Baen Ebook Free Library Book Review - 1632 by Eric Flint The Ring of Fire book 1

I learned about the Ring of Fire Series from the Baen Free Radio hour podcast when they interviewed the authors, Eric Flint and Charles E. Gannon, of the latest book in the series, 1636: Commander Cantrell in the West Indies. The idea sounded interesting - a 20th century town is scooped up and dumped in 17th century Germany in the opening stages of the 30 years war. I tried to find it at the library but they didn't have the first book in the series. So, I was glad to see that it was free on Baen's Ebook library. Here's a link to the Baen Ebook Free Library page for the book. It was a fun read and as a history student I found it particularly interesting. It is the story of modern day people in a long past time, but it also covers some of the big historical events of that time. There were several chapters which walked the reader through a historical fiction account of the Battle of Breitenfield which were very fun. It gave some historical background, but also showed us a bit more of an important historical figure. All in all, the book was a very interesting read.

Plot: Grantsville, West Virginia is a typical Appalachian town with a power plant, coal miners, and a population of a couple thousand. Populated by what many folks would call "hicks" or "red necks" it's citizens are hard working, rough and tumble, good hearted people. Mike Stearns is the leader of the local chapter of the United Mine Workers of America labor union and most of the town is at the high school cafeteria enjoying his sister's wedding reception when the event occurred. It felt like an explosion and searing light flashed across the sky. Nothing was damaged, but Grantsville was changed forever. As mike and the other residents go out to see what the damage is they come across a group of soldiers dressed in steel amour and with matchlock guns pillaging and raping a nearby farm stead. They quickly put a stop to that but soon realize they are not in the proverbial Kansas anymore. A six mile circle of land, with Grantsville at its center has been relocated to 17th century Germany. Or what will someday become Germany. At the moment its a mess of warring princedoms and the residents of Grantsville find themselves right in the middle of it.

My personal favorites: The mix of alternate history and historical fantasy was a delight. The characters were a lot of fun too. I honestly cared about them and wanted them to succeed. I will confess that it didn't seem like they could fail at times, but there were moments where I greatly feared for them. The flavor of the prose was enjoyable as well. I had to smile at the fact that Eric Flint, who is a "card carrying Communist," had a main character that is the leader of a labor union. The action was good and the history was fascinating.

Considerations: With rough and tumble mine workers, marauding mercenaries, and a fair number of battles or generally bad situations there is some very strong language. It didn't pull me out, although some may find 17th century characters using modern profanity stranger. It didn't bother me based on the fact that those people would have had words just as strong, we just don't know what they are. There was no real graphic violence, but I must mention that rape is referenced a fair amount. There are not descriptions of the actual rapes however. There is one scene, describing a young couple's wedding night where leaves no doubt that the wedding was consummated, but again, no graphic descriptions. The vast majority was emotional and mental descriptions. Very brief oral sex is implied. The scene is not gratuitous as it explores the mentality of the young bride who had been a rape victim of another man for an extended prior to her wedding. It is telegraphed very clearly and can be skipped without consequence to the larger story.

All in all, the story was fun and I hope to be able to find a few more. It was entertaining and fun to see a cross of modern and medieval. 

Baen Books Free Library Book Review - The Honor of the Queen by David Weber, Honor Harrington book 2

About six months ago I got into the Baen Free Radio Hour podcast hosted by Tony Daniel. I originally got into it because for the last 15 minutes or so they play an unabridged audio book which they've serialized. They are about half way through Larry Corriea's Hard Magic and it's what prompted me to buy that some production (and the 2nd book in the trilogy) when I had the chance. However, the podcast has also introduced me to other authors and reading resources that I didn't know about before. One of these was the Baen Ebook Free Library. While I didn't really get into ebooks before I recently got a smart phone with a screen big enough to actually be able to read off of. When I realized this, I thought I would give ebooks a try. Interestingly enough I had recently borrowed Honor of the Queen from my father when I found it for free on Baen's ebook website. I didn't pick this book up on Audible because I wasn't sure if I wanted to pursue the story from On Basilisk Station. I'd learned how big the series was and after reading several book descriptions didn't know if I liked the way the series was headed. I figured borrowing the book would be a safe way to explore it. To wrap up this long introduction - I loved the book even more than the first and am glad that I have a copy that I can keep. Here is a link to Baen Ebook Free Library for the book. It was a great read and had some great suspense and showed us just how human and how awesome Captain Honor Harrington can be. For those that would like, they also have the first book in the series On Basilisk Station available in the Free Library. You could probably read the second without the first, but they don't explain the tech quite as well the 2nd time around.

Plot: After the near disaster at Basilisk Station the Royal Manticoran Navy has realized how seriously the People's Republic of Haven was about their expansionism. With Basilisk safely protected the RMN starts looking for other ways the Peeps might get at them. This takes them to Yeltsin's Star, a two planet system with a 600 year feud. The Manticorans are looking to support the planet Grayson all the while suspecting that the Peeps will back the Masadans. While technologically less advanced and culturally very different from Manticore and Haven, Yeltsin's Star does have one thing that both powerhouses want - location, location, location. But how far are Manticore and Haven willing to go to court the Graysons and the Masadans? How much blood will be spilled before the power houses realize that they have gotten involved in one religion's jihad on the other? Honor must come to grips with all of this while she acts as diplomat to a planet where a women's place is at home and decidedly not in the military.

My persona favorites: Weber does a great job of giving us social and political intrigue with some serious kick trash space combat. As I read I watched with mounting dread as the challenges and obstacles piled up. It made the climax that much better. Weber does a really good job of showing the extent of a battle and the result of using such powerful weapons. Ships and people die at a realistic rate and the physics involved feel true and correct. I found the fanaticism of the Masadans to be believable and in some ways pitied them. Weber even got me to care about Haven at one point. All of the characters were fantastic and I enjoyed the villains and the heroes/heroines

Considerations: Like the first book, there is language and violence in this book. I found it used appropriately and wasn't jerked out of the story by it. While there is some graphic descriptions of violence, it is minimal and again, doesn't distract. I do need to mention that there is a rather intense scene where we learn about the fate of some female POWs that some may find disturbing. The scene in question is powerfully written and does not wallow in the visceral, but conveys the strong emotions that are the root of the characters' reactions.

Overall, I loved The Honor of the Queen. I was really happy with the action and the characters. I am defiantly going to borrow the next book from my father and continue to explore the free library.

Boys weekend

This weekend found me taking some pictures of our boys, Tigger and Roo. The girls had a baby shower to go to so we guys got to spend some good time together.



They are good kids (for the most part) and we are glad to have both of them. In many ways they are both miracle children. Tigger was born at 27 weeks gestation and Roo was conceived while Angel was on a long term birth control. Due to the nature of the contraceptive and Angel's history with Tigger, Roo was at high risk to miscarry or be pre-term. Both boys overcame their respective obstacles and are now healthy and strong and are giving me grey hair. I haven't seen the hairs yet, but I'm sure they're there.

The pictures of Roo are pretty self explanatory: cute baby being cute. He's a rather mild kid who doesn't tend to fuss and is very content to sit and watch the world. He usually has a pretty serious expression on his face, but has started smiling more and more. He also will occasionally giggle in his sleep. I claim that he gets that from Angel, because she will often chuckle while asleep.

Tigger on the other hand is rarely standing still long enough to watch anything. He likes to run around like a demon and reminds me why my nic-name growing up was "Tarzan." This weekend we were at his grandparents and while playing he got a nice sheeska (swelling) right on his forehead. He was in pain for a while, but didn't have a concussion and was back running around in 20 minutes. It's still an impressive injury.

Book Review: Tricked by Kevin Hearne, The Iron Druid Chronicles book 4

Rather than wait to pick this up on Audible I just borrowed the paperback from my father. I was a little anxious about finding time to read it, but I managed and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It takes us out of the more well known pantheons into the Navajo belief system. As Hearne points out in the afterward however, the book is no substitute for an expert. He also points out that there are many different versions of the legends he is referencing. I thought the story was fun. And always remember, die angry and at maximum volume.

Plot: Atticus knew that killing a rather major God would have a bunch of people out looking for him. People that could find him, kill him, and make it hurt. So he gave them what he wanted. It's not often you get to see yourself getting hacked to pieces by angry Gods, but Atticus manages it without dying. Now he owes a favor to Coyote, the Navajo trickster God, and Coyote never plays things straight. Atticus finds himself up against a pair of skin walkers that he can't defend against. Not only that but the vampires are on the move since Leif is still recovering. Atticus is in a new home with new magics, and already he has new problems.

My personal favorites: Ever since I was introduced to the idea of Coyote from Tony Hillerman's Coyote Waits I found the character an intriguing one. Hillerman doesn't give us much, but it was enough. I rather liked Hearnes personification of Coyote and his and Atticus' interactions were good. It was fun to learn about the Navajo legends as well, even from a self admitted imperfect source. As usual I also loved Oberon he did not disappoint. And I have to agree with the Schwarzenegger pun treaty.

Considerations: Like previous books there was language and violence. Again, I was disappointed at some of the language usage, feeling that it didn't really add to the book. There was no sexuality to speak of in the book and it was very similar to the first three.

Tricked was a good read and I'm glad I picked it up. I'm going to see if Dad has the remaining books in the series. The total length was just over 350 pages.

Audible Book Review - Into the Storm by Larry Correia

I really enjoy reading Larry Correia's stories. He is a solid writer who is really good at spinning a yard with characters that I care about and action that is not just brainless beatings. He has humor, suspense, and even drama. It's not the level of prose of Hemingway, but that's fine because I don't really like Hemingway. Into the Storm is a great example of Larry's work for anybody just getting into him. It's based in the WarMachine gaming universe which is basically a midevil steampunk. The world is very accessible - detailed enough to hint at the depth but very easy to understand and imagine. Gaming fiction often has a stigma for cheesy action, drama, and romance but you will find very little of that here. Again, this is not Hemingway. Instead it is a very entertaining and engaging story that I finished in one day. Here is the link for Audible's page for the book. It was narrated by Ray Porter (who also did Blackout) and was really well done.

Plot: Lt. Madigan is an undesirable. Nobody want to serve under him. Nobody wants him under their command. He has a black mark so big on his record that he stains anybody that gets close to him. So he has been banished to the hinterlands, hunting bandits, cutthroats, and brigands. But war is coming and every able bodied and quick thinking man is needed, even if nobody wants him. So where do you stick a man who nobody wants? You give him the platoon made of up all the other miscreants, thieves, drunks, and malcontents. Madigan's job is to get the men who used to be worthy of being called Storm Knights cleaned up and ready for battle. Madigan's Malcontents start with no budget, no help, and no hope, but never doubt the man whose personal motto is victory over all. Even if that motto is what got him into trouble in the first place.

My personal favorites: The Malcontents are a great cast of characters. Each one has their own story and their own challenges. The interactions between the characters, particularly as they are trying to form a unit, were wonderful. The action was well done, as always, and the climax was epic and stirring. The tech was pretty cool too and makes me want to learn more about WarMachine an its world.

Considerations: There was little language, no sensuality, and few graphic descriptions of violence. There is a fair amount of violence, but not as much as you might think in a book about war. I would have little to no hesitation recommending this to a young adult reader (in fact, I already have to a couple). It is only available on ebook and audiobook, but still well worth it.

Larry threw this book out to his "regular" readers, saying, "I really liked writing this book a lot, but most of my regular fans don't know it exists." I am glad he brought it back round to my attention and I will continue to share it with others. The total length was just under 8 hours.

Book Review - Homeland by R.A. Salvatore book one of the Dark Elf trilogy

I grabbed this at the library after starting to listen to Legends of Drizzt as it is the first in Drizzt's origin story. I remember seeing my younger sister read this when we were in high school, but didn't think much of it at the time. The Forgotten Realms is a world created by TSR as part of their Dungeons and Dragon's universe and having read some of the Dragon Lance books (also TSR D&D based) I knew what to expect. On a side note, I've recently finished listening to Into the Storm by Larry Correia which is a game tie in with Warmachine and I'm glad to say that despite what many people might expect of books based on role-playing games many game tie-ins are very well written and tell very compelling stories. Homeland was one of them. It accomplishes a couple different things. First, it shows us how a society can be evil and still function, and second, it gives us a hero to cheer in that society - two actually. All in all it was a good read and I'm glad that I have the accessibility to finish out the trilogy.

Plot: The Drow elves of the Underdark live in a subterranean world far from the light of day. Menzoberranzan is a city of 20,000 drow living together, but not always peaceably. The one rule of the drow is, "don't get caught." If you were to attack a rival house you must kill each and every man, woman, and child. So begins Drizzt's life. Born during his houses attack on another he didn't learn until he was much older that his life was saved when his 2nd oldest brother assassinated the eldest during the battle. Nor did he learn the politics of the drow, but rather he learned how to fight and how to survive. As he grew and matured he found that he had a sense of honor and integrity that did not allow him find a place within the cruel, matriarchal society that was Menzoberranzan. Honed to be his house's weapons master - a warrior of unmatched skill - Drizzt sound came to realize that this world was no place for him. However, being male and a youngest son left him with few options. Not to mention that the world outside, in the Underdark, was potentially far more dangerous than the world he had been born into. Drizzt is left with the choice to stay with the devil he knows or to try to grapple with the unknown.

My personal favorites: Drizzt is a fun character. In some ways he comes across as a "can't do wrong" sort of person, but the challenges he faces are more of the internal type, trying to find his place in his world and coming to terms with non-physical challenges. It was interesting to see how an society of "evil" creatures could function effectively.

Considerations: There is little of language and sensuality - something that I've noticed in books based on game worlds. The violence is not very graphic in nature. In many ways this is a great book for young teens looking to enjoy fantasy, particularly if they enjoy gaming.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It had the feel of the classic high fantasies and good characters. The total length was just over 350 pages.

Audible Book Review - Hexed and Hammered by Kevin Hearne, the Iron Druid Chronicles book 2

For some reason, I'm having difficulty getting to my book reviews so I actually have the next two books in the Iron Druid Chronicles, Hexed and Hammered. I continue to enjoy the Iron Druid books and find Atticus O'Sullivan a compelling character. What I find particularly interesting is that the books continue to show us how the results of a dramatic and pantheon shattering event - like the death of a God - can really mess with your life. So many stories don't pursue the consequences of their characters' actions, but Kevin is fully content to show us what happens when you do things that you probably shouldn't, even if they are in self defense. Here is a link for Audible's page for Hexed and the one for Hammered. It continues to be narrated by Luke Daniels and he continues to do a really, really good job. The characters as just as delightful as before and we get to see more of Atticus' powers and understand more of his world.

Plot: Killing a god is a double edged sword. While it rid Atticus O'Sullivan of a hated and persistent enemy it also put a lot of attention on him. Attention he could do without. Not only that, but the reduction of the local witches' coven has left them weaker and not as able to defend against some of the scarier elements of the super natural. Atticus finds himself sought after by morals and Gods alike who would like to sic him on hated deities, locals who want help protecting their homes, and some who would like nothing more than to see him dead. In order to meet all of his obligations Atticus finds himself exchanging favors and soon is entangled in a plot to invade Asgard and kill Thor. Thor has had it coming for centuries, but that doesn't mean that you can just walk in and challenge him to a duel. Atticus' lawyer, Leif, is determined to end Thor and has gathered an A-team of immortals to help him in the task. Atticus' job is to get them in. But one does not simply walk into Asgard.

My personal favorites: Atticus and Oberon continue to be delightful. Oberon really has some great moments and brings a very invigorating vibe to the books. Like I mentioned earlier, these books take us further along the path of what happens when you kill a God (or more). We don't know much about Atticus' past, but Hearne gives us the exciting moments of "now" where Atticus is trapped in the consequences of his actions. The other characters continue to be delightful and the climax of both stories involves some great action. I really enjoy the humor of these books as it strikes a balance with some of the seriousness they have.

Considerations: This section is getting longer. Like Hounded the books do contain violence and language. The violence continues to be handled well with few graphic descriptions and nothing overlay gratuitous. The language is strong, but limited. I was disappointed that some of it didn't seem appropriately used. There is also more sensuality in both of these books then Hounded although it does keep it relatively vague and is not graphic. The last thing I feel a need to note is that while most of the pantheons that Atticus deals with are usually considered pagan he does meet with the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ. While not being well versed on the Virgin Mary her portrayal felt very appropriate and she came across as rather saintly. Jesus on the other hand was a little interesting. The fact that the avatar in question was envisioned by a hippie gives some background. As a Christian I felt that the portrayal was not intended to be disrespectful and even had subtle accuracy others might find the it too casual. I mention it only our of consideration. I rather enjoyed those scenes with Jesus and found them interesting.

Both of the books were good and I'm continuing following the characters but in paper form as I'm borrowing them from my father. Hexed was just shy of 9 hours long while Hammered was just over 9 and a half.