S
C The Boy Next Door 2009 Novel
I could not handle the constant bland short sentences
B+ The First Book of Swords 1983 Fantasy
Good idea well executed
B+ The Second Book of Swords 1983 Fantasy
Characters and settings a bit 2D (or classic), but originality with Gods and swords, and cracker chaotic finish
B+ The Third Book of Swords 1984 Fantasy
Consistent series
B+ Woundhealer’s Story The First Book of Lost Swords 1986 Fantasy
Consistent series. Clever interaction between differing magical god-forged swords
B- Sightblinder's Story The Second Book of Lost Swords 1987 Fantasy
Disappointing both as episode & continuation
B+ Stonecutter’s Story The Third Book of Lost Swords 1988 Fantasy
Consistent series. Clever interaction between differing magical god-forged swords
B+ Farslayer’s Story The Fourth Book of Lost Swords 1989 Fantasy
Consistent series. Clever interaction between differing magical god-forged swords
B- The Island of the Colour-blind 1996 Travel (Medical; Botany)
Sacks is only as good as his content. This isn’t good content.
B Nausea 1938 Novel
I kept it, but I can’t remember it and have no desire to read it again
B+ The Reader 1997 Novel
Modern German grapples to decide appropriate response to the holocaust
B Katherine 1954 Historical Fiction
Dramatisation of common girl’s actual rise to mistress then wife of a 14th C. Duke
C Frankenstein 1816 SF
Great concept, tedious, shallow execution
B+ Eyewall 1991 SF/Short Story
Able development of a scientific idea into a story
B The Minotaur Takes A Cigarette Break 2002 Novel (Magic Realism)
Able ‘Of Mice and Men’ mood, characters, themes; mythic hook largely gratuitous
B The Stone Diaries 1993 Novel
Undeniably able fictional autobiography, but not my thing
C Moscow Rules 2008 Action
Some OK scene setting, but stereotype dialogue and characters, and offensively shallow morality
B+ Jasper Jones 2009 Novel
Engaging coming of age story, rural 70s Australians amped up to Shakespearian proportions
B+ Hyperion 1989 SF
Space Opera Canterbury Tales
C Phases of Gravity 1989 SF?
Promising much, ultimately delivering pap
B+ Ilium 2003 SF/Action
Starts pretentious, but becomes potent, epic and thrilling
B- Last Seen Alive 1985 Crime
B+ The Rosie Project 2013 Novel/Humour (Romance, ASD)
Cashing in on the ASD boom, but deftly
A- Gray Lensman 1951 SF
Politically/socially juvenile, but fantastic scope and originality
B Last Requests 2000 Short Story
(in ‘Speaking With the Angel’; Ed. Nick Hornby)
Dark humour improvising a monologue as a death-row canteen lady
B The Sound of Thunder
(Sean
Courtney series) 1966 Action/Historical
Fiction
Engaging Boer war action, dubious ‘heroic’ character
B- I’m the Only One 2000 Short Story
(in ‘Speaking With the Angel’; Ed. Nick Hornby)
Vignette of
teenager step to identity
B+ Longitude 1995 NF: Biography/Science History
Capable account of interesting scientific history
B Still More Two-Minute Mysteries 1975 Crime/Puzzle
Find the clue to solve each page long case
A- Of Mice and Men 1937 Novella
Stinging, poignant, bleak, insightful
B+ Treasure Island 1881 Action
Hang on! Action aplenty, high body count
A- The Crystal Cave (Book 1 in the Merlin saga) 1970 Fantasy
Young Merlin enchantingly evoked
A The Hollow Hills (Book 2 in the Merlin saga) 1973 Fantasy
Savouring
patient expectation within a thoroughly engaging and consistent structure
B+ The Last Enchantment (Book 3 in the Merlin saga) 1979 Fantasy
Continues to
capably weave around the Arthurian legend
B And Be A Villain (A Nero Wolfe Mystery) 1948 Crime
Pleasant. Lightly comic. Introduces Wolfe’s nemesis, Zeck
B The Second Confession (A Nero Wolfe Mystery) 1949 Crime
B+ In the Best Families (A Nero Wolfe Mystery) 1950 Crime
Wonderful departure from conventions of series (but read a few other Wolfe’s first)
B Champagne for One (A Nero Wolfe Mystery) 1958 Crime
C Table For Eight 2018 Novel (Romance)
Sad granny fantasy. Seriously, you’re 70 and you still want to base your identity on how sexy you are? Moments of tiny relationship insights in a world of superficiality presented as sophistication. On the (utterly shamelessly promoted) love boat
B+ The Dreaming Jewels 1950 SF/Novella
Mixed treasure: sometimes soars, but climax descends into cliché