dispersed throughout the book that it never feels like a slog to get through them. This is because Silva's ability to create characters who feel like living people is exceptional as not only Gabriel Allon but nearly every character you encounter has a depth to them that makes them feel real. Whether you're dealing with longtime, counter-terrorism agents or the fanatic Palestinian suicide bombers there's a sense that these people could actually exist - and I can't think of a better compliment to give to a writer.

My only real complaint with the novel came towards the end when things just seemed to end so abruptly. For longtime pulp novel fans such an ending isn't unusual, but in a novel that was so strong and perfectly paced it felt like Silva's editors were suddenly very concerned about his word count and he decided to cut it all out at the end. Still, the novel was a fantastic read and I will absolutely be picking up more from the series.

The Book Shelf: Oath of Nerull by T.H. Lain (Bruce R. Cordell)

The Oath of Nerull marks the third novel from the T.H. Lain line that accompanied Third Edition Dungeons and Dragons into the world and it is my favorite so far. The novel follows the adventures of Ember the monk, Berk Gorunn the cleric of Moradin, Hennet the sorcerer, and Nebin the wizard as they attempt to save Ember's monastic order from the vile machinations of the servants of Nerull. The pacing of the story is well balanced as it begins with an ambush in a back alley and steadily pushes towards an ending that came all too quickly.

Most of the novels associated with the Dungeons & Dragons line that I have read over the years are notable only for their staggered phrasing and unremarkable plot lines. They suffer from being too predictable and from trying too hard to illustrate game mechanics in novel that should be focused on the story. By and large Oath of Nerull manages to avoid those problems by focusing more on the characters and far less on the mechanics of the game.

Even if the characters had been nothing more than wooden stand-ins, barely noticeable and wholly unremarkable, the book would still be an great read for four events within its pages. The first I touched on in a post earlier this week, The Effects of Consorting with Beasts and Saying Terrible Things to the Wrong People, when I discussed the idea of magical spells having a deeper effect on a mage than just the expenditure of power. The second event came in how the Cult of Nerull was compelling Ember's monastic order, The Enabled Hand, which I won't spoil. Next came Nebin's explanation for the ruins they explored underground (pg. 134) which was dismissed by his companions as a flight of fancy but struck me as one of the most brilliant little turns in the book. The final event was the riddle of Lo-Riao (pg 139 - 140) which had to be solved in order for the group to free themselves from an ancient testing chamber and actually made me like riddles for the first time in my life.

When I began the Oath of Nerull I was worried that it would be another in the long line of disappointing fantasy novels that I've read in the last few years as it started down the same path plodding well worn territory. Happily it turned out to be one of the best novels I've read from the Dungeons & Dragons line and a fine addition to my library. If you've been hesitating on trying a book from Wizards of the Coast this is a great one to attempt as it's short, coming in at only a 180 pages, and cleverly written.

The Book Shelf: My Boring-Ass Life, the Uncomfortably Candid Diary of Kevin Smith -- Expanded Edition

Wake up and shit; wake up and shit; wake up and shit. These words that seem to begin every day of Kevin Smith's life during the year and change that My Boring-Ass Life covers in the director and author's life might led you to imagine that the book is filled with prosaic bits of wisdom on the best way to make that a far more enjoyable way to start your day, but you would be wrong. Instead this book is an often unflinching and demystifying look into the life of a man who has steadily overcome daunting obstacles that have stopped others before they even began the journey towards accomplishing their lifelong dreams and aspirations.

The book tends to go through cycles where at times it reads like a conversation with an old friend who's trying to quickly catch you up on everything that's happened since the last time you were together, complete with all the little vulgarities that we whisper to our dearest companions. Then suddenly the book will turn into an actual narrative with Smith telling you about Jason Mewes, his long time friend, and his heartbreaking struggles with drug abuse. Yet the book always feels like it's an intimate moment being shared between friends.

There's something refreshing in reading the way that Smith boldly lays himself bare. Whether he's taking a dump, bitching about the dogs, masturbating to pictures of his wife, or discussing the intimate moments that pass between him and his wife the book unflinchingly describes it all. What should make you as a reader uncomfortable is mollified by Smith's effortless writing style that takes even the most banal moments and makes them interesting.

This is actually the second time that I've purchase My Boring-Ass Life as I loaned out the first copy and never got it back. So when I decided to repurchase it I elected to go for the expanded edition and I have to say that while I enjoyed the additional content about Zack and Miri Make a Porno I feel that there wasn't enough new content included into the book for people who have a copy to repurchase this one. If you haven't read it, however, it is well worth picking up.

Final Score: Five President Bushes Holding their Breath in front of a Blue Sun Until Kevin Stops Making Fun of Them. 

The Book Shelf: World War Z by Max Brooks

This is a wonderfully written book that looks at the possibility of a Zombie outbreak through a completely different lens. Unlike most books that focus on a single individual or group and their struggles throughout the outbreak this wonderful book is presented as a series of loosely interconnected survivor stories. 

It's an incredibly well written book that only fails in two survival stories (about 15 pgs total). That's a pretty impressive considering that Max Brooks makes some daring choices throughout his narrative that will have you on the edge of your seat far more than you would ever have thought possible in a book filled with stories from survivors.

I should caution you that if you've watched that terrible movie Brad Pitt starred in that this book is nothing like that awful mess. This book is an outstanding read that feels more like reading World War II eye witness stories than anything else. Definitely worth reading.

Five LARPers out of five.

The Book Shelf: Doc Savage, The Man of Bronze by Kenneth Robeson

I started reading Doc Savage novels four years ago and since I first picked one up I've been on the hunt for a copy of the The Man of Bronze. So many of the later tales are based on the set up from this initial story that I felt like it was a must have in order to fully understand the series.  In some ways I was right. 

The novel sets up the foundation for how Savage is able to sustain his heroic efforts and establishes his connections with the Maya. It also provides a standard for all future efforts in the series to be measured against as Savage's talents are pushed to their limits throughout the story.  This tale also begins one of my favorite traditions in the Savage line: future technology actualized. 

On the whole the novel shows the early growing pains of a character that has been freshly launched and that is still fully developing. The quick writing and energetic actions scenes make up for those little hiccups that come along with early tales of any heroic figure. We're also shown what would become a regular feature of the line when Doc Savage acts as the Deus Ex Machina repeatedly throughout the story. 

Still it's a good tale and an excellent introduction to a cast of characters that would set the tone for an entire generation of authors. 

Four Rocking Chicks out of Five

The Book Shelf: Three Against the Witch World by Andre Norton

Before I ever picked up a novel by Andre Norton I kept hearing about how she was comparable to Ursula K Le Guin. I am a huge fan of Le Guin's work and the comparisons made me excited to try Norton.

The people who made those comparisons are liars.

This book was barely worth reading and were Norton's ideas not so fascinating I would have put the book down and never returned to it. I don't know if the problem is that she was trying out a new style or if it was just that she falls into the category of writers who have fantastic ideas but not nearly enough tallent to follow through with them. In either case I labored through this book.

One Union beard out of five.

The Book Shelf: Methuselah's Children by Robert A. Heinlein

Continuing my new found love of Robert A. Heinlein I finished Methuselah's Children this week and found it just a fantastic read. While this tale isn't anywhere near as quotable as The Cat Who Walks Through Walls it is still a strong book. The story beings slowly for a Heinlein book but quickly picks up the pace and from there never stops.

As is usually the case with Heinlein's incredibly interconnected works I find that I have to read another one of his books, Stranger in a Strange Land, to fully appreciate it - which is fine by me as I've yet to be disappointed. 

If you're interested in this book then you'll find a lot of the foundational elements for his final series of books that culminates with To Sail Beyond the Sunset (which is also in my reading queue). Here you find the first appearance of the Howard Families, Lazarus Long, and the groundwork for many of his ideas of the World as Myth. 

Well worth reading.

Four grown men in diapers sucking a pacifier out of five.

The Book Shelf: Jungleland by Christopher S. Stewart

On Monday I finished Jungleland by Christopher S. Stewart. The book is a really fun exploration of what it means to be an adventurer in the days when there were still blank spots on the map and contrasting that with today's GPS and Google Maps. 

While many of the reviews for this book would have you believe that it's the sort of seat gripping adventure that will have you reading it in a single night I'm here to tell you that is far from the case. The book is absolutely well written, and the parts focusing on the explorer Theodore Morde are fantastic, but where it loses steam is when Chris focuses on his personal story. He whines, complains, and constantly presents himself in the most unflattering way possible. 

I like him. 

That said, the book drags whenever the narrative moves over to the author and his misery in the wilds. Yet it is in those parts where we see the reality of trekking off to lost places where no one knows what will happen next.

Well written and definitely worth the read for anyone interested in the search for the lost worlds of antiquity. 

Three Sad Beholders out of Five

The Book Shelf: The Killing Floor by Lee Child

I finished The Killing Floor, by Lee Child, last night. It's the first Jack Reacher novel and not at all a bad read. As far as the writing goes Child has a knack for keeping tight action sequences interesting and enough questions are left open that you'll find yourself assuming that the wrong man is guilty at key points in the story.

I like that. 

What I don't like is the way that he tends to belabor certain points in the book. Like when he has Jack looking at a series of financial books. It's supposed to be one of those pivotal moments in the book when the main character has an epiphany that allows him to unlock a major question. Instead it reads like a man calling out the card catalog in an old library. 

All and all it was a good book in spite of the few pages here and there that were bogged down by Child's need to spell every action out. Worth picking up at a used book store if you can get it for less than three dollars; otherwise I'd recommend that you check it out from the library for free. 

Final Rating: Three Sad Beholders out of Five

You can find the original sad beholder here

The Book Shelf: Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin

Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin is one of those funny little books that once populated the literary landscape like daisies. At one time everyone liked daisies and they covered flowerbeds from Nantucket to Montgomery; then we all realized that daisies are rubbish and burnt our gardens to the ground.

I, however, like daisies; and I like Another Fine Myth. In the novel Mr. Asprin has found a beautiful little world that is nuanced enough that it presents a unique world view with enough depth to inspire a legion of subsequent novels.

Taken at its face the novel is a silly little thing that barely deserves to be read. It proudly proclaims its support of humor's least humorous joke, the pun. For this offense I avoided reading the novel for nearly a year and a half - and pity me for putting off such an enjoyable read.

Another Fine Myth is an intriging novel that presents a uniquie take on everything from how a wizard actually hides their wealth to Deevils, Deamons, and dragons. Mr. Asprin's take on Deevils in particular will change how you imagine one acting. They don't ooze evil through their poors and you don't immediately feel like the Deevil is the most dangerous creature in the room - far from it - but that's what makes the character so damned inventive as even when you think the Deevil has taken the worst end of the deal he's actually outwitted you. 

Though the puns do get a bit heavy handed at times the book is a fantastic read.

Overall Rating: 7 out of 10