7.22.2013

 

The Serpent's Shadow

by Rick Riordan, 401 pgs, hardcover
Series: The Kane Chronicles #3
Overall Grade: B

After the last book, Apophis is still threatening the Earth with Chaos (and some magicians are even blaming the Kanes and secretly siding with Apophis). This book drops us right into the action as Carter and Sadie try to save the last scroll that might contain a spell to rid them of Apophis. They fail and are left patching together a plan that requires the questionable aide of the notorious and dangerous ghost of an Ancient Egyptian magician. Oh, and two more characters become god-hosts or whatever they call them.
It seems this is the final book in this series, though there are strong hints at the end that there are other pantheons of gods and future dangers, there is nothing explicitly demanding a new book.

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# posted by Cptn. Suz @ 4:34 PM
 

Machiavelli

by Miles J. Unger, 351 pgs, hardcover
Overall Grade: B-

An enlightening read on the life of Niccolo Machiavelli (best known as the author of The Prince). He actually wrote quite a few political commentaries as well as some poetry and two plays! And while I might dislike the moral relativism that the author properly notes as only one facet of Machiavelli's writings, it was interesting to learn that despite his famous political analyses, Machiavelli actually didn't do too well himself in the public square. He fell in and out of favor with the rulers of Florence several times over his life. He's basically a very good example of why being tactless is a bad idea for your career.
Generally readable, one thing I found annoying with Unger's writing is his repeating of the same phrased points. Sure there are only so many historical sources about Machiavelli for you to draw material from his life about - but you don't have to re-introduce them again and again through out the book!

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# posted by Cptn. Suz @ 4:21 PM

7.18.2013

 

Agatha H and the Airship City

by Phil & Kaja Foglio, 258 pgs, paperback
Girl Genius webcomic/website 
Series: Girl Genius novel #1
Overall Grade: A-

Reading is my number one pastime. The Girl Genius comics happen to be one of my favorite series. So the combination of the two, Girl Genius in prose format, was an obvious winning formula for me :)
This first book in the series basically covers the first 3 volumes of the comics. From Agatha's mugging to her escape from Castle Wulfenbach. I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't read the comics (which you should - YOU SHOULD READ THEM!), but I think fans of the comics won't be disappointed either. Not a mere novelization, in this format the Foglios are allowed to flesh out all the connecting scenes that happen off-panel in the comics, as well as weave in some more of the backstory. We also get a more omniscient viewpoint for the characters and hear more of that they're thinking (and in more detail) than comic format allows.
Still, I don't think the novels could exist without the comics because I think without the background of the comics, it would be very difficult to visualize all the panopoly of clanks, constructs, jaegermonsters, and other creatures that populate this steampunky universe.

Also, I was a teeny bit upset that they changed one of my favorite lines from the comic in the novel.
"Herr Baron! You should get out of here! All of the experiments in the lowers labs have either been let loose or activated, and three of the compartments are on fire."
doesn't have quite project quite the same insane chaos as
"Herr Baron! We need you! All the experiments in the labs have either been let loose or turned ON! And everything's on fire!"

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# posted by Cptn. Suz @ 11:47 AM

7.08.2013

 

The Ocean at the End of the Lane

by Neil Gaiman, 178 pgs, hardcover

Overall Grade: B+

Our unnamed protagonist revisits his childhood neighborhood. Though his old home as long been demolished, he drives to the end of the lane it was on to find the Hempstocks' farm just as he remembers it. He takes a walk down to their pond, and most of the rest of the book is a flashback to his childhood, beginning with the suicide of the opal miner who was boarding at their house and the unwanted attention it brings from unworldly creatures.

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# posted by Cptn. Suz @ 12:26 PM
 

The Sirens of Surrentum

by Caroline Lawrence, 196 pgs, hardcover
Series: The Roman Mysteries XI
Overall Grade: B-

This books sees Flavia & company finally back in Italy. But practically as soon as they arrive they receive a letter from Pulchra (a friend from a previous mystery), who is seeking their help in finding out who is poisoning her mother. So they're off to visit the Villa Limona again, along with a small covey of lustful young men and widows. They, along with Flavia's crush on the head of household Pollius Felix, make for a some what agonizing read, though sometimes humorous as Pulchra tries to teach Flavia how to beautify herself in adult ways.

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# posted by Cptn. Suz @ 11:12 AM

7.01.2013

 

The Information

by James Gleick, 426 pgs, hardcover
Overall Grade: A-

A book I throughly enjoyed as a physics major. Gleick spends a lot of time discussing the evolution of what we consider information, how it's communicated and the meta-information, or the information about information aka information theory. This means there's significant discussion of Charles Babbage and Claude Shannon, two individuals very familiar to my geek heart. At times the narrative goes off on tangents (usually interesting) sometimes into other centuries before looping back on itself. A read I would recommend for fellow scientists and engineers and anyone interested in information itself.

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# posted by Cptn. Suz @ 8:07 AM

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