I was at the public libray today and as I walked past the stand where they feature new books my eye was drawn to a book called "Lord of Souls" by Greg Keyes which is actually an Elder Scrolls novel. Naturally I've borrowed it.
It's set 40 years after the Oblivion crisis where a floating city spawns a terrifying undead army that threatens Tamriel. I don't know how I missed it but I bet it's common knowledge and I'm behind the times as usual.
There's a previous novel by the same author called "The Infernal City" which I'm going to see if I can find or ask the library to get it for me via inter library loan or something.
Anyway, I have a few other books to get through first including Terry Pratchett's latest, "Snuff" so I'll be sure to comment on it later.
Both books are mentioned on Beth's blog here as well as a link to an interview with the author:
http://www.bethblog.com/category/greg-keyes/
Showing posts with label Books and Authors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books and Authors. Show all posts
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
The Zombie Autopsies
I borrowed a book called The Zombie Autopsies - Secrets Notebooks from the Apocalypse by Steven C. Schlozman, MD from the library last week.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/steven-schlozman-md
Zombies, you gotta love them. I remember the first time I played a Resident Evil game before the last two where zombies weren't actually in them. The zombie sounds from those games are the best I've ever heard in a game and the Nemesis still gives me the palpitations when I think of having to avoid it and finally kill it....lol.
This book is written like a real medical diary with drawn diagrams and a hand written font which makes it look really like an authentic notebook of a medical investigation in the field. I've only just started it but flicking through the diagrams and text it's quite gruesome and very well done. One picture shows a zombie being surgically "investigated" and mentions the fact it doesn't seem to be aware.... It looks pretty annoyed though...lol.
It's so well written one could imagine this really happened and begins when the dead start waking up around the world beginning the apocalypse. Some brave researchers desperately search for a cure to the "unfortunate" condition. No-one knows the fate of the doctor whose notes are contained in the diary however according to the description on the back of the book, but I'm yet to read that far.
This little clip shows the author speaking about zombie movies. Personally, and as one person commented I prefer to shoot them from a distance with a bloody big gun. Preferably in the head.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/experts/steven-schlozman-md
Zombies, you gotta love them. I remember the first time I played a Resident Evil game before the last two where zombies weren't actually in them. The zombie sounds from those games are the best I've ever heard in a game and the Nemesis still gives me the palpitations when I think of having to avoid it and finally kill it....lol.
This book is written like a real medical diary with drawn diagrams and a hand written font which makes it look really like an authentic notebook of a medical investigation in the field. I've only just started it but flicking through the diagrams and text it's quite gruesome and very well done. One picture shows a zombie being surgically "investigated" and mentions the fact it doesn't seem to be aware.... It looks pretty annoyed though...lol.
It's so well written one could imagine this really happened and begins when the dead start waking up around the world beginning the apocalypse. Some brave researchers desperately search for a cure to the "unfortunate" condition. No-one knows the fate of the doctor whose notes are contained in the diary however according to the description on the back of the book, but I'm yet to read that far.
This little clip shows the author speaking about zombie movies. Personally, and as one person commented I prefer to shoot them from a distance with a bloody big gun. Preferably in the head.
Friday, 8 April 2011
Currently Reading
I'm currently reading a book called The Fifth Sorceress which is part one of a trilogy called The Chronicles of Blood and Stone written by Robert Newcomb. I've had the three books for ages sitting in my spare room with a lot of others that I've gathered from various sources, ie sales and used book stores etc. Most of them have never been opened because I frequent the public library as books are too expensive especially as I've mentioned I never read one twice. I picked this one up out of the box and became instantly hooked.
It's the story of a prince who is about to become king on his 30th birthday when his father the current king abdicates by tradition and necessity. Although it's the last thing he wants, circumstances dictate his future and his choices are taken from him by a prophecy and tragedy.
Many fantasy novels have very similar premises and almost preset formulas, but this one surprised me with it's original story and depth of character. It's very different and imaginative even though it does have the "prophecy" and the prince's life is predetermined by it, but I'd have to say this has a very nice sense of originality to it that immediately grabbed my attention.
This is the first novel by this author and a few things seem a bit inconsistent to me as far as the style of writing but the way the world and the people who inhabit it are described, as well as the horrors and tragedies that befall them lends an immersion into the story that keeps me reading.
Robert Newcomb has been compared to Terry Goodkind in his style and development of a believable and engrossing world of magic and betrayal.
http://www.robertnewcomb.com/fifth.html
Since I found his website I see there are further volumes in the series which I'm going to see if I can locate when I finish the first trilogy.
Update: May 1st 2011: Well, I've finished the second volume and am now half way through the third and already feeling a sense of loss that I won't be entering the lives and the vibrant, but dangerous world of the characters in this series. That is unless I can get hold of the next three books featuring the same characters.
I feel lucky to have been able to read this trilogy because it's so different and imaginative. I love how the author has brought the world alive with it's mysteries, magic and sometimes very violent reality.
It's the story of a prince who is about to become king on his 30th birthday when his father the current king abdicates by tradition and necessity. Although it's the last thing he wants, circumstances dictate his future and his choices are taken from him by a prophecy and tragedy.
Many fantasy novels have very similar premises and almost preset formulas, but this one surprised me with it's original story and depth of character. It's very different and imaginative even though it does have the "prophecy" and the prince's life is predetermined by it, but I'd have to say this has a very nice sense of originality to it that immediately grabbed my attention.
This is the first novel by this author and a few things seem a bit inconsistent to me as far as the style of writing but the way the world and the people who inhabit it are described, as well as the horrors and tragedies that befall them lends an immersion into the story that keeps me reading.
Robert Newcomb has been compared to Terry Goodkind in his style and development of a believable and engrossing world of magic and betrayal.
http://www.robertnewcomb.com/fifth.html
Since I found his website I see there are further volumes in the series which I'm going to see if I can locate when I finish the first trilogy.
Update: May 1st 2011: Well, I've finished the second volume and am now half way through the third and already feeling a sense of loss that I won't be entering the lives and the vibrant, but dangerous world of the characters in this series. That is unless I can get hold of the next three books featuring the same characters.
I feel lucky to have been able to read this trilogy because it's so different and imaginative. I love how the author has brought the world alive with it's mysteries, magic and sometimes very violent reality.
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Read any good books lately?
READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?
I read a lot. And I mean a lot. When I'm not browsing the Internet, playing games on my PC, I'm reading in my spare time. I do other things of course, but these are the main occupiers of my free time.
Very few books have a lasting impact on me. In fact often I finish the last page of one and begin the first sentence of the next book in the same few minutes, usually at night when everything is quiet. I never read a book more than once no matter how good it is. The same goes for movies except if they are repeats on TV and then sometimes I'll watch bits and pieces. When I read a book or watch a movie I look forward to the anticipation of what's going to happen next, what surprises some authors have in store, and the mystery of words themselves and the picture they paint. I can't get that by reading or watching again and some novels and movies are highly predictable to begin with so a second go round is not worth the time. Besides, there are too many unread books waiting for me in the wings.
My favourite fiction genres are medieval fantasy, science fiction, modern crime thrillers, and horror. I don't particularly like slasher in your face blood and guts violence just for the shock value novels as some authors seem to aim for. Those things are fine in themselves and I'm not squeamish at all about most things, but a good horror novel must have a decent background story to make it worthwhile.
Zombie apocalypse is the flavour at the moment in horror and one of the best I've read is Patient Zero by Jonathon Maberry. A new take on terrorism with a twist. His next novel, The Dragon Factory picks up where the first left off using the same main characters, but isn't about zombies. It steps into the realm of genetic engineering and longevity, monsters, human and otherwise and also with a few twists. Both very enjoyable books with lots of action and suspension of belief. Great stress relievers and well written.
However, the book that has had the most impact on me in all the years I've been reading is The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon. I read this only last year, shortly before Christmas.
It's the story of a young girl who joins the army to avoid an arranged marriage in a harsh medieval world. There are the usual orcs and demons, elves and dwarves and good versus evil, but this story revolves around Paksenarrion and her life more than those things. They reside in the periphery and colour the world, but are not the main focus. Paks, as she's known becomes more than she ever imagined she could be. A hero, a leader, a coward, and a champion of the human spirit, but most of all her place in the world, as predicted by destiny. Of all the books I've read this is the one that has had the greatest effect on me. I never get emotional about books, movies or games, but this is the one that did it. Elizabeth Moon has a rare talent and that is to draw the reader into the head and heart of the main character. To feel what she feels. Fear, anger, pain that times seems too much to bear, and finally, peace. I won't spoil the ending, but it's not necessarily what you may think even from this brief description.
This book is an Omnibus comprised of three other volumes. Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance and Oath of Gold.
Now, I'm reading the prequel - A Legacy of Honour. It is also an Omnibus - Surrender None and Liar's Oath.
I borrowed the first book from our public library and they didn't have this one at the time. But, it doesn't matter. I've only read a few chapters, but I can tell already this one will have the same depth and attention to detail as the other. More when I've finished reading.
Unfortunately I didn't have time to actually finish reading this one as I had to return it because someone had reserved it and I couldn't get an extension. I'll get it again sometime, but maybe it was my mood or it was a bit of an anticlimax, but it didn't have the same effect on me as The Deed of Paksenarrion. It may have been different if I'd known about this volume previously and been able to read it first. That's not to say it's not a good read, but I don't feel the same connection with the main character.
If anyone is interested this is Elizabeth Moon's website. She is also the author of many other fine novels.
http://www.elizabethmoon.com/
I Shall Wear Midnight - Terry Pratchett.
I've read every book I've been able to get my hands on by Terry Pratchett, but I have mixed feelings about this one. I did enjoy it, but it didn't have the trademark humour of his other books. It's darker and much more serious.
I read a lot. And I mean a lot. When I'm not browsing the Internet, playing games on my PC, I'm reading in my spare time. I do other things of course, but these are the main occupiers of my free time.
Very few books have a lasting impact on me. In fact often I finish the last page of one and begin the first sentence of the next book in the same few minutes, usually at night when everything is quiet. I never read a book more than once no matter how good it is. The same goes for movies except if they are repeats on TV and then sometimes I'll watch bits and pieces. When I read a book or watch a movie I look forward to the anticipation of what's going to happen next, what surprises some authors have in store, and the mystery of words themselves and the picture they paint. I can't get that by reading or watching again and some novels and movies are highly predictable to begin with so a second go round is not worth the time. Besides, there are too many unread books waiting for me in the wings.
My favourite fiction genres are medieval fantasy, science fiction, modern crime thrillers, and horror. I don't particularly like slasher in your face blood and guts violence just for the shock value novels as some authors seem to aim for. Those things are fine in themselves and I'm not squeamish at all about most things, but a good horror novel must have a decent background story to make it worthwhile.
Zombie apocalypse is the flavour at the moment in horror and one of the best I've read is Patient Zero by Jonathon Maberry. A new take on terrorism with a twist. His next novel, The Dragon Factory picks up where the first left off using the same main characters, but isn't about zombies. It steps into the realm of genetic engineering and longevity, monsters, human and otherwise and also with a few twists. Both very enjoyable books with lots of action and suspension of belief. Great stress relievers and well written.
However, the book that has had the most impact on me in all the years I've been reading is The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon. I read this only last year, shortly before Christmas.
It's the story of a young girl who joins the army to avoid an arranged marriage in a harsh medieval world. There are the usual orcs and demons, elves and dwarves and good versus evil, but this story revolves around Paksenarrion and her life more than those things. They reside in the periphery and colour the world, but are not the main focus. Paks, as she's known becomes more than she ever imagined she could be. A hero, a leader, a coward, and a champion of the human spirit, but most of all her place in the world, as predicted by destiny. Of all the books I've read this is the one that has had the greatest effect on me. I never get emotional about books, movies or games, but this is the one that did it. Elizabeth Moon has a rare talent and that is to draw the reader into the head and heart of the main character. To feel what she feels. Fear, anger, pain that times seems too much to bear, and finally, peace. I won't spoil the ending, but it's not necessarily what you may think even from this brief description.
This book is an Omnibus comprised of three other volumes. Sheepfarmer's Daughter, Divided Allegiance and Oath of Gold.
Now, I'm reading the prequel - A Legacy of Honour. It is also an Omnibus - Surrender None and Liar's Oath.
I borrowed the first book from our public library and they didn't have this one at the time. But, it doesn't matter. I've only read a few chapters, but I can tell already this one will have the same depth and attention to detail as the other. More when I've finished reading.
Unfortunately I didn't have time to actually finish reading this one as I had to return it because someone had reserved it and I couldn't get an extension. I'll get it again sometime, but maybe it was my mood or it was a bit of an anticlimax, but it didn't have the same effect on me as The Deed of Paksenarrion. It may have been different if I'd known about this volume previously and been able to read it first. That's not to say it's not a good read, but I don't feel the same connection with the main character.
If anyone is interested this is Elizabeth Moon's website. She is also the author of many other fine novels.
http://www.elizabethmoon.com/
I Shall Wear Midnight - Terry Pratchett.
I've read every book I've been able to get my hands on by Terry Pratchett, but I have mixed feelings about this one. I did enjoy it, but it didn't have the trademark humour of his other books. It's darker and much more serious.
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