My review of The Misadventures of Nero Wolfe

The Misadventures of Nero Wolfe: Parodies and Pastiches Featuring the Great Detective of West 35th Street by Josh Pachter

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I quite enjoyed this book as a long time fan of Nero Wolfe. I read it on our long RV trip, when we also watched both seasons of the A&E series (outstanding), and the whole season of the earlier William Conrad version (watchable). I have read the Nero Wolfe Corpus several times, been a member of the Wolfe Pack, and currently host an email list devoted to discussions of the stories, though it has sadly drifted into silence. So you might just say I am a fan. This volume is inspired by the earlier Misadventures of Sherlock Holmes, and similarly contains a variety of partiches and parodies. There are some very good writers represented here, such as Lawrence Block, Loren Estleman, and John Lescroart. And because it contains short pieces, it is perfect for people like me that often have 3-4 books going concurrently. This is the kind of book that when you have a few minutes to fill you can pick it up and read a story and enjoy it. Of course, you have to already be fan to appreciate this sort of book, it is very “inside baseball”.



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My review of In the Ocean of Night

In the Ocean of Night by Gregory Benford

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the kind of book that on its own is not a masterpiece, though it is interesting enough. The main character, Nigel Walmsley, is an astronaut who stumbles across an alien derelict and it changes his life. The setting is a future that has some elements of dystopia, but they are mostly offstage and just refered to in passing. Walmsley is Brit who is also employed by NASA and ends up working at the JPL in the middle of the book, then manages to get assigned to a moon base when more alien technology is discovered there. The way he gets involved in all of this stuff is just little unrealistic, but you have to suspend disbelief. The thing about this novel is that it is setting up the rest of the series. After all, the Galactic Center makes no appearance here, but it will show up later. So all in all it is worth your time if you want to read a sereis that is considered a classic in the genre.



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My review of Caliban’s War

Caliban’s War by James S.A. Corey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This continuation of the story of The Expanse universe maintains the pace set in the first volume, Leviathan Wakes. It also continues the writing technique of switching the viewpoint character with every chapter. This might sound confusing, but it works because the plot involves the interaction of different characters in different places on this wide canvas. Returning characters include Jim Holden and the crew of the Rocinante. And a wonderful new character, Chrisjen Avasarala, makes an appearance here. She is a very smart politician in the U.N. and she manages to play a crucial role in preventing an interplanetary war. Then there is the alien presence represented by the proto-molecule that was the focus of the first book. It is up to something, but just what? A little bit of that mystery is hinted at, but there is much more to come. Now at this point I should admit I have not yet watched the TV series made from this. I prefer to read the source material first. But I have all of the DVDs ready for when I make it to the end of the books. This is a series of novels worth your time. There is not a lot of good SF these days that is set in the solar system, but this has the feeling of reality that makes you think it could actually work out like this.



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My review of The Pursuit of the Pankera

The Pursuit of the Pankera: A Parallel Novel About Parallel Universes by Robert A. Heinlein

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In 1980 Heinlein published a novel called The Number of the Beast. It involved parallel universes, The World as Fiction, and dragged in Lazarus Long, as Heinlein seemed to do in most of his later books. While parts of it were fun, it was also confusing and disjointed in my opinion. I will read any Heinlein for the writing alone, so I am a fan (in fact, I was for a time the webmaster for The Heinlein Society), but I can see that some of his stuff is better than others. So when I heard there was an alternate version of this novel, I had to check it out. And The Pursuit of the Pankera keeps the same basic setting and has the same beginning as The Number of the Beast, but I think it is much better. The plot is a lot more cohesive and the novel just flows in way the previous didn’t. This is the one I will reread in the future. And as a huge fan of the Lensman universe the part of the book that goes there was quite a treat. For those who don’t know, the idea of The World as Fiction is that fictional worlds are real in other universes, so the characters here visit Barsoom, Oz, and the Lensman universe. Tons of fun.



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My review of The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories Part I

The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories Part I: 1881 to 1889 by David Marcum

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This series of Sherlock Holmes pastiches is quite good for the fan. It is not quite up to the standards of Conan Doyle, but then, what is? It is still an enjoyable return visit to 221b Baker Street, and deserves a place on the bookshelf of Sherlockians. I have purchased all of the volumes so far released in electronic form (pdf), since I am getting away from physical stuff as much as possible. Calibre does a reasonable job of taking the pdf and putting it on Kindle in the correct format. MX does these books as Kickstarters, which I am seeing more of for niche books.



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My review of Transmetropolitan: Vol 1

Transmetropolitan, Vol 1: Back on the Street by Warren Ellis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the usual dystopian future comic, but done very well. The protagonist is a reporter who exposes all kinds of malfeasance and gets into good trouble. The setting is a nasty city two centuries from now that is falling apart at the seams. Although I read the Kindle edition, I read it on a Chromebook so I got all of the full color visuals, which matters. Wild and wacky, but not for children. Not a long read, but fun.



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My review of Tune In

Tune In by Mark Lewisohn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I will start by saying that I read the “Special Extended Edition”, which is a total of 1700 pages in two hardcover volumes in a box set. If you are not a serious Beatles fan you probably wouldn’t invest that much effort. There is a somewhat more “condensed” version that comes in around 900 pages. Either way, Lewissohn has set the standard for Beatles history and biography. The story startes with a look at Liverpool and at the ancestors of the lads. So there is a lot of sociological material included before you even get to the arrival the actual 4 Beatles. And it follows them through their childhoods, school years, and early career. This book covers up through 1962, which means The Beatles were just becoming a big act in England, but were unknown in America and most of the rest of the world. The Hamburg years were carefully investigated as were the shows at The Cavern Club in Liverpool. A number of myths were busted, particularly involving how they were signed to Parlaphone, an EMI subsidiary. There is a lot of material in here about the music scene in England before those acts suddenly became the British Invasion of the U.S. market. So anyone with an interst in the history of pop music will be amply rewarded by reading this work. Fans everywhere are eagerly awaiting the next volume in the series.



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My review of The Atrocity Archives

The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the first book in an urban fantasy series that focuses on the top-secret British Government security organization that deals with magic and paranormal threats. The name Laundry Files comes from the fact that the code name for the organization is the Laundry. It reads like two novellas that were combined into a novel, but I didn’t find that distracting, just curious. The main character is a computer geek, Robert Howard, who gets involved with this group prior to the events in the novel through some misadventures. He is a cog in a bureacratic organzation by now, and a lot of the book involves a satire on all bureaucratic organizations, which I liked. Other than that, the book has magic, Nazis, and modern terrorist groups. What’s not to like with that? Not a classic that will live forever, but an enjoyable romp if you are a) a geek; and b) enjoy urban fantasy.



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My review of Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution

Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution by Mike Duncan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I first encountered Mike Duncan through his amazing History of Rome podcast and fell in love with his style of historical presentation. Whe he released his first book, The Storm Before The Storm, which cames out of that podcast, I bought it and was not disappointed. When he finished with The History of Rome he started a new podcast, Revolutions, which covered a series of revolutions from the English Civil War, through the US, Haiti, Gran Columbia, Mexico, France, and up to Russia, the final one (still in progress as I write this.) I think he must have gotten intrigued that one person showed up in three revolutions, the Marquis de Lafayette, and then discovered that not much had been written in English about this fascinating and important figure. This biography follows Lafayette from his childhood through his adventures in America, the French Revolution, and finally the 1830s, up to his death. Duncan does not hide the contradictions involved in a man who was opposed to slavery but also owned slaves that he never quite got around to freeing. I recommend this book, as indeed I recommend anything by Mike Duncan.



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My Review of Sid Meier’s Memoir: A Life in Computer Games

Sid Meier’s Memoir!: A Life in Computer Games by Sid Meier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Since I retired I have been indulging in pleasures I didn’t have enough time for, and gaming is one of them. I have been a huge fan of the Civilization series, and also have fond memories of Railroad Tycoon Deluxe. But Civilization is the one that has absorbed thousands of hours of my life over the last 3 decades, and it is still my favorite gaming experience. So when I saw this memoir was available I had to get it, and I’m glad I did. Now, to be clear this is only something of interest for a fan like me, but there are a lot of Civilization fans out there. You need only check out the many YouTube channels, web sites, subreddits, etc. devoted to this game to see how popular it is. This memoir simply tells the story of Sid Meier’s life in computer games, as the title advertises. I had a good time reading it, and I’m glad I purchased it. If you are also a fan of Civilization in it’s many versions I think you will enjoy this work.



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