100. Multicolor mittens (age 2)99. Curtain ties
98. Infant mittens
97. Blue/white mittens (age 4)
96. Red men's mittens
95. Mammoth woolly red socks
94. Blue cabled cowl
93. Mammoth woolly socks
92. Feather and Fan socks
91. Aran kid sweater
90. Brown/tan kid sweater
89. Light blue beret
88. Blue ribbed hat
87. Brown kid socks (size 4)
86. Coral mittens (age 2)
85. Blue/white mittens (age 2)
84. Blue mittens (age 2)
83. Kid socks (size 4)
82. Multicolor mittens (age 2)
81. Pink striped mittens (age 2)
80. Blue-gray Trekking socks
79. Dining room curtains
78. Bathroom curtains
77. Kitchen curtains
76. Berrypicking socks
75. Multicolor mittens (age 10)
74. Gray/white mittens (age 12)
73. Pink cable headband hat (child)
72. Forest mittens (age 4)
71. Pink braided cable headband
70. Pink Unoriginal hat
69. Pink mittens (age 12)
68. Yarn swift
67. Kayak cart
66. Gray and white hat
65. Beige self-patterned socks
64. Orange mittens (age 6)
63. Fluffy yellow sweater
62. Gray cable band hat
61. Cable and moss baby pullover
60. Baby raglan
59. Crocheted yellow beret
58. Gray cable cuff mittens (age 8)
57. Blue/yellow mittens (age 8)
56. Pink cable-brim hat
55. Crocheted pink beret
54. Orange mittens (age 4)
53. Crocheted yellow beret
52. Gray/Brown fingerless mitts
51. Gray ribbed hat
50. Orange mittens (age 8)
49. Pink mittens (age 6)
48. Blue mittens (age 6)
47. Gray Cabled Hat
46. Gray Fair Isle Hat
45. Gray variegated socks
44. Blue variegated socks
43. Autumn rainbow socks
42. Forest/beige mittens (age 6)
41. Blue diamond hat
40. Lush green socks
39. Opal socks
38. Yellow/beige mittens (age 2)
37. Blue-green mittens (age 2)
36. Dk blue mittens (age 2)
35. Gold mittens (age 2)
34. Blue mittens (age 4)
33. Blue mittens (age 10)
32. Teal mittnes (age 10)
31. Blue-green mittens (age 4)
30. Unoriginal hat (adult)
29. Unoriginal hat (child)
28. Friday AM Beret (med)
27. Blue-green mittens (age 8)
26. All Day Beret (sm)
25. Ruffled scarf
24. Stretchy basket weave socks
23. Yet more red socks
22. More red socks
21. Red socks
20. Forest mittens (age 12)
19. Jungle socks
18. Rose Arch socks
17. Salt and Pepper gloves
16. Tan var. mittens (age 10)
15. Bluesy mittens (age 4)
14. Yellow mittens (age 6)
13. Peach/tan mittens (age 10)
12. Gold mittens (age 6)
11. Blue/white mittens (age 8)
10. Green/yellow mittens (age 4)
9. Tan striped mittens (age 12)
8. Pink/tan mittens (age 6)
7. Yellow baby cable mitts
6. Green/tan twin rib mitts
5. Blue twin rib mitts
4. Brown baby cable mitts (child)
3. Blue twin rib mitts (child)
2. Red cable cuff mitts
1. Fluffy blue sweater
Monday, January 3, 2000
Sunday, January 2, 2000
2011 Book Reviews
As with last year, I haven't been good about actually writing reviews. I expect I'll come back and review the more notable entries at some point, but probably not everything. In the meantime, this is at least up to date with everything I've read this year.
January
1. What Distant Deeps by David Drake
The latest in Drake's RCN series- while some of the elements in this felt a little repetitious, this was the best entry in a while, as it focused on some of the changes in the characters over time. Very enjoyable –if you've read the series, this is one of the better ones. If you haven't, I'd recommend starting at the beginning.
2. Search by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
This book took a lot of well-used elements- secret societies, ancient puzzles, the obsessed billionaire, the dedicated team of government agents and the loner with a quest and put them all together in a fast-paced and enjoyable whole.
The book suffers somewhat from weak characterization—some of the motivations and back-stories are not very convincing—but the flawless pacing and intriguing puzzle don't give you a lot of time to think about it.
I'd give it a solid B. Just the thing to make a long flight go by faster, or unwind with a light thriller.
3. The Kingmaker by Brian Haig
4. Conflict of Honors by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
5. Private Sector by Brian Haig
6. Channeling Cleopatra by Elizabeth Scarborough
7. The President's Assassin by Brian Haig
8. Man in the Middle by Brian Haig
9. All Clear by Connie Willis
10. Blackout by Connie Willis
11. The World's Greatest Sleuth by Steve Hockensmith
February
12. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
13. Lords of Finance by Liaquat Ahamed
14. Intrigues by Mercedes Lackey
15. Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett (reread)
16. Clay's Ark by Octavia Butler
17. Separation of Power by Vince Flynn
18. Foundation by Mercedes Lackey (reread)
19. Side Jobs by Jim Butcher
20. Trio of Sorcery by Mercedes Lackey
21. The Columbo Collection by William Link
22. Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
23. Owl's Well That Ends Well by Donna Andrews
March
24. Jinx High by Mercedes Lackey (reread)
25. Subspace Encounter by E.E. “Doc” Smith
26. Flesh Wound by Paul Grescoe
27. By the Sword by Mercedes Lackey (reread)
28. Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews
29. Murder with Puffins by Donna Andrews
30. Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos by Donna Andrews
31. Rotten Lies by Charlotte and Aaron Elkins
32. To Catch a Cat by Marion Babson
33. The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
34. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
35. How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown
36. Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon by Donna Andrews
37. One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde
38. We'll Always Have Parrots by Donna Andrews
39. No Nest for the Wicket by Donna Andrews
40. The Penguin Who Knew Too Much by Donna Andrews
April
41. Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews
42. Six Geese a-Slaying by Donna Andrews
43. Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews
44. Dear Mr. Holmes by Steve Hockensmith (Holmes on the Range short story anthology)
45. Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews
46. WWW:Wonder by Robert J. Sawyer
47. Star Precinct by Kevin Randle and Richard Driscoll
48. Tiassa by Stephen Brust
49. Descent: The Heroic Discovery of the Abyss by Brad Matsen
May
50. The Information: A Theory, A History, A Flood by James Gleick
51. The Carbon Murder by Camille Minichino
52. The Hydrogen Murder by Camille Minichino
53. Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz
54. Cathedral Cats by Richard Surman
55. Gently Landed by Alan Huntly
June
56. The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cufflinks by James Anderson
While not as inventive as the first in this trio of charming period
mysteries, it had all the classic elements- maps, timetables, mixed motives, secrets and of course, a murder. Delightful- I'm only sorry that this is the last.
57. The Worst Thing by Aaron Elkins
A thriller from the hand of a mystery master- fast-paced, tense and an excellent read.
58. Shadow World by A.C.Crispin and Jannean Elliott
YA SF with interesting aliens, third in Crispin's Starbridge series.
59. The Black Swan by Mercedes Lackey
A fairy tale retelling. Readable but slight.
60. Guards, Guards by Terry Pratchett (reread)
61. Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett (reread)
62. Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett (reread)
63. The Affinity Bridge by Charles Mann
This author needs to go back to the part of creative writing class where they explain 'show not tell'. More style than substance, but fans of zombies and steampunk will doubtless like it.
64. Journeyman Wizard by Mary Frances Zambreno
A YA fantasy with mystery elements. Charming but slight- it would have been a better book if the protagonist had been allowed to actually solve the mystery as opposed to having to catch the bad guy in the act.
65. Agent of Change by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee (reread)
66. Carpe Diem by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee (reread)
67. The Floor of Heaven: A True Tale of the Last Frontier and the Yukon Gold Rush by Howard Blum
Although this is nonfiction, it is not written as a history, but rather as a tale- a story with slippery villains, a brave cowboy detective and a prospector who dreams mightily but always returns in the end to the lure of gold. Well written and well paced, this is a great read for any fan of adventure and derring-do. And it has to be true- if it were fiction, no one would ever believe it!
68. Exile's Honor by Mercedes Lackey
This is another book set in her Valdemar universe, about twenty years before the first trilogy. Probably interesting only to readers who are already invested in the universe.
69-71. The Arrows of the Queen trilogy by Mercedes Lackey (reread)
72. Winds of Fate by Mercedes Lackey (reread)
July
73. The Shadow of the Lion by Mercedes Lackey, Dave Freer and Eric Flint.
Better than I expected- fantasy set in an alternate Venice, adventure, political intrigue. I'll probably look for more of these.
74. A Natural History of Seeing by Simon Ing
This is a book stuffed chock-a-block with interesting facts. No contintinuing characters, no narrative thread, just lots of interesting facts. I enjoyed it- and so will anyone else with an interest in the history of science, and the inner workings of the natural world.
75. The Sorcerers and their Apprentices by Frank Moss
This is a series of short essays about the work of the MIT Media lab. I found it interesting for the glimpses of technology in development and the cross-disciplinary nature of the work, but would have liked a more in-depth look at the projects. However it's explicitly intended to make the case for the rapid-prototyping model of development (which it does well) and for the benefits of undirected research and development. It's not overly long- an interesting short read, but not notable for its quality of writing.
76. Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman
Another interesting book on neurobiology, this one focused on just how much of the brain's functions are completely invisible to us. Well written, has a lot of overlap with other books I've read, but did a good job of expressing some of these ideas from a differently focused point of view.
77. Vengeance of Dragons by Holly Lisle (The Secret Texts #2)
Surprisingly readable considering it's the middle book in a trilogy, and I have not read either the first or third. I thought it suffered a bit from a excess of villainy- as best I can tell most of the damage the bad guys have taken has involved fights with other bad guys rather than the direct action of the heroes. It covers well-trodden ground with some original twists and competent narration. I probably won't rush to seek out the others, but if they come my way I'll read them.
78. Heat Wave by 'Richard Castle'
I don't think this will work for anyone who hasn't seen the TV show Castle, but it's a fun couple of hours for fans of the show. It reads rather like an episode, with most of the series characters present and only thinly disguised. Slight but amusing for Castle fans.
79. Magic Casement by Dave Duncan
80. Faery Lands Forlorn by Dave Duncan
81. Perilous Seas by Dave Duncan
82. Emperor and Clown by Dave Duncan
These are part of a four-part series called A Man of His Word. They should definitely be read when you have all of them in hand, because cliffhangers are not uncommon. It's a fantasy quest, distinguished by imaginative worldbuilding and excellent pacing. I found the female heroine a bit annoying, but the series as a whole quite engrossing. I read the four books in a bit over three days, and stayed up (unwisely) late finishing two of them. Very enjoyable.
83. The Cutting Edge by Dave Duncan
84. Upland Outlaws by Dave Duncan
85. The Stricken Field by Dave Duncan
These are part of a four-part series called A Handful of Men. See the review at item 96, the last book in the series.
86. The Cold Light of Mourning by Elizabeth Duncan
A first book, one part novel, one part amateur sleuth mystery and one part police procedural. A little uneven- the killer was fairly obvious to the reader at about the midpoint, and one crucial clue was handed to the protagonist early on and simply overlooked until the climax. But it was lively enough that I'll have a look at the second, and see if it's better.
87. Dragon's Blood by Jane Yolen
This is YA science fiction and a book that inspired legions of imitations. A bit simple for my adult taste, but I'd have enjoyed in my younger days.
88. A Brush with Death by Elizabeth Duncan
I'd had hopes that the second novel in this series would be less rough than the first one...unfortunately I was rather disappointed. This was much as the first only with less editing. It doesn't lack appeal- the author has a lot of good ideas, if only they were better put together. For example- the setup - new information turning up about a thirty-year-old death is perfect for a ball-of-twine type mystery, where one clue leads to the next. But was aimed halfway between the ball of twine and the jigsaw puzzle (where all the clues are out in the open but it takes the detective to show how they fit together)- and didn't quite settle on either. Clues turn up that the protagonist assumes are part of the puzzle (based on no evidence whatsoever) --and turn out to be completely irrelevant- not red herrings, they simply have no effect on the story at all. Two possible suspects are introduced and then dropped from the narrative without being developed. A second murder is committed for very little apparent reason. The person eventually revealed to be the murderer is located by chance about halfway through the book...but not until the climax does the detective try to investigate this person. And even taken as a straight novel with mystery elements...the protagonist makes some frankly silly decisions that are both not especially well supported in the narrative, and which lend nothing to the mystery. I really wanted to like this, for the book it was trying to be, but I can't give it better than a C-. And there I'm probably being too generous.
89. In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson is always good fun, but this is outstanding even among his other work. I giggled intermittently through this account of his travels in Australia, and learned a lot I hadn't known along the way. Highly recommended.
90. Longshot by Dick Francis (reread)
August
91. Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton
I was unimpressed with the second in this series, but the first one landed in my living room by chance. This is more a novel with a mystery plot than an actual mystery- the murder is solved by having a giant Clue plopped down in front of the protagonist once enough book had gone by that it was nearing a salable length. The characters are pleasant enough, and I quite like the looks of the recipe and knitting pattern in the back, but I won't be seeking any of these out.
92. A Rumor of Bones by Beverly Connor
Interesting archeology and forensics don't really compensate for the lack of plot. This was an improvement on my last read, mainly because it didn't try to be a whodunnit, and rather fed the reader a steady stream of new bodies and information, but the eventual revelation of the killer was anticlimactic, and a second murderer is caught only by having a crucial piece of evidence turn up at the end of the book...moreover, a piece of evidence that was actually found much earlier. I'll probably give another of these a try, if only because forensic anthropology is interesting, and Aaron Elkins doesn't write fast enough.
93. In the Frame by Dick Francis (reread)
94. Big Black Hole by Wilma Kahn
A mystery and an author I hadn't heard of, evidently for good reason. It starts promisingly enough- a private investigator, and a suicide that might not be. However the detective unfortunately fails to detect anything, and only succeeds in catching the killer because the murderer is stupid enough to make three unsuccessful attempts to kill her, for no obvious reason. A good deal of the book is taken up with the detective's relationships with various secondary characters, none of which particularly have anything to do with the story. Profoundly unimpressive.
95. The Sniper's Wife by Archer Mayor
Mayor writes a workmanlike mystery, but I tend to find his usual main character, Joe Gunther, pleasant but a little dull. The kind of guy you invite for barbecue, introduce to your sister, and can count on to help move heavy furniture. In The Sniper's Wife, Mayor has shifted Joe to the back seat and has written a book featuring Gunther's usual sidekick Willy Kunkle- who isn't nearly as nice but is a lot more interesting to read about. It's got clues, it's got action, it's got complex motivations, and if there were a few details about the ending (which happens to be set in an area I'm extremely familar with) that are more dramatic than realistic, it's okay- I didn't really notice until afterward because the narrative had my full attention. A good read.
96. The Living God by Dave Duncan
In any multibook fantasy you have the problem of repeating yourself, and this series, A Handful of Men (sequel to the four book series A Man of his Word) does suffer a bit from sameness. At the same time, it has the satisfying quality of returning to likeable characters some years later and seeing what they've done with themselves. Basically- another fantasy quest, with some of the same players and some new ones. Very enjoyable and entertaining. And if the climax wasn't much of a surprise...it was at least very well executed. If you liked the first series, you'll probably enjoy this one as well, and if you haven't read the first series, that's definitely the place to start. Also- get all four books in a section before starting the first- between book cliffhangers are pretty much the rule.
97. Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
Second in the Temeraire trilogy, this is unusually a coming of age story... for the dragon. The story moves a bit slowly, but is saved by the charm of Temeraire himself, and the appealingly honorable Laurence. It is considerably more idea-focused that most fantasy. I'll be interested to see what is done in the third book.
98. The Bad Place by Dean Koontz
A reprint of one of his early novels, it's his trademark mix of horror and SF. Interesting characters make it more appealing than the usual horror midlist, The violence was unusually graphic for Koontz.
99. The Conspiracy Club by Jonathan Kellerman
One of Kellerman's standalone novels, and a clever and twisty thriller. Very enjoyable.
100. Monster by Jonathan Kellerman
This is #13 in his Alex Delaware series. Competent and workmanlike, and certainly a good beach or plane ride diversion, but it irritated me that I had figured out the plot by the middle of the book.
101. Mind Prey by John Sandford
Exquisitely craftsmanlike, very well paced, it's the perfect blend of a thriller and a police procedural. Extremely well done. On the downside, there was a considerable amount of crude language and I didn't especially like or identify with any of the characters. But this is clearly a middle book in a series and I might have found the detective more sympathetic if I'd read some of the earlier books. I will likely seek out at least one more of these.
102. Break In by Dick Francis (reread)
103. Bolt by Dick Francis (reread)
104. Ghost Story by Jim Butcher
This is the latest installment in the Harry Dresden series, and as usual, Butcher delivers an enjoyable read. This one explores some of the consequences of the last book, but keeps you on the edge of your seat regarding Harry's ultimate fate. Absolutely not a good place to start the series; the Dresden series benefits from being read in order, and the last several books in this series have absolutely depended on the reader being familiar with the previous work.
105. Simon's Cat, Beyond the Fence by Simon Tofield
Okay, to say I 'read' this is kind of an exaggeration, but for fans of animator and cartoonist Simon Tofield, this is another charming collection of acutely observed and lovingly drawn cat cartoons. I am hard put to choose a favorite, but cat crop circles are way up there. Go and enjoy.
106. Storm Front by Jim Butcher (reread)
107. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher (reread)
108. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher (reread)
109. From the Corner of his Eye by Dean Koontz
Although I'm not really a horror fan, I do make an exception for Dean Koontz. His horror often tends to the science-fictional (which this isn't), but more importantly, his work generally features appealing and extraordinary characters, is written with a craftsman's knowledge of plot and pacing, and is simply an entertaining read. Plotwise, this wasn't his strongest effort, as the vastly elongated timeframe, and historical notes made the pacing a bit odd, but it was made up for by a largely quite charming lot of characters. I give it three stars.
110. Timecaster by Joe Kimball
If you're looking for a fast-paced SF-flavored thriller with lots of sex and violence, on about the level of an action movie, this will do very well. Unfortunately I bought it hoping for a classic puzzle-type SF mystery. Oh well. I'll know better next time.
111. A Civil Campaign by Lois Bujold (reread)
112. A Clutch of Constables by Ngaio Marsh (reread)
113. The Battle of Britain, Five Months that Changed History; May-October 1940 by Tom Holland
This was a fascinating read on many levels; it showed both the point of view of the policymakers and of soldiers and civilians, all based on thousands of hours of interviews letters and diary accounts. It showed the attitudes of both sides- as many Germans as Britains. And it chilling painted a picture of history balanced on a knife edge- there were many points where things could have turned out differently; had one mistake been made or rectified, had the weather been different--as well as the larger systemic reasons that history turned out the way it did. Despite being a dense and often technical account, Holland has a clear and vivid style of prose, making this as accessible to the casual reader as to the armchair historian. He does a good job of bringing a broad confilct to life while making clear the complex of causal factors that drove events.
114. Crossfire by Dick and Felix Francis
A definite step up from the last father and son effort; this benefits from much stronger plotting. It still has some ways to go to match Francis pater's best efforts - characterization remains a bit thin- but I'm rather encouraged by the continuing improvement. I will at last check the next Felix Francis novel.
115. Flying Finish by Dick Francis (reread)
116. Ghost Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
117. Gamble by Felix Francis
118. An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire
119 and 120. Radius of Doubt/Path of Fire by Charles Ingrid (omnibus of first two novels in Patterns of Chaos series).
121. Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (reread)
122 and 123 The Downfall Matrix/Soulfire by Charles Ingrid (omnibus of third and fourth novels in Patterns of Chaos series).
This aspired to be a sweeping science fiction epic, and it had a lot of fun elements, but it didn't quite manage to make it all come together at the end.
124. A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge (reread)
125. Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik
126. Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik
127. Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik
128. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings (reread)
129. Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings (reread)
130. Magician's Gambit by David Eddings (reread)
140. Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings (reread)
141. Children of the Sky by Verner Vinge
This wasn't as outstanding as the prior book, and it suffers considerably from many plot threads being left for the next book to resolve. However, an adequate Vinge novel is a lot better than average, and I did enjoy this one. I'm just hoping it doesn't take another ten years for the third (and presumably final) book.
142. The Good Friday Murders by Lee Harris
This had a good setup, some interesting detection--and then the story completely fell apart and had a thriller-type ending tacked on. Quite disappointing.
143. Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
This was a cross between chicklit and a mystery, and worked better than I was expecting. Although I tend to regard the fashion-and-appearance conscious female characters as an alien species, it was light and entertaining. The mystery was rather pedestrian, but carried out in a craftsman-like fashion.
144. Search the Shadows by Barbara Michaels
A rather slight entry into the Michaels/Peters oeuvre; the mystery was reasonable but the character was uninteresting and the obligatory romance unconvincing.
144. Enchanter's Endgame by David Eddings (reread)
145. Size 14 Is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot
146. Big Boned by Meg Cabot
Two more in the same series as 143. Less fashion, more murder and the quirky cast of amusing characters. Lighthearted fun.
147.Access Denied by Donna Andrews
148.Click Here for Murder by Donna Andrews
149.Rules of Prey by John Sandford
150. Reamde by Neal Stephenson
151. Shadow Prey by Neal Stephenson
152. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
153. When the Tide Rises by David Drake (reread)
154. Into the Darkness by Barbara Michaels
January
1. What Distant Deeps by David Drake
The latest in Drake's RCN series- while some of the elements in this felt a little repetitious, this was the best entry in a while, as it focused on some of the changes in the characters over time. Very enjoyable –if you've read the series, this is one of the better ones. If you haven't, I'd recommend starting at the beginning.
2. Search by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
This book took a lot of well-used elements- secret societies, ancient puzzles, the obsessed billionaire, the dedicated team of government agents and the loner with a quest and put them all together in a fast-paced and enjoyable whole.
The book suffers somewhat from weak characterization—some of the motivations and back-stories are not very convincing—but the flawless pacing and intriguing puzzle don't give you a lot of time to think about it.
I'd give it a solid B. Just the thing to make a long flight go by faster, or unwind with a light thriller.
3. The Kingmaker by Brian Haig
4. Conflict of Honors by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
5. Private Sector by Brian Haig
6. Channeling Cleopatra by Elizabeth Scarborough
7. The President's Assassin by Brian Haig
8. Man in the Middle by Brian Haig
9. All Clear by Connie Willis
10. Blackout by Connie Willis
11. The World's Greatest Sleuth by Steve Hockensmith
February
12. His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik
13. Lords of Finance by Liaquat Ahamed
14. Intrigues by Mercedes Lackey
15. Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett (reread)
16. Clay's Ark by Octavia Butler
17. Separation of Power by Vince Flynn
18. Foundation by Mercedes Lackey (reread)
19. Side Jobs by Jim Butcher
20. Trio of Sorcery by Mercedes Lackey
21. The Columbo Collection by William Link
22. Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely
23. Owl's Well That Ends Well by Donna Andrews
March
24. Jinx High by Mercedes Lackey (reread)
25. Subspace Encounter by E.E. “Doc” Smith
26. Flesh Wound by Paul Grescoe
27. By the Sword by Mercedes Lackey (reread)
28. Murder with Peacocks by Donna Andrews
29. Murder with Puffins by Donna Andrews
30. Revenge of the Wrought Iron Flamingos by Donna Andrews
31. Rotten Lies by Charlotte and Aaron Elkins
32. To Catch a Cat by Marion Babson
33. The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz
34. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
35. How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown
36. Crouching Buzzard, Leaping Loon by Donna Andrews
37. One of Our Thursdays is Missing by Jasper Fforde
38. We'll Always Have Parrots by Donna Andrews
39. No Nest for the Wicket by Donna Andrews
40. The Penguin Who Knew Too Much by Donna Andrews
April
41. Cockatiels at Seven by Donna Andrews
42. Six Geese a-Slaying by Donna Andrews
43. Swan for the Money by Donna Andrews
44. Dear Mr. Holmes by Steve Hockensmith (Holmes on the Range short story anthology)
45. Stork Raving Mad by Donna Andrews
46. WWW:Wonder by Robert J. Sawyer
47. Star Precinct by Kevin Randle and Richard Driscoll
48. Tiassa by Stephen Brust
49. Descent: The Heroic Discovery of the Abyss by Brad Matsen
May
50. The Information: A Theory, A History, A Flood by James Gleick
51. The Carbon Murder by Camille Minichino
52. The Hydrogen Murder by Camille Minichino
53. Scorpia Rising by Anthony Horowitz
54. Cathedral Cats by Richard Surman
55. Gently Landed by Alan Huntly
June
56. The Affair of the Thirty-Nine Cufflinks by James Anderson
While not as inventive as the first in this trio of charming period
mysteries, it had all the classic elements- maps, timetables, mixed motives, secrets and of course, a murder. Delightful- I'm only sorry that this is the last.
57. The Worst Thing by Aaron Elkins
A thriller from the hand of a mystery master- fast-paced, tense and an excellent read.
58. Shadow World by A.C.Crispin and Jannean Elliott
YA SF with interesting aliens, third in Crispin's Starbridge series.
59. The Black Swan by Mercedes Lackey
A fairy tale retelling. Readable but slight.
60. Guards, Guards by Terry Pratchett (reread)
61. Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett (reread)
62. Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett (reread)
63. The Affinity Bridge by Charles Mann
This author needs to go back to the part of creative writing class where they explain 'show not tell'. More style than substance, but fans of zombies and steampunk will doubtless like it.
64. Journeyman Wizard by Mary Frances Zambreno
A YA fantasy with mystery elements. Charming but slight- it would have been a better book if the protagonist had been allowed to actually solve the mystery as opposed to having to catch the bad guy in the act.
65. Agent of Change by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee (reread)
66. Carpe Diem by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee (reread)
67. The Floor of Heaven: A True Tale of the Last Frontier and the Yukon Gold Rush by Howard Blum
Although this is nonfiction, it is not written as a history, but rather as a tale- a story with slippery villains, a brave cowboy detective and a prospector who dreams mightily but always returns in the end to the lure of gold. Well written and well paced, this is a great read for any fan of adventure and derring-do. And it has to be true- if it were fiction, no one would ever believe it!
68. Exile's Honor by Mercedes Lackey
This is another book set in her Valdemar universe, about twenty years before the first trilogy. Probably interesting only to readers who are already invested in the universe.
69-71. The Arrows of the Queen trilogy by Mercedes Lackey (reread)
72. Winds of Fate by Mercedes Lackey (reread)
July
73. The Shadow of the Lion by Mercedes Lackey, Dave Freer and Eric Flint.
Better than I expected- fantasy set in an alternate Venice, adventure, political intrigue. I'll probably look for more of these.
74. A Natural History of Seeing by Simon Ing
This is a book stuffed chock-a-block with interesting facts. No contintinuing characters, no narrative thread, just lots of interesting facts. I enjoyed it- and so will anyone else with an interest in the history of science, and the inner workings of the natural world.
75. The Sorcerers and their Apprentices by Frank Moss
This is a series of short essays about the work of the MIT Media lab. I found it interesting for the glimpses of technology in development and the cross-disciplinary nature of the work, but would have liked a more in-depth look at the projects. However it's explicitly intended to make the case for the rapid-prototyping model of development (which it does well) and for the benefits of undirected research and development. It's not overly long- an interesting short read, but not notable for its quality of writing.
76. Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman
Another interesting book on neurobiology, this one focused on just how much of the brain's functions are completely invisible to us. Well written, has a lot of overlap with other books I've read, but did a good job of expressing some of these ideas from a differently focused point of view.
77. Vengeance of Dragons by Holly Lisle (The Secret Texts #2)
Surprisingly readable considering it's the middle book in a trilogy, and I have not read either the first or third. I thought it suffered a bit from a excess of villainy- as best I can tell most of the damage the bad guys have taken has involved fights with other bad guys rather than the direct action of the heroes. It covers well-trodden ground with some original twists and competent narration. I probably won't rush to seek out the others, but if they come my way I'll read them.
78. Heat Wave by 'Richard Castle'
I don't think this will work for anyone who hasn't seen the TV show Castle, but it's a fun couple of hours for fans of the show. It reads rather like an episode, with most of the series characters present and only thinly disguised. Slight but amusing for Castle fans.
79. Magic Casement by Dave Duncan
80. Faery Lands Forlorn by Dave Duncan
81. Perilous Seas by Dave Duncan
82. Emperor and Clown by Dave Duncan
These are part of a four-part series called A Man of His Word. They should definitely be read when you have all of them in hand, because cliffhangers are not uncommon. It's a fantasy quest, distinguished by imaginative worldbuilding and excellent pacing. I found the female heroine a bit annoying, but the series as a whole quite engrossing. I read the four books in a bit over three days, and stayed up (unwisely) late finishing two of them. Very enjoyable.
83. The Cutting Edge by Dave Duncan
84. Upland Outlaws by Dave Duncan
85. The Stricken Field by Dave Duncan
These are part of a four-part series called A Handful of Men. See the review at item 96, the last book in the series.
86. The Cold Light of Mourning by Elizabeth Duncan
A first book, one part novel, one part amateur sleuth mystery and one part police procedural. A little uneven- the killer was fairly obvious to the reader at about the midpoint, and one crucial clue was handed to the protagonist early on and simply overlooked until the climax. But it was lively enough that I'll have a look at the second, and see if it's better.
87. Dragon's Blood by Jane Yolen
This is YA science fiction and a book that inspired legions of imitations. A bit simple for my adult taste, but I'd have enjoyed in my younger days.
88. A Brush with Death by Elizabeth Duncan
I'd had hopes that the second novel in this series would be less rough than the first one...unfortunately I was rather disappointed. This was much as the first only with less editing. It doesn't lack appeal- the author has a lot of good ideas, if only they were better put together. For example- the setup - new information turning up about a thirty-year-old death is perfect for a ball-of-twine type mystery, where one clue leads to the next. But was aimed halfway between the ball of twine and the jigsaw puzzle (where all the clues are out in the open but it takes the detective to show how they fit together)- and didn't quite settle on either. Clues turn up that the protagonist assumes are part of the puzzle (based on no evidence whatsoever) --and turn out to be completely irrelevant- not red herrings, they simply have no effect on the story at all. Two possible suspects are introduced and then dropped from the narrative without being developed. A second murder is committed for very little apparent reason. The person eventually revealed to be the murderer is located by chance about halfway through the book...but not until the climax does the detective try to investigate this person. And even taken as a straight novel with mystery elements...the protagonist makes some frankly silly decisions that are both not especially well supported in the narrative, and which lend nothing to the mystery. I really wanted to like this, for the book it was trying to be, but I can't give it better than a C-. And there I'm probably being too generous.
89. In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson is always good fun, but this is outstanding even among his other work. I giggled intermittently through this account of his travels in Australia, and learned a lot I hadn't known along the way. Highly recommended.
90. Longshot by Dick Francis (reread)
August
91. Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton
I was unimpressed with the second in this series, but the first one landed in my living room by chance. This is more a novel with a mystery plot than an actual mystery- the murder is solved by having a giant Clue plopped down in front of the protagonist once enough book had gone by that it was nearing a salable length. The characters are pleasant enough, and I quite like the looks of the recipe and knitting pattern in the back, but I won't be seeking any of these out.
92. A Rumor of Bones by Beverly Connor
Interesting archeology and forensics don't really compensate for the lack of plot. This was an improvement on my last read, mainly because it didn't try to be a whodunnit, and rather fed the reader a steady stream of new bodies and information, but the eventual revelation of the killer was anticlimactic, and a second murderer is caught only by having a crucial piece of evidence turn up at the end of the book...moreover, a piece of evidence that was actually found much earlier. I'll probably give another of these a try, if only because forensic anthropology is interesting, and Aaron Elkins doesn't write fast enough.
93. In the Frame by Dick Francis (reread)
94. Big Black Hole by Wilma Kahn
A mystery and an author I hadn't heard of, evidently for good reason. It starts promisingly enough- a private investigator, and a suicide that might not be. However the detective unfortunately fails to detect anything, and only succeeds in catching the killer because the murderer is stupid enough to make three unsuccessful attempts to kill her, for no obvious reason. A good deal of the book is taken up with the detective's relationships with various secondary characters, none of which particularly have anything to do with the story. Profoundly unimpressive.
95. The Sniper's Wife by Archer Mayor
Mayor writes a workmanlike mystery, but I tend to find his usual main character, Joe Gunther, pleasant but a little dull. The kind of guy you invite for barbecue, introduce to your sister, and can count on to help move heavy furniture. In The Sniper's Wife, Mayor has shifted Joe to the back seat and has written a book featuring Gunther's usual sidekick Willy Kunkle- who isn't nearly as nice but is a lot more interesting to read about. It's got clues, it's got action, it's got complex motivations, and if there were a few details about the ending (which happens to be set in an area I'm extremely familar with) that are more dramatic than realistic, it's okay- I didn't really notice until afterward because the narrative had my full attention. A good read.
96. The Living God by Dave Duncan
In any multibook fantasy you have the problem of repeating yourself, and this series, A Handful of Men (sequel to the four book series A Man of his Word) does suffer a bit from sameness. At the same time, it has the satisfying quality of returning to likeable characters some years later and seeing what they've done with themselves. Basically- another fantasy quest, with some of the same players and some new ones. Very enjoyable and entertaining. And if the climax wasn't much of a surprise...it was at least very well executed. If you liked the first series, you'll probably enjoy this one as well, and if you haven't read the first series, that's definitely the place to start. Also- get all four books in a section before starting the first- between book cliffhangers are pretty much the rule.
97. Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
Second in the Temeraire trilogy, this is unusually a coming of age story... for the dragon. The story moves a bit slowly, but is saved by the charm of Temeraire himself, and the appealingly honorable Laurence. It is considerably more idea-focused that most fantasy. I'll be interested to see what is done in the third book.
98. The Bad Place by Dean Koontz
A reprint of one of his early novels, it's his trademark mix of horror and SF. Interesting characters make it more appealing than the usual horror midlist, The violence was unusually graphic for Koontz.
99. The Conspiracy Club by Jonathan Kellerman
One of Kellerman's standalone novels, and a clever and twisty thriller. Very enjoyable.
100. Monster by Jonathan Kellerman
This is #13 in his Alex Delaware series. Competent and workmanlike, and certainly a good beach or plane ride diversion, but it irritated me that I had figured out the plot by the middle of the book.
101. Mind Prey by John Sandford
Exquisitely craftsmanlike, very well paced, it's the perfect blend of a thriller and a police procedural. Extremely well done. On the downside, there was a considerable amount of crude language and I didn't especially like or identify with any of the characters. But this is clearly a middle book in a series and I might have found the detective more sympathetic if I'd read some of the earlier books. I will likely seek out at least one more of these.
102. Break In by Dick Francis (reread)
103. Bolt by Dick Francis (reread)
104. Ghost Story by Jim Butcher
This is the latest installment in the Harry Dresden series, and as usual, Butcher delivers an enjoyable read. This one explores some of the consequences of the last book, but keeps you on the edge of your seat regarding Harry's ultimate fate. Absolutely not a good place to start the series; the Dresden series benefits from being read in order, and the last several books in this series have absolutely depended on the reader being familiar with the previous work.
105. Simon's Cat, Beyond the Fence by Simon Tofield
Okay, to say I 'read' this is kind of an exaggeration, but for fans of animator and cartoonist Simon Tofield, this is another charming collection of acutely observed and lovingly drawn cat cartoons. I am hard put to choose a favorite, but cat crop circles are way up there. Go and enjoy.
106. Storm Front by Jim Butcher (reread)
107. Fool Moon by Jim Butcher (reread)
108. Grave Peril by Jim Butcher (reread)
109. From the Corner of his Eye by Dean Koontz
Although I'm not really a horror fan, I do make an exception for Dean Koontz. His horror often tends to the science-fictional (which this isn't), but more importantly, his work generally features appealing and extraordinary characters, is written with a craftsman's knowledge of plot and pacing, and is simply an entertaining read. Plotwise, this wasn't his strongest effort, as the vastly elongated timeframe, and historical notes made the pacing a bit odd, but it was made up for by a largely quite charming lot of characters. I give it three stars.
110. Timecaster by Joe Kimball
If you're looking for a fast-paced SF-flavored thriller with lots of sex and violence, on about the level of an action movie, this will do very well. Unfortunately I bought it hoping for a classic puzzle-type SF mystery. Oh well. I'll know better next time.
111. A Civil Campaign by Lois Bujold (reread)
112. A Clutch of Constables by Ngaio Marsh (reread)
113. The Battle of Britain, Five Months that Changed History; May-October 1940 by Tom Holland
This was a fascinating read on many levels; it showed both the point of view of the policymakers and of soldiers and civilians, all based on thousands of hours of interviews letters and diary accounts. It showed the attitudes of both sides- as many Germans as Britains. And it chilling painted a picture of history balanced on a knife edge- there were many points where things could have turned out differently; had one mistake been made or rectified, had the weather been different--as well as the larger systemic reasons that history turned out the way it did. Despite being a dense and often technical account, Holland has a clear and vivid style of prose, making this as accessible to the casual reader as to the armchair historian. He does a good job of bringing a broad confilct to life while making clear the complex of causal factors that drove events.
114. Crossfire by Dick and Felix Francis
A definite step up from the last father and son effort; this benefits from much stronger plotting. It still has some ways to go to match Francis pater's best efforts - characterization remains a bit thin- but I'm rather encouraged by the continuing improvement. I will at last check the next Felix Francis novel.
115. Flying Finish by Dick Francis (reread)
116. Ghost Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
117. Gamble by Felix Francis
118. An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire
119 and 120. Radius of Doubt/Path of Fire by Charles Ingrid (omnibus of first two novels in Patterns of Chaos series).
121. Going Postal by Terry Pratchett (reread)
122 and 123 The Downfall Matrix/Soulfire by Charles Ingrid (omnibus of third and fourth novels in Patterns of Chaos series).
This aspired to be a sweeping science fiction epic, and it had a lot of fun elements, but it didn't quite manage to make it all come together at the end.
124. A Fire Upon The Deep by Vernor Vinge (reread)
125. Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik
126. Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik
127. Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik
128. Pawn of Prophecy by David Eddings (reread)
129. Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings (reread)
130. Magician's Gambit by David Eddings (reread)
140. Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings (reread)
141. Children of the Sky by Verner Vinge
This wasn't as outstanding as the prior book, and it suffers considerably from many plot threads being left for the next book to resolve. However, an adequate Vinge novel is a lot better than average, and I did enjoy this one. I'm just hoping it doesn't take another ten years for the third (and presumably final) book.
142. The Good Friday Murders by Lee Harris
This had a good setup, some interesting detection--and then the story completely fell apart and had a thriller-type ending tacked on. Quite disappointing.
143. Size 12 Is Not Fat by Meg Cabot
This was a cross between chicklit and a mystery, and worked better than I was expecting. Although I tend to regard the fashion-and-appearance conscious female characters as an alien species, it was light and entertaining. The mystery was rather pedestrian, but carried out in a craftsman-like fashion.
144. Search the Shadows by Barbara Michaels
A rather slight entry into the Michaels/Peters oeuvre; the mystery was reasonable but the character was uninteresting and the obligatory romance unconvincing.
144. Enchanter's Endgame by David Eddings (reread)
145. Size 14 Is Not Fat Either by Meg Cabot
146. Big Boned by Meg Cabot
Two more in the same series as 143. Less fashion, more murder and the quirky cast of amusing characters. Lighthearted fun.
147.Access Denied by Donna Andrews
148.Click Here for Murder by Donna Andrews
149.Rules of Prey by John Sandford
150. Reamde by Neal Stephenson
151. Shadow Prey by Neal Stephenson
152. Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
153. When the Tide Rises by David Drake (reread)
154. Into the Darkness by Barbara Michaels
Saturday, January 1, 2000
2010 Book Reviews
Actually this is more like a book list, as I definitely fell down on the reviewing in 2010. A good many of these are one or two line reactions reconstructed a year later.
January
1. Breaking Point by Steve Perry ('Tom Clancy's' Net Force series)
This was one of my father's freebie barn finds, and I must admit that my expectations were not high. However, I have read some SF by the same author, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I must admit that I hadn't expected it to be slow. This could be a lesson in how not to plot a thriller. The good guys have almost nothing to do. So while the bad guys run around plotting, we follow various members of the good guy team-- on a camping trip with his girlfriend (irrelevant), another is in the middle of a custody issue with his daughter- which isn't just irrelevant, it's not even resolved, simply abandoned without mention when the same character's love interest comes back into his life. We spend a bunch of time on a couple of kids going to a boomerang tournament, which I thought was pretty cool...except that the boomerang tournament had nothing to do with the plot. And neither did the kids. We get the good guys bumbling around, stumbling over the bad guys' trail more or less by accident- and so incompetently that the only reason the bad guys are stopped at all is that they fight each other. Wow. I kind of expect the next book to be all these characters getting fired and finding fulfillment in fast food service. But that's okay, I won't be reading any more.
2. Inside the Outbreaks by Mark Prendergast
This is a survey of the activities of the Epidemic Intelligence Service, a division of the CDC. Fantastic story- or, I should say, stories, since the book flits from case to case without ever pausing for long on any one thing. It suffers from not having a central character or characters to focus on, but the constant switching from one story to the next has its own relentless compulsion. The group is fairly small and has been tasked with investigating everything from polio outbreaks to anthrax, from Legionnaires' disease to occupational heath hazards. Individuals and small groups have been deployed overseas, under the most appalling conditions, helping fight malaria, ebola, smallpox and tuberculosis in the developing world. Fascinating in its scope, horrifying in the amount of suffering depicted, admirable in the dedication of the people, and educational as to the scope and danger disease still poses. You'll find this a compelling read, though you'll want frequent breaks to stop thinking about it. Also to wash your hands.
3. Living Hell by Catherine Jinks
Another one for the growing category of really pointless YA. It starts out looking like SF, turns into horror. Summary- bad things happen. People die. Things get worse. In the end, things are still terrible. Why would a kid want to read this? Why would anyone? No idea.
4. Iorich by Steven Brust
A very pleasant excursion into back to Adrilankha, with appearances by most of our old favorite characters. It's well paced and a great improvement over other recent books in the series, but it's still somewhat weakly plotted, and could have given the main character more to do. Certainly do not start here (start with Jhereg, the first written, though not the first chronologically in the series, and a fabulously fun story), but if you're a fan of the series, this is a better book than we've seen in some time.
5. Two Balls or Less Jenny Hill
Yarn! Balls of yarn. Get your minds out of the gutter. It's a knitting book.
6. Fledgeling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Set in the Liaden universe, it's a fun coming of age story. I expect
7. The Yarn Harlot Casts Off by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Knitting humor- if you're a knitter or know a knitter, you'll find it hysterical.
February
March
8. Terracotta Warriors by Jane Portal
This is the book that went with the touring exhibition of Terracotta Warriors from China. Fascinating, gorgeous photos, but I wish it had been longer.
April
9. Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow by James Rollins
Yet another effort by a mainstream writer to cash in on the YA fantasy market. It's a better effort than many, but the author hasn't really internalized the rules of the genre. I'd give it to a tween, but wouldn't expect it to wow an adult fantasy fan.
10. The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy by Charles R. Morris
Well written and interesting, this is a must read for anyone with an interest in how businesses went from cottage industries to megacorps. And an education for anyone who seriously thinks that deregulation is good for anyone except the obscenely wealthy.
11. Brain Thief by Alexander Jablokov
A near future Boston is the setting for this thriller by Alexander Jablakov.
12. Blackout by Connie Willis
13. Telzey Amberdon by James Schmitz (reread)
14. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
15. Changes by Jim Butcher
16. The Five Greatest Warriors by Matthew Reilly
17. The Lost City of Z
May
18. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith
19. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
20. TnT: Telzey and Trigger by James Schmitz
21. Skirmish by Melisa Michaels (reread)
22. First Battle by Melisa Michaels (reread)
23. Blind Descent by James Tabor
A rather unevenly written account of deep cave exporation. The book was structured as a comparison of two teams of spelunkers each trying to prove they had found the world's deepest cave. Unfortunately the author was clearly more interested and devoted the lion's share of the narrative to the more colorful of the two explorers. It would have been a better book if he'd either balanced it more evenly, or just written the whole book about the one he found more interesting. Still, fans of real life exploration and adventure will find it intriguing.
24. Tokyo Vice by Jake Adelstein
A fascinating and rather repulsive look at a journalist's experiences doing crime reporting for a Japanese newspaper. Adelstein provides a vivid window not just into a culture I know little about, but into the underworld of that culture. Well written and compelling, but not for the squeamish.
25. Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Sequel to Fledgeling, this book ties the story more firmly back into the Liaden series.
26. Pilots Choice by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Another entertaining entry in the Liaden series. Not really the place to start.
27. The Lights of Zetar by Wallace Moore
Pulpy pulp fantasy of the pulpiest sort. If you like that sort of thing.
28. The Amber Room by Steve Berry
A thriller.
29. Without Remorse by Tom Clancy
It's Tom Clancy in his late period. If you've read him, you know what he's like. If you haven't, go read 'The Hunt for Red October', it's much better.
30. Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell
A later book in Cornwell's Scarpetta series. Readable enough, and decently crafted, but I wish I liked the main character better.
31. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
An interesting book about social phenomenon.
32. Crystal Soldier by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
A prequel set early in the Liaden universe.
33. Long Time Gone J.A.Jance
A later book in the J.P. Beaumont series. This is the only one I've read, so no doubt I missed a lot.
34. Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell
A later book in Cornwell's Scarpetta series. Readable enough, and decently crafted, but I wish I liked the main character better.
35. City of Bones by Michael Connelly
A later book in Connelly's Harry Bosch series. I enjoyed the police procedural parts more than the character's relationship difficulties.
June
36. Deception Point by Dan Brown (reread)
37. The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy (reread)
38. Enigma by Robert Harris
An entertaining thriller set at Bletchley Park (site of the British codebreaking effort) during WWII. Very enjoyable.
39. Bullard of the Space Patrol by Malcolm Jameson (reread)
40. The Cardinal of the Kremlin by Tom Clancy (reread)
41. Clear and Present Danger by Tom Clancy (reread)
42. Executive Orders by Tom Clancy
The most enjoyable part of this book was rereading the early Clancy to get me back in the mood. Like most of Clancy's later books, it could have used an editor with a machete to cut out the kudzu. Like the completely irrelevant subplot of the guys with the cement mixer which has absolutely no effect on the story as a whole. You also need to be willing to tolerate a whole bunch of Clancy's 'well, if people would just do things my way, everything would be so much better'. However, the icing on the cowpat, was the part where in the climax of the book, they solve everything by doing something that was proposed in an earlier book, but dismissed as completely impractical. Not recommended.
July
Rereads:
43. Rat Race by Dick Francis
44. Bonecrack by Dick Francis
45. Decider by Dick Francis
46. Shattered by Dick Francis
47. Straight by Dick Francis
48. Knockdown by Dick Francis
49. Proof by Dick Francis
50. Smokescreen by Dick Francis
51. Wild Horses by Dick Francis
52. What Mrs. McGillicudy Saw by Agatha Christie
53. White Wing by Gordon Kendall
54. The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer
55. Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
56. The Dark Crusader by Alistair MacLean
A deservedly forgotten thriller by a man capable of much better work.
57. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks
August
58. Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
59. A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire
60. Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie
61. The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
62. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
63. Mouse and Dragon by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee
64. Thirteen at Dinner by Agatha Christie.
65. Peril at End House by Agatha Christie.
66. Murder in Retrospect by Agatha Christie.
67. An Overdose of Death by Agatha Christie.
68. Dexter by Design by Jeff Lindsay
69. WWW.Watch by Robert Sawyer
September
70. A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink
71. Murder is Easy by Agatha Christie
72. The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie
73. A Holiday for Murder by Agatha Christie
74. Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie
75. Never Pick Up Hitch-Hikers by Ellis Peters
76. Murder in Three Acts by Agatha Christie
77. Murder on the Atlantic by Steve Allen
78. The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie
79. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
80. Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie
81. The Labors of Hercules by Agatha Christie
82. Murder at Hazelmoor by Agatha Christie
83. Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie
October
84. The Truth of Valor by Tanya Huff
85. Beyond World's End by Mercedes Lackey
86. Valor's Choice by Tanya Huff
87. The Better Part of Valor by Tanya Huff
88. At Home by Bill Bryson
89. The Fire's Stone by Tanya Huff
90. Cryoburn by Lois Bujold
91 Komarr by Lois Bujold
92. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
November
93. Smoke and Shadows by Tanya Huff (reread)
94. Smoke and Mirrors by Tanya Huff (reread)
95. Smoke and Ashes by Tanya Huff (reread)
96. Blood Price by Tanya Huff (reread)
97. Blood Trail by Tanya Huff (reread)
98. Blood Lines by Tanya Huff (reread)
99. Blood Pact by Tanya Huff (reread)
100. Blood Debt by Tanya Huff (reread)
101. Grimspace by Ann Aguirre
102. Balance of Trade by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee
December
103. The Disposable Man by Archer Mayor
104. Your Brain on Food by Gary L. Wenk
105. Needled to Death by Maggie Sefton
106. The Spider vs. The Empire State by Norvell Page
107. Secret Sanction by Brian Haig
108. Mortal Allies by Brian Haig
January
1. Breaking Point by Steve Perry ('Tom Clancy's' Net Force series)
This was one of my father's freebie barn finds, and I must admit that my expectations were not high. However, I have read some SF by the same author, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I must admit that I hadn't expected it to be slow. This could be a lesson in how not to plot a thriller. The good guys have almost nothing to do. So while the bad guys run around plotting, we follow various members of the good guy team-- on a camping trip with his girlfriend (irrelevant), another is in the middle of a custody issue with his daughter- which isn't just irrelevant, it's not even resolved, simply abandoned without mention when the same character's love interest comes back into his life. We spend a bunch of time on a couple of kids going to a boomerang tournament, which I thought was pretty cool...except that the boomerang tournament had nothing to do with the plot. And neither did the kids. We get the good guys bumbling around, stumbling over the bad guys' trail more or less by accident- and so incompetently that the only reason the bad guys are stopped at all is that they fight each other. Wow. I kind of expect the next book to be all these characters getting fired and finding fulfillment in fast food service. But that's okay, I won't be reading any more.
2. Inside the Outbreaks by Mark Prendergast
This is a survey of the activities of the Epidemic Intelligence Service, a division of the CDC. Fantastic story- or, I should say, stories, since the book flits from case to case without ever pausing for long on any one thing. It suffers from not having a central character or characters to focus on, but the constant switching from one story to the next has its own relentless compulsion. The group is fairly small and has been tasked with investigating everything from polio outbreaks to anthrax, from Legionnaires' disease to occupational heath hazards. Individuals and small groups have been deployed overseas, under the most appalling conditions, helping fight malaria, ebola, smallpox and tuberculosis in the developing world. Fascinating in its scope, horrifying in the amount of suffering depicted, admirable in the dedication of the people, and educational as to the scope and danger disease still poses. You'll find this a compelling read, though you'll want frequent breaks to stop thinking about it. Also to wash your hands.
3. Living Hell by Catherine Jinks
Another one for the growing category of really pointless YA. It starts out looking like SF, turns into horror. Summary- bad things happen. People die. Things get worse. In the end, things are still terrible. Why would a kid want to read this? Why would anyone? No idea.
4. Iorich by Steven Brust
A very pleasant excursion into back to Adrilankha, with appearances by most of our old favorite characters. It's well paced and a great improvement over other recent books in the series, but it's still somewhat weakly plotted, and could have given the main character more to do. Certainly do not start here (start with Jhereg, the first written, though not the first chronologically in the series, and a fabulously fun story), but if you're a fan of the series, this is a better book than we've seen in some time.
5. Two Balls or Less Jenny Hill
Yarn! Balls of yarn. Get your minds out of the gutter. It's a knitting book.
6. Fledgeling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Set in the Liaden universe, it's a fun coming of age story. I expect
7. The Yarn Harlot Casts Off by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Knitting humor- if you're a knitter or know a knitter, you'll find it hysterical.
February
March
8. Terracotta Warriors by Jane Portal
This is the book that went with the touring exhibition of Terracotta Warriors from China. Fascinating, gorgeous photos, but I wish it had been longer.
April
9. Jake Ransom and the Skull King's Shadow by James Rollins
Yet another effort by a mainstream writer to cash in on the YA fantasy market. It's a better effort than many, but the author hasn't really internalized the rules of the genre. I'd give it to a tween, but wouldn't expect it to wow an adult fantasy fan.
10. The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy by Charles R. Morris
Well written and interesting, this is a must read for anyone with an interest in how businesses went from cottage industries to megacorps. And an education for anyone who seriously thinks that deregulation is good for anyone except the obscenely wealthy.
11. Brain Thief by Alexander Jablokov
A near future Boston is the setting for this thriller by Alexander Jablakov.
12. Blackout by Connie Willis
13. Telzey Amberdon by James Schmitz (reread)
14. Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
15. Changes by Jim Butcher
16. The Five Greatest Warriors by Matthew Reilly
17. The Lost City of Z
May
18. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith
19. Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde
20. TnT: Telzey and Trigger by James Schmitz
21. Skirmish by Melisa Michaels (reread)
22. First Battle by Melisa Michaels (reread)
23. Blind Descent by James Tabor
A rather unevenly written account of deep cave exporation. The book was structured as a comparison of two teams of spelunkers each trying to prove they had found the world's deepest cave. Unfortunately the author was clearly more interested and devoted the lion's share of the narrative to the more colorful of the two explorers. It would have been a better book if he'd either balanced it more evenly, or just written the whole book about the one he found more interesting. Still, fans of real life exploration and adventure will find it intriguing.
24. Tokyo Vice by Jake Adelstein
A fascinating and rather repulsive look at a journalist's experiences doing crime reporting for a Japanese newspaper. Adelstein provides a vivid window not just into a culture I know little about, but into the underworld of that culture. Well written and compelling, but not for the squeamish.
25. Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Sequel to Fledgeling, this book ties the story more firmly back into the Liaden series.
26. Pilots Choice by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Another entertaining entry in the Liaden series. Not really the place to start.
27. The Lights of Zetar by Wallace Moore
Pulpy pulp fantasy of the pulpiest sort. If you like that sort of thing.
28. The Amber Room by Steve Berry
A thriller.
29. Without Remorse by Tom Clancy
It's Tom Clancy in his late period. If you've read him, you know what he's like. If you haven't, go read 'The Hunt for Red October', it's much better.
30. Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell
A later book in Cornwell's Scarpetta series. Readable enough, and decently crafted, but I wish I liked the main character better.
31. The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
An interesting book about social phenomenon.
32. Crystal Soldier by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
A prequel set early in the Liaden universe.
33. Long Time Gone J.A.Jance
A later book in the J.P. Beaumont series. This is the only one I've read, so no doubt I missed a lot.
34. Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell
A later book in Cornwell's Scarpetta series. Readable enough, and decently crafted, but I wish I liked the main character better.
35. City of Bones by Michael Connelly
A later book in Connelly's Harry Bosch series. I enjoyed the police procedural parts more than the character's relationship difficulties.
June
36. Deception Point by Dan Brown (reread)
37. The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy (reread)
38. Enigma by Robert Harris
An entertaining thriller set at Bletchley Park (site of the British codebreaking effort) during WWII. Very enjoyable.
39. Bullard of the Space Patrol by Malcolm Jameson (reread)
40. The Cardinal of the Kremlin by Tom Clancy (reread)
41. Clear and Present Danger by Tom Clancy (reread)
42. Executive Orders by Tom Clancy
The most enjoyable part of this book was rereading the early Clancy to get me back in the mood. Like most of Clancy's later books, it could have used an editor with a machete to cut out the kudzu. Like the completely irrelevant subplot of the guys with the cement mixer which has absolutely no effect on the story as a whole. You also need to be willing to tolerate a whole bunch of Clancy's 'well, if people would just do things my way, everything would be so much better'. However, the icing on the cowpat, was the part where in the climax of the book, they solve everything by doing something that was proposed in an earlier book, but dismissed as completely impractical. Not recommended.
July
Rereads:
43. Rat Race by Dick Francis
44. Bonecrack by Dick Francis
45. Decider by Dick Francis
46. Shattered by Dick Francis
47. Straight by Dick Francis
48. Knockdown by Dick Francis
49. Proof by Dick Francis
50. Smokescreen by Dick Francis
51. Wild Horses by Dick Francis
52. What Mrs. McGillicudy Saw by Agatha Christie
53. White Wing by Gordon Kendall
54. The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer
55. Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
56. The Dark Crusader by Alistair MacLean
A deservedly forgotten thriller by a man capable of much better work.
57. The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks
August
58. Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
59. A Local Habitation by Seanan McGuire
60. Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie
61. The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
62. Death on the Nile by Agatha Christie
63. Mouse and Dragon by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee
64. Thirteen at Dinner by Agatha Christie.
65. Peril at End House by Agatha Christie.
66. Murder in Retrospect by Agatha Christie.
67. An Overdose of Death by Agatha Christie.
68. Dexter by Design by Jeff Lindsay
69. WWW.Watch by Robert Sawyer
September
70. A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink
71. Murder is Easy by Agatha Christie
72. The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie
73. A Holiday for Murder by Agatha Christie
74. Murder in Mesopotamia by Agatha Christie
75. Never Pick Up Hitch-Hikers by Ellis Peters
76. Murder in Three Acts by Agatha Christie
77. Murder on the Atlantic by Steve Allen
78. The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie
79. The Mystery of the Blue Train by Agatha Christie
80. Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie
81. The Labors of Hercules by Agatha Christie
82. Murder at Hazelmoor by Agatha Christie
83. Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie
October
84. The Truth of Valor by Tanya Huff
85. Beyond World's End by Mercedes Lackey
86. Valor's Choice by Tanya Huff
87. The Better Part of Valor by Tanya Huff
88. At Home by Bill Bryson
89. The Fire's Stone by Tanya Huff
90. Cryoburn by Lois Bujold
91 Komarr by Lois Bujold
92. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
November
93. Smoke and Shadows by Tanya Huff (reread)
94. Smoke and Mirrors by Tanya Huff (reread)
95. Smoke and Ashes by Tanya Huff (reread)
96. Blood Price by Tanya Huff (reread)
97. Blood Trail by Tanya Huff (reread)
98. Blood Lines by Tanya Huff (reread)
99. Blood Pact by Tanya Huff (reread)
100. Blood Debt by Tanya Huff (reread)
101. Grimspace by Ann Aguirre
102. Balance of Trade by Steve Miller and Sharon Lee
December
103. The Disposable Man by Archer Mayor
104. Your Brain on Food by Gary L. Wenk
105. Needled to Death by Maggie Sefton
106. The Spider vs. The Empire State by Norvell Page
107. Secret Sanction by Brian Haig
108. Mortal Allies by Brian Haig
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