thomas

A world of adventure....

Revisado: 12-16-24

WOW.... I haven't felt this much excitement since I was a kid in the seventies discovering Robert E. Howard for the first time. J.F. Lee's stories are quite different from REH, but the same muscular prose is at play, and the page turning obsession to find out what happens next.... Here are doomed heroes and enchanted swords, and martial arts, and derring do, and stories that will touch your heart and thrill your mind's eye. This has the fun aspects of anime, like Samurai Champloo crossed with the hard prose of a master storyteller who doesn't get caught up in minutiae, and knows how to propell the story he is telling ever forward..... I bought this on a whim, after watching Come Drink With Me ..... And now I'm hooked.... Went out and bought everything I could find by this author..... Highly recommend!!!!

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IF TOM CLANCY WROTE A ZOMBIE NOVEL, THIS MIGHT BE

Revisado: 03-17-13

JONATHAN MABERRY'S "PATIENT ZERO" IS A WONDERFUL MONSTER MASH UP OF TECHNO THRILLER AND ZOMBIE APOCALYSE FICTION. IT HAS EVERYTHING A THRILLER READER MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR. A PLOT THAT MOVES LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN RUNNING OUT OF CONTROL; STEADY AND UNSTOPPABLE. THE DETAILS OF USING ZOMBIES AS BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS OF TERROR IS A GREAT PLOT DEVICE. THE ACTION IS BLAZING; FULL OF GUNS, BULLETS, AND THE HUNGRY UNDEAD, AS WELL AS SOME REALLY SLIMEY HUMAN VILLAINS PULLING THE STRINGS OF BOTH THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT THIS IS A THRILL A MINUTE CARNIVAL RIDE THAT STARTS RIGHT OUT THE GATE WITH GUNS BLAZING, AND BURNS THROUGH BOXES OF AMMO BEFORE THE FINAL FIGHT. THIS BOOK WORKS AS A UNIQUE THRILLER, FULL OF CLANDESTINE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE LETHAL MACHINATIONS OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK FOR THOSE ORGANIZATIONS; BUT IT IS ALSO A GREAT HORROR NOVEL. TAKING THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE AND TURNING IT ON ITS HEAD. NO SURVIVORS HOLED UP IN A MALL, HOUSE, WHATEVER... THIS TURNS THE ZOMBIE MENACE INTO A REAL THREAT IN THE WAKE OF 9/11. THESE ZOMBIES ARE A VISCERAL TOOL OF TERROR BROKERS. THANK GOD, OR SHOULD I SAY THANK AUTHOR MABERRY, FOR A HERO WHO IS PART LETHAL MAN OF ACTION, LIKE JACK REACHER, FULL OF ALL THOSE LETHAL SKILLS TO TAKE OUT THE BAD GUYS; BUT THE MAN CAN THINK TOO, LIKE JACK RYAN, ONLY ON STEROIDS. NARRATOR RAY PORTER DOES A FINE JOB BRINGING THE MATERIAL ALIVE WITH HIS SPOT ON PERFORMANCE. THIS IS A CROSS OVER WRITER TO WATCH, OR LISTEN TO...

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ANOTHER SOLID HIT BY PARKER!

Revisado: 03-17-13

FOR ANYONE FOLLOWING MY REVIEWS THEY KNOW BY NOW I AM REVISITING ALL THE SPENSER NOVELS THROUGH AUDIBLE.COM. AND THIS ONE, LIKE THE REST DOESN'T DISSAPOINT. SPENSER'S MORAL COMPASS IS PUT TO THE TEST AS HE SEARCHES FOR A GIRL WHO HAS GONE MISSING IN BOSTON'S SEEDY "COMBAT ZONE". SHE'S RENTING HERSELF OUT FOR SEX; AND TRUTHFULLY DOESN'T MIND THE WORK. HOW SPENSER FINDS HER, EXTRICATES HER FROM THE PEOPLE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HER, AND STILL STAYS TRUE TO HIMSELF MAKES FOR A WONDERFUL READ FULL OF SOME NICE AND CONCISE ACTION AND, AS ALWAYS, SOME GREAT MEDITATIONS ON THE DIFFERENCES IN HOW MEN AND WOMEN PERCIEVE THE SEX FOR SALE TRADE AS SPENSER USES HIS LIFE PARTNER SUSAN AS A SOUNDING BOARD. AND, OFCOURSE, THERE IS THE PRESENCE OF THE LETHAL HAWK, WHO ACTS AS SPENSER'S ALTER-EGO, DOING THOSE THINGS SPENSER IS UNWILLING TO DO. THEY ARE TWO SIDES TO THE SAME COIN. SO MUCH ALIKE, BUT DIFFERENT IN THE WAYS THEY DEAL WITH THE WORLD AROUND THEM. SPENSER ATTEMPTS TO CONFORM TO A WORLD WHERE THE WORD CIVIL, AS IN CIVILIZATION, IS A VENEER THAT IS WEARING THIN. THE ROT BENEATH THE SUBURBAN SPRAWL IS STARTING TO SHOW. THE BARBARIANS ARE AT THE GATE, AND SPENSER IS A KNIGHT ATTEMPTING TO KEEP CAMELOT ALIVE. HAWK, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS ONE OF THE BARBARIANS. AND HE IS JUST AS HAPPY TO TEAR THE FACADE DOWN. HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN CAMELOT ANYMORE. PROBABLY NEVER. HE'S A STREET THUG, WHO HAS FITTED HIMSELF WITH A COAT OF SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE. HE DRESSES LIKE A MALE MODEL; BUT HE WEARS HIS EXPENSIVE SUITS LIKE A WOLF WEARS SHEEPS CLOTHING, ONLY TO BLEND IN SO THE SHEEP CAN'T SEE THE WOLF IN THEIR MIDST UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE. THIS CONTRAST IS WONDERFULLY ILLUSTRATED THROUGHOUT THE SPENSER NOVELS, ESPECIALLY IN THE HUMOROUS BANTER BETWEEN THE TWO CHARACTERS. AS ALWAYS, SPENSER AND FRIENDS ARE GOOD COMPANY TO SHARE AN ADVENTURE WITH.

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THE ILIAD OF FANTASY FICTION!

Revisado: 11-14-12

WOW! I HAVE NEVER READ A WORD OF JOE ABERCROMBIE UNTIL I PICKED UP THIS AUDIBLE LISTEN; AND NOW ALL I CAN SAY IS ..... WOW....WOW.... AND WOW!!! THIS IS FOR MODERN FANTASY READERS (OR SHOULD I SAY LISTENERS) WHAT THE ILIAD WAS FOR ANCIENT GREEK POETS. EPIC IN CONCEPT, AND BLOODY GOOD IN ITS EXECUTION. THE PROSE IS HARD BOILED; THE KIND OF LANGUAGE NORMAN MAILER MIGHT USE IF HE WROTE FANTASY FICTION. THIS IS THE STORY OF HEROES BOTH OLD AND NEW FIGHTING AND DYING FOR A HILL IN A REMOTE PART OF AN ANCIENT KINGDOM, AND THE SITE OF ANCIENT RUINS REMINISCENT OF STONEHENGE, A RING OF STONES APTLY CALLED THE HEROES. CAREERS WILL BE MADE, AND OTHERS ENDED, IN SCENES OF POLITICAL MANUEVERING AND BLOODY BATTLES THAT FLY OFF THE PAGE. THIS IS HEARTY RED BLOODED PROSE; AND IT IS PERFORMED EXCELLENTLY BY NARRATOR MICHAEL PAGE. I'M READY TO GO OUT AND PURCHASE EVERYTHING ABERCROMBIE HAS WRITTEN. AND IF THE REST OF AUDIBLE'S OFFERINGS OF HIS WORK IS AS GOOD AS THIS, I'M HOOKED. SOUND THE HORNS OF BATTLE AND STRAP ON YOUR HEAD PHONES FOR THIS ONE. WAR IS COMING....

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ANOTHER GREAT SPENSER, ANOTHER GREAT LISTEN

Revisado: 09-06-12

LISTENING TO THESE EARLY SPENSER NOVELS HAS BEEN A REAL TREAT. LIKE GETTING REAQUAINTED WITH AN OLD FRIEND. YOU JUST HAVE TO PLACE SOME OF THE OFFERINGS IN THEIR RIGHT FRAME OF REFERENCE. IN LOOKING FOR RACHEL WALLACE, SPENSER IS HIRED TO PROTECT AN OUTSPOKEN FEMINIST WRITER FROM THREATS AGAINST HER PERSON, AND SOME OF THE ATTITUDES TOWARDS WOMEN, AND LESBIANS MIGHT COME ACROSS DATED TO LISTENERS WITH A MORE MODERN APPROACH. BUT PLACING MACHO SPENSER TO TAKE CARE OF AN OUTSPOKEN FEMINIST AND LESBIAN IS A GREAT PLOT DEVICE FOR PARKER TO EXPLORE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN, ESPECIALLY IN HOW THE TWO SEXES DIFFER IN APPROACHING LIFE ISSUES, AND DEALING WITH THE PRESSURE OF HATE CRIMES. RACHEL WALLACE IS A PROPONENT OF NON-VIOLENCE IN THE FACE OF IGNORANT ABUSE. SPENSER WOULD JUST AS SOON PUNCH A BIGOT IN THE NOSE. THIS JUXTAPOSITION OF ATTITUDES MAKES FOR SOME INSIGHTFUL MOMENTS BETWEEN THE TWO, AND ADD IN SPENSER'S GAL PAL, SUSAN SILVERMAN, AND NOW THE DISCUSSION OF WHAT IT IS TO BE A MAN'S MAN, AND THE PERCEPTION OF WHAT IS A MODERN WOMAN HAS REALLY JUST BEGUN. AND NONE OF THIS TAKES AWAY FROM THE RAPID FIRE PACING OF THE PLOT. THAT IS THE GLORY OF ROBERT PARKER'S WRITING; IT'S WEIGHTY STUFF, BUT NEVER FEELS HEAVY HANDED.

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THE PERFECT RECIPE...

Revisado: 09-06-12

ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE REVISITED ONE OF ROBERT PARKER'S EARLIER SPENSER NOVELS, AND THIS ONE IS A GEM. THE JUDAS GOAT BRINGS ALL THE ELEMENTS OF A GOOD SPENSER NOVEL TOGETHER IN A PERFECT RECIPE OF ACTION, SUSPENSE, HUMOR, AND HUMAN INSIGHT THAT HAVE MADE SPENSER SUCH A POPULAR CHARACTER FOR SO MANY YEARS. THE PLOT HERE INVOLVES SPENSER TRACKING DOWN TERRORISTS, AND TAKES HIM FROM THE UNITED STATES TO ENGLAND, AND ACROSS EUROPE. HIS LETHAL COMPANION HAWK JOINS UP WITH HIM HALF-WAY THROUGH THE STORY, AND THINGS REALLY TAKE OFF FROM THERE. THE PARTNERING OF SPENSER AND HAWK IS PERFECTLY WRITTEN, A RICH PATOIS OF HUMOROUS BANTERING AND THOUGHTFUL INSIGHT IS REVEALED THROUGH THESE TWO CHARACTERS THAT ARE AT ONCE ALIKE AND YET EXPONENTAILLY DIFFERENT. THEY ARE TWO SIDES TO A VERY DANGEROUS COIN. ROBERT PARKER'S WRITING SHINES IN THE EXPLORATION OF HIS MAIN CHARACTERS; AND HE MANAGES TO DO IT WITHOUT BEING HEAVY, OR WEIGHING THE STORY DOWN IN EXPOSITION. LIKE A GOOD STEW, YOU MAY NOT REALIZE ALL THE INGREDIENTS THAT HAVE GONE INTO MAKING IT, BUT IT TASTES GREAT JUST THE SAME. AND ONCE AGAIN, MICHAEL PRICHARD DOES A STELLAR JOB BRINGING PARKER'S WORDS TO LIFE. HIS PERFORMANCE OF THESE SPENSER NOVELS ARE BY FAR MY FAVORITE.

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FINALLY, CHANDLER'S WORK DONE THE WAY IT SHOULD BE

Revisado: 08-18-12

I AM- WITH OUT A DOUBT - A HUGE FAN OF RAYMOND CHANDLER'S WORK. HE SET THE STANDARD FOR AMERICAN PRIVATE DETECTIVE FICTION, AND HAS RARELY BEEN SURPASSED. AND FINALLY AUDIBLE PRESENTS CHANDLER'S WORK AS IT SHOULD BE PRESENTED, WITH A TOP NOTCH ACTOR READING CHANDLER'S WORDS. ELLIOT GOULD IS THE ACTOR HERE, AND HE DOES A WONDERFUL JOB CAPTURING CHANDLER'S DETECTIVE'S DROLL HUMOR BY GIVING US A DEADPAN DELIVERY. THIS IS NO DRAMATIZATION FULL OF DIFFERENT ACTORS DOING VOICES, AND SOUND EFFECTS. THIS IS WHAT RAYMOND CHANDLER WROTE, AND IS PERFORMED WITH PITCH PERFECT ACCURACY BY THE NARRATOR. JUMP ON BOARD THIS ONE. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED.

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NARRATOR SAVES THE DAY!

Revisado: 08-18-12

ACT OF VALOR COULD HAVE BEEN AN INSIDER'S LOOK AT HOW A NAVY SEAL TEAM WORKS; BUT INSTEAD READS LIKE THE SCRIPT TO A LOW BUDGET WAR MOVIE; WHICH I GUESS COULD BE EXPECTED SINCE THIS IS A NOVELIZATION OF THE MOVIE IT IS BASED UPON. I PURCHASED THIS KNOWING FULL WELL WHAT TO EXPECT, SINCE I HAD SEEN THE MOVIE, BUT WAS HOPING WITH TOM CLANCY'S NAME ATTACHED, AND AUTHOR DICK COUCH DOING SOME OF THE WRITING, THAT THIS WOULDGIVE ME THOSE INSIDER DETAILS THAT WOULD NOT TRANSLATE TO FILM. I WAS SORELY MISTAKEN. THE BOOK READS ON AND ON WITH NOT PARTICULARLY INSPIRED ACTION SEQUENCES, THAT MAY HAVE TRANSLATED WELL ON THE SCREEN, BUT IN PROSE FORMAT THE ACTION LOOSES ITS EXCITEMENT; AND IF IT WEREN'T FOR NARRATOR STEVEN WEBER'S EXCELLENT NARRATION OF THE WORDS I WOULD HAVE DELETED THIS ONE FROM MY DEVICE.

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REVISIONIST VAMPIRE FICTION, AND IT KICKS A** TOO!

Revisado: 07-17-12

THE VAMPIRE HAS BEEN A POPULAR FIGURE IN FICTION FOR WELL OVER A CENTURY. FROM BRAM STOKER'S FAMOUS COUNT, TO ANN RICE'S INFAMOUS LESTAT, AND INTO THE TEEN ANGST OF THE TWIGHLIGHT SERIES AUTHOR'S HAVE BEEN DISHING OUT TALES OF BLOOD SUCKING FIENDS AND THE MEN WHO HUNT THEM. AND ALONG COMES AUTHOR JOHN STEAKLEY TO TURN THE GENRE UPSIDE DOWN. HIS TALE OF A GROUP OF CLANDESTINE VAMPIRE HUNTERS WORKING FOR THE VATICAN IS AN ENJOYABLE BLEND OF HARD BOILED WRITING, CHARACTER STUDY, AND PURE HORROR. THESE HUNTERS ARE TOUGH MEN, AND THEY SPEAK IN A LANGUAGE THAT IS ROUGH AND FOUL, AND A LOT OF FUN TO HEAR; THANKS LARGELY TO NARRATOR TOM WEINER'S EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF THE MATERIAL. HE GIVES VOICE TO THESE CHARACTERS, AND ELEVATES THE MATERIAL. FACT IS I ENJOYED LISTENING TO THIS STORY MORE THAN I ENJOYED READING IT. THIS IS VAMPIRE HUNTING THE WAY IT SHOULD BE WRITTEN. HARD CORE VIOLENCE AND BLOODLETTING AGAINST VAMPIRES THAT ARE SCARY AS HELL. FORGET THE JOHN CARPENTER MOVIE BASED ON THIS MATERIAL. THIS IS A FAR MORE REALISED UNIVERSE. AND THAT TWIST AT THE END, HITS LIKE A STAKE THROUGH THE HEART. BEAUTIFUL STUFF. STEAKLEY DOESN'T REINVENT THE WHEEL, HE JUST MAKES THE WHEEL BETTER THAN ITS EVER BEEN BEFORE.

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a great story ruined by bad narration

Revisado: 07-17-12

THIS WAS ONE TITLE I THOROUGHLY EXPECTED TO ENJOY. I'VE READ ALL THE MARCINKO BOOKS, SOME YEARS BACK, AND HAD ENJOYED THEM FOR THEIR INSIDER'S KNOWLEDGE ON THE ART OF MAKING WAR, AND DICK MARCINKO'S UNIQUE VOICE. SO IT SEEMED A NATURAL CHOICE TO REVISIT THIS STORY ON AUDIBLE, AND THE PLUS WAS MARCINKO WAS DOING THE NARRATING. WELL, THAT FACT PROVED TO BE THE DOWN FALL OF THIS PROMISING OFFERING. THE STORY WAS STILL A FAST MOVING EXCURSION INTO EXCITEMENT AS MARCINKO AND CREW WAGE MAYHEM ON MILITARY INDUSTRIALISTS WHO HAVE STOLEN NUCLEAR WARHEADS FOR PROFIT. THE LANGUAGE IS FIERCE AND FULL OF VULGAR FOUR LETTER WORDS, AND WRITTEN IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU SHOULD FEEL LIKE DICK MARCINKO IS TELLING YOU ABOUT HIS ADVENTURES AT A BAR, OVER A GLASS OF BOMBAY RUM; BUT UNFORTUNATELY, MARCINKO'S READING OF THE MATERIAL IS JUST THAT... A READING. THERE IS NO PERFORMANCE VALUE HERE AT ALL. MARCINKO SOUNDS LIKE HE IS READING HIS OWN MATERIAL RIGHT OFF THE PAGE, AND THE WAY HE READS IT SOUNDS LIKE HE MAY BE SEEING THE WORDS FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT REMINDED ME OF BEING BACK IN GRADE SCHOOL AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO READ SHAKESPEAR OUT LOUD IN FRONT OF THE CLASS. NO, WAIT, SOME OF THOSE READINGS HAD MORE INFLECTION THAN MARCINKO GIVES TO HIS OWN WORK. YOU WANT A FLAVOR OF MARCINKO, GO BUY THE ROGUE WARRIOR VIDEO GAME, HEAR WHAT ACTOR MICKEY ROURKE DOES WITH MARCINKO'S ROUGH MANNERISMS, PURE ENJOYMENT IN THAT VOICE WORK. HERE, MARCINKO DROPS THE BALL REPEATEDLY, AND JUST ABOUT SUCKS THE ENJOYMENT OUT OF THE WHOLE AFFAIR. DOOM ON YOU, MARCINKO. DOOM ON YOU!

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