Sheepfarmer's Daughter

Elizabeth Moon published Sheepfarmer’s Daughter in 1988. Surprisingly it doesn’t feel too different from works published lately. Granted the various descriptions of violence and torture have nothing on something like Abercrombie’s First Law Trilogy. However, virtually nothing is that graphic even today.

Paksenarrion, the titular character, flee’s home and a marriage she does not want. To get well away and have a way of supporting herself she enlists in a mercenary company. The reader follows along as Paks learns more about life and war.

Due to this learning process the major storyline is somewhat slow to develop. Virtually the first half of the novel is Paks learning and experiencing her first campaign. It is only during Paks second year that we encounter the big bad, and the main plotline.
From there the plot still advances slowly, with the action taking place over the course of almost a year. Throughout this Moon manages to mix in bits and pieces of the larger puzzle, a sign of things to come in later volumes.

Like the main plotline the fantasy elements are slow to develop. Early in the story the only magic involved is used to heal, and potions are mentioned. After that almost no magic or hints of magic are mentioned until much later. This is an interesting choice, especially given the time frame this novel came from, when things like Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms were king.

Moon’s writing style is very enjoyable. Though the books covers almost three years, the majority of it focuses on the points of action. The in between times are covered, just not delved into. Moon also uses a good mix of description of the world and people versus the actions and conversations.

While this is an older work it still feels relevant. The only thing that I found less than great is Moon’s choice of using Paks lack of desire for men as a major issue throughout. There were times it made sense to use, but overall the persistence did not full make sense. Perhaps this will come into better focus in later novels. I enjoyed this book, I give it a 3.5/5.

Definitely Dead

Whilst the fifth Sookie Stackhouse novel, Dead as a Doornail, was a major let down, the sixth, Definitely Dead by Charlaine Harris, is right back on track. Sookie’s cousin Hadley has been murdered, an action which apparently was revealed in a short story which makes for a slightly abrupt transition, and Sookie must go to New Orleans to clean up Hadley’s apartment. Sookie had been planning to do this at her leisure, but the Queen of Louisiana (who had been Hadley’s lover) hurries Sookie along.

When this takes place we know there must be a reason beyond just getting some clothes and furniture packed up, and indeed this turns out to be the case. Sookie is dragged yet deeper into Vampire politics, yet again by forces completely out of her control. To complicate things even more, Weres keep attacking Sookie, and she does not know why.

Luckily Sookie’s new love interest, Quinn, is around to take care of her, and since Quinn is a weretiger he is well equipped for the task. The major plotline of the novel is one of the better plotlines yet. Lots of political machinations, intrigue, and danger with major changes and long lasting implications. It is also revealed that Sookie has some fairy blood, and that Claudine is her fairy godmother. However, we don’t know how this will effect things, or what exactly it means.

Another thread that is tied up in this novel involves the Debbie Pelt plotline. This plotline has been drawn out through several novels, and Sookie’s circumstances have changed so much in that time period that the Pelt storyline has really lost touch. Hopefully this is the end of that plotline. Beyond that this is one of the strongest entries thus far. I give it a 4/5.

Dead as a Doornail

Book five in the Sookie Stackhouse series of novels by Charlaine Harris is entitled Dead as a Doornail. This novel starts with a series of attacks on shapeshifters and weres. The police don’t know what to do with this because to them it appears to be a serial killer choosing victims with no apparent link. Eric loans Sam his bartender, the vampire Charles, and Sookie gets dragged into Shreveport pack politics by Alcide.

Calvin Norris, the packmaster of Hotshot, is one of the wounded and Jason is the suspect favored by the Hotshot pack. Which complicates Jason’s fledgling relationship with Crystal Norris. Add to this mix the usual tension between Bill, Eric, and Sookie. Due to these factors this entry in the series revolves more around relationships than perhaps any other novel yet.

To me this book feels like filler. Lots of action happened in Dead to the World so maybe this just feels like a letdown from that. However, a lot of the main plot is actually reaction to things that happened in Dead Until Dark (book 1) and also involves actions throughout the timeline. I also get the sense that quite a few new storylines are being set up in this novel.

Despite the fact that logically I know that at some point plot lines have to be tied up and new ones introduced, I still can’t help but feel that this could have been handled a bit more organically. Dead as a Doornail really feels like it could have been interspersed throughout other novels without any loss to the reader. This is definitely the weakest entry yet in the series. I give it a 3/5.

The Windup Girl

Finally I have read a fairly current novel! Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl, has received quite a lot of acclaim, including being on several “best of 2009” lists. I have been somewhat stuck in series reading of late, and it was pleasant to find myself in a totally new setting and reading a new voice. Especially when the setting and the voice are as good as this.

The Windup Girl takes place sometime in the future. My guess is probably in the range of 100 to 200 years from now, although it is hard to pin it down as there are only vague historical references, and those tend to be to events which have not yet happened. The location is Thailand, one of the few nations to have not fallen prey to the “calorie companies.”

This is a post-apocalyptic story, but the apocalypse was entirely different than any other I have encountered. In short, humanity continued on its current course until fossil fuels were exhausted, and did not find a replacement source of energy before the end. On top of that, corporations began genetically engineering fruits and grains that would only allow for limited growth, before a whole new stock had to be purchased.

As a side effect, food related plagues have sprung up, some engineered and some accidental. Now people exist on short rations, in fear of what eating might infect them with, and with little to no variation in their diet. As the novel begins, an undercover “calorie man” has just discovered a new fruit in the Thai street markets.

Along with genetic manipulation of foodstuffs, scientists have also engineered different creatures such as “chesires” (a bread of cat that can basically become invisible) and megodaunts (some alteration of an elephant that makes it better suited for labor). The titular character, Emiko, is one such genetically “enhanced” person. Known as a New Person (of which there are variations) this particular person was bred by the Japanese for subservience, functionality as a secretary/translator, and of course as a sex toy. The “windup” moniker comes from the fact that her movements are herky jerky, most likely a trait added to forever mark her as other.

Plot wise this is a top notch novel. At no point in the story was there a predictable twist or turn, and there were plenty of those to be had. So many characters are key to the story, that until the very end the reader doesn’t really know who, other than the windup girl, are really the main characters. Even Emiko seems like just a bit player through most of the narrative.

Thematically this novel is very dark, which one could readily guess from its post-apocalyptic nature. Don’t set out reading and expect to feel happy at the end. You can, however, expect a sense of fulfillment and despite the darker moments in the narrative there is still some hope at the end. The one part of the novel that troubles me is the debasement of Emiko. She is used as entertainment at a whore house, wherein one of the other girls truly enjoys inflict pain and emotional trauma upon her before an audience. This is key to the novel, and I don’t have a problem with its use as a plot point, but it is just sad to me that things like this can and do happen.

That being said it points to a major theme in the novel, that of people continually preying on the perceived weaknesses of those around them. This is the central issue around which the entire plot revolves. There were many ways this novel could have gone, and most of those would have been brilliant right up until the end. Thankfully Bacigalupi managed to find the one ending that did not betray the rest of the story. This is truly one of the best novels of 2009, and well worth reading. I give it a 4.75/5.

Just a note: io9's Book Club discussion for the month is on the Windup Girl. Paolo Bacigalupi will be joining the discussion Friday 2/26/10!

Dead to the World

Life gets pretty rough for Sookie at the start of Charlaine Harris' Dead to the World. Bill, whom she is no longer dating, takes off for Peru and Sookie then finds Eric running naked down the road with a case of amnesia. Shortly thereafter Sookie’s brother Jason, goes missing. That’s a pretty rough couple of days!

In this entry into the Sookie-verse, we get to meet some witches (good and bad), a fairy, and a whole bunch more shifters and Weres. The vampires are attempting to sort out what is wrong with Eric, and the Weres are dealing with an incursion on their territory. Sookie discovers that without his normal personality she really rather likes Eric, and fireworks ensue.

Thus far this is the strongest novel in the series. We already a know a bunch of back-story and lore from the previous books and Harris gives us almost as much more as we already know. Meanwhile we only get a glimpse at Fairies, and a passing reference to the “three worlds.” For me this is a great combination, giving me enough to feel like I’ve learned something and sinking the hook further at the same time.

Action wise, this novel definitely has the most, which is saying something. Strange alliances are required by the end and old enemies reappear. Meanwhile that unrequited Sookie/Eric thing is dealt with, or is it?

As with the previous entries Harris sticks with what works, a fast pace and no extraneous materials. These are the ingredients to a true page turner. Also key are questions both answered and raised. I truly enjoyed this novel. I give it a 4/5.

Making Money

Moist von Lipwig is, once again, up to questionable good in Terry Pratchett’s Making Money. Since the Post Office and the Clacks are now both running smoothly, Moist finds himself getting a little bored. Luckily for Moist, Vetinari has a new scheme in mind. The chairperson, Topsy Lavish, of one of Ankh Morpork’s banks is about to die and Vetinari uses this as an opportunity to overhaul the banking system.

Moist goes at this with his usual zeal and forward thinking. Unfortunately, the rest of the Lavish family does not want anything to do with what will spell the end of their easy going days. Enter Cosmo Lavish, the step-son of Topsy, who believes he has the real rights to the bank, and also is attempting to not only usurp Vetinari, but in fact become him.

Pratchett really has something special going with the Moist character. Moist fits perfectly into what Pratchett does best, that being poking fun at reality. Since Moist is ostensibly now a good guy, but with a checkered past, he can get away with a lot of slightly ambiguous things, which characters like Captain Carrot or Commander Vimes could not.

The secondary characters in this novel are also among the best that Pratchett has created. Mr. Bent the lead cashier, whose brain works best on number crunching and is devoted to the “gold standard” but whose past is shrouded in darkness is a brilliant anti-Moist. Cosmo’s descent into Vetinari-ness (insanity) is quite amusing as well. The chairman of the bank, Mr. Fusspot, and his new “toy” are also enough to bring an instant laugh.

This is definitely one of the better forays into the Discworld in quite some time. Plenty of political intrigue, misguided golems, and of course some Igor related mishaps. The novel makes you think about what really make’s Money valuable. I give this novel a 4.5/5.

Club Dead

The third Sookie Stackhouse novel, Club Dead by Charlaine Harris, starts out with Sookie and Vampire Bill on the outs. This is because Bill has left Sookie for his old vampire flame Lorena. Eric of course attempts to use this situation to his advantage in his ongoing attempt to bed Sookie. What gets Sookie to play along is the fact that Bill is being held hostage and tortured.

The majority of this novel takes place in Jackson, Mississippi and involves the vampire King of Mississippi. Now if you watch True Blood the vampire royalty was already revealed in season two, in the novels this is the first mention of the power structure above Area Sheriff (Eric’s rank). Essentially Bill’s captivity is a power struggle between the King of Mississippi and the Queen of Louisiana (although the Queen is kept in the dark because Eric doesn’t want to face her wrath).

We are introduced to Alcide, a werewolf in Eric’s debt, who is Sookie’s daytime escort/protector. Club Dead is the name of the Club in Jackson where Sookie and Alcide go to investigate using Sookie’s telepathy. Through Alcide we get a better look at the werewolves in the Sookie-verse and also learn more about shape-shifters. We also encounter a werewolf biker gang, and the vampire Bubba also plays a large role.

This novel differs from the previous two in that since Sookie is mad at Bill she is allowing herself to have feelings/sexual desires for Eric, and also Alcide. This changes the dynamic of the books quite a lot. Again the majority of this novel, like the last, occurs outside of Bon Temps so most of the characters from Dead Until Dark only have brief appearances, and instead we get to visit a whole new cast.

Harris stays with what works for these novels. They are short and fast reading. The story stays focused on the plot and the whole novel really only covers a few days time. I like the fact that throughout the series each novel gives us just enough more information about the supernatural community to keep us hooked, but only just, so that you really want to start the next book to get a that little bit more.

The one thing I dislike about this novel is a scene in which Bill, who has been starved and tortured, wakens in a tight space with Sookie and essentially rapes her before coming to full alertness. What I find odd is that after this happens Sookie more or less just moves on, and apparently does not suffer any emotional turmoil over it. However, other than that I enjoyed my brief time with this novel. I give it a 3.5/5.

Eclipse

Some of you must be wondering why I would even bother reading Eclipse (or any of Stephenie Meyer’s novels) much less writing a review. The answer is this: I always endeavor to be an ambassador for reading, especially when it comes to stories in the SciFi and Fantasy genres. That being said I believe that any book that gets people to read, especially inside the genre is important for that reason, and I should be familiar with said book(s) so if I am talking with someone who has read it I have a starting point to hopefully get that person into some other genre novels.

In both Twilight and New Moon Meyer had a tendency to reuse the same descriptions and phrases over and over again so that by the time you reached the end of the novel you never wanted to read those particular phrases ever again. Thankfully, either just in learning a bit more about writing or maybe under the influence of a good editor by the time Meyer wrote Eclipse she had curtailed this problem to a large extent. In fact if those phrases were not already etched in my memory I probably would not have even noticed them in Eclipse.

Twilight was a fun read, not much too it, but fun. For some reason it is a story that, even though it has flaws, you want to keep reading. New Moon, in my opinion is a wasted book. Having gotten to the end of Eclipse I know why New Moon was written, but I believe that with a little work Eclipse could have been the second novel and very little would have been lost. By this I mean that there is no reason to drag out the Victoria storyline through two whole novels.

I understand Meyer’s need to establish the werewolves and Bella’s relationship with Jacob, but at the same time I feel that didn’t deserve an entire novel. Due to the fact that this build up was given a whole novel the actual plot around it is very weak. Basically nothing in the Victoria storyline is advanced and all we really get is Bella being sullen and depressed and Edward acting like a jackass out of over protectiveness. Essentially all that was established in New Moon was the threat of the Volturi and the Jacob/Bella “relationship.”

Eclipse is the first novel where I think Meyer really found herself as a writer. This novel has quite a lot of action, and provides us with a lot of back-story which really fleshes out members of the Cullen tribe and provides information on the werewolves and the Quileute tribe. Like I mentioned before Meyer seems to have realized that she needed to use some different descriptors and expand the vocabulary used in the book. Plus there is a real imminent threat, with tension that builds to a strong climactic battle.

There are still a few problems I have with the novel and the story in general. First the concept of werewolf “imprinting” is a little weird, especially when it happens with a two year old (where did Meyer come up with this stuff? She even claims to be a “straight-laced” member of her religion). However the real problem I have is that Bella at first has an issue with it, I mean this is essentially what she and Edward did with each other, except without the apparent biological imperative built into the werewolf DNA.

Two issues Bella can’t get over are her age and getting married. These are issues that I find asinine and serve no purpose in the plot. In essence they are just added drama. Bella gets practically spastic ever time she thinks about the fact that she is going to turn a year older, in this case heading toward the dreaded old age of 19. This is because she will now be two whole years older than Edward was when he became vampire. Somehow this is the most awful thing Bella can imagine, other than being married. Now why it’s ok to be made undead and spend eternity with Edward, but it’s absolutely the worst thing imaginable to marry the guy I will never be able to comprehend. Maybe I just can’t understand because it’s one of the many mysteries of the female mind.

At the very end of Eclipse Meyer includes, for the first time a Jacob POV chapter, and in my opinion it is the strongest chapter in the series thus far. Eclipse is Meyer’s strongest novel to this point. It is an enjoyable read, despite the issues I have with it. I give it a 3.5/5.

In case you care I would give Twilight a 3/5 and New Moon a 2/5.