Review: The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains by Neil Gaiman (ill. by Eddie Campbell)

Synopsis: The text of The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains was first published in the collection anthology Stories: All New Tales edited by Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio. This gorgeous full-color illustrated book version was born of a unique collaboration between writer Neil Gaiman and artist Eddie Campbell, who brought to vivid life the characters and landscape of Gaiman's story. In August 2010, The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains was performed in the concert hall of the Sydney Opera House to a sold-out crowd—Gaiman read his tale live as Campbell's magnificent artwork was presented, scene-by-scene, on large screens. Narrative and art were accompanied by live music composed and performed especially for the story by the FourPlay String Quartet. (from the online description)

Review: With is usual touch of the macabre, Gaiman takes us on a journey through the highlands of Scotland.  Along with his words, we are treated to the murky, dynamic, and stylized art of Eddie Campbell.

Set in a twisted world of dark water and fading sun, full of ghosts and danger, this tale is perfect for a dark and stormy night. It’s a strange tale. Naturally, as the product of the mind of Gaiman, known for his creepy stories.

It reads like a folktale, with the central character being a strange little man of possible other-worldly origins, with a dark purpose that brings him to the Cave of the title. From there, he will find the tools he needs to enact his revenge. The plot twists, dark deeds are done, and you aren’t sure where the tale will lead you.

The art is fantastic – part graphic novel, part sketches, with a muted tones and rough lines. It matches the story perfectly.

Worth reading if you enjoy haunting dark tales with ghoulish art. 

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 978-0-06-228214-9
Year Published: 2010 / 2014
Date Finished: 6-5-2018
Pages: 74

Review: The Grimm Legacy by Polly Schulman

Synopsis: Elizabeth has just started working as a page at the New York Circulating Material Repository - a lending library of objects, contemporary and historical, common and obscure. And secret, too - for in the repository's basement lies the Grimm Collection, a room of magical items straight from the Grimm Brother's fairy tales. But the magic mirrors and seven-league boots and other items are starting to disappear. And before she knows it, she and her fellow pages - handsome Marc, perfect Anjali, and brooding Aaron - are suddenly caught up in an exciting, and dangerous, magical adventure. (from the online description)

Review: As a fan of anything fairy tale related (particularly any story where fairy tales are real) and a lover of libraries, this book held much interest for me.

Sadly, it did not live up to my anticipation. The world-building, while intriguing, was a bit…off? The idea of a library full of magic items held promise, but the idea that people could “check-out” these dangerous and deadly items made little sense to me. Even more so was the idea that they let teenagers run around with these items. This seemed implausible to me and I just wasn’t able to get into the story as I’d hoped. Perhaps it could have been saved by other elements, but flat characters, trite villain, and fast-paced (albeit predictable) plot round out the narrative.

As for the romance, while a bit cliché, held nothing questionable. It was sweet, built on friendship, and had a touch of honesty and realism about it that I found refreshing. Nothing more than a bit of kissing between consenting people, and that was described using rather tame language.

Over-all, this was an average read. If you enjoy fairy tales, you may enjoy this read, but it wasn’t for me. 

Bookmarks: 3 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 978-0-545-43652-6
Year Published: 2010
Date Finished: 6-3-2018
Pages: 325

Review: The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey

Synopsis: Helva had been born human, but only her brain had been saved—saved to be schooled, programmed, and implanted into the sleek titanium body of an intergalactic scout ship. But first she had to choose a human partner—male or female—to share her exhilirating excapades in space! Her life was to be rich and rewarding . . . resplendent with daring adventures and endless excitement, beyond the wildest dreams of mere mortals. Gifted with the voice of an angel and being virtually indestructable, Helva XH-834 antipitated a sublime immortality. Then one day she fell in love! (from the online description)

Review: This novel is actually a collection of five short stories, written between 1961 and 1969, strung together into a coherent single narrative. Although slightly choppy to read due to that, it does come together in the end, with each single episode contributing something the ending that matters.

This book also begins the series, some written by McCaffrey.

As for the story itself, it is excellent speculative fiction. What if the minds of people with severe physical disabilities could be taken from the body and put into computers, or in Helva’s case, into a space ship. How would those very real human emotions withstand a life so outside human experience?

Intriguing, with fast-paced plot, complex characters, and a balance between action and thought, this book is classic sci-fi at its best. At the center is Helva’s search for a true partner, her “Brawn” and what that means to a mind encased in a rocket ship – where walking on a planet is impossible but hurtling through the stars is the norm.

For anyone who enjoy solid sci-fi, this is a must read. 

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 345-24823-6-150
Year Published: 1961-1969 (See Note Above)
Date Finished: 6-3-18
Pages: 248

Review: Witches: Wicked, Wild, & Wonderful ed by Paula Guran

Synopsis: Surrounded by the aura of magic, witches have captured our imagination for millennia and fascinate us now more than ever. No longer confined to the image of a hexing old crone, witches can be kindly healers and protectors, tough modern urban heroines, holders of forbidden knowledge, sweetly domestic spellcasters, darkly domineering, sexy enchantresses, ancient sorceresses, modern Wiccans, empowered or persecuted, possessors of supernatural abilities that can be used for good or evil — or perhaps only perceived as such. Welcome to the world of witchery in many guises: wicked, wild, and wonderful! (from the online description)

Review: A wide-ranging collection of short stories based on witches, this collection will have a story for anyone. Urban fantasy follows Fairy Tale follows Classic Horror. That isn’t to say every story is good. Some are boring, and a few are creepy and disgusting. But the overall average is good, with some rising above. I was unfamiliar with all the authors presented, although several (Tanith Lee, Elizabeth Bear, Ursula K. La Guin) are well-known.

My favorites include Walpurgis Afternoon by Delia Sherman, The Cold Blacksmith by Elizabeth Bear, Mirage and Magia by Tanith Lee (the story that made me buy the book), Lessons with Miss Gray by Theodora Goss, Ill Met in Ulthar by T. A. Pratt, The Way Wind by Andre Norton, and Skin Deep by Richard Parks (My Favorite in the Collection)

If you enjoy good stories about witches, both evil and pure, buy and read this anthology. You won’t be disappointed. 

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards: None (Although many of the authors have won awards)

ISBN: 978-1-60701-294-8
Year Published: 2012
Date Finished: 6-1-2018
Pages: 375

Review: River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life by Richard Dawkins (The Science Masters Series)

Synopsis: A 1995 popular science book by Richard Dawkins. The book is about Darwinian evolution and summarizes the topics covered in his earlier books, The Selfish Gene, The Extended Phenotype and The Blind Watchmaker. It is part of the Science Masters series and is Dawkins's shortest book. It is illustrated by Lalla Ward, Dawkins's wife. The book's name is derived from Genesis 2:10 relating to the Garden of Eden. The King James Version reads "And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads."

River Out of Eden has five chapters. The first chapter lays down the framework on which the rest of the book is built, that life is like a river of genes flowing through geological time where organisms are mere temporary bodies. The second chapter shows how human ancestry can be traced via many gene pathways to different most recent common ancestors, with special emphasis on the African Eve. The third chapter describes how gradual enhancement via natural selection is the only mechanism which can create the observed complexity of nature. The fourth chapter describes the indifference of genes towards organisms they build and discard, as they maximise their own utility functions. The last chapter summarises milestones during the evolution of life on Earth and speculates on how similar processes may work in alien planetary systems. (from the wikipedia page)

Review: This is my first book by Richard Dawkins. After reading the comments, it would appear I lucked-out at reading this first is a good idea, as an introduction to his ideas. I am familiar with some of his ideas, mostly in relation to Atheism, Religion, and Evolution, mostly from watching or listening to his debates.
I was not impressed with this book. I acknowledge part of that was a mis-understanding of what it was about. I expected fewer tangents into honeybees and caterpillars, and more….logic?
He often states “People believe this and it is wrong” but the reasons he gave held no more strength or persuasive power that the arguments he was debating!
Perhaps reading his other works, which are reported to be a more in-depth look at these ideas, will change my opinion. I would hope he has more to offer in the way of logic-based proof for these ideas than what is written in these pages.
As for this book, it is as others say, an excellent introduction to Dr. Dawkin’s ideology and gives a good starting place from which to explore his ideas about the world.

Bookmarks: 2 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 0-465-01606-5
Year Published: 1995
Date Finished: 5-29-18
Pages: 172

Review: Valiant Zeroes and Origins by Multiple (Valiant Comics)

Synopsis:  Gathering one-shot opening stories for some of the greatest Valiant Heros - Harbinger, Shadowman, Archer and Armstrong, Bloodshot, Quantum and Woody, X-O Manowar, Unity, and Punk Mambo.

Review: This is an excellent introduction to the main characters in the Valiant Universe. Some of these are taken from the first issue of those hero's stories and some are preludes to the first issue. If you are a long-time fan of these characters, there will be nothing new in these collection for you. However, if you are interested in exploring a Universe NOT DC or Marvel, and what to learn about these characters, READ THIS.

Valiant characters have a wide range - from off-beat (Quantum and Woody) to Anti-Hero (Shadowman and Bloodshot) to hilarious and heroic (Archer and Armstrong). Punk Mambo is particular unique and I surprised I have not heard about her before reading this.

Be sure to pick this up if you can - you will not regret reading these stories!

Bookmarks: 3.5 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 9781939346582
Year Published: 2015
Date Finished: 5-23-2018
Pages" 155

Review: X-O Manowar Volumes 3-6 by Multiple (Valiant Comics)

 Synopsis: Encompassing the following Volumes:

X-O Manowar Vol. 6: Prelude to Armor Hunters (collects X-O Manowar #23–25)

X-O Manowar Vol. 5: At War With Unity (collects X-O Manowar #19–22)

X-O Manowar Vol. 4: Homecoming (collects X-O Manowar #15–18)

X-O Manowar Vol. 3: Planet Death (collects X-O Manowar #9–14)

Review: As with the earlier volumes, we follow Aric of Dacia as he struggles to find a home for his people. His first action is to take back the land of his birth - despite that fact it currently occupied by modern Italy. The resulting violence causes death for Aric's people - and his own pride leads to even more. The end is not what Aric wants but it is the only one left for him because of his own arrogance. In exchange for land in North Dakota, he works for the US Government, his own people held hostage. The story ends there, but I think we will see that come back to haunt those who threaten his people.

Additionally, there are people hunting the armor - both on Earth and in the Galaxy at large. In Vol. 6 we are introduced to the Armor Hunters - a group with one purpose - to hunt and destroy all the Armors. And they are coming for Aric.

Aric is a flawed, proud, powerful, character. His mistakes cost him. He makes bad choices. He loses. He is not an anti-hero, the shining-white hero, or the dark and evil villain. He is human, with both good and bad. This gives the stories a reality often missing in super-hero tales.

Worth reading, particularly if you are a bit tired of the DC or Marvel Universe.

Bookmarks: 4 of 5 / 3.5 of 5 / 4 of 5 / 4 of 5

Awards: NONE

ISBN: 9781939346087 / 9781939346179 / 9781939346247 / 9781939346407
Year Published: 2013 / 2013 / 2014 / 2014
Date Finished:  5-23-2018
Pages: 132 / 137 / 122 / 125