I read a fair bit and often find myself trying to recommend good books and series.  The trouble is, I've read so many that only the most recent ones come to mind.  For that reason, I'm going to do a series of blog posts (one every other Friday) covering a book that I really enjoyed.  Every one will be a recommendation, as I'd never urge you to read something that I haven't read or didn't like.

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

Copyright 2008 / Published by Orbit

Back Page Blurb:

The perfect killer has no friends. Only targets.

For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art. And he is the city’s most accomplished artist, his talents required from alleyway to courtly boudoir.

For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he’s grown up in the slums, and learned the hard way to judge people quickly — and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint.

But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins’ world of dangerous politics and strange magics — and cultivate a flair for death.

I admit it, I really love fiction that involves assassins as main characters.  It's not just the cool confidence and deadly competence of the characters themselves that I enjoy so much.  It's the way they view the world, stripping away the useless data and emotion to see things exactly as they are.  Of course, I also like medieval fantasy novels.  Swords and sorcery and the like.  The Way of Shadows is both, and more.  It's the story of a man who wanted to be something so badly that he would do anything to achieve that goal, and what he had to become to do it.  I think a lot of people can identify with that in some way.

The writing of a good book is a complex thing.  To try to pinpoint the one or two factors that make this one so good would be to do disservice to all the other factors that I would miss.  Instead, let me highlight the things I find so memorable about this story.  The first thing that sticks so solidly in my mind is how the plot blooms so seamlessly.  It starts as an apparently simple story of growing up and mastering a trade, and morphs into a complex and intricate story about fighting for what you believe in.  The next thing that I remember so well is how well written the main character is.  I found it very easy to empathize with Azoth/Kylar;  to identify with the moral struggles and emotional turmoil he faces.  Lastly, I remember feeling like I was looking in on a living world.  A world deep and alive, with a rich history that lay just beyond the page.

This is the first book of a trilogy, and each one was a fine read.  Do yourself a favor and pick this book up.  Of course, if this recommendation isn't enough, you can always check out the first chapter on Brent Weeks' website.

I read a fair bit and often find myself trying to recommend good books and series.  The trouble is, I've read so many that only the most recent ones come to mind.  For that reason, I'm going to do a series of blog posts (one every [other] Friday) covering a book that I really enjoyed.  Every one will be a recommendation, as I'd never urge you to read something that I haven't read or didn't like.

Song of the Beast by Carol Berg

Copyright 2003  / Published by Roc Books

Back Page Blurb:

At 13,
the sound of dragons flying overhead gave him
songs beyond human understanding.

At 14,
Aidan was considered the finest musician of his
generation, primed to become a legend.

At 21,
his cousin the king imprisoned him for treason
and sentenced him to silence.

At 38,
Aidan is suddenly released,
a scarred, voiceless wreck of the man he once
was, with but one desire—to discover what he had
done to warrant such a punishment...

This is possibly one of the greatest fantasy novels I've ever read.  The characters are so wonderfully three dimensional (well, most of them) that they just jump out at you.  From the beginning, I was easily able to understand how Aidan feels, his confusion and loss especially, even though I had just met him.  I found the story quite compelling and well thought out, and really enjoyed watching Aidan unravel the truth of matters.  Most of all, though, I simply enjoyed the way it was written.  It evokes such deep emotion that, by the end of book, you can't help but find yourself deeply moved.  All in all, Carol Berg is a wonderful author and this was a great introduction to her.  I've liked everything of hers that I've read, but I consider this the best of it all.  A truly worthwhile read.

Grab a copy or just read a bit more about Song of the Beast on Amazon.com.

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

Copyright 1992 / Published by Bantam Books

Back Page Blurb:

Hiro Protagonist
Last of the freelance hackers
Greatest sword fighter in the world
Stringer, Central Intelligence Corporation

Recently ‘resigned’ from his job as the coolest samurai sword-toting pizza delivery guy in the world, Hiro has had to fall back on his old hi-tech scavenger ways. Not that he’s a nobody on the virtual street – one of the founders of The Black Sun, he helped to write the rule-book for the digital Metaverse. Which is why he’s so confused when he’s offered a cyber-drug called Snow Crash – ‘cos there are no such things as drugs in their computer-generated world. And yet here it is, complete with devastating side-effects. Who could have made it? And what the Hell does it actually do?

First of all, I know I missed a recommendation last week.  I forgot.  Second, I'm not sure if the back page blurb above is the one from the copy of the book I have.  It's buried and I don't feel like digging it out just yet.  I do know that the cover picture isn't the one I have, but it's close enough.  Now, on to the actual recommendation!

This is a cyberpunk novel, so when I first picked it up, I was pretty sure I'd like it.  At the time, there were only two novels that I liked enough to re-read every couple of years; this became my third.  One of the reviews I found on the net while searching for a copy of a back page blurb said something like "while neither the technology, nor the politics, nor the premise hold up to inspection, it's fast paced and fun ride."  That's a fairly accurate description.  It's unlikely that we'll ever see a suit-case sized, nuclear powered needle gun and I doubt you'll ever find a guy running around with glass knife honed to a monomolecular blade.  It is highly unlikely that the Mob is going to take over chain-pizza delivery stores.  Still, some of the stuff just might happen, albeit in a rather different way from that which is envisioned.  Consider that Second Life is rather similar to the "Metaverse", and augmented reality apps are already out for the Android and the iPhone.  In fact, Nokia recently demonstrated radar built into a phone.  It's not so strange to imagine the "gargoyles" existing in some very near time.  Ultimately, though, that's not the point, because when you are reading it, it's just the way things are.

The technology is just a vehicle (and sometimes simply window dressing) for conveying the plot, and what a plot it is.  Imagine if everything about you could be changed at the drop of a hat?  What if humans could be, literally, reprogrammed?  I'm pretty sure that when Joss Whedon came up with Dollhouse, he was thinking about this book.  The idea isn't new, or particularly plausible, but it's interesting and possesses about as much logic and evidence as any of Dan Brown's books.  Better yet, Neal Stephenson doesn't actually believe his own novels. 

I'm going to keep this short because I don't want to spoil anything.  If you like cyberpunk, or think you might, check it out.  If you like scifi and don't know what cyberpunk is, definitely check it out.

I read a fair bit and often find myself trying to recommend good books and series.  The trouble is, I've read so many that only the most recent ones come to mind.  For that reason, I'm going to do a series of blog posts (one every Friday) covering a book that I really enjoyed.  Every one will be a recommendation, as I'd never urge you to read something that I haven't read or didn't like.

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

Copyright 2000 / Published by Penguin Putnam

Back Page Blurb:

Harry Dresden is the best at what he does.  Well, technically, he's the only at what he does.  So when the Chicago P.D. has a case that transcends mortal creativity or capability, they come to him for answers.  For the "everyday" world is actually full of strange and magical things–and most of them don't play well with humans.  That's where Harry comes in.  Takes a wizard to catch a–well, whatever.

There's just one problem.  Business, to put it mildly, stinks.  So when the police bring him in to consult on a grisly double murder committed with black magic, Harry's seeing dollar signs.  But where there's black magic, there's a black mage behind it.  And now that mage knows Harry's name.  And that's when things start to get...interesting.

Talk to me a bit about SciFi & Fantasy novels, and I'll inevitably bring up Jim Butcher.  I love his work.  His characters are wonderfully complex.  His scenes are descriptive without going Tolkein, and the dialogue is always entertaining.  Storm Front was the first Jim Butcher book I read (I think it was the first one he published but don't quote me on it), and I was recommending it to people before I finished reading it.

The back cover blurb does a good job of explaining the rough setting.  It's fairly typical modern fantasy:  people don't know and don't want to know about the fantastic/frightening world around them.  Butcher has artfully mined from Western European folklore, including creatures we've heard about in myths, fairy tales, and campfire stories, and that's to be expected in any good novel of the genre.  More interestingly, he sprinkles in some Native American folklore and there's even a later novel mostly concerned with a critter from it.

As for the main character, Harry Dresden is a wizard with a past that haunts him (cliché? of course, but it's a good way to start a character).  He had to do something when he was young that marked him as dangerous and untrustworthy to the White Council (the governing body, if you could call it that, of wizard kind).  These days, Harry works as a Private Investigator and Wizard–seriously, he's listed as Wizard in the Chicago phonebook and gets quite a few calls just to ask about it.  Personality wise, he's a little bit Dirty Harry and a little bit Sir Lancelot, but mostly he's Smartass.  It's fun.

There are 11 novels, with a 12th scheduled to come out in April.  My preorder is already in.  If you don't like the idea of buying 11 books (I don't blame you, it'll probably run you at least $80), the first 9 novels have been published in omnibus editions.  Interested but not yet sold?  Check it out on Wikipedia.

I read a fair bit and often find myself trying to recommend good books and series.  The trouble is, I've read so many that only the most recent ones come to mind.  For that reason, I'm going to do a series of blog posts (one every Friday) covering a book that I really enjoyed.  Every one will be a recommendation, as I'd never urge you to read something that I haven't read or didn't like.

Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber

Copyright 2007 / Published by Tor Books

Back-page Blurb:

GRIPPING...[After] a massive war with the alien Gbaba...survivors of the human race retreat to the planet Safehold, where they sacrifice basic human rights—and an accurate memory of the Gbaba—for the preservation of the species.  The colony's founders psychologically program the colonists to prevent the reemergence of scientific inquiry, higher mathematics, or advanced technology, which the Gbaba would detect and destroy.  Centuries later, cultural stagnation on this feudal but thriving planet is enforced by the all-powerful Church of God Awaiting.  But one kingdom—with the aid of the war's last survivor, a cybernetic avatar that awakens to reinvent itself as a man named Merlin Athrawes—risks committing the ultimate heresy.  Shifting effortlessly between battles among warp-speed starships and among oar-powered galleys, Weber brings the political maneuvering, past and future technologies, and vigorous protagonists together for a cohesive, engrossing whole. —Publishers weekly (starred review)

That blurb does a pretty good job of explaining the basis of the book.  For those who don't know, David Weber writes military science fiction.  He does it quite well, but what really surprised me was that he was also very capable of writing engaging political drama.  This is quite a concession for me, as I generally find that kind of thing dull (admittedly, it's at least a bit more fun because Merlin Athrawes cheats).

Several things make the book (indeed, the whole series) interesting to me.  The characters are quite engaging; they clearly have their own goals and motivations.  The battles are gripping and well written, with the climactic final battle being something you'll want to have time to read through in one go.  The setting, future tech meets early renaissance, is really fun.  Lastly, the writing is well paced and possessed of just the right mix of dead-serious and deadpan to keep you turning pages until all hours of the night.

The mass-market paperback is 772 pages long, with several more devoted to a list of characters and a glossary of terms.  At the front, there are a couple of nice maps that, while small, definitely help you to grasp both the geography and the sheer size of the planet (Safehold, it's called).  Overall, it's a good size book and a great read.  I highly recommend it.

This will certainly be a difficult test for Windows 7.  It is, reportedly, very similar to Vista in look and feel and my friend is extremely critical of many of the "features" such as User Account Control.  Additionally, the laptop it will be installed on is several years old.  Here are the specs:

Gateway 7508GX
Mobile AMD Athlon™ 64-bit 3400+
1 GB RAM (PC2700)
ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X600 64 MB
40GB Hard Drive (5400 RPM) (Not stock - old 80GB died and had to be replaced)

He's already installed it and used it a little and here are his first impressions:
"I'm really quite pleasantly surprised.  The install was very easy.  It asked a few basic questions like what language and time zone to use.  It also asked me to setup a password but made it plainly obvious that this was recommended but not required.  After only a few screens (three maybe?) it began the install.  It was completely automated and fast.  The whole thing was installed in less than a half hour.  I never thought I'd say this, but one nice thing about Windows 7 is that it uses the same drivers as Vista.  This meant that I was able to use Driverheaven's Mobility Modder to install the latest ATI Catalyst drivers.
One notable improvement is in the User Account Controls (UAC), where the annoying popups have been reduced and it's no longer an all-or-nothing endeavor.  Inside the UAC Control Panel is a slider bar that allows you to adjust how often you are prompted, or turn it off entirely.  Mobility Modder requires UAC to be disabled, so it was quite nice to be able to adjust it so easily.
The Windows 7 Beta also includes the Internet Explorer 8 Beta so I'll be trying it as well.  I usually use Firefox but Microsoft has been making great claims about this new version so I'll give it a shot.  So far it's been pretty similar to IE7.  There's a Compatibility Mode that is easily enabled on a per page basis, but whether it makes a difference remains to be seen.  I'll continue trying this out and let you know how it goes."

Could be interesting.

In short, this whole case should be dismissed as one of a number of attempts by the RIAA to prosecute someone without bothering to build a real case first.