Review: Ex-Heroes and Ex-Patriots by Peter Clines
Ex-Heroes and Ex-Patriots by Peter Cline Brilliance Audio (2013) / Crown Publishing (2011)
I won’t lie, I’m a little bit done with the whole zombie genre. The explosion of zombie related books, movies, and games over the last several years has worn me out. Every once and awhile something will draw me back to the zombie infested world. It has actually been awhile since I’ve read a zombie book; in fact I think I made a slight attempt to read Colson Whitehead’s Zone One. Aa result Peter Clines’ Ex-Heroes has likely crossed my path a couple of times without my taking any real notice. However, I decided to give the audiobook version of Ex-Heroes a shot and I’m pretty glad I did; this is an exciting mash up of superheroes and zombies with great characters and some awesome action.
Ex-Heroes and its sequel Ex-Patriots take place in a world where zombies, typically referred to in the series as ex-humans or simply exes, have essentially one. However, the world had previously seen the emergence of real superheroes from the Batman/Ozymandias mash-up Stealth to the living supernova known as Zzap the heroes run the gamut of the extraordinary and the superpowered. A group of these heroes, under the guidance of the paranoid and forward thinking Stealth, made a valiant effort to save the Los Angeles area. Having failed to slowing the emergence of ex-humans the group of heroes have gathered what survivors they could in a Hollywood studio and have done their best to survive. In addition to the threat of the ex-humans the heroes must also face the threat of a rival survivor group comprised mostly of an L.A. street gang.
Review: Fortress Frontier by Myke Cole
Fortress Frontier by Myke Cole (narrated by Korey Jackson)
Ace, 2013 (Recorded Books, 2013)
Fortress Frontier by Myke Cole is the sequel to the author’s debut novel Control Point. Control Point was very much the tale of Oscar Britain and through him served to introduce the readers to the Supernatural Operations Corps. Unfortunately, this was also my problem with the novel I didn’t like Oscar. While there were times in the novel where I certainly sympathized with his plight more often than not I had serious issues with his decision making process. Fortress Frontier sees Cole broadening the scope of his world as the plot delves deeper into the various aspects of the Supernatural Operations Corps and the other “latent” people around the world.
Fortress Frontier primarily divides the story between the fugitive Oscar Britain and his crew (the former members of Shadow Coven plus the healer Teresa) and Colonel Alan Bookbinder, newly latent. The opening chapters of Fortress Frontier take place over the same time span of Control Point as Colonel Bookbinder first manifests his magic and finds himself gated out to FOB Frontier. Much like in Control Point readers get to witness the stark difference between a characters former life and their experiences in the SOC. The perspective in Fortress Frontier is shifted somewhat since Bookbinder, as an officer, offers insights into SOC operations that Oscar Britain never could. Things take a different turn as Fortress Frontier catches up with the finale of Control Point and the change of pace is refreshing.
Review: Into the Black: Odyssey One by Even Currie
Into the Black: Odyssey One by Evan Currie
Into the Black: Odyssey One
Evan Currie, read by Benjamin Darcie
Brilliance Audio, 2012
Evan Currie’s military science fiction space opera novel Into the Black: Odyssey One, originally self-published, was released by Amazon’s new imprint 47north back in March. The novel centers around the exploration crew of the titular Odyssey One, Earth’s first interstellar spaceship, as they embark on the first manned journey beyond the bounds of the Milky Way. The discovery of the new Transition Drive and the creation of the Odyssey One finally saw the end to a decades long war. Of course it isn’t long into this journey that the Odyssey stumbles into a new and more dangerous threat, and that is where the novel’s story truly kicks off.
Review: Jhereg by Steven Brust
Jhereg by Steven Brust
Jhereg
Steven Brust, read by Bernard S. Clark
Audible Frontiers, 2012
The first of the Vlad Taltos novels, Jhereg, by Steven Brust has been on my “to-read” list for the better part of a decade and a half. Back in August, Audible.com released Jhereg (and just about all the other Vlad Taltos novels, via their increasingly impressive Audible Frontiers label. Jhereg introduces the readers to the assassin Vlad Taltos. Living in amongst a race of tall long-lived sorcerers called Dragaerans, Vlad has risen to a station of respect and power (if of a limited variety) despite his human heritage. Aiding Vlad in his endeavors is his Jhereg familiar Loiosh, earned after Vlad embraced the witchcraft of his human ancestors. The novel sees Vlad hired by a legendary figure called The Demon to track down a kill a thief (Mellar) who robbed the Jhereg Council (the clan that Vlad himself belongs to) of a great sum of money; so great a sum that if Mellar gets away the council will essentially be crippled.
Review: Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny
Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny
Nine Princes in Amber
Roger Zelazny, read by Alessandro Juliani
Audible Frontiers, 2012
I first came across Roger Zelazny’s Amber series when I played the Amber Diceless RPG my sophomore year of college. At the time, having only really played D&D it was sort of a revelation and its reliance on legitimate roleplaying (literally no dice to fall back on) was a bit of an adjustment though one that has positively influenced my approach to other RPGs since. It also remains one of my favorite RPG experiences to date. As the semester ended and our time in Amber was over I did what any self-respecting geek would do: went out about bought the enormous omnibus edition of all Zelazny’s Amber novels aka The Great Book of Amber. It was a strange experience having “lived” in Amber, so to speak, going back and reading the source material; a sensation that I’ve yet to replicate with other series. Now that I am years removed from that epic game of Amber and Audible had released newly recorded versions of the Amber books (though I still wish the author-read versions were available digitally) I’m slowly revisiting the series.
Review: The Rook by Daniel O’Malley
The Rook by Daniel O’Malley
The Rook by Daniel O’Malley (read by Susan Duerden)
Hacette Audio, 2012
Daniel O’Malley’s debut novel The Rook is another one of those titles that goes down as something I wanted to really like but ended up disappointing me on some levels. It is also one of those audiobooks that whose narrator I wasn’t particularly fond of and who I have no doubt influenced my opinion of the novel on a whole. There are aspects of The Rook I definitely enjoyed and its premise is something I definitely found intriguing but as a novel I didn’t feel it came together quite as nicely as it aught to.
The Rook is a supernatural action thriller mystery adventure. If that sounds like an improbable mashup you are asbolutely correct but O’Malley does a valiant effort at making it all stick together. However, his tendancy to richochet back and forth between various themes, tones, and plots often leaves the novel a scattered and somewhat inconsistant feel. The novel centers around Myfanwy Thomas (pronounced, incorrectly, like Tiffany but with an M instead of a T) who wakes up in the rain surrounded by dead men in rubber gloves and no memory of who she is. A mysterious letter in her pocket, apparently written by her pre-amnesiac self, sets her on a journey fraught with mystery danger and the startling revelation of the Britain’s secret history. I don’t want to explain too much more than that, mainly because the slow unveiling of who Myfanwy is and just what the organisation she belongs to does is one of the best things about the novel. I will say that this super-secret government organisation is staffed my many people who have unique and often strange gifts.
Review: Spellbound by Larry Correia
Spellbound by Larry Correia
Spellbound (Grimnoir Chronicles #2)
Larry Correia, narrated Bronson Pincot
Audible, 2012
Larry Correia’s Grimnoir Chronicles is rapidly becoming one of my favorite series and the only pulp noir urban fantasy series I’ve yet to come across. The series, which began in Hard Magic, continues in Spellbound picking with a flashback where a villainous active who feeds on the deaths of other magic users is dispatched during the last days of Great War leaving a trail of wreckage and death in his wake before he is eventually killed. It is a long while before the truth behind this man is revealed and it has massive implications for the world of the Grimnoir Society. Picking up a scant few months after the events of the first month Spellbound deals with the fallout of the events of the previous book. Needless to say spoilers for Hard Magic are below.
Review: The Third Gate by Lincoln Child
The Third Gate by Lincoln Child
The Third Gate
Lincoln Child (read by Johnathan McClain)
Random House Audio, 2012
If there is one thing I’ve learned about reading fantasy it’s that it has sort of ruined the way I approach most mainstream popular fiction particularly when said mainstream fiction contains sfnal elements. That isn’t to say that I don’t enjoy the lighter science fiction and fantasy fare that populates the mainstream market but I think I tend to take a harsher stance on it than other readers. I rather enjoyed Lincoln Child’s 2009 novel Terminal Freeze, a sort of action packed monster movie type thriller that was just perfect for the long car ride on vacation. So, with a vacation looming once more I decided to give Mr. Child’s latest, The Third Gate, a try.
Review: The Spirit Eater by Rachel Aaron
The Spirit Eater by Rachel Aaron
The Spirit Eater
Rachel Aaron
Orbit, 2010
The Spirit Eater, Rachel Aaron’s thrid novel in The Legend of Eli Monpress series, once again picks up immediately after the previous book. However, whereas the previous two volumes placed a strong emphasis on Eli himself this latest volume places a stronger emphasis on both Nico and Josef. The events of The Spirit Rebellion and the Nico’s newfound ability to hear the voice of her demon have shaken her to the core. The demon’s decision to withhold Nico’s special abilities and Nico’s reluctance to talk to Eli about what she is going through shakes the thief’s trust in her and further pushes her into the arms of the demon. While the book focuses on Nico and the machinations of the Demon in the Mountain it also further explores the nature of the Shephardess, Eli’s mostly unwanted patron, and the enigmatic Sara the Council’s spymaster and troubleshooter. The Spirit Eater is so far the most fleshed out entry to the series and makes further strides in fleshing out the world Rachel Aaron has created and does so without sacrificing the energy and excitement of the previous volumes.
Review: The Spirit Rebellion by Rachel Aaron
The Spirit Rebellion by Rachel Aaron
The Spirit Rebellion (The Legend of Eli Monpress #2)
Rachel Aaron
Orbit, 2010
Rachel Aaron is rapidly becoming one of my go-to authors for light, fun fantasy that will consistently plaster a smile on my face. A far cry from the scowling and grim-faced fantasy that I still enjoy Aaron’s The Legend of Eli Monpress offers a more jubilant take on the genre that offers an original premise and a surprising, and ever-increasing depth. My thoughts on the series’ first novel The Spirit Thief can be found here and I’m rather ashamed to admit how long its taken me to get around to listening to the series’ second book The Spirit Rebellion.
