Amazon Customer

Political 'thriller' passing for science fiction

Revisado: 08-02-21

First, I have read and enjoyed many Ben Bova novels and his favorite narrator, Stefan Rudnicki, is always an attraction but not even he can save this one. The story has promise and the science is interesting but the story reads like the first novel of a high school student. Certainly, the main character displays all the political, emotional, and romantic sophistication of a 16 year old. An assistant professor of astronomy at an unnamed university he is drawn into politics as the science advisor of a first run senate candidate. There he encounters murder, corruption, and 'politics' while helping his candidate promote a new form of efficient, green energy using local coal. (No mention of how burning coal can be good for the environment.) The novel is populated by cardboard characters - heroes and villains - who are hard to care about or take seriously. Had it not been free I would have felt I had wasted my money.

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Time travelling historians from St. Mary's

Revisado: 07-27-21

I really enjoy this humorous series by Jodi Taylor about time travelling historians from St Mary's. This is a prequel to introduce Markham, one of the main characters in the series. Not my favorite. If it is your first exposure to the series, try another; this is not one of the best.

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The battle of Midway in novel form

Revisado: 07-27-21

I have read and enjoyed most of Jeff Shaara's historical fiction. This one is my least favorite. If you have read any WWII histories of War in the Pacific, you will find this one lends little to your appreciation or understanding of the Battle of Midway. Because the battle was over in a matter of hours, even the lead up and aftermath leave little room to get into the characters whose stories convey the nature of the battle itself. Not as good as many nonfiction accounts of Midway. On the other hand, if you know little or nothing about the battle which was the turning point in the Pacific War, this is an interesting introduction and will provide an accurate view of the Battle of Midway in novel form.

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Typical Brunetti Mystery

Revisado: 07-27-21

Not my favorite in the series. Murder or suicide in a military school? Less investigation than usual with an ambiguous, less than satisfying ending. I enjoy Brunetti as a character because he is normal and has a realistic relationship with his wife and children. Too many mystery writers seem to create seriously flawed characters whose investigations are driven by inner demons (e.g., alcoholism) and have no life beyond their investigations. Brunetti always has time for lunch and dinner (always delicious sounding) and for his family. A good story, just not my favorite.

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Typical Archer mystery as done by full BBC cast

Revisado: 05-04-21

Macdonald is one of the best noir mystery writers from the 50s and 60s. His plots are all similar in that the key to solving a mystery is in the past and hinges on motives. Knowing this is of little help in unravelling any particular mystery as his plots are full of twists and turns and the end is usually a surprise. Unlike many modern mystery writers, whose books can be used for door stops (e.g. Elizabeth George and Robert Galbraith), Macdonald's novels are short as we learn little about Lew Archer, his protagonist. It's all about the mystery. "The Zebra-Striped Hearse" is typical Macdonald: Archer sorts through a basket full of interesting characters in order to solve several murders and in the end the reader exclaims, "I didn't see that one coming." This one is special as it is presented as a BBC radio production with big name actors (e.g. Edward Asner as Lew Archer). Enjoy!

If you haven't read any Lew Archer novels, don't be afraid to start anywhere. Each is an independent mystery as there is no character development of Archer, the tough guy hero. He used to be a police detective and is divorced; all there is to know.

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For fans of Ted Williams

Revisado: 01-24-21

If you are a Ted Williams fan you might rate this higher. The book looks at various pitchers' experiences of pitching to Ted Williams, the self-proclaimed greatest hitter of all time (not without some cause and an infinitely more valid claim than Donald Trump's to be the greatest president since Abe Lincoln). Unfortunately the book is based on recent interviews with William's opponents but, since Williams' career spanned 4 decades, many of the pitchers who faced Williams most frequently were 'unavailable'. Several of the pitchers interviewed faced Williams only a few times and well passed his peak. Why include a pitcher who only faced Williams once? The book is complete in that it includes details of EVERY at bat by Williams vs. the pitcher interviewed and Ted's overall stats against the pitcher in question. This would likely be more interesting in book form. Listening to a list of at bats and statistics read out-loud is hard to follow even for the most avid fan.

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Biggest?

Revisado: 01-24-21

There were so many blunders in the Civil War it's hard to identify the top 10. Arguments aside, this is an interesting discussion of 10 battles/campaigns/ decisions that led to unnecessary deaths and/or extended the war.

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Against impossible odds

Revisado: 01-24-21

Interesting story of survival against an unbelievable storm. A great short article padded to expand it to book length.

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Don Winslow becomes Carl Hiaasen?

Revisado: 12-24-20

The early Neal Carey mysteries were real thrillers with a wise-cracking hero (think Robert Parker's Spencer). Over time they became more humor and less thriller. In the latest Carey, Winslow turns into Carl Hiaasen with a more fun than thrilling plot complete with improbable, over-the-top amusing villains. The previous Carey novels all had a bit of the absurd and enjoyable humorous moments, but it appears that Winslow has decided it's more fun to write humor than thrills. The plot - if one cares - involves Neil Carey babysitting a former vaudeville comedian pursued by two unlikely villains. As a big fan of Carl Hiaasen, I thoroughly enjoyed this new lighter touch.

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Short, interesting WWI history

Revisado: 12-23-20

This is a highly engaging view of the Ypres campaigns in WWI which is great for someone who wants to know something about WWI, but not THAT much.. It is written for an American audience which has not been as absorbed with WWI as their Canadian and European counterparts. Though the focus is on Flanders where fighting was continuous from the beginning to the end of the war, it also includes a brief background on how the war began and how it ended. It concentrates on strategy and those at the top of the chain of command, but includes a front-line point of view from diaries and letters written by those involved. An excellent [non doorstop weight] overview of WWI for anyone who wants to learn about it without the detail of most war histories. One problem with most audible non-fiction - no maps. Best listened to with Wikipedia.

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