I bought this used hardcover book from The Book Nook II in Marietta. After reading “A Dirty Job” also be Christopher Moore I was determined to read more of his stories, so I bought 2 of them as used hardcovers. The Stupidest Angel was a very quick read, it only took me two nights of reading to finish it and I enjoyed every minute. It is a fun romp through a small town where everyone is in everyone’s business. ...
I bought this audiobook from Audible and listened to it using the Audible app on my iPhone. I enjoyed the movie Payback with Mel Gibson, even though I think John Myhre ruined the theatrical release, which got me interested in reading the book that it was based on. This is that book. But before reading this book, forget the theatrical release of the movie entirely. This is a dark book with a lead character that is not likeable in any way. I suspect there are plenty of people out in the world that would like to think of themselves as being a lot like Parker, hard, mean, uncaring and as tough as nails. But if they are like Parker they do not have any friends and will lead a very lonely and hard life. ...
I bought this audiobook from Audible and listened to it using the Audible app on my iPhone. I bought this book based on reviews at Audible and my love of Star Wars. As a kid I read the novelizations and Alan Dean Foster’s Splinter of the Mind’s Eye, which were all great. Timothy Zhan does a good job of adding depth to the Star Wars universe and giving us a little more insight into the relationships between Han, Chewbacca, and Lando. ...
I bought this audiobook from Audible and listened to it using the Audible app on my iPhone. This book was fun, there are a couple of stand-out stories here, but overall it didn’t really wow me. It is definitely worth listening to if you have any favorite authors with stories in it. From the publisher: In Rip-Off!, 13 of today’s best and most honored writers of speculative fiction face a challenge even they would be hard-pressed to conceive: Pick your favorite opening line from a classic piece of fiction (or even non-fiction) – then use it as the first sentence of an entirely original short story. In the world of Rip-Off!, “Call me Ishmael” introduces a tough-as-nails private eye – who carries a harpoon; The Wonderful Wizard of Oz inspires the tale of an aging female astronaut who’s being treated by a doctor named Dorothy Gale; and Huckleberry Finn leads to a wild ride with a foul-mouthed riverboat captain who plies the waters of Hell. Once you listen to Rip-Off! you’ll agree: If Shakespeare or Dickens were alive today, they’d be ripping off the authors in this great collection. The stories included in Rip-Off! are: “Fireborn” by Robert Charles Wilson “The Evening Line” by Mike Resnick “No Decent Patrimony” by Elizabeth Bear “The Big Whale” by Allen M. Steele “Begone” by Daryl Gregory “The Red Menace” by Lavie Tidhar “Muse of Fire” by John Scalzi “Writer’s Block” by Nancy Kress “Highland Reel” by Jack Campbell “Karin Coxswain” or “Death as She Is Truly Lived” by Paul Di Filippo “The Lady Astronaut of Mars” by Mary Robinette Kowal “Every Fuzzy Beast of the Earth, Every Pink Fowl of the Air” by Tad Williams “Declaration” by James Patrick Kelly As a bonus, the authors introduce their stories, explaining what they ripped-off – and why. Rip-Off! was produced in partnership with SFWA – Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America. Gardner Dozois served as project editor. For more books from the authors of Rip-Off! click here. ©2012 Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. (P)2012 Audible, Inc. ...
I bought these books from Audible and listened to them using the Audible App on my iPhone. The Human Division is something different, it is a collection of 13 short stories that take place in the “Old Man’s War” universe. This review is of the first 10 books in the series as the last 3 are not yet available. I am a huge fan of John Scalzi’s writing and the first two books from Old Man’s War were pretty great. But now I have grown tired of the series and don’t feel like it is doing much anymore. My guess is that I will continue to listen to any new “Old Man’s War” books that come out in the future, but they will not be my first choice, if something else is available, I will read that first. ...
I bought this book from Audible and listened to it using the Audible app on my iPhone. This is a short story that is part of a series of Old Man’s War stories. William Dufris does a great job with these stories, but his performance was the highlight of this one. I am feeling bored of the Old Man’s War universe and this story will be the last one I listen to for awhile, in fact I may never revisit it. All of the characters have become stereotypes to me and it feels like there is nothing new here. Nothing suprising, nothing deep and thoughtful, none of what drew me into John Scalzi’s worlds and stories to begin with. That was also my problem with Last Colony. ...
I bought this book from Audible and listened to it using the Audible app on my iPhone. This is the second book in the Gentleman Bastard series. I really enjoyed the The Lies of Locke Lamora and really looked forward to listening to this one and it did not disappoint. Michael Page turns in another fantastic performance with subtle accents and speech patterns galore. ...
I bought this book from Audible and listened to it using my iPhone and the Audible app. This is the third book in John Scalzi’s series Old Man’s War. This story did not work for me, there were to many GLARING plot holes and things left half-baked. This is the first of Scalzi’s books that I didn’t really enjoy. It was ok, just not as original a story I have come to expect from him. ...
I bought this book from Audible and listened to it on my iPhone with the Audible app. My friend Rod mentioned this book in a Tweet a while back and I thought I would give it a try and I am glad I did. Scott Lynch creates a fantastical world reminiscent of renaissance Venice Italy full of royalty and thieves. I feel that it is written more like modern fiction than it is traditional fantasy, magic is present but not over-explained. ...
I bought this book from Audible and listened to it using the Audible app on my iPhone. Such an interesting story, a mystery sci-fi inter-dimensional romp. I find it hard to write about without giving major parts of the story away. Try it, I think you’ll like it. From the publisher: Padlocked doors. Strange light fixtures. Mutant cockroaches. There are some odd things about Nate’s new apartment. Of course, he has other things on his mind. He hates his job. He has no money in the bank. No girlfriend. No plans for the future. So while his new home isn’t perfect, it’s livable. The rent is low, the property managers are friendly, and the odd little mysteries don’t nag at him too much. At least, not until he meets Mandy, his neighbor across the hall, and notices something unusual about her apartment. And Xela’s apartment. And Tim’s. And Veek’s. Because every room in this old Los Angeles brownstone has a mystery or two. Mysteries that stretch back over a hundred years. Some of them are in plain sight. Some are behind locked doors. And all together these mysteries could mean the end of Nate and his friends. Or the end of everything…. ©2012 Peter Clines and Permuted Press (P)2012 Audible, Inc. ...