Shijuro's 75 Book Exploration for 2009

This looks like fun! I've seen some others who've posted reading resolutions for the year, so here are mine:
1. Read more physical books. In 2008 I read ebooks almost exclusively, on my Palm and iPhone (because I always have them handy). Meanwhile, physical books have been piling up in my library. Unfortunately, the mix is very different so I've been neglecting some series I enjoy.
2. A better mix of books. I typically juggle half a dozen books at a time, choosing which to read depending on my mood. I used to include a textbook, a classic, etc. to provide some real variety but lately it's been almost exclusively SF and historical fiction. I'd like to get back to a bit of "what's good for me" in addition to what's fun.
3. Step outside the series. I enjoy several series and I have a bunch to finish, but I'd like to discover some delightful new stories that stand on their own. That said, I still intend to enjoy my favorites.

Note: I volunteered to do initial data entry on an online database of roleplaying games, spending hours each night this summer. It drastically reduced my reading time so I think I'll be hard-pressed just to get to 50 this year. We'll see...



Still chugging through War and Peace although I probably won't finish this year...



And, guaranteeing I won't finish 75 this year, I've started The Arabian Nights by Sir Richard Burton:

Book #1. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (ebook) - Fun, interesting differences from the movie. Written in a simplistic style but with occasional bits of subtly implied humor.

Book #2. The Marvelous Land of Oz (ebook) - Also fun, interesting characters and more of a plot than The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Book #3. Doctor Who: Only Human (Doctor Who (BBC Hardcover)) - Interesting story, but a couple characters were just kind of left with half their stories untold. I thought the Doctor's method of resolving the major plot was contrived and unbelievable, but the overall story was entertaining.

Book #4. Doctor Who: The Deviant Strain (Doctor Who) - Rivetting story with an interesting concept. The Companion characterizations seemed merely adequate (a bit more characteristic dialog would have helped), but the story was a real page-turner. One plot element seemed (unnecessarily) unresolved, with a device they'd stumbled on that seemed the answer that was never again referenced. I've made up my own last page that resolves it all nicely. :-)

Welcome to the group, Shijuro. Looking forward to seeing more of your library.

Welcome to the group Shijuro and good luck with your challenge, I think I shall reread The Wizard of Oz sometime this year. :)

Book #5. I am a Dalek - Short, but with some good interactions between the (10th) Doctor and Rose, and between the Doctor and Frank (a civilian). The Dalek plot was fanciful and a touch forced.

Welcome to the group, Shijuro!

Thanks for the welcomes, ronincats, fantasia655 and alcottacre!

This is going to be challenging, I think I usually manage about 50 books in a year.

Doctor Who books, nice! I've been watching the show since the day I was born (literally... my Dad started watching from Doctor #2, I believe, and raised me on it), and I've just recently picked up a Doctor Who book from the library out of curiosity. I'm not sure how it'll translate to the written page, because like you say, often some plot elements are so random and ridiculous that while it works on TV, it might not translate well to the written page. Anyhow, we'll see.

Welcome aboard!

dk_phoenix -- The Doctor Who books (or any of the TV series novelizations) work for me if either the story is a mind-blower or they really capture the characters' personalities, making you feel that you're getting to know them better. I've tried to mention in my mini-reviews if the characterizations were good and/or if the plot (and the Doctor's miraculous solution) is satisfying.

When they don't work for me is when an author has shoe-horned a story in that doesn't feel right for the characters/show, or novelizes an episode I've already seen but doesn't identify it as such so that I'm effectively buying a rerun. Thankfully, I haven't encountered either of these with the Doctor Who novels.

I watched Doctor Who around the time of the 5th Doctor in England. I was in the USA so we were getting shows with the 4th (Tom Baker) and smattering of others. I thought at the time that the concept of the Doctor was good, but the not-particularly-special effects and production values were disappointing. I watched a number of them but wasn't a big fan.

I was psyched about the new movie (and possible series) back in the late '90s, thinking it might get a big-budget treatment, but instead we got an Americanized Doctor Who -- instead of all the "running around" we got car chases, we got romance with the companion (which just seemed wrong, he's old enough to be her ancient ancestor!), and instead of a brilliant solution we got a climactic fist fight.

I didn't have high expectations from this new series, but loved it from the moment Eccleson said, "Hello, Rose Tyler, I'm the Doctor... now, run for your life!" The effects HAVE been special, the stories have been good (and some have been GREAT), the characters are interesting and multi-dimensional, the monsters have been fun. I love it. These novels capture some of that, and for that they're worth reading.

I guess I too would read some L. Frank Baum books this year, it has been quite some time I read one.

I have the Annotated Wizard of Oz home from the library now and hope to be getting to it in the near future. I do not believe I have ever read the Oz books before, but I absolutely love the movie. It is probably my all-time favorite.

Well, be prepared for some surprises in the book, then, Stasia.

>12 Shijuro:: Thanks for the rundown! I went ahead and read the one I had out from the library (The Pirate Loop) and enjoyed it so much that I finished it in one sitting. I thought the author really got the Doctor & Martha's personalities down, and it had just enough zaniness to feel just like an episode of the show!

I know what you mean about the new series (I think the clincher for me was Rose saying "But I thought you were from the North?" and the Doctor saying "Lots of planets have a North!" Heehee), though I'm a bit nervous about next season. Did you see the finale for this year? Absolutely unbelievable. I love how EVERYONE shows up and there are references galore to many things from the long past (my Dad was in 7th heaven with it, I'll say that much, LOL. He also got a lot of the jokes I didn't...).

>16 dk_phoenix:: You're welcome, glad you enjoyed The Pirate Loop, I haven't gotten to that one yet.

You and your dad should check out a YouTube video called "Doctor Who - Time Crash", a short special done for the Children in Need charity, it takes place between the last 2 seasons.

I loved the finale last year. I don't believe there will be a series this year, just several (4?) specials, with the series starting up again in 2010 (which still looks like a Science Fiction year to me, as in "By the year 2010, we'll have flying cars, domestic robots and be living on other planets.").

>14 alcottacre:: It's a pretty quick read (although you'll have all those annotations too).

Try listening to Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, starting the file just as you start the first chapter.

:-P

Golly. I had absolutely no idea that Doctor Who would translate outside the UK. What series are you guys up to over there? I see Martha so I guess pretty recent but not this year..?

>19 FlossieT:: I believe the USA has caught up with all the Doctor Who that has aired in England, with the exception of the latest Christmas special (I'm assuming there was one).

We've had two seasons of Torchwood here, also.

We've had at least one series of Sarah Jane Adventures (possibly both series, but I personally didn't catch any past the end of series one).

>17 Shijuro:: Oh, we watched it! And it was wonderful... my father got more jokes than I did, and I got more jokes than my husband did... so much fun. Davidson was "my doctor" (I think Tom Baker was my father's), so I loved it.

>19 FlossieT:: Yes, there was a Christmas special, called "The Next Doctor". Well worth watching!

>21 dk_phoenix:: I don't think I want to know any more... that title is scary.

I've (nearly) avoided hearing anything about any new companions, regenerations, musical numbers, etc.

Book #6. Serenity: Better Days - graphic novel of an original Firefly story. Great character interactions, nearly nonsensical and disjointed plot.

I admit, it's a little cheesy to include a graphic novel as one of my 75, but I don't read many of them and it'll help balance out with War and Peace.

#23: As I tell everyone, we are not the book police - if you want to count graphic novels, then by all means, do so. This is your thread and no one is going to tell what you can count and what you cannot count.

I count graphic novels - I have read Maus by Art Spiegelman and am currently reading Maus II, both of which were highly recommended here on LT.

>24 alcottacre:: Thank you, I wasn't sure if there were rules. I've had run-ins with the book police before and it wasn't fun (I accidentally exceeded the local WPM, she checked my libarary card and gave me a little lecture but let me off with a warning).

I debated, but finally thought it should count as it's closer to most definitions of "book" than ebooks (which I can magically obtain out of thin air whenever and wherever I am, carry around dozens of without anyone noticing, but are impossible to lend to a friend)

>25 Shijuro:: tell you what, it struck me the other day that ebooks are going to deprive me of one of my favourite pastimes: snooping on what other people are reading on the train! I've discovered many an interesting title this way, and also speculated imaginatively on what people's reading choices 'say' about them.

With those little grey boxes to stare at, where am I going to get all that fun from?? I think ebook reader manufacturers should be forced to incorporate an external display panel to project cover art and jacket info to nosy neighbours like me.

>25 Shijuro:: I find it interesting how we can absorb the same content in varied ways, from traditional books (dusty old tomes and shiny, pocket-sized paperbacks), audio books (that add a little something when read by the right person) to these "little grey boxes".

You may not be able to snoop from across the aisle, but if you're sitting next to them you just need to scootch a bit closer and peer over their shoulder (just try not to be misinterpreted).

Book #7. Gladiatrix (Early Reviewer's program) - Novel about a Spartan priestess caught by the Romans and forced to fight in the arenas. This is an interesting account of her growth from naïve priestess to fierce warrior leader, learning to interact with others. There's a bit of erotica mixed in but nothing too lurid (it's mostly just implied). This version had grammar mistakes peppered throughout (surprising in this age of automated grammar checking) but it didn't detract from the story. Enjoyable, especially after reading the historical basis for the story.

Book #8. 101 Family Vacation Games (Early Reviewers) - A good collection of simple games to play with children of all ages. The table of contents is followed by a chart showing suitability of each game to various numbers of players, and an index at the end contains all games by category. Many of the games are described completely, including variations, examples, safety concerns, tips for customizing according to the players, etc.

Some of the games aren't given such detail, however, and seem only half-finished. For instance, "Frisbee Golf" gets 2 short paragraphs, and gives no indication of how big to make the "holes" or what a "reasonable distance" is between them. Should most players be able to reach the hole in a single throw? Does a frisbee just need to touch the hole, be more than halfway inside or completely inside? One more paragraph (or a bit more detail in the existing description) is needed to make this playable. This is surprising as Frisbee Golf is a relatively well-known game with formal rules.

Also, the count of "101" is quite generous. Some games are variations of others with only minor differences and over a dozen of the last games are better described as activities with small children (including Peek-a-Boo and rolling down a hill).

This is still a worthwhile buy for the first half of the book and I've gotten a number of game ideas to try with my family, but the second half of the book feels rushed and incomplete.

Book #9. Firefly: the Official Companion: Volume Two - The second (and final) collection of shooting scripts for the excellent but short-lived TV series Firefly. These two volumes contain the entire set of shooting scripts, including some dialog and (rarely) entire scenes that were edited out of the episodes. In the show the characters often used pigeon Chinese swears or expressions, and these scripts contain the phonetic Chinese as well as rough translations of all those colorful phrases (e.g., "That's {FAY-FAY duh PEE-yen} {A baboon's ass-crack}! You saw it wrong.").

These are interspersed with plentiful cast and crew interviews about their roles, behind the scenes incidents and the overall experience of working on this show. Every episode begins with an interview with the writer about how that episode came about, what they were trying to convey, pushback from the network (Fox), etc.

Some of the more subtle aspects of the show are brought to light, too. For instance, one episode ends with Kaylee and River playing jacks on the floor. River holds up the ball, a swirly red thing, for a moment just before the credits roll. This bookends the opening shot of that episode that consisted of Serenity flying past a swirling red moon.

More than just scripts of episodes I've seen over and over, these two volumes actually do what they promise: they enhance the experience and make me want to watch the episodes again.

Oh my, my daughter introduced me to the Firefly series and I loved it. Now I have to find these books. Thanks for your review!

Wow, I didn't know there were Dr. Who and Firefly books. I might have to find them :)

And Gladiatrix looks really interesting. Seems like my kind of books. I look forward to seeing what else you read.

Ah-hahaha, translations of the Chinese! I love it! I'd love to read this... though I bet the sections on "pushback from the network" will just make me angry (why, oh WHY does Whedon continue to work with FOX?!?!?! WHY?!?!?!). Er... but otherwise, thanks for the review. Clearly I need to pick this up, and can't imagine why I haven't already.

Book #10. iPhone: The Missing Manual - An excellent guide to the iPhones covering activating (including some loopholes that have probably since been closed), usage, troubleshooting, and many hints, tips and shortcuts. I've had one for over a year and a half and still found plenty of useful information in this (and I see it's been updated to cover the 3G model and applications).

Hints and tips include shortcuts to make texting faster, some less-than-obvious configuration options and 6 ways (in increasing severity) to reset should an application misbehave.

This was well worth the purchase price and I've already recommended it to a couple friends with iPhones.

UPDATE Oct 28, 2009:I got the iPhone application version of this, updated for the latest versions of the phone. It formats awkwardly when viewed on the devices it describes (odd wrapping, blank pages, etc.), begins with 30+ page flat-text table of contents that aren't links to the chapters, and omits most of the illustrations. Be warned: This is one product that is not well-suited to the iPhone (isn't it ironic, doncha think?).

Book #11. Ozma of Oz (ebook) - Dorothy's back in this one for another adventure with the characters from the first 2 books and some new, interesting, bizarre friends. This was the best story yet, had memorable settings and puzzles. These are better than I'd anticipated.

I am making my way through the Oz books, too. Glad to see that you read a good one!

Book #12. Game of Thrones - An exciting fantasy novel with very good characters, I grew to care for many of them and their adventures. The story took half the book to really get going but then the developing events were worth the build-up. I look forward to reading the next in the series.

I also look forward to playing the board game (http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6472) based upon this book, a game that is supposed to model the intrigue as well as the combat.

Hi Shijuro, glad you liked Game of Thrones, Song of Ice and Fire seems to be an amazing series, I have almost finished the second part in the series, A Clash of Kings and it is equally intriguing.

> 38: Cool, I look forward to rest of them. My brother recommended the series and I know he's a few books ahead of me and still enjoying it.

And the board game sounds really good: a wargame with politics, alliances, treachery... it should lend a greater appreciation of the situations in the books (as well as a better grasp of the characters and geography).

Book #13. The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science: 64 Daring Experiments for Young Scientists - Unique and interesting collection of science experiments that can be performed with household (or very easily obtainable) items. The book consists of 64 articles each comprised of a sensational blurb, ingredient list, "Take care!" safety or mess warnings, step-by-step method and finally The Scientific Excuse (the scientific explanation of the principles involved).

While the obligatory vinegar/baking soda volcano is included, several variations of this experiment are also inside as well as a number of very cool, fairly simple experiments too including the infamous Mentos and diet soda geyser (I wondered about the science involved since I saw it on YouTube), setting crepe paper alight with a lens made of ice, static electricity lightning, several curious experiments with cornstarch colloids, various tricks with air pressure, etc.

My 8-year-old son picked out the book and we've been having fun carrying out the experiments. I started to read it to find suitable candidates to perform together but the style and presentation are interesting enough that I ended up reading it cover to cover. This is a wonderful book for any budding mad scientists and their parents.

^This book sounds delightful :)
I might need to pick it up for one of my science books.

My 7YO has just read this over my shoulder and exclaimed, "Mummy! GET THAT FOR ME!" :)

Book #14. Doctor Who: The Monsters Inside - Ok story, depressing for the first half. Climax more or less made sense. Interactions between the (9th) Doctor and Rose were pretty good, and their dialog individually was true to their characters (although the Doctor was particularly smart-mouthed). I did enjoy the bad guys, unlikable to the extreme :-)

The Doctor was particularly smarth-mouthed, you say? Most excellent. I should definitely track this one down. :)

I LOVE Firefly and all things Wheaton. I'll have to find the Official Companion to accompany my collection of DVDs and heartbreak.

Rose

> 44 I enjoy the Doctor's banter usually, but in Doctor Who: The Monsters Inside he seemed incapable of giving a straight answer even when it seemed to add difficulty to what he was trying to accomplish. I just think it was a little overdone. But the story was ok, worth reading if only for the bits of personality that came through. The author seems to "get" the main characters, at least.

Book #15. Doctor Who: Revenge of the Judoon - Disappointing. Starts off strong, some cool historical characters put in an appearance then do... nothing. Interactions between 10th Doctor and Martha were so-so, not much of a plot or resolution (we never find out anything about the big bad or where the devices came from). These are labelled quick reads, but I've read far shorter stories that were far more satisfying.

I hope your next read is better for you!

Book #16. Pride and Prejudice - a pleasant romance set amid the hazards of 19th century British society.

Thank you, acottacre, I did find this much better than that Doctor Who book (which in retrospect was probably severly edited to fit the Quick Read format, leaving incomplete shards of a story that could have been so much better).

I admit, I only read Pride and Prejudice at BookishRuth's suggestion that it would enhance my enjoyment of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies which I had been about to start. Unwilling to miss any of the subtle nuances of the latter story, I set it aside to read the original.

I expected a quality period romance and that is what I got; I didn't expect to enjoy the verbal jousting and clever style as much as I did. And please don't tell anyone, but I also enjoyed the watching the various romances develop.

Has this whetted my appetite for further novels by Austen that I previously felt suited only for adolescent girls? Yes, I'm much more open to reading them than I was a few weeks ago. Certainly, if someone were to add Pirates or Ninjas to Sense and Sensibility, I would gladly read the original first.

Teehee. Jane will get you like that!

As a big speculative fiction and Austen fan, I can tell you they aren't mutually exclusive. Now YOU will have to let us know how the Zombie books stacks up in comparison!

Book #17. The Eyre Affair - A villain with supernatural powers swipes a book, kicking off a bizarre adventure through an alternate version of our world where literature is much more important (kids trade author cards, criminals mastermind theft of first editions, pub conversations revolve around the true identity of Shakespeare, etc.) and time travel happens frequently by government agents. I enjoyed this, although I cringed at some of the cheap and unnecessarily punny names and inventions. I think I'll check out the next book in the series, but not for a while.

Book #18. The Dying Earth by Jack Vance - A collection of short stories and one novella set in the last days of the earth, as our sun finally wanes and humanity festers rich as rotted fruit. Powerful, ancient magic coexists with long-forgotten remnants of advanced technology, and people (and stranger creatures) can be grown in vats. Amid cynical fatalism, desperate individuals brave fantastic creatures, absurd cultures and cults to find answers, powerful items and even romance in the flickering, dying light.

Vance wrote several books in this setting, and the stories are linked through common settings, references and occasionally characters and items from one pop up in others.

Gary Gygax credited these stories (from 1950) as a major inspiration in creating the Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying game (in fact, the magic system was based on these stories and his term for D'n'D's magic system was "Vancian").

These (and the other Dying Earth stories) are some of my favorites, and I love re-reading them every few years.

>52 Shijuro:: Eyes of the Overworld was my favorite when I read these stories, though that was 35 years ago. I should try them again sometime.

> 53: Eyes of the Overworld is my favorite of the Dying Earth books (and one of my favorite books overall), although I liked the sequel Cugel's Saga also.

Another Dungeons and Dragons tidbit: Cugel was one of the inspirations for the Rogue class in D'n'D (Zelazney's Shadowjack was the other).

#52: I love end-of-the-world books, so I am going to be on the look out for that one. Thanks for the recommendation!

>52 Shijuro: my son picked up a Jack Vance paperback that had been left behind in St James' Park by a Book Crossing member... will have to go snaffle it off his shelf now and see which one it was...

Book #19. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies - Enjoyable. Pride and Prejudice set during a zombie infestation. I was expecting a zombie subplot shoehorned in with some radical divergences from the original plot. Instead, the zombies are almost a part of the set, the characters are all more extreme but the story unfolds almost exactly as it did in the original work (with a couple delightful but minor twists).

Reading the original recently allowed me to enjoy the manner in which the revised characters follow the same paths, albeit sometimes with some different motivations. Some of the conflicts from the original work are resolved more directly (Hollywood would be proud).

Also included is a (tongue-in-cheek) discussion guide at the end, which mentions how many critics believe the zombie aspect was a late addition, would the story hold up as well without it?

Book #20. Doctor Who: Agent Provocateur - A graphic novel featuring the tenth Doctor and Martha in a series of short, connected adventures leading to a fitting climax. Captured the characters well, with reasonable likenesses and believable dialog.

Why can't the novels, with so much more text at their disposal, capture the characters' personalities and dialog as well as this collected comic book series?

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies has not sounded appealing to me up to now, but your review has made me want to read it after all!

> 59 I must confess I am more comfortable reading books in the zombie genre than in the world of Jane Austen, so your mileage may vary. That said, I don't believe you'll be able read a few of the (revised) encounters without smiling at the transformations.

>57 Shijuro: & >58 Shijuro: Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters is out next week... (at least in the UK)

>60 Shijuro:: Agreed. I would never otherwise consider reading her works... but now the 'revised versions' are directly on my radar...!

> 61 Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters just isn't as appealing to me as the addition of a zombie outbreak to P&P. Thank you for the info, but I think I'll wait to hear how well that one is done. I do think I'll read Sense and Sensibility anyway though.

Book #21. The Eyes of the Overworld - Oh, Cugel, will you ever learn? The first set of adventures featuring Cugel "the Clever", Vance's self-centered anti-hero (the basis of Dungeons and Dragons "Rogue" class, as noted above). He begins with a scheme to burgle a powerful wizard and has numerous and varied adventures in the last days of the dying Earth. This and its sequel (which I'm reading now) are my favorite of Vance's works. As you read you walk a fine line, first believing that Cugel deserves everything he gets, then hoping he'll catch a break, then hoping he gets what he deserves again. He has amazing luck, but he continually proves himself his own worst enemy and it's a delightful ride.

Book #22. Grimm Fairy Tales Vol. 1 (Tedesco) - Unimaginative but gory versions of common fairy tales, with little wrappers around each tale about modern teens having minor crises who dream/hear/read the story and inexplicably change their lives.

We've all seen better variations on every tale. This is banal and skippable.

Book #23. Cugel's Saga - Cugel is back, again traversing the land in the far distant future, encountering monsters, ancient magics, demons, aliens, and (most harrowing of all) other people and strange cultures.

He actually seems to be learning and growing throughout this book and, unlike The Eyes of the Overworld, this time around he occasionally spares a thought for other people (and is often immediately punished for it). He tries harder, sometimes ekes out a win, but also has some spectacular failures leaving unbridled destruction in his wake.

A fun, epic saga featuring my favorite rogue.

#66: I sure wish my local library had that series!

Book #24. Watchmen - Original graphic novel that spawned the movie. I had read it back in the day and wanted to re-read it after seeing the film. While the book is basically a very long comic book, it has chapters of a character's autobiography sprinkled throughout and a number of other text sections resulting in an interesting hybrid. Steeped in '80's cold war paranoia, it remains powerful today.

The film stayed very true to the book with one big difference in the ending (the film's is more plausible and makes more sense) and one odd change to the pivotal night in Rorschach's past (the book version seemed a more fitting reaction; the film simply went for explicit, over-the-top violence). My biggest issue with the film was the graphic violence -- while there were plenty of bloody bodies in parts of the book, we didn't see nearly as much violence as in the film which was difficult to watch at times.

Both times I read the book I ended up depressed and vaguely disappointed. The film didn't leave me feeling that way, just a bit stunned at the enormity of what happened and why.

Approximately 25 years later the book is still disquieting and powerful. I'm glad I read it but I don't think I'll ever read it a third time. I'd like to see the film again, but probably the television version with much of the graphic violence edited out (I usually prefer uncut versions, but in this case I think the violence distracts and detracts from the film).

I read Watchmen last year for the first time and my complete and succinct review was 'Wow!'

my reaction was a lot like Stasia's: "wow". I've heard a lot of people who have read the book say that, like you, they were feeling depressed at the end. I didn't experience that at all - I was merely deep in thought for a long time afterwards. Also, I disagree with you about the ending - I thought the novel's ending was much better and in the movie I got very annoyed at the change. (but I generally get annoyed when films take liberties with a book and I don't like the result)

Book #25. Heads by Greg Bear - It was ok.

In the case of Greg Bear, this is faint praise indeed. He's one of my favorite authors and I'm often blown away by his stories. I used to think that if I were ever to read one of his grocery lists, by the time I reached the (truly epic) ending I would have new insights into the nature of humanity.

One of my pet peeves is when authors include characters that are geniuses/experts/gifted and then present riddles that stump the character but are obvious to me (not, if you were wondering, a genius, not an expert, not gifted). For example, if you create a team consisting of the world's expert on symbology, a British Royal Historian and a woman trained from a young age to solve complicated word puzzles, they should really be able to solve historical-based word puzzles before I do (I'm lookin' at you, Dan Brown).

In Heads by Greg Bear, a scheme to read thoughts from frozen human heads (obtained from a bankrupt cryogenics firm) "inexplicably" brings the wrath of a Scientology-like religion. Several clever people and a financial wizard are stumped while they uncover clues that eventually lead them toward a (painfully obvious) realization concerning the mystery heads in the freezer.

There are subplots about lunar politics and the quantum effects of matter close to absolute zero that were interesting but the characters aren't deep, there's no personal growth and when something amazing does occur, it turns out that no one knows exactly what happened or why. This is my least favorite of the dozen of his books that I've read.

Perhaps I should have read his grocery list instead.

OK, skipping that one. Thanks for the heads up, Bill!

Book #26. Rhialto the Marvellous - A wonderful end to my favorite book series.

Rhialto is an archmagician of the sort Cugel routinely runs afoul of, but in these stories we learn that the life of a powerful magician is not without risks and adventures in the final days of the Dying Earth.

Rhialto copes with envious rivals that covet his power, a dangerous witch from eons past, devious archveults (sort of demons, I gather) and politics within his cabal of powerful magician friends. His adventures lead him back and forth through time, soaring across the cosmos in a crystal palace propelled by sorcery, and upon occasion, in instants frozen in time for everyone else.

We see more of the wondrous spells of this era (again, the basis of the magic system used in Dungeons and Dragons, and possibly the Spelljammer series of magical space adventuring games).

I am going to have to locate that series!

Book #27. Winner Takes All - A winner!

A Doctor Who story with good character (9th Doctor and Rose) dialog, an exciting storyline (a fresh take on the "dangerous videogame?" trope) and a satisfying, logical resolution. THIS is how licensed novels should be.

The author (Jacqueline Rayner) really seems to "get" the characters, and the Doctor, Rose and Mickey are handled well (Rose's mother too, although I was relieved that she's not in it much). The little bio blurb says that this author wrote a bunch of the 8th Doctor novels, and on the basis of this book alone I'll have to check them out.

Book #28. New Moon - Okay.

I enjoyed the first Twilight book, although it's not one of my favorites of all time it is an interesting take on vampires and a good story for its target audience (young teens). I felt it started slowly, spending the first half deep in angst before things started getting interesting. I hoped that the second book in the series just picked up from where the first let off and continued to build the action and pace now that Bella was less naive.

Unfortunately, a minor incident at the start of this book ends up with Bella angst-ridden for the first half of this one too. She is surprised to learn the supernatural secret of the guys at the reservation (although she had it explained to her in the first volume and had witnessed the result a couple times herself). She does a number of stupid and dangerous things intentionally and clearly hurting everyone around her. This book also gains the most momentum shortly before it ends.

In the first book Bella seemed naive, but in this one she just seems stupid and inconsiderate.

I had wanted to read Twilight before seeing the movie; I decided I'd do the same for New Moon. I don't think I'll bother with the third, fourth, etc. books and just watch the movies with one of my nieces.

Book #29. The French Admiral - Excellent!

The second book in the Alan Lewrie series was better than the first, and I had enjoyed the first a great deal. This was apparently a "late addition" to the series to cover a gap in the storyline but so much happens I have trouble imagining how the character could have jumped from where he was at the end of the first book (an immature rogue just learning seamanship) to the end of this one (a hardened sailor poised to climb the ranks). Several other subplots are resolved too, so it'll be interesting to read the third book and see how they deal with his new situation.

An exciting (if slightly more risque) series along the lines of Horatio Hornblower, Jack Aubrey, etc. of a young man growing up fast aboard ship during the Age of Sail.

#77: Bill, does the series need to be read in order? My local library has exactly 1 of the books and it is number 14. I just do not know how stand-alone they are, do you?

#78: I think they'd be much more enjoyable in order, yes. He starts out as a real rascal, and I've enjoyed seeing him grow -- don't worry, though, he's still a rogue :-) Also, I like learning the history behind the stories (a little section at the end citing what elements were factual), and it would be more confusing out of order.

If you're only going to read one, it doesn't matter, but if you think you might read a few, I'd suggest trying to get them in order. I don't know how hard they are to find, my brother recommended them to me and gave me his copies after he'd read them.

Book #30. Doctor Who and The Web of Fear - Enjoyable adventure.

The Doctor (in his 2nd incarnation, with Jamie and Victoria) revisits an old friend and discovers the robotic Yeti are back, this time webbing the streets and subways of 60's London with some kind of deadly filaments. We meet the future brigadier of UNIT for the first time.

I hadn't seen the episodes that this novelization was based upon so I can't compare them directly, but in general I found this an enjoyable way of experiencing the adventure. Sometimes the classic Who episodes seem a bit drawn-out and the limited budget definitely detracts from the experience. I did find that my brain automatically limited my imagination to cheesy-looking Yeti, but the sets, acting and effects were top-notch (in my mind's eye). Definitely the way to enjoy classic Who.

#79: OK, I will see what I can do about finding them in order (definitely the way I prefer to read things). Thanks for the additional info.

Book #31. Doctor Who and the Revenge of the Cybermen - Another enjoyable classic Doctor story.

The 4th Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan are stranded on a sort of lighthouse of the future, a space station serving as a beacon for rocket traffic. They get themselves caught up in a plot featuring a plague, a race of aliens, revenge, questionable agents, quite a few cobalt bombs and... the Cybermen.

The author gives us a bit of information about what characters are thinking that may smooth over points that might make you go "Wait a second, why don't they just...". Once again, I don't recall seeing the episode this was adapted from so can't compare directly, but on its own it's a fine story with suspense, action and plenty of close calls.

Book #32. Doctor Who and the Space War - Sloppy, but fun.

The 3rd Doctor and Jo Grant get between the Earth Empire and the Draconians, who seem hurtling toward war after a series of provocations on both sides. Someone seems to be setting them up.

An amusing enough story, interesting characters, good depiction of the Doctor and Jo, but sloppy writing that knocks the reader right out of the story. Clumsy rationalizations are used to explain actions (as opposed to the previous novel in this collection, described above, that allows us to follow the thoughts of the characters). The author also makes the jarring error of referring to the Doctor as "Doctor Who", which just isn't done (except in tongue-in-cheek wordplay such as "The Doctor." "Who?"). They missed the opportunity to tighten up the story and as a result it seemed meandering.

For this one, we're better off just watching the show.

Book #33. The Art of Destruction - A wild ride!

Less depressing and more exciting than The Monsters Inside by the same author, this one takes place in Africa about a century from now and features a botanical research facility, miracle food crops, a volcano, aliens, rebel villagers, more aliens, art, another alien, and a satisfying conclusion to it all.

The 10th Doctor and Rose are written very well, I could "hear" their voices the entire time. This book features the most interesting description of an alien war that I've read, with both sides using weapons and strategies completely unique and fitting their respective cultures.

And wow, 4 Doctor Who's in a row. I was on a real Doctor kick for a bit but I'm reading some other things now.

Book #34. Wild Cards: Inside Straight - Enjoyable update of a fun series.

The Wild Cards series came out in the 1980's, featuring various authors contributing individual short stories that formed an overall composite tale. This book brings the series into the present day, with a fun take on reality TV and a superhero version of middle-eastern conflicts.

The basic premise is that an alien ship was destroyed in the mid-1900's releasing a virus that mutates individuals based upon their personality and the thoughts they have while infected. Humans aren't entirely compatible so the virus is fatal in the majority of cases but some come through with fantastic mutations ("jokers"). The ones who gain useful powers are called "aces".

This particular book concerns a group of young "aces" coming to grips with a wide variety of abilities while participating in a reality TV project. Each author tells a story from the viewpoint of one of the aces as they deal with artificial crises and personality conflicts. Meanwhile, the Middle East has become increasingly unstable due to the presence of jokers resembling the old gods of Egypt and the activities of some aces.

The overall story was interesting, the individual sections were usually fun and the characters were memorable. I was going to say I hope they continue with the series, but apparently another book is already out with more planned for 2010.

I received this book in the early-reviewers program but had misplaced it for the better part of a year. I hope that my take is still timely enough to be helpful.

Bill, I hope you are planning on joining us for the 2010 challenge! The group is up and running.

Well, I had hoped to get just ONE MORE book in before the end of the year... it's a good one and I'm almost to the end but the holidays were just too busy.

Oh, and how did I do with my 2009 resolutions?
1. I DID read more than twice as many physical books than eBooks. I still find eBooks very convenient and I'm not giving up on them, but it was nice to work down the pile in my physical library.
2. The mix of books remained about the same. I got to classics like War and Peace, Tales of the Arabian Nights and Pride and Prejudice (although I only finished the latter, I'm hoping to wrap up the first two in 2010). I didn't get to any non-fiction (let alone actual textbooks). I also read some more graphic novels than usual which was fun in the mix.
3. I did read a number of books outside my favorite series, and I found a couple new series to read (Wizard of Oz, the Alan Lewrie age-of-sail novels, etc.).
Overall, I think I achieved my resolutions.

I've signed up for the 2010 challenge and I expect that I'll do better.

Thank you all for your comments and support.