5.25.2012
Shadows in Flight
by Orson Scott Card, 237 pgs, hardcoverSeries: spin-off series from Ender's Game; Shadow series #5
Overall Grade: B+
Man, it has been a while since I read something in the Ender-verse. This book focuses on Bean and his three similiarly enhanced offspring on their relativistic voyage, hoping to find a cure before they all die of giantism. And just when things are looking down, lo! they encounter another ship in the vast reaches of space. Whose ship is it? And what secrets is it holding about the Formic species?
Okay, the book wasn't bad. It was short (10 chapters wtf?). And it also got confusing that 2 of the 3 kids are named for other characters (Ender & Carlotta) which can make things really awkward when Bean starts reminiscing. It's also really hard to keep in mind that these hyper-intelligent people are in 6-year-old bodies (aside from Bean). It brings some resolution to the Shadow series, so it's hard to tell if Card is going to continue on with it. I'm almost worried that if he does, he'll rework the canon completely.
Labels: genre: fiction, genre: scifi, media: book, series: Ender's Game, series: Ender's Shadow
5.12.2012
Crucible of Gold
Series: Temeraire book 7
Overall Grade: A
Yes, it has been months since this book came out. Yes, I will use the excuse that I have been busy with classes and "savoring" this book that I only finished it just. Moving along...
'Crucible of Gold' was worth the two year wait. Novik again introduces us to a new continent of dragons - South America - which have their own version of how dragons are incorporated into their culture and society, just like we saw in China & Africa in previous books. This gives Temeraire more IDEAS, which I am sure will come back to bite Laurence in later chapters.
The plot begins with Hammond (who was he? oh yeah - that British diplomat guy from when they were in China) catches a dragon flight down from China to Australia (see 'Tongues of Serpents' if this is something unfamiliar) where he deposits himself upon Laurence and Temeraire saying that they will be reinstated to the Dragon Corps and Laurence gets his rank back, if only they go over and help the situation in South America, where the French are sending Tswana (African) dragons over to terrorize the Portugeuse empire in Brazil. Knowing reinstate sounds too good to be true, Laurence & Temeraire set off anyway, picking out a questionable crew from the Sydney before sailing off on the 'Allegiance' with Iskierka, Kulingile, their respective captains and crew.
You can imagine things are going to go well because the route of the Allegiance stops part way across the map at the beginning of the book. Then there's lots of flying, foreign dragons, being stranded on an island, meeting the Inca & their dragons (or should I say, the Inca dragons & their people?), more travel, and a bid to stop the Incan empress from marrying Napoleon. And if you like Granby whumpage? Oh man, stick around! There is plenty physical pain and emotional turmoil to be had for this captain.
By the end it looks like Laurence and Temeraire will be headed back to China, possibly overland?! Are we finally going to see the pair set foot in North America/the United States? Has the Louisiana Purchase even happened in this alternate history? When will the next book come out??
Labels: genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, genre: historical, media: book, series: Temeraire
