Book Reviews
The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry
The story here is about lost Templar treasure that is hidden away using some ancient hidden codes and the treasure hold some secret that could destroy Christianity and make everyone reevaluate their beliefs. Haven't heard that one before, have you? A group of so-called Christians think they are doing good by killing people who get involved, and some others are just seeking the truth no matter how it might impact the world. It's a formulaic copycat plotline lifted from The Da Vinci Code.
The Last Ship by William Brinkley
I used to think that Stephen King was one author seriously in need of some editorial work, but now I think William Brinkley takes the cake with The Last Ship. Published in 1989, this is absolutely the most long-winded and boring book I have ever read. Underneath it all is the potential for a really cool post-apocalyptic story in the same genre as Alas, Babylon, but it gets so bogged down in details that it is truly a chore to read.
The Ghost King - Transitions III - R.A. Salvatore
Prior to reading R.A. Salvatore's Transitions III, The Ghost King, I didn't know that the author had lost a close family member to cancer. Having also recently lost someone, I started picking up on some imagery and emotions in this story that made me realize how much of it was surely influenced by the author's experiences with the frustration of watching a loved one die from an unstoppable disease. On that level, this book is a work of genius. It's also extremely dark and violent.
Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
It was with a sense of sadness that I reviewed Michael Crichton's Pirate Latitudes, because this is his last finished novel. After his passing in 2008 from throat cancer, the completed manuscript for this novel was found among his files. I don't think anyone knew he'd been writing this. While I did like the book, I have a feeling that it isn't the full version that Crichton intended for print.
Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Children of Hurin is a novel from Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien and edited by his son, Christopher. It's a prequel type story that takes place before the events in Lord of the Rings, and it serves to fill in some of the gaps that were mentioned in passing in other stories. Personally, I think it is meant more for die-hard fans than casual readers.
Skinwalker by Faith Hunter
I found Faith Hunter's excellent new Skinwalker novel while browsing the sci-fi/fantasy section of Amazon.com. It popped up as a recommendation based on what other people had bought, and I couldn't ignore the hot leather-clad biker chick on the cover. The fact that she was holding a shotgun and had wooden vampire stakes strapped to the rear fender of her motorcycle made me decide right there to pick it up. Yes, I judged this book by its cover.
Star Wars: Death Troopers by Jonathan Shreiber
I am a sucker for all things Star Wars, even if about half the books I've read weren't all that great. When I heard about this new Star Wars novel, Death Troopers, I was too intrigued to pass it up. This is perhaps the first horror novel set in the Star Wars universe, and it features a couple of familiar characters. It's definitely the goriest Star Wars book I've ever read. I liked it, but some fans are going to be turned off by this one.
Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry
Patient Zero is a very original novel that involves a terrorist plot to unleash a virus that turns people into zombies. It's sort of like Tom Clancy meets George Romero, and it works on every level. The author, Jonathan Maberry, takes his time to develop the characters, plot, and setting in a way that makes this book one very entertaining read. I think this book would make a great movie.
Stephen Coonts Audiobook Collection
This bargain bin priced package includes three decent audiobooks from military action and thriller author Stephen Coonts. It includes the books America, Liberty, and Liars & Thieves. Each book is abridged and plays on five compact discs, for a total of 15 in the package. That's eighteen hours of audiobook goodness, narrated by John Kenneth and Guerin Barry.
Frankenstein: Dead and Alive by Dean Koontz
Dean Koontz went solo with this novel, whereas the first two books in this series had co-authors. Book one, Prodigal Son, was co-written by noted sci-fi author Kevin J. Anderson. Book two, City of Night, was co-written by crime writer Ed Gorman. The lack of help from another author is painfully obvious in this book, and it seems like Koontz wasn't trying too hard. I swear it doesn't even seem like part three of a series at all because it so much unlike the first two books. This one is like a comic book without the pictures.
The Dame by R.A. Salvatore
The Dame is a new book from bestselling author R.A. Salvatore, and is a part of the Saga of the First King series that began with The Highwayman. This book is the follow-up to The Ancient, and picks up shortly after that story ended. This fantasy series is one of the few from Salvatore that is not set in some kind of Dungeons & Dragons world, since he mainly writes in the Forgotten Realms setting of D&D. If you are a fan of Salvatore's work, you should definitely look into this series.
The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
The Strain is the first novel in a new trilogy from acclaimed director Guillermo Del Toro (Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth) and author Chuck Hogan (Prince of Thieves). This new series is about vampires and an outbreak that threatens to take over the world. If you like a good horror thriller, you're really going to enjoy this one.
Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn
Extreme Measures is the first book I've read from author Vince Flynn, and I liked it. The author comes across as being very conservative, and his main character in this story is like a cross between Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan and Dirty Harry. After reading this one, I'll definitely be checking out Flynn's other novels. It was published in 2008.
Winter Duty by E.E. Knight
This is the eighth book in E.E. Knight's excellent post-apocalyptic Vampire Earth book series. It was published in July 2009 and is currently available in hardcover only. Even after eight books, this series is going just as strong as ever, and is still quite entertaining. Be sure to check out my Vampire Earth page for links and info on the previous seven novels in this series.
1632 by Eric Flint
This is a fun science fiction action novel from Eric Flint, and it kicks off a series of books about a bunch of coal miners from West Virginia who get sent back in time to Germany in the year 1632. The cover of the book depicts some guys in armor looking at a bunch of rednecks in the back of a pickup truck, so that should give you an idea of what lies within its pages.
Tourist Season by Carl Hiaasen
This story is really about eco-terrorists who murder a few people in order to scare the tourists and other transplants out of south Florida. They murder a Shriner and a local businessman, then they feed an old lady to a salt water crocodile. They also plant a few bombs and generally raise hell in Dade County. The villains were such bumbling idiots that they were meant to be funny, but in this day and age it is kind of hard to sell terrorism as comedy.
Day by Day Armageddon by J.L. Bourne
Day by Day Armageddon is a pretty interesting entry into the popular zombie holocaust genre of horror stories. This book, written in journal format, tells the story of one man trying to make it against overwhelming odds. It's an indie release, and has done quite well considering no major publisher was behind it. If you like zombie stories, you definitely want to check this one out.
Tuck by Stephen Lawhead
This is the third part of the King Raven trilogy of books, which are a retelling of the Robin Hood legend. The author, Stephen Lawhead, did a bunch of research into the real-life inspiration of the character in order to tell a more realistic story. Tuck focuses on the character most people know as Friar Tuck, and makes for a great conclusion to this excellent trilogy.
The Last Days of Krypton by Kevin J. Anderson
I have had a renewed interest in all things Superman ever since my wife and I started watching the Smallville television series last year. In this book, The Last Days of Krypton, it goes back even further to show the period right before Superman was born, and it describes the catastrophic series of events that resulted in the baby Kal-El being sent to Earth. In many ways, this book also serves as a prequel to the movie Superman II.
Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson
I consider myself a chain reader, meaning that I start reading one book as soon as I finish another. Needless to say, I go through several books a month, in both print and audio form. I'm telling you this because I have never been as spellbound by a book as I have with Marcus Luttrell's Lone Survivor. I honestly can't remember the last time I got so caught up in a book as good as this one.
Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk
This is the latest novel from Fight Club author Chuck Palahniuk. It's sort of a romantic comedy about a foreign exchange student who is really a terrorist set on carrying out something called Operation Havoc, but a potential romance with his host family's daughter gets in the way. While this book is probably more original than it needs to be, it is still not as good as some of Palahniuk's previous work.
Book Features
Stephen Lawhead's King Raven trilogy
This series of books is a reboot of the Robin Hood legend, as told be bestselling author Stephen Lawhead. I highly recommend this series and the realistic approach it takes in attempting to explain the origins of the legendary character that became known as Robin Hood.
E.E. Knight's Vampire Earth book series
If you like post-apocalyptic stories where humans are struggling for survival against a more powerful foe, I think you should check out author E.E. Knight's Vampire Earth series of books. They read sort of like a cross between Rambo and Resident Evil.
Raymond E. Feist's Conclave of Shadows trilogy
This trilogy of novels from the acclaimed fantasy author tell a revenge story that takes many unexpected detours along the way.
