Recently Read - Nov. 2009
Jack Tingle
I've been reading more short fiction, especially internet freebies, so
not a lot of novels this month. Reviewing short fiction is not in the
works for me, since it would take as long to write the review as to read
the work.
Baker, Kage, "The Hotel Under the Sand" p *****
This is the delightful story of Emma Rose, who survives a storm (of some
kind), and winds up alone on a beach, near the Dunes. She discovers a
ghost, named Winston, who's a Bell Captain for the Grand Wenlocke Hotel,
lost many years ago nearby in a Storm of the Equinox. Another, more
common sort of storm, uncovers the Grand Wenlocke. With Winston, Mrs.
Beet, the Cook who was held frozen in time in the buried hotel, and a
growing list of guests and interlopers, Emma Rose makes a place for
herself, to take the place of what she lost in the storm.
Henderson, Zenna, "Ingathering" p ****
This is NESFA's collection of all of Henderson's "The People" stories. I
loved these stories when I was a teenager. I still like them a lot. I
also recommend NESFA's excellent series of collections and volumes of
significant sf works.
Lindskold, Jane, "Thirteen Orphans" p ***
For some reason, even though I generally enjoy Lindskold, I had a hard
time getting into this complex, Oriental-flavored fantasy. My
perseverance paid off, thankfully. I found the second half of the book
much better than the first. I have no real reason for the slow start.
"It's not about your book, Jane, it's about me, OK?"
Brenda Morris is, unbeknownst to her, the descendant of a secret society
of immigrants from the Land of Smoke and Sorrows, an alternate Chin
created by that dynasty's information control regieme. Now someone from
home seems to be attacking, and Brenda has to learn how to fight back.
Swirsky, Rachel "A Memory of Wind" e ***
This is a short story from Tor.com. It's Swirsky's take on Iphigenia,
who was sacrificed to Artemis so the Greeks could sail to attack Troy.
Told from Iphigenia's POV, it's a dark fantasy of betrayal, murder,
warriors, women, and human stupidity. A very good tale.
_______________
My stars:
***** A classic, read it immediately.
**** Very good, you might even buy it in hardback.
*** Good, well worth your time.
** Readable, but I'd wait for a cheap copy.
* A book with at least one redeeming value, even if it's nice cover art.
Not rated - noted, but not rated because it's an anthology, or I
couldn't finish it, or it's obviously good but not to my taste.
No stars (zero, zip, zilch, nada, none, goose-egg) - don't read this book.
e: electronic book; p: paper book
YMMV - seek other opinions, and don't blame me.
Happy Reading,
Jack Tingle
Melita Kennedy
> Recently Read - Nov. 2009
>
>
>
>
> Jack Tingle
Jack,
Thanks very much for posting your reviews. I have the Lindskold but it
hadn't sorted to the top of the pile yet. Perhaps I'll move it up a bit.
After Baker's _The Anvil of the World_, which I just couldn't get into,
I've been wary of her non-Company books. Both this one, and _The Women
of Nell Gwynne's_ (which is Company-related) have piqued my interest.
I'm glad you enjoyed your re-read of Zenna Henderson's People stories. I
dearly love this 'world'. My family often traveled in the American
southwest when I was a child, so the settings are very evocative for me
too.
Melita
Jack Tingle
Thank you for your kind words.
WRT "Hotel Under the Sand", it's only a bit like TAotW (which I loved,
by the way). HUtS is more gentle. It reads (to me) a bit more like some
of her whimsical, often Company-related shorter stories, perhaps like
"Rude Mechanicals". "Women of Nell Gwynn's" is harder to characterize.
It's sort of Company-related, but sans cyborgs.
Regards,
Jack Tingle