Quick Take Reviews

SHE by H. Rider Haggard

Many people have read Jules Verne, but this book is the first time I’ve heard of this near-contemporary of Verne that wrote a fair number of fantastical adventure stories. It’s not high fantasy, but a mix of “voodoo” magic and the English gentlemen going for a safari. Kinda the basis of the modern Indiana Jones stories.

As expected the language used is a bit archaic and takes more effort to read. It’s a good read to see the start of this genre.

Fire and Fury by Michael Wolff

Interesting read. For anyone that’s keeping up with the going-ons around this White House, there aren’t a lot bombshells. It’s still an entertaining read. It certainly appears that Michael Wolff had deep access with Steve Bannon and a lot of the stories are told from a perspective where Bannon came out as the smart one.

The Disappearance of Winter’s Daughter by Michael J. Sullivan

With this book, it seems the author has perfected the buddy comedy between Royce and Hadrian. Very comfortable for the regular reader and reached a place where they seem real with very little awkward dialogues.

The magic involved is a bit of a surprise. Here is hoping that we will see more of it in the prequel series. Recommended

Age of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan

The main storyline had a LotR Moria mine or a Elder Scrolls Dwemer ruins feel to it. I liked that part quite a bit. The number of inventions (too numerous to list) is a bit hard to believe. Even for a fantasy novel. The ending is predictable. But sets us nicely for the next book.

What happened with Suri is heartbreaking. Just for that, I would continue to recommend this series.

The Dispatcher by John Scalzi

Very enjoyable. Just like Lock In, it should be made into a movie/TV show. Future books in this universe would be great fun.

I am Legend by Richard Matheson

I’ve only seen the 2007 Movie adaptation with Will Smith. Reading this book was quite an eye opener on how the story could have gone. (This makes the Director’s Cut Ending much better) I would love to see a more faithful adaptation of the novel. The end of the book is what tie into the “Legend” part of the name and the movie missed that part in a big way.