Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Genre: Science Fiction, Computer Gaming Fiction

Setting: Earth 2044, and in a Massively Multiplayer on-line game.

First Sentence: Everyone remembers where they were and what they were doing when they first heard about the contest.

Wow.
What a fun novel to read.  It's a enjoyable mash-up of computer gaming and twentieth century pop culture.

Earth in 2044 is not a nice place to live. Global climate change has damaged the planet's ecosystem.  There are lots of poor, hungry people.

A reclusive, billionaire, computer coder has created a massively multiplayer on line game called Oasis.  Oasis is a utopia where people can go to escape the real world.  Not only are people playing games, some are living their life in Oasis.  Some are going to school, some are making a living, and some are having relationships through their on-line avatars.

Then, the creator of Oasis dies.  He has no family or heirs.  So he leaves it up to the computer gamers.  He creates an incredibly difficult quest.  The winner of the quest will win the entire Oasis program.

Our main character, Parzival, is a young kid just out of high school eking out a living on Oasis.  When the contest is announced, he is determined to win.

Five years later, Parzival becomes the first person to solve the first puzzle of the contest.  Suddenly, he is famous.  But there are those who will win at any cost.  When Parzival's "real life" family is murdered, Parzival becomes more determined to win the game.

Along the way, with the help of his on-line gaming friends, Parzival learns some lessons reality and virtual reality.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

It was a real page turner.  And I liked all of the pop culture and computer gaming references.

The best novel I've read in a while.

Check it out.

         
                                                    

1805 by Richard Woodman

Genre: Historical Fiction, Nautical Fiction

Setting: At sea during the Napoleonic Wars

First Sentence: "Sir! Sir!" Midshipman Frey threw open the door of the captain's cabin with a precipitate lack of formality.

1805 is the sixth book of Woodman's Nathaniel Drinkwater series which extends to thirteen novels.

Our main character, Nathaniel Drinkwater, is in command of a frigate in Britain's royal navy.  He, along with many other ships, are blockading French ports and the English Channel.  There is a fear that Emperor Napoleon will attempt to invade England.

France possesses a more powerful army, but England has a better trained Navy.  So, it is the duty of the English fleet to stop the invasion and defend England.

The year 1805 is a fateful one in English history.  In this year, Admiral Nelson leads the fleet at the battle of Trafalgar.  An English victory will destroy the combined French and Spanish fleet.  An English defeat opens the door for an invasion.

Due to the machinations of  Drinkwater's nemesis, the master spy Santhonax, Drinkwater becomes an observer rather than a participant in England's most famous battle.  And, as a prisoner, Drinkwater experiences what battle is like for those who remain below deck during a naval battle.

This is a stand alone novel.  Yet there are references to the action in the first five books of the series.  Especially, Drinkwater's interactions with Santhonax and with Santhonax's wife.  I suggest reading the novels in chronological order.

I liked this book.  Nautical fiction set in the golden age of sail is a favorite genre for me. Lots of action, and the politics above and below decks.  Give this series a read.


                                                 

Colossus by D. F. Jones

Genre: Sci Fi

Setting: In a unique version of the not too distant future.

First Sentence: Forbin leaned back in the plastic smelling opulence of the armor-plated car of the Presidential fleet, gazing at the dart board neck of the Marine driver.

This novel is the third in D. F. Jones's Colossus series which currently runs to three books.

Originally published in 1955, this novel is placed in a peculiar version of of a future with computers, teletype machines, disposable clothing, perforated tape, and oil burning lamps.

For years the government has been working in secret on a supercomputer intelligent enough to prevent war.  Now it is time to turn the computer on and present it to the world.

But things do not turn out as planned.  There is another super computer.  The two computers join forces.  And soon they are calling the shots.

Will humans find a way to gain control or will humanity come to revere the computers as gods?

This was a fun novel to read with some anachronistic technology and a quirky 60's vibe.

Check it out.



                                          

Wanderer's Escape by Simon Goodson

Genre: Science Fiction

Setting: In space aboard an advanced alien spaceship.

First Sentence: "You! Get get over there!" the guard barked at Jess.

This book is the first in Simon Goodson's Wanderer series which currently has four novels.

As our story begins, Jess is a slave.  He is part of a slave gang that tasked with opening abandoned space vessels.  Some of them have been booby trapped.  The slave before Jess has been killed trying to open a ship.

Now its Jess's turn.

But the ship possesses an intelligence.  And for some reason, the ship has chosen Jess to be its next captain.

So Jess enters the ship, and the ship somehow contacts Jess.  He quickly learns that he has some control over the vessel.  Jess and two other slaves use the vessel to escape to freedom.

The ship is named Wanderer.  It is the most advanced spaceship in the galaxy.  As time goes on, Jess learns more about Wanderer  and how truly powerful it is.  Which means that the ship is coveted by space pirates and greedy space colonies.

Although Jess does not want to fight, he is forced to fight to defend the ship and its crew.  And after each battle Jess is truly sorry for the loss of life which resulted from each battle.

Eventually, Jess needs to learn a hard lesson about trust.

This book was a fun read.  I was looking for something easy read after reading a few hefty tomes and this novel fit the bill.  I liked Goodson's easy to read style. For me it was an pleasant read.

                            

Enemies at Home by Lindsey Davis

Genre: Historical Mystery

Setting: Ancient Rome, 89 AD

First Sentence: Even before I started, I knew I should say no.

This novel is the second in Lindsey Davis's Flavia Alba series. This series is a spin-off from Davis's Falco series also based in ancient Rome.

Flavia Albia's father is Marcus Falco.  Flavia was a British orphan adopted by Falco an his wife.  Now Albia is following in her father's footsteps and working as a paid informer.

Flavia has been asked by her friend Manlius Faustus to investigate a murder.  It seems that a newlywed couple has been killed, their silver plate stolen, and their slaves claiming sanctuary in a nearby temple.  In Rome, when a slave holder is killed, suspicion usually falls upon the slaves.  They are questioned under torture and then executed.

Manlius has asked Flavia to examine the evidence and question the slaves, in order to show that the slaves are truly guilty of the crime.

As she investigates, Flavia begins to understand what life is like for slaves.  Although they are possessed by their masters they have emotions and relationships often unseen by their owners.

And lurking in the background is the knowledge that they can be sold off at the whim of their master.  In the end, Flavia learns that this is the ultimate cause of the deaths of the newlyweds.

I enjoyed this book.  I am a big fan of Lindsey Davis's novels.  I's sure that I 'll soon pick up another Flavia Albia novel.



                                              

Scandal Takes a Holiday by Lindsey Davis

Genre: Historical Mystery

Setting: Rome, 76 AD

First Sentence: "If he chucks a stone, he's done for," muttered Petronius.

This novel is the sixteenth in Davis's Falco mystery series which currently runs to twenty books.  There are also five novels featuring Falco's adopted daughter Albia.

Falco is in the port city of Ostia on a missing person case.  His friend Petro is also in Ostia on an investigation.  Since Ostia is near to Rome, both of our intrepid investigators have brought their families along.  For Falco, this means bringing his children, his dog, and his beautiful and intelligent wife Helena.

Unfortunately, Falco's job is not as straight forward as he expected it would be.  The missing person is the author of the scandals column in Rome's news organ the Daily Gazette.  It is possible that our missing person's writing may have gained him some deadly enemies.

While investigating, Falco uncovers what appears to be a kidnapping scheme run by pirates.  It may be that our scandals author may have discovered this as well.

Of course, Falco's family becomes involved with the plot.  Helena helps with the investigation.  Falco's Pa reveals that he is involved in an art smuggling business.  And Falco's Uncle Fulvius (The one nobody ever talks about) makes an appearance.

As the story progresses, it seems that all of Falco's questions take him further away from his missing person assignment.  But in the end, the loose ends are resolved and justice prevails.

The best part of reading a Falco book is observing his family life.  With his Ma and Pa, his sisters, the kids, the dog and his wife Helena, we see what life in a Roman family might have been like.

I enjoyed this book.

                              

Persona Non Grata by Ruth Downie

Genre: Historical Mystery

Setting: Southern Gaul, 119 AD

First Sentence: Justinius was lying in the stinking dark of the ship's hold, bruised and beaten, feeling every breath twist hot knives in this chest.

This novel is the third in Downie's Gaius Ruso mystery series which currently runs to six books.

Or main character, Ruso is a doctor for a Roman military unit in Britannia.  One night, in an attempt to protect a young boy from being roughed up by some Roman legionaries, Ruso breaks his foot.  while waiting for his leg to heal, Ruso receives an enigmatic note from his brother asking him to come home.

So Ruso, and his "barbarian" woman Tilla head to Ruso's family farm in southern Gaul.  Once he arrives he finds his family in disarray.  His sisters are demanding a dowery.  His brother is bungling the family finances.  And, the family is close to loosing the farm to bankruptcy.

The last thing they needed was Ruso to show up.  No one will admit to writing the note.

Then, while Ruso is trying to get a handle on all of the family issues, the husband of Ruso's ex-wife dies unexpectedly at Ruso's farm.  The husband looks like he has been poisoned.  And Ruso is a prime suspect.

Now we follow Ruso and Tilla as they sort out all of the family's problems.  Once again, Tilla shows that she is the smart, level-headed partner that Ruso needs.

Will Ruso and Tilla be able to sort out the murder, and the family's problems?

I enjoyed reading about Ruso and his messy family life.  In my opinion, it was a realistic peek at daily life in an ancient Roman family.