Everything
|
#....... |
Author |
Title |
Year Pub- lished |
Genre |
Date Read |
Grade |
Rate /5 |
Own |
Rev |
Summary |
|
1. |
Lewis, C.S. |
The Lion, the Witch
& the Wardrobe (Book 2 of the Narnia series) |
1950 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
1970s 2nd – 2005/05 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Fabulous Christian allegory |
|
2. |
Ursula K. Le Guin |
Book 1 of the Earthsea
series |
1968 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
1970s 2nd: 2008/01 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Real sense of magic, depth, legend |
|
3. |
Lewis, C.S. |
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Book 5 of the Narnia series) |
1952 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
1970s |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Narnia’s Odyssey |
|
4. |
Lewis, C.S. |
The Silver Chair (Book 6 of the Narnia series) |
1953 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
1970s |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Slightly darker tale of rescue |
|
5. |
Lewis, C.S. |
The Magician’s Nephew (Book 1 of the Narnia series) |
1955 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
1970s |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Lion, witch and wardrobe prequel |
|
6. |
Lewis, C.S. |
The Last Battle (Book 7 of the Narnia series) |
1956 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
1970s |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Antichrist, eschatology and Armageddon for kids! Courageous undertaking |
|
7. |
Lewis, C.S. |
Prince Caspian (Book 4 of the Narnia series) |
1951 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
1970s 2nd – 2013/05 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
‘The Return to Narnia’ |
|
8. |
Sobol, Donald J. |
Still More Two-Minute Mysteries |
1975 |
Crime / Puzzle |
1977? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Find the clue to solve each page long case |
|
9. |
Tolkien, J.R.R. |
The Hobbit The Lord of the Rings prequel |
1937 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
1979? 2nd 1990s |
A+ |
4.5 |
Own |
No |
Enchanting story, rich world |
|
10. |
Stewart, Mary |
Book 2 in the Merlin saga |
1973 |
Fantasy |
1980? 2nd: 2015/06 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Savouring patient
expectation within a thoroughly engaging and consistent structure |
|
11. |
Stewart, Mary |
Book 1 in the Merlin saga |
1970 |
Fantasy |
1980? 2nd: 2004/08 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Young Merlin enchantingly evoked |
|
12. |
Stewart, Mary |
The Last Enchantment Book 3 in the Merlin saga |
1979 |
Fantasy |
1980? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Continues to capably weave around the Arthurian legend |
|
13. |
Lewis, C.S. |
The Great Divorce |
1946 |
Fantasy (Christian) |
1980s |
A+ |
4.5 |
Own |
No |
Brief, potent, inspiring theological speculative allegory |
|
14. |
Doyle, Arthur Conan |
1892 |
Crime / Short Stories |
1980s |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Thoroughly enjoyable |
|
|
15. |
Lewis, C.S. |
Voyage to Venus (or Perelandra) |
1943 |
SF |
1980s |
A |
4 |
Own |
No |
Christian insights in imagined dialogue with contemporary unfallen Eve |
|
Asimov, Isaac |
Second Foundation (Book 3 of the Foundation trilogy) |
1964 |
SF |
1980s |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Dramatically the best of the series |
|
|
Harrison, Harry |
A Stainless Steel Rat is
Born |
1985 |
SF/ Humour |
1980s |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Excellent prequel to the consistent humorous series |
|
|
Dumas, Alexandre |
1844 |
Action / Historical Fiction |
1980s 2nd: 2009/02 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Action, flawed but heroic personalities, fascinating alternate historical values |
||
|
Doyle, Arthur Conan |
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes |
1893 |
Crime / Short Stories |
1980s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Clever ideas, engaging lead
characters |
|
|
Doyle, Arthur Conan |
The Return of Sherlock Holmes |
1905 |
Crime / Short Stories |
1980s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Clever ideas, engaging lead
characters |
|
|
Doyle, Arthur Conan |
The Case-book of Sherlock
Holmes |
1927 |
Crime / Short Stories |
1980s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Clever ideas, engaging lead
characters |
|
|
Lewis, C.S. |
1938 |
SF |
1980s 2nd - 2002/11 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Characters personify philosophical viewpoints in a classically Wellsian setting |
||
|
Lewis, C.S. |
That Hideous Strength |
1945 |
SF |
1980s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Lewis incorporates his love of Christianity, renaissance angelic conceits and Merlin in SF conspiracy novel |
|
|
Asimov, Isaac |
(Book 1 of the Foundation trilogy) |
1951 |
SF |
1980s 2nd: 2006/09 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
A decent idea engagingly realised |
|
|
Culotta, Nino |
They’re a Weird Mob |
1957 |
Humour |
1980s |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
Ingenuous Italian Australian plays
with stereotype aussie slang/behaviour |
|
|
Harrison, Harry |
1961 |
SF/ Humour |
1980s 2nd: 2007/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Classic likeable master-thief in comic but workable SF environment |
||
|
Harrison, Harry |
The Stainless Steel Rat’s
Revenge |
1970 |
SF/ Humour |
1980s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Enjoyable James Bond/Pimpernel farce in space ships |
|
|
Bach, Richard |
Jonathan Livingston Seagull |
1972 |
Short Story |
1980s 2nd: 2004? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Ultra optimistic anti-Ecclesiastes parable: every discipline is eternally meaningful |
|
|
Doyle, Arthur Conan |
The Conan Doyle Stories |
1929 |
Short Stories |
1980s |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Large collection of ripping yarns
from 1883-1922: sea, sport, war, supernatural, medicine and history |
|
|
Culotta, Nino |
Cop This Lot |
1960 |
Humour |
1980s |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Weird Mob sequel, this time Australians go to Italy |
|
|
Asimov, Isaac |
Foundation and Empire (Book 2 of the Foundation trilogy) |
1962 |
SF |
1980s |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
More episodes in the galactic history of peoples guided by a statistical seer |
|
|
Smith, Wilbur |
Sean Courtney Series |
1966 |
Action / Historical Fiction |
1980s 2nd: 2006/07 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Engaging Boer war action, dubious ‘heroic’ character |
|
|
Leiber, Fritz |
Swords against Wizardry (Book 4 in the Swords series) |
1968 |
Fantasy |
1980s |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Classic sword and sorcery heroes (plus wisecracks and wenches) |
|
|
Leiber, Fritz |
The Swords of Lankhmar (Book 5 in the Swords series) |
1968 |
Fantasy |
1980s |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Classic sword and sorcery heroes (plus wisecracks and wenches) |
|
|
Donaldson, Stephen |
The Wounded Land |
1980 |
Fantasy |
1980s |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Great imagination but lead characters and basic plot not engaging enough for series length |
|
|
Bagley, Desmond |
1982 |
Thriller |
1980s |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
OK start but descends to lazy farce |
||
|
Brooks, Terry |
1977 |
Fantasy |
1980s 2nd 2007/01 |
D |
2 |
No |
Rev |
Bad LOTR cover version |
||
|
Adams, Douglas |
Life, The Universe and Everything (The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy 3) |
1982 |
Humour/ SF |
1980s/? |
A |
4 |
Own |
No |
Clever, funny, original, post-modern themes |
|
|
Adams, Douglas |
1987 |
Humour/ SF |
1980s/? 2nd: 2004/07 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
P.G. Wodehouse meets Dr. Who: a complete pleasure |
||
|
Adams, Douglas |
The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul (Dirk Gently series) |
1988 |
Humour/ SF |
1980s/? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Somewhat surreal second ‘Dirk Gently’ novel |
|
|
Adams, Douglas |
The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (A Trilogy in Four Parts) |
1979 1980 1982 1984 |
SF / Humour |
1980s? |
A |
4 |
Yes |
No |
A must read/listen to
|
|
|
Clarke, Arthur C. |
2001 A Space Odyssey |
1968 |
SF |
1980s? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
An interesting foil to the movie (it’s based on the screenplay) |
|
|
Clarke, Arthur C. |
Imperial Earth |
1977 |
SF |
1980s? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
I don’t recall much but I must have liked it enough to keep it |
|
|
Tolkien, J.R.R. |
The Fellowship of the Ring The Lord of the Rings: Part 1 |
1954 |
Fantasy |
1981? 2nd 1990s |
A++ |
5 |
Own |
No |
This one hardly needs an introduction… |
|
|
Tolkien, J.R.R. |
The Two Towers The Lord of the Rings: Part 2 |
1954 |
Fantasy |
1981? 2nd 1990s |
A++ |
5 |
Own |
No |
This one hardly needs an introduction… |
|
|
Tolkien, J.R.R. |
The Return of the King The Lord of the Rings: Part 3 |
1955 |
Fantasy |
1981? 2nd 1990s |
A++ |
5 |
Own |
No |
This one hardly needs an introduction… |
|
|
Lee, Harper |
1960 |
Novel |
1982 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Entertaining, insightful, clever, inspiring, original |
||
|
Donaldson, Stephen |
1977 |
Fantasy |
1982 2nd 2011/01 |
B- |
2.75 |
Own |
Rev |
Some absorbing world/culture creation, but grandiose language doesn’t cover confused unsatisfying themes and action |
||
|
Moorcock, Michael |
(Volume 1 of The Runestaff) |
1967 |
Fantasy |
1982? 2nd: 2004/01 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Somewhat darker Leiber-ish swords and sorcery OK pulp |
|
|
Moorcock, Michael |
The Sword of the Dawn (Volume 3 of The Runestaff) |
1968 |
Fantasy |
1982? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Somewhat darker Leiber-ish swords and sorcery OK pulp |
|
|
Moorcock, Michael |
The Secret of the Runestaff (Volume 4 of The Runestaff) |
1969 |
Fantasy |
1982? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Somewhat darker Leiber-ish swords and sorcery OK pulp |
|
|
Moorcock, Michael |
(Volume 2 of The Runestaff) |
1968 |
Fantasy |
1982? |
C |
2.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Bleak, offensive background, cliché characters, LAZY random plotting |
|
|
Huxley, Aldous |
Brave New World |
1932 |
SF |
1983 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Disturbingly relevant extrapolation to a dystopic ultimately permissive society |
|
|
Heller, Joseph |
1955 |
Novel / War |
1985 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Killer satire, hilarious but black humour, drunkenly uninhibited |
||
|
Forsyth, Frederick |
1982 |
Short Stories |
1985 2nd 2007/10 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Meticulous, able, satisfying |
||
|
Milligan, Spike |
Adolf
Hitler – My Part in His Downfall (1st of his War Memoirs) |
1971 |
Autobiography (War) / Humour |
1985 2nd – 2004/09 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Silly drunken licentious farting about in basic training |
|
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
Mike and Psmith |
1909 (1953) |
Humour |
1987 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Probably worth more but I read it too long ago to say |
|
|
Kipling, Rudyard |
The Jungle Book |
1894 |
Juvenile / Short Stories |
1988 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Entertaining, skilful, moving. Profound underlying myth |
|
|
Kipling, Rudyard |
The Second Jungle Book |
1895 |
Juvenile / Short Stories |
1988 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Sequel atypically as good as original – Undertakers brilliant |
|
|
Lodge, David |
1988 |
Novel |
1988 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Industry meets academia: deft observation, articulation, organisation from a benignly humorous narrator |
||
|
Macdonald, George |
Lilith |
1895 |
Fantasy |
1988 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Haunting, dreamlike, insightful, confusing, enigmatic |
|
|
Kipling, Rudyard |
Puck of Pook’s
Hill |
1906 |
Juvenile / Short Stories |
1988 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Glimpses of English historical figures |
|
|
Kipling, Rudyard |
Short Stories: Volume 1 |
1901 -1912 |
Short Stories |
1988/03 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Pretty consistent |
|
|
James, Henry |
The Bostonians |
1886 |
Novel |
1988/03 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
I must have liked it to have kept it but I can’t remember why - time for a reread |
|
|
Kipling, Rudyard |
Rewards and Fairies |
1910 |
Juvenile / Short Stories |
1988/03 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Sequel to Puck of Pook’s Hill |
|
|
Robinson, Marilynne |
Housekeeping |
1981 |
Novel |
1988? |
B- |
2.75 |
Own |
Rev |
Well written, but cold, somewhat misanthropic atmosphere |
|
|
Kipling, Rudyard |
Many Inventions |
1893 |
Short Stories |
1989/05 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Can’t remember specifics |
|
|
Kipling, Rudyard |
Life’s Handicap |
1891 |
Short Stories |
1989/12 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Tales of British Soldiers in India |
|
|
Goldsworthy, Peter |
1989 |
Novel |
1990 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Elegant, succinct, authentic |
||
|
Kipling, Rudyard |
Captains Courageous |
1897 |
Juvenile |
1990 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Ripping yarn of a teen in a ocean fishing vessel |
|
|
Kipling, Rudyard |
Traffics and Discoveries |
1904 |
Short Stories |
1990 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Can’t remember specifics |
|
|
Lee, Tanith |
Delusion’s Master |
1981 |
Fantasy |
1990 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Grand scope, discomforting, Clive Barker-ish |
|
|
Lawhead, Stephen |
Taliesin (Book 1 of the Pendragon Cycle) |
1987 |
Fantasy |
1990/02 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Another version of the Arthur myth incorporating Atlantis and Christianity |
|
|
Chandler, Raymond |
The Big Sleep |
1939 |
Crime |
1990? |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Great ‘hardboiled’ mood, powerful and witty figures of speech |
|
|
Wyndham, John |
The Day of the Triffids |
1951 |
SF |
1990s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Nothing like the monster/horror ride I was expecting: intelligent, thought-provoking post-apocalyptic issues |
|
|
Herbert, Frank |
Dune |
1965 |
SF |
1990s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Original. Grand. |
|
|
Lovecraft, H.P. with Derleth, August |
The Lurker at the
Threshold |
1968 |
Short Stories / Horror / SF |
1990s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Original. Not “boo!” horror, but creeping suspicion there’s something much bigger than humanity out there |
|
|
Herriot, James |
If Only They Could Talk |
1970 |
Short Stories / Humour / Autobiography |
1990s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Light and formulaic, but
charming and amusing country vet recollections |
|
|
Herriot, James |
Let Sleeping Vets Lie |
1973 |
Short Stories / Humour / Autobiography |
1990s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Light and formulaic, but
charming and amusing country vet recollections |
|
|
Dahl, Roald |
Boy |
1984 |
Non-Fiction / Autobiography |
1990s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Interesting, brief, readable stories from his childhood |
|
|
Courtney, Bryce |
The Power of One |
1989 |
Thriller |
1990s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Enjoyable, gripping. Boy to successful man story in apartheid South Africa |
|
|
Elton, Ben |
Stark |
1989 |
Humour |
1990s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Consistently funny, unsubtle satire and environmental message |
|
|
Elton, Ben |
Gridlock |
1991 |
Humour |
1990s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Weird juxtaposition: thriller plot narrated by (good!) stand-up comedian |
|
|
Herriot, James |
Every Living Thing |
1992 |
Short Stories / Humour / Autobiography |
1990s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Light and formulaic, but
charming and amusing country vet recollections |
|
|
Harrison, Harry |
Stainless Steel Visions |
1993 |
SF/ Short Stories |
1990s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Ranging between action, humour, comment – pretty consistent |
|
|
Harrison, Harry |
Galactic Dreams |
1994 |
SF/ Short Stories |
1990s |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Ranging between action, humour, comment – pretty consistent |
|
|
Dumas, Alexandre |
The Black Tulip |
1850 |
Historical Fiction |
1990s |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Melodramatic romance, skulduggery thwarted at the 11th hour |
|
|
Dahl, Roald |
Completely Unexpected Tales |
1949 -1980 |
Short Stories |
1990s |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Collection of ‘twist’ stories. Hit and miss. ‘Galloping Foxley’ is a cracker. |
|
|
Vance, Jack |
The Star King Demon Princes, Book 1 |
1964 |
SF |
1990s |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Too long ago, can’t remember |
|
|
Loukakis, Angelo |
For the Patriarch |
1981 |
Short Stories |
1990s |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Greek Australian perspective |
|
|
Cook, Hugh |
(Chronicles of an Age of Darkness: Volume 1) |
1986 |
Fantasy |
1990s 2011/11 2nd reading |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Some original ideas, lots of unoriginal ones, fairly sloppy, some plot surprises |
|
|
Harrison, Harry & Holm, John |
King and Emperor (Book 3 of The Hammer and the Cross) |
1996 |
SF |
1990s |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Alternative history set in 800s, plays with anachronistic technology and grail theories |
|
|
Hašek, Jaroslav |
The Red Commissar |
1923? (This trans. 1981) |
Humour / Short Stories |
1990s |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Czech satire of bureaucratic absurdities |
|
|
Gallico, Paul |
Scruffy |
1962 |
Humour |
1990s |
B- |
2.75 |
Own |
No |
Light British comedy around an ape in Gibraltar |
|
|
Lawhead, Stephen |
Dream Thief |
1983 |
SF |
1990s |
B- |
2.75 |
Own |
No |
Heavily influenced by Lewis’ Christian fiction and Asimov’s settings and cardboard characters |
|
|
Elwood, Roger |
1988 |
SF (Christian) |
1990s early? |
F |
1 |
No |
Rev |
Clumsy ignorant
smug middle-American nominal bigotry |
||
|
Milligan, Spike |
Puckoon |
1963 |
Humour |
1990s? |
A |
4 |
Own |
No |
Hilarious |
|
|
May, Julian |
The Many Coloured Land (Book 1 in the Saga of the Exiles) |
1981 |
SF |
1990s? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Wonderfully original and potent opener to ultimately disappointing series |
|
|
Eddings, David |
(Book One of the Belgariad) |
1982 |
Fantasy |
1991 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Enjoyable adolescent fluff |
|
|
Feist, Raymond E. |
Magician |
1982 |
Fantasy |
1991 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Enjoyable ride and D&D characters, some originality in mixing European and Japanese medieval type cultures |
|
|
Voigt, Cynthia |
Dicey’s Song |
1982 |
Juvenile |
1991 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Capable young teen sequel to Homecoming |
|
|
Adams, Douglas & Carwardine, Mark |
1990 |
NF (Biology) |
1991 2nd: 2004/11 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Engaging narration of endangered species and their protectors |
||
|
Macdonald, George |
At the back of the North Wind |
1870 |
Juvenile/ Fantasy |
1991 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Too long since I’ve read it – I’m not sure I finished |
|
|
Cormier, Robert |
1988 |
Novel |
1991 |
D- |
1.5 |
No |
Rev |
Ugly cynical projections mistaken for reality |
||
|
Harrison, Harry |
The Stainless Steel Rat
Saves the World |
1972 |
SF/ Humour |
1991/11 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Enjoyable James Bond/Pimpernel farce in space ships |
|
|
Steinbeck, John |
Of Mice and Men |
1937 |
Novella |
1991? |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Stinging, poignant, bleak, insightful |
|
|
Lodge, David |
Small World |
1984 |
Novel / Humour |
1991? |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
Second of the clever and funny Rummidge Uni series |
|
|
Irving, John |
The World According to Garp |
1978 |
Novel |
1992 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Funny, striking, constantly
moving |
|
|
Eddings, David |
Queen of Sorcery (Book Two of the Belgariad) |
1982 |
Fantasy |
1992 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Enjoyable adolescent fluff |
|
|
Eddings, David |
Magician’s Gambit (Book Three of the Belgariad) |
1983? |
Fantasy |
1992 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Some of the tricks are wearing a bit thin |
|
|
Eddings, David |
Castle of Wizardry (Book Four of the Belgariad) |
1984 |
Fantasy |
1992 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Series starting to irritate a bit now – very lazy writing (no editing), repetitive dialogue |
|
|
Eddings, David |
Enchanter’s End Game (Book Five of the Belgariad) |
1984 |
Fantasy |
1992 |
B- |
2.75 |
Own |
No |
The (yawn) climax. No suspense – every second goodie casually granted godlike powers |
|
|
James, Clive |
Unreliable Memoirs |
1980 |
Autobiography |
1992/07 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Very readable style, includes
some discomforting seedy juvenile recollections |
|
|
Kerr, Katharine |
(Volume 1 of the Deverry
series) |
1986 |
Fantasy |
1992/12 2nd: 2004/10 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Original, capable karmic fantasy |
|
|
Lodge, David |
1975 |
Novel / Humour |
1992? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
A middle-aged daydream |
||
|
Kerr, Katharine |
(Volume 2 of the Deverry
series) |
1987 (Revised 1994) |
Fantasy |
1993 2nd: 2005/04 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Still coherent, and some nice moments |
|
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
Bill the Conqueror |
1924 |
Humour |
1993 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Probably worth more but I read it too long ago to say |
|
|
Vidal, Gore |
Kalki |
1978 |
Novel |
1993 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Hinduism and apocalypse in the US |
|
|
Vance, Jack |
Araminta StationThe Cadwal Chronicles, Book 1 |
1988 |
SF |
1993 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Nice mythos, original (if arrogant) characters, some punch |
|
|
Eddings, David |
The Diamond Throne (Book One of the Elenium) |
1989 |
Fantasy |
1993 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Satisfactory fare, no surprises |
|
|
Eddings, David |
The Ruby Knight (Book Two of the Elenium) |
1990 |
Fantasy |
1993 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
OK, but I don’t recall ever bothering to finish the series |
|
|
Cherryh, C.J. |
Gate of Ivrel (Book 1 of The Chronicles of Morgaine) |
1976 |
SF |
1993/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
1st of the dark, compelling, morally tortured ‘Morgaine’ series |
|
|
Cherryh, C.J. |
Well of Ishiuan (Book 2 of The Chronicles of Morgaine) |
1978 |
SF |
1993/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
2nd of the dark, compelling, morally tortured ‘Morgaine’ series |
|
|
Cherryh, C.J. |
Fires of Azeroth (Book 3 of The Chronicles of Morgaine) |
1979 |
SF |
1993/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
3rd of the dark, compelling, morally tortured ‘Morgaine’ series |
|
Saberhagen, Fred |
1983 |
Fantasy |
1993? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Characters and settings a bit 2D (or classic), but originality with Gods and swords, and cracker chaotic finish |
||
|
Saberhagen, Fred |
The Third Book of Swords |
1984 |
Fantasy |
1993? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Consistent series |
|
|
Saberhagen, Fred |
Woundhealer’s
Story The First Book of Lost Swords |
1986 |
Fantasy |
1993? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Consistent series. Clever interaction between differing magical god-forged swords |
|
|
Saberhagen, Fred |
Stonecutter’s Story The Third Book of Lost Swords |
1988 |
Fantasy |
1993? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Consistent series. Clever interaction between differing magical god-forged swords |
|
|
Chandler, Raymond |
The Long Good-Bye |
1953 |
Crime |
1994 |
A |
4 |
Own |
No |
Who cares about the plot? Just sit back and enjoy the ride knowing you’re in the hands of a master |
|
|
Chandler, Raymond |
1940 |
Crime |
1994 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Original, dry humour with heart in the mean streets |
||
|
Cherryh, C.J. |
Cukoo’s Egg |
1985 |
SF |
1994 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
Unusually tight (for Cherryh) story of a human raised in a demanding alien discipline |
|
|
Chandler, Raymond and Parker, Robert B. |
Poodle Springs |
1989 |
Crime |
1994 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Parker completes an unfinished (married) Marlowe novel |
|
|
Tilley, Patrick |
Cloud Warrior The Amtrak Wars: Book 1 |
1983 |
SF |
1994/03? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Boy’s own conflict between post apocalyptic pioneering/marine US, Amerindian and samurai Japan style cultures |
|
|
Tilley, Patrick |
First Family The Amtrak Wars: Book 2 |
1985 |
SF |
1994/10 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Boy’s own conflict between post apocalyptic pioneering/marine US, Amerindian and samurai Japan style cultures |
|
|
Saberhagen, Fred |
The First Book of Swords |
1983 |
Fantasy |
1994? |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
Good idea well executed |
|
|
Saberhagen, Fred |
Farslayer’s Story The Fourth Book of Lost Swords |
1989 |
Fantasy |
1994? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Consistent series. Clever interaction between differing magical god-forged swords |
|
|
Kerr, Katharine |
Dawnspell: The Bristling Wood (Volume 3 of the Deverry
series) |
1989 |
Fantasy |
1994? 2nd: 2005/05 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Still nothing wrong, but without the novelty not as compelling |
|
|
Jordan, Robert |
The Eye of the World (Book 1 of The Wheel of Time) |
1990 |
Fantasy |
1994? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
OK standard ride for a while,
a bit tedious towards the finish |
|
|
Jordan, Robert |
The Great Hunt (Book 2 of The Wheel of Time) |
1990 |
Fantasy |
1994? |
B- |
2.75 |
Own |
No |
Odd sequel (the baddie
executed in Book 1 inexplicably reappears) |
|
|
Voigt, Cynthia |
Tree by Leaf |
1988 |
Novel |
1995/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Able meditation on choice and destiny (much better job than Cherryh’s Rusalka) |
|
|
Cherryh, C.J. |
Hunter of Worlds |
1977 |
SF |
1995/05 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Moral dilemmas involving aliens and action |
|
|
Goldsworthy, Peter |
Little Deaths |
1993 |
Short Stories |
1995/12 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Consistent, well-written, affecting |
|
|
Tilley, Patrick |
Iron Master The Amtrak Wars: Book 3 |
1987 |
SF |
1995? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Boy’s own conflict between post apocalyptic pioneering US, Amerindian and samurai Japan style cultures |
|
|
Doyle, Arthur Conan |
The Lost World |
1912 |
SF / Thriller (Novella) |
1996 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
The unforgettable Professor
Challenger finds living dinosaurs! |
|
|
Doyle, Arthur Conan |
The Poison Belt |
1913 |
SF / Short Story |
1996 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Classic SF model – a short
story based around a daunting ‘what if’ |
|
|
Doyle, Arthur Conan |
Sir Nigel |
1906 |
Historical Fiction |
1996 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
The 14th century semi-quixotic
adventures of a starry-eyed teen gaining knighthood |
|
|
Doyle, Arthur Conan |
The Land of Mist |
1926 |
Short Story (Novella) |
1996 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Doyle courageously defends spiritualism,
exploiting his popular ‘Challenger’ characters |
|
|
Doyle, Arthur Conan |
When the World Screamed |
1928 |
SF / Short Story |
1996 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Professor Challenger in an
oddly Gaia setting |
|
|
Doyle, Arthur Conan |
1929 |
SF / Short Story |
1996 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Striking spin on how far scientists are responsible for the application of their research |
||
|
Goldsworthy, Peter |
KISS
(Keep It Simple, Stupid) |
1996 |
Novel |
1996 2nd 2005/10 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Authentic Australians, but a pretty bleak episode |
|
|
Cherryh, C.J. |
The Faded Sun: Shon’jir |
1978 |
SF |
1996? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Human interaction with the last of a proud, ruthless species |
|
|
Cherryh, C.J. |
The Pride of Chanur |
1981 |
SF |
1996? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
A spaceship captain discovers a new species during an uneasy peace |
|
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
Cocktail Time |
1958 |
Humour |
1997 |
B- |
2.75 |
Own |
No |
Didn’t enjoy this one as much as usual |
|
|
Chandler, Raymond |
The Lady In The Lake |
1943 |
Crime |
1997? |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Great ‘hardboiled’ mood, powerful and witty figures of speech |
|
|
Cherryh, C.J. |
Serpent’s Reach |
1980 |
SF |
1997? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
A surviving noble seeks revenge through alliance with an intelligent ant-like race |
|
|
Hesse, Herman |
Siddhartha |
1922 |
Novel |
1998 |
A |
4 |
Own |
No |
Beautifully readable fictional
presentation of the life and enlightenment of Siddhartha |
|
|
Bradbury, Ray |
The Day it Rained Forever |
1959 |
SF/ Short Stories |
1998 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Richer moods than the usual single idea SF short stories |
|
|
Le Carré, John |
The Spy who came in from the Cold |
1963 |
Action |
1998 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Dark, trendsetting, anti-heroic cold war machinations |
|
|
Pérez-Reverte, Arturo |
The Dumas Club |
1993 (trans.) |
Crime |
1998 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
Intelligent, interesting on medieval occult and books |
|
|
Kafka, Franz |
The Trial |
1925 |
Novel |
1998 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Dim on why I kept it – pleasure or pretension? |
|
|
Asimov, Isaac |
I, Robot |
1950 |
SF/Short Stories |
1998 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Average characters and dialogue flesh out novel dilemmas from the ‘three laws’ of his anthropomorphic robots |
|
|
Kent, Alexander |
The Flag Captain |
1971 |
Action (High Seas) |
1998 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Adventure on the high seas. Not Patrick O’Brien, but not bad either |
|
|
Kundera, Milan |
The Farewell Party |
1976 |
Novel |
1998 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
He’s good but it’s been too long for me to remember why |
|
|
Kundera, Milan |
The Joke |
1967 (Trans: 1982) |
Novel |
1998/04 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
He’s good but it’s been too long for me to remember why |
|
|
Lodge, David |
Out of the Shelter |
1970 (This revised edn. 1985) |
Novel |
1998? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Semi-autobiographical coming of age story of English youth in post-war Germany |
|
|
Cherryh, C.J. |
Faery in Shadow |
1993 |
Fantasy |
1998? |
B- |
2.75 |
Own |
No |
Yet another outcast suffers tortured indecision, disappointing |
|
|
Cherryh, C.J. |
Rusalka |
1989 |
SF |
1998? |
D |
2 |
No |
No |
Frustratingly boring (and finally just boring) novel of indecision where eventually the reader doesn’t care |
|
|
Card, Orson Scott |
Ender’s Game (Book 1 of the Ender saga) |
1985 |
SF |
1999 |
A+ |
4.5 |
Own |
No |
Classic, clever taut plot, powerful convincing brutal narrative |
|
|
Banks, Iain M. |
Use of Weapons (Culture series) |
1990 |
SF |
1999 |
A+ |
4.5 |
Own |
No |
Brilliant style, mood, climax: stinging best of an excellent series |
|
|
Pérez-Reverte, Arturo |
The Fencing Master |
1999 (trans.) |
Crime / Historical Fiction |
1999 |
A |
4 |
No |
No |
Sophisticated. Stunning climax |
|
|
Macdonald, George |
The Princess and Curdie |
1882 |
Juvenile/ Fantasy |
1999 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Enchanting |
|
|
Niven, Larry |
What Good is a Glass Dagger? In ‘The Flight of the Horse’ |
1972 |
Fantasy / Short Story |
1999 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Great little mix of fantasy, action and humour |
|
|
Simmons, Dan |
Hyperion |
1989 |
SF |
1999 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Space opera Canterbury tales |
|
|
Pérez-Reverte, Arturo |
The Flanders Panel |
1994 (trans.) |
Crime |
1999 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
Intelligent, interesting on medieval painting |
|
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
The Mating Season (Jeeves) |
1924 |
Humour |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Probably worth more but I read it too long ago to say |
|
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
Very Good, Jeeves |
1924 |
Humour |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Probably worth more but I read it too long ago to say |
|
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
Ring for Jeeves |
1925 |
Humour |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Probably worth more but I read it too long ago to say |
|
|
Satre, Jean-Paul |
Nausea |
1938 |
Novel |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
I kept it, but I can’t remember it and have no desire to read it again |
|
|
Vance, Jack |
The Dying Earth |
1950 |
SF/Fantasy |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Future magic more than spaceships |
|
|
McCaffrey, Anne |
Dragonflight |
1968 |
Fantasy |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Solid and original enough world creation but McCaffrey always feels elitist to me |
|
|
Gallico, Paul |
The Boy Who Invented the Bubble Gun |
1974 |
Novel (Adolescent) |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Dated but OK. Troubled teen overcomes angst amidst silly spy shenanigans |
|
|
Niven, Larry |
The Flight of the Horse |
1974 |
SF / Fantasy Short Stories |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Pretty average pulp apart from the enjoyable ‘Glass Dagger’ |
|
|
Lively, Penelope |
The Voyage of QV66 |
1978 |
Juvenile |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Odd post-apocalyptic setting
for talking animals’ adventures |
|
|
Mortimer, John |
Rumpole of the Bailey |
1978 |
Short Stories/ Crime |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Courtroom wit and detection |
|
|
Mortimer, John |
The Trials of Rumpole |
1979 |
Short Stories/ Crime |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Courtroom wit and detection |
|
|
Ludlum, Robert |
The Bourne Identity |
1980 |
Action |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Classic thriller. Amnesiac gradually realises he’s a super-spy |
|
|
Peters, Ellis |
The Leper of Saint Giles |
1981 |
Crime / Historical Fiction |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Competent medieval whodunnit |
|
|
Aldiss, Brian |
Helliconia Spring (Part 1 of the Helliconia
trilogy) |
1983 |
SF |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Two sentient pre-industrial species wax and wane with eon long seasons |
|
|
Aldiss, Brian |
Helliconia Summer (Part 2 of the Helliconia
trilogy) |
1985 |
SF |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Two sentient pre-industrial species wax and wane with eon long seasons |
|
|
Aldiss, Brian |
Helliconia Winter (Part 3 of the Helliconia
trilogy) |
1989 |
SF |
1999 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Conclusion to epic series. Odd slide into technologically advanced human interference |
|
|
Nation, Terry & Hoyle, Trevor |
Blake’s 7 |
1977 |
SF |
1999 |
B- |
2.75 |
Own |
No |
Awful cashing-in novelisation
of TV show (at times bad enough to be good) |
|
|
Farrar, Steve |
1990 |
Non-Fiction Christian |
1999 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Generally OK advice wrapped in
offensive glossy & stupid theory
|
||
|
Pérez-Reverte, Arturo |
1995 (trans. 1997) |
Crime |
1999/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Nice style, strong characters, able plot |
||
|
Tolkien, J.R.R. |
The Silmarillion |
1977 |
Fantasy |
1999? |
A |
4 |
Own |
No |
Potent, magical, epic |
|
|
Stevenson, Robert Louis |
Treasure Island |
1881 |
Action |
1999? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Hang on! Action aplenty, high body count |
|
|
Lodge, David |
Ginger, You’re Barmy |
1962 |
Novel |
1999? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Honest picture of the inanities of national service |
|
|
Pratchett, Terry |
Soul Music |
1994 |
Humour / Fantasy |
1999? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Competent. Discworld, drugs and Rock ‘n Roll |
|
|
Auel, Jean M. |
The Clan of the Cave Bear |
1980 |
SF / Historical Fiction |
1999? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Epic around a Homo sapiens heroine raised by Neanderthals |
|
|
Banks, Iain |
Espedair Street |
1987 |
Novel |
2000 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Anecdotes, soul-searching and recovery of depressed fictional ex-rock star |
|
|
Card, Orson Scott |
Seventh Son(The Tales of Alvin Maker 1) |
1987 |
SF |
2000? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Messianic child magic in US pioneering alternative history |
|
|
Pratchett, Terry |
Jingo |
1997 |
Humour / Fantasy |
2000? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Competent – Pratchett’s spin on nationalism |
|
|
Rowling, J.K. |
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone |
1997 |
Fantasy (Adolescent) |
2000? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Enjoyable |
|
|
Asimov, Isaac |
The Early Asimov, Volume 2 |
1940s |
SF/Short Stories |
2000? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Definitive magazine SF, individual stories around a novel idea |
|
|
Camus, Albert |
The Plague |
1947 |
Novel |
2000? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Plague as a metaphor for German occupation of France |
|
|
Seton, Anya |
Katherine |
1954 |
Historical Fiction |
2000? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Dramatisation of common girl’s actual rise to mistress then wife of a 14th C. Duke |
|
|
Card, Orson Scott |
Red Prophet(The Tales of Alvin Maker 2) |
1988 |
SF |
2000? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Fairly surreal US magical alternative history |
|
|
Simmons, Dan |
1989 |
SF |
2000? |
C |
2.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Promising much, ultimately delivering pap |
||
|
Martin, George R.R. |
A Game of Thrones (Book 1 of A Song of Ice and Fire) |
1997 |
Fantasy |
2001 |
A+ |
4.5 |
Own |
No |
Majestic, unpredictable, engaging, striking |
|
|
Lively, Penelope |
Moon Tiger |
1987 |
Novel |
2001 |
A |
4 |
Own |
No |
Great mood, characters, and potent historical settings |
|
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
Aubrey/Maturin, Book 1 |
1970 |
Historical Fiction/ Action (High Seas Adventure) |
2001 2nd: 2006/04 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Impressive sense of another (amazing) time, people and place |
|
|
Banks, Iain M. |
The
Player of Games (Culture
series) |
1989 |
SF |
2001 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Typically sophisticated and striking ‘Culture’ novel |
|
|
Tyler, Anne |
The Accidental Tourist |
1985 |
Novel |
2001 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Good movie, can’t remember if the book was as enjoyable |
|
|
Card, Orson Scott |
The Folk of the Fringe |
1990 |
SF |
2001 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Post nuclear WWIII US Mormons survive like early settlers |
|
|
Card, Orson Scott |
Maps in a Mirror Vol. 2 |
1991 |
Short Stories |
2001 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Collection of short stories – more a curiosity for fans |
|
|
Keillor, Garrison |
Wobegon Boy |
1997 |
Novel |
2001/03 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Slow moving but warmly funny, and even some kick |
|
|
Dalrymple, William |
From the Holy Mountain: A Journey in the Shadow of
Byzantium |
1998 |
Non-fiction / History / Travel |
2001/09? |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
Fascinating physical/historical journey through remnants of ancient Christianity in Muslim strongholds |
|
|
Ishiguro, Kazuo |
2000 |
Novel (Detective) |
2001/11 |
A |
4 |
No |
Rev |
Black, very clever subversion of mannered detective
novel to deliver stinging theme |
||
|
Grenville, Kate |
The Idea of Perfection |
1999 |
Novel (Aust.) |
2001/11 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Well written, authentic outback setting and characters, stuttering romance of unromantic figures – but never got me ‘in’ |
|
|
Elton, Ben |
1997 |
Thriller / Humour (Black Comedy) |
2001/12 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Clever, funny, incisive: works as a thriller and as satire |
||
|
Durrell, Gerald |
1956 |
Humour/ Non-Fiction/ Auto-biography |
2001/12 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Amusing recollections of an animal mad kid about his eccentric family |
||
|
Schlink, Bernard |
1997 |
Novel (Holocaust) |
2001/12 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Modern German grapples to decide appropriate response
to the holocaust |
||
|
Pratchett, Terry |
1998 |
Humour (Fantasy) |
2001/12 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Standard Discworld novel, with a few Aussie ‘in’ jokes |
||
|
Cook, Hugh |
(Chronicles of an Age of Darkness: Volume 2) |
1987 |
Fantasy |
2001/12 2nd 2011/11 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Smug, crass, 2D characters and settings, but original subversion of perspective |
|
|
Hawks, Tony |
Round Ireland With A
Fridge |
1998 |
Travel/ Humour |
2001/12 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
No |
Whimsical comedian travelogue. Not as many chuckles as the Moldovans sequel |
|
|
Card, Orson Scott |
The Speaker for the Dead (Book 2 of the Ender saga) |
1986 |
SF |
2001? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Flawed overpopulated sequel, but some great lines given to the Speaker |
|
|
Card, Orson Scott |
Prentice Alvin(The Tales of Alvin Maker 3) |
1989 |
SF |
2001? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Magical/messianic Alvin moves into manhood. Series back on track |
|
|
Rowling, J.K. |
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets |
1998 |
Fantasy (Adolescent) |
2001? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Still enjoyable |
|
|
Hornby, Nick |
1998 |
Novel |
2002/01 |
A+ |
4.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Well written, often funny, nice balance of hope and realism, read in one session |
||
|
Lodge, David |
1980 |
Novel |
2002/01 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Perceptive case studies of how Vatican II, the pill,
and changing social values affected adherents |
||
|
Leiber, Fritz |
The Knight
and Knave of Swords (Book 7 in the ‘Swords’ series) |
1990 |
Fantasy |
2002/01 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Original ideas, good mood and lead characters,
undermined by frequent voyeurism |
|
|
Lustbader, Eric |
1995 |
Action |
2002/01 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
OK standard action novel with absurd philosophical
pretensions |
||
|
McGirt, Dan |
1990 |
Fantasy (Humour) |
2002/01 |
D- |
1.5 |
No |
Rev |
Tryhard predictable comedy |
||
|
Martin, George R.R. |
(Book 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire) |
1998 |
Fantasy |
2002/02 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Loses direction, often gratuitous, too many world shaking characters |
|
|
Martin, George R.R. |
A Storm of Swords 1 (Book 3, Part 1 of A Song of Ice and Fire) |
2000 |
Fantasy |
2002/03 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Structure still concerning, but some great moments
and salient themes |
|
|
Robinson, Kim Stanley |
1992 |
SF |
2002/03 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Impressive epic of colonisation of Mars – depth in characters, setting and plot |
||
|
Sacks, Oliver |
1996 |
Travel (Medical; Botany) |
2002/03 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Sacks is only as good as his content: this isn’t good content. |
||
|
Keillor, Garrison |
1989 (1982 – 1989) |
Humour (Essays) Anthology |
2002/04 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Inconsistent but often manages warmth & whimsicality without sentimentality |
||
|
Diaz, Bernal |
1570 (circa) (1963, this translation) |
Non-fiction/ History (Auto-biography) |
2002/04 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Incredible eye-witness account of Cortes’ conquest |
||
|
Martin, George R.R. |
1978 - 1985 |
Science Fiction (Short Stories, same characters) |
2002/04 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Some flaws, but one good thriller and a couple of fascinating themes |
||
|
Gibson, William |
1984 |
SF (Cyber-punk) |
2002/04 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Groundbreaking cyberpunk, wild ride, ultimately shallow characters |
||
|
Shields, Carol |
1993 |
Novel (Biography?) |
2002/04 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Undeniably able fictional autobiography, but not my thing |
||
|
Hornby, Nick |
1995 |
Novel (Humour) |
2002/05 |
A |
4 |
No |
Rev |
Very readable, penetrating on commitment, honest,
well plotted |
||
|
Hesse, Hermann |
1904 |
Novel (Reflective) |
2002/05 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Style
a bit windy. Plot, action and dialogue are entirely secondary |
||
|
Knaak, Richard A. |
(Heroes - Volume 1) |
1988 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
2002/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Deliberate cliché fantasy. Not awful |
|
|
Winton, Tim |
1986 |
Novel (Australian) |
2002/05 |
D |
2 |
No |
Rev |
Dark, cynical, bleak |
||
|
Dunbar, Robin |
1996 |
Non- Fiction/ Anthropology (Crackpot) |
2002/05 |
D |
2 |
No |
Rev |
Ignorant, smug, crackpot pre-historical anthropology |
||
|
Tyler, Anne |
1988 |
Novel |
2002/06 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Insightful, humorous, sad,
believable |
||
|
Rankin, Robert |
1991 |
Humour (SF) |
2002/06 |
D |
2 |
No |
Rev |
Poor, seedy, charmless Pratchett copy |
||
|
Watson, Ian |
1993 |
SF (Military) |
2002/06 |
D- |
1.5 |
No |
Rev |
Ultra SF violence with a veneer of philosophy |
||
|
Anderson, Poul & Karen |
(In ‘After the King: Stories in
Honour of J.R.R. Tolkien’) |
1992 |
Fantasy (Short Story) |
2002/07 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Excellent mood, a worthy tribute |
|
|
Hornby, Nick |
2001 |
Novel (Humour) |
2002/07 |
A |
4 |
No |
Rev |
Good characters, poignant without
being preachy |
||
|
Wyndham, John |
1956 |
SF (Weird) (Short Stories) |
2002/07 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Able ‘weird’ tales around slips in time or parallel universe |
||
|
Pratchett, Terry |
Moving Pictures |
1990 |
Humour (Fantasy) |
2002/07 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
Yeah, another Pratchett. Some amusing bits - a workmanlike effort |
|
|
Martin, George R.R. |
Blood
and Gold A Storm of Swords 2 (Book 3, Part 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire) |
2000 |
Fantasy (Epic) |
2002/07 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Alas: Grand Epic bloats to Soap
Opera |
|
|
Lively, Penelope |
1989 |
Novel |
2002/08 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Some good characters, patient story
with a kick, a bit preachy |
||
|
Lodge, David |
1995 |
Novel |
2002/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Standard Lodge: insight, humour,
alternative forms, incorporated lecture (Keirkegaard),
adulterous resolution |
||
|
Rowling, J.K. |
1999 |
Fantasy (Adolescent) |
2002/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
OK ride. Morally dubious. Good
series structure |
||
|
Asimov, Isaac |
(Book 5? of what should have remained ‘The Foundation
Trilogy) |
1986 |
SF |
2002/08 |
C |
2.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Overlong self-indulgent immature
money-spinner |
|
|
Fry, Stephen |
1991 |
Novel |
2002/09 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Irritatingly constant seedy action
undermines language drenched with wit |
||
|
Weber, David |
1993 |
SF (Military) |
2002/09 |
B |
3 |
Rev |
Right wing colonial future war story |
|||
|
Cleary, John |
1975 |
Thriller |
2002/09 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Particularly average. |
||
|
Banks, Iain |
1999 |
Novel |
2002/10 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Hi-tech business
woman moves between 1st and 3rd World |
||
|
Goodkind, Terry |
1994 |
Fantasy |
2002/10 |
C- |
2.2 |
No |
Rev |
Sloppy. Gratuitous.
Self-contradictory. Lazy |
||
|
Lodge, David |
1991 |
Novel |
2002/11 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Funny, touching, insightful,
morally and thematically flawed |
||
|
Rowling, J.K. |
2000 |
Fantasy (Adolescent) |
2002/11 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Fine. Dumb twist. Enticing hints of future developments |
||
|
Wain, John |
1990 |
Novel |
2002/11 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Real sense of 30s England |
||
|
Niven, Larry; Pournelle, Jerry; Flynne, Michael |
2000 |
SF |
2002/11 |
D |
2 |
No (E-book) |
Rev |
Some novel ideas, but woeful characters and motivation |
||
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
1919 |
Humour |
2002/12 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Delightful. Hilarious scenes and dialogue. Unparalleled narration. |
||
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
Aubrey/Maturin, Book 2 |
1972 |
Historical Fiction/ Action (High Seas Adventure) |
2002/12 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Engaging and fascinating characters, settings and action |
|
|
Goldsworthy, Peter |
1995 |
Novel (SF?) |
2003/01 |
B+/F |
3.5 / 1 |
Own |
Rev |
As ever well written but ultimately a deeply offensive theme |
||
|
Aldridge, Alan |
1991 |
Fantasy / SF |
2003/01 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Inconsistent
Pastoral/Supernatural/Conspiracy fantasy |
||
|
Bova, Ben |
1998 |
SF Thriller |
2003/01 |
D |
2 |
No |
Rev |
Immature sloppy gratuitous SF
thriller |
||
|
Remarque, Erich Maria |
1929 |
War (Auto-biography) |
2003/02 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Powerful.
Awful. Profound. |
||
|
Mosley, Walter |
1995 |
Novel |
2003/02 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Original, engaging, confronting |
||
|
Herbert, Frank |
1969 |
SF (Fantasy) |
2003/02 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Disappointing sequel. Supposedly wise characters uninspiring. Random action, rambling dialogue. |
||
|
Gemmell, David |
(Drenai Tales, Book 7) |
1996 |
Fantasy (Heroic) |
2003/03 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Solid, perfectly balanced
heroic fantasy |
|
|
Orwell, George |
1937 |
Non-Fiction Sociology (Auto-biography/ Political Essay) |
2003/03 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own (eBook) |
Rev |
Orwell’s personal testimony about
miners, India, and marketing socialism |
||
|
Harris, Robert |
PMQ in ‘Speaking With the Angel’ (Edited by Nick Hornby) |
2000 |
Humour (Short Story) |
2003/03 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
Amusing frightfully British narration
of PM in a sitcom style sketch |
|
|
Naylor, Doug |
(Red Dwarf series) |
1995 |
Humour (SF) |
2003/03 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
OK only if you’re in the right
(undemanding) mood |
|
|
Bank, Melissa |
in ‘Speaking With the
Angel’ (Ed. Nick Hornby) |
2000 |
Short Story (Romance) |
2003/03 |
B- |
2.75 |
Own |
Rev |
A
woman’s romantic daydream about an ideal night |
|
|
Hesse, Herman |
1905 |
Novel (Auto-biographical?) |
2003/03 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Utterly detached narrative, no
humour, low action, little insight |
||
|
Bear, Greg |
1985 |
SF |
2003/04 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Genetic thriller apocalypse odyssey |
||
|
Firth, Colin |
The Department of Nothing in ‘Speaking With the Angel’
(Edited by Nick Hornby) |
2000 |
Short Story |
2003/04 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Charming mix of
child/grandmother’s fantasy coping with everyday |
|
|
Smith, Giles |
Last Requests in ‘Speaking With the Angel’ (Edited by Nick Hornby) |
2000 |
Short Story |
2003/04 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Dark humour improvising a monologue as a death-row canteen lady |
|
|
Bedford, Jean |
1992 |
Crime |
2003/04 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Unsubtly PC, fairly shallow, set around Nowra |
||
|
Smith, Zadie |
I’m the Only One in
‘Speaking With the Angel’ (Edited by Nick Hornby) |
2000 |
Short Story |
2003/04 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
No |
Vignette of teenager step to
identity |
|
|
Tyler, Anne |
1975 |
Novel |
2003/04 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Disappointingly
bland and loose intergenerational family drama |
||
|
Marber, Patrick |
Peter Shelley in ‘Speaking With the Angel’ (Edited by Nick Hornby) |
2000 |
Short Story |
2003/04 |
C- |
2.2 |
Own |
No |
Nostalgic depiction of amoral punk adolescent first sex |
|
|
Hornby, Nick |
NippleJesus in ‘Speaking With the Angel’
(Edited by Nick Hornby) |
2000 |
Short Story |
2003/05 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
No |
Security guard’s quirky
perspective on art designed to shock |
|
|
Wolfe, Gene |
1986 |
SF/ Historical Fiction |
2003/05 |
C+ |
2.7 |
No |
Rev |
Unusual, based around several interesting ideas but rarely gripping |
||
|
Levi, Primo |
1978 |
Novel / Short Stories |
2003/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Gracefully narrated stories of a tradesman’s jobs and values |
||
|
Vinge, Vernor |
1992 |
SF |
2003/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Very impressive ideas. Much of the ‘ride’ a bit dark/frustrating |
||
|
Milligan, Spike & Hobbs, Jack |
William
McGonagall meets George Gershwin: A Scottish Fantasy |
1988 |
Humour |
2003/06 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Hit and miss utterly unedited stream of consciousness goonery |
|
|
Eggers, Dave |
After I was thrown into the river and before I
drowned in ‘Speaking With the Angel’
(Edited by Nick Hornby) |
2000 |
Short Story |
2003/06 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Dog’s enthusiastic new age
perspective on life and afterlife |
|
|
Fielding, Helen |
Luckybitch in ‘Speaking With the Angel’
(Edited by Nick Hornby) |
2000 |
Short Story |
2003/06 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
No |
Ageing hedonist diva’s
vacillating monologue |
|
|
Wells, H.G. |
1901 |
SF |
2003/07 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Rev |
Ripping yarn, good characters, robust alien culture, integrated thought-provoking morality |
|||
|
Doyle, Roddy |
The Slave in ‘Speaking With the Angel’
(Edited by Nick Hornby) |
2000 |
Short Story |
2003/07 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
No |
Mid-life crisis monologue |
|
|
O’Farrell, John |
Walking Into the Wind in ‘Speaking With the Angel’
(Edited by Nick Hornby) |
2000 |
Short Story |
2003/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
Enjoyable, if pointed, picture
of the highs and lows of a mime’s life |
|
|
Lodge, David |
1965 |
Novel (Novelette) |
2003/08 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
More broad comedy and less perception than usual, literary in-jokes, and bemoaning Catholic birth control |
||
|
Pratchett, Terry |
1992 |
Humour / Fantasy |
2003/08 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Solid humour as ever but a bit dodgily preachy |
||
|
Grisham, John |
1994 |
Novel (Thriller/Legal) |
2003/08 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Original plot, interesting as legal/family documentary, flawed thematically |
||
|
Cherryh, C.J. |
1994 |
SF |
2003/08 |
D |
2 |
No |
Rev |
Melodramatic bilge, characters we’re supposed to respect are pathetic |
||
|
Welsh, Irvine |
Catholic Guilt (You Know You Love It) in ‘Speaking With the Angel’
(Edited by Nick Hornby) |
2000 |
Short Story |
2003/08 |
D- |
1.5 |
No |
No |
Stereotype priest slander with
naughty words and obscene action. Pathetic |
|
|
Tóibín, Colm |
1999 |
Novel |
2003/09 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Well written, but depressing (and a bit preachy) |
||
|
Postman, Neil |
1984 |
Non-Fiction / Essay |
2003/09 |
C+ |
2.7 |
No |
Rev |
Some valid attacks on TV undermined by absurd bias |
||
|
Lodge, David |
2001 |
Novel |
2003/10 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Standard Lodge, but less substance and more cheap stylistic and prurient tricks |
||
|
Pratchett, Terry |
2001 |
Humour / Fantasy |
2003/10 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Funny, workmanlike plot, some charming characters, odd anti-Christian allegories |
||
|
Dumas, Alexandre |
1844 |
Action / Historical Fiction |
2003/12 |
A+ |
4.5 |
Rev |
Huge (common) and coherent (rare) epic; Tolkienesque scope, Shakespearian vibe |
|||
|
Anderson, Poul |
My Object All Sublime |
1961 |
SF / Short Story |
2003/12 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
No |
Killer twist |
|
|
Adams, Douglas |
(The 5th book in the increasingly inaccurately named Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy trilogy) |
1992 |
Humour/ SF |
2003/12 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Enjoyable hotchpotch of action, humour, SF satire and post-modern philosophy |
|
|
Yun, Brother with Hattaway, Paul |
2002 |
NF / Christian / Biography |
2003/12 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Contemporary miracles, brutal persecution, and mass conversions in China |
||
|
Stout, Rex |
A Nero Wolfe Mystery |
1958 |
Crime |
2004/01 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Pleasant. Lightly comic |
|
|
Anonymous |
1300s? |
Fantasy / Short Stories |
2004/02 |
B |
3 |
Rev |
Constant blood, magic and sex. Diverting but very repetitive. |
|||
|
MacDonald, George |
1858 |
Fantasy / Allegory? |
2004/02 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Sustained dreamlike mood, little else |
||
|
Greenberg, Martin H. (ed.) |
The Giant Book of Science Fiction Stories |
1986 |
SF / Short Stories |
2004/02 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
101 1950s-70s magazine SF stories |
|
|
Fry, Stephen |
1994 |
Novel |
2004/02 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Able characters, style, dialogue and plot. Definitively gratuitous immorality |
||
|
Kay, Guy Gavriel |
1990 |
Fantasy |
2004/03 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Coherent world, OK plot, but cliché characters, windy exposition and sentimental adolescent perspective |
||
|
Harvey, Miles |
2000 |
Non-Fiction |
2004/03 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Island of content in an ocean of padding |
||
|
Zindell, David |
(Book 1 of A Requiem for Homo Sapiens) |
1993 |
SF |
2004/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Impressively original and grand ideas but ultimately absurd hubris |
|
|
Bradbury, Ray |
1996 |
Short Stories |
2004/06 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Sentimental, indulgent,
average |
||
|
Vidal, Gore |
1981 |
Historical Fiction |
2004/07 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
5th Century BC celebrities. Scholarly, able, but hardly a page turner |
||
|
Williams, Walter Jon |
Prayers on the Wind (in The Giant Book of Fantastic SF) |
1991 |
SF |
2004/07 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Capable dramatic yarn in a largely Hindu syncretic future |
|
|
Gemmell, David |
(Drenai Tales, Book 6) |
1993 |
Fantasy (Heroic) |
2004/07 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Yep, he’s a Conan-style dead-set legend |
|
|
Martel, Yann |
2001 |
Novel |
2004/07 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Ably written surprising mix of survival story and deceptively persuasive theology |
||
|
Cornwall, Bernard |
1982 |
Historical Fiction / War |
2004/07 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Authentic Napoleonic wars props and setting; absurd pantomime characters |
||
|
Miéville, China |
1998 |
Action / (Urban) Fantasy |
2004/08 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Cool, dark X-men action and mood, bit pretentious, really silly climax |
||
|
Stout, Rex |
A Nero Wolfe Mystery |
1948 |
Crime |
2004/09 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Pleasant. Lightly comic |
|
|
Banks, Iain M. |
(Culture series) |
1998 |
SF |
2004/09 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Clever structure but less compelling than usual |
|
|
Chandra, Vikram |
1997 |
Short Stories |
2004/10 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Original but not engaging |
||
|
Lively, Penelope |
1996 |
Novel |
2004/11 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Potent, capable, slow-moving, tragic, venomous |
||
|
Austen, Jane |
1814 |
Novel |
2004/12 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Atypical, censorious heroine and plot, less fun than usual |
||
|
Dawson, Norma |
2004 |
Autobiography (Christian) |
2004/12 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Honest summary rather than evocative interpretation |
||
|
L’Amour, Louis |
1957 |
Action |
2004/12 |
B- |
2.75 |
Own |
Rev |
Slightly variant heroic Alaskan western |
||
|
Vance, Jack |
1998 |
SF |
2004/12 |
C+ |
2.7 |
No |
Rev |
Ostentatious expression; light comic prurience and violence |
||
|
Orwell, George |
1945 |
Fantasy (Political Allegory) |
2005/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Bleak fable of Stalin, Lenin and Trotsky |
||
|
Keillor, Garrison |
1985 |
Short Stories / Historical Fiction / Humour |
2005/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Nostalgic, languid, imaginative, warm, whimsical, indulgently tangental |
||
|
Fforde, Jasper |
Thursday Next, Book 1 |
2001 |
SF/ Humour/ Crime/ Thriller |
2005/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
As good as, worse and better than Adams or Pratchett |
|
|
Fredrickson, Michael |
2004 |
Crime |
2005/02 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Solid effort, beyond cliché characters, never soars |
||
|
Fisher, Carrie |
1994 |
Novel |
2005/02 |
C+ |
2.7 |
No |
Rev |
Bad US sit-com gloss and introspective vacuity |
||
|
Grimes, Martha |
1993 |
Crime |
2005/02 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Embarrassingly insecure/arrogant. Self-indulgent |
||
|
Haddon, Mark |
2003 |
Crime / Novel |
2005/03 |
A |
4 |
No |
Rev |
Triumphant autistic fantasy. Authentic characters, engaging narrative and excellent structure |
||
|
Rodda, Emily |
1990 |
Juvenile / SF |
2005/03 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
OK theme, ideas, execution |
||
|
Williams, Tad |
1992 |
Fantasy / Juvenile (Adolescent) |
2005/03 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Pleasant enough fare with poor resolution |
||
|
Grisham, John |
1997 |
Crime |
2005/03 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Clever and well-paced heist story, really dumb final twist |
||
|
Shelley, Rick |
Eyewall (in The Giant Book of Fantastic SF) |
1991 |
SF / Short Story |
2005/04 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Able development of a scientific idea into a story |
|
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
Aubrey/Maturin, Book 16 |
1993 |
Historical Fiction |
2005/04 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Still good, but perhaps more one for the fans |
|
|
Rodda, Emily |
2000 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
2005/05 |
A- |
3.7 |
No |
Rev |
Enjoyable straight-ahead swords and sorcery for kids |
||
|
Harrison, Harry |
1974 |
Action |
2005/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Pleasant enough silly action pulp |
||
|
Clancy, Tom |
2003 |
Action |
2005/06 |
D- |
1.5 |
No |
Rev |
Proudly stupid bigotry |
||
|
Barry, Dave |
1988 |
Humour |
2005/07 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Consistently funny collection of newspaper columns |
||
|
Macdonald, George |
1872 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
2005/07 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Inspiring or elitist? Higher rating for originality rather than ride |
||
|
Ward, Geoffrey C. |
An Illustrated History |
1996 |
Non-Fiction (History) |
2005/07 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Fascinating illustrated individual stories in the American west since the 17th century |
|
|
Banks, Iain M. |
1987 |
SF |
2005/07 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Great start, impressive mythos, laboured & silly final third |
||
|
McCall Smith, Alexander |
2000 |
Crime |
2005/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Charming company in exotic Botswana |
||
|
le Carré, John |
George Smiley investigates |
1962 |
Crime |
2005/08 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Competent enough episode |
|
|
Yancey, Philip |
1988 |
Non-Fiction (Christian) |
2005/08 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Honest but still requires as much faith as it offers |
||
|
Lively, Penelope |
1980 |
Novel |
2005/09 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Clinical, able, honest, searching, manipulative |
||
|
Laxness, Halldór |
1935, 1936 |
Novel |
2005/10 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Highly praised. Highly tedious. |
||
|
Hammett, Dashiell |
1923-34 |
Crime/Short Stories |
2005/12 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Capable, original Chandler precursor |
||
|
Cherryh, C.J. |
1994 |
Fantasy |
2005/12 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Initially slow and meandering, but stronger latter half |
||
|
Griffin, William |
1986 |
Non-fiction / Biography |
2006/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Interesting vignettes from all the years of Lewis’ life from age twenty-seven |
||
|
Mosley, Walter |
An Easy Rawlins Mystery |
1996 |
Crime |
2006/01 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Potent, original, capable, sexually puerile |
|
|
Dozois, Gardner (Ed.) |
1992 |
SF / Short Stories |
2006/02 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Best of 1991. Consistently good |
||
|
Fforde, Jasper |
2005 |
Humour / Crime / SF |
2006/02 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Another enjoyable excursion |
||
|
Williams, Donna |
1992 |
Autobiography |
2006/02 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
One tough story more than insight into autism |
||
|
King, Steven |
The Dark Tower, Volume 1 |
1982 / 2003 (revised) |
SF / Fantasy |
2006/03 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Impressive façade |
|
|
Leonard, Elmore |
1992 |
Crime |
2006/04 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
OK |
||
|
Dickson, John |
1997 |
NF Christian |
2006/04 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Contrived apologetics, but at least an attempt to connect |
||
|
Goldsworthy, Peter |
2003 |
Novel |
2006/04 |
F |
1 |
No |
Rev |
Goldsworthy has jumped the shark |
||
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
1902 |
Humour |
2006/05 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Rev |
Not just because it’s the first, but because it’s good! |
|||
|
Pohl, Frederik |
1990 |
SF |
2006/05 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Relatively shallow future utopia |
||
|
James, Clive |
1980-88 |
NF – Essays |
2006/05 |
C+ |
2.7 |
No |
Rev |
Limited audience pieces (with a use-by) |
||
|
Hornby, Nick |
2005 |
Novel |
2006/06 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Typically good characters and dialogue but wayward structure |
||
|
Anderson, Poul |
1966 |
SF |
2006/06 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
OK SF action, but a bit childish with a dodgy political subtext |
||
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
1903 |
Humour |
2006/07 |
B- |
2.75 |
Rev |
Too much detail on the cricket pitch |
|||
|
Gaiman, Neil |
1999 |
Fantasy |
2006/08 |
A- |
3.7 |
No |
Rev |
Very satisfying mix of fairy tale and fantasy |
||
|
Flannery, Tim |
1998 |
NF Biology / Anthropology |
2006/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Interesting PNG treks: biology and anthropology |
||
|
Follett, Ken |
2004 |
Action |
2006/08 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Follett’s superwoman biff and soap-opera romance |
||
|
Fforde, Jasper |
2002 |
SF / Humour |
2006/09 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Funny, original, but poor plot and villains |
||
|
Keillor, Garrison |
1987 – 9 |
Short Stories / Humour |
2006/09 |
B- |
2.75 |
Own |
Rev |
Didn’t work for me this time – maybe just my mood? |
||
|
Gemmell, David |
Drenai Tales, Book 3 |
1990 |
Fantasy |
2006/10 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Another solid effort |
|
|
Baddiel, David |
1996 |
Novel |
2006/10 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Offensive static overwhelms talented signal |
||
|
Banks, Iain M. |
1994 |
SF |
2006/11 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Potentially great book (ride, ideas, characters) reduced to very good by plot |
||
|
Arturo Pérez-Reverte |
1996 |
Historical Fiction/ Action |
2006/11 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Disappointing: more jingoism than
intelligent historical action |
||
|
Sobel, Dava |
1995 |
NF Biography / Science / History |
2006/12 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Capable account of interesting history |
||
|
Gattiss, Mark |
2004 |
Historical Fiction / Humour |
2006/12 |
C- |
2.2 |
No |
Rev |
Farcical Moore-type Bond characters and plot; obscenity overdressed in big words |
||
|
Elton, Ben |
2005 |
Historical Fiction / Crime |
2007/01 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Alternate political characters enhance rather than overwhelm WW1 crime
story |
||
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
1903 |
Short Stories / Humour |
2007/01 |
B- |
2.75 |
Rev |
Still just one for the fans (or early 20th
C. public schoolboys) |
|||
|
Cook, Peter (Cook, William – Ed.) |
2002 |
Humour / Biography |
2007/02 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Some great moments, but better as a DVD/CD
collection |
||
|
Fforde, Jasper |
2003 |
SF / Humour |
2007/02 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Has Thursday Next jumped the shark? |
||
|
Le Guin, Ursula K. |
1969 |
SF |
2007/03 |
A- |
3.7 |
No |
Rev |
Manages a rare gravity and dignity |
||
|
Forester, C.S. |
1942 |
Juvenile |
2007/03 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Enjoyed by parent and child simultaneously |
||
|
Bryson, Bill |
1997 |
NF / Travel |
2007/03 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Able narrative, good mix of research and humour |
||
|
Wilde, Oscar |
1887 |
Humour |
2007/03 |
B |
3 |
Rev |
Light comedy into light ghost story |
|||
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
1904 |
Humour |
2007/03 |
B |
3 |
Rev |
Still aimed at contemporary schoolboys, but more cohesive |
|||
|
Chandler, Raymond |
1948 |
Crime (Screenplay) |
2007/03 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Competent, but not the best way to enjoy Chandler |
||
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
Aubrey/Maturin, Book 3 |
1973 |
Action / Historical Fiction |
2007/04 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Impressive weaving of professional and private lives in breathing historical context |
|
|
Durrell, Gerald |
1958 |
NF |
2007/04 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Video has overwhelmed text (here anyway) |
||
|
Card, Orson Scott |
Homecoming, Vol. 1 |
1992 |
SF |
2007/05 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Intriguing deep future saturated in Old Testament flavour, characters and dilemmas |
|
|
Kerr, Katherine |
1991 |
Fantasy |
2007/05 |
B |
3 |
Yes |
Rev |
OK plot and climax, poor romance, too many superswordspeople |
||
|
Wolfe, Gene |
Book 1 of The Wizard Knight |
2004 |
Fantasy |
2007/06 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
A satisfying hero drawn from rich earlier traditions |
|
|
Banks, Iain |
1989 |
Novel/ Action |
2007/06 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Ably realised genre hybrid, but I admired this book more than I enjoyed it |
||
|
Barry, Dave |
1999 |
Action/ Humour |
2007/06 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Professional, funny, but slick, filmic and disposable |
||
|
Keillor, Garrison |
1993 |
Humour / Short Stories |
2007/06 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Improvisations around an indulgent theme: occasionally inspired technique but ultimately childish perspective |
||
|
McEwan, Ian |
1998 |
Novel |
2007/07 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Able, masculine, articulate, incisive (although events are sensational and finally twee) |
||
|
Barry, Dave |
(Contains:
"Dave Barry's Guide to Marriage and/or Sex" / "Babies and
Other Hazards of Sex" / "Stay Fit and Healthy Until You're
Dead" / "Claw Your Way to the Top") |
1991 (1984; 1985; 1986; 1987) |
Humour |
2007/07 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Less enjoyable than the columns, but still funny |
|
|
Gemmell, David |
Drenai Tales, Book 1 |
1984 |
Fantasy |
2007/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Cliché settings, stereotype mythical fighters and damsels, but he does it so well! |
|
|
Stout, Rex |
(A Nero Wolfe Mystery) |
1949 |
Crime |
2007/08 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Able without soaring. Touches on McCarthyism issues. Second book to refer to Wolfe’s nemesis Zeck – read it before ‘In the Best Families’ |
|
|
Wolfe, Gene |
Book 2 of The Wizard Knight |
2004 |
Fantasy |
2007/08 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Too much of the same:
still impressive, but less novel and gripping |
|
|
Free, David (Osher, Mark) |
2005 |
Novel |
2007/08 |
B |
3 |
Rev |
Clever but ultimately empty/ugly satire |
|||
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
1904 |
Humour |
2007/08 |
B- |
2.75 |
Rev |
Able exercise |
|||
|
Zelazny, Roger |
1993 |
SF (supernatural) / Juvenile (and adult) |
2007/09 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Charming, able– ‘light’ horror? |
||
|
Price, Anthony |
Audley Series |
1970 |
Crime |
2007/09 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Competent plot, pacing; never soars; juvenile/puerile romance |
|
|
Stout, Rex |
(A Nero Wolfe Mystery) |
1950 |
Crime |
2007/10 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Wonderful departure from conventions of series (but read a few other Wolfe’s first) |
|
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
1905 |
Humour |
2007/11 |
B |
3 |
Rev |
Not timeless, but a palatable authentic ride through historically interesting century old British public schools |
|||
|
Johnson, Samuel |
Rasselas |
2007/12 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
||||
|
Peake, Mervyn |
Book 1 of the Gormenghast trilogy |
1946 |
Fantasy |
2007/12 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Constant discomforting, lurid images, oppressive mood, grotesque population, crawling pace … but strangely compelling |
|
|
McGrath, Alister (with |
2007 |
NF / Theology |
2007/12 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Able, reasonable, readable |
||
|
Bryson, Bill |
Down Under |
2007/12 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
No |
||||
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
The Mauritius
Command Aubrey-Maturin
#4 |
2008/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
||||
|
Pratchett, Terry |
1987 |
Fantasy Humour |
2008/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Some wonderful ideas and descriptions excuse a dumb climax |
||
|
Barker, Pat |
Book 1 of the Regeneration trilogy |
1991 |
Novel / Historical Fiction / War |
2008/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Insightful WW1 profiles from well researched imagined psychological counselling sessions with the ‘shell-shocked’ |
|
|
Stringer, Lee |
Grand Central
Winter |
2008/01 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
||||
|
Roy, |
The God of Small
Things |
2008/01 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
|||||
|
Gemmell, David |
The Rigante series, Book 2 |
1999 |
Fantasy |
2008/02 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Thoroughly enjoyable, legendary characters with flesh, intelligent ideas, engaging morality, coherent plot |
|
|
Marsden, John |
Book 1 of the Tomorrow series |
1993 |
Novel/ Action / Teen |
2008/02 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Surprisingly workable war and teen romance hybrid; recognisable Oz kid |
|
|
Gemmell, David |
Last Sword of
Power |
2008/02 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
||||
|
Gemmell, David |
Dark Moon |
2008/02 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
||||
|
Pilcher, Rosamunde |
The Shell
Seekers |
2008/02 |
B |
3 |
No |
|||||
|
Gimenez, Mark |
2005 |
Novel/Crime |
2008/02 |
C- |
2.2 |
No |
Rev |
Definitive stereotype, appallingly myopic |
||
|
Locus Awards |
2008/03 |
B |
3 |
No |
||||||
|
Lieber, Fritz |
Swords Against
Wizardry |
2008/03 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
||||
|
Nelson, H.G. |
Petrol, Bait,
Ammo & Ice |
2008/03 |
C+ |
2.7 |
No |
|||||
|
Adams, Douglas |
The Long Dark
Tea-time of the Soul |
2008/04 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
|||||
|
Niven, Larry |
Ringworld |
2008/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
||||
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
The Swoop |
2008/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
|||||
|
Gemmell, David |
The Slipstrassi Tales 1 |
1996 |
Fantasy/SF |
2008/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Too
close to Stephen King's 'The
Gunslinger' |
|
|
Fowler, Karen Joy |
2004 |
Novel |
2008/06 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Capable, engaging character portraits |
||
|
Hammett, Dashiel |
Red Harvest |
2008/07 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
||||
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
1907 |
Humour |
2008/07 |
B |
3 |
Rev |
Pleasing,
predictable early Wodehouse |
|||
|
Beagle, Peter S. |
The Folk of the
Air |
2008/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
||||
|
Howard, Robert E. |
Coming of Conan Conan
the Cimmerian #1 |
2002 |
Fantasy |
2008/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
I thought this was the definitive edition – pure Howard undiluted by de Camp, Nyber or Carter, but now think it’s only the first 13 of the 17 published and 21 total Howard canonical, non-pastiche stories. Other editions have the helpful ‘Volume 1’ subtitle, there are 3 in total. A striking original, cf. Jack London’s celebration of the unromantic hero. Lovecraft a consulting friend, some even consider Conan’s world to be part of the Cthulu mythos |
|
|
Dick, Phillip K. |
The Man in the
High Castle |
2008/09 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
||||
|
Guedj, Denis |
2002 |
Novel |
2008/10 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Not quite successful attempt to integrate maths history and theory into an engaging teen novel |
||
|
The Year’s Best
Fantasy, Volume 4 |
2008/11 |
B |
3 |
No |
||||||
|
Feist, Raymond E. |
2004 |
Fantasy |
2008/11 |
C+ |
2.7 |
No |
Rev |
Lazy, indulgent, formulaic |
||
|
Gundry, Stanley (Ed.) |
1987 |
NF Theology |
2008/12 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Able, clear, but not lifechanging |
||
|
Clarke, Arthur C. |
Imperial Earth |
2008? |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
||||
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
Love Among
Chickens |
2008? |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
|||||
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
Not George
Washington |
2008? |
B |
3 |
No |
|||||
|
Card, Orson Scott |
2005 |
Fantasy (Urban) |
2009/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Bravely/foolishly mixing faery with contemporary US black community |
||
|
Sturgeon, Theodore |
1950 |
SF |
2009/02 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Mixed treasure: sometimes soars, but climax descends into cliché |
||
|
Barry, Dave |
Dave Barry Talks
Back |
2009/02 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
||||
|
Aldiss, Brian |
Helliconia Spring |
2009/03 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since read |
|||
|
Banks, Iain M. |
Look Towards
Windward |
2000 |
SF |
2009/04 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Too long since read, trusting rating from time |
|
|
Voight, Cynthia |
Seventeen
Against the Dealer |
2009/04 |
B |
3 |
No |
|||||
|
Voight, Cynthia |
Come A Stranger |
2009/04 |
B |
3 |
No |
|||||
|
Stevenson, William G. |
Thirteen Months in
the Rebel Army |
2009/05 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
|||||
|
Voigt, Cynthia |
The Runner (Tillerman
#4) |
1985 |
Novel |
2009/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
Interesting I gave this a ‘B’ over 10 years ago with not even a sentence of explanation. Otherwise this has been a excellent series. |
||
|
Zelazny, Rojer |
1967 |
SF |
2009/07 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Post nuclear WWIII US action movie road trip. Usable
mood/action, romanticised bikie hero, ending inconsistent with imagined world
|
||
|
Barry, Dave |
Bad Habits |
2009/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
||||
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
Mike |
2009/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
|||||
|
Barker, Pat |
The Eye in the
Door |
2009/08 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
||||
|
Barker, Pat |
The Ghost Road |
2009/08 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
||||
|
Barr, Nevada |
Hard Truth |
2009/08 |
B |
3 |
No |
|||||
|
Elton, Ben |
2007 |
SF Novel |
2009/08 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
1984 template to hypocritically vilify facebook and religion |
||
|
Demille |
Night Fall |
2009/09 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
||||
|
Wolfe, Gene |
The Shadow of
the Torturer |
2009/09 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
||||
|
Rath, |
Strengths Finder
2.0 |
2009/09 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
|||||
|
Milligan, Spike |
The Unpublished
Milligan, Box 18 |
2009/1 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
|||||
|
Banks, Iain |
Whit |
2009/10 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
||||
|
Gaiman, Neil |
Smoke and
Mirrors |
2009/10 |
B |
3 |
No |
|||||
|
0’Brian, Patrick |
Desolation
Island |
2009/12 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
||||
|
Dunsany |
Tales of Wonder
(??) |
2009? |
B |
3 |
No |
|||||
|
Eco, Umberto |
The Name of the
Rose |
1980 |
Historical
Fiction Crime |
2009? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since I read it, but I have an idea that while not as stultifyingly choked with tedious detail as the bloated Foucault's Pendulum, it still had tendencies |
|
|
Keneally, Thomas |
1987 |
Historical Fiction |
2010 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Time and setting overwhelm characters |
||
|
Temple, Peter |
2007 |
Crime |
2010/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Feels pretty authentic Australian, if keeping to pretty dark territory |
||
|
Dann, |
The Silent |
2010/02 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
||||
|
Némirovsky, Irène |
2004 (trans. 2006) |
Novel |
2010/03 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Established
Jewish novelist sets and writes a story in Vichy France. Extraordinarily
poignant. |
||
|
Barry, Dave |
1990 |
Humour |
2010/04 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
A Step up on from the ‘Guide to Life’ books, solid, but few laugh out loud moments |
||
|
Albom, Mitch |
1997 |
NF (Biography) |
2010/04 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
A nice book more than a challenging or inspiring one |
||
|
Foer, Jonathan Safran |
2002 |
Novel |
2010/04 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Fails
as much as it succeeds |
||
|
Proulx, Annie |
1993 |
Novel |
2010/05 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Redemptive city to country feelgood story with strong episodes and dialogue |
||
|
James, Henry |
1878 |
Novel |
2010/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Fascinating though less entertaining more modern foil to Lizzy Bennett |
||
|
London, Jack |
And Other Stories |
1903 |
Action |
2010/06 |
A- |
3.75 |
Own |
Rev |
Robust, Conan-style, over the top mythical dog stories
|
|
|
Temple, Peter |
(aka Identity Theory) |
2002 |
Action/ Thriller |
2010/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Stylish use of thriller conventions (except the daydream
women)
|
|
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
(Aubrey/Maturin 6) |
1979 |
Historical Fiction / Action |
2010/07 |
A |
4 |
Yes |
Rev |
Thoroughly enjoyable
|
|
|
Haldeman, Joe |
2007 |
SF |
2010/07 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Classic old style SF slightly
modernised
|
||
|
Henning Mankell |
1994 (Trans. 2005) |
Crime |
2010/07 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Starts with some promise, but ends in breathtaking
stupidity
|
||
|
Carroll, Steven |
2007 |
Novel |
2010/08 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
All musing doth not a novel make
|
||
|
Zusac, Markus |
2002 |
Novel (Adolescent) |
2010/09 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Good heart, engaging Australian expression and humour,
oversimple
|
||
|
James, Henry |
1878 |
Short Story |
2010/09 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
James musing on the changing female
role in his time
|
||
|
McIntyre, Vonda N. |
1997 |
Historical Fiction / Fantasy |
2010/10 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Cleverly evoked ‘What If’ SF/French court romance hybrid.
Condescending historical revisionism
|
||
|
Ian McEwan |
2001 |
Novel / Historical Fiction |
2010/10 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Too much setup, evocative war scenes, dubious dénouement
|
||
|
Levi, Primo |
1947 |
NF (Autobiography) |
2010/12 |
A |
4 |
No |
Rev |
Chilling, potent, witness testimony of 11 months in
Auschwitz
|
||
|
Lehane, Dennis |
Kenzie/Gennaro 1 |
1994 |
Crime |
2010/12 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Thoroughly enjoyable
|
|
|
Gaiman, Neil & Sarrantonio, Al (Eds) |
2010 |
Short Stories |
2010/12 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Too similarly dark collection
|
||
|
Twain, Mark |
1885 |
Novel |
2011/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
First half powerful, funny, striking, but then slides into
farce
|
||
|
Saberhagen, Fred |
The Second Book of Lost Swords |
1987 |
Fantasy |
2011/01 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Disappointing both as episode & continuation
|
|
|
Calvino, Italo |
1979 |
Novel / Humour |
2011/02 |
A |
4 |
No |
Rev |
Postmodern, self-aware, deconstructive – but also fun and
engaging
|
||
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
The Intrusion of
Jimmy |
2011/02 |
B |
3 |
No |
|||||
|
Martin, George R. R. |
2007 |
Fantasy |
2011/02 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
The Soap-Opera continues |
||
|
Davis, Lindsay |
2004 |
Crime / Historical Fiction |
2011/02 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Some OK research maybe, but overwhelmed by contemporary
cliché characters and glib voice
|
||
|
Silvey, Craig |
2009 |
Novel |
2011/03 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Engaging coming of age story, rural 70s Australians amped
up to Shakespearian proportions
|
||
|
Lehane, Dennis |
1996 |
Crime |
2011/03 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Disappointing: Lehane uses the same dodgy tropes he ridicules |
||
|
Micallef, Shaun |
2004 |
Humour |
2011/04 |
A |
4 |
No |
Rev |
Consistent.
Hilarious. Surreal. Uniquely Micallef. Only to be taken in small doses. |
||
|
Moore, Brian |
1990 |
Action |
2011/04 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Assured, professional, raises interesting questions, but not engaging |
||
|
Lodge, David |
2008 |
Novel |
2011/05 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Assured, personal, Lodge on ageing
|
||
|
MacDonald, John D. |
1951 |
Crime |
2011/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Able writing,
interesting as time-piece – particularly on views of women |
||
|
Lively, Penelope |
2005 |
Short Stories |
2011/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Typically professional alternative biographical musing |
||
|
Banks, Iain M. |
2004 |
SF |
2011/06 |
A- |
3.75 |
No |
Rev |
Banks is very good
|
||
|
Beagle, Peter S. |
1999 |
Fantasy (Ghost) |
2011/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Deft characterisation of a teenage girl, evocative
writing, silly climax
|
||
|
Parker, T. Jefferson |
2006 |
Crime |
2011/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
In the ugly crime world, but not of it
|
||
|
Levi, Primo |
2007 (1949-86) |
Short Stories |
2011/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Understated yet engaging style. Mainly SF type ‘what if’s’ |
||
|
Moyer, Marsha |
2003 |
Novel |
2011/06 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
A midday movie daydream book – with pretensions
|
||
|
McEwan, Ian |
1997 |
Novel (Psychological Thriller) |
2011/07 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Hitchcock (?) style focus on the psychological effect of a stalker on an everyman |
||
|
Hitchens, Peter |
2010 |
Non-Fiction |
2011/08 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Small personal
epilogue more powerful than nostalgia and argument |
||
|
Lehane, Denis |
1997 |
Crime |
2011/09 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Some nice pacing, humour and dialogue. Still problems of scale |
||
|
Micallef, Shaun |
2010 |
Humour (Novella/SF) |
2011/09 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Several expectedly hilarious moments, but structurally disappointing |
||
|
Gilbert, Michael |
The Oyster
Catchers |
2011/10 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
||||
|
Cook, Hugh |
The Wizards and
the Warriors |
2011/11 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
||||
|
Lodge, David |
1999 |
Novel |
2011/12 |
A- |
3.75 |
Own |
Rev |
Assured, fluid, clever, insightful, entertaining – Lodge enjoying his strengths |
||
|
Carcaterra, Lorenzo |
1995 |
Crime |
2011/12 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Fails both as fact and/or fiction |
||
|
Allbeury, Ted |
1983 |
Action (Spy) |
2012/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
More spy psychology than action, which enhances. And from an author with some idea of what he was talking about |
||
|
Card, Orson Scott |
Alvin Journeyman (The
Tales of Alvin Maker 4) |
1995 |
Fantasy (Alternative History) |
2012/01 |
B |
3 |
Yes |
No |
(Apparently – years later review) Hit and miss series (although this won Locus novel of the year). |
|
|
Horowitz, Anthony |
2011 |
Crime |
2012/03 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Impressive, satisfying, but
falls into some of the Moffat/Gattiss
disappointments |
||
|
Leguin, Ursula K. |
Birthday of the
World |
Short Stories |
2012/03 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
|||
|
Eliot, George |
1874 |
Novel |
2012/04 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Clever, insightful, original,
potent, engaging - what else do you want? |
||
|
Cain, James M. |
1941 |
Novel |
2012/04 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Mildred: heroine, or just as
shallow as the men she supplants? |
||
|
Banville, John |
1997 |
Novel |
2012/04 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Engaging trip bloated to
tedious journey |
||
|
Forsyth, Frederick |
The Deceiver |
1991 |
Action |
2012/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since I read it, rating a gap-filler |
|
|
Harrison, Harry, and Aldiss, Brian (Eds) |
Best SF Volume 6 |
1973 |
SF |
2012/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since I read it, rating a gap-filler |
|
|
Grafton, Sue |
Kinsey Millhone series |
1986 |
Crime |
2012/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Down the line. Capable |
|
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
Aubrey-Maturin #8 |
1981 |
Historical Fiction |
2012/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Keeps up the high standard |
|
|
Le Guin, Ursula |
2001 |
Fantasy/Short Stories |
2012/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Five tales, one great, three
good, and one disappointing |
||
|
Parker, T. Jefferson |
2004 |
Crime |
2012/06 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Assured, capable, none of the characters particularly engaging for me |
||
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
Aubrey-Maturin #9 |
1983 |
Historical Fiction |
2012/07 |
A- |
3.75 |
Own |
Rev |
Exotic locations and people, interesting twists of plot, fascinating historical perspectives, and all within an utterly satisfying frame |
|
|
Le Guin, Ursula |
2001 |
Fantasy |
2012/07 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Evocative skills, but this story hinged on some weak plot devices and characters |
||
|
Hamilton, Peter F. |
2010 |
SF |
2012/10 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Some great ideas
better as short story 'what ifs'; juvenile dialogue and perspective |
||
|
FitzSimons, Peter |
2012 |
Historical Fiction |
2012/10 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
A bit
pointless: poor fictional elements impede the fascinating non-fictional ones |
||
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
1915 |
Humour |
2012/11 |
A- |
3.75 |
Own |
Rev |
Postmodern Wodehouse |
||
|
Wake, Nancy |
1985 |
Non-Fiction Autobiography |
2012/11 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
WW2 Australian woman in French resistance: amazing story, prosaic narration |
||
|
Lehane, Denis |
1998 |
Crime |
2012/11 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Flawed, but not the scale problem of previous novels in the series. Killer moral dilemma climax. |
||
|
Webb, Nick |
Wish You Were
Here The Official
Biography of Douglas Adams |
2003 |
Non-Fiction Biography |
2013/01 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
(Years after reading dim
recollection) Surprisingly small output after the initial Hitchhikers trilolgy – although given the ‘increasingly inaccurately
titled’ extras and couple of Dirk Gentleys,
not to Peter Cook levels of unfulfilled promise. Still, maddening levels of
procrastination for his publishers as he enjoyed his fame to hang with his
heroes instead of writing as the deadlines whooshed by (ha, this reminded me
of a quote that it turns out was from the immensely quote-worthy Adams
himself: “I love
deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.”) |
|
|
Chabon, Michael |
2009 |
Non-Fiction (Collected Columns) |
2013/01 |
B |
3 |
Yes |
Rev |
Able, seductive, pretentious. Way more about individual and family experiences than ‘manhood’. |
||
|
Chandler, Raymond |
The High Window |
1942 |
Crime |
2013/02 |
A- |
3.75 |
Own |
No |
Too long since I read it, but this is Chandler, c’mon |
|
|
Larsson, Steig |
Millenium Trilogy 2 |
2006 |
Action |
2013/03 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Yes |
Rev |
Capable thriller, at heart deeply conventional, but originally wrapped heroine |
|
|
Bryson, Bill |
2010 |
Non-Fiction (History) |
2013/03 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Researching and cherry-picking interesting snippets of 19th English lifestyle |
||
|
Rubinstein, Matt |
2012 |
Crime |
2013/03 |
B |
3 |
eBook |
Rev |
Capable writing, cool idea, but the form works as much against as for the book |
||
|
Larsson, Steig |
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Millenium Trilogy 1 |
2006 |
Crime |
2013/04 |
A |
4 |
No |
Rev |
Satisfying, cold, intellectual, brutal, spare, engaging, original |
|
|
Paolini, Christopher |
2002 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
2013/04 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
OK if you haven’t read much fantasy before, derivative, some weaknesses |
||
|
Voigt, Cynthia |
Tillerman Series 3 |
1983 |
Novel (Juvenile) |
2013/05 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Poignant and powerful without
shouting. Moreso because it *doesn’t* shout |
|
|
Leonard, Elmore |
1987 |
Crime |
2013/06 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Leonard knows what he’s doing |
||
|
Croggon, Alison |
2002 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
2013/06 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Competent enough cliché, teen girl daydream, two-dimensiona |
||
|
Tiffany, Carrie |
2005 |
Novel |
2013/06 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Detached narrative, effective historical setting, didactic moral |
||
|
Lehane, Dennis |
1999 |
Crime |
2013/07 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Mostly a great ride, just skirts around another dealbreaking scale flaw, vigilantism oversimplified |
||
|
Eliot, George |
1861 |
Novel |
2013/07 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Not as engaging as Middlemarch, but interesting plot turns, characters and themes |
||
|
Rowling, J. K. |
Harry
Potter and The Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter 5) |
2003 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
2013/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Strengths just about outweigh weaknesses |
|
|
Reilly, Matthew |
Scarecrow
and the Army of Thieves (Scarecrow Book 5) |
2011 |
Action |
2013/09 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Every action/war hero movie as text. That’s, unapologetically, it. |
|
|
Patterson, James |
2005 |
Crime |
2013/09 |
D |
2 |
No |
Rev |
Dumbs down an already simple formula |
||
|
Fleming, Ian |
(Audio Book) |
1953 |
Action (Spy) |
2013/10 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Well narrated, different composition to movies – more romance, less action, darker |
|
|
Feynman, Richard |
What do You
Care What Other People Think? |
2013/10 |
B |
3 |
No |
|||||
|
Walter, Jess |
2006 |
Novel |
2013/10 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Deft enough satire ala Heller, able writing, but it didn’t grip or sting me much past half-way |
||
|
Card, Orson Scott |
2010 |
SF |
2013/10 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Promising opening premise and characters, but descends into silliness and transcriptions of discussions of draft ideas |
||
|
Willis, Connie |
1997 |
SF / Humour |
2013/11 |
B+ |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Light comic SF. Usable Wodehouse characters and settings around passable Dr Who premise |
||
|
Temple, Peter |
2009 |
Crime |
2013/11 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Intelligent, biting, capable – but perhaps only if you need a dark counter to recent overindulgence in things sentimental and twee |
||
|
Rankin, Ian |
1992 |
Short Stories / Crime |
2013/11 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
OK, but short form feels like you’re on fast-forward |
||
|
Smith, E. E. |
1951 |
SF |
2013/12 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Politically/socially juvenile, but fantastic scope and originality |
||
|
Larsson, Steig |
2007 |
Action |
2014/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
A little repetitive, but impressively weaves a final story into the overstory |
||
|
Walter, Jess |
2012 |
Novel |
2014/01 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Flawless integration of characters over different settings and decades, but none that particularly resonated personally |
||
|
Westake, Donald E. |
1967 |
Crime / Humour |
2014/02 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Capable enough humourous playing with crime conventions |
||
|
Rankin, Ian |
2002 |
Short Stories / Crime |
2014/02 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Capable, interesting |
||
|
Hart, John |
2006 |
Crime |
2014/02 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
|||
|
Rozan, S.J. |
2011 |
Crime |
2014/02 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Sum is less than its parts |
||
|
Sabatini, Irene |
2009 |
Novel |
2014/02 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
I could not handle the constant bland short sentences |
||
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
Money for
Nothing |
Humour |
2014/03 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Another welcome episode in the wonderful canon |
||
|
Allbeury, Ted |
1984 |
Thriller – Spy |
2014/04 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
More reflective on the nature of the job and relationships than a thriller |
||
|
Taylor, K. J. |
2009 |
Fantasy |
2014/04 |
C+ |
2.7 |
No |
Rev |
Slightest variation on a massively over-travelled route. Juvenile. 2D |
||
|
Silva, Daniel |
2008 |
Action |
2014/04 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Some OK scene setting, but stereotype dialogue and characters, and offensively shallow morality |
||
|
Kress, Nancy |
SF |
2014/05 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Old school SF without the wafer thin characters |
|||
|
Hammett, Dashiell |
1931 |
Crime |
2014/05 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Fascinating alternative world and spin on heroism |
||
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
Aubrey/Maturin
11 |
1986 |
Historical Fiction (High Seas) |
2014/05 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Just keeps on delivering the goods, extraordinary |
|
|
Leon, Donna |
Commissario Brunetti series |
2004 |
Crime |
2014/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Capable, avoids cliché, original dealing with bureaucratic context … but never soars |
|
|
Christie, Agatha |
1941 |
Crime - spy |
2014/05 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
OK setup, but gets bogged down, hinges on some horribly implausible plot points, and adds insulting characterisation |
||
|
Weeks, Brent |
2008 |
Fantasy |
2014/06 |
C+ |
2.7 |
No |
Rev |
Another failed attempt to mix realism with fantasy; naïve |
||
|
Hall, Rich |
2009 |
Humour / Short Stories |
2014/07 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Wonderfully laconic, entertaining narration around often surprisingly dark subjects |
||
|
McGahan, Andrew |
2000 |
Crime |
2014/07 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Several capable elements, but profundity a bit contrived |
||
|
Kundera, Milan |
2002 |
Novel |
2014/07 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Insight or projection? |
||
|
Le Guin, Ursula K. |
In ‘The Wind’s Twelve Quarters’ |
1964 |
Short Stories / Fantasy / SF |
2014/08 |
A- |
3.7 |
Own |
Rev |
Wonderful evocation of a fantasy legend somehow effectively incorporating SF elements |
|
|
Le Guin, Ursula K. |
In ‘The Wind’s Twelve Quarters’ |
1964 |
Short Stories / Fantasy |
2014/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Clever realisation of an evocative idea |
|
|
Le Guin, Ursula K. |
In ‘The Wind’s Twelve Quarters’ |
1964 |
Short Stories / Fantasy |
2014/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Great key elements already in place in early Earthsea musings |
|
|
Le Guin, Ursula K. |
In ‘The Wind’s Twelve Quarters’ |
1962 |
Short Stories / SF |
2014/08 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Competent early Le Guin magazine time travel ‘what if’; understandably (and unusually) twee |
|
|
Feynman, Richard |
1985 |
NF – Biography |
2014/09 |
A |
4 |
No |
Rev |
A total
pleasure. Deservedly an instant classic
|
||
|
Mitchell, David |
2010 |
Historical Fiction |
2014/09 |
A |
4 |
No |
Rev |
Ably integrated research, rich characters, interesting plot lines, satisfying and engaging from start to finish |
||
|
Shelley, Mary |
1816 |
SF |
2014/09 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Great concept, tedious, shallow execution |
||
|
Willis, Connie |
1992 |
SF / Historical Fiction |
2014/11 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Two concurrent storylines: one mired in triviality and stereotype; the other powerful and affecting |
||
|
Howey, Hugh |
2013 |
SF / Action |
2014/11 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Unapologetically formulaic, but cohesive and engaging |
||
|
Turow, Scott |
2006 |
Historical Fiction |
2014/11 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Unconvinced by the frame, but some powerful characters and battle accounts |
||
|
Sherrill, Steve |
2002 |
Novel (Magic Realism) |
2014/12 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Able ‘Of Mice and Men’ mood, characters, themes; mythic hook largely gratuitous |
||
|
Clarke, Arthur C. |
1953 |
SF |
2015/03 |
A |
4 |
Own |
Rev |
Wow
|
||
|
Tartt, Donna |
2002 |
Crime / Novel |
2015/03 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Impressively
textured characters, yet steadfastly misanthropic
|
||
|
Rozan, S. J. |
1998 |
Crime |
2015/03 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Definitely not
second rate. But not quite first rate either
|
||
|
Joyce, Rachel |
2012 |
Novel |
2015/03 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Endearing, poignant aspects unravel in the last third |
||
|
Hart, John |
2007 |
Crime |
2015/03 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
An Edgar?
Really?
|
||
|
Simseon, Graeme |
2015 |
Novel / Humour (Romance, ASD) |
2015/04 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Cashing in on
the ASD boom, but deftly
|
||
|
16. |
Fleming, Ian |
James Bond #4 |
1956 |
Action |
2015/05 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Occasional moments, but overall farcical, predictable, irritating, pedestrian |
|
Harris, Robert |
1992 |
Action / Historical Fiction |
2015/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Filmic
clichés, but able characterisation and pacing never sacrificed to novel Nazi
hook
|
||
|
17. |
Dan Simmons |
2003 |
Action / SF |
2015/10 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Starts pretentious, but becomes
potent, epic and thrilling |
|
|
18. |
Jodi Picoult |
2001 |
Novel (Teen) |
2015/10 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Hooks for teen girls, but clichéd and a bit glib using difficult content salaciously rather than insightfully |
|
|
19. |
Brooks, Geraldine |
2008 |
Novel/Historical Fiction |
2016/01 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Clever
enough idea competently realised – but not really for me |
|
|
20. |
Adiga, Aravind |
2008 |
Novel |
2016/02 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Able concept and writing, perceptive, but deeply
cynical, and consistently unpleasant company |
|
|
21. |
Donoghue, Emma |
2010 |
Novel |
2016/02 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Competent realisation of a concept, but probably better as short story, or maybe a novella with a sequel |
|
|
22. |
White, T. H. |
1958 |
Fantasy |
2016/04 |
A |
4 |
No |
Rev |
Best to relish 'The Sword in the Stone', and then close the book and move on |
|
|
23. |
Muchamore, Robert |
CHERUB #1 |
2004 |
Action (Spy) |
2016/05 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
Rev |
Effective YA spy fare: not so much for older (or
younger) readers who want texture in characters and settings |
|
24. |
Elton, Ben |
1999 |
Novel |
2016/07 |
B |
3 |
Own |
Rev |
Workmanlike realisation of a usable idea, engaging start and finish, but bogs down in cliché in the middle |
|
|
25. |
Pratchett, Terry |
1989 |
Fantasy / Humour |
2016/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Relished the charmingly silly first half, then it seemed to want us care about the absurd plot |
|
|
26. |
Wahloo, Per |
1964 |
SF / Crime |
2016/09 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Unengaging narration of bland urban dystopia within crime framework |
|
|
27. |
Forsythe, Frederick |
1984 |
Action (Spy) |
2016/09 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
No |
Right wing bias damages stupidity filter |
|
|
28. |
Mosley, Walter |
(Fearless Jones 3) |
|
Crime |
2016/11 |
A |
4 |
No |
Rev |
Ahhh, someone who can write. Assured, individual, but celebrating genre conventions |
|
29. |
Mitchell, David |
2001 |
Novel |
2016/11 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Sum is less than parts: cool elements undermined by implausible and pretentious environment |
|
|
30. |
Parker, T. Jefferson |
Full Measure |
2014 |
Novel |
2016/11 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
No |
|
|
31. |
Turteltaub, H. N. |
The Gryphon’s Skull |
1975 |
Historical Fiction |
2016/11 |
C- |
2.2 |
No |
No |
|
|
32. |
Pullman, Phillip |
(BBC Audiobook Edition) |
2003 |
Fantasy / Juvenile |
2017/01 |
C+ |
2.7 |
No |
Rev |
Probably some original ideas, but I just couldn’t get past the cliché characters, scenarios, and bad writing and dialogue. Bailed early. |
|
33. |
Cook, Thomas H. |
2012 |
Crime |
2017/01 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
Rev |
Pretentious, bland |
|
|
34. |
Bujold,
Lois McMaster
|
(Vol. 1: Beguilement) |
2006 |
Fantasy / Romance |
2017/04 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Teen fantasy/romance, half-decent world building, some OK ideas, some cliché |
|
35. |
Banks, Iain |
2012 |
Novel / (almost crime) |
2017/05 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Capable narration, strong characters deftly weaved into a cleverly paced non-linear crime-ish plot |
|
|
36. |
Burke,
James-Lee
|
2010 |
Crime |
2017/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Competent, but nagging moral flaws, plot weaknesses, and exaggerated characters |
|
|
37. |
Block,
Lawrence
|
2013 |
Crime |
2017/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Much more about urbane, often flirtatious, wit than car chases or suspense |
|
|
38. |
B,
Greg
|
2014 |
SF |
2017/05 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Dispatches
style ground-view narration of Space Marine on old-school SF Mars battlefield
only about a century ahead |
|
|
39. |
Gaiman,
Neil
|
2001 |
Fantasy (Urban) |
2017/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Narrative
strengths overcome plot weaknesses |
|
|
40. |
Clarke,
Susanna
|
2004 |
Fantasy |
2017/09 |
A |
4 |
No |
Rev |
A triumph – plotting, pacing, characters, tone, faery, historical fiction, interplay, humour, tragedy – really enjoyable book. |
|
|
41. |
Ishiguro,
Kazuo
|
The Buried Giant |
2015 |
Novel |
2018/07 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
No |
|
|
42. |
Stringer,
Tricia
|
Table for Eight |
2018 |
Novel / Romance |
2018/07 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
No |
|
|
43. |
Barker,
Pat
|
Double Vision |
2003 |
Novel |
2018/09 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Odd mix of village personalities, PTSD musing, foreboding crime and midlife crisis centred around a kinda daydream romance. I think Baker pushed unnecessarily into soap-opera dramatic extremes as the book went on, but the characters are generally a cut above the usual quality |
|
44. |
Temple,
Peter
|
White Dog |
2003 |
Crime |
2018/10 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Capable, gritty quasi-mythical Australian characters with crime staples (e.g. beaten down sleuth comfortable in high or low culture, knight rescuing swooning damsels). Interesting cultural marker: saw it as a movie before reading it, villain had been changed from standard industrialist to Hillsong preacher – society’s new whipping boy |
|
45. |
Pratchett,
Terry
|
Nation |
2008 |
Fantasy |
2019 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Some good moments undermined by gratuitous preaching |
|
46. |
Horowitz, Anthony
|
2018 |
Action (Spy) |
2019 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Nah, stick to early Fleming writing Bond |
|
|
47. |
Ridker,
Andrew
|
The Altruists |
2019 |
Novel |
2019 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Somewhat coldly narrated character studies of Boston middle class family characters |
|
48. |
Pratchett, Terry and Baxter, Stephen
|
(Audiobook) |
2012 |
SF |
2019 |
C- |
2.2 |
No |
No |
Very little Pratchett here. Moderately workable idea of parallel earths, but ill-disciplined pace – long, uninspired tangents |
|
49. |
Banks,
Iain
|
2013 |
Novel |
2020 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Able (Banks is a writing legend), but too cynical for me |
|
|
50. |
Bujold,
Lois McMaster
|
2003 |
Fantasy |
2021/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Strong character transformative finish outweighs common stylistic weaknesses |
|
|
|
Pinsker, Sarah |
2019 |
SF / Novel (Music) |
2021/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Very impressive realisation of idea, lots of great craft but narration and dialogue don’t soar |
|
|
|
Block, Lawrence |
Matt Scudder 17 |
2011 |
Crime |
2021/01 |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Rev |
Bold deliberate dropping of some understandably popular conventions. Very capable, solid, impressive. Doesn’t soar. |
|
|
Hamilton, Steve |
2017 |
Crime |
2021/05 |
C |
2.5 |
No |
No |
By
the numbers utter movie cliché characters and plot
|
|
|
|
Aster, Paul |
Travels in the Scriptorium |
2006 |
Novel |
2021/04 |
C+ |
2.7 |
No |
No |
More
style/thought experiment than engaging story. They don’t have to be mutually
exclusive – see Calvino.
|
|
|
Chiang, Ted |
Stories of Your Life and other |
2002 |
SF Short Stories |
2021/06 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Capable
enough ‘What ifs’, although nothing got my pulse racing, or my empathy
|
|
|
Banks, Iain |
Transition |
2009 |
SF |
2021/07 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Reverse
synergy: lots of Banks elements, but I wasn’t
engaged
|
|
|
Hammett, Dashiel |
Lost Stories |
2005 |
Crime |
2021/04 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
As
much biography as stories – did I really want to know his decline from
integrity and innocence?
|
|
|
Bourke, James Lee |
Robicheaux |
2018 |
Crime |
2021/09 |
C+ |
2.7 |
No |
No |
Not
sure if it was me or Bourke, but I lost interest fairly early. Bailed.
|
|
|
Gemmell, David |
(Rigante #3) |
2001 |
Fantasy |
2022/06 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
Mythical badasses, villains and heroes,
but pervaded by (relatively) nuanced, even inspiring morality |
|
|
Leonard, Elmore |
Be Cool |
1999 |
Crime |
2021 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
No |
Disappointing |
|
|
Temple, Peter |
2007 |
Crime |
2022/06 |
B |
3 |
No |
Rev |
Maybe good if I had have read in publication order, but not when I’ve already done a lot of Temple books and TV |
|
|
|
Grafton, Sue |
H is for Homicide |
1991 |
Crime |
2022 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Engaging variation in a consistent series |
|
|
Harper, Andy |
Mr and Mrs Soccer |
2004 |
Non-fiction Biography |
2020 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Thorough, open Les Murray and Johnny Warren retrospective |
|
|
Gemmell, David |
Waylander (Drenai #3) |
1986 |
Fantasy |
2018 ? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Too long since I read it, rating based on trend with other Gemmels |
|
|
Gemmell, David |
Sword in the Storm (Rigante #1) |
1998 |
Fantasy |
2017 ? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Too long since I read it, rating based on trend with other Gemmels |
|
|
Clarke, John |
Great Interviews of the Twentieth Century |
1990 |
Humour |
2015 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Simultaneously dated and timeless |
|
|
Cook, Thomas H. |
The Murmur of Stones |
2006 |
Novel |
2018 ? |
C+ |
2.7 |
No |
No |
Too long since read, I could be wrong, but I think it was ponderous and pretentious |
|
|
London, Jack |
The Sea Wolf |
1904 |
Action |
2017 ? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Too long since read. Deserves reread. Dying London sets up dramatic scenario to explore opposing values he’s contradictorily convinced by and dismissive of: pragmatism/altruism, book vs. street-learning |
|
|
Parker, T. Jefferson |
Renegades |
2009 |
Crime |
2016 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since I read it, rating a gap-filler |
|
|
Howey, Hugh |
Shift |
2013 |
SF |
2016 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since I read it, rating a gap-filler |
|
|
Wolfe, Gene |
Starwater Strains |
2005 |
SF Short Story Anthology |
2016 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since I read it, rating a gap-filler |
|
|
Parker, Jefferson |
Black Water |
2003 |
Crime |
2016 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since I read it, rating a gap-filler. I vaguely recall that it relied too much on a prequel, didn’t stand alone so well |
|
|
LeGuin, Ursula K. |
The Farthest Shore (Earthsea #3) |
1972 |
Fantasy |
2012/06 |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Too long since I read it, rating a gap-filler |
|
|
Brickhill, Paul |
Reach for the Sky |
1954 |
NF Biography |
1978 ? First Read 2015 ? 2nd |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
No |
Too long since read, but amazing story |
|
|
LeGuin, Ursula K. |
The Tombs of Atuan (Earthsea #2) |
1970 |
Fantasy |
1970s ? 2nd 2006 ? 3rd 2010 ? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Too long since read. Vague that it’s layered/textured. Too slow moving to keep my primary aged kids engaged after they enjoyed book 1 (my deliberate foil to the cheap magic of Hogwarts?) |
|
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
The Nutmeg of Consolation Aubrey/Maturin #14 |
1991 |
Historical Fiction |
2019 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Just keeps delivering |
|
|
Lee, Tanith |
The Book of the Beast (Paradys #2) |
1988 |
Fantasy |
2013 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since I read it, rating a gap-filler |
|
|
Marsden, John |
The Dead of Night (Tomorrow When #2) |
1994 |
Action War/ Alternative History |
2017 ? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
A while ago, but I think it was a decent sequel to the impressive first |
|
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
The Nutmeg of Consolation Aubrey/Maturin #14 |
1988 |
Historical Fiction |
2018 ? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
(Presumably) Just keeps delivering |
|
|
Simpson, Dorothy |
Last Seen Alive |
1985 |
Crime |
2015 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since I read it, rating a gap-filler |
|
|
Thomas, Rob and Graham, Jennifer |
Mr Kiss and Tell (Veronica Mars #2) |
2015 |
Crime |
2019? |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
No |
Too long since I read it, but vague recollection of disappointment, felt very cash/phone in |
|
|
Kerr, Katherine |
A Time of Exile (Westlands #1) |
1991 |
Fantasy |
2018 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since I read it, but I suspect deeply ‘OK’: cool underlying concept, but only reasonably realised |
|
|
Howard, Robert E., Nyberg, Bjorn, and de Camp, L Sprague |
Conan the Avenger |
1974 |
Fantasy |
2016 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since I read it, but I think it may have borne out the theory that Nyberg and de Camp wrote lesser derivatives packaged with snippets of Howard to milk Conan’s popularity |
|
|
Banks, Iain |
The Wasp Factory |
1984 |
Novel |
2017 ? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Too long since read, but Banks’ first, and suspect well written with some brutally well evoked shocking reveals and dark humour |
|
|
Gemmell, David |
The King at the Gate (Drenai #2) |
1998 |
Fantasy |
2017 ? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Too long since I read it, rating based on trend with other Gemmels |
|
|
Wodehouse, P.G. |
The Clicking of Cuthbert (Golf #1) |
1922 |
Humour Golf short stories |
2018 ? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Probably worth more but I read it too long ago to say |
|
|
LeHane, Dennis |
Coronado |
2006 |
Short Stories |
2016 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since I read it, rating a gap-filler |
|
|
Leonard, Elmore |
When the Women Come Out To Dance |
2002 |
Short Stories |
2018 ? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Probably worth more but I read it too long ago to say |
|
|
O’Rourke, P.J. |
All the Trouble in the World |
1994 |
NF Essays ? |
2016 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Probably worth more but I read it too long ago to say |
|
|
Hornby, Nick |
Fever Pitch |
1992 |
NF Biographical |
2015 ? |
B |
3 |
Own |
No |
Probably worth more but I read it too long ago to say |
|
|
Box, C.J. |
Cold Wind (Joe Pickett #11) |
2011 |
Crime |
2017 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since read. Not quite as intelligent as it’s trying to be? Redneck pleasing (alternative energy is the devil)? |
|
|
Pérez-Reverte, Arturo |
The Queen of the South |
2002 |
Action |
2018 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since read. Too formulaic – made for movie, especially the ludicrous final scene |
|
|
Bear, Greg |
Queen of Angels |
1990 |
SF |
2016 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since read. Maybe worth more, maybe less – Bear is inconsistent |
|
|
Fry, Stephen |
The Fry Chronicles |
2010 |
NF Autobiograpy |
2019 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since read. More nuance valid, but the lasting impression was that here Fry had been a bit taken in by the ludicrous levels of adoration accorded him |
|
|
Gemmell, David |
Dark Prince (Greek Series #2) |
1991 |
Fantasy / Historical Fiction |
2012 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Probably worth more but I read it too long ago to say |
|
|
Walter, Richard |
Anson’s Voyage Around the World |
1748 |
NF |
2009/07 |
A |
4 |
e-book |
No |
Up there with Diaz’ Conquest, just a phenomenal eye-witness story. Led here by O’Brian’s Golden Ocean, for once what you think is exaggerated fiction is actually reduced (he probably thought if he did the whole truth it would strain credulity too much!) |
|
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
The Golden Ocean |
1956 |
Historical Fiction |
2014 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
More a curiosity. An O’Brian exercise setting up his peerless Aubrey-Maturin masterpiece. Head to his source, Walter’s eye-witness account of Anson’s staggering voyage |
|
|
Hamilton, John |
Goodbye Cobber, God Bless You |
2004 |
NF History |
2008 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Almost certainly worth more, too long since I’ve read it. A gift from the best teacher I had, after I spent a year or two teaching in his History faculty. So of course it’s higher quality history – lots of sources allowed to speak for themselves |
|
|
Abraham, Daniel |
The Dragon’s Path |
2011 |
Fantasy |
2015 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since I read it, rating a gap-filler |
|
|
Dozois, Gardner |
The Year’s Best Science Fiction Eighth Annual Collection |
1991 |
SF |
2009 ? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Based on high rating for the 9th Collection, too long since I’ve read it |
|
|
Barker, Pat |
2018 |
Historical Fiction ? |
2022/07 |
B- |
2.75 |
No |
No |
Pedestrian retelling of Illiad from female POV |
|
|
|
Dick, Phillip K. |
Paycheck and other
stories |
1953 - 1973 |
SF Short Stories |
2012? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Too long since read, guessed rating, I think it’s worth another look |
|
|
Brown, Dan |
The Da Vinci Code |
2003 |
Action |
2013? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since read. Fluff, but I can’t remember how enjoyable or not. Hardly Brown’s fault that idiots wanted to grant historical credibility to an openly far-fetched invention. |
|
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
Clarissa Oakes Aubrey-Maturin #15 |
1992 |
Historical Fiction |
2020 ? |
A- |
3.75 |
Own |
No |
Too long since read, but dim recollection says predictably satisfying historical characters - interesting, layered, admirable, not revised to fit contemporary values that would have been alien, objectionable, incomprehensible to them. Perhaps more ambitious this time focussing on a complex female character (rough lower class background – and of course never to be seen as more than servant herself and her betters – who are our protagonists – but also intelligent, worldly, navigating her world without the luxury of certain morals) |
|
|
Brin, David |
The Postman |
1985 |
SF |
2015 |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Perhaps worth more, too long since read. Dystopic, post-apocalyptic but heroic? |
|
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
The Thirteen-Gun Salute Aubrey-Maturin #13 |
1989 |
Historical Fiction |
2018 ? |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Too long since read, but, c’mon, it’s O’Brian, it’s gonna be good |
|
|
LeGuin, Ursula K. |
The Wind’s Twelve Quarters |
1975 |
SF / Fantasy Short Stories |
2014/08 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
Rev |
See my specific reviews of four of the nine stories in this collection. This rating an average for the whole thing. |
|
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
The Surgeon’s Mate Aubrey-Maturin #7 |
1979 |
Historical Fiction |
2011 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Too long since read, but, c’mon, it’s O’Brian, it’s gonna be good |
|
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
The Commodore Aubrey-Maturin #17 |
1994 |
Historical Fiction |
2021 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Too long since read, but, c’mon, it’s O’Brian, it’s gonna be good |
|
|
O’Brian, Patrick |
The Yellow Admiral Aubrey-Maturin #18 |
1996 |
Historical Fiction |
2021 |
B+ |
3.5 |
Own |
No |
Relax, you’re in good hands |
|
|
Saberhagen, Fred |
Mindsword’s Story: The Sixth Book of Lost Swords |
1990 |
Fantasy |
2016? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
I used to say ‘consistently good’ series, now I’m less sure. Too long since read |
|
|
Saberhagen, Fred (Ed.) |
An Armory of Swords |
1995 |
Fantasy |
2017? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Too long since read, but I seem to (perhaps erroneously) remember this being a pretty average cash in |
|
|
Howard, Robert E., de Camp, L. Sprague, Carter, Lin |
Conan Sphere #3 |
1967 |
Fantasy |
2016 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
Own |
Perhaps the 3rd of de Camp’s messy cashing in editions, modifying Howard, adding pastiches. Includes three perhaps tampered with Howards (original versions in ‘Coming of Conan the Cimmerian’) plus others. |
|
|
Howard, Robert E., de Camp, L. Sprague, Carter, Lin |
Conan the Wanderer Sphere #8 |
1967 |
Fantasy |
2016 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
Own |
Perhaps the 8th of de Camp’s messy cashing in editions, modifying Howard, adding pastiches. Includes two perhaps tampered with Howards (original version of ‘The Devil in Iron’ in ‘Coming of Conan the Cimmerian’) plus others. |
|
|
Elton, Ben |
High Society |
2002 |
Novel |
2018 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Probably deserves higher rating, but too long since read. Another issue based Elton. I think it was capable – around the ‘what if’ of decriminalising drugs, but I think there’s also some poignant and ugly stuff about the nature of politics |
|
|
Temple, Peter |
An Iron Rose |
1998 |
Novel |
2019 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
No |
Probably deserves better, but too long since read. Loved my intro to Temple, but perhaps finding too many similarities between books |
|
|
O’Rourke, P.J. |
Age and Guile Beat Youth, Innocence and a Bad Haircut: 25 Years of P.J. O’Rourke |
1995 |
Humour -Arrticles |
2017 ? |
B |
3 |
No |
Own |
Might give it another look some time. When he’s good he’s very good |
|
|
Gemmell, David |
Hero in the Shadows Drenai #9 |
2000 |
Fantasy |
2014 ? |
B+ |
3.5 |
No |
Own |
I might be overpraising – too long since read. The blurb on the cover is appalling, cliché overload: ‘insatiable appetite’, ‘foul minions’, ‘wreak a horrible vengeance’, ‘only a rag-tag group of unlikely heroes’, ‘a warrior woman as fierce as she is beautiful’, ‘a timeless evil’… Stone me, it’s like satire. |