AudioFiles: Legend by Marie Lu

Title:Legend
Author: Marie Lu
Series: Legend
 Published by: November 29th 2011 by Putnam Juvenile
 Genres: Young Adult, Sci-fi 
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am glad that I listened to this one. I heard that in print the text alter every other chapter. This is an interesting book to say the least. The main thing I really like about Legend was the way the traditional gender roles were reversed. I usually find young adult dystopian fiction centers around a strong female character who is generally poor or disadvantaged by the current society. If there's a love interest, he's usually more well off and more integrated into the system. In this novel, and however, it is a male character (Day) a notorious criminal who is the most wanted ciminal by the Republic. and its the female character (June) is an exceptionally gifted prodigy who is being groomed to become a military star.

I wish that in the book they would tell a background story of how and when the Republic and the Colonies breakup. What were the circumstances that caused the conflict. This book was like The Game of Thrones with the reader in the point of the view of June and Day after every chapter.

In this book there is plenty of action and some unique twists throughout this adventure. It was a great beginning of the Legend Series.

AudioFiles: The Camel Club by David Baldacci

The Camel Club by David Baldacci
My rating: Back It Up


Summary:
Existing at the fringes of Washington, D.C., the Club consists of four eccentric members. Led by a mysterious man known as "Oliver Stone," they study conspiracy theories, current events, and the machinations of government to discover the 'truth' behind the country's actions. Their efforts bear little fruit--until the group witnesses a shocking murder...and become embroiled in an astounding, far-reaching conspiracy. Not the Club must join forces with a Secret Service agent to confront one of the most chilling spectacles ever to take place on American soil--and event that may trigger the ultimate war between two different worlds. And all that stands in the way of this apocalypse is five unexpected heroes.
 
My Thoughts:
This was the first book I have read by Baldacci and I was impressed to say the least. In this book, it is about a group of misfits that have a club where they try to uncover conspiracies and force the government to acknowledge truth called the Camel Club. Hence the title. I sounds like a group that I would like to be part of :)

The group meets once a month to talk about what they think that the government is hiding from the American people. During one of these meeting, they witness an event that puts them in the middle of a situation that threatens the safety of the country and the world.

I did enjoy this book with the turns and twists that is throws at the reader. There are many different stories happening throughout the book. At times it is a challenge to keep up with the character in the book.

I like it so much that I am starting the second book in the series already.

AudioFiles: The Color of Magic

Title:The Color of Magic
Author: Terry Pratchett
My rating: Save It

Summary: This title, which launched the legendary Discworld series, introduces the tourist Twoflower and his wizard guide, Rincewind. Part of a reissue of the first three Discworld books, this novel includes an overview of the fantasy land, with a map, visitor's guide, and Pratchett crossword puzzle.

My Thoughts: 
I was ready for a fun read and Terry Pratchett did the trick for me. I have read a couple of his later books, such as The Wee Free Men (Discworld, #30) and that was flipping hilarious. I decided to get back into the series and start from the beginning. Pratchett it seems that is publishing book left and right. You just never know what is going to be around the corner next for our guide.

The only complaint that I have about the book that it is a little slow paced, but yet again what fantasy book isn't slow paced. The author has to bring you into his mad world after all.

In the book,Rincewind as he is unwantingly roped into guiding the clueless tourist Twoflower along with the ever faithful Luggage around the flat, disc-shaped world.The discworld a world balanced on the backs of four elephants which, in turn, stand on the back of a giant turtle, Great A'Tuin. It is interesting to say the least. This is a world where the gods gamble to decide the fates of the world and the ever-present Death, efficiently "collecting" unfortunate souls is one of my favourite characters ever.

I will be checking out the next book of the series.

Redshirts by John Scalzi

Redshirts by John Scalzi
My rating: Save It
How I Acquired It: Library

Summary:
Ensign Andrew Dahl has just been assigned to the Universal Union Capital Ship "Intrepid," flagship of the Universal Union since the year 2456. It's a prestige posting, and Andrew is thrilled all the more to be assigned to the ship's Xenobiology laboratory. Life couldn't be better...until Andrew begins to pick up on the fact that (1) every Away Mission involves some kind of lethal confrontation with alien forces, (2) the ship's captain, its chief science officer, and the handsome Lieutenant Kerensky always survive these confrontations, and (3) at least one low-ranked crew member is, sadly, always killed.

Not surprisingly, a great deal of energy below decks is expended on avoiding, at all costs, being assigned to an Away Mission. Then Andrew stumbles on information that completely transforms his and his colleagues' understanding of what the starship "Intrepid "really is...and offers them a crazy, high-risk chance to save their own live.

My Thoughts:

I grew up watching Star Trek:TOS and watching TNG every night. Back then it was like what Law and Order or CSI is today. I did not know anything about this book until I read some of the reviews of some of the blogging buddies.

After I go into this one there was no putting it down. It did read like a Trek episode.THis book brought me back to where some mind-boggling creaures were lurking around the counter when crew member went on Away Missions. In REDSHIRTS follows Andy Dahl, recently assigned to the starship Intrepid. Dahl quickly begins to realize that there is something peculiar about the ship’s away missions – the captain, the science officer, and other select crew members always live even despite apparently insurmountable odds while the poor ensign (or more) dies. But the truth about this strange "coincidence" is stranger than the "coincidence" itself.

This book is a laugh-out book. It seemed that this book had great humor throughout this adventure as well as some interesting twists.

If you have read this book what were your thoughts?

AudioFiles: Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter
by Seth Grahame-Smith
My rating: Back It Up
Acquired: Library

I will admit this is my first monster mash-up that I have ever read. I have not seen the movie yet. I will wait to see it when it comes out on DVD.This sure was interesting to see how Grahame-Smith incorporated Lincoln's real-life events/tragedies with his war against the Vampires.He also made it sound plausible with the writing style that he used throughout the book as well.  This is so much better with all the other Twilight copycats that have been coming out in an alarming rate.

The book is built on the premise that Lincoln kept a series of secret journals over his lifetime chronicling his life-long battle against the dark forces of vampires, including their role in the Civil War and the perpetuation of slavery. I wish that there would have been more Vampire hunting in the book. 

While, I found that the premise of this book fun and I enjoyed listening to this book to and from work. If you are look for a book that is both a learning experience and yet a fantasy, then this book would be for you. 

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
My rating: Save It
Published: 1996

This is my first experience by Gaiman and I sure did like this book. I started this book as a group read lead by Carl over at  Stainless Steel Droppings, but as usual the distraction called life prevailed.I think that it was even better listening to the author reading his own masterpiece. I do recommend that everyone listen to the audiobook and you will not regret it.

This book took a week or so longer than expect, because I could not listen to the book going to work. This was due to the fact that my muffler rusted off from the exhaust. Thus, it sounds like a Harley was in my backseat. I could not get much from listening to the radio. 

I like it that Gaiman put a normal man Richard Mayhew stuck in the middle of his magical world(London Below) and he was thrust ed in this world after a meeting a bloodied girl, Door on the street. I think that there are few people that cannot relate throughout this journey of London Below. Gaiman did a great job putting the reading in the shoes of Richard, because the reader was thinking what Richard is thinking at that moment. I am thinking WOW this was his first novel.

I am glad that I read this book; I have been a fan of the dark arts for quite a while. It was a big thanks to Tim Burton movie and no I cannot choose which one.I love this gothic style of writing it was a painting f charters throughout wanting me to get some more.

After reading this piece if work, I think that I am going to be reading some more Gaiman. After reading this book, I wonder if there is a London Below in other towns and cities or maybe your town. Well..it is a thought.

AudioFiles: Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich

Title:Explosive Eighteen
 Author: Janet Evanovich
Series: Stephanie Plum #18
My rating: Back It Up

Summary:
Before Stephanie can even step foot off Flight 127 from Hawaii to Newark, she’s knee deep in trouble. Her dream vacation turned into a nightmare, she’s flying back to New Jersey solo, and someone who sounds like Sasquatch is snoring in row 22. Worse still, her seatmate never returned to the plane after the L.A. layover. Now he’s dead, in a garbage can, waiting for curbside pickup. His killer could be anyone. The FBI, the fake FBI, and guns-for-hire are all looking for a photograph the dead man was supposed to be carrying.

Only one other person has seen the missing photograph—Stephanie Plum. Now she’s the target, and she doesn’t intend to end up in a garbage can. With the help of an FBI sketch artist Stephanie re-creates the person in the photo. Unfortunately the first sketch turns out to look like Tom Cruise, and the second sketch like Ashton Kutcher. Until Stephanie can improve her descriptive skills, she’ll need to watch her back.

Over at the Bail Bonds Agency it’s business as usual—until the bonds bus serving as Vinnie’s temporary HQ goes up in smoke, Stephanie’s wheelman, Lula, falls in love with their “largest” FTA yet, lifetime arch nemesis Joyce Barnhardt moves into Stephanie’s apartment, and everyone wants to know what happened in Hawaii?!
 
Morelli, Trenton’s hottest cop, isn’t talking about Hawaii. Ranger, the man of mystery, isn’t talking about Hawaii.  And all Stephanie is willing to say about her Hawaiian vacation is . . . It’s complicated.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this book just like I have enjoyed all the others. I find them entertaining and laugh out loud funny. These books show some of us that there can people that are more dysfunctional than ourselves. You cannot have a Stephanie Plum Novel without somebody trying to kill her right.

My wife and I listened to this one while going through the Upper Michigan and beyond. My wife and I agree that she needs to choose between the men that is "involved" with in her life.

I will say that this one has been better than the past couple of Stephanie Plum books. Now it is the waiting game for when the next book comes out and who knows when that will be happening.

AudioFiles: Gideon's Sword by Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Title: Gideon's Sword

Author:  Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

Narrator: John Glover  

Series: Gideon Crew

Format:Audiobook

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Year:2011

Acquired:Library Loan

Ranking: Save It

Summary: Introducing Gideon Crew: trickster, prodigy, master thief

At twelve, Gideon Crew witnessed his father, a world-class mathematician, accused of treason and gunned down.

At twenty-four, summoned to his dying mother's bedside, Gideon learned the truth: His father was framed and deliberately slaughtered. With her last breath, she begged her son to avenge him.

Now, with a new purpose in his life, Gideon crafts a one-time mission of vengeance, aimed at the perpetrator of his father's destruction. His plan is meticulous, spectacular, and successful.

But from the shadows, someone is watching. A very powerful someone, who is impressed by Gideon's special skills. Someone who has need of just such a renegade.

For Gideon, this operation may be only the beginning . . 

My Thoughts: I think that I was a bit spoiled with the way that this book start out. I will say that I was dialed in after the chapter or so. With all the fast past action that was going on and surrounding Gideon. I did like his mentality with the way that he social engineered most of what got him through life. He seems like the type of person that I might get along with with..:))
I did think that the story was going to go deeper with his father, but that was not the case in the story. The book did focus more on Gideon and how he was going through life.

This book had PLENTY of action, you just ever knew how he was going to accomplish the goal that organization preset for him to accomplish.I liked the way that the narrator's interpretation of the story and he made you feel that you were right there with Gideon. 


This story would be for any geek that enjoys some crime solving

Foundation and Empire by Isaac Asimov

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Title: Foundation and Empire
Author: Isaac Asimov
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Hard Science Fiction
Year: 1952
Acquired: Library Loan
Ranking: 2/5

Summary: Led by its founding father, the great psychohistorian Hari Seldon, and taking advantage of its superior science and technology, the Foundation has survived the greed and barbarism of its neighboring warrior-planets. Yet now it must face the Empire—still the mightiest force in the Galaxy even in its death throes. When an ambitious general determined to restore the Empire’s glory turns the vast Imperial fleet toward the Foundation, the only hope for the small planet of scholars and scientists lies in the prophecies of Hari Seldon.
But not even Hari Seldon could have predicted the birth of the extraordinary creature called The Mule—a mutant intelligence with a power greater than a dozen battle fleets…a power that can turn the strongest-willed human into an obedient slave.

My Thoughts: I just feel let down by the first two books of this series. I guess Asimov is not my cup of tea or coffee what have you. I did struggle the grasp Asimov writing style in the first book. So I figured that maybe the second book in the series would be a little better. I was wrong. I came into this series thrilled to FINALLY read the Foundation series.I feel disappointed with many of my friends recommending this series. It took all my being to be able to finish this book. Well maybe it was because it was an audiobook I am not sure what it was for me.

The basic premise for the Foundation series is that a brilliant scientist Hari Seldon has developed the art of psychohistory; he can basically predict the future movements of humanity and the ebbs and flow of history within a reasonable margin for error. He sees that the galaxy will regress to barbarism, but by establishing a foundation of scientists and other intellectuals to work on a world encyclopedia and preserve the knowledge of the current empire, the period of barbarism can be reduced dramatically. Of course, he can't live forever, so he predicts as far ahead as he can, and records holograms of himself to be viewed by future generations so that they can partake in his knowledge and thwart whatever evils will come to them.

If you're like me, this sounds like a really incredibly awesome concept, and it really is. The problem is that it just doesn't work out to be as exciting as it sounds. In the first novel, I liked the idea, but by midway through this, the second, I decided it actually limits the series entirely. To base the series on the idea of the future being predictable, Asimov essentially created a crutch the leads to there being no actual drama whatsoever. If you know the good guys have everything worked out ahead of time, is there ever really any question how things will turn out in the long run? I don't think so. Of course, there are going to be minor problems to create a little bit of conflict, but it seems pretty clear that the good guys are going to pull it out.

Audiofiles:The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein

Title: The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Author:Robert A. Heinlein

Genre: Science fiction
Length: 13h
Audio publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks
Read by: Lloyd James
Rating: 4/5

Summary:
It is a tale of revolution, of the rebellion of the former Lunar penal colony against the Lunar Authority that controls it from Earth. It is the tale of the disparate people—a computer technician, a vigorous young female agitator, and an elderly academic—who become the rebel movement's leaders. And it is the story of Mike, the supercomputer whose sentience is known only to this inner circle, and who for reasons of his own is committed to the revolution's ultimate success.
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is one of the high points of modern science fiction, a novel bursting with politics, humanity, passion, innovative technical speculation, and a firm belief in the pursuit of human freedom.


My Thoughts:

It took me a while to get use to the Luna speak compared to earthly speak. I couldn't figure out what was going on or why the language was so rough and unpolished and choppy. Eventually, though, I found the rhythm of it and settled in just fine -- I didn't even notice it after a while. It makes sense; Luna started off as a penal colony and has since developed completely separate from Earth. Luna does trim down the language and use as efficient as possible. 


I will say this my favorite "character" in the book was Mike. Yes a super computer was my favorite. I was saddened to see what happened to him in the end of the book. Nobody was quite sure what happened to the super computer he did not respond back to Mannie after revolt was over. 

Throughout the book it was scary to see what knew about anyone and everyone on a drop of a hat. I think that Heinlein hit this nail right on the head. Considering that this book was published in 1966. It was like reading a Clarke novel. So close that it is scary. 

All in all, though, this is a novel about politics -- a very complex, deep, intellectual and sophisticated look at politics, government, revolution and war. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress has a very definite world-view and political philosophy, some of which I agreed with, and some of which I really, really didn't. My agreement (or lack thereof) with the politics espoused in this book didn't seem to have much bearing on my enjoyment of it. This is a book that requires the reader to think. This is something that some books these days are lacking. Look and some of the books that the teens these days are reading like the Twilight Series.

So if you need a book that make you think this you pick. I want to thank Andrea from Little Red Reviewer for recommending this book to me  to read.  

AudioFiles:The Minority by Philip K. Dick

Author: Philip K. Dick
Genre: Science Fiction
Year:1956
Read by:  Keir Dullea
Acquired: Library
Rating: 3/5


Overview of the Book: In the world of The Minority Report, Commissioner John Anderton is the one to thank for the lack of crime. He is the originator of the Precrime System, which uses "precogs"–people with the power to see into the future–to identify criminals before they can do any harm. Unfortunately for Anderton, his precogs perceive him as the next criminal. But Anderton knows he has never contemplated such a thing, and this knowledge proves the precogs are fallible. Now, whichever way he turns, Anderton is doomed–unless he can find the precogs's "minority report"–the dissenting voice that represents his one hope of getting at the truth in time to save himself from his own system.

My Thoughts:  I just watched the movie with my wife over New Years and I was not that sure what to expect. I was hope that there was not a hack job in this case. Considering that we did really enjoyed the movie. Being a short story there was not that much to hack out in the first place, but there was plenty that Spielberg could add to the book if desired. Anyways lets get to book review.

We're set up to think Anderton is the protagonist because he's the one being sought after for a possible murder. But when he finds out that there really is no minority report, that the precogs' reports cancel each other out instead of having a majority report, he still doesn't seem to be remorseful for any of the people that he has put into the internment camps throughout his years in Precrime. When someone suggests to him that Precrime should instead let the accused future muderer know about his/her possible crime to see if he or she changes his or her mind, he's very blaise about it. The only reason the precogs' reports change is because Anderton knows that he's being accused of a future murder to which he believes he won't commit but then after realizing why he might commit murder he changes his mind. 

This short story did not take very long for me to get through. I was a good story, but not great overall.The action packed in this short story is crazy. Dick does shows that even you try to prevent  crime in the future, but there is only so much that you can do. Also this is my first Dick story that I have read.

AudioFiles: Carrie by Stephen King

Author: Stephen King 
Narrator: Sissy Spacek
Genre: Horror
Year: 1974 (205 Audiobook)
Acquired: Library
Rating: 8/10


Overview of the Book:
In an exclusive introduction written specifically for this edition, King looks back at the creation of his first masterpiece 25 years ago. Carrie White is unaware of her extraordinary powers, until she is pushed over the edge by her classmates and transforms the quiet New England town into a holocaust of destruction.

To start off with I thought that it was great that they used Sissy Spacek as the narrator of this book.The original actress that portrayed "Carrie" in the 1976 movie. It was a great choice to have her to tell you the story of Carrie.

This book was another great masterpiece by Stephen King. I think part of what makes this book so amazing is that even though it is a horror book - it stems from something very basic and very real to so many people. The need to be loved. The need for acceptance. The need to be nurtured by a parent. Sadly - as is so often the case in real life as well - these things are held out of reach for Carrie. This book shows how TERRIBLE kids can be in high school and still can be. 

So really the cruelest thing you could do is to offer her a chance at this world and then snatch it away from her. Offer her hope and then throw it on the rocks. Just the concept itself is crushing - the actualization of it for Carrie was horrific. And all the more so because we KNOW how cruel kids in school are.In the end, Carrie just could not take this anymore from the school, mother town and she just snaps  under the torment throughout her teen years, because she was different. 

This book is a MUST read for anyone that wonders what goes through the mind of a someone in the position of Carrie.