Literature

• Dan Simmons [Sci-Fi]
  • Hyperion Cantos
    • Hyperion
    • The Fall Of Hyperion
• Elizabeth Moon [Fantasy]
  • The Deed Of Paksenarrion
    • Sheepfarmer's Daughter
    • Divided Allegiance
    • Oath Of Gold
• Raymond E. Feist [Fantasy]
  • Darkwar Saga
    • Flight Of The Nighthawks

I just finished reading Raymond E. Feist's last released novel - Flight of the Nighthawks. While his writing style usually leaves a lot to be desired, he's outdone himself this time. This book is pure unadulterated drivel with a weak plot, dialogue that will not look out of place in a 7th standard composition and a hopitty-skipitty-jumpitty flow that tests the limits of your endurance.

Very miss-able unless you are a die hard fan.

I'm going to try and keep a record of all the books I read starting from those I remember reading this year. I was hoping to add a simple review or a rating.. but as per usual, I'm going to blame it on the lack of time..

In no particular order:

• Cliff Stoll
• The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage [Non-Fiction]
• Neal Stephenson [Sci-Fi]
  • Snow Crash [Reread]
• George R.R. Martin [Fantasy]
  • A Feast Of Crows
• Robert Jordan [Fantasy]
  • Wheel Of Time - Book 11 - Knife Of Dreams
• Robert A. Heinlein [Sci-Fi]
  • Citizen of The Galaxy
• Lois McMaster Bujold [Sci-Fi]
  Vorkosigan Saga

Finally got to read George R. R. Martin's latest book - A Feast Of Crows - Book 4 of the A Song Of Ice And Fire cycle - over the last couple of days. And what a pleasurable read it was!

This book has pretty much taken 5 (looooooooong) years to write, and considering how immensely satisfactory the previous three releases were, I was waiting for this with .. extreme anticipation and a high degree of expectation. And boy, I wasn't let down :)

The previous three books of Robert Jordan's Wheel Of Time saga have been tedious to say the least. But, with the Lan + Moiraine prequel (which was the last book released by Jordan) being so promising, I was looking forward to reading Book 11 - Knife Of Dreams, with some interest. Having finally done so yesterday, here's my take on it..

While things have definitely picked up in KoD (in terms of momentum), Jordan seems to have lost track of all the myriad characters that he's introduced in previous books. There are just way too many loose threads, and the holes in the logic have grown to drive-a-truck-right-through proportions.. Similarly, the threads that have been tied off have been done so rather clumsily (presumably in a rush to set things up for Tarmon Gai'don which has a looming presence throughout this book), and many characters are just plain ignored.

I've just been re-reading the Vorkosigan series - for my and everybody elses reference:

Reading (and chronological) order for Lois McMaster-Bujold's addictive Vorkosigan series:

• Falling Free
• Shards of Honor
• Barrayar
• The Warrior's Apprentice
• The Vor Game
• Mountains Of Mourning (short story - see below)
• Ethan Of Athos
• Labyrinth (short story - see below)
• Cetaganda
• Brothers In Arms
• Borders Of Infinity - 3 short stories
  

Dinesh put me onto these dude(s) a couple of days back, and it's been kinda fun to read dog-eared Indrajal copies of "The Phantom", Mandrake and Bahadur (!) once again. The disclaimer at the top of the site garnered a laugh though lol..

For Le Phantom fans out there, this is probably the most comprehensive site you'll ever see on the subject - the Indian section is fascinating ;)

-K