Asimov looks at the stages of SF in his introduction, and talks about where Soviet SF was, as he thought.
More Soviet Science Fiction : The Heart of the Serpent - Ivan Yefremov
More Soviet Science Fiction : Siema - Anatoly Dnieprov
More Soviet Science Fiction : The Trial of Tantalus - Victor Saparin
More Soviet Science Fiction : Stone from the Stars - Valentina Zhuravleva
More Soviet Science Fiction : Six Matches - Arkady and Boris Strugatsky
Tellur warp.
3 out of 5
Improving machine.
3 out of 5
Virus escape Venus.
3.5 out of 5
Meteor life.
3 out of 5
Neutrino acupuncture.
3 out of 5
2.5 out of 5
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Fantasy and Science Fiction 689 - Gordon Van Gelder
A better issue at 3.29, headed by the Popkes version of 'Fiends of the Eastern Front'.
Reviews of Kim Stanley Robinson and Ilona Andrews' Edge book are also included.
FSF689 : WHY THAT CRAZY OLD LADY GOES UP THE MOUNTAIN - Michael Libling
FSF689 : THIEF OF SHADOWS - Fred Chappell
FSF689 : DR DEATH VS THE VAMPIRE - Aaron Schutz
FSF689 : THE CROCODILES - Steven Popkes
FSF689 : A HISTORY OF CADMIUM - Elizabeth Bourne
FSF689 : THE REAL MARTIAN CHRONICLES - John Sladek
FSF689 : REMOTEST MANSIONS OF THE BLOOD - Alex Irvine
FSF689 : SEVEN SINS FOR SEVEN DWARVES - Hilary Goldstein
FSF689 : SILENCE - Dale Bailey
FSF689 : FOREVER - Rachel Pollack
FSF689 : THE ATCHISON TOPEKA and SANTA FE - Robert Onopa
FSF689 : THE GYPSY'S BOY - Lokiko Hall
Oh God, Kev, the lives!
3.5 out of 5
Hopefully not poison ones.
3.5 out of 5
Killer League, Teflon Boy.
3.5 out of 5
Nazi zombie return.
4 out of 5
Terrible pictures.
2.5 out of 5
The old rules.
3 out of 5
Dead lover issues.
3 out of 5
Chesty releases.
3 out of 5
Dead high school chase.
3.5 out of 5
Dead El swap.
3.5 out of 5
Model railway Lilliput.
3.5 out of 5
Wind spirit advance.
3 out of 5
3.5 out of 5
Reviews of Kim Stanley Robinson and Ilona Andrews' Edge book are also included.
FSF689 : WHY THAT CRAZY OLD LADY GOES UP THE MOUNTAIN - Michael Libling
FSF689 : THIEF OF SHADOWS - Fred Chappell
FSF689 : DR DEATH VS THE VAMPIRE - Aaron Schutz
FSF689 : THE CROCODILES - Steven Popkes
FSF689 : A HISTORY OF CADMIUM - Elizabeth Bourne
FSF689 : THE REAL MARTIAN CHRONICLES - John Sladek
FSF689 : REMOTEST MANSIONS OF THE BLOOD - Alex Irvine
FSF689 : SEVEN SINS FOR SEVEN DWARVES - Hilary Goldstein
FSF689 : SILENCE - Dale Bailey
FSF689 : FOREVER - Rachel Pollack
FSF689 : THE ATCHISON TOPEKA and SANTA FE - Robert Onopa
FSF689 : THE GYPSY'S BOY - Lokiko Hall
Oh God, Kev, the lives!
3.5 out of 5
Hopefully not poison ones.
3.5 out of 5
Killer League, Teflon Boy.
3.5 out of 5
Nazi zombie return.
4 out of 5
Terrible pictures.
2.5 out of 5
The old rules.
3 out of 5
Dead lover issues.
3 out of 5
Chesty releases.
3 out of 5
Dead high school chase.
3.5 out of 5
Dead El swap.
3.5 out of 5
Model railway Lilliput.
3.5 out of 5
Wind spirit advance.
3 out of 5
3.5 out of 5
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Fantasy and Science Fiction 688 - Gordon Van Gelder
Lucius Shepard declares The Road pretty ordinary, a collection of pieces called Anime Nation mentioned that sounds interesting, too.
On the fiction front, not too much of note here, fairly similarly to last time.
FSF688 : AMOR FUGIT - Alexandra Duncan
FSF688 : STAR-CROSSED - Tim Sullivan
FSF688 : WAITING FOR THE PHONE TO RING - Richard Bowes
FSF688 : CLASS TRIP - Rand B. Lee
FSF688 : FORT CLAY LOUISIANA: A TRAGICAL HISTORY - Albert E. Cowdrey
FSF688 : MAKE-BELIEVE - Michael Reaves
FSF688 : EPIDAPHELES AND THE INSUFFICIENTLY AFFECTIONATE OCELOT - Ramsey Shehadeh
FSF688 : THE FROG COMRADE - Benjamin Rosenbaum
FSF688 : THE FAIRY PRINCESS - Dennis Danvers
FSF688 : BLUE FIRE - Bruce McAllister
Ourania dream.
2.5 out of 5
Black hole digger bubble.
3.5 out of 5
Lord of Light Lizard Pavane.
3 out of 5
Pink mouthful parts.
3 out of 5
Headsman photo soul.
3.5 out of 5
Arrowhead cave gunfight.
3 out of 5
Vulture ripper Door.
3 out of 5
Kissing foolishness.
2.5 out of 5
Screwbot checkout.
3.5 out of 5
Blood Drinker story.
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
On the fiction front, not too much of note here, fairly similarly to last time.
FSF688 : AMOR FUGIT - Alexandra Duncan
FSF688 : STAR-CROSSED - Tim Sullivan
FSF688 : WAITING FOR THE PHONE TO RING - Richard Bowes
FSF688 : CLASS TRIP - Rand B. Lee
FSF688 : FORT CLAY LOUISIANA: A TRAGICAL HISTORY - Albert E. Cowdrey
FSF688 : MAKE-BELIEVE - Michael Reaves
FSF688 : EPIDAPHELES AND THE INSUFFICIENTLY AFFECTIONATE OCELOT - Ramsey Shehadeh
FSF688 : THE FROG COMRADE - Benjamin Rosenbaum
FSF688 : THE FAIRY PRINCESS - Dennis Danvers
FSF688 : BLUE FIRE - Bruce McAllister
Ourania dream.
2.5 out of 5
Black hole digger bubble.
3.5 out of 5
Lord of Light Lizard Pavane.
3 out of 5
Pink mouthful parts.
3 out of 5
Headsman photo soul.
3.5 out of 5
Arrowhead cave gunfight.
3 out of 5
Vulture ripper Door.
3 out of 5
Kissing foolishness.
2.5 out of 5
Screwbot checkout.
3.5 out of 5
Blood Drinker story.
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Epidapheles And The Insufficiently Affectionate Ocelot - Ramsey Shehadeh
Vulture ripper Door.
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The Judas Strain - James Rollins
Bacteria revolt, Marco Polo.
The Sigma team is again split - as Seichan crashing her motorbike at Gray's parents place sends him on the run with her and his parents, as Monk and Lisa investigate a biohazard on Christmas Island. Unsurprisingly, the Guild has their hand in this. This teamup also adds their favorite Vatican priest-spy-researcher to solve the historical clue and try and save the world. With Kat in early motherhood, Kowalski enters the fray.
The bad stuff leads back to Marco Polo's time.
Plus, hordes of crabs and cannibals vs pirates! With maniac monster diseased patients, all on a cruise ship being used as a hospital. Throw in an Australian billionaire and a mysterious Indian assassin.
Very exciting stuff.
4 out of 5
The Sigma team is again split - as Seichan crashing her motorbike at Gray's parents place sends him on the run with her and his parents, as Monk and Lisa investigate a biohazard on Christmas Island. Unsurprisingly, the Guild has their hand in this. This teamup also adds their favorite Vatican priest-spy-researcher to solve the historical clue and try and save the world. With Kat in early motherhood, Kowalski enters the fray.
The bad stuff leads back to Marco Polo's time.
Plus, hordes of crabs and cannibals vs pirates! With maniac monster diseased patients, all on a cruise ship being used as a hospital. Throw in an Australian billionaire and a mysterious Indian assassin.
Very exciting stuff.
4 out of 5
The Trade of Queens - Charles Stross
The Trade of Queens
Goes nuclear
Miriam's grandmother, and associates, the former unhappy with the matchmaking fraternity losing control of their power if the progressive faction's breeding plans come to fruition, and the latter not being happy that their army was nuked strike back.
Multiple small nuclear attacks attempted on Washington DC. The conservatives have little conception of the military and technological might of the USA, however, so Miriam and the progressive faction are horrified and realise all of them need to get out of Dodge before they are disintegrated in glowing fashion.
Luckily they have access to the world of New Britain - something the USA does not at the current point of time. But this world is in the process of anti-monarchical revolution of its own.
A book that seems runs out of space to pack in what it wants to talk about - the conflicts, the move, a couple of dead US presidents, etc. So I think this got away from the author to some degree. Some of the earlier novel should have been condensed to give the exploration of what is here more space.
Apparently also a publishing decision to divide these books up how they have been, which has clearly caused some problems.
3.5 out of 5
Goes nuclear
Miriam's grandmother, and associates, the former unhappy with the matchmaking fraternity losing control of their power if the progressive faction's breeding plans come to fruition, and the latter not being happy that their army was nuked strike back.
Multiple small nuclear attacks attempted on Washington DC. The conservatives have little conception of the military and technological might of the USA, however, so Miriam and the progressive faction are horrified and realise all of them need to get out of Dodge before they are disintegrated in glowing fashion.
Luckily they have access to the world of New Britain - something the USA does not at the current point of time. But this world is in the process of anti-monarchical revolution of its own.
A book that seems runs out of space to pack in what it wants to talk about - the conflicts, the move, a couple of dead US presidents, etc. So I think this got away from the author to some degree. Some of the earlier novel should have been condensed to give the exploration of what is here more space.
Apparently also a publishing decision to divide these books up how they have been, which has clearly caused some problems.
3.5 out of 5
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Revolution Business - Charles Stross
Or, Clan War time. With another reactionary clan, led by the United State republican party.
Miriam is pregnant, and an heir to the throne, no less, so plenty of manoeuvring around here, along with trying to keep her alive.
However, there's a little matter of some nuclear weapons. Or, what are the superpowers that give spies screaming nightmares? Telepathy/mind control, invisibility, and teleportation. A limited form of the latter is of course what the Clan worldwalkers have. So doesn't matter where you put your handy nuclear weapons unless you defend against them in the same manner they day.
So the stakes have been raised from massacring each other with our world obtained automatic weapons.
Their other world research also continues in a more scientific manner, working out that no, it really probably isn't magic in that sense, what is going on here.
Not as good as the earlier series, and a definite cliffhanger.
3.5 out of 5
Miriam is pregnant, and an heir to the throne, no less, so plenty of manoeuvring around here, along with trying to keep her alive.
However, there's a little matter of some nuclear weapons. Or, what are the superpowers that give spies screaming nightmares? Telepathy/mind control, invisibility, and teleportation. A limited form of the latter is of course what the Clan worldwalkers have. So doesn't matter where you put your handy nuclear weapons unless you defend against them in the same manner they day.
So the stakes have been raised from massacring each other with our world obtained automatic weapons.
Their other world research also continues in a more scientific manner, working out that no, it really probably isn't magic in that sense, what is going on here.
Not as good as the earlier series, and a definite cliffhanger.
3.5 out of 5
Black Order - James Rollins
Zero Point Energy super nazis experiments.
The Sigma teams gets split in this outing, to their detriment. Painter Crowe included. He is the one in the thick of it this time, along with a doctor asked to help out in discovering why a whole town in the mountains became ill.
Pierce has a girl and a mysterious book to protect. The pregnant Kat and Monk also have people that would like to remove them from the frame in the hunt for the keys to this technology.
More than one writer has used the end of the second world war competition for German technology and research as the backstory for a work - here Rollins ties it in to actual history giving the details of the strange things they may have been looking into.
3.5 out of 5
The Sigma teams gets split in this outing, to their detriment. Painter Crowe included. He is the one in the thick of it this time, along with a doctor asked to help out in discovering why a whole town in the mountains became ill.
Pierce has a girl and a mysterious book to protect. The pregnant Kat and Monk also have people that would like to remove them from the frame in the hunt for the keys to this technology.
More than one writer has used the end of the second world war competition for German technology and research as the backstory for a work - here Rollins ties it in to actual history giving the details of the strange things they may have been looking into.
3.5 out of 5
Cyberskin - Paul Collins
Something of a fixup here as this cyberpunk tales takes some short story material and makes a novel out of it.
Calloway, the antihero in question works for a company whose job is making movies.
The difference is that the people he blows away he kills for real.
Often terminally ill cases that agree to 'star' in the movie for money they can leave to those surviving them, but not always.
There's also virtual reality, crazy biotech, artificial intelligence and more surrounding this.
Plus an augmented Doberman named Crunch.
The actual framing of some of the sections in movie script type jargon/layout actually detracts I think, as what is going on is considerably more interesting than the film industry angle.
Imprinted intelligences, drug research of a bizarre nature and the setting is a post-nothing-good-has-happened-to-this-environment Melbourne for a large part of it.
Around the 3.25 mark.
3.5 out of 5
Calloway, the antihero in question works for a company whose job is making movies.
The difference is that the people he blows away he kills for real.
Often terminally ill cases that agree to 'star' in the movie for money they can leave to those surviving them, but not always.
There's also virtual reality, crazy biotech, artificial intelligence and more surrounding this.
Plus an augmented Doberman named Crunch.
The actual framing of some of the sections in movie script type jargon/layout actually detracts I think, as what is going on is considerably more interesting than the film industry angle.
Imprinted intelligences, drug research of a bizarre nature and the setting is a post-nothing-good-has-happened-to-this-environment Melbourne for a large part of it.
Around the 3.25 mark.
3.5 out of 5
Cyberskin - Paul Collins
Something of a fixup here as this cyberpunk tales takes some short story material and makes a novel out of it.
Calloway, the antihero in question works for a company whose job is making movies.
The difference is that the people he blows away he kills for real.
Often terminally ill cases that agree to 'star' in the movie for money they can leave to those surviving them, but not always.
There's also virtual reality, crazy biotech, artificial intelligence and more surrounding this.
Plus an augmented Doberman named Crunch.
The actual framing of some of the sections in movie script type jargon/layout actually detracts I think, as what is going on is considerably more interesting than the film industry angle.
Imprinted intelligences, drug research of a bizarre nature and the setting is a post-nothing-good-has-happened-to-this-environment Melbourne for a large part of it.
Around the 3.25 mark.
3.5 out of 5
Calloway, the antihero in question works for a company whose job is making movies.
The difference is that the people he blows away he kills for real.
Often terminally ill cases that agree to 'star' in the movie for money they can leave to those surviving them, but not always.
There's also virtual reality, crazy biotech, artificial intelligence and more surrounding this.
Plus an augmented Doberman named Crunch.
The actual framing of some of the sections in movie script type jargon/layout actually detracts I think, as what is going on is considerably more interesting than the film industry angle.
Imprinted intelligences, drug research of a bizarre nature and the setting is a post-nothing-good-has-happened-to-this-environment Melbourne for a large part of it.
Around the 3.25 mark.
3.5 out of 5
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Zoo City - Lauren Beukes
An interesting novel that subverts the whole twee girl and special animal bond fantasy sub-genre.
In this case, you don't get to associate with such a beast because you are the chosen one, special, or anything like that.
Here, more the opposite. For example, if you are a junkie killer who writes internet scams for a crimelord is when you will score the non-human companion.
Metaphysical punishment is what these creatures appear to be - and obviously if you are dragging a sloth, bunny, goat or crocodile around you become fairly easy to identify. The beginnings and current situation for this strange phenomenon is revealed to some degree in background 'excerpts' of the media in this particular milieu. Punishment, apocalypse, or something worse coming?
e.g., one of the background parts from the novel :
""I didn't have the tapir when I got here. She came on the second night, after I was jumped by a couple of the 4161's from Melbourne. Lucky my mate Len was already inside, and knew their game. He gave me a shank when I arrived, and it ended up in the neck of one of them, a tattooed fuckwit called Cal.
That night, at about the same time Cal was dying in a hospital in Geelong, the tapir appeared outside my cell. I heared her scratching at the door of solitary confinement. Scared the hell out of me. The guards said she was still covered in jungle mud when they found her.
I mean, there's cameras everywhere. And this thing's from a different continent. How come no one saw her arrive? How did she get here? If she can walk through walls or fly or something, why can't she carry me out of here?
Anyway, I love her. They let me look after her good, take her on walks around the yard. She's a stupid-looking creature and she's dopey as shit, but when they see her at my side, they remember what happened to Cal. They remember not to fuck with Carter.""
Hence Zoo City - a ghetto for such unfortunates and their animal encumbrances. The fantasy angle is expanded upon as people in this situation may have psychic abilities. The anti-heroine of the piece is a recovering drug addict and worse, and a psychic locator, able to make cash by having people hire her to find stuff they have lost. Even her sloth is crippled.
Working off a debt to some bad people by writing and participating in hooking suckers over the net she also has a client employing her locator talents come to a nasty end. This gets her involved in something far more sordid than drugs and extracting money from the gullible: the music industry.
A pair of teen sibling pop sensations have issues - one being that the female of the pair likes to be a disappearing party girl. So, a somewhat youthful investigator with knowledge of the scene that doesn't smell 'cop' as soon as you see her, and a handy supernatural talent appears to be useful to the management of our pop idols.
It is all good up to here, but it seems to me that the actual find the missing person part is extended and somewhat aimless. Not sure if this is supposed to be a commentary on her existence or if it could just do with being shorter. Stories of the private investigation type tend to suffer at greater length, I think. I'd imagine more than a few people might think a little more of this space could have gone on a little more of the supernatural situation the world finds itself in. Or even the protagonist in particular.
What does make this more interesting is the South African setting. In fact, the author could even have thrown in a local music playlist perhaps, to add flavour.
After seeing the above, yes, it does end in the sort of violent depravity it is setting up.
So, interesting novel, but not as seamlessly excellent as her first book.
3.5 out of 5
In this case, you don't get to associate with such a beast because you are the chosen one, special, or anything like that.
Here, more the opposite. For example, if you are a junkie killer who writes internet scams for a crimelord is when you will score the non-human companion.
Metaphysical punishment is what these creatures appear to be - and obviously if you are dragging a sloth, bunny, goat or crocodile around you become fairly easy to identify. The beginnings and current situation for this strange phenomenon is revealed to some degree in background 'excerpts' of the media in this particular milieu. Punishment, apocalypse, or something worse coming?
e.g., one of the background parts from the novel :
""I didn't have the tapir when I got here. She came on the second night, after I was jumped by a couple of the 4161's from Melbourne. Lucky my mate Len was already inside, and knew their game. He gave me a shank when I arrived, and it ended up in the neck of one of them, a tattooed fuckwit called Cal.
That night, at about the same time Cal was dying in a hospital in Geelong, the tapir appeared outside my cell. I heared her scratching at the door of solitary confinement. Scared the hell out of me. The guards said she was still covered in jungle mud when they found her.
I mean, there's cameras everywhere. And this thing's from a different continent. How come no one saw her arrive? How did she get here? If she can walk through walls or fly or something, why can't she carry me out of here?
Anyway, I love her. They let me look after her good, take her on walks around the yard. She's a stupid-looking creature and she's dopey as shit, but when they see her at my side, they remember what happened to Cal. They remember not to fuck with Carter.""
Hence Zoo City - a ghetto for such unfortunates and their animal encumbrances. The fantasy angle is expanded upon as people in this situation may have psychic abilities. The anti-heroine of the piece is a recovering drug addict and worse, and a psychic locator, able to make cash by having people hire her to find stuff they have lost. Even her sloth is crippled.
Working off a debt to some bad people by writing and participating in hooking suckers over the net she also has a client employing her locator talents come to a nasty end. This gets her involved in something far more sordid than drugs and extracting money from the gullible: the music industry.
A pair of teen sibling pop sensations have issues - one being that the female of the pair likes to be a disappearing party girl. So, a somewhat youthful investigator with knowledge of the scene that doesn't smell 'cop' as soon as you see her, and a handy supernatural talent appears to be useful to the management of our pop idols.
It is all good up to here, but it seems to me that the actual find the missing person part is extended and somewhat aimless. Not sure if this is supposed to be a commentary on her existence or if it could just do with being shorter. Stories of the private investigation type tend to suffer at greater length, I think. I'd imagine more than a few people might think a little more of this space could have gone on a little more of the supernatural situation the world finds itself in. Or even the protagonist in particular.
What does make this more interesting is the South African setting. In fact, the author could even have thrown in a local music playlist perhaps, to add flavour.
After seeing the above, yes, it does end in the sort of violent depravity it is setting up.
So, interesting novel, but not as seamlessly excellent as her first book.
3.5 out of 5
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Interzone 226 - Andy Cox
A rock-solid issue at 3.42, with a bunch of book reviews, including Ian Sales ruminating on The New Space Opera 2.
Pretty consistent other than one very Rivera and one rubbish Swirsky.
Interzone 226 : INTO THE DEPTHS OF ILLUMINATED SEAS - Jason Sanford
Interzone 226 : HIBAKUSHA - Tyler Keevil
Interzone 226 : IN THE HARSH GLOW OF ITS INCANDESCENT BEAUTY - Mercurio D. Rivera
Interzone 226 : HUMAN ERROR - Jay Lake
Interzone 226 : AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN - Rachel Swirsky
Interzone 226 : AQUESTRIA - Stephen Gaskell
Death skin, Sahr.
3.5 out of 5
Irradiated, but still live and scavenging.
3.5 out of 5
Alien love drug.
4 out of 5
Multi billion artifact release.
3.5 out of 5
Crinked.
2 out of 5
Planet avatar.
3 out of 5
3.5 out of 5
Pretty consistent other than one very Rivera and one rubbish Swirsky.
Interzone 226 : INTO THE DEPTHS OF ILLUMINATED SEAS - Jason Sanford
Interzone 226 : HIBAKUSHA - Tyler Keevil
Interzone 226 : IN THE HARSH GLOW OF ITS INCANDESCENT BEAUTY - Mercurio D. Rivera
Interzone 226 : HUMAN ERROR - Jay Lake
Interzone 226 : AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN - Rachel Swirsky
Interzone 226 : AQUESTRIA - Stephen Gaskell
Death skin, Sahr.
3.5 out of 5
Irradiated, but still live and scavenging.
3.5 out of 5
Alien love drug.
4 out of 5
Multi billion artifact release.
3.5 out of 5
Crinked.
2 out of 5
Planet avatar.
3 out of 5
3.5 out of 5
Asimov's 411 412 - Sheila Williams
Some whacked out Spinrad book talk, and just about ok issue at 3.28 - with the clear standout being the excellent Popkes novella.
ASIMOVS411 : THE UNION OF SOIL AND SKY - Gregory Norman Bossert
ASIMOVS411 : UNFORESEEN - Molly Gloss
ASIMOVS411 : ADRIFT - Eugene Fischer
ASIMOVS411 : THEY LAUGHED AT ME IN VIENNA AND AGAIN IN PRAGUE AND THEN IN BELFAST AND DON'T FORGET HANOI! BUT I'LL SHOW THEM! I'LL SHOW THEM ALL I TELL YOU! - Tim McDaniel
ASIMOVS411 : MINDBAND - Pamela Sargent
ASIMOVS411 : MALICK PAN - Sara Genge
ASIMOVS411 : ALTEN KAMERADEN - Barry B. Longyear
ASIMOVS411 : PRETTY TO THINK SO - Robert Reed
ASIMOVS411 : JACKIE'S-BOY - Steven Popkes
Mother of.
3 out of 5
Random death.
3 out of 5
FloatNet refugees.
3.5 out of 5
Psycho robot demonstration.
3.5 out of 5
Cozy Corner control wet.
2.5 out of 5
Nanner small.
3 out of 5
Lots of ways to get me, Wolff.
3 out of 5
Disneyland emergency matter.
3.5 out of 5
Talking elephants and dragons.
4.5 out of 5
3 out of 5
ASIMOVS411 : THE UNION OF SOIL AND SKY - Gregory Norman Bossert
ASIMOVS411 : UNFORESEEN - Molly Gloss
ASIMOVS411 : ADRIFT - Eugene Fischer
ASIMOVS411 : THEY LAUGHED AT ME IN VIENNA AND AGAIN IN PRAGUE AND THEN IN BELFAST AND DON'T FORGET HANOI! BUT I'LL SHOW THEM! I'LL SHOW THEM ALL I TELL YOU! - Tim McDaniel
ASIMOVS411 : MINDBAND - Pamela Sargent
ASIMOVS411 : MALICK PAN - Sara Genge
ASIMOVS411 : ALTEN KAMERADEN - Barry B. Longyear
ASIMOVS411 : PRETTY TO THINK SO - Robert Reed
ASIMOVS411 : JACKIE'S-BOY - Steven Popkes
Mother of.
3 out of 5
Random death.
3 out of 5
FloatNet refugees.
3.5 out of 5
Psycho robot demonstration.
3.5 out of 5
Cozy Corner control wet.
2.5 out of 5
Nanner small.
3 out of 5
Lots of ways to get me, Wolff.
3 out of 5
Disneyland emergency matter.
3.5 out of 5
Talking elephants and dragons.
4.5 out of 5
3 out of 5
They Laughed At Me In Vienna And Again In Prague And Then In Belfast And Don't Forget Hanoi! But I'll Show Them! - Tim McDaniel
Psycho robot demonstration.
3.5 out of 5
3.5 out of 5
Steppe - Piers Anthony
An interesting story that is a precursor of work like Larry Niven's Dream Park, but on a bigger scale.
A very settled Galactic Society uses a live action roleplaying historical scenario as entertainment and an outlet for those that seek adventure. The game scale has compressed time to allow for different eras to be played out. Interestingly this Galactic society is displayed as largely post-literate, from a book from 1976.
A group of players decides to gain an advantage by time travel - but snatching a Uigur man just about to die from the 800s to use his knowledge to tactical advantage.
However, he is intelligent and cunning, and decides to use his knowledge for himself, getting into the game - as staying in Galactic society is better than being a dead Steppe dweller. So time for alliances, raids, etc.
The other nice twist is that the game substitutes spaceships and stunners for the historical weaponry, so the scale is interstellar, while still talking about 'bows' and 'horses', and this actually works.
And if you know a bit of your Asian nomad barbarian history, you might have some inkling of what is coming.
3.5 out of 5
A very settled Galactic Society uses a live action roleplaying historical scenario as entertainment and an outlet for those that seek adventure. The game scale has compressed time to allow for different eras to be played out. Interestingly this Galactic society is displayed as largely post-literate, from a book from 1976.
A group of players decides to gain an advantage by time travel - but snatching a Uigur man just about to die from the 800s to use his knowledge to tactical advantage.
However, he is intelligent and cunning, and decides to use his knowledge for himself, getting into the game - as staying in Galactic society is better than being a dead Steppe dweller. So time for alliances, raids, etc.
The other nice twist is that the game substitutes spaceships and stunners for the historical weaponry, so the scale is interstellar, while still talking about 'bows' and 'horses', and this actually works.
And if you know a bit of your Asian nomad barbarian history, you might have some inkling of what is coming.
3.5 out of 5
Analog 949 - Stanley Schmidt
A 3.19. The last story is the most interesting. There are columns on comets and medical robotics.
ANALOG949 : PAGE TURNER - Rajnar Vajra
ANALOG949 : HANGING - A THREAD - Lee Goodloe
ANALOG949 : A TALENT FOR VANESSA - David W. Goldman
ANALOG949 : QUARK SOUP - Bond Elam
ANALOG949 : FISHING HOLE - Rick Cook
ANALOG949 : TEACHING THE PIG TO SING - David D. Levine
ANALOG949 : THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED - H.G. Stratmann
ANALOG949 : FARALLON WOMAN - Walter L. Kleine
Leprechaun bug universe.
3 out of 5
Exsuit Waterstation issue.
3.5 out of 5
And maybe for everybody.
3 out of 5
Reboot.
3 out of 5
Restaurant dodgy.
3 out of 5
Making strategic sense.
3.5 out of 5
Attack of.
3 out of 5
Black Box Tara ship.
3.5 out of 5
3 out of 5
ANALOG949 : PAGE TURNER - Rajnar Vajra
ANALOG949 : HANGING - A THREAD - Lee Goodloe
ANALOG949 : A TALENT FOR VANESSA - David W. Goldman
ANALOG949 : QUARK SOUP - Bond Elam
ANALOG949 : FISHING HOLE - Rick Cook
ANALOG949 : TEACHING THE PIG TO SING - David D. Levine
ANALOG949 : THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED - H.G. Stratmann
ANALOG949 : FARALLON WOMAN - Walter L. Kleine
Leprechaun bug universe.
3 out of 5
Exsuit Waterstation issue.
3.5 out of 5
And maybe for everybody.
3 out of 5
Reboot.
3 out of 5
Restaurant dodgy.
3 out of 5
Making strategic sense.
3.5 out of 5
Attack of.
3 out of 5
Black Box Tara ship.
3.5 out of 5
3 out of 5
Monday, April 5, 2010
Glass Dragons - Sean McMullen
Glass Dragons continues the tongue-in-cheek story of what happens to this world after Silverdeath.
Dragons in these books are wizards who can manage a sorcerous transform.
Laron is still involved, and Velander, and Terikel, but the focus changes to a young man who can sing a bit and is a decent brawler, and also to an untalented master of music.
The two end up meeting after the latter is framed for a royal assassination, and then the misadventures with Princess protection, Elder escorting, brothels, glass dragons, sailing ships and more begin.
Perhaps seeming a little aimless at times switching between characters.
However: vampire dragon!
3.5 out of 5
Dragons in these books are wizards who can manage a sorcerous transform.
Laron is still involved, and Velander, and Terikel, but the focus changes to a young man who can sing a bit and is a decent brawler, and also to an untalented master of music.
The two end up meeting after the latter is framed for a royal assassination, and then the misadventures with Princess protection, Elder escorting, brothels, glass dragons, sailing ships and more begin.
Perhaps seeming a little aimless at times switching between characters.
However: vampire dragon!
3.5 out of 5
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Novel
Number of words : 40000
Percent of complex words : 5.7
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 9.6
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.1
Flesch : 80.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.5
: Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
CHARACTERS
Richard Gunn Urquhart : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Rick, man with a destiny, and ability to cast a long Shadow.
Llaw's grandmother : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
A seeress who forsees Rick's destiny.
Karadok : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Ancient Martian king of Ruh.
Beudach : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Chief of the fighting men of the Ruh.
Llaw : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
A Martian dwarf.
Haral : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Last of the line of Karadoc.
Parras : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Seer of Ruh.
Ed Fallon : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Head of the Terran Exploitations Company.
Jaffa Storm : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
His right hand man. Rather large Terro-Mercurian.
Hugh St. John : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Unionist politician.
Vargo : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Venusian muscle leader.
Mayo McCall : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Anti-Terran activist and technician.
Jimmy : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Press-ganged rebel.
Eran Mak : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Civilised Martian Low-Canaler bandit and leader.
Christy : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
One of Fallon's.
Kyra : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
A Winged One woman.
William Lee Yancey : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
A young ship crewman Rick leaves money too that helps him get back on Mars.
ANIMALS
Black Apes : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Used as press-gang hounds by the Terran Exploitations Company.
ORGANISATIONS
Terran Exploitations Company : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Just as bad as they sound.
Crimpers : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Press-gang groups.
Moderates : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Political group of compromise between Earth and Mars.
Pan-Martians : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Pro Mars political group.
Union Party : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Unionist political group that wants to promote Earth's role on Mars.
Interplanetary Co-ordination Authority : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Interworld legislative body.Has a Labor Board.
First Interplanetary Bank of Mars : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Has an office in New York.
MPG : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Martian Planetary Government.
MPP : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Martian Planetary Patrol.
PLACES
Thieves' Quarter : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Dodgy part of Ruh.
Phobos : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Moon of Mars.
Street of Nine Thousand Joys : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Street where you can purchase time with ladies of questionable virtue, in Ruh.
Ruh : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Martian City-State.
King City : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Capital of Ruh.
Deimos : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
The other Moon of Mars.
Administration Pylon : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Large building, holds the TEC offices.
New Town : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
City being built.
Arianrhod : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Has cliff caves.
Old City : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
In Ruh.
Kahora : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Martian Trade city.
Polar Cities : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
The Thinkers live here, in a fabled cold region.
Darkside : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Cold shadowed side of the planet.
Number Five Drift : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Where one of the press gangs works.
Tower of Destiny : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Place of seers.
Vhia : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Trade City of Venus.
Jekkara : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Martian Low Canal city.
Caer Hebra : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Ancient city.
Thieves' Quarter : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Dodgy part of Ruh.
Losanglis : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Earth city.
Valkis : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Low Canal city.
Jekkara Port : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
City spaceport.
Madame Kan's : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Dodgy bar in Jekkara.
RACES
Marshies : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Derogatory term for the locals.
Middle-Swampers : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Venusians. Used as muscle by Fallon.
The Thinkers : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
First race of Mars. Still live in the Polar Cities.
Winged Ones : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Ancient Martian flyers.
Shunni : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Martian tribe.
PLANTS
Yrl-wood : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Martian tree.
CONCEPTS
Low Martian : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Common dialect.
Goliath : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Biblical giant.
High Martian : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Ancient dialect.
TECHNOLOGY
Venusian spider-silk : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Used to make clothes.
Blaster : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Energy hand weapon.
Collar of Ruh : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Symbol of authority.
Visaplate : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Part of a telescreen.
Fallonite : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
The chemically amorphous substance that was already beginning to
revolutionize the Terran plastic industry.
Florent mirror : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Uses infra red instead of visible light.
Tsamo : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
A Martian knockout drug.
Thought Projector : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Thinker shield to keep people out.
MEDIA
Banner of the Twin Moons : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Ruh war symbol.
Winged Victory of Samothrace : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Old earth statue.
WEAPONS
Banning Shocker : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Large non-lethal beam weapon.
Mickey shocker : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Handgun beam weapon, non-lethal.
Disintegrators : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Thinker weapon.
Mental amplifiers : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Thinker weapon.
Energy projectors : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Thinker weapon.
VEHICLES
Mary Ellen Dow : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Ship they wanted Rick to leave on.
PLOT
Rick is not too keen on being pressganged into the rapacious and
growing aptly named Terran company.
He also runs into prophecy when it is told that he will be an
important player in the future of Mars - although he is not anyone of
any particular note.
Others of import include a Winged Race woman, a technician who also
opposes Fallon and company, a local gangster and a politician. If
they can work out some sort of arrangement and leadership they will
have the resources to oppose Fallon and his even less scrupulous and
violent enforcer Jaffa Storm and his force of hired Venusian thugs.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 40000
Percent of complex words : 5.7
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 9.6
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 6.1
Flesch : 80.2
Flesch-Kincaid : 4.5
: Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
CHARACTERS
Richard Gunn Urquhart : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Rick, man with a destiny, and ability to cast a long Shadow.
Llaw's grandmother : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
A seeress who forsees Rick's destiny.
Karadok : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Ancient Martian king of Ruh.
Beudach : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Chief of the fighting men of the Ruh.
Llaw : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
A Martian dwarf.
Haral : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Last of the line of Karadoc.
Parras : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Seer of Ruh.
Ed Fallon : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Head of the Terran Exploitations Company.
Jaffa Storm : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
His right hand man. Rather large Terro-Mercurian.
Hugh St. John : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Unionist politician.
Vargo : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Venusian muscle leader.
Mayo McCall : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Anti-Terran activist and technician.
Jimmy : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Press-ganged rebel.
Eran Mak : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Civilised Martian Low-Canaler bandit and leader.
Christy : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
One of Fallon's.
Kyra : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
A Winged One woman.
William Lee Yancey : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
A young ship crewman Rick leaves money too that helps him get back on Mars.
ANIMALS
Black Apes : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Used as press-gang hounds by the Terran Exploitations Company.
ORGANISATIONS
Terran Exploitations Company : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Just as bad as they sound.
Crimpers : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Press-gang groups.
Moderates : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Political group of compromise between Earth and Mars.
Pan-Martians : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Pro Mars political group.
Union Party : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Unionist political group that wants to promote Earth's role on Mars.
Interplanetary Co-ordination Authority : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Interworld legislative body.Has a Labor Board.
First Interplanetary Bank of Mars : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Has an office in New York.
MPG : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Martian Planetary Government.
MPP : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Martian Planetary Patrol.
PLACES
Thieves' Quarter : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Dodgy part of Ruh.
Phobos : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Moon of Mars.
Street of Nine Thousand Joys : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Street where you can purchase time with ladies of questionable virtue, in Ruh.
Ruh : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Martian City-State.
King City : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Capital of Ruh.
Deimos : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
The other Moon of Mars.
Administration Pylon : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Large building, holds the TEC offices.
New Town : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
City being built.
Arianrhod : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Has cliff caves.
Old City : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
In Ruh.
Kahora : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Martian Trade city.
Polar Cities : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
The Thinkers live here, in a fabled cold region.
Darkside : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Cold shadowed side of the planet.
Number Five Drift : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Where one of the press gangs works.
Tower of Destiny : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Place of seers.
Vhia : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Trade City of Venus.
Jekkara : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Martian Low Canal city.
Caer Hebra : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Ancient city.
Thieves' Quarter : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Dodgy part of Ruh.
Losanglis : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Earth city.
Valkis : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Low Canal city.
Jekkara Port : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
City spaceport.
Madame Kan's : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Dodgy bar in Jekkara.
RACES
Marshies : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Derogatory term for the locals.
Middle-Swampers : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Venusians. Used as muscle by Fallon.
The Thinkers : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
First race of Mars. Still live in the Polar Cities.
Winged Ones : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Ancient Martian flyers.
Shunni : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Martian tribe.
PLANTS
Yrl-wood : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Martian tree.
CONCEPTS
Low Martian : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Common dialect.
Goliath : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Biblical giant.
High Martian : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Ancient dialect.
TECHNOLOGY
Venusian spider-silk : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Used to make clothes.
Blaster : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Energy hand weapon.
Collar of Ruh : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Symbol of authority.
Visaplate : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Part of a telescreen.
Fallonite : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
The chemically amorphous substance that was already beginning to
revolutionize the Terran plastic industry.
Florent mirror : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Uses infra red instead of visible light.
Tsamo : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
A Martian knockout drug.
Thought Projector : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Thinker shield to keep people out.
MEDIA
Banner of the Twin Moons : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Ruh war symbol.
Winged Victory of Samothrace : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Old earth statue.
WEAPONS
Banning Shocker : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Large non-lethal beam weapon.
Mickey shocker : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Handgun beam weapon, non-lethal.
Disintegrators : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Thinker weapon.
Mental amplifiers : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Thinker weapon.
Energy projectors : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Thinker weapon.
VEHICLES
Mary Ellen Dow : Shadow Over Mars - Leigh Brackett
Ship they wanted Rick to leave on.
PLOT
Rick is not too keen on being pressganged into the rapacious and
growing aptly named Terran company.
He also runs into prophecy when it is told that he will be an
important player in the future of Mars - although he is not anyone of
any particular note.
Others of import include a Winged Race woman, a technician who also
opposes Fallon and company, a local gangster and a politician. If
they can work out some sort of arrangement and leadership they will
have the resources to oppose Fallon and his even less scrupulous and
violent enforcer Jaffa Storm and his force of hired Venusian thugs.
3.5 out of 5
Thursday, April 1, 2010
The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Novelette
Number of words : 10000
Percent of complex words : 7.5
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.4
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.6
Flesch : 74.1
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.8
: The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
CHARACTERS
Max Brandon : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
A grave-robber. Or adventurous explorer, depending on who you ask.
Jarthur : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Head of the Society for the Preservation of Martian Relics.
Sylvia Eustace : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Wants to marry Brandon. A bit of an adventurer herself.
Dhu Kar : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Venusian. Brandon's rival.
Tobul : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Dead.
Kymra : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Tobul's rival.
ORGANISATIONS
Society for the Preservation of Martian Relics : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Respecters of Martian culture.
RACES
Prira Cen : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
The Blue Hairs, the oldest race of Mars.
Sorcerers of the Lost Islands : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Rulers of Mars 40,000 years ago.
PLACES
Rhiannon : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Place where the Lost Sorcerers ruled.
Lost Islands : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Sorcerer hangout.
Phobos : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Moon of Mars.
TECHNOLOGY
Circlet : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Allows one of the dead minds to control a body.
WEAPONS
Needle gun : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Handgun.
Projector : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Can finish off one of these dead minds.
Prism : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
A negative energy device of destruction.
PLOT
Max Brandon is a charismatic archaeologist of questionable ethics, that ends up in trouble in the desert. He is looking for the Lost Islands of Rhiannon, where the ancient Sorcerer race dwells.
He gets more than he bargained for when he is possessed by a dead sorcerer, thanks to good old-fashioned super science crown. Even worse, the woman who wants to make an honest man of him is also taken by Tobul's arch enemy of another race.
Super science destruction looms, until a rival archaeologist arrives and they decide to make a deal - two ancient Martian figures with a body sharing arrangement could make a difference for Mars.
3.5 out of 5
Number of words : 10000
Percent of complex words : 7.5
Average syllables per word : 1.4
Average words per sentence : 11.4
READABILITY INDICES
Fog : 7.6
Flesch : 74.1
Flesch-Kincaid : 5.8
: The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
CHARACTERS
Max Brandon : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
A grave-robber. Or adventurous explorer, depending on who you ask.
Jarthur : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Head of the Society for the Preservation of Martian Relics.
Sylvia Eustace : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Wants to marry Brandon. A bit of an adventurer herself.
Dhu Kar : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Venusian. Brandon's rival.
Tobul : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. Dead.
Kymra : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Tobul's rival.
ORGANISATIONS
Society for the Preservation of Martian Relics : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Respecters of Martian culture.
RACES
Prira Cen : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
The Blue Hairs, the oldest race of Mars.
Sorcerers of the Lost Islands : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Rulers of Mars 40,000 years ago.
PLACES
Rhiannon : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Place where the Lost Sorcerers ruled.
Lost Islands : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Sorcerer hangout.
Phobos : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Moon of Mars.
TECHNOLOGY
Circlet : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Allows one of the dead minds to control a body.
WEAPONS
Needle gun : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Handgun.
Projector : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
Can finish off one of these dead minds.
Prism : The Sorcerer of Rhiannon - Leigh Brackett
A negative energy device of destruction.
PLOT
Max Brandon is a charismatic archaeologist of questionable ethics, that ends up in trouble in the desert. He is looking for the Lost Islands of Rhiannon, where the ancient Sorcerer race dwells.
He gets more than he bargained for when he is possessed by a dead sorcerer, thanks to good old-fashioned super science crown. Even worse, the woman who wants to make an honest man of him is also taken by Tobul's arch enemy of another race.
Super science destruction looms, until a rival archaeologist arrives and they decide to make a deal - two ancient Martian figures with a body sharing arrangement could make a difference for Mars.
3.5 out of 5
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
