by Jane | Nov 27, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley is an interesting little book taking place in Peru in the mid-19th century. It focuses on Englishman Merrick Tremayne, an employee of the India Company, who is sent on an expedition with his colleague Clem Markham. They are set to gather cutting from chichona trees, which produce malaria-curing quinine. This is a dangerous expedition because the Peruvians have declared a monopoly on these trees and will kill anyone who tries to take them out.
So far, this description reads more like an historical novel than fantasy, but there are elements of native beliefs and superstitions that enter into the story. Even before leaving England, Merrick encounters these elements through some specimens his grandfather had brought home years earlier, the most unlikely of them a statue which seems to move. When Merrick reaches his destination in Peru, he sees more of these statues and comes to understand that these are considered sacred, both by the villagers and Raphael, the village priest and Merrick’s native guide.
Because the book starts out like the writing of a 19th century English adventurer, the reader may have trouble connecting to the fact that it is labeled as a fantasy. And truth be told, it doesn’t fit any definition of fantasy which I would normally read. However, there are engaging characters, a hint of mystery throughout, and a poignancy in the issues dealt with day to day by the Peruvians. These attributes make it well worth a read.
by Jane | Nov 10, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
A Gathering of Ravens by Scott Oden is the tale of Étain, a Saxon woman, and her encounters with Grimnir, a creature from Norse mythology. It is set in the 10th and 11th centuries, spanning locations from Denmark to England to Ireland. Early in the story, Étain is kidnapped by Grinmir to help him in his quest for revenge against another creature, known as Half-Dane.
I enjoyed the first half of the book, as Grinmir dragged Étain from Denmark through a spiritual gate into England. It was when the story shifted to Ireland that I lost interest. In what Oden calls “Book 3”, the reader is introduced to several more characters, all with hard-to-pronounce names, who are engaged in some sort of civil war for control of Ireland. The problem was that at this point I was just reading words, getting no enjoyment because I didn’t know who to root for. Should I be sympathetic for the man Grimnir wants dead or hope that he succeeds and kills him?
The only truly likeable character in this book is Étain, and after we catch up to her, she makes what I believe are questionable choices, taking her further and further away from her original goal of spreading Christianity to the Danes. And while characters’ goals can certainly change throughout the course of a book, I saw no rational reason for her to make the choices she did.
A Gathering of Ravens is well-written and the first half had me very engaged in the world of pre-Norman England. But because I was so disappointed in the second half, I cannot recommend this book.
by Jane | Oct 21, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
The Punch Escrow by Tal M. Klein takes place in 2147 and focuses on the idea of human teleportation. In Klein’s world, there are no governments like we have today — everything is run by corporations, one of which is International Transport in charge of all teleportation. Near the beginning of the book, Joel Byram finds himself prisoner in a conference room. After a brief chapter about his captivity, Klein takes us back to explain how Joel got there before moving forward to tell us how he handles his situation.
If this was Star Trek, I would say this book revolved around the result of a transporter accident, but there’s more to the book than that. There are a couple of groups opposed to human teleportation on religious and ethical grounds who are very present in this scenario. There is also the wrinkle that Joel’s wife Sylvia works for International Transport and is involved in research which would have these fringe groups even more up in arms.
The Punch Escrow is written in first person from Joel’s point of view, and the voice is one of confusion combined with sardonic humor and desperation. That makes it quite fun to read. The only oddity about the writing is the use of footnotes (sometimes quite lengthy) explaining the science referred to in the narrative. While I found much of this interesting, I also found it distracting, since it took me out of the story. For me, an appendix with this information would have been preferable.
That aside, I really enjoyed reading the book. I felt for Joel and his predicament and wanted nothing more than for things to work out for him. What more could you want from a book? Pick up The Punch Excrow. It’ll knock you out.
by Jane | Sep 25, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland combines physics, magic, and time travel into a very exciting novel you won’t want to put down. It’s told in several different perspectives through a number of documents. It starts out with a journal written by the 21st century woman Melisande Stokes in1851 telling the story of how she came to be trapped in that time.
Her story begins with Tristan Lyons, who works for a secret government organization, recruiting her to translate some ancient texts. It quickly gets weird as she comes to realize that the texts involve magic and that Tristan and his bosses are looking to bring magic back to the modern world. They later recruit Dr. Frank Odo, a retired physicist, who through the theory of alternate universes, helps them in their quest.
This book is very interesting to read because as the organization grows, there are documents written by people who really don’t understand what’s going on, which makes it a mystery for the reader to solve. Without going into detail about the time travel aspect, I will say that the protagonists are constantly getting into trouble, and some of these situations lead to comic relief in n otherwise serious novel.
I really had a lot of fun with The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O., so much so that I read the last 200 pages in one sitting, not wanting to stop. You will enjoy this book.
by Jane | Sep 15, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
The Himalayan Codex by Bill Schutt and J. R. Finch tells the story of a mysterious group of pre-humans living in the Himalayan Mountains of Tibet. Called Morlocks, Cerae, or Seres by various groups who encounter them, they correspond to the Yeti or abominable snowman of legend.
Schutt and Finch follow three different groups in their search for these people: one led by Pliny the Elder in 46 AD, a group of American scientists and military men in 1946, and a group of nationalist Chinese also in 1946. The description of the Morlocks and their civilization is very inventive, including three sentient species ancient structures, an underground city, and advances in evolutionary biology.
This is a fine read. It’s particularly interesting how the story goes back and forth between 46 AD and 1946, while scientists at the Museum of Natural History are busy translating documents to find out just what Pliny the Elder discovered all those years ago.
I would highly recommend this book. Not only is the science is interesting, there is a lot of action in Tibet with the Romans and Cerae in 46 AD, and among the Morlocks, Americans, and Chinese in 1946. Read it. You won’t be sorry.
by Jane | Sep 9, 2017 | Write Here Write Now
The Discovery is a Netflix movie about death directed by Charlie McDowell. Dr. Thomas Harbor, played by Robert Redford, is a scientist who has proved the existence of an afterlife, a discovery which has resulted in a sharp increase in the number of suicides. His estranged son Will, played by Jason Siegel, decides after many years to see him. They meet back in his lab, which has almost become a cult where people (many of whom have attempted suicide) live and join him in his work.
Will is very reluctant to help his father in work he considers dangerous, but once he agrees, he makes an even more startling discovery, learning where people go after they die. But he’s fearful of this getting out because it could result in an even larger number of suicides.
A very moody, low-key film, The Discovery is not among my list of favorites. It has a message, but it is a little too ethereal for me. While thoughtful films have their place, I would leave this one alone.
