Author: Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder

Imperial Radch Trilogy – Book 3: Ancillary Mercy – By Ann Leckie

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , 1 Comment

Jared,

This was on my list of series to finish. Sadly, it looks like there will be another series set in the same universe set to start this Fall. Oh well, I’ll just have to read and finish that one too.

ancillarymercy.jpgTitle: Ancillary Mercy
Series: Imperial Radch Trilogy; Book 3
Author: Ann Leckie
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: CU, Distant Future, AI, FTL
Synopsis: For a moment, things seemed to be under control for Breq, the soldier who used to be a warship. Then a search of Athoek Station’s slums turns up someone who shouldn’t exist, and a messenger from the mysterious Presger empire arrives, as does Breq’s enemy, the divided and quite possibly insane Anaander Mianaai – ruler of an empire at war with itself. Breq refuses to flee with her ship and crew, because that would leave the people of Athoek in terrible danger. The odds aren’t good, but that’s never stopped her before.
Recommendation: This could have been in the YA section. The style may not be for everyone, it’s basically a gender-less society so a persons sex or sexual preference/orientation are completely ignored.

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Imperial Radch Trilogy – Book 3: Ancillary Mercy – By Ann Leckie

Anthology Thursday Postponed

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder4 Comments

Just a quick note.

I overbooked my time last month and foresee this month being much the same. I have a longtime hobby that I’m trying to get back into and that eats into my “free-time” so something had to give. I’m finding that audio books might let me multitask a bit, but they aren’t my preferred literary medium.

Anthology Thursday will hopefully pick up again in June if I can balance out my time better.

Robert

Anthology Thursday Postponed

Animorphs – Book 2: The Visitor – By K. A. Applegate

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Jared,

There is some deep nostalgia reading this series.

thevisitor.jpgTitle: The Visitor
Series: Animorphs; Book 2
Author: K. A. Applegate
Genre: Science Fiction
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: CU, Modern, Aliens
Synopsis: Morphing is certainly more fun than Sega — you can soar as an eagle and walk as a cat. But being an ANIMORPH is by no means just fun and games. Rachel knew better than anyone. One of her best friends, Melissa, is acting very strange. And it looks like Melissa’s dad, who is also the school’s Assistant Principal, may be connected to evil aliens. Rachel can’t tell Melissa what the ANIMORPHS have learned, but Melissa doesn’t seem interested in talking to Rachel these days anyway. Could Melissa be one of “them?”
Recommendation: Highly recommend this series.

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Animorphs – Book 2: The Visitor – By K. A. Applegate

Dragonlance Legends – Vol 1: Time of the Twins – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , , 1 Comment

Hey Jared,

I’m back in Dragonlance, with the Brother’s Majere. The whole time I was thinking about us as kids talking about these epic characters. If I remember correctly you really liked Caramon. I also recall thinking that, as kids, we were a lot like them…..expect for the sudden but inevitable betrayal part.

timeofthetwinsTitle: Time of the Twins
Series: Dragonlance Legends; Vol. 1
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU, Medieval, Higher Magic, Dragons
Synopsis: Sequestered in the blackness of the dreaded Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthas, surrounded by nameless creatures of evil, Raistlin Majere weaves a plan to conquer the darkness–to bring it under his control. Crysania, a beautiful and devoted cleric of Paladine, tries to use her faith to lead Raistlin from the darkness. She is blind to his shadowed designs, and he draws her slowly into his neatly woven trap. Made aware of Raistlin’s plan, a distraught Caramon travels back in time to the doomed city of Istar in the days before the Cataclysm. There, together with the ever-present kender Tasslehoff, Caramon will make his stand to save Raistlin’s soul. Or so he believes.
Recommendation: Adult, maybe late teens. Any admirer of high fantasy should be familiar with this series.

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Dragonlance Legends – Vol 1: Time of the Twins – By Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Anthology Thursday – Sword & Sorcery – Part 4/4

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Anthology Thursday is a series of posts breaking down and reviewing an anthology every month. Because I need to read more short fiction. This month is The Sword & Sorcery Anthology edited by David G Hartwell & Jacob Weisman.

sword&sorcery

Terrifying barbarians, cunning mages, and daring heroes run rampant through these exceptional examples of the exciting sword and sorcery genre. In “Tower of the Elephant,” Conan takes up jewel thievery but proves to be far better with his sword. “The Flame Bringers” finds antihero Elric infiltrating a band of bloodthirsty mercenaries and outwitting a powerful sorcerer. “Become a Warrior” is the unexpected tale of a child who loses all she holds dear, only to gain unforeseen power and unlikely revenge. Further entries come from early legends such as Jack Vance and Catherine Louise Moore, the next wave of talents including Fritz Leiber and Michael Moorcock, and modern trendsetters like George R.R. Martin, Karl Edward Wagner, and David Drake. This essential, fast-paced anthology is a chronological gathering of influential, inventive, and entertaining fantasy—sure to appeal to action-oriented fans.

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Anthology Thursday – Sword & Sorcery – Part 4/4

Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles – Book 1: The Nixie’s Song – By Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , , 2 Comments

Jared,

I have yet to read the actual Spiderwick Chronicles so I can’t compare. I did enjoy this though and I’m going to track down the rest of the series before reading the main series. There are only 3 books in this spin-off, so that shouldn’t be too hard.

nixiessong.jpgTitle: The Nixie’s Song
Series: Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles; Book 1
Author: Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Youth
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern/Contemporary, Magical Creatures, Faeries, Giants, Nixies
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Nicholas Vargas only thinks his life has been turned upside down after his developer father remarries and moves his new wife and daughter into the soon-to-be completed Mangrove Hollow. But an “expedition” to a nearby lake turns up a little nixie with a giant problem – the huge, lumbering, fire-breathing variety – and it’s up to Nick; his stepsister, Laurie; and his big brother, Julian (plus a familiar face from the original Spiderwick Chronicles) to figure out the best way to stop a host of rampaging giants before all of Florida goes up in smoke.
Recommendation: This book is recommended for younger readers.

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Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles – Book 1: The Nixie’s Song – By Tony DiTerlizzi & Holly Black

The Gatekeeper’s Son – Book 1: The Gatekeeper’s Son – By C. R. Fladmark

Robert @ ReadingOverTheShoulder, , 5 Comments

Jared,

This is the first book to the one I won off Goodreads. Since it was being provided I figured I should do the series right and start here. And I’ll definitely be continuing on, too.

thegatekeepersson.jpgTitle: The Gatekeeper’s Son
Series: The Gatekeeper’s Son; Book 1
Author: C. R. Fladmark
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: YA
ROTS Setting: EU, Modern, Magic
Synopsis: With the help of a mysterious girl, a San Francisco teenager saves his grandfather’s business empire from a ruthless businessman while discovering things about himself and his family that lead him back to ancient Japan and threaten to destroy the life he has always known.
Recommendation: Highly recommended. Teens and adults should both enjoy this.

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The Gatekeeper’s Son – Book 1: The Gatekeeper’s Son – By C. R. Fladmark