Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Android Karenina by Ben H. Winters
Android Karenina by Ben H. Winters
Quirk took a chance with me reviewing another literary mash-up of theirs, Android Karenina, and I will admit that for the most part I actually enjoyed reading this novel. But let me start with the fun contest that Quirk is running.
Quirk took a chance with me reviewing another literary mash-up of theirs, Android Karenina, and I will admit that for the most part I actually enjoyed reading this novel. But let me start with the fun contest that Quirk is running.
Once again there are some really great prizes:
o Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls
o Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Journal
o How to Survive a Horror Movie by Seth Grahame-Smith o Dracula’s Heir, an Interactive Mystery by Sam Stall
o Extreme Encounters by Greg Emmanuel
o How to Tell if Your Boyfriend is The Antichrist by Patricia Carlin o An Android Karenina poster
o A Night of the Living Trekkies poster
o Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Journal
o How to Survive a Horror Movie by Seth Grahame-Smith o Dracula’s Heir, an Interactive Mystery by Sam Stall
o Extreme Encounters by Greg Emmanuel
o How to Tell if Your Boyfriend is The Antichrist by Patricia Carlin o An Android Karenina poster
o A Night of the Living Trekkies poster
All you have to do is follow the link at the end of this review tp enter.
The story still follows the original drama and romance of Anna Karenina & Count Vronsky, and Kitty Shcherbatskaya & Konstantin Levin. Unlike the original though, this newly imagined world is full of androids and technology that makes all their lives easy. That is until an evil underground group of Russian scientist begin attacking all that they hold dear. Will their government protect them and theirs, and what happens when truths are revealed about their very own characters?
Ben H. Winters first showed up on the Quirk scene when he co-wrote Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. Now he has taken on the challenge of a Tolstoy mash-up all by himself. Instead of monsters taking on pivotal roles, there are companion androids and an overwhelmingly large assortment of advanced technology.
The story still follows the original drama and romance of Anna Karenina & Count Vronsky, and Kitty Shcherbatskaya & Konstantin Levin. Unlike the original though, this newly imagined world is full of androids and technology that makes all their lives easy. That is until an evil underground group of Russian scientist begin attacking all that they hold dear. Will their government protect them and theirs, and what happens when truths are revealed about their very own characters?
Ben H. Winters first showed up on the Quirk scene when he co-wrote Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. Now he has taken on the challenge of a Tolstoy mash-up all by himself. Instead of monsters taking on pivotal roles, there are companion androids and an overwhelmingly large assortment of advanced technology.
Okay, first let's talk about the really big pink elephant in the room - Tolstoy. The original novel is over 800 pages long. Tolstoy loved words and loved description. He wanted the reader to understand every little idiosyncrasy of his characters. Winters has done away with about half the story, rewritten it with inventions that weren't even conceived of back then, and still maintained the integrity of the original. He uses Tolstoy's own words and then weaves in the impossible. Most of the time it is well done, but there are moments when the original wording is dense and hard to digest, but it can be slogged through, and it is worth it.
The descriptions for this book call it a steampunk inspired novel. I will agree with the inspired part, but Winters takes the mechanics way beyond simple steam driven engines. Everyone in high society has a companion android who anticipates the character's needs physically, mentally, and emotionally. The humans are completely dependent on them for every little thing, and this technology has been forced into every part of the story (i.e. robotic dice), which pushes the boundaries of reasonability with me. In the end, he makes use of these gadgets, and uses them or the lack of them to advance the story. Employing the androids as both characters and plot devices was successful, but reading the names of all these special gadgets was a tad burdensome at times, as I feel they were used with a bit of a heavy hand. It wouldn't have been so tedious at times if each mechanical device did not have a three part nomenclature. Luckily, Winters did not stick with just machines in this retelling of a classic.
The descriptions for this book call it a steampunk inspired novel. I will agree with the inspired part, but Winters takes the mechanics way beyond simple steam driven engines. Everyone in high society has a companion android who anticipates the character's needs physically, mentally, and emotionally. The humans are completely dependent on them for every little thing, and this technology has been forced into every part of the story (i.e. robotic dice), which pushes the boundaries of reasonability with me. In the end, he makes use of these gadgets, and uses them or the lack of them to advance the story. Employing the androids as both characters and plot devices was successful, but reading the names of all these special gadgets was a tad burdensome at times, as I feel they were used with a bit of a heavy hand. It wouldn't have been so tedious at times if each mechanical device did not have a three part nomenclature. Luckily, Winters did not stick with just machines in this retelling of a classic.
There are a few other surprises in the new novel that I am choosing not to disclose as I found them to be interesting and surprising. When I thought I could predict where Winters was heading with a certain storyline he surprised me. What can I say - I like surprises, and I have read so much that that is very hard to do. Let go of all realistic expectations in Android Karenina and enjoy the ride.
What it all comes down to:
What I liked?
1. I always enjoy when someone thinks outside of the box, and Winters went way outside of the box with this one.
2. The basic essence of the original story is still intact with the twin love stories.
3. Winters' imagination did not wane, and he was able to carry this new Russian world to the end.
What I disliked?
1. The new technology was way too much at times.
2. Tolstoy is dense and really tedious at times. *Note - Please don't blame Winters for this, as very few people feel Tolstoy is an easy read.
3. ***Spoiler Alert ... I am not sure I agree with sending the characters all the way into space for certain chapters was necessary. The first time was distracting, but the second time was more palatable.
To Buy or Not To Buy, That is the Question:
I would have to say buy, especially if you enjoy books with heavy handed sci-fi elements.
Okay, so that is what I think, but remember folks it's just an opinion. Now click on Quirk contest and enter to win some great prizes. And for more information on Android Karenina published by Quirk simply click her name.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Something I never dreamed of having to deal with
Everyone has something that they never dreamed that they would have to deal with. For the past few weeks I have been dealing with one of these instances. I have been dealing with cat zits. That's right people, I have a zitty kitty with feline acne.
YES, cats can get pimples. Who knew? I certainly didn't. There is no general cat literature that says "Oh by the way, you may have to pop your cats zits."
It started out with an overwhelming amount of black flakey dandruff on an her chin. The vet said to just keep combing it out with a flea comb and keep an eye on it. I read up on it on the web and began following some of the more natural suggestions. Then the day came when one exploded, and things came out that even freaked me out. Know this, I am the person in the movie theatre that laughs hysterically when gross things happen on the screen. But what came out of my cat's face that day, made me shudder, and not in a good way.
So, off to the vet's we went. We did a round of oral antibiotics and topical, because it has gone beyond just acne and into the realm of folliculitis (infected hair follicles). I thought that they were going away, but they seem to be coming back again. Witch Hazel has helped a lot, but not enough. I mistakenly put tea tree on the worst of them one day, before I new it was bad for kitties, and what do you know - it cleared up and is the one that hasn't come back. Great, the one thing that worked, and it is bad for cats.
So here I am, dealing with blackheads and whiteheads on my cat's chin. The blackheads aren't bad. It is the nastiness and hard white rocks that come out of the others that is really gross. Oh, and did I mention that the area has lost most of it's fur. Greeaaatt.
So that's what I have been up to. Fun huh?
YES, cats can get pimples. Who knew? I certainly didn't. There is no general cat literature that says "Oh by the way, you may have to pop your cats zits."
It started out with an overwhelming amount of black flakey dandruff on an her chin. The vet said to just keep combing it out with a flea comb and keep an eye on it. I read up on it on the web and began following some of the more natural suggestions. Then the day came when one exploded, and things came out that even freaked me out. Know this, I am the person in the movie theatre that laughs hysterically when gross things happen on the screen. But what came out of my cat's face that day, made me shudder, and not in a good way.
So, off to the vet's we went. We did a round of oral antibiotics and topical, because it has gone beyond just acne and into the realm of folliculitis (infected hair follicles). I thought that they were going away, but they seem to be coming back again. Witch Hazel has helped a lot, but not enough. I mistakenly put tea tree on the worst of them one day, before I new it was bad for kitties, and what do you know - it cleared up and is the one that hasn't come back. Great, the one thing that worked, and it is bad for cats.
So here I am, dealing with blackheads and whiteheads on my cat's chin. The blackheads aren't bad. It is the nastiness and hard white rocks that come out of the others that is really gross. Oh, and did I mention that the area has lost most of it's fur. Greeaaatt.
So that's what I have been up to. Fun huh?
Monday, May 17, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
So behind
I have fifteen million things to do and I am so behind on my blogging. This is coming in low on the prioity poll. I decided to take a minute to jot down a could of words. I working on a article review for Geeks Dream Girl in hopes of being hired on by them as a writer. Thus my book reviews have been nonexistent. My computer was down for several days as the fan blew out and in order not to fry the hard drive I had to leave it off and work off another computer. (Hated it, as I love my War Horse)
Also started another project,but will not discuss it. But will say that my periodic lapses in writing actually hwlp it. Okay back to work.
Also started another project,but will not discuss it. But will say that my periodic lapses in writing actually hwlp it. Okay back to work.
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Dragon Factory - Reveiw
The Dragon Factory
By Jonathan Maberry
Awesome! Fantastic! And every other word or phrase that goes along with those sentiments. Maberry knows how to write a thriller.
The Dragon Factory is the second in the Joe Ledger series. The first book, Patient Zero dealt with viral engineered zombies. This second novel deals with genetically engineered animals and humans. Here’s a brief synopsis:
Joe Ledger has joined the DMS (Department of Military Sciences) team full time, and together they have been out saving the world unbeknownst to the general public. Now, there is a new threat that must be eliminated, all while certain people in the government are trying to bring the DMS down. Joe, his team of specially trained soldiers, and all the other
members of the DMS will have to go against the NSA, the Russian mafia, Nazi’s, a mad scientist, and creatures no one could have imagined, in order to stop a clock that is counting down to the time when life as we know it would be changed forever.
Dragon Factory is well crafted and planned out. The chapters are broken up into a juxtaposed time line. If the reader pays attention to it they will see that there are times when multiple events are happening at the same time. In the hands of a lesser writer this could become a cluster bomb, but with Maberry it only enhances the story.
Then there is the complexity of the subject matter, genetic theory and engineering to the extreme, that has been very well researched. Too many authors of late have dealt with complex subject matter and obviously not understood what they have been writing about. JM may not himself understand everything that he wrote about, but he new enough to fake it well and make it believable.
Finally, there is the hero Joe Ledger. He is actually one of many, but he is the main protagonist. What makes him so great. He has all the ideal qualities: smart, funny, and sexy. His character is written with flaws that make him human and accessible. He reminds me a lot of Cussler's Dirk Pitt character, but less of a dog. Joe is the type of guy, that guy's would form a guy crush on.
What does it all come down to:
What I liked?
1. Joe Ledger. This character just rocks. I'm female; I want to make all his booboo's better one way or another. Guys will want to be him or work with him.
2. This is a science fiction thriller. The research and understanding of the material it took to put this story together in a plausible package is complete.
3. Genetic theory and science is overwhelming to a layperson, but JM makes it digestible and enlightening.
What I disliked?
1. The fact that I have to wait for the third installment The King of Plagues until next year.
To Buy or Not To Buy, That is the Question: Buy, Buy, Buy
By Jonathan Maberry
Awesome! Fantastic! And every other word or phrase that goes along with those sentiments. Maberry knows how to write a thriller.
The Dragon Factory is the second in the Joe Ledger series. The first book, Patient Zero dealt with viral engineered zombies. This second novel deals with genetically engineered animals and humans. Here’s a brief synopsis:
Joe Ledger has joined the DMS (Department of Military Sciences) team full time, and together they have been out saving the world unbeknownst to the general public. Now, there is a new threat that must be eliminated, all while certain people in the government are trying to bring the DMS down. Joe, his team of specially trained soldiers, and all the other
members of the DMS will have to go against the NSA, the Russian mafia, Nazi’s, a mad scientist, and creatures no one could have imagined, in order to stop a clock that is counting down to the time when life as we know it would be changed forever.
Dragon Factory is well crafted and planned out. The chapters are broken up into a juxtaposed time line. If the reader pays attention to it they will see that there are times when multiple events are happening at the same time. In the hands of a lesser writer this could become a cluster bomb, but with Maberry it only enhances the story.
Then there is the complexity of the subject matter, genetic theory and engineering to the extreme, that has been very well researched. Too many authors of late have dealt with complex subject matter and obviously not understood what they have been writing about. JM may not himself understand everything that he wrote about, but he new enough to fake it well and make it believable.
Finally, there is the hero Joe Ledger. He is actually one of many, but he is the main protagonist. What makes him so great. He has all the ideal qualities: smart, funny, and sexy. His character is written with flaws that make him human and accessible. He reminds me a lot of Cussler's Dirk Pitt character, but less of a dog. Joe is the type of guy, that guy's would form a guy crush on.
What does it all come down to:
What I liked?
1. Joe Ledger. This character just rocks. I'm female; I want to make all his booboo's better one way or another. Guys will want to be him or work with him.
2. This is a science fiction thriller. The research and understanding of the material it took to put this story together in a plausible package is complete.
3. Genetic theory and science is overwhelming to a layperson, but JM makes it digestible and enlightening.
What I disliked?
1. The fact that I have to wait for the third installment The King of Plagues until next year.
To Buy or Not To Buy, That is the Question: Buy, Buy, Buy
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Where you can find me now
There has been a new developement in my life. I am now a writer for the Charlotte Examiner, the Geek Culture Examiner. My first article is up and available. Just follow the link: http://www.examiner.com/x-39546-Charlotte-Geek-Culture-Examiner
The next article will be out tomorrow. Please check it out. Subscribe if you like it.
My next review will be soon, but definitely check out my review for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls on March 3rd. There is also a contest sponsored by Quirk publishing with all kinds of fun goodies.
See you there.
The next article will be out tomorrow. Please check it out. Subscribe if you like it.
My next review will be soon, but definitely check out my review for Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls on March 3rd. There is also a contest sponsored by Quirk publishing with all kinds of fun goodies.
See you there.
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