P
B Eragon 2002 Fantasy/Juvenile
OK if you haven’t read much fantasy before, derivative, some weaknesses
B California Girl 2004 Crime
Assured, capable, none of the characters particularly engaging for me
B+ The Fallen 2006 Crime
In the ugly crime world, but not of it
B- Full Measure 2014 Novel (Crime sub-plot)
Capable enough snapshot of a young Afghanistan vet returning to rural hardships and divided subcultures, but I couldn’t enjoy the consciously ugly crime (sub)plot
Dumbs down an already simple formula
B Titus Groan (Book 1 of the Gormenghast trilogy) 1946 Fantasy
B+ The Dumas Club 1993 (trans.) Crime
Intelligent, interesting on medieval occult and books
B+ The Flanders Panel 1994 (trans.) Crime
Intelligent, interesting on medieval painting
B+ The Seville Communion 1995 (trans. S. Soto, 1997) Crime
Nice style, strong characters, able plot
B- Captain Alatriste 1996 (trans. M.S. Peden, 2005) Historical Fiction/Action
Disappointing: more jingoism than intelligent historical action
A The Fencing Master 1999 (trans.) Crime
Sophisticated. Stunning climax
B The Leper of Saint Giles 1981 Crime/Historical Fiction
Competent medieval whodunnit
B- Salem Falls 2001 Novel
Hooks for teen girls, but clichéd and a bit glib using difficult content salaciously rather than insightfully
B+ A Song For A
New Day 2019
SF/Novel/Music
Very impressive realisation of idea, lots of great craft but narration and dialogue don’t soar
B- Outnumbering the Dead 1990 SF
Relatively shallow future utopia
C+ Amusing Ourselves to Death 1984 Non-Fiction (Essays)
Some valid attacks on TV undermined by absurd bias
B+ Mort 1987 Fantasy/Humour
Some wonderful ideas and descriptions excuse a dumb climax
B+ Pyramids 1989 Fantasy/Humour
Relished the charmingly silly first half, then it seemed to want us care about the absurd plot
B+ Moving Pictures 1990 Fantasy/Humour
Yeah, another Pratchett. Some amusing bits - a workmanlike effort
B Small Gods 1992 Fantasy/Humour
Solid humour as ever but a bit dodgily preachy
B+ Soul Music 1994 Fantasy/Humour
Competent. Discworld, drugs and Rock ‘n Roll
B+ Jingo 1997 Fantasy/Humour
Competent – Pratchett’s spin on nationalism
B+ The Last Continent 1998 Fantasy/Humour
Standard Discworld novel, with a few Aussie ‘in’ jokes
B+ The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents 2001 Fantasy/Humour
Funny, workmanlike plot, some charming characters, odd anti-Christian allegories
B Nation 2008 Fantasy
Some good moments undermined by gratuitous preaching
and Baxter,
Stephen
C- The Long Earth 2012 SF
Very little Pratchett here. Moderately workable idea of parallel earths, but ill-disciplined pace – long, uninspired tangents
B- The Labyrinth Makers 1970 Crime
Competent plot, pacing; never soars; juvenile/puerile romance
B+ The Shipping News 1993 Novel
Redemptive city to country feelgood story with strong episodes and dialogue
C+ His Dark Materials 2003 (BBC Audiobook Edition) Fantasy / Juvenile
Probably some original ideas, but I just couldn’t get past the cliché characters, scenarios, and bad writing and dialogue. Bailed early.