Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: England, 1325
This novel is the twenty-seventh novel in Jeck's Knights Templar series. This series follows the exploits of Sir Baldwin de Furnshill and his companion bailiff Simon Puttock.
England is in turmoil. Sir Hugh le Dispenser, the King's special friend, has been gaining power and wealth by exploiting his position with the King. Sir Hugh and his supporters have run roughshod over the law as they take whatever they desire. The people of England tire of their lawlessness.
In this installment of the series, Sir Baldwin and Simon have returned from France. They risk the anger of the king by informing him that his wife, Isabella, has defied him by remaining in France with their son. Sir Hugh wishes to force Simon to do his bidding by having his daughter kidnapped and her husband arrested for treason.
When Baldwin and Simon return home, they become involved in the investigation of a mass murder. A large party of travelers has been slaughtered, and the silver they were escorting has been stolen. It soon becomes apparent that Dispenser's supporters are involved with this murder, and several more. And that they are also involved with Simon's daughter's kidnapping.
Can Sir Baldwin and Simon solve the mystery, and bring the guilty to justice? Can they rescue Simon's daughter? And can they avoid raising the ire of Sir Hugh le Dispenser?
I really enjoy Jeck's novels. Each one is a complete story. And there are plot elements which continue through several novels. The novels proceed in chronological order. This novel takes place in October and November of 1325. (spoiler alert: The evil Sir Hugh has only a year to live.)
No Law in the Land
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The High King of Montival by S. M. Stirling
Genre: Fantasy, Alternate History
Setting: A post apocalyptic North America, 25 years after the "Change"
This novel is the tenth in Stirling's Change series.
In Stirling's alternate universe, March 17, 1998 is the day the world changed. A mysterious event centered around Nantucket Island transported the island into the past. The story of how the Nantucket survivors adapted form the first three novels of the Change series.
With the next three novels in the series, Stirling tells the tale of present day Earth after the event. There has been a fundamental change in the laws of the universe. Electricity, gasoline engines, steam engines and gunpowder no longer work. Earth has returned to a pre-Industrial Revolution state. These three novels are mostly centered around Portland, Oregon. They describe how the people survive and reorganize themselves in this post apocalyptic world.
In the next four novels, the world has been invaded by a force of evil. The terrible Prophet, and his evil minions, the Cutters, are planning to take over the world. Rudi Mackenzie has been visited by spiritual Lady. She has given him the task to travel to Nantucket and retrieve a magic sword. Rudi then must use The Sword of the Lady to defeat the Prophet and his followers.
This novel picks up the action after Rudi has received the sword. He must return to Oregon with the sword. Along the way Rudi must organize his followers and assemble an army to defeat the Cutters. Rudi must also learn to control the magic of the sword so that he can rid the world of this evil threat. The plot follows Rudi and his followers. There are descriptions of destroyed cities and wild uncivilized people. There are desperate battles using swords, spears and shields. Along the way back to Oregon, Rudi becomes Artos, the High King of Montival.
The warriors that Rudi collects are an eclectic group of knights, cowboys, Vikings, Islamic pirates and Celtic archers. The religious beliefs of the people play an important part in the plot of the story. There are Christians, both Catholics and Protestants. There are believers in the old Norse religion of Odin and Thor. And there are those who practice the Wiccan beliefs.
An interesting part of the plot is that some of the characters have modeled thamselves after the Rangers in
J. R. R. Tolkein's Lord of the Rings trilogy. In fact they refer to Tolkein's writings as the "Histories". These are mostly characters who were born just before, or after, the Change.
I enjoyed reading this book. By itself, the book is fair. However, the main point of the book is to set up the plot for the final decisive battle of good versus evil.
Normally, I am not a fan of fantasy stories that have too much magic in them. In this book, the bad guy has a magical power, and the good guy has a magical power. The rest of the characters and plot are pretty realistic with people, animals, and objects acting realistically.
If you are interested in reading this series, I would suggest that you begin with Dies the Fire which is the first book in the series.
The High King of Montival
Dies the Fire
Island in the Sea of Time - The first Change series novel.
Setting: A post apocalyptic North America, 25 years after the "Change"
This novel is the tenth in Stirling's Change series.
In Stirling's alternate universe, March 17, 1998 is the day the world changed. A mysterious event centered around Nantucket Island transported the island into the past. The story of how the Nantucket survivors adapted form the first three novels of the Change series.
With the next three novels in the series, Stirling tells the tale of present day Earth after the event. There has been a fundamental change in the laws of the universe. Electricity, gasoline engines, steam engines and gunpowder no longer work. Earth has returned to a pre-Industrial Revolution state. These three novels are mostly centered around Portland, Oregon. They describe how the people survive and reorganize themselves in this post apocalyptic world.
In the next four novels, the world has been invaded by a force of evil. The terrible Prophet, and his evil minions, the Cutters, are planning to take over the world. Rudi Mackenzie has been visited by spiritual Lady. She has given him the task to travel to Nantucket and retrieve a magic sword. Rudi then must use The Sword of the Lady to defeat the Prophet and his followers.
This novel picks up the action after Rudi has received the sword. He must return to Oregon with the sword. Along the way Rudi must organize his followers and assemble an army to defeat the Cutters. Rudi must also learn to control the magic of the sword so that he can rid the world of this evil threat. The plot follows Rudi and his followers. There are descriptions of destroyed cities and wild uncivilized people. There are desperate battles using swords, spears and shields. Along the way back to Oregon, Rudi becomes Artos, the High King of Montival.
The warriors that Rudi collects are an eclectic group of knights, cowboys, Vikings, Islamic pirates and Celtic archers. The religious beliefs of the people play an important part in the plot of the story. There are Christians, both Catholics and Protestants. There are believers in the old Norse religion of Odin and Thor. And there are those who practice the Wiccan beliefs.
An interesting part of the plot is that some of the characters have modeled thamselves after the Rangers in
J. R. R. Tolkein's Lord of the Rings trilogy. In fact they refer to Tolkein's writings as the "Histories". These are mostly characters who were born just before, or after, the Change.
I enjoyed reading this book. By itself, the book is fair. However, the main point of the book is to set up the plot for the final decisive battle of good versus evil.
Normally, I am not a fan of fantasy stories that have too much magic in them. In this book, the bad guy has a magical power, and the good guy has a magical power. The rest of the characters and plot are pretty realistic with people, animals, and objects acting realistically.
If you are interested in reading this series, I would suggest that you begin with Dies the Fire which is the first book in the series.
The High King of Montival
Dies the Fire
Island in the Sea of Time - The first Change series novel.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Destroyermen: Rising Tides
Genre: Alternate History
Setting: On a parallel version of Earth during the WWII era.
At the beginning of WWII in the southwestern Pacific ocean. The destroyer USS Walker is locked in battle with the Japanese battle ship Amagi. The captain of the Walker, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy, in a desperate move to save his ship and crew from destruction steers toward a fierce rain storm.
The squall is no ordinary meteorological event. It is a portal to a parallel Earth. The sailors aboard the Walker discover an Earth very different than the one they left. There they encounter new forms of animal and plant life, some very dangerous to the crew and the ship. The destroyermen also meet two sentient species: the peaceable, lemur-like Lemurians and the carnivorous, lizard-like Grik.
How the sailors from the Walker explore this alternate Earth, and join forces with the Lemurians, is the basis of the first installment of the Destroyermen series.
In the next four novels, the destroyermen aid the Lemurians in their fight against the Grik. They also discover that they are not the only humans in this version of Earth. A group of English ships entered in the 1800's. Another group of Spanish ships entered in the 1500's. And possibly some primitive peoples before that.
In this installment of the series, Lt. Commander Reddy and the USS Walker are headed east to New Britain, the islands inhabited by the descendants of the British explorers. Reddy's love, Nurse Tucker, with the Princess of New Britain and some others have been kidnapped. Reddy means to find them.
Unfortunately, Nurse Tucker and the princess, and their group have escaped and found refuge on a desolate, dangerous atoll. The Lumurian alliance with the humans continues to build its forces and train for the next big battle. The Grik are using lessons they have learned in past fights to improve their own forces. And to complicate matters, a volcano is threatening to "go Krakatoa" and disrupt everyone's plans.
Will Lt. Commander Reddy and the Walker find Nurse Tucker and the Princess? Or will the Alliance be plunged into another war? And will the pause in the battle with the Grik benefit the Alliance or the Grik?
I am really enjoying the Destroyermen series. Taylor Anderson has created an exciting parallel Earth. He has created fantastic, imaginative creatures to populate his Earth. Anderson's descriptions of the battles are enthralling. The books are real page turners. My only complaint is that they end too soon. I can't wait to read the next Destroyermen novel.
Into the Storm, Destroyermen Book 1
Setting: On a parallel version of Earth during the WWII era.
At the beginning of WWII in the southwestern Pacific ocean. The destroyer USS Walker is locked in battle with the Japanese battle ship Amagi. The captain of the Walker, Lieutenant Commander Matthew Reddy, in a desperate move to save his ship and crew from destruction steers toward a fierce rain storm.
The squall is no ordinary meteorological event. It is a portal to a parallel Earth. The sailors aboard the Walker discover an Earth very different than the one they left. There they encounter new forms of animal and plant life, some very dangerous to the crew and the ship. The destroyermen also meet two sentient species: the peaceable, lemur-like Lemurians and the carnivorous, lizard-like Grik.
How the sailors from the Walker explore this alternate Earth, and join forces with the Lemurians, is the basis of the first installment of the Destroyermen series.
In the next four novels, the destroyermen aid the Lemurians in their fight against the Grik. They also discover that they are not the only humans in this version of Earth. A group of English ships entered in the 1800's. Another group of Spanish ships entered in the 1500's. And possibly some primitive peoples before that.
In this installment of the series, Lt. Commander Reddy and the USS Walker are headed east to New Britain, the islands inhabited by the descendants of the British explorers. Reddy's love, Nurse Tucker, with the Princess of New Britain and some others have been kidnapped. Reddy means to find them.
Unfortunately, Nurse Tucker and the princess, and their group have escaped and found refuge on a desolate, dangerous atoll. The Lumurian alliance with the humans continues to build its forces and train for the next big battle. The Grik are using lessons they have learned in past fights to improve their own forces. And to complicate matters, a volcano is threatening to "go Krakatoa" and disrupt everyone's plans.
Will Lt. Commander Reddy and the Walker find Nurse Tucker and the Princess? Or will the Alliance be plunged into another war? And will the pause in the battle with the Grik benefit the Alliance or the Grik?
I am really enjoying the Destroyermen series. Taylor Anderson has created an exciting parallel Earth. He has created fantastic, imaginative creatures to populate his Earth. Anderson's descriptions of the battles are enthralling. The books are real page turners. My only complaint is that they end too soon. I can't wait to read the next Destroyermen novel.
Into the Storm, Destroyermen Book 1
Saturday, October 29, 2011
A Murder on the Appian Way by Steven Saylor
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: Rome, 52 BC
Steven Saylor is the author of the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. His main character is Gordianus the Finder. Gordianus is ancient Rome's answer to the private detective. In his investigations he meets some of Rome's most powerful citizens. Saylor's plots have Gordianus rubbing elbows such well known historical figures as Caesar, Pompey, Marc Antony, and Cicero.
In this novel, two of Rome's most powerful men Publius Claudius and Titus Annius Milo are vying for political control of Rome. When Claudius is found dead on the Appian way Milo is accused of his murder. Gordianus is asked by several powerful people to investigate.
Rome is in an uproar with riots between opposing political forces. Gordianus and his family are in danger from the rioting mobs. His house is ransacked, and his faithful slave Belbo is killed.
In order to quell the lawlessness of the mob, Pompey, a Roman general, takes command of the city. Milo must be put on trial for the murder. Will Gordianus untangle the mystery, find the truth, and save Rome from itself?
I enjoy Saylor's novels. Gordianus is a great character. While he is rubbing elbows with Rome's elite, he must also solve domestic family problems with his wife, daughter, adopted sons, and slaves. These details make Gordianus and believable and likable character. Like many other mystery novel main characters, he must choose between truth and justice to find a solution he can live with.
Setting: Rome, 52 BC
Steven Saylor is the author of the Roma Sub Rosa mystery series. His main character is Gordianus the Finder. Gordianus is ancient Rome's answer to the private detective. In his investigations he meets some of Rome's most powerful citizens. Saylor's plots have Gordianus rubbing elbows such well known historical figures as Caesar, Pompey, Marc Antony, and Cicero.
In this novel, two of Rome's most powerful men Publius Claudius and Titus Annius Milo are vying for political control of Rome. When Claudius is found dead on the Appian way Milo is accused of his murder. Gordianus is asked by several powerful people to investigate.
Rome is in an uproar with riots between opposing political forces. Gordianus and his family are in danger from the rioting mobs. His house is ransacked, and his faithful slave Belbo is killed.
In order to quell the lawlessness of the mob, Pompey, a Roman general, takes command of the city. Milo must be put on trial for the murder. Will Gordianus untangle the mystery, find the truth, and save Rome from itself?
I enjoy Saylor's novels. Gordianus is a great character. While he is rubbing elbows with Rome's elite, he must also solve domestic family problems with his wife, daughter, adopted sons, and slaves. These details make Gordianus and believable and likable character. Like many other mystery novel main characters, he must choose between truth and justice to find a solution he can live with.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Stonehenge by Bernard Cornwell
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: England, 2000 B.C.
Bernard Cornwell is a prolific author of historical fiction. He has written over fifty novels.
In this novel, Cornwell tells a fictional account of the building of Stonehenge. While this work is completely fiction, Cornwell does a great job of weaving into his tale the few archeological facts we do know about Stonehenge.
Nobody really knows why Stonehenge was built. It may have been for religious purposes, but we have no direct information of this. We do know that Stonehenge was built, and rebuilt, several times. Many stones were brought from hundreds of miles away, then discarded. The large stones that finally comprised Stonehenge weigh as much as forty tons. They were dragged over twenty miles to create the monument we know today.
Cornwell's story tells the fate of three brothers. It is a tale of brotherly rivalry, madness, and the will of the gods.
The oldest brother a warrior filled with lust, hatred and revenge. He murders his father and betrays his youngest brother. And slaughters at will.
The middle son suffers from physical deformities which drive him into madness. He becomes a priest in service to fierce god Slaol. It is his madness which drives the building of great temples, and eventually the building of Stonehenge.
The youngest son, Saban (the main character) is betrayed by his older brothers, sold into slavery, and driven far from home. Along the way the women he loves (two wives and a daughter) are taken from him by his brothers, and the gods. In the end he is driven to build the incredible monument that is Stonehenge.
I enjoyed this novel. It is a nice easy read. The plot moves along and keeps you reading.
Setting: England, 2000 B.C.
Bernard Cornwell is a prolific author of historical fiction. He has written over fifty novels.
In this novel, Cornwell tells a fictional account of the building of Stonehenge. While this work is completely fiction, Cornwell does a great job of weaving into his tale the few archeological facts we do know about Stonehenge.
Nobody really knows why Stonehenge was built. It may have been for religious purposes, but we have no direct information of this. We do know that Stonehenge was built, and rebuilt, several times. Many stones were brought from hundreds of miles away, then discarded. The large stones that finally comprised Stonehenge weigh as much as forty tons. They were dragged over twenty miles to create the monument we know today.
Cornwell's story tells the fate of three brothers. It is a tale of brotherly rivalry, madness, and the will of the gods.
The oldest brother a warrior filled with lust, hatred and revenge. He murders his father and betrays his youngest brother. And slaughters at will.
The middle son suffers from physical deformities which drive him into madness. He becomes a priest in service to fierce god Slaol. It is his madness which drives the building of great temples, and eventually the building of Stonehenge.
The youngest son, Saban (the main character) is betrayed by his older brothers, sold into slavery, and driven far from home. Along the way the women he loves (two wives and a daughter) are taken from him by his brothers, and the gods. In the end he is driven to build the incredible monument that is Stonehenge.
I enjoyed this novel. It is a nice easy read. The plot moves along and keeps you reading.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
The Haunted Monastery and The Chinese Maze Murders by Robert Van Gulik
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: China in the seventh century
Robert Van Gulik was a diplomat and orientalist. While serving in China, he discovered the traditional Chinese detective story. In the these stories, the main character is a magistrate. In each story the magistrate investigates and solves three different crimes. In many of these stories the main character is Judge Dee. Judge Dee was a historical figure who was revered for solving mysteries.
Van Gulik modeled his stories on the the Chinese detective story. He uses Judge Dee as his main character. Dee, with his trusty lieutenants, investigate crimes and dispense justice in ancient China. While Van Gulik's stories are works of fiction, he used Chinese sources to suggest mysteries for Dee to solve.
This volume contains two separate Judge Dee novels:
The Haunted Monastery
While returning to his home after a trip to the capital, Judge Dee's carriage breaks an axle during a severe storm. Fortunately, there is a monastery nearby where he and his family can take refuge. While at the monastery, Dee begins to notice some strange happenings. He is already aware of three untimely deaths which have occurred at the monastery in the past year. The monastery and the storm outside create a mysterious setting as Dee questions his suspects and solves three interwoven crimes.
The Chinese Maze Murders
Judge Dee has been assigned to a town on the frontier. When he arrives he finds that the previous magistrate has left, and the town in in the control of a local strongman. Immediately, he has to take control of the town using guile rather than the force of arms. In the next few days he solves a sealed-room murder, unravels a contested will, locates a missing girl, discovers the murderer of a previous magistrate, and defuses an imminent attack by the local barbarian tribesmen. All in a week's work for the intrepid Judge Dee.
Setting: China in the seventh century
Robert Van Gulik was a diplomat and orientalist. While serving in China, he discovered the traditional Chinese detective story. In the these stories, the main character is a magistrate. In each story the magistrate investigates and solves three different crimes. In many of these stories the main character is Judge Dee. Judge Dee was a historical figure who was revered for solving mysteries.
Van Gulik modeled his stories on the the Chinese detective story. He uses Judge Dee as his main character. Dee, with his trusty lieutenants, investigate crimes and dispense justice in ancient China. While Van Gulik's stories are works of fiction, he used Chinese sources to suggest mysteries for Dee to solve.
This volume contains two separate Judge Dee novels:
The Haunted Monastery
While returning to his home after a trip to the capital, Judge Dee's carriage breaks an axle during a severe storm. Fortunately, there is a monastery nearby where he and his family can take refuge. While at the monastery, Dee begins to notice some strange happenings. He is already aware of three untimely deaths which have occurred at the monastery in the past year. The monastery and the storm outside create a mysterious setting as Dee questions his suspects and solves three interwoven crimes.
The Chinese Maze Murders
Judge Dee has been assigned to a town on the frontier. When he arrives he finds that the previous magistrate has left, and the town in in the control of a local strongman. Immediately, he has to take control of the town using guile rather than the force of arms. In the next few days he solves a sealed-room murder, unravels a contested will, locates a missing girl, discovers the murderer of a previous magistrate, and defuses an imminent attack by the local barbarian tribesmen. All in a week's work for the intrepid Judge Dee.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton
Genre: Historical Fiction, Pirate Fiction
Setting: 1665, the Caribbean Sea
The British colony of Port Royal in Jamaica in the 1665 was a nest of knaves and cutthroats. Captain Charles Hunter makes Port Royal his home port. Now, the difference between being a privateer or a pirate depends on what side you are on. Piracy is illegal. Privateering is approved by the government. Hunter is a privateer.
Hunter is a well liked captain. His crew mates trust his fairness and unique planning skills. The ladies of Port Royal admire his dashing good looks. And his successful ventures make lots of people rich, including his crew, many of the towns businessmen, and local British government officials.
When he gets wind of a Spanish galleon laden with gold and ripe for the picking, Hunter is ready to go. His voyage across the the Caribbean reads like the plot of a blockbuster pirate movie. He is captured by an evil Spanish captain. He and his crew make several dramatic escapes. There are desperate sea going battles. Hunter and his crew face cannibals, a hurricane, and the dreaded kraken sea monster. When they return to port, they face piracy charges and are condemned to death. How Hunter survives each challenge makes this book hard to put down.
After his death in 2008, this novel was discovered as a complete manuscript in his files. It was a nice read. There was lots of great action without too much unneeded description. I enjoyed the book. Many of Crichton's novels have been made into movies. This novel would make a great film.
Pirate Latitudes
Setting: 1665, the Caribbean Sea
The British colony of Port Royal in Jamaica in the 1665 was a nest of knaves and cutthroats. Captain Charles Hunter makes Port Royal his home port. Now, the difference between being a privateer or a pirate depends on what side you are on. Piracy is illegal. Privateering is approved by the government. Hunter is a privateer.
Hunter is a well liked captain. His crew mates trust his fairness and unique planning skills. The ladies of Port Royal admire his dashing good looks. And his successful ventures make lots of people rich, including his crew, many of the towns businessmen, and local British government officials.
When he gets wind of a Spanish galleon laden with gold and ripe for the picking, Hunter is ready to go. His voyage across the the Caribbean reads like the plot of a blockbuster pirate movie. He is captured by an evil Spanish captain. He and his crew make several dramatic escapes. There are desperate sea going battles. Hunter and his crew face cannibals, a hurricane, and the dreaded kraken sea monster. When they return to port, they face piracy charges and are condemned to death. How Hunter survives each challenge makes this book hard to put down.
After his death in 2008, this novel was discovered as a complete manuscript in his files. It was a nice read. There was lots of great action without too much unneeded description. I enjoyed the book. Many of Crichton's novels have been made into movies. This novel would make a great film.
Pirate Latitudes
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