The Planet Pirates
The Death of Sleep with Jody Lynn Nye (©1991)
Sassinak with Elizabeth Moon (©1990)
Generation Warriors with Elizabeth Moon (©1992)

Every so often I'll pick up a big fast bastard of a book and think. Hmm, this should take a couple of weeks to read. This is one of those extremely one dimensional space operas that works because it's so cheesy it's a lot of fun.

When I first started reading this I didn't know when to start, as The Death of Sleep wasn't the first book written, but it was the first in the omnibus. Ah, what the heck I thought, it's probably first for a reason - and low and behold it was. The books more or less flow chronologically. The books are about Sassinak, a kick ass ball breaker, and her cryogenically sustained ancestor Lunzie. They stumble around trying to find and destroy the mysterious planet pirates, clean out the moles within Fleet, and keep the universe safe from harm.

The whole Planet Pirates thing is never really explained to my satisfaction, but who am I to shoot holes in stuff when it's just plain old fun. Not the greatest books in the world, but they do deliver solid entertainment, and like I said this was a right big fat thing so I was having fun with this for a while.

Reviewed December 2002

Recall Not Earth (©1970)

Earth has been waxed, and there are only a handful of humans left, who now hire themselves out as mercenaries. The story is nothing exceptional, but it reads like classic SF (could it be because this is classic SF?). There's war between empires, mysterious technology, and all that other good stuff. MacApp was not a well known author, and sadly he passed away before he became the household name he was destined to become. 

This book is worth checking out if you can find a copy.

The Gamesman

Lame.  The main character has a brutal task - get laid and win the big game, don't and lose.  He shoots he scores.  Big finish.  The end.

Additional July 2003. Boy I was feeling somewhat brutal that day. One of my shortest reviews ever. I still remember this one - it was lame, but not as brutally lame as I made it out to be.

The Resurrection of Roger Diment

Another one of those "dead by 30" novels.  A utopian society where there are no old people, no sick people, and no ugly people.  Our 30 year old hero wakes up en route to the chopping block, and makes his escape.  Rallies the other old farts and saves the world from evil. 

I am Legend

Written in the 1950's, this is an amazing book.  After over 40 years it still reads as fresh, and original.  It's a vampire story, but it's not. Along the way it tackles all of the old stereotypes - crosses, garlic, stakes through the heart.

For those of you who've seen The Omega Man with Charlton Heston, this was the book they took some of the premise from. I remember being eerily spooked by the movie as a kid. The book is a hundred times better!

Sadly the book is short, hardly 200 pages. Reads like a house on fire too. This book is still in print and worth a read. 

Swan Song (©1987)

Although there are a number of similarities between Swan Song and Stephen King's The Stand - they are different enough so that Swan Song stands alone. The story is roughly a thousand pages long, and it is a very engaging tale. There are good guys, bad guys, lots of action, and a delightful pay off.

If you enjoy end of the world epics, this one is a mighty good yarn.

Reviewed June 24, 2005

The Sun and the Moon

This book received the 1997 Nebula Award for best novel (I thought it was good, but not that good). Not your typical fantasy, although it contains elements of the fantastic.  The story is set in France during the waning years of Lois the XIV. This novel mixes romance, the church, history, and shakes them all up (or stirs, I don't think Bond could tell the difference).  The result is a strangely appealing novel that unfolds and captures the reader.  Rich in the telling this is a fine novel.

Now if you're looking for a flashy seamonster fantasy, this book will come across as dull and boring.  I did get more pleasure that I thought I would out of what is essentially a glorified romance without the Fabio cover.

The Prisoner Within

This is the sequel to With Full Honours.  Very good action military SF.  Waiting for the next book with baited breath. There was a lot going on under the hood on this one. Action, intrigue, and all that good stuff. It was easily heads and shoulders above similar books I've read. This one ends with the promise of more! MORE!! MORE!!!

I've been waiting and waiting and waiting.

Hello Donald are you still there? (echo in silence)

Additional July 2003 - I think this was the end of the line for Donald. All I can think of is that the series didn't sell well and he was dropped mid stride. An absolute travesty!

The Ragged World

Earth has been taken over by white bearded dwarves! The earth has indeed been visited by aliens that resemble Santa's elves, and issue an ultimatum: clean up the planet or else . . . I found this book somewhat by accident, so it was a pleasant surprise to find that this collection of connected short stories was wonderfully textured, and far more engaging that I would have expected.

The Last Dancer

A very ambitious writer, who currently is without a publisher. Sad really.  I've read all of his books.  They are on the whole very entertaining, and somewhat forgettable.  However, The Last Dancer, was a thick rich tapestry that should in time be a classic.

The series was supposed to span more books than you could shake a stick at - unfortunately this was the last one to be published so far.

Out of print but worth finding.