M
MACDONALD, George
B Phantastes 1858 Fantasy/Allegory
Sustained dreamlike mood, little
else
B At the back of the North Wind 1870 Juvenile/Fantasy
Too long since I read it – I’m not sure I finished
B+ The Princess and the Goblin 1872 Juvenile/Fantasy
Inspiring or elitist? Higher rating for originality rather than ride
A- The Princess and Curdie 1882 Juvenile/Fantasy
Enchanting
B Lilith 1895 Fantasy/Allegory
Haunting, dreamlike, insightful, confusing, enigmatic
MACDONALD, John D.
B Weep For Me 1951 Crime
Able writing, interesting as
time-piece – particularly on views of women
MANKELL, Henning
B- The Man Who Smiled 1994 Crime
MARSDEN, John
B+ Tomorrow, When the War Began 1993 Novel/Action/Teen
Surprisingly workable war and teen romance/coming of age
hybrid; recognisable Oz kids
MARTEL, Yann
B+ Life of Pi 2001 Novel
Ably written surprising mix of survival story and deceptively persuasive theology
MARTIN, George R. R.
B+ Tuf Voyaging 1978-1985 SF/Short Stories
Some flaws, but one good thriller and a couple of fascinating themes
A+ A Game of Thrones (Book 1 of A Song of Ice and Fire) 1997 Fantasy
Majestic, unpredictable, engaging, striking
B A Clash Of Kings (Book 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire) 1998 Fantasy
Loses direction, often gratuitous, too many world shaking characters
A Steel & Snow (A Storm of Swords 1: Book 3, Part 1 of A Song of Ice and Fire) 2000 Fantasy
Structure still concerning, but some great moments and salient themes
B Blood and Gold (A Storm of Swords 2: Book 3, Part 2 of A Song of Ice and Fire) 2000 Fantasy
Alas: Grand epic bloats to Soap Opera
B- A Feast For Crows (Book 4 of A Song of Ice and Fire) 2007 Fantasy
The Soap-Opera continues
C- Peter Shelley 2000 Short Story
(in ‘Speaking With the Angel’; Ed. Nick Hornby)
Uglily nostalgic depiction of amoral punk adolescent first sex
MAY, Julian
B+ The Many Coloured Land (Book 1 of the Saga of the Exiles) 1981 SF
Wonderfully original and potent opener to ultimately
disappointing series
McCAFFREY, Anne
B Dragonflight 1968 Fantasy
Solid and original enough world creation but McCaffrey always feels elitist to me
McCALL SMITH, Alexander
B+ Tears of the Giraffe 2000 Crime
Charming company in exotic Botswana
McEWAN, Ian
B Enduring Love 1997 Novel
Hitchcock (?) style focus on the psychological effect of a
stalker on an everyman
B+ Amsterdam 1998 Novel
Able, masculine, articulate, incisive (although events are
sensational and finally twee)
B Atonement 2001 Novel/Historical Fiction
Too much setup, evocative war scenes, dubious dénouement
McGAHAN, Ian
B Last Drinks 2000 Crime
Several capable elements, but profundity a bit contrived
McGIRT, Dan
D- Royal Chaos 1990 Fantasy/Humour
Tryhard predictable comedy
McGRATH, Alister (with COLLICUTT McGRATH,
Joanna)
B The Dawkins Delusion 2007 NF / Theology
Able, reasonable, readable
McINTYRE, Vonda N.
B+ The Moon and the Sun 1997 Historical Fiction/SF
Cleverly evoked ‘What If’ SF/French court romance hybrid. Condescending historical revisionism
A Smithereens 2004 Humour
Consistent. Hilarious. Surreal. Uniquely Micallef. Only to be taken in small doses
B Preincarnate 2010 Humour/SF
Several expectedly hilarious moments, but structurally disappointing
MIÉVILLE, China
B King Rat 1998 Action/(Urban) Fantasy
Cool, dark X-men action and mood, bit pretentious, really silly climax
A Puckoon 1963 Humour
Hilarious
B+ Adolf Hitler – My Part in His Downfall (1st of his War Memoirs) 1971 Autobiography/Humour
Silly drunken licentious farting about in basic training
& HOBBS, Jack
B William McGonagall meets George Gershwin: A Scottish Fantasy 1988 Humour
Hit and miss utterly unedited stream of consciousness goonery
B number9dream 2002 Novel
A The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet 2010 Historical Fiction
Ably integrated research, rich characters, interesting plot lines, satisfying and engaging from start to finish
MOORCOCK, Michael
B The Jewel in the Skull (Volume 1 of the Runestaff) 1967 Fantasy
Somewhat darker Leiberish swords and sorcery OK pulp
C The Mad God’s Amulet (Volume 2 of the Runestaff) 1968 Fantasy
Bleak, offensive background, cliché characters, LAZY random plotting
B The
Sword of the Dawn (Volume 3 of the Runestaff) 1968 Fantasy
Somewhat darker Leiberish swords and sorcery
B The
Secret of the Runestaff (Volume 4 of the Runestaff) 1969 Fantasy
Somewhat darker Leiberish swords and sorcery
Assured, professional, raises interesting questions, but not engaging
B Rumpole of the Bailey 1978 Short Stories/Crime
B The
Trials of Rumpole 1979 Short Stories/Crime
B+ RL's Dream 1995 Novel
Original, engaging, confronting
B A Little Yellow Dog (An Easy
Rawlins Mystery) 1996 Crime
Potent, original, capable, sexually puerile
A Fear of the Dark (Fearless Jones) 2006 Crime
Ahhhh, at last, someone who can write. Celebrates conventions, but still a distinctive voice
B- The Last of the Honky-tonk Angels 2003 Novel