This book takes SAS diversion from the usual pattern of Chris Ryan's books. The lead character wakes up not knowing who he is, where he is, or why he's there.
Certain things hint that he might be a soldier but he really does not know.
The blurb on the back reports a possible terrorist threat is turning the power off in captial cities around the world. That's the plot, but the book does not leap into that because the lead characters main plot is finding out who the heck he is!
The writing in the story is as good as any of the Chris Ryan books and as usual the action is pretty constant as is the pain the poor lead character has to go through.
If you've liked any of the previous Chris Ryans books then your likely to like this one as well.
It has as much action as his other novels but is improved by the mystery of the lead character has to solve, "Who am I"?
6/10
Monday, 25 May 2009
Saturday, 16 May 2009
The Sky People by S.M. Stirling
The Sci Fi novel starts with an slightly alternate history. Back in the 60s the Russians stayed ahead in the space race and actually sent a probe to Venus. Where they beamed back pictures of humans fighting Neanderthals in an earth like environment.
Thats where this story takes off, with the east and west having set up minor settlements on Venus.
The story follows one of the westerners as he greets a new influx of settler/scientists. Then the story moves into adventure. We have an epic voyage, wars, aliens and mysteries.
The story is well written and features constant discovery of new things about this amazing world that keeps the interest level up. The adventure is engaging and the characters seem real enough, so you can follow the plot and really bury yourself in it.
I read this in a couple of days. It was good. :)
8/10
Thats where this story takes off, with the east and west having set up minor settlements on Venus.
The story follows one of the westerners as he greets a new influx of settler/scientists. Then the story moves into adventure. We have an epic voyage, wars, aliens and mysteries.
The story is well written and features constant discovery of new things about this amazing world that keeps the interest level up. The adventure is engaging and the characters seem real enough, so you can follow the plot and really bury yourself in it.
I read this in a couple of days. It was good. :)
8/10
Saturday, 2 May 2009
The Hit List by Chris Ryan
This book was first published in 2000 when I still thought Chris Ryan was this big shot SAS guy who could write good books.
Nowadays I think Chris IS a big shot SAS guy who gets other people to ghost write his books.
There's a style in this book that doesn't seem to match that of the other books of his I've read, and not in a good way.
The first half of the book has a lot of action and adventure but in no way belongs to the plot of the book. It's a case of this happens and then that happend and then the other took place and then the plot started. Once I got to the actual plot it was immediately obvious that the first half had been a virtual waste of my life.
The idea behind the book is that the lead character gets recruited into a super uber secret government hit squad type affair. The first half of the book, and I literally mean half, is ex-SAS bloke gets mucked about a bit and peeved and is driven to the super uber secret group. Instead of half of the blummin book, that could have been dealt with in a couple of pages so why waste my life reading all that guff!?
In the end, the book overall is okay, not great, just okay and if you like ex-SAS stories then you'll find this a time filler.
Nowadays I think Chris IS a big shot SAS guy who gets other people to ghost write his books.
There's a style in this book that doesn't seem to match that of the other books of his I've read, and not in a good way.
The first half of the book has a lot of action and adventure but in no way belongs to the plot of the book. It's a case of this happens and then that happend and then the other took place and then the plot started. Once I got to the actual plot it was immediately obvious that the first half had been a virtual waste of my life.
The idea behind the book is that the lead character gets recruited into a super uber secret government hit squad type affair. The first half of the book, and I literally mean half, is ex-SAS bloke gets mucked about a bit and peeved and is driven to the super uber secret group. Instead of half of the blummin book, that could have been dealt with in a couple of pages so why waste my life reading all that guff!?
In the end, the book overall is okay, not great, just okay and if you like ex-SAS stories then you'll find this a time filler.
Friday, 24 April 2009
The Traveller by John Twelve Hawks
This is a modern novel set in the very near future.
The premise of the story is that down through history there have ever been "travellers". These people have been able to cross over to other realms and then return. The returned travellers bring back new ideas and cause trouble and revelation. The book hints that Jesus himself may have been a traveller.
As well as travellers there have also been "Harlequins", these individuals dedicate themselves to protecting the travellers.
Set against them are the brotherhood. Another underground organisation that dedicates to establishing law and order, and eliminating the disruptive travellers.
Into this world the author sets his appealing characters who from the get go and born into action and adventure. I'm afraid to say too much lest I give away the plot!
One night this week I went to bed at 9, determined to get a much needed early night, only to find myself still reading at 10:30! It's that absorbing.
This is book one in a series and I'm looking forward to gettin my hands on the next installment.
The premise of the story is that down through history there have ever been "travellers". These people have been able to cross over to other realms and then return. The returned travellers bring back new ideas and cause trouble and revelation. The book hints that Jesus himself may have been a traveller.
As well as travellers there have also been "Harlequins", these individuals dedicate themselves to protecting the travellers.
Set against them are the brotherhood. Another underground organisation that dedicates to establishing law and order, and eliminating the disruptive travellers.
Into this world the author sets his appealing characters who from the get go and born into action and adventure. I'm afraid to say too much lest I give away the plot!
One night this week I went to bed at 9, determined to get a much needed early night, only to find myself still reading at 10:30! It's that absorbing.
This is book one in a series and I'm looking forward to gettin my hands on the next installment.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Bomber Boys by Patrick Bishop
This book is subtitled "Fighting Back 1940-1945" and that really gives the game away.
This is a non fiction historical presentation. The author takes a look at all aspects of the Allied Bomber forces during World War II.
He takes us from the Dunkirk campaign where the bombers were desperately out gunned , in pitiful machines and sufffered terribly, right through to the end of the war.
I found this book a real pleasure to read from end to end. It's not some dry series of facts but the details are presented in a very readable humane way. The experiences of the lads flying the bombers are always at the fore in the text, so if the author is explaining some abstract political motivation it's done through the effects it had on the crews with anecdate and memoir.
I found myself enlightened about a number of things relating to the Bomber forces. For instance how the design of the aircraft might cost crew their lives when bailing out, or how ineffective the machine guns in the turrets were. I was astounded to learn that the crew were being encouraged to use amphetamines when flying.
The book does not shy away from the horror that the Bombers wrought on the ground, especially in the area-bombing of cities. It also highlights how the Bomber crews were forgotten after the war, or rather, sweapt under the carpet by an embarrased officialdom.
An excellent and well written book.
10/10
.
This is a non fiction historical presentation. The author takes a look at all aspects of the Allied Bomber forces during World War II.
He takes us from the Dunkirk campaign where the bombers were desperately out gunned , in pitiful machines and sufffered terribly, right through to the end of the war.
I found this book a real pleasure to read from end to end. It's not some dry series of facts but the details are presented in a very readable humane way. The experiences of the lads flying the bombers are always at the fore in the text, so if the author is explaining some abstract political motivation it's done through the effects it had on the crews with anecdate and memoir.
I found myself enlightened about a number of things relating to the Bomber forces. For instance how the design of the aircraft might cost crew their lives when bailing out, or how ineffective the machine guns in the turrets were. I was astounded to learn that the crew were being encouraged to use amphetamines when flying.
The book does not shy away from the horror that the Bombers wrought on the ground, especially in the area-bombing of cities. It also highlights how the Bomber crews were forgotten after the war, or rather, sweapt under the carpet by an embarrased officialdom.
An excellent and well written book.
10/10
.
Sunday, 17 August 2008
Ultimate Weapon by Chris Ryan
I've become very suspicious of any book with Chris' name on the cover these days. The publishers are ghost writing so many books these days and Mr Ryan is apparently writing one book a week that you never know if he really did write it.
Fortunately in this case is does not matter. The book is excellent. It's a high action adventure, where a retired SAS man gets roped back into service for one last mission. This old man is such a joy to read. He's cantankerous, unpleasant and self reliant and just such a perfect model of what your hero shouldn't be that he really brings to the book to life.
All in all this book was really fun to read, high adventure in the SAS novel tradition, it even gives an alternate reason for the Gulf 2 conflict!
If you like military adventure then I highly recommend this one.
8/10
Fortunately in this case is does not matter. The book is excellent. It's a high action adventure, where a retired SAS man gets roped back into service for one last mission. This old man is such a joy to read. He's cantankerous, unpleasant and self reliant and just such a perfect model of what your hero shouldn't be that he really brings to the book to life.
All in all this book was really fun to read, high adventure in the SAS novel tradition, it even gives an alternate reason for the Gulf 2 conflict!
If you like military adventure then I highly recommend this one.
8/10
Tuesday, 5 August 2008
Infinity Concerto - Greg Bear
I hate Greg Bear. I never used to hate him, but now I do. the first book by him that I ever read was called simply "Eon" which was a fantastic Sci Fi book. Absolutely great. then I read the sequel to "Eon" which was not so good but a passable sequel.
Then I read a couple of his other books, none of which reached the heights of the Eon sequel...
Then I read this book, "Infinity Concerto". In short I was totally disapointed.
The story revolves around a young man who gets encouraged to enter another world thats hidden from our world. There he encounters other races, and finds humans subjugated to their power. He goes through the standard hero's journey until you get to the last quarter of the book.
At this point Bear seems to have lost the will and started making up nonsence and writing tripe!
The books ending seemed to pay no heed whatsoever to the main characters journey. Why go through all of this "training" this experience, and it have no relevance to the end game. Was it only there to fill pages?
I'm very disapointed and I don't think I will be reading another "Bear" book. That said, I would recommend "Eon".
2/10
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