End August 2026 Reading Update

Another month is winding down so let's do a reading / new book update. 

Books Completed (since last update)

(4 books completed since last update)

1. The Dream Master by Roger Zelazny (Sci Fi / 1966) Back in the day, I quite enjoyed Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber series. This was an interesting concept but somewhat disappointing.

"The Dream Master by Roger Zelazny is one of those books I wanted to like more than I ultimately did. I remember enjoying Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber so very much a few years back. I saw The Dream Master listed in another book I'd read and it sounded very interesting.

It's a difficult plot to explain. Render is a psychology engineer, one of the best in fact, who has the ability, with the help of some technology, to enter a person's mind, and use their thoughts and dreams to cure their mental problems. He cures one man at the beginning and gets a request from a blind woman, also a psychiatrist, who wants to use his talents to help her see, even if just in her dreams.

That is the crux of the story, but also we have Render's issues being dealt with; his constant moving of his young son from school to school. Who has the issue? There is a relationship with Jill de Ville and where it might be going.

But it's difficult to follow the story, it jumps from scene to scene and leaves you unsure if it's reality (a futuristic reality) or dreams with Eileen (the blind woman). Bender's mentor seems to worry that Eileen might be taking over the psycho analysis from Bender.... 

There are fascinating moments and frustrating moments. The ending is interesting, but ... um, maybe vague or unclear are the correct words. Oh yes, there is Eileen's seeing eye dog, Sigmund, who is able to talk and is concerned that if Eileen gains a sort of sight from the treatment, he will no longer be needed. Sigmund is one of the more interesting characters.. Oh and who the heck is the man walking down the highway?

I think it's my confusion that left me not liking the book so very much. It's a fascinating concept and the book got better as it went along. I didn't hate it, but it wasn't a favorite. (2.0 stars)"

2. The Genocides by Thomas M. Disch (Sci Fi / 1965). I think I preferred Camp Concentration to The Genocides but it was still quite interesting.

"The Genocides by Thomas M. Disch is the 2nd book I've tried by Disch, the first was Camp Concentration. Both are Sci Fi stories but quite different. The Genocides is set in northern Minnesota in the aftermath of some sort of invasion (it's not clear and not that important to the story other than the setting) by 'plants'. And no, not Triffids. The plants are large trees that are absorbing the Great Lakes and other bodies of water. Mankind is dying off, all other plant life being overcome, and animal / insect life as well. This is from the perspective of the group of people we are following in this story.

A religious community run by Anderson, they are in a constant fight to burn back the plants and grow enough crops, mainly corn, to survive. Anderson has two sons, Buddy and Neil, as well as a teenage daughter, Blossom. Tragedy keep striking the group, their few cattle escape, and are destroyed by some flame throwing machines that appear to belong to the plants and are responsible for destroying Earth life forms. A group of marauders, people escaping the cities arrive and are dealt with.. yucchh... (Remember the famous line in Soylent Green?)

The story also follows Jeremiah Oliver, a mining engineer. He has his own ideas and with his girl friend, Judith and a few other city survivors, arrive at the Anderson's encampment. Only two are allowed to survive, Jeremiah and an elderly nurse, Alice. But the death of Judith, drives Jeremiah to plot his own vengeance.

The encampment is forced to move underground half way through the story when the flame machines attack and they are forced to try and survive in the darkness.

It's a dark, disturbing story.. take The Road and add some kinks to it. Is there hope for the survival of mankind? Can the group survive each other, their hatreds and differences? The story moves along at a steady pace, especially when everything moves underground. Claustrophobic, darkness, fear, infighting. It was an interesting concept and story. Enough to make me keep exploring Disch anyways. (3.5 stars)"

3. We Stand on Guard by Brian K. Vaughan (Graphic Novel / 2016). I've been enjoying Vaughan's other Sci Fi series. This one was interesting and kind of struck a chord, as a Canadian.

"I've been enjoying quite a few of Brian K. Vaughan's graphic novel series; Saga, Paper Girls and Y: The Last Man, so being a patriotic Canadian, I thought I'd try We Stand On Guard, a story about the US invasion of Canada. I thought it might be a merry, cheerful read. 😁😎

The story starts off in Ottawa, Ontario, 2112 with a family, mother, father and two children, watching the news. It appears the mother is a lawyer working for the Canadian military. As they watch, bombs begin to drop from the sky. Only the son and daughter, both quite young, survive. Skip to Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, 2124, and the daughter, Amber is walking through the snow armed with a crossbow. She is attacked by a robot wolf, belonging the US invaders, and is saved ultimately by a group of freedom fighters, the Two-Fours, the remnants of Canada's freedom fighters as our military has been destroyed. (Ed Note. A Two-Four is what Canadians call a case of twenty - four beer. Now you know)

After Amber proves herself to the group, that she's not a spy, they take her to their hideout in caves under Yellowknife.. There is a lot of action. They capture one of the US giant robot machines. They are monitored by 'The American' one of the US's top 'spies?' who interrogates the group's boss when she is captured.

The story is what it is, a story about a resistance, about the fight for survival. It's not the greatest story ever written but it's interesting, action packed and kind of struck a chord with me at this moment in time. Thank you Mr. Vaughan (3.0 stars)"

4. Them Bones by Howard Waldrop (Alternate History / 1984). My 1st attempt at Waldrop's work.

"Them Bones is my first exposure to the work of Howard Waldrop. I also have a collection of his short stores as well and now that I've enjoyed this book, I look forward to reading this.

I had some doubts about the book when I read the foreword, as editor Terry Carr explained (and this was when the book was published in 1984) about the New Ace Science Fiction Specials. He talked about how they were trying to usher in the new writers that were expanding Sci Fi, etc. To me that puts a lot of pressure on a book and I have a tendency to ignore books that get a lot of praise (if that's the word I'm looking for).

Anyway, the book lived up to the pressure. It's a fascinating concept. It follows three groups. Bessie is an archeologist working with a team somewhere on the Mississippi in Louisiana. They are exploring a bunch of mounds that may have ancient artifacts. They are also at risk due to the severe flooding and heavy rainstorms that are expected. They have discovered things that make no sense in mounds and it galvanizes them to more action. These are things that shouldn't be together; bullets, native artifacts, etc.

The 2nd story line follows Yazoo Leake. He is an advance scout from some future time. The World is dying and the future hopes to send troops back into the past to maybe rectify what has caused this future disaster. Unfortunately for Leake, nobody has followed Leake through his portal and he is alone with his horse. He meets local natives. Neither can understand each other until he meets one of the tribal leaders, Took-his-Time, and discovers they can communicate in 'Greek'! Now this is in early Louisiana, or so it seems. But when?

The 3rd story follows the actual troop that was supposed to follow Leake but arrive sometime else. this storyline is called Box (which will become apparent as the story progresses) and sometimes deals with the story told by WO Smith and other times, just basic camp reports. They come under attack by the local natives for, it seems, bringing sickness to their land.

The story progresses in this fashion, following each group, building the story. It's quite fascinating and the more you get into the story, it becomes more interesting. What has Bessie and her fellow archeologist discovered? Is it related to either of the other groups? Leake's story is maybe the most interesting as he becomes more and more a member of his 'tribe' and tries to discover when he is is? Maybe even where he is? Is this some fold in time and space maybe?

Waldrop makes each story unique but at the same times manages to keep them linked together. I really enjoy his description and how he ramps up tension when necessary. The storm that hits the diggers is so perfectly described that you can feel it in your bones. The attack on Leake's tribe and the chase across the country both to save his friends and to escape the enemy tribe is breath-taking and so tense.

All in all, I enjoyed this book so very much. It grows and develops expertly and the ending was satisfying... well, depending on how you look at it, that is. But it tied up things pretty nicely. Excellent story. (4.5 stars)"

Currently Reading (started since last update)

1. The Rainbow and the Rose by Nevil Shute (Fic / 1958). Shute is one of my favorite authors and I hope to eventually read all of his works. This has started off really nicely.

"When seasoned pilot Johnny Pascoe tries to rescue a sick girl from the Tasmanian outback, his plane crashes and leaves him stranded and dangerously injured. Ronnie Clarke, who was trained by Pascoe, attempts to fly a doctor in to help, but rough weather makes his mission more difficult than he imagined. As he waits overnight at Pascoe’s house for a chance to try again the next day, Clarke revisits the past of this unusual man—and reveals the shocking and tragic secrets that have influenced his life."

2. The Humanoid Touch by Jack Williamson (Humanoids #2 / 1980). I can't say I've loved his work but they are part of the history of Sci Fi, especially space adventures.

""Humanoids: Self-directed robots invented to serve and guard mankind. Jack Williamson created one of the finest science fiction novels of all time - The Humanoids. In his second novel he returned to his classic subject: the final confrontation of man and machine."

3. Heart on my Sleeve: Stories from a Life Well-Worn by Jeanne Beker (Memoir / Can Lit / 2024). I've watched Jeanne Beker on TV for years. This book sounded very interesting and I hope to learn more about her life, ideas.

"Fashion and style icon Jeanne Beker delivers an uplifting and inspiring memoir that walks us through a wardrobe of memory, one article of clothing at a time. Jeanne Beker’s name is synonymous with style and grace in fashion. Recognized by many as the beloved host of Fashion Television and The New Music, Jeanne has spent an entire career interviewing celebrities and uncovering their most private selves. Now, in Heart on My Sleeve, Jeanne reveals who she is in an all-new way. This is not just a memoir but a wardrobe of memory. Jeanne walks us through her recollections of specific pieces of clothing and jewelry, precious items that have made an indelible impact on her. She invites readers to think more deeply about how what we wear—whether it’s a thrift-store find or high-end couture—acts as a touchstone to our most treasured recollections, reminding us of who we once were or of loved ones we hold dear. With Jeanne as our style guide, we get up-close and personal with a star-studded cast, including Paul McCartney, Madonna, Karl Lagerfeld, Kate Moss, Oscar de la Renta, Beyoncé, and Keith Richards. But equally important, Jeanne introduces us to the family members and loved ones who form her closest entourage—including her wise Yiddish mother and her industrious father, both Holocaust survivors; her childhood neighbor Mrs. Jaskolka, a style maven ahead of her time; her two trailblazing daughters; and her many warm and exuberant friends who have seen her through the best and worst of times. Jeanne proves that a life lived with style and substance is always in fashion. Bold, colorful, and authentic, this is Jeanne Beker at her very best and brightest."

4. Fire on the Mountain by Terry Bisson (Alt Hist / 1988). A new author for me.

"Presenting an alternative version of African American history, this novel explores what might have happened if John Brown’s 1859 raid on Harper’s Ferry had been successful. Chronicling life in a thriving black nation founded by Brown in the former southeastern United States, this dramatic story opens 100 years later, just as Nova Africa is poised to celebrate its first landing of a spacecraft on Mars. The prosperous black state will soon be tested when the granddaughter of John Brown returns from Africa to reunite with her daughter and share with her a secret that will alter their lives forever."

Newest Arrivals

1. The Eternal Moment and Other Stories by E.M. Forster (Short Stories / 1928). I've enjoyed 3 of Forster's novels but this collection of short stories sounded interesting.

"A collection that explores the human spirit through a series of fantasy vignettes, including "The Machine Stops," "The Point of It," "Mr. Andrews," "Co-ordination," "The Story of the Siren," and the title story."

2. Interlunar by Margaret Atwood (Poetry / 1984). One of two books by Atwood I found this month. It's a book of poetry. What can I say until I've read it.

3. The Downloaded 2: Ghosts in the Machine by Robert J. Sawyer Jr. (Downloaded #2 / 2025). The first book was excellent.

"It’s 2555 and the remaining members of the Phoenix colony, both convicts and astronauts, have fully integrated since they were originally downloaded from cryogenic suspension.

Now, as the countdown to Earth's final day approaches, two groups of colonists prepare to leave on separate missions.

One group, led by Captain Letitia Garvey, will re-upload to the quantum system as they head to Zeta Tucanae to complete the original astronaut mission, while the other, led by Mayor Roscoe Koudoulian, will begin a new colony on Mars, safely away from the asteroid about to hit Earth. But tragedy strikes on the day Roscoe is set to leave, forcing him to upload his consciousness as well. Back inside their virtual silos, the astronauts and convicts alike encounter mysterious digital duplicates that could destroy their stored consciousnesses forever. In a race against time, they are forced to make impossible choices in order to exist in a world where the line between human and digital reality has blurred."

4. The Dorians by Nick Cutter (Hor / 2026). The Troop was fantastic. The Deep was ok. Looking forward to exploring more of Cutter's work.

"On a remote island in the Canadian wilderness, five elderly volunteers from different walks of life are given a tantalizing offer: to stall their biological clocks or even reverse them, restoring their lost youth. The chance to put death on pause—forever, perhaps. The remarkable secret lies in the high-tech harnessing of an ancient and extraordinary biological agent…one with no conscience, yet possessed with a single-minded purpose that has helped it persist for eons: the will to survive. The dark heart of unbridled human ambition finds its apex in an unholy experiment that now tests the limits of both creator and subject, eclipsing all bounds of morality and sanity…."

5. A Shipwreck in Fiji by Nilima Rao (Akal Singh #2 / 2025). A new author for me. I've both books in this series to enjoy.

"Fiji, 1915: when a purported sighting of Germans on the run from WWI turns deadly, Sergeant Akal Singh must (reluctantly) take up the investigation in this vibrant follow-up to A Disappearance in Fiji.

Sergeant Akal Singh, an unwilling transplant to Fiji, is just starting to settle into his life in the capital city of Suva when he is sent to the neighboring island of Ovalau on a series of fool’s errands. First: investigate strange reports of Germans, thousands of miles from the front of World War I. Second: chaperone two strong-willed European ladies, Mary and Katherine, on a sight-seeing tour. And third: supervise the only police officer currently on Ovalau, an eighteen-year-old constable with a penchant for hysterics.

Accompanied by his friend Taviti, who is visiting his uncle, the local chief, Akal sets off on these seemingly straightforward tasks. Instead, they become embroiled in a series of local issues: the gruesome death of an unpopular local and the imprisonment of a group of Norwegian sailors in Taviti’s uncle’s village. To add to Akal’s woes, Katherine, the charming aspiring journalist, harbors an agenda of her own. Will Akal be able to keep her—and himself—out of trouble before anybody else gets killed?"

6. The Dog Park Detectives by Blake Mara (Dog Park #1 / 2024). Another new authors for me. And hey, it's got dogs!

"Murder is never just a walk in the park . . .

When friends Louise and Irina find a dead body in the local park whilst walking their dogs, they are soon drawn into the mystery of who murdered local entrepreneur Phil Creasey.

Phil used to be a member of their dog walking community – nicknamed The Pack – until the death of his cockapoo, and The Pack feel they owe it to Phil to investigate his death. With Louise and Irina leading the charge, they soon come up against local drug dealers, stolen cars and a disturbing incident of poisoned dog biscuits. Have The Pack bitten off more than they can chew, or can they follow their noses and solve the crime?"

7. The Business Man by Thomas M. Disch (Hor / 1984). I've read Camp Concentration and The Genocides by Disch so far.

"Bob was the happiest man in the world. His wife was dead, and no one suspected him of the murder. His mother-in-law was dying, and would probably leave him an inheritance. And with both of them gone, he can wallow in all the beer, chips, and TV a man could ever want... Then Bob's wife came back from the grave. She brought her sadness, her rage, and something worse - her mother. Revenge is a gruesome business. And Bob has hell to pay..."

8. The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood (Fic / 2015) The 2nd book I bought by Atwood. I found it and The Business Man at one of our local Salvation Army Thrift Shops when I was out with Jo the other day.

"Stan and Charmaine are a married couple trying to stay afloat in the midst of an economic and social collapse. Job loss has forced them to live in their car, leaving them vulnerable to roving gangs. They desperately need to turn their situation around—and fast. The Positron Project in the town of Consilience seems to be the answer to their prayers. No one is unemployed and everyone gets a comfortable, clean house to live in . . . for six months out of the year. On alternating months, residents of Consilience must leave their homes and function as inmates in the Positron prison system. Once their month of service in the prison is completed, they can return to their "civilian" homes.

At first, this doesn't seem like too much of a sacrifice to make in order to have a roof over one's head and food to eat. But when Charmaine becomes romantically involved with the man who lives in their house during the months when she and Stan are in the prison, a series of troubling events unfolds, putting Stan's life in danger. With each passing day, Positron looks less like a prayer answered and more like a chilling prophecy fulfilled."

So there you go folks. All caught up for now. I hope you get a few reading ideas from the books above. Enjoy your September.

An August Update

Jenn and Anthony on their way home

Wow! Has the month gone by quickly. Our daughter Jenn left Wednesday last week and she should be driving into her place in Ottawa sometime today. It was nice having her and Anthony here. We weren't used to having company. I think they had a good time and I'm sure they are happy to be back home and not living out of suit cases.

We were a bit busy after she left, what with Jo's chemo and such at the end of the week and we basically just vegged over the weekend. Jo is taking to a friend from England at the moment so I believe I'll take this opportunity to do a bit of a catch up.

Books Completed

(Six books completed since my last reading update)

1. A Cat Story: A Graphic Novel by Ursula Murray Husted (YA / Graphic / 2020) Don't worry, Anthony, I also read books about dogs.

"Ursula Murray Husted, as far as I can tell, has written two graphic novels / stories for Young Adults (also most enjoyable to adults). A Cat Story: A Graphic Novel is the 2nd that I've enjoyed; Botticelli's Apprentice was my 1st exposure. 

Cat Story is set on the island of Malta and follows two street cats, Cilla and Betto. (When Husted spent time in Malta, she noticed the large amount of street cats who just seemed to co-exist with the human population). Cillo spends her time trying to find a family to take her in, while Betto is happy living on the wharfs and feeding off discarded fish. Another cat tells Cillo about the garden behind the old door and this story sets the two cats off on a journey to another island to find it. The garden behind the door is supposed to be peaceful and with loving humans and lots of food. (Cillo is tired of having to spend her nights under an abandoned boat that leaks on them when it rains, while Betto enjoys living the life of a wandering cat.)

This journey will result in meeting other cats, a friendly, wise dog and ultimately bring them to a realization about their lives. Of course, I don't want to ruin the ending, do I?

It's beautifully drawn and colored and also incorporates great classic works of art into the story telling. The story contains many stories within the overall story and they add to the overall quality of the story, itself. Husted is a real talent and I look forward to exploring more of her work. (3.0 stars)"

2. Traitor's Doom by John Creasey (Dr. Palfrey #1 / 1942). My continued exploration of the works of John Creasey.

"I've been exploring the works / series of English writer John Creasey who was prolific and wrote under a variety of pseudonyms. He's famous for his Commander Gideon, Inspector West, The Baron, The Toff and Department S. Traitor's Doom was the first book in his Doctor Palfrey series, written in 1942. 

This book is set during the build up to WWII and Doctor Palfrey and a few others; some fellow Brits, a Russian, a Frenchman and a Russian are asked to work for the mysterious Marquis, who works for the British Secret Service. They are asked to form a team to rescue important people from German concentration camps as they are to help form a new Europe when and if the war is over. However, this might not actually be the plan and they might just be marks to hide the true purpose. As well, the Marquis warns Byron that he suspects one of the group is a spy.

The story takes place in the fictitious county of Catania, on the border of Spain, and it's a neutral country suffering under blockades. The government is under siege by a Nazi supported group who are also trying to destroy the Socialists. It's a busy story of cross and double cross and filled with action. Not my favorite story and I never really warmed to anybody but still a good story filled with action. (2.0 stars)"

3. Invitation to the Game by Monica Hughes (YA / Sci Fi / 1991). My first exposure to Monica Hughes and it was a pleasant surprise.

"Invitation to the Game was my first exposure to the YA / Sci Fi / Fantasy worlds of English / Canadian author Monica Hughes and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the story.

Invitation is set in a dystopian future where a group of teenagers have just graduated from the Government School. The story is told by one of these teens, Lisse. Now that they are finished school, they are sent off on their own. Some, like Benta and Richard, are returned to their parents, Benta to work on their farm and Richard to become a psychologist at his father's business. The others, a group of eight are sent to the city, to their Designated Area (DA).

This group is the focus of the story, although Benta and Richard will eventually be reunited with them. Scylla is sort of their mother figure. She gets them organized in the dark, damaged, gloomy city, finding a building they can make their own, using their talents to scrounge furniture and everything they need to make it a secure, safe place for them to live. They all have their own particular talents.

Gradually, the group begins to explore their new DA, going out at night, being threatened, finding out about the city. They begin to hear about The Game, something that only a few are invited to participate in. 

Eventually a letter is dropped through their door slot and it contains an invitation, plus tokens for each member so they can travel to the location at the edge of the city where they can 'play' the game. They meet another group but they are either unable or unwilling to explain the game to Lisse's group. It seems to be some sort of computer simulation where they are dropped into some location where they have to find clues to the Prize. 

But it's all very vague and there are long gaps between sessions. They being to research how to survive in distant locations, begin exercising to get in shape as there is a great deal of walking in their 'simulated world'. The group dynamic will change and the eventually the setting of this 'world' will change as well as what they are expected to do. I don't want to ruin the story as the build up and eventual resolution are such an important part of the resolution.

Hughes creates a fascinating world and wonderful characters. Each are individuals with their own personalities, weaknesses and strengths. The premise made me think of other stories, Ready Player One was my first thought, but as this story progresses, it's actually quite different. It flows nicely, has a few very nice little twists and turns and ultimately ends quite satisfactorily. I enjoyed very much. It's enjoyable for adults, I think, and for teens who want to explore Sci Fi. It was written in 1990 but still holds up 30+ years later. I will continue to explore Hughes' work. (4.5 stars)"

4. Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood (Bio / 2025). I loved this book but it made me more aware of mortality.

"Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood may be my favorite book by one of our iconic Canadian authors but as I neared the end, I felt kind of bereft. Yes, there were even tears as I realized that another literary stalwart is now 86. Even just writing that made me feel sad. Can't they live forever! I'm sure Margaret has a few more books in her.

I was introduced to her work during an Introduction to Canadian Literature (I may have the title wrong) while I was switching to English from Political Science during my years at University of Toronto in the mid -7o's. Obviously it's been a few years but I think the book we took was Surfacing. I was taking 3 or 4 Lit courses then so I don't remember finishing it. During that time I also read The Edible Woman, her first book and one of her poetry collections, either The Circle Game or The Animals in that Country. Over the years since then I've read another 10+ of her works, Dystopia, Poetry, non-Fiction, fiction. Such a fantastic author and one, like Ursula K. Le Guin, that I hope to read everything or as much as I can of the rest of her work.

So onto to Book of Lives. It's exactly as it says, it's the book of Margaret Atwood's life and of those nearest and dearest to her. It follows her from childhood, following her mother and father around as her father worked as an entomologist for the Canadian government, living in log cabins in various parts of Ontario and Quebec and then returning to the big city for winter; either Ottawa or Toronto, where Atwood got her education. Her childhood is so fascinating, made even more so because I know the areas, my father having been stationed in North Bay Ontario at various times and having relatives in northern Ontario.

Her story moves around the world as the she began her university, then got jobs teaching at various universities, all the time beginning a career as a poet and ultimately as a fiction writer and later, as an author of dystopian novels. 

Each chapter, as you get to her writing career, does deal with her various novels and books of poetry, where she wrote them, some of the reasoning behind her books. Although she doesn't delve too deeply into that aspect, I thought. The book is more about life, family, travel, living, relationships. I find it amazing how much of her life was spent in the woods, how much she and her family and her partner of later life, Graeme Gibson spent farming, birding, exploring, all the while, both of them also writing. 

There are sub-chapters dealing with the life of Graeme, until he and Atwood get together. There are excerpts from her poetry, a neat excerpt written by her father about how he became an entomologist. All in all, it's a wonderful memoir, funny, sad, touching and it moves along so nicely. I could put it down for a few days, pick it up and get right back into the flow. It was neat meeting other authors I'd read and enjoyed. Such a life, such a wonderful person. I still have 4 others of her books on my shelf and look forward to continuing to explore her work. (4.5 stars)"

5. Killadelphia: Volume One, Sins of the Father by Rodney Barnes (Graphic Novel / Horror / 2020). A new series to check out.

"Killadelphia, Vol. 1: Sins of the Father by Rodney  Barnes is my first exposure to his work and after reading this, I will continue my exploration. Killadelphia, Vol 1 follows Baltimore detective Jim Sangster heads to Philadelphia to bury his father, a detective on the Philadelphia police force. He discovers more than he expected when he and the pathologist Jose Padilla, realize that there are vampires, lots of vampires, trying to destroy the city. And, oh yeah, they're led by former President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, also vampires.

The volume, which includes Chapters 1 - 6, of the series follows Jim Sangster, John Adams and others as the story progresses. Jim and Jose work closely together and develop a relationship over the course of the story. We explore Jim and his father's fractious relationship. I don't know how much detail to go into as I don't want to ruin the story, but the two do have one surprise helper. There is also trouble within John Adam's group. He wants total control but his wife has other ideas and other... well, sexier methods. And others within the vampire army begin to feel that Adams is replacing one form of slavery with another.

It's a fascinating story with lots of interesting side stories. The characters are well developed and draw you in. Lots of action, stark drawing and coloring. All in all, an interesting story that I will continue. What's next! (3.5 stars)"

6. Cobra Trap by Peter O'Donnell (Short Stories / Modesty Blaise #13 / 1996). What did I say earlier? Ah yes, mortality.

"Cobra Trap is a collection of 5 short stories by Peter O'Donnell, the last of 13 books featuring his heroine, Modesty Blaise and her partner / best friend, Willie Garvin. It follows them through various stages of Modesty's life, when she ruled the Network, a crime syndicate (with standards) and when she helped Sir Gerald Tarrant, head of a British spy agency, and just when they were on their own. 

In the first story, the two go after Bellman, a criminal who exploits young girls. Getting him arrested in Peru, they go back to their lives. When he gets out, he goes for revenge, with appropriate results. In The Dark Angels, a trio of gymnastic type assassins are hired to kill an American businessman. Sir Tarrant kind of tricks the two into protecting the businessman (there are other twists in this story) and regrets that he almost had them killed by the assassins.

Old Alex was an interesting story. Modesty wakes up, barricaded in a cave and finally manages to attract attention of 'Old Alex', a farmer in the Basques countryside. Alex saves her and over time, we find out more about Alex, his past as a British bomber pilot during the war, his crash, loss of memory and there are even a few more twists. A surprisingly poignant story with suitable action as well.

The Girl with the Black Balloon features a kidnapping by a group that has been doing it for awhile. Tarrant's right hand man askes Modesty and Willie to help, even though they're sort of retired. But the murder of an agent familiar to both of them, makes them want to avenge their friend. With the help of a girl in a black balloon, they breach the hideout. A fun... ish story with appropriate action taken. As always, a neat kind of twist, as the man they are trying to save, doesn't believe in violence... 

The final story hit me, I'm afraid. Both Willie and Modesty are retired by their friends are stuck in a Central American country that's about have a revolution. Modesty has a secret.... anyway, it left me oddly tearful, not what I would expect from a Modesty Blaise story. I still have a few other books to read but this will make them a bit more touching. (4.0 stars)"

Currently Reading (Started since last reading update)

1. The Strange Adventures of  Mr. Andrew Hawthorn by John Buchan (Short Stories / 1932). Another of those authors whose books are on my bucket list.

"A new selection of short stories by "the prince of thriller writers" ( The Times , London)

The short stories of John Buchan are known for their authentically rendered backgrounds, taut pacing, and atmosphere of expectancy and international intrigue. These diverse tales combine Buchan's remarkable experiences and interests as a traveler, war correspondent, politician, and classical scholar. Edited by acclaimed author Giles Foden, this selection features the World War I thriller "The Loathly Opposite," the frequently anthologized "Sing a Song of Sixpence," and "Streams of Water in the South," one of Buchan's personal favorites. Addressing such themes as human frailty, strength, and redemption, the stories testify to Buchan's worldview that mastery of oneself leads to the fulfillment of one's destiny.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators."

2. The Furies by Keith Roberts (Hor / 1966). I've enjoyed one other book by Roberts so far.

"The rule of the wasps. It all started with a nuclear test that went wrong. The test cracked the bed of the sea, raised a volcano the height of Vesuvius where before there had been a five-mile Deep...

Then the Furies struck - monstrous and deadly wasps nearly the size of man.

Their nests sprang up all over the world. They descended and slaughtered humanity at will. Breeding in their nests by the billions, they began enslaving the earth..."

3. The Dream Master by Roger Zelazny (Sci Fi / 1966).

"The last really unexplored frontier of knowledge may well prove to be the human mind. The Dream Master is the novel of that farther frontier, of a Twenty-first Century invention which enabled a psychology engineer to actually enter a man's mind, to experience his thoughts, to live with him his dreams—and to redirect and control those soaring universe-creating visions which are the essence of all thinking.

This novel of Render the Shaper, in its magazine serial version—originally published in 1965 as the Nebula winning novella 'He Who Shapes'—has already won Roger Zelazny the Nebula Award of the Science Fiction Writers of America for the finest short novel of the year. Ace Books now proudly presents its final and complete full-length version."

4. Them Bones by Howard Waldrop (Alternate History / 1984).

"Madison Yazoo Leake, of the bombed-out, radiation-ridden 21st century, wanted to go back in time to stop World War III before it began. When he stepped through the time portal, he thought he was entering 1930s-era Louisiana. Instead, he found himself in a world where Arabs had explored America, Christianity and the Roman Empire had never existed, and Aztecs performed human sacrifices near the Mississippi as wooly mammoths roamed nearby..."

Newest Books

(4 books since my last update)

1. Wildwood (The Wildwood Chronicles #1) by Colin Meloy (Fan / 2011).

"Prue McKeel's life is ordinary. At least until her brother is abducted by a murder of crows and taken to the Impassable Wilderness, a dense, tangled forest on the edge of Portland. No one's ever gone in, or at least returned to tell of it. So begins an adventure that will take Prue and her friend, Curtis, deep into the Impassable Wilderness. There they uncover a secret world in the midst of violent upheaval, a world full of warring creatures, peaceable mystics, and powerful figures with the darkest intentions. And what begins as a rescue mission becomes something much greater, as the two friends find themselves entwined in a struggle for the very freedom of this wilderness. A wilderness the locals call Wildwood."

2. A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao (Akai Singh #1 / 2023) I've ordered the 2nd book without having even read the first... How daring, eh?

"A charming and atmospheric debut mystery featuring a 25-year-old Indian police sergeant investigating a missing persons case in colonial Fiji

1914, Akal Singh, 25, would rather be anywhere but this tropical paradise—or, as he calls it, “this godforsaken island.” After a promising start to his police career in Hong Kong, Akal has been sent to Fiji as punishment for a humiliating professional mistake. Lonely and grumpy, Akal plods through his work and dreams of getting back to Hong Kong or his native India.

When an indentured Indian woman goes missing from a sugarcane plantation and Fiji’s newspapers scream “kidnapping,” the inspector-general reluctantly assigns Akal the case. Akal, eager to achieve redemption, agrees—but soon finds himself far more invested than he could have expected.

Now not only is he investigating a disappearance, but also confronting the brutal realities of the indentured workers’ existence and the racism of the British colonizers in Fiji—along with his own thorny notions of personhood and caste. Early interrogations of the white plantation owners, Indian indentured laborers, and native Fijians yield only one there is far more to this case than meets the eye."

3. The Strangers by Katherena Vermette (Indigenous / CanLit / 2021). I found this at the local Thrift. I've enjoyed other work by Vermette.

"Cedar has nearly forgotten what her family looks like. Phoenix has nearly forgotten what freedom feels like. And Elsie has nearly given up hope. Nearly.

After time spent in foster homes, Cedar goes to live with her estranged father. Although she grapples with the pain of being separated from her mother, Elsie, and sister, Phoenix, she's hoping for a new chapter in her life, only to find herself once again in a strange house surrounded by strangers. From a youth detention centre, Phoenix gives birth to a baby she'll never get to raise and tries to forgive herself for all the harm she's caused (while wondering if she even should). Elsie, struggling with addiction and determined to turn her life around, is buoyed by the idea of being reunited with her daughters and strives to be someone they can depend on, unlike her own distant mother. These are the Strangers, each haunted in her own way. Between flickering moments of warmth and support, the women diverge and reconnect, fighting to survive in a fractured system that pretends to offer success but expects them to fail. Facing the distinct blade of racism from those they trusted most, they urge one another to move through the darkness, all the while wondering if they'll ever emerge safely on the other side."

4. Secret Sky by J.P. MCLean (The Gift Legacy #1 / Fan / 2012). I met this author at Comox Nautical Days.

"Everybody wishes they could fly—until it happens. When Emelynn Taylor wakes up in the emergency room, her injuries present Dr. Avery Coulter with more questions than answers. Who is this guarded young woman? Why was she found in the middle of Sunset Park? How can she have injuries consistent with falling from above the tree line? Seemingly from nowhere? And, more Why is she lying about it?

The truth is stranger than anyone could have imagined - least of all Emelynn herself.

Nine years earlier, during the same summer she'd lost her father, 12-year-old Emelynn accepted a 'gift' from a mysterious woman called Jolene. Now, as she recovers in Dr. Coulter's emergency room, she's left wondering if that blessing was really more of a curse. Jolene's gift planted the seeds of incredible power within Emelynn - but what's the point of such abilities if you can't control them? Her emerging gift of flight, for example, nearly killed Emelynn when it sent her plummeting to the sidewalk in Sunset Park. Next time, she might not be so lucky.

But Emelynn is determined to master her abilities, and returns to the seaside cottage where Jolene had once granted her this 'gift.' There, Dr. Coulter guides Emelynn in uncovering a secret society of others just like her, who inhabit a mysterious world-within-a-world that challenges everything Emelynn thought she'd known. But the more she uncovers, the murkier the truth becomes. Soon, Emelynn is left questioning the motives of those she'd trusted the most - and is forced to rely on her barely mastered powers in a desperate fight for survival."

There you go. I hope you see some books you might like to try. Now to get Jo off her phone call so we can go to her doctor's appointment.

A Rotary Club Book Sale Visit

Yesterday I took an hour and went to see if there were any books that interested me at the local Rotary Club Book Sale. This time I started in the Sci Fi / Fantasy section. It's usually at the end of the visit because it's by the cash register, so I started there this time. I figured I wouldn't be too tired this way. Anyway, I did find a few books.

New Books

1. Mammoths of the Great Plains by Eleanor Arnason (Alternate History / 2010)

"Shaggy herds of mammoths still roam the Great Plains--to the delight of President Thomas Jefferson--in this imaginative alternative history in which the beasts thunder over the grasslands as living symbols of the oncoming struggle between the Native peoples and the European invaders. This unforgettable saga soars from the Badlands of the Dakota Territory to the icy wastes of Siberia, from the Russian Revolution to the American Indian Movement protests of the 1960s and one woman’s attempt to harness DNA science to fulfill the ancient promises of her Lakota heritage. In addition, this volume includes the essay “Writing During World War Three,” a politically incorrect take on multiculturalism from a science fiction point of view and an outspoken interview with the writer of some of today’s edgiest and most uncompromising speculative fiction."

2. Sick Heart River by John Buchan (Leithen #5 / 1941). I'm enjoying exploring Buchan's work.

"Sir Edward Leithen is in London when he is diagnosed with tuberculosis and told that he has a year to live. Initially unsure of how to live out his remaining days, Leithen is unexpectedly given an opportunity to help search for a missing man in the Canadian north. Accepting the task, Leithen embarks on a physical and spiritual journey that helps him come to terms with his life, death, and legacy. John Buchan is most widely known for his adventure novels, such as those featuring the spy Richard Hannay. The spiritually poignant Sick Heart River is a departure from Buchan’s usual themes, even more so because it was the last book he wrote, and was published posthumously after his accidental death in 1940. The main character, Edward Leithen, had appeared in several other, more lighthearted books of Buchan’s, including The Power-House and John Macnab . Harper Perennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in eBook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the Harper Perennial Classics collection to build your digital library."

3. For Us, The Living by Robert Heinlein (Sci Fi / 2003). It's been quite awhile since I tried anything by Heinlein.

"July 12, 1939 Perry Nelson is driving along the palisades when suddenly another vehicle swerves into his lane, a tire blows out, and his car careens off the road and over a bluff. The last thing he sees before his head connects with the boulders below is a girl in a green bathing suit, prancing along the shore....

When he wakes, the girl in green is a woman dressed in furs and the sun-drenched shore has transformed into snowcapped mountains. The woman, Diana, rescues Perry from the bitter cold and takes him inside her home to rest and recuperate.
Later they debate the cause of the accident, for Diana is unfamiliar with the concept of a tire blowout and Perry cannot comprehend snowfall in mid-July. Then Diana shares with him a vital piece of The date is now January 7. The year...2086.

When his shock subsides, Perry begins an exhaustive study of global evolution over the past 150 years. He learns, among other things, that a United Europe was formed and led by Edward, Duke of Windsor; former New York City mayor LaGuardia served two terms as president of the United States; the military draft was completely reconceived; banks became publicly owned and operated; and in the year 2003, two helicopters destroyed the island of Manhattan in a galvanizing act of war. This education in the ways of the modern world emboldens Perry to assimilate to life in the twenty-first century.

But education brings with it inescapable truths -- the economic and legal systems, the government, and even the dynamic between men and women remain alien to Perry, the customs of the new day continually testing his mental and emotional resolve. Yet it is precisely his knowledge of a bygone era that will serve Perry best, as the man from 1939 seems destined to lead his newfound peers even further into the future than they could have imagined."

4. Haunted by James Herbert (Hor / 1988). I've really come to enjoy his horror stories.

"James Herbert's Haunted is the first chilling novel in the David Ash trilogy.

Three nights of terror at the house called Edbrook.

Three nights in which David Ash, there to investigate a haunting, will be victim of horrifying and maleficent games.

Three nights in which he will face the blood-chilling enigma of his own past.

Three nights before Edbrook's dreadful secret will be revealed, and the true nightmare will begin . . ."

5. Factoring Humanity by Robert J. Sawyer (Sci Fi / 1998). I've read one book by Sawyer so far and really enjoyed it.

"In the near future, a signal is detected coming from the Alpha Centauri system. Mysterious, unintelligible data streams in for ten years. Heather Davis, a professor in the University of Toronto psychology department, has devoted her career to deciphering the message. Her estranged husband, Kyle, is working on the development of artificial intelligence systems and new computer technology utilizing quantum effects to produce a near-infinite number of calculations simultaneously.

When Heather achieves a breakthrough, the message reveals a startling new technology that rips the barriers of space and time, holding the promise of a new stage of human evolution. In concert with Kyle's discoveries of the nature of consciousness, the key to limitless exploration---or the end of the human race---appears close at hand."

6. A Wild Light by Marjorie M. Liu (Hunter Kiss #3 / Fantasy / 2010). I've been really enjoying Liu's Monstress graphic novel series but it's winding down. I was pleasantly surprised to see she's also written novels. I'll have to get the 1st book in the series.

"For too long Maxine Kiss has felt an inexplicable darkness inside her-a force she channels into hunting the demons bent on destroying the human race. But when she finds herself covered in blood and crouched beside her grandfather's dead body with no memory of what happened, Maxine begins to fear that the darkness has finally consumed her."

7. Why Call Them Back From Heaven? by Clifford D. Simak (Sci Fi / 1967). I don't always like his stories but for some reason, I'm hooked on exploring Simak more.

"Immortality - The ultimate To come back to life - and never die again - that's what Forever Center promises the human race. And that's why, in the year 2148, people spend their whole lives in poverty, giving all their money to Forever Center to ensure their happiness and comfort in the next eternal life.

Daniel Frost is a key man at Forever Center. When he accidentally stumbles onto some classified documents, Dan incurs the wrath of an unseen enemy who has him framed and denounced as a social outcast. With the notorious mark of ostracization on his forehead, he is condemned to the desperate life of a hunted animal. But a few people will risk their lives to help Ann Harrison, the beautiful renegade lawyer who is convinced of his innocence, and Mona Campbell, the brilliant mathematician who has discovered some shattering information about Forever Center...and the essence of life itself."

8. Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson (Historical Fiction / 2002) I do hope to eventually read everything by Atkinson.

"1926, and in a country still recovering from the Great War, London has become the focus for a delirious new nightlife. In the clubs of Soho, peers of the realm rub shoulders with starlets, foreign dignitaries with gangsters, and girls sell dances for a shilling a time.  

 
The notorious queen of this glittering world is Nellie Coker, ruthless but also ambitious to advance her six children, including the enigmatic eldest, Niven, whose character has been forged in the crucible of the Somme. But success breeds enemies, and Nellie’s empire faces threats from without and within. For beneath the dazzle of Soho’s gaiety, there is a dark underbelly, a world in which it is all too easy to become lost.
 
With her unique Dickensian flair, Kate Atkinson gives us a window in a vanished world. Slyly funny, brilliantly observant, and ingeniously plotted, showcases the myriad talents that have made Atkinson one of the most lauded writers of our time."

9. The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu (Three Body Problem #2 / 2008). I have yet to read the 1st book, but I hear such great things about this one.

"Time is running out for humanity in The Dark Forest, the stunning sequel to Cixin Liu's award-winning and bestselling masterpiece The Three-Body Problem.

Earth is still reeling from the revelation of a coming alien invasion. The aliens' human collaborators may have been defeated, but the presence of the sophons, the subatomic particles that allow Trisolaris instant access to all human information, means that Earth's defense plans are totally exposed to the enemy. Only the human mind remains a secret. This is the motivation for the Wallfacer Project, a daring plan that grants four people enormous resources to design secret strategies, hidden through deceit and misdirection from Earth and Trisolaris alike. Three of the Wallfacers are influential statesmen and scientists, but the fourth is a total unknown. Luo Ji, an unambitious Chinese astronomer and sociologist, is baffled by his new status. All he knows is that he's the one Wallfacer that Trisolaris wants dead.

The Dark Forest continues Cixin Liu's ground-breaking saga of incredible scope and vision."

10. Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi (Fuzzy Sapiens #7 / 2011) Back in my university days, I enjoyed the 1st 3 books in this series, by H. Beam Piper. It seems that it's been continued by other authors.

"Zara Corp holds the right to extract unlimited resources from the verdant planet Zarathustra―as long as the planet is certifiably free of native sentients. So when an outback prospector discovers a species of small, appealing bipeds who might well turn out to be intelligent, language-using beings, it's a race to stop the corporation from "eliminating the problem," which is to say, eliminating the Fuzzies―wide-eyed and ridiculously cute small, and furry―who are as much people as we are."

There you go.. Enjoy your week, folks!