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Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Powersat (The Grand Tour #1) in Books

Nov 25, 2019

Powersat (The Grand Tour #1)

Ben Bova | 2005 | Fiction & Poetry, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller

6.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Dan Randolph has a dream - cheap power for all delivered via a series of orbital sun-powered 'Powersats' that will beam their energy down to Earth. However this is a huge project and there are any number of things that can go wrong. Dan will need to summon all his resources as a businessman and format astronaut to ensure his brainchild has a future.

This is a pretty solid start to the Grand Tour series of books, which seek to show the reader every corner of the solar system together with a gripping story. The science is accurate and plot is certainly gripping.

However this is a fairly workmanlike book, feeling a lot like Bova was writing with gritted teeth to actually get it finished. As a result it is a good but not great work of fiction.

Kudos

Russell Evans (179 KP) rated Excalibur in Books

Mar 2, 2020

Excalibur

Bernard Cornwell | 1999 | Fiction & Poetry, History & Politics

9.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Satisfying conclusion to an epic and excellent trilogy (0 more)

3rd and final part of the fantastic Warlord Chronicles!

Excalibur is the third and final book in the Warlord Chronicles series and is just a compelling and captivating as the first 2 books. (See my earlier reviews for the first 2 parts of this trilogy, ’The Winter King’ and ‘Enemy of God’)
Some epic battles and betrayals conclude this tale of Arthur, told by his loyal friend and Warlord Derfel, now an aged Christian Monk. Overall, the trilogy is a superbly realistic and gritty yet fictional account of the dark ages and the epic journey of Arthur and a magnificently strong cast of characters.
If you liked ‘The Vikings’ or ‘The Last Kingdoms’ series on TV, I would highly recommend that you give this trilogy a read – starting with The Winter King.