A list of current and previously read books.   Currently: The Cousins' Wars: Religion, Politics, and the Triumph of Anglo-America by Kevin P. Phillips Previously: The Difference Engine by Bruce Sterling and William Gibson Previously: Roman Dusk by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro Previously: The Clan Corporate [the Merchant Prince vol. 3] by Charles Stross Bastard! I hadn't read this before Charlie Stross was a guest at Continuum in 2006 but he wrote on the title page "Hah! Hooked you!" And he has. The first two of the Merchant Prince novels set up the alternate worlds and gives a feeling of how the worlds work and the cultural differences. Having explored those The Clan Corporate really starts getting into the machiavellian politics of the Clan. Painfully it ends on a cliff-hanger and it's going to be at least 6-12 months before the next volume is out. Previously: The Man from the Diogines Club by Kim Newman Some of these I had read before but some were new. Newman has taken the concept of the "unofficial" investigations by a non-government group of The Establishment, that he had spun off from the references in the Sherlock Holmes stories, and moved them along to the Swinging 60s. Richard Jepperson is a "sensitive" and the stories invariably involve something supernatural. He is partnered by Victoria, a redheaded martial arts expert, and Fred Regent, a Police Sergent who's been seconded to work with the group. As is usual for Newman there's a blend of period pop-culture and references to other stories in the canon. A nice addition to his ever expanding bibliography. Previously: The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross Imagine that the Cthulhu monsters are real. Then imagine the only thing standing between them and us is a section of the British Civil Service. Which is scarier? While not much in the way of Yes, Minister, the book contains two stories featuring computer expert Bob Howard and how he came to be involved with a government group called The Laundry. There's familiar elements like Nazi's obsession with the occult but also a twist that postulates higher mathematics is actually a form of ritual magic and that people like Alan Turing have been involved with the Laundry in the past. Great stuff. Previously: The Hidden Family [the Merchant Prince vol. 2] by Charles Stross Sequel to The Family Trade, this book follows Miriam's discovery of a third world and her plan to make a power base to protect herself from members of the Clan who see her as an inconvenient rival. These two books while ostensibly "science fantasy" are more properly Alternate History (with a little something thrown in to allow travel between the two worlds). The language, style and plot development keep these books going and make you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. I can't wait to get into the third book. Previously: Secrets of Angels and Demons Edited by Dan Burstein & Arne de Keijzer This book is a collection of articles about the background information used by Dan Brown's Angels and Demons and was originally collected before the death of Pope John Paul II and includes information regarding Papal Succession and how it may happen next. I haven't read Angels and Demons though I have been interesting in reading it. This book covers some of the history of the book's background - from the confrontations between Da Vinci and the Church (the old Science vs. Religion game) to the actual role of various functionaries within the Vatican to the archaeological evidence for who may have been buried in the tomb said to belong to St. Peter. It's quite interesting, but then I enjoy delving into the history of the Church. As someone recently pointed out, the reason I didn't get all indignant about The Da Vinci Code was that I'd read many of these ideas 20 years ago. For many Christians it was all brand new. Previously: Auriel Rising by Elizabeth Redfern A nice little story that delves into the intrigue and greed surrounding the court of James VI, now James I, at the London court. Belief in alchemy is rampant though many are sceptical. A little subplot involving alliances with Spain and an exile returned to England make for added depth. Some of the development was a little lacking, and the romance plot between the protagonist Ned Warriner and his former love Kate Pelham seems to have been rushed in favour of more political intrigue. Redfern does convey a very palpable obsession with alchemy by many of the characters and finishes with what is an interesting read. Previously: The Family Trade [the Merchant Prince vol. 1] by Charles Stross Fan-bloody-tastic! This book evokes my enjoyment of the old H. Beam Piper Paratime stories but with writing that is really up to date and got me right into the story from the start. Miriam was a reporter until she uncovers a money-laundering scheme that seems to implicate the owners of the paper she works for. Depressed and jobless she is given a box by her adoptive mother that contains clues to her heritage. She discovers that she is really a Princess, just not from this world. Previously: Power and Glory: Jacobean England and the making of the King James Bible by Adam Nicolson An interesting look at 17th century society and the reasoning behind the need for and the creation of the King James Bible. There's a lot of discussion about the differences between Catholic viewpoints and the distinctions between Anglican and Puritan concerns. There's information on the lives of the translators, details about some of the wording chosen and notable differences between earlier English translations such as Tyndale's and the Geneva Bible. An interesting read. Previously: The Great Train Robbery by Michael Chrichton Previously: Death of an Adept by Katherine Kurtz Still with the research. I hadn't realised William de Soulis was a real historical figure the first time I read these books. Wow. Previously: The Lodge of the Lynx by Katherine Kurtz More background research. This time for a possible setting in Scotland. A couple of the minor historical points too. Previously: Hotel Transylvania by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro I reread this as some background research for a Steampunk story I'm hoping to write. There's a few things that have changed about the Saint-Germain as the series evolved but I still like the original story. Previously: The Cobweb by Neil Stephenson & J. Frederick George This book is almost just two stories about similar events from different perspectives: one a small-town county sheriff, the other a CIA analyst. The stories almost never cross, other than on some of the subject matter. Perhaps the idea of the story was to get across the difference between information available to a Intelligence operative and a man on the ground who can see what's going on but hasn't the resources to back him up. If it was it didn't come across particularly well. The writing was good but the story itself just didn't engage me. None of the characters were dislikable I just didn't feel anything for them. Oh well. Previously: Rupert of Hentzau by Anthony Hope The sequel to Hope's The Prisoner of Zenda. Rupert of Hentzau, right-hand man to the previous novel's antagonist, Michael of Strelsau , is back to try a reap revenge on the King. More political intrigue ensues and while it finishes with a closed ending it's not a particularly happy one. Previously: The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope With a story so used it has now become a cliché, I was mostly aware of the plot but had never read the original before. The story of Rudolph Rassendyll who, through a shared ancestor in the past, bears an uncanny resemblance to King Rudolph V of Ruritania. With various people involved with political intrigue and Royal impersonations to the fore it seems that Ruritania is not quite the idyllic vision I had pictured. That may be entirely due to cinematic sanitising of the story though. While primarily and adventure story there's a lot more to the subtext than meets the eye. Previously: Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman Sort of a "sequel" to Gaiman's American Gods, though probably more an "inspired by". The story is about "Fat Charlie" Nancy, who is unknowingly the son of Anansi, the African spider god. After his father dies Charlie discovers he has a brother and things in his life get very, very complicated. Gaiman's writing style is always great and writing almost as if it was meant to be read aloud. Many authors write very descriptively but Gaiman seems to construct his prose in a way that sounds good to the ear. The tone is certainly more humorous than American Gods and some of the interactions are great - the 4 Caribbean women casting a Voodoo ritual being one of the standouts. An excellent book Previously: Dissolution by C. J. Sansom Another whodunit though this one set in a Benedictine Monastery at the time Henry VIII is attempting to have them all shut down and wipe out Catholicism from England. It tended to drag a lot and some of the characters seemed to be there simply because the author was trying to make things a bit more colourful. I didn't pick the murderer in this one until he was revealed as there were so many motives and vices it was hard to know where to start. Not a bad novel but nothing spectacular. Previously: The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume It's rare enough that I read a book set in my home town much less a book written in the 19th century set in my home town. This whodunit was apparently one of the biggest sellers at the time. I would have said it was relatively obscure now though it's supposedly on this year's Year 12 English curriculum. The actual murderer was some-one it took me a while to figure out though the "scandal" part was easy - there's nothing more scandalous to the Victorian mind than illegitimacy within the peerage. The writing style holds up well for it's age and the notion of being able to read a contemporary description of Melbourne in the 1880s is wonderful. Previously: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova Told in the format of flashback within a flashback within a flashback, at times it's easy to forget what time period you're in. The Historian postulates to be the notes of the author with additional information as provided by her father, her father's professor and various other sources of the search for the still existing and "alive" Dracula. Well I couldn't really say living. Yes, he's a vampire. Stoker's book was fiction but there were elements of truth in it. The story ambles along dropping clue after clue much like a Da Vinci Code for people who are happy to take their time. The writing style is good, though it's meant to be a personal journal and came across as rather odd for a journal in places I thought. It's a good story, something a little different on the Dracula franchise. Perhaps not to everyone's taste but enjoyable never the less. Previously: The Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose Not so much reading as dipping into. The Vulgar Tongue is a collection of word usages and colloquialisms from the late 18th century, the time the book was originally written. There's a few terms that have survived in the same context after 200 years of language change but many have fallen into disuse (like describing coffee as Mahometan Gruel or to join giblets said of a man and woman who cohabit as Man & Wife without actually being married). Previously: Class Dis-Mythed by Robert Asprin and Jodie Lynn Nye The lack of Skeeve in the last book (Myth-taken Identity) was more than made up for with this current book. Skeeve, still in self-imposed "retirement" is sent a handful of recently graduated students who are desperate for some hands-on experience. Many of the old cast return for brief appearances but it's the interaction of Skeeve's new pupils that are really the focus. There's a few lines mentioning M.Y.T.H. Inc. II so I'm not sure if Asprin is setting things up for a continuation group. I don't think the new characters are as interesting as the old ones though. Previously: Eats, Shoots and leaves by Lynne Truss Mandatory Reading! Yes this should be made mandatory, especially for those people who think writing in SMS abbreviations is acceptable. Or people who can't tell the difference between their, there and they're. It's clarified a couple of things for me and while it won't help for actual grammatical usage of words it's an essential reference for punctuation. Previously: Hit or Myth by Robert Asprin Previously: Myth Conceptions by Robert Asprin Previously: Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin Previously: The Escape of Charles II by Richard Ollard A rather interesting look at the escape route of Charles II after the Battle of Worcester, where the Scottish forces (who, no matter how much they disliked the monarchy, were not about to let the English decide the fate of the Scottish crown) were defeated by the Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army. While it dismisses the commonly held myth that Charles escaped dressed as a woman, it does say he spent some time pretending to be a valet of the people with who he travelled. A very interesting book. Previously: Perdido Street Station by China Miéville I started reading this and just wasn't in the mood. I've had Perdido Street Station recommended as an excellent Steampunk novel but I don't think it was what I was expecting. I've read about the first 200 pages and have put it aside. I suppose I was looking for a particular type of steampunk and this wasn't it. Previously: Peter Jackson: From prince of splatter to lord of the rings by Ian Pryor A rather eye-opening biography that shows while Peter Jackson may be one of the nicest blokes on the planet he can be a ruthless little bastard when it comes to getting his films done "his way". It's an unauthorised biography and the author said that after it became known that he was seeking interviews for the book many people who had been willing to talk previously suddenly dried up. There's a lot of stuff in there about the trials of making his early movies and some connections to people whose significance I didn't realise at the time. The only failing that I can see is that there it very little in relation to Jackson's personal life. It does mention, almost as an aside, that Jackson and Fran Walsh became a couple and now have two kids but there's very little there on how and when it happened. Though I suppose you'd really only get that sort of info if you were writing the authorised biography rather than the unauthorised one. Previously: Web Site Story by Robert Rankin My first Rankin book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm guessing he's probably what Pratchet is like for people who like Pratchet. There's a few digs a Matrix-style reality as well as some lovely British dead-pan humour. The whole concept of a village so out of touch with the modern day world as to be enshrined in a theme park is one I'm sure many Brits could relate to. I think I shall have to read more of his work. Previously: States of Grace by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro I was a little disappointed that it was so short. Dark of the Sun was an extra 200 pages or so. Given the extreme volatility of the reformation I'm surprised that Tor didn't allow more story to develop (I'm assuming it was an editorial decision that resulted in the length). The character of Pier-Ariana Salier was enchanting, reminding me of the younger Rowena Saxon. Though sadly there was very little detail about her interactions with deceiving young Venetians or her family so I can't say if she was as mentally tough, though the fact that she organised to lease out her house and find her way to her brother's home makes me think she's not a wilting flower. Bloemfountain's English Company rang very true – this being an earlier incarnation of the Trayned Bands I have become involved with in Living History. The perils of publishing at the time come across very well with both Protestant and Catholic sides claiming a for us or against us mentality. I think the ending could have been drawn out somewhat as it seemed somewhat hurried or condensed. The reunion with Pier-Ariana came off rather like a footnote. I was rather impressed with the fate of the Consiglieri's nephew (whose name escapes me at the moment). The epilogue dealing with the demise of Pier-Ariana was sort of expected, as she's not mentioned in any other books, though her manner of death was a surprise. Previously: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling Far more details than the movie, though in some of the descriptions I actually think the movies sets were better than the visual descriptions given by Rowling. Still a nice read. Previously: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling Same again with refreshing the minor details of the characters that was left out of the films. I understand that Alan Rickman is a handsome chap but I don't understand women that think the literary version of Snape is in any way attractive. And Malfoy's a git. Previously: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling After having read, and enjoyed, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince I thought I'd go back and start from the beginning of the stories. It had been about 4 years since I'd read HPPS but I had seen the movie several times since then and was more familiar with it. Rereading the original story was good as there were bit that I had forgotten: Dudly's "Gang", Hermione's buck teeth, and some of the ghosts who were dropped from the film. As noted below the "double initial" minor character' names are annoying but it's still a very good story. Previously: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling It's been a while since I read Order of the Phoenix so initially a few of the references I struggled to remember but as the book progressed I enjoyed it more. The development of Ginny and the whole High-School romance thing was nice and the introduction of Slughorn as a character fit well. I'm sure there are quite a few real teachers like him. Rowling's penchant for "double initial" character names seems to have died away (Helga Hufflepuff, Severus Snape, Merwyn the Malicious, Salazar Slytherin, Rita Skeeter) though I still find it amusing her use of names for things. Sanguinus the vampire? A were-wolf called Lupin? A dog animagus called Sirius? But then I suppose it's written for children and they probably wouldn't find it as obvious. The whole Half-Blood Prince thing wrapped up as a big rush and a non-event. I suppose the revelation that Snape may really still a Death Eater ties it back to the title of the novel. Though the whole climax of the invasion of Hogwarts had enough areas of grey that who's side Snape is on could still be debated. He's not going to get any slack from the Order of the Phoenix I liked the descriptions of Harry's feelings around Ginny. As for some of the people complaining that Ron and Hermione shouldn't have got together I'm just wondering if this can be one of the drawbacks of reading so much fanfic. People get an idea into their heads that isn't in the books (and lets face it the whole Ron/Hermione thing has been building for a while as far as I could see) and then complain when the author doesn't follow the same path. I can see why some authors stomp on any fanfic they find. The editing of the book was better than the previous instalment. A lot of B stories in the last just petered out and went nowhere. This book has me wanting to keep reading to find out what happened. I can see how easy it would be to sit down and read it in one sitting. Previously: Finding Serenity Edited by Jane Espenson A collection of articles about the television series Firefly. Being one of my favourite shows ever some of the analyses were rather missing the point (such as the one on the absence of chivalry in Firefly) and others were very funny. A good book for Firefly fans everywhere. Previously: Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson The last instalment of the door-stopper trilogy really dragged. After struggling through it for a month I have "put it aside" to return to if and when I feel like it. There was far too much descriptive writing about how things look without much moving along with the story. Also the constant change of central protagonist made for a very disjointed read. I loved the first two but this one just doesn't get me involved. Previously: The Silver Crown by Joel Rosenberg I finally remembered the book with the magical equivalent of gunpowder: superheated steam confined by magic. Release the magic and it goes boom! I'm considering whether I want to track down the other Guardians of the Flame books. Still not sure. But these were fun to reread. Previously: The Sword and the Chain by Joel Rosenberg Raced through the first book in just over a day so I kept on going. Declaring war on the Slaver's Guild and establishing a home in a fantasy world can take a lot out of a person. Previously: The Sleeping Dragon by Joel Rosenberg I recently found a bibliography of fantasy writer Joel Rosenberg and discovered he had written several Guardian of the Flame novels after the four I had read years ago. I decided to dig them out and reread them to see if they still had as much appeal as when I was heavily immersed in role-playing games. They're very light but enjoyable none-the-less. I suppose every gamer had wondered what it would be like to actually visit Middle-Earth or Krynn, or hundreds of other places. Rosenberg just wrote about it. Previously: Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson This one took a little longer to finish than the first but I'm still enjoying the harder edged SF. Some great twists that I didn't see coming and some others that were seemed quite accurate given a knowledge of how humans have reacted to revolution in the past. Even the things like the splintering of the Red Mars groups and the various factionalism involved and the history behind the emergence of the metanational companies seemed quite convincing. One more to go. Previously: The Strange Laws of Old England by Nigel Cawthorne Some interesting laws that have been passed (and a few that are still on the books). There was mention that of the sixty original clauses set out in the original Magna Carter only three are still in existence. For example under a statute known as the Wreck of the Sea Act, signed into law by Edward II in 1324 "the King shall have throughout the realm, whales and great sturgeons taken in the sea or elsewhere within the realm". This law was most recently invoked in 2001 when Norwegian whalers, who had been caught catching minke for "research" were banned from British water and their catch confiscated. Though my personal favourite was before peers lost the right to be tried before the House of Lords, a woman could be married to two men and not be found guilty of bigamy - if the first of the two marriages was to a commoner and the second to a peer of the realm. As a peeress, she would have had the right to be tried by the House of Lords, who would have been obliged to acquit her - if they had tried to convict her, they would have established the first marriage in law, which would mean that she was not a peeress and they would have no jurisdiction. Equally, if the crown court tried to convict, it would acknowledge the rank conferred by her second marriage, negating its own jurisdiction. Previously: By the Sword Divided by John Adair Quite an interesting account with excerpts from contemporary sources looking at various battles of the Civil Wars. I don't know if it's that more Parliamentarian accounts have survived or that they were more inclined to keep a journal of the events (though I think the latter unlikely), the book does seem to have a bias towards the number of references cited from the "winning" side. I'd still like to find a book that charts the history through the Protectorate finishing with the Restoration but that may be a case of having to chart through numerous books. Sadly there doesn't seem to be a great deal in print on the shelves in Australia. Previously: Ferren and the Angel by Richard Harland My second Richard Harland book. I'm quite enjoying his stuff. The was a very quick read, possibly aimed at the "young adult" market. The chapters were very short which became annoying at some points but the story clipped along at a good pace. Ferren is a member of a tribe who call themselves The People. He's a little more intellectual than the rest and still has "ideas" and does not always "keep to the old ways". Thus it is he who discovers the body of the angel shot down by the Humen in the most recent of the Celestial Wars. The wars have been raging for centuries with no side seemingly having a clear advantage. Rather than run Ferren tries to help the angel and ends up befriending Miriael, and Junior Angel of the 4th Altitude. He learns from her the truth about the causes of Celestial Wars, the Humens and discovers what really happens when The People are Selected for Military Service. Very enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the other two. Previously: Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson Robinson's Mars trilogy is something I've been meaning to read for Some Time Now TM. I had previously attempted his The Years of Rice and Salt but I just couldn't get into it. Red Mars was similar in that it took me a little while to get into it but then that could also be because I haven't read any proper SF in a while. Once I got into it I loved it! Starting with the original colonising expedition to Mars through the additional arrivals through to revolution. It shows some interesting understanding of international treaties and how they're usually only worth the paper they're printed on. I'm keen on getting the next two. Previously: The Infernal by Kim Wilkins I really enjoyed Wilkins' Grimoire. The Infernal just didn't grab me. Possibly I gave more points to Grimoire due to its Melbourne-centric story where I may not have enjoyed it so much if it had been set in a city I was completely unfamiliar with. It's not bad but it's just a book that didn't grab me at all. Previously: Dream Park by Larry Niven & Steven Barnes I hadn't read Dream Park in ages and was craving something that I enjoyed and was a good read. I'm still surprised at some of the things I'd forgotten. I don't know how well this book would hold up with people who have never role-played in their life (like the Nintendo generation) but as someone whose adolescence was spent at many a dice and miniature covered table, the concept of being able to role-play "for real" is just fantastic. It's sort of like Live Action Role Playing but with holodeck technology (as an aside I think the holodeck should have seen far more Roman orgies or Tolkien inspired fantasy but that's another whole subject). Previously: The Temple and the Stone by Katherine Kurtz & Deborah Turner Harris An occult fiction about the Stone of Scone, The Knights Templar, William Wallace and the battle for Scottish independence. I've enjoyed The Adept series that these two had written previously and this continues that storytelling. Strong characters and some interesting interpretations of "what really happened". Previously: Dark of the Sun by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro With the eruption of Krakatoa in 535 CE Asia and much of Eastern Europe suffered through drought famine caused by the aftermath. In China it was referred to as the "Year of the Yellow Snow". The book details Saint-Germain and Roger's trek from China back to Transylvania taking over 2 years. There's a lot of background history that is incorporated into the book and it has given me inspiration to research some of the effects myself. It's interesting to speculate of how much of the pestilence suffered in Asia that caused the migration of many of the tribal peoples who then encroached west, added to the tribulation already besetting the Byzantine and Roman Empires. Lots of food for thought in there. Previously: The English Civil War 1642-1651: An Illustrated Military History by Philip Haythornthwaite An interesting discussion of some of the major battles and events of the English Civil War. I think I need to find some more on the "causes" of the battle as well as the fallout of the Protectorate. But quite a good read. Previously: Myth-Taken Identity by Robert Asprin and Jodie Lynn Nye Ah. Now this is classic Myth Adventures. The last book (Myth-ion Improbable) felt very forced and not at all funny. And while I was disappointed at the absence of Skeeve the humour and plot line for this book were funny with enough puns to be good without degenerating into a Piers Anthony pastiche. Previously: High Deryni by Katherine Kurtz Solidifying Kelson's position as King and preventing the anti-Deryni sentiment from becoming a witch-hunt. It works out nicely. I may head on to the next trilogy. Previously: Deryni Checkmate by Katherine Kurtz I had forgotten all about Warrin de Grey! Improves vastly on the first book. Previously: Deryni Rising by Katherine Kurtz After reading Deryni Tales I really felt like going back and rereading the books that started the Deryni series. It's not a bad set up. Certainly Kurtz's writing has improved in the 35 or so years since this was first published. Previously: Arte of Defence: An Introduction to the Use of the Rapier by William Wilson Previously: Deryni Tales edited by Katherine Kurtz Many professional writers abhor fanfiction. Anne McCaffrey is well known to go in with lawyers blazing. Chelsea Quinn Yarbro is another who is adamant in not allowing fanfic of her work. Katherine Kurtz it would seem takes a different approach. Deryni Tales is a collection of the best stories from the 'zine Deryni Archives and fanzine started by KK in 1978. Rather than fight fanfic KK seems to have done her best to channel the stories to areas she is not going to write about specifically herself. The short stories in the collection are all inspired by offhand remarks found within the published novels (such as Denis Arilan being familiar with the Talmud - well being a Christian Bishop how did he learn the Talmud?). There are some excellent pieces of writing in here. If more fanfic was like this I might have a higher opinion of fanfic in general. Previously: Fingerprints of the Gods by Graham Hancock Some very passionate ideas in here but I think this is more a go at established academia than hard evidence of a prehistoric civilisation. Some huge leaps in proofs and things that go from possibilities to truth within a chapter. Some interesting ideas but sadly lacking in anything approaching evidence. Previously: Lord Darcy (a collection) by Randall Garrett Interesting collection of stories. Set in an alternate history where Richard the Lionheart heir was Arthur of Britanny rather than John and by modern times a Plantagenet king still sits on the throne of England (and France, Scotland, Ireland; Emperor of the Romans & Germans, Premier Chief of the Moqtessumid Clan, Lord protector of the Western continents of New England and New France, etc). Many centuries ago the laws of magic where quantified though the ephemeral theories of "science" are starting to make some progress. The setting is some-what of a pseudo-Victorian feel (as the protagonist is unashamedly modelled on Sherlock Holmes and the stories are all whodunnits. Very enjoyable. Previously: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Un-fuckin-believable! This book just jumped in and kept on going. From hidden messages in paintings to Secret Societies, the Knights Templar, the secret bloodline of Jesus Christ, to murder, intrigue and cover-up! Very good book. Many of the theories (such as the Holy Grail or San Grael being a corruption of Sang Rael or Holy Blood and that it dealt with the descendants of Jesus and his wife Mary Magdelaine) were not new to me but the way the author took many of these bits and put them together in a novel was amazing. I've heard this book has been optioned for a movie and I dread to think how much of the information will be left out in order for the movie going pleb to be able to "get it". Still it's inspired me to read Angels & Demons which was the first novel of the character of Robert Langdon. Previously: 1421: The Year China Discovered the World by Gavin Menzies Some very pertinent points in this book which I not been aware of (such as the existence of asian chickens in central America prior to the arrival of the Spanish) certainly give the reader cause to reassess much of what is taken to be "fact" in our history. But as a student of history I'm well aware that things like Australia being "discovered" in 1770 are all a matter of who writes the history. I've seen a documentary of a French expedition that mapped much of Australia's southern coast at the same time as Matthew Flinders was making his famous journey around the coast. But because Australia was colonised by the British, Flinders' history is the one we use. Much of Menzies arguments are the same. The biggest problem being that in 1425 with the reign of the Xuande Emperor all further exploration voyages were forbidden and the Treasure Fleet maps and notes were destroyed. By the end of the fifteenth century, imperial subjects were forbidden from either building ocean going ships or leaving the country. So much of the evidence for the Chinese discoveries is circumstantial but there are literally mountains of it! I'm inclined to believe that Menzies' theory certainly has some valid points and it will be interesting to see what discoveries will turn up. After all if a 14th Psalter can be "lost" sitting on some-one's book shelf for many centuries it will be interesting to see whether any of Zheng He's maps have survived. Previously: Vampire$ by John Steakley I needed a quick fix and this book goes down like water to a sponge. I love this book: action, guns, vampires, some brilliant humour and a fantastic style! Pity about the movie. Previously: The Vicar of Morbing Vyle by Richard Harland Me getting hold of this book was a story in itself but I'll save that for elsewhere. A very weird book but an enjoyable one anyway. Centred around Martin Smythe who uncovers references to the village of Morbing Vyle. However all maps printed after 1900 show no listing of the place. Inhabitants of the village of New Morbing seem to have never heard of Morning Vyle either. Dead ends abound until Smyth notices the charred remains of a signpost leading him to an old Vicarage and some of the most bizarre people imaginable. It's not a great book but it's a good one. Certainly it has impressed me enough that I shall hunt up some more of Richard's work and read them as well. Previously: In the Face of Death by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro Up until now this novel has only been available as an e-book. I had been meaning to buy a copy for some years but just never got around to it. Sitting in front of my monitor is not how I want to read a novel. Thankfully a published version is now available. Set during the American Civil War. There was a lot here dealing with how the Native Americans felt about the ACW and whether they should get involved as well as references to events I'm only familiar with on the surface. While Madelaine is still my favourite of the Saint Germain vampires in this book she seemed to dither a little. Very strong in some parts yet a bit soppy in others. Still, an enjoyable book on the whole. It makes me want to research more into Sherman's life. I know he wasn't particularly fond of Indians. Previously: Timeline by Michael Crichton Michael Crichton really has it in for Amusement Parks. Westworld - Amusement Parks with robots are bad. Jurassic Park - Amusement Parks with dinosaurs are bad. Timeline - I'll let you guess. I've always enjoyed Crichton's books. He takes what is usually very cutting edge scientific theories and moves them forward to practical applications, though this often doesn't adapt well to film (just think Congo). Anyway, after seeing the movie I decided I really had to read the book. And yet again there is so much more detail in the book than made it to the cinema adaptation. There's a few subtle digs (no pun intended) at archaeologists and their pet theories as well as historians in general and the interpretations of how the people existed in the past. The biggest problem with reading a book after watching the movie is trying to remove the film images and mannerisms of the characters with those as written (i.e. the literary Johnson is American while the celluloid version is a Scot and Marek goes from Dutch to Scottish as well). But it's certainly an enjoyable book. I would have liked it to be longer. Previously: Dude, Where's My Country? by Michael Moore Moore is again on form with asking some interesting questions. I've seen many comments from people question his facts to outright calling him a liar. I can't say I've actually checked his facts myself but he does provide all the various references. I've seen enough of the occasional news broadcast to remember some of the little gems spouted by Bush & Co. I think the scariest thing is that even if half the stuff Moore claims here is true there is so much that is fucked up in the USA and so much apathy about it. I'm sure there are parallels to a few of the things within Australia as well (although the political system is so different in the US). It's a great blend of humour and political activism. Moore is one of those people who, even if you don't agree with his viewpoint, asks the sort of questions that make you stop and think. Previously: Cerulean Sins by Laurell K. Hamilton That's it. I'm officially over the Anita Blake series! I really love the writing style and when I first got into the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter books some years ago I enjoyed the supernatural twist put onto the traditional crime genre. However as the 11th book this pretty much killed it for me. Early on the character of Anita was a professional Necromancer called on to raise the dead usually for legal testimony if a will had been disputed or if an insurance payout needed clarification. She was also a vampire executioner (no point locking a up a vampire who can bench press your average car) but increasingly the books have concerned themselves with Anita's torrid lovelife and her new power-of-the-month. We have Super-Necromancer, seasoned with some voodoo and witchcraft, added three vampire marks and her being a Servant to the Master of a City as well as part of a Triumverate, then the Beast of a were-leopard without the actual messy shapeshifting, and the ardeur ("quick I'm horny, let's fuck"). Not to mention her non-supernatural position of Federal Marshal in relation to vampires. I think the problem is that the stories have gone from "whodunnit?" to "who's-she-gonna-do?". Let's see still bonking the two from the previous book plus two new ones, oh and still lusting after a previous flame. Bah! Yes there's still crime in the books but it almost feels like an afterthought rather than an actual piece of the plot. Over it. Previously: The English Civil War: at First Hand by Tristram Hunt I had the choice of either hardcover or paperback for this book but I ultimately chose the hardcover: lots more pictures. The book uses contemporary diary extracts and leaflets to give some insight into what the people involved with these conflicts actually thought. Beginning with an introduction to the person of Charles I and the legacy of the court of James VI (I) and the Protestant/Catholic conflicts from Charles' grandmother and cousin, Mary of Scots and Elizabeth of England respectively, it goes on through each of the wars and looks at some of the issues surrounding the people and the reasons why various people may have found themselves as allies one moment and then enemies the next. My knowledge of the Civil Wars was only surface deep and this has helped add some depth. Though I think I'll need to read a few more books to get some differing view points. Previously: Blood Games by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro The biggest discussion so far had been whether Kozrod and Saint Germain were lovers prior to his chariot accident. But it's a great book anyway. This was the first Saint-Germain book I read and I was impressed with the historical accuracy as well as the almost non-existence of the word vampire. Some nice political scheming and the first appearance of Olivia Clemens. Gotta love Roman politics Previously: Out of the House of Life by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro Having joined a Yahoo Group on Chelsea Quinn Yarbro the group has started a group read of the Saint Germain novels. It's always interesting to reread something like this with a view to discussion. Makes you pick out things you might otherwise pass over. Previously: The Fabulous Riverboat by Philip José Farmer Sequel to To Your Scattered Bodies Go. Not as good as the first but still interesting never-the-less. Never picked Clemens for such a single minded bloke. Previously: To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip José Farmer I've had this book on my shelf for years and during my recent move decided I should give it a go. Glad I did! A very intriguing concept - every single person that every lived is brought back to life on a strange planet at the same time. There could be some amazing stories developed through this base story. Loved the book. Previously: The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson I found this very hard to get into. I've put it aside for now. I'll come back to it later. Previously: The Paths of the Dead (Book One of The Viscount of Adrilankha) by Steven Brust In the same style as The Phoenix Guard and Five Hundred Years After, which is a literary style that directly involves the reader as if the author is verbally telling you the story in person and with many asides and background explanations. Not really my cup of tea. I love the stories that Brust creates but I think the literary style of Alexandre Dumas is dead with good reason. Previously: To Dream in the City of Sorrows by Kathryn M. Drennan Being the big Babylon 5 fan that I am this book was great. It filled in a lot of the side story of Jeffrey Sinclair's sudden departure and arrival on Minbar as well as tying up a lot of loose ends. Brilliant book and very well written. Previously: Myth-Alliances by Robert Asprin & Jodie Lynn Nye Skeeve is petitioned to save the dimension of Wuh by a local Wuhs from an invading band of Pervects. Lots of humour and a smattering of puns (though not as excruciating as Piers Anthony's Xanth books) as well as the ongoing growth of Skeeve the Magnificent. I love these books. Very easy to read and a lot of fun to read too. I still miss Phil Foglio as the illustrator though. Previously: Midnight Harvest by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro VERY impressed with this novel. The characterisations that CQY manages to capture in her novels are always great reading. Sometimes the stories are a little weak (see below for Midnight Blooming) but this one was great. Set in the Midwest of America during the mid 1930s after the stock market crash and the drought called the "dust bowl". Taps into the rise of fascism in Spain and its racial cousin in the US. I really enjoyed this one. Previously: Witness: the making of Schindler's List by Franciszek Palowski I picked this up on a whim at a remaindered sale and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Written from an outsider's point of view and one who has limited knowledge of the film-making process, it still gave a great immediacy to the events the author saw. There are references to changes in the script that evolved from conversations held with survivors while filming in Krackow as well as a few conversations with cast and crew. Makes me want to watch the film again. Previously: The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett Many years ago I read the first three Diskworld books and all I can say is I didn't think they were particularly great. Many people have told me "the next one is really good" or "they get better after that" but so far I haven't bothered revisiting Mr Pratchett with the exception of his joint work with Neil Gaiman Good Omens. However a friend of mine recently lent me this book, which she herself had not read, and asked me to tell her what I thought of it. Brilliant! I might have to seriously reconsider delving into the plethora of Pratchett books (and the rare unsigned ones). Previously: Mistress of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts Previously: Servant of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts Previously: Daughter of the Empire by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts These three books are brilliant and loose none of their interest upon repeated reading. While I think the biggest draw is a non-mediaeval European fantasy world (it's more part Japanese, part Aztec, part Korean and part African) the story itself is told with such skill that I feel it will always be a favourite. Previously: What Might Have Been: Alternate Empires Edited by Gregory Benford & Martin H. Greenberg A collection of short stories on alternate histories. From a world where the Jewish exodus of Moses never occurred, or Where Joseph McCarthy became president after the sudden death of Robert Taft, or one that starts with a Black physicist working in 1938 Imperial Germany goes back in time to make Robert E. Lee follow a different path in an attempt to improve the lot of black people in the USA. Convincing Lee to fight for the South rather than the Union, the physicist returns to his own time to the chilling discovery that the chain of events has brought about Nazi Germany. Previously: The Pugnacious Peacemaker by Harry Turtledove Turtledove's sequel to The Wheels of If, Bishop Parks is now a judge of the International court and is sent to South America to adjudicate a territorial dispute between the Incas and the Moslem Amazon. Not quite a smooth a story as the previous one but I would assume it to be extremely difficult to take another author's story (which was really only a novelette) and make a continuation of it. Still the concepts were great. And lets face it these are the main reason I read theses books. Previously: The Wheels of If by L. Sprague de Camp An interesting alternate history concept where a person's consciousness is transferred to the alternate world rather than the entire body. Also accounts for "multiple personalities". Set in a world where the Synod of Whitby (c.664 C.E.) adopted Celtic Christianity rather than the authority of the Roman Church as in our world, the Latin dominance of the Middle Ages did not exist. It was instead occupied by more of the Norse and Scandinavian cultures. A DA from our New York finds himself residing in the body of a Celtic Christian bishop in "New Belfast". Some nice touches with an attempt at using language that is not evolved from Latin (which given most of our legal concepts have Latin Terms is quite an achievement.) Quite enjoyable. Previously: Anno Dracula by Kim Newman Still love this book. One of the most "fun" books I've ever read. Part alternative history, part horror story, part vampire novel, part "spot the reference" book. Excellent. Previously: Back in the USSA by Eugene Byrne and Kim Newman An interesting collection of stories set in a "what if...?" timeline where the Socialist revolution took place in the USA rather than Imperial Russia. From the revolution of 1912 when Theodore Roosevelt won the presidential election, but was assassinated while trying to break up a Chicago labour strike before the inauguration, through to a retelling of Apocalypse Now where it's the British who have gone into Vietnam. One of the things I like about Newman's work is that he doesn't stick to purely historical people. The Apocalypse Now story features a bus driver named Butler, a West Indian named Bill Reynolds and his English best mate named Eddie Booth, a klutz called Frank Spencer as well as a Sergeant called Grimshawe who in the movie adaptation is played by an actor called William Hartnell. Yet in the story about the impending marriage of Prince Charles Windsor, Edward VIII is still king and the Dowager Duchess of York is quite open about her loathing of the Royal Consort Wallis. Very enjoyable. Previously: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling Ah the Potter phenomenon. I enjoy the books but I'm not a fan. Some of the stuff with Hagrid just didn't feel right to me and I guessed which character was going to die fairly early. But the issues of growing adolescence and things with Cho I thought were handled quite well. She certainly knows how to make a character like Umbridge one of the more despised characters in the books - even more so the Snape! The only thing I feel is that J.K. Rowling is now somewhat like Anne Rice - she has enough clout to to prevent an editor from making changes (or requiring changes) to the manuscript. A good story bad it sdaly needed a final polish. Previously: Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton After reading Narcissus in Chains recently I wanted to go back to the first novel and find out what it was about Anita Blake that I really liked. The sarcasm or "smart-arse" humour I found appealing as well as the concepts of vampires in a legal system (not to mention zombies being resurrected for testimony in inheritance or murder cases). The whole Melrose Place sex thing hadn't even become part of it. I think I might borrow a copy of Cerulean Sins and read it before I decide whether to buy it or not. Previously: Issola by Steven Brust Certainly a wealth of information in this latest instalment to the Vlad Taltos novels. More background on the origin of the world of Dragaera, the nature of the gods and the origins of the various Dragaeran Houses. And a welcome return to the witty banter of Loiosh. Just disappointed it's so short. Previously: Vurt by Jeff Noon I just don't about this. I've had numerous friends recommend this book to me and it just doesn't do it. I can't say I started with huge expectations or anything. Maybe I'm not getting much of the drug culture that the book seems to paraphrase. Sadly not my cup of tea. Previously: Grails: Visitations of the Night edited by Richard Gilliam, Martin H. Greenberg & Edward E. Kramer I really only read this for one of the Adrian Becker stories by Karl Edward Wagner contained within. Nice story too. Previously: Agyar by Steven Brust Brust's retelling of the vampire story. It really took me a while to get into this one. The narrative is rather disjointed and tends to amble a little all over the place. Some nice ideas and is not by any means an in-your-face vampire novel. Not a favourite though. Previously: Narcissus in Chains by Laurell K. Hamilton I really don't know what's happening with these books. I love the writing style and the characterisations of them but the downward spiral into a Melrose Place with vampires, were-wolves and assorted other things is just becoming tiresome. The last book had Anita Blake leave town to try and get her shit together. But getting back she discovers yet another power she now possesses and the orgy (pretty much) is on. I really wish Hamilton would get over the rampant sex thing. The books would be better without it. Previously: The Last Command by Timothy Zahn A good conclusion to the trilogy. Now I know who Mara Jade and Grand Admiral Thrawn are. I had always wondered where those characters came from. Now I know. Previously: Dark Force Rising by Timothy Zahn A nice continuation of the stories. More information and background of various characters without giving away some of the more annoying mysteries (like who or what Delta Source is). Previously: Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn I'm not a big fan of spin-off novels for movies and TV shows but having recently got involved in a Star Wars Roleplaying Game I thought I might as well get around to at least starting Zahn's books (and find out who Mara Jade is). Well I'm impressed. Not only has he introduced new characters and villains, he's managed to progress the story and extrapolate sections of the movies (bearing in mind this was written before Phantom Menace was produced). Quite good I think Previously: Ustinov at Large by Peter Ustinov Funny thing about this book is, being 12 years old there are references to Margaret Thatcher, the first Gulf War and some seemingly dated items. It's interesting to try and think of how I felt about things back at the time rather than after many years of hindsight. Previously: Tolkien by Michael White Not a hugely new insight into Tolkien but an interesting read anyway. I found a few new insights about some of the people in Tolkien's life rather than Tolkien himself this time Previously: The Adversary: Saga of the Exiles Book 4 by Julian May An old favourite that I enjoy revisiting from time to time. One of the best science fantasy series I have ever read. Previously: The Non-Born King: Saga of the Exiles Book 3 by Julian May An old favourite that I enjoy revisiting from time to time. One of the best science fantasy series I have ever read. Previously: The Golden Torc: Saga of the Exiles Book 2 by Julian May An old favourite that I enjoy revisiting from time to time. One of the best science fantasy series I have ever read. Previously: The Many Coloured Land: Saga of the Exiles Book 1 by Julian May An old favourite that I enjoy revisiting from time to time. One of the best science fantasy series I have ever read. Previously: Night Blooming by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro Yet another interesting look at history through the eyes of an Immortal. This time it is the kingdom of Karl-O-Magne (Charlemagne) and the early Christian Church. Sometimes I think that the greed and corruption that turn up in most of the Saint-Germain novels get a bit repetitive. Then I remember that greed and corruption have been part of the human condition since recorded history began... Previously: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Nice to re-read it in time for the next movie release. It also refreshed my memory of some of the various plot paths after seeing Fellowship of the Ring. Previously: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien Thought I'd start with this one again before I re-read the Lord of the Rings. I always enjoy this book. I still have the voice of Nicol Williamson read along with the words when ever I read it Previously: The History of Middle Earth VI: The Return of the Shadow by Christopher Tolkien (J.R.R. Tolkien) A very interesting look at the development of Tolkien's writing. It got a little tedious in some places and I really think this is the sort of book I need to be in the mood to read. But I think I'll definitely continue with the others at a later stage. Some very interesting bits and pieces come to light. Previously: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis I thought I should read the most famous of the books at least. Got a little bored with it after a while. Yes it was very simple but the characters were very two dimensional. *shrug* Maybe I'm just getting old. Previously: The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis Surprisingly I'd never read any of the Narnia books before. I have a general knowledge of Diggory and the apple of Narnia and how the core grew into the tree which was cut down and made into the wardrobe. I know Aslan is a pretty close representation of the Christian god but that's about where it stopped. The whole Narnia creation scene was so close to Genesis it wasn't funny. Though very obviously a children's book I found it to be quite entertaining. Previously: Tempting Fate by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro I enjoyed this book even on the repeat read. Set in Germany during the 1920's it deals with the problems caused by the end of the Great War and the ensuing depression. Peripheral involvement with the rise of the Thule Brotherhood and the NSDAP. Like all of the Saint Germain vampire novels this one shows some very well researched history and excellent writing. Previously: Taltos by Steven Brust This story effectively followed three different timelines. Very well done as I didn't get confused as to which timeline events were happening in. I need a little break and then I'll get back into the rest of the Taltos books. Previously: Teckla by Steven Brust This one covers Vlad's involvement (indirectly) with an Easterner uprising. Not one of my more favourite books mainly because of all the problems Vlad has with his wife Cawti. But still a good read Previously: Yendi by Steven Brust Set before Jhereg with a little more information on various other characters and how they met (the fact that Vlad met his wife because she was hired to assassinate him I thought fun). Previously: Jhereg by Steven Brust A revisiting of an old friend. I love these books. Fantasy in a three musketeers sort of way. and with some very good sarcasm thrown into the mix. Mmmmmm sarcasm. Previously: American Gods by Neil Gaiman Very impressive. What do gods do when no-one believes in them anymore? They turn to loansharking, prostitution or run a funeral home. Gaiman's imagination is as fantastic as ever. Concepts and identities of deities from history blend with the modern day to produce a book that gave me the whole Sandman feel all over again. One thing that annoyed me though was a comment in the foreword about people helping him remove stray Anglicisms. Some-one really needs to teach Americans about the world outside. Previously: Krondor: The Betrayal by Raymond E. Feist It read a little too much like a game (which, too be fair, it was based on) go here do that. But Feist's writing style has always been enjoyable. It was also nice to return to Midkemia with some of the familiar characters and quite a few new ones as well. Previously: Paris in the Twentieth Century (The Lost Novel) by Jules Verne Some amazing concepts that have seemingly followed through from what Verne viewed in 1864. The rise of consumerism, the focus on science in education to the detriment of the arts, electric trains and monorails, document copiers and all manner of things. Obviously his future here is a bit bleak (which was the point I think) but some fantastic ideas for steampunk settings. Previously: Travelling With the Dead by Barbara Hambly Sequel to Hambly's Immortal Blood (or Those Who Hunt the Night). Part Edwardian crime novel part supernatural thriller. I had read this some time ago and wanted to revisit the characters. If only I could find my own Lydia Asher :-) Previously: Myth-ion Impossible by Robert Asprin After 6 years of waiting for a sequel to Sweet Myth-tery of Life I was a little disappointed in that this was not the promised sequel. However I agree with his reasons for doing this story first and it was good to catch up with Aahz and Skeeve again. I do miss the illustrations by Phil Foglio though. The current art just seems to lack that certain something. Previously: Mycroft Holmes: Against The Brotherhood by Quinn Fawcett (Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and Bill Fawcett) I quite enjoyed my first foray into the stories of Mycroft Holmes. Lots of political intrigue and the ever popular German Secret Societies. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of the series. Previously: The Templars by Piers Paul Read I thought the title of this book was rather misleading. True there was information about the Templars contained inside but it read more like a history of the Crusades with the occasional "oh and there was a Templar involved in this bit". While the very well researched in what was presented I wouldn't have bothered Previously: The Temple and the Crown by Katherine Kurtz & Deborah Turner Harris Second of the pair's foray into Mediaeval Scottish History focusing on the involvement of the Knights Templar in Robert Bruce's struggle to win an independent Scotland. Currently: Camber the Heretic by Katherine Kurtz And the last one. Previously: Saint Camber by Katherine Kurtz Volume II Previously: Camber of Culdi by Katherine Kurtz After finishing KKB I decided I wanted to go back and refresh my memory of one of the most powerful Deryni of them all: Camber. Previously: King Kelson's Bride by Katherine Kurtz The first new Deryni novel in about 6 years! It's always nice that when you read a new book you feel like you're catching up with some old friends you haven't seen in ages. Taking place not long after the events of The Quest for Saint Camber it continues Kelson's growth as a King and his twisted personal relationships following the treachery of his cousin and the rejection of his offer of marriage by his beloved Rothanna. I'm glad to see things are finally starting to come together for the Deryini in Gwynedd. Previously: Mostly Harmless By Douglas Adams While I can't say I really understood the need for this book it was fun to revisit some of the old favourite characters and the Hitchhiker's style (which seems to be slightly different to the Dirk Gently story). I still love his nonsensical sidetracking. You'll be sorely missed Douglas. RIP Previously: The Templar's Secret Island by Erling Haagensen & Henry Lincoln While I've had a fascination with the Kinghts Templar for many years the "findings" in this book seem to be based on very flimsy assumptions and deductions. It comes to now actual conclusion other than saying there is strong evidence for a Templar presence in Sweden and they have left some sort of geometric "map" in the positioning of various churches on a small island. While I think the actual number of churches says that there's something significant about it, the deduction herein seem more outlandish than normal for this genre. Previously: Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. I'd been a fan of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series years ago but had never got around to reading this one. An impressive collection of tangential ideas that actually link together, I still found myself trying to work out some of the threads that seem to have gone nowhere. A good book but not a particularly satisfying one. Previously: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling A far darker instalment in the series. This one even has some death in it! I must admit that I'm becoming a fan of these books. There's a lot more background information on the wizard community in this one as well as stuff on Harry. A very good read. Previously: Wiccan Warrior by Kerr Cuhulain I thought this may have been aimed more at the masculine side of Wicca. While it wasn't it was also quite a good read. A little heavy on the quotes I thought but a certainly different perspective on things. A more "aggressive" approach to Wicca perhaps. Previously: A Feast in Exile by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro Once again Ms. Yarbro delights with a well crafted historical fiction. Set in India during the depredations of Tammerlain, Saint-Germain must survive under gruelling circumstances. Previously: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling They seem to be getting better. I quite enjoyed this one. A little darker than the previous novels and with a bit more traditional folklore (and less Lady Cottington type stuff). Previously: J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century by Tom Shippey A very impressive study of the origins and attitudes of what went into making Tolkien the author he was. As well as comments on why Tolkien is dismissed by orthodox literature schools of thought. Previously: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling Read the first one, liked it, so read the next one. The names still annoy me but the story was good. Previously: Good King Richard? An Account of Richard III and his Reputation by Jeremy Potter Picked this one up in the Richard III Museum in York. Quite a well thought out book. However I must admit that a book that points out the bulk of the known "facts" about Richard are Tudor propaganda is preaching to the converted in my case. Previously: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling I read this mainly to find out what all the fuss is about. While I find most of the character names rather puerile the stories themselves are rather good. Previously: Renaissance Swordsmanship: The Illustrated Use of Rapiers and Cut-and-Thrust Swords by John Clements More of an ongoing reference rather than a "read". But it had some very interesting points. Now I just need a sparring partner. Previously: Dragon by Steven Brust The most recent of the Vlad Taltos books. While written a few years ago I've finally got round to reading it. Previously: The Shadow of Albion by Andre Norton & Rosemary Edghill Being the big fan of alternate history or "What If" fiction I quite enjoyed this one. Sadly, as with many of these genre novels, the main heroine is the independent young woman from our timeline is thrown into an alternate one and proving that she is better than her counterpart. This one is set in the early 1800's in an England where the Stewart (or Stuart) Kings still rule Britain.