G
GAIMAN, Neil
A- Stardust 1999 Fantasy
Very satisfying mix of fairy tale and fantasy
B+ American Gods 2001 Fantasy
Narrative strengths overcome plot weaknesses
B- Stories 2010 Short Stories
Too similarly dark collection
B- Scruffy 1962 Humour
Light British comedy around an ape in Gibraltar
B The Boy Who Invented the Bubble Gun 1974 Novel (Adolescent)
Dated but OK. Troubled teen overcomes angst amidst silly spy shenanigans
B Hopscotch 1975 Action / Spy
C- The Vesuvius Club 2004 Historical Fiction/Humour
Farcical Moore-type Bond characters and plot; obscenity overdressed in big words
GEMMELL, David
B+ Legend (Drenai Tales, Book 1) 1984 Fantasy
Cliché settings, stereotype
mythical fighters and damsels, but he does it so well!
B+ Quest for Lost Heroes (Drenai Tales, Book 4) 1990 Fantasy
Another solid effort
B+ Druss the Legend (Drenai Tales, Book 6) 1993 Fantasy
Yep, he’s a Conan-style, dead-set legend
B Morningstar 1993 Fantasy
Crosses the line – too
sentimental, some too typical fantasy plot/character annoyances
A- The Legend of Deathwalker (Drenai Tales, Book 7) 1996 Fantasy
Solid,
perfectly balanced heroic fantasy
B Wolf in Shadow 1996 Fantasy/SF
Too close to Stephen King's 'The
Gunslinger'
A Midnight Falcon (Rigante Series, Book 2) 1999 Fantasy
Thoroughly
enjoyable, legendary characters with flesh, intelligent ideas, engaging
morality, coherent plot
B+ Ravenheart (Rigante Series, Book 3) 2001 Fantasy
Mythical
badasses, villains and heroes,
but pervaded by (relatively) nuanced, even inspiring morality
GIBSON, William
B+ Neuromancer 1984 SF
Groundbreaking cyberpunk, wild ride, ultimately shallow characters
C- The Color of Law 2005 Novel/Crime
Definitive stereotype,
appallingly myopic
GOLDSWORTHY, Peter
A Maestro 1989 Novel
Elegant, succinct, authentic
B+ Little Deaths 1993 Short Stories
Consistent, well-written, affecting
B+/ F Wish 1995 Novel
As ever well written but ultimately a deeply offensive theme
B KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) 1996 Novel
Authentic Australians, but a pretty bleak episode
F Three Dog Night 2003 Novel
Goldsworthy has jumped the shark
GOODKIND, Terry
C- Wizard's First Rule 1994 Fantasy
Sloppy. Gratuitous. Self-contradictory. Lazy
GRAFTON, Sue
B C is for Corpse 1986 Crime
Down the line, capable
GREENBERG, Martin H. (Ed.)
B The Giant Book of Science Fiction Stories 1986 SF/Short Stories
101 1950s-70s magazine SF stories
GRENVILLE, Kate
B The Idea of Perfection 1999 Novel
Authentic outback setting and characters, stuttering romance of unromantic figures – but too gentle for me
GRIFFIN, William
B+ C.S.
Lewis - The Authentic Voice 1986 Biography
Interesting vignettes from all the years of Lewis’ life from age twenty-seven
GRIMES, Martha
C The Horse You Came In On 1993 Crime
Embarrassingly insecure/arrogant. Self-indulgent
GRISHAM, John
B The Chamber 1994 Novel/Legal Thriller
Original plot, interesting as legal/family documentary, flawed thematically
B The Partner 1997 Crime/Legal Thriller
Clever and well-paced heist story, really dumb final twist
B The Testament 1997 Novel/Legal
Enough to keep you turning pages, but some weaknesses of plot and glib US orthodoxy
GUEDJ, Denis
B- The Parrot’s Theorem Novel
Not quite successful attempt to integrate maths history and theory into an engaging teen novel
GUNDRY, Stanley (Ed.)
B Five Views on Sanctification 1987 NF: Theology
Able, clear, but not lifechanging