Author Alan Dean Foster brings a 35 year saga to an end with the final adventure of Pip and Flinx and does it in a tone of positivity, joy, and compassion that is, well, transcendent! If you like your science fiction serious; if you like your adventures arch, then Foster won't fill your need. Philip Lynx, Flinx for short, is a very serious young man with the weight of galactic civilization on his shoulders. He, somehow and someway, is the key to halting a parsecs-large, galaxy devouring nothingness dubbed the Great Evil. His companions, long time friends that have appeared throughout the series, embody many classic adventure archetypes. But throughout it all you can tell Foster is having great fun with Flinx's seriousness and the companion's archetypal behaviors. His characters exhibit wry wit and self-conscious humor ("Up the Universe!" his two mentors declaim as their new motto). Outcomes produce more than intended ("Irony is the spice of circumstance.") Not as hilarious as a Douglas Adams Trilogy nor as wild and intense as an excursion with Sam Delany, still Flinx's last, galaxy saving tour- de-force will leave you wonderfully satisfied. with a genuine smile, and a heartfelt chuckle. 'Cozy sci-fi' at its best!

An apocalyptic morality tale with a simplistic, linear plot used to portray the author's concern that America is not paying attention to the greatest threat a terrorist group could (and eventually will, according to Gingrich, Forstchen, and Sanders) launch on our homeland: a nuclear EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse). The Republican American values of small town living, men know best and get things done, chivalry is not dead, authority should be respected, and government can (generally) be trusted are draped across the plot a bit too thickly for my taste as we watch civilization disintegrate after the EMP fries anything digital and electronic. What we would have to do without and how the folks of the small, NC mountain town of Black Mountain bravely and quite ingeniously cope was mildly interesting. The forward by Newt Gingrich and the afterword by retired US Navy Captain William Sanders colors the novel in political shades that detract from the story itself. On the Beach by Nevil Shute was much more gripping and heart-wrenching.

Dahzi was born to the Galayi people amidst rage and violence. By the webbed fingers on his left hand, he was known to be the One to Fulfill Prophecy. With the help of a spirit guide, Su-li from The Land Beyond the Sky-Arch, a shape shifter, his grandmother, and mother - both Medicine Chiefs - and his own wits and true nature, Dahzi grows into manhood and prophecy overcoming assassins, tradition, and his own self-doubt, earning the new name, Ulo-Zeya, given by the Thunderbird, itself. As was the custom of his people, he wore a Zadayi disc around his neck, blue on one side, red on the other, with the red side facing outward, meaning victory and success. Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, and Fantasy combine in Caleb Fox's debut novel, a unique and captivating retelling of a Cherokee Legend. History, tradition, and his own imagination take us into the time and world of a people where magic co-existed with reality, tradition was respected and discarded, and the people's very way of life endangered.

A book written with joy and love for the characters protrayed: old friends, indeed, spanning 20-plus years of the author's life; a philosophical musing on Life, Purpose, and Fulfillment clothed in rich and fine garments of Good vs Evil, High Adventure, Heritage and Tradition, Friendship and Love. RA Salvatore's Gauntlgrym will move you, I unabahedly assert, and will bring tears to your eye - tears of joy, of just reward - by the time you finish the epilogue. I will only add, then say no more - for you should experience this read as a well-earned, joyous discovery much like a certain Dwarf King does when arriving, after a lifetime's faith and questing, at a particular throne room - that you will find humor, comfort, satisfaction, and pleasure in Mr. Salvatore's latest, be you a long-time fantasy afficionado or newly come to the genre. May we all be so blessed, after a long life well-lived, to have the opportunity to say,"I found it, Elf."

Hiding behind subtle and humorous puns that will delight science fiction readers (Skywalker, L. is a client of the main character, the detailed descriptions of the time machine and time travel, the hilarious use of techno-babble and mention of his time machine’s “Niven Rings” are some examples), the author weaves a poignant tale of a son not only searching for his father, but his relationship with his father as well. Similar to the Thursday Next novels by Jasper Fforde, Yu’s characters know they are living in a fictional universe, in fact in “Minor Universe 31.” Indeed, the main character is Christopher Yu, himself, who is given a book written by his future self that he must read (and write) in hopes of unraveling the mystery of his father’s whereabouts and is the very book being reviewed here. Confusing? Don’t panic, the whole thing arrives at a revealing, and touching, personal conclusion. Yu’s work will delight those who like a unique, “pushing-the-envelope” kind of book, those interested in exploring the relationships fathers and sons can develop, and sci-fi fans everywhere.

Take the solid and trusted frame of a Heinlein "Juvenile" and give it to one of the punningest and positivistic writers in the genre today to fill in and flesh out. From this rare and unusual pairing you get Variable Star, a sum that is more than its parts. The only thing that kept me from giving this book 5 stars was the "deus ex machina" Robinson pulls near the end of the novel and just barely gives a possibly believable reason for. Other than that the way Robinson and Heinlein so smoothly blend without ever losing each one's distinctive style is really quite phenomenal and deliciously enjoyable to read. Variable Star will invariably please.

Perry Gibbons and Lester Banks just want to make things. Lester, in particular, is ceaseless with his inventiveness, building mechanical, calculating tin can computers, toast-making seashell robots, and boogie woogie elmo dolls that group-think to drive cars and build things. Perry is more the software guru/business genius, but in an unconscious zen-like way. Together they create The Ride in an abandoned strip mall near Miami and a Seussian shanty town arises around it. Once Perry and Lester are approached by and agree to work with investment giant, Landon Kettlewell, and the Edward Murrow of the news blogs, Suzanne Church, starts covering their work, things take off and the New Work Movement is born, grabs the nation's economy, and then crashes and burns. Doctorow paints a near future world that rushes into one socio-economic endeavor after another (the fatkins revolution is particular bizarre and ultimately tragic)and highlights the joyful, miraculous, irresponsible life of manic entrepreneurship against the controlling, elephantine, constancy of the established, global conglomerate. Lives are built up, destroyed, built up again. Friends become enemies; enemies become friends. And by the time you breathlessly reach the chaotic conclusion everyone actually finds peace, happiness, wisdom, and their place in the world

This was my second Gortner historical novel, and similarly to the first (about Queen Juana of Spain), I thought it was well written and well researched. I am not as familiar with the subject matter in this one, but I thought the author handled the main character with appropriate sympathy and realism. There may have been some "creative licensing" going on, but it wasn't outrageous enough to complain about.

This vintage Renko novel, the third installation of the series, takes place during the momentous events of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Dark and depressing, it paints a very good portrait of the country during that time, and also delves into the black market art world. A bit predictable, but still a great read.

A cross between a raunchy memoir and a self-help affirmation, I Don't Care About Your Band never quite settles into either. Every chapter ends with a lesson, but not one evidently learned by the author as she progresses to the next chapter of same-old same-old. While there is some growth by the end, the book is mainly a progression of one bad relationship (or hook-up) after another. One the positive side, the book can be hilarious at times. Julie Klausner's style of writing and voice is what made me keep going when I lost interest in the story.

I think the main goal of this documentary was to convince the audience about how evil it would be to move the Barnes art collection to the city of Philadelphia. In the end, however, both sides as well as Barnes himself, come off as rather juvenile and petty. This entire saga became no longer about art but a power struggle as to who has control of this collection*. Yes, Barnes meant for the collection to stay where it was, but he had no way of knowing that it would become a huge tourist attraction, and the location and the building simply would not be able to accomodate the crowds who want to see it. Barnes wanted to keep the collection physically away from the city of Philadelphia (as in "I'll show you" type of gesture) because he was originally criticized by the Philadelphian art elite. So his objective was also about pettiness, not art. Unfortunately this film comes off as one-sided propaganda, and along the way everyone, including the viewer, starts to forget that this is supposed to be about art and not a power struggle. *Not to mention the whining neighbors throughout the documentary, who keep complaining about the traffic the museum brings, and in the same breath object very strongly to moving it elsewhere.

Helen Mirren is brilliant as Queen Elizabeth II (better than her role as the first Elizabeth - where she was miscast, IMO). The supporting cast is excellent too. Highly recommend this film.

Helen Mirren is a great actress but for some reason I couldn't completely "buy" into her Elizabeth I. I especially disliked the 2nd part of the miniseries, where the entire storyline revolved around Elizabeth's obsession with the young Earl of Essex (which frankly made her character appear quite pathetic). I wish they would have concentrated more on her achievements as a monarch, i.e. victory over the Armada, etc., than spending so much time on some silly infatuation which was only a minor part of her persona. For a much more historically accurate portrayal of Elizabeth's character, I recommend either Glenda Jackson's "Elizabeth R" or Anne-Marie Duff in "Elizabeth I: The Virgin Queen".

This Masterpiece Theater miniseries has a great soundtrack. Having said that, I also like the actual storyline, casting and acting. More historically accurate than the Helen Mirren version, and more "raw" too, in the sense that in her old age and under the make up, the main character was not prettied up (as Hollywood tends to do) but shown the way she must have looked: bad teeth, thinning hair and all. Although in real life Anne Marie Duff does not bear any resemblance to Elizabeth I, she pulled this role off pretty well, which is what good acting is about.

I do like Cate Blanchett cast as Elizabeth I (although still not as much as Glenda Jackson), but... the historical inaccuracies really really bothered me in this movie. The first time I saw it, I was also a little confused about who some of the characters were supposed to be. And I know the history of that time period pretty well, so I can only imagine how confused the less informated would be. On the bright side, it is a visually stunning film and, as long as you take the plot with a grain of salt, is fairly watch-able.

Another great BBC miniseries, this one of the life of Lillie Langtry, a one time mistress (turned actress)of King Edward VII. Spans several decades, from Victorian into Edwardian era. As usual with BBC productions, both the screenplay and the acting are superb.

This book was my first introduction to Jeffrey Archer's novels and it was also one of the reasons I became a fan of epic sagas... Without giving out too much of the plot, the novel follows two very different families through the decades and continents until they come together in a surprising finale. I've read many more Archer books since, but this one remains one of my favorites!

This is one of the rare instances where the book is equally as wonderful as the movie. The Princess Bride has "Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, and miracles..." It's also wonderfully funny and one of the defining fantasies of the last couple of generations. Read it. See the movie. Fall in love!

When the Queen of England stumbles across a mobile library and feels obligated to borrow a book, she discovers a love of reading that changes her outlook on the world. And when you're the Queen, personal changes can have far-reaching consequences. This novella is a short yet thought-provoking and amusing look at the power of literature. Highly recommended!

A somewhat local story, set along the banks of the Schuylkill, this is a slow-moving, persistent read. There is a lot of repetition between chapters and even within chapters, and I don't know if this is because the book is supposed to read like the disjointed memories of a college girl turned 35, or if it's simply an affectation that Oates was trying out.

There are some minor contradictory details, but overall, it was a good read.