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Darren Fisher (2474 KP) rated Savage in Books

Feb 27, 2023 (Updated Feb 27, 2023)  
Savage
Savage
Richard Laymon | 1993 | Crime, Horror
6
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
Interesting Premise (0 more)
Too much cowboy malarkey (0 more)
Having read a fair few Laymon novels I looked forward to reading this one. Jack The Ripper goes West is an interesting idea but sadly runs aground. The main issue I had was that there was too much cowboy malarkey going on in the main story. The horror elements are kept as bookends for the story, which follows Trevors travels to Tombstone to attempt to halt Jack The Ripper's reign of terror. As I am not much of a fan of Western novels I found it all a bit of a slog to get through. Not one of Laymon's best by a long mile.
  
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David McK (3801 KP) rated Excavation in Books

Jan 28, 2019  
E
Excavation
James Rollins | 2007
2
6.3 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
I normally quite like James Rollins' novels, but this one? Not so much.

Although it is in his usual pseudo sci-fi style of writing which I have no problem with, I don't know whether the reason I wasn't really that sold on this one is due to the rather ridiculous (even for him) plot devices used, that fact that it's not one of his Sigma Force novels (best described as scientists with guns) and so lacks that over-reaching plot strands that connects all those novels, or (more likely) that he seems to share the common American misconception of my home town of Belfast as being (almost) a bombed out Beirout. Choice lines include:

"Surviving among the constant gunfire and bombings between the warring Irish factions and the British military had taught Maggie O'Donnell the vlaue of a good hiding place"

"Maggie knew that expression. A childhood friend ... had worn that same shocked face when caught by a stray bullet during a firefight back in Belfast"

"Henry crossed in front of the man and knocked the rifle towards Maggie. 'You know how to use that?' / 'I'm from Belfast' she said, retreiving the gun"

I mean, really? I could understand it a bit better if the book was set during the 70s, or if she was described as being older, but for somebody who I got the impression was meant to be in her 30s?

If this had been the first James Rollins book I had read I don't think I would have bothered with any others! Thankfully, I had the good fortune to read one of his far-superior Sigma Force novels first instead and hope that this is just a momentary blip on his track record - I also read somewhere that this is one of his earlier novels which, perhaps, excuses some of the flimsy plot devices used.
  
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David McK (3801 KP) rated No Free Lunch (Hal Spacejock #4) in Books

Jan 27, 2023  
No Free Lunch (Hal Spacejock #4)
No Free Lunch (Hal Spacejock #4)
Simon Haynes | 2006
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Harriet Walsh (0 more)
What happened to the rest of the Peace Force characters?? (0 more)
No Free Lunch.

The fourth in Simon Haynes Hal Spacejock series (following A Robot Named Clunk, Second Course and Just Desserts), and the first where Harriet Walsh (from the author's other 'Peace Force' series) cross-overs with Hal.

As I knew that 'going in', I read the first three Hal Spacejock novels before the four Harriet Walsh novels (Peace Force, Alpha Minor, Sierra Bravo and Foxtrot Hotel) before reading this.

Which, unfortunately, proved to be a mistake as I spent a good portion of this novel - well over the first half! - wondering where Harriet's 'sister' Alice or even some of the other characters (with the notable exception of Bernie) had gone, or even why they weren't mentioned at all!

I only found out later that, whilst set beforehand, the Peace Force novels were actually prequels, written later than this one but set before (think like the Star Wars prequels, compared to the original trilogy).

Once I got past that, uhhh, 'disassociation' - once the action primarily moved off the planet of Dismolle to the neighbouring planet Forzen, things did pick up a tad, with Hal and Harriet (and a hint of romance between them) both getting caught up in a murder mystery whilst investigating the disappearance of a wealthy citizen of that planet.

I don't want to give anything away, but I could definitely see elements of the later seasons of Stargate SG-1 here. If you know, you know!

So, yeah, all-in-all, a pleasant enough read but not one that, for me, matched the earlier novels in the series or even the Peace Force novels.

I'll still probably read more of these.
  
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Trish (4 KP) rated The Hour I First Believed in Books

Feb 8, 2018  
TH
The Hour I First Believed
Wally Lamb | 2008 | Fiction & Poetry
8
7.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I always enjoy Wally Lamb's books. This one had many twists and turns. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It did not disappoint! While his novels are very long, they always keep my attention. I loved getting to know the family in this book. I recommend it!
  
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Olivia (0 KP) rated Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe in Books

Jan 23, 2018  
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Benjamin Alire Saenz | 2013 | Children
10
8.9 (14 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book is one of the best novels I’ve read. The characters are lovable, the relationships they have with each other and the growth they undergo is touching. Sáenz manages to put so much tenderness and love into all of their relationships. It’s a beautiful work of art.