Folio's Fool

Mass Effect; Revelation

2012-01-10T06:54:00.000-08:00

Mass Effect: Revelation

Novels based on games are almost as dubious as movies based on games. With movies they don't try hard enough and you end up with something only barely resembling the game, with novels they seem to try too hard, trying to prove they are a legitimate piece of fiction and end up becoming a big mess.

Revelation is a little surprising in that it was overall a enjoyable read and one which compliments the game quite well. It covers events prior to the first game and does them justice. Most of the characters are decent, though I found Saren the best and Anderson not bad, Kahlee I found a pain in the ass.

I read one review where they said they read it while on vaction at the beach and rather than look at the many amazing half naked ladies they just couldn't put this book down. Hmm...Lets not go crazy. Beautiful people or a Mass Effect Novel. Its good but it isn't that good and why would you go on vacation to read a book? Argh....I digress.

Its a fun read but it is a game book and it has problems.

Semi Spoiler Warning

The story wraps up really quickly. The big bad guy who has been almost unstoppable all book suddenly gets stopped. When we first meet him he kills a bunch of guys at the meeting where he is getting hired. I never understand that. It feels B grade action movie when that happens and we already knew he was a Bad Ass. Killing the guys at the meeting is flogging a dead horse. Some of the surrounding action and characters feel a bit two dimensional sometimes.

If you liked the game then the books a worthy read. It doesn't stand very well on its own with out the game, but as its a game tie in then that might not be a serious issue. The book was good enough for me to pick up the second and third in the series.

Trouble is my Business

2012-01-03T08:27:00.000-08:00

I am a huge fan of Raymond Chandler. I like his pacing, his plots, his characters and especially how he phrases things. There are few authors who describe things in the way he does. The setting as well is brilliant and if you like Detective novels then you can't go wrong with his work.

Trouble is my Business is far from his best work, but there are reasons for this. He himself admits that he isn't suited to short story writing, and that is what this book is. A collection of short stories. The other reason is most if not all of these stories (which were published over a reasonably large period of time I believe) were rewritten and incorporated into his novels. The rewrites were much improved and became great components. Does this mean the stories in here are bad and not enjoyable to read? Not at all, but I think this book is better for the die hard Chandler fans. For everyone else, grab his novels.

Interworld

2011-12-11T23:19:00.001-08:00

I have a lot of respect for Neil Gaiman, I think he has one of the greatest minds around in fantasy story telling. He tries things that most would not have thought of. That can work in his favour and it can work against him. With Interworld I think it worked against him. Its a great idea and I think that it would have made a fantastic short story, but in a novel length it just feels disjointed.

The main character is well done and overall is likeable. The secondary characters do feel a little two dimensional and unfortunately the villains are cartoon cut outs. The villains are where it gets let down the most. They are nothing new and we have seen their kind many times before.

The story itself is a very clever idea, but at the same time it is a one trick pony. Because of this I think it would have worked much better as a short story and as a short story it might have been very engaging and gripping.

The book isn't so much bad, its just it could have been so much better. If your a die hard Gaiman fan then give it a read, otherwise I think you are better off looking into some of his other works.

The Wind in the Willows

2011-11-30T21:11:00.001-08:00

Wind in the Willows has been a book I have been wanting to read for a very long time. Since I was a kid and we had the tv series on, from that time I had wanted to read it and never seemed to get around to it. In some ways the TV series was better, more relaxed, but in others the book wins. It has more substance than the TV series. Not that the series is bad in any way.

The strength of the book is largely its characters, though there are some very clever descriptive passages as well. By and large the book is more a collection of connected short stories, than a single over arcing plot line.

The book is surprisingly relevant today. It deals with friendships, what matters, the simple life and how the modern world encroaches into peoples lives. Its a very clever concept that is wrapped in exceptional characters who are well defined, interesting and witty. Its well worth picking up.

Treasure Island

2011-11-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

Treasure Island is the grand daddy of the modern pirate adventure story. Without it there may not have been a Captain Jack Sparrow. Treasure Island might have been like many of the first. Brilliant in what it inspired, but somewhat tedious to read. Actually Treasure Island doesn't do it. It is a remarkably well written book. It flows well and the characters are very well defined, and in Long John Silver it gave birth to one of the most recognizable characters in history.

The action is few and far between, but when it does it has impact. This is sometimes a rare thing in novels, where the tendency is to pack it full of action, and attempt a roller coaster ride. Treasure Island works so well because of its characters and the setting.

Its a great teen book still, especially for boys and you can't really go wrong with this one.

Rumpold

2011-10-27T05:05:00.000-07:00

I have never really been one to go for the court room novel. It is a genre in both film, tv and novels that I have no interest in. The quote of it isn't about truth, but who argues the best seems very apt and it all seems a bad joke. It would take an extraordinary story to therefore capture my attention.

Surprisingly Rumpold of the Baily does. It is certainly not your run of the mill formula novel. Rumpold is a public defend in the English legal system. The Rumpold stories captured my interest for a couple of reasons. Firstly they are British and I like a lot of the British literature. Secondly they are unusual and Rumpold often finds himself in tricky situations, and lastly they are filled with a lot of dry humour which I enjoy.

These stories are certainly not the usual formula novel. If you enjoy the courtroom genre, but are in the mood for something a little lighter, then Rumpold could be just the book your looking for.

Dracula

2011-10-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

Dracula is an interesting book, though it does show its age now. The characters that were created by Bram Stoker are timeless, but the language style that the book was written in seems somewhat archaic. It has not survived in quite the same way that Shakespeare has.

That does not mean the book is bad in any way. Considering when it was written it is indeed a scary book. In some ways its horrific and that base story has been what has survived to be become so many movies, comics, tv shows and books.

It is cleverly written and is several tales told from different characters that cover various events and how they all come together in the end. That is a very interesting way to write a story and it could easily end up as a complex and confusing mess. Luckily in this case it doesn't.

It's not my favourite horror story, but it is very clever and well worth the time to read.

Silverfin

2011-10-16T22:34:00.000-07:00

I have been a huge James Bond fan for most of my life. When I heard that they were doing a Young James Bond series I groaned. They nearly always tend to make them super cool and almost perfect even as younger versions. This approach is often lame and is more often than not an embarrassment to everyone involved. So would it be with Young Bond, James Bond?

No, and I was very happy to find that this book wasn't just not a sad, pale attempt to cash in on the name, but a serious novel that draws from the adult Fleming novels. This makes this in some ways the first Bond novel. You can read this series and then go onto Flemings work.

They set it in the right time period, this isn't a modern setting, but takes place not long after The Great War. The author also does a great job of not catering to people who don't want to do any research. He covers enough info so the reader knows whats going on, but he does not spoon feed it. If the reader wants to know more then google it.

This is a serious book, people die, Bond is often afraid (and with good reason) and struggles with his fear and doing the right thing. Bond is a believable character and not a superman. The setting is fleshed out nicely and if the reader sits back they can really get drawn into this novel.

I can't recommend this one enough.

Joker in the Deck. Part 2

2011-09-16T23:59:00.000-07:00

Continuation of the Fan fiction story.

Joker 2

The rain drummed its beat upon the roof of the 1953 Muntz Jet. A radical and sleek design from a bygone age. It was parked just down from the target house and the rain ran in long streams down the windshield and giving the world outside a blurry look, sometimes the Joker preferred it that way. He did not enjoy the waiting.

Harley knew he was bored. He was a creature of action, a cutting edge mind that even the Batman had come to respect, but like Sherlock Holmes it starved on stagnation. She could tell he was working things through in his mind, which he was waiting for something. She wasn’t sure what that was and didn’t want to ask in case it broke whatever train of thought he was having.

Every so often his eyes would dart back and forth almost as if he was reading from a book. She knew he was working on the problem. He could see in his mind’s eye the problem outlaid before him. It was a tangible thing. She always admired that skill as it seemed a very practical way to deal with things.

A beam of light poured out of the far window of the house as someone within turned on a lamp. The Joker snapped his fingers and opened the door.

“Come on Harley.” He said as he stepped out into the rain and she followed him.

“You were waiting for a light?” She asked as the rain ran over her face, but didn’t streak her elaborate make up.

“Figuratively and physically in this case.” He replied. Two loud booms echoed down street.

“That’s funny. That thunder sounded like a 9mm.” The Joker said.

“That’s because it was.” Harley added as they ran up the side of the house. They stopped by a wooden door and Harley took a step back and kicked it hard. With a loud crack of splintering wood the frame gave way around the lock and the door swung inwards to bang on the wall. She pulled out a sleek Glock pistol and The Joker removed a Webley revolver.

They moved quickly through the house and found the front door open and a car was roaring away into the night. The Joker scratched his head with the barrel of the revolver. Then Harley called out. “Mr J!”

He headed to the sound of her voice and came upon an odd scene. The room had a desk with scattered papers thrown upon it and a colourful selection of sex toys. The walls were painted a ghastly yellow, similar to what charities would to choose when they thought they were being welcoming, but in reality just reminded people of urine.

A dirty sofa was against the far wall and a naked girl sat on chair with a vacant look on her face, a digital video camera was facing her with its side panel open and the DVD-r missing.

Harley pulled out a pen light and turned it on, throwing the light it produced over the floor.

“Why didn’t I get one of those?” The Joker asked sulkily as Harley pulled a second one from her tight fitting costume. She handed it to him and he smiled like a kid getting a present. “Harley you’re the best.”

He turned on the light and shined it into his eyes. “Are my eyes dilating?”

“Focus Mr J.” Harley said as she examined a dark stain on the carpet.

The Joker walked over to the desk and carefully picked up one of the vibrators and examined it with wonder for a couple of seconds before gently putting it down. When he did it bounced as it turned on causing both it and The Joker to jump. He reached for it again to turn it off and it did it a second time. The Joker snatched back his hand and pondered this new dilemma.

“So that is how it will be. Man against machine in a battle to the end. The Matrix was right, I told you Harley, I told you. One moment at the time these evil machines will take over our lives, forcing us into slavery. I won’t let it happen, not here and not now, prepare yourself for you have met your match.” He reached back his hand to strike and… Harley walked up and picked up the device she then turned it off. The girl in the chair giggled.

“You seem to know your way around one of these things.” He said casually.

“Don’t even start, not this time.” She smiled and patted his cheek.

“What did you find?” He asked as he hoped to change the subject.

“Blood.”

“Much?” he asked.

“Enough if you’ve just been plugged by two 9mm slugs.” She replied and shined the light on the dark stain on the carpet. He bent and examined it for a few seconds till the girl giggled in her chair.

“How’d you know it was a 9mm?” The Joker asked. Harley smiled and held up two 9mm casings. He snapped his fingers.

“What do you think is wrong with the birthday suit?” Harley asked.

The Joker turned to look at the girl. “Drugged.” He replied as he walked over to her. She was pretty, though the drugged look did much to hide her beauty. He body was attractive and showed from the tight muscles that she may have been a frequent visitor to a gym. Her hair was a light brown and hung freely down around your shoulders.

“So what happened here?” Harley asked as she leaned back against the desk.

“Well our friend has a dodgy pornography racket going I think. Taking girls who are both pretty and young. Sometimes unwillingly I expect . I would not be surprised to find most of them under the legal limit. He doesn’t want them to keep the material so he is renting it out. ” He replied.

“So who plugged him?” Harley asked as she nodded towards the fresh blood stain. “Why take the body?”

He tapped the empty DVD slot on the camera. “Now there is a chance our dead friend was changing disc’s… but I don’t think so. Whoever plugged him saw an opportunity and took it. He also knows who she is and might plan to get some extra cash out of this little endeavour. “ he shook his head. “Taking over the business with a hostile take over and getting both the sordid rental business and blackmail included. Blackmailers. This town deserves a better class of criminal, and I’m going to give it to them. Wish I knew if she was our girl.”

“ Lillian Thompson, 21 Norvernson Cresent, Gotham.” Harley said.

The Joker frowned. “How do you know that?” He turned to look at Harley who was holding up the girls Driving Learners Permit. “Your quite the clever girl Harley. Right then Miss Thompson. For now let’s deal with you.” The Joker said as he leaned in to look at the girl.

William opened the door when he heard the doorbell ring. On the steps was his daughter clothed and wrapped in a blanket. He felt a moment of terror that maybe she was dead. Then he saw her breathing. With trembling hands he reached down and took a note that was pinned to the blanket.

“Your wayward Child returned safe as can be. I’ll be in touch,

Your old Pal

Joker

Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne

2011-09-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

Novels based on video games have a very long history. They also typically also shared one thing in common, they tended to universally suck. Its almost like video games based on movies. They are nearly always bad, bar a couple of exceptions. So The Stolen Throne had its work cut out for itself.

Does it universally suck? No it doesn't, which is a very good thing. Having said that it still leaves a lot to be desired. I don't think it reads entirely well on its own, you have to have played the game to get the full experience. The troubles though go deeper and run into familiar game novel territory. Its a bit to long. The main point of the book is established early on, yet the same situation seems to repeat itself a couple of times.

The characters are a mix of 2d and 3d, but it always remains reasonably conservative. For a paperback it is also astonishingly expensive.

What game books need is to find a really good established author and have them write it. Now this might not always be possible as the best authors tend to create their own settings. Yet imagine the possibilities if a great author liked Star Wars, Star trek or Dragon Age and so on. A Star Wars novel by Stephen King. David Eddings doing Dragon Age. Game books tend to get up and comers and sometimes half decent writers, but they often come off as game novels. They lack the clever writing styles of the great authors, the intricate plots and exceptional dialogue. This book does not suck, but it doesn't live up to its potential either and at its near 20.00 Canadian price tag I'd give this one a miss.

Halo ODST: Recovery Part 2

2011-09-11T22:22:00.000-07:00

This is 100% fan fiction only. Written for friends and a bunch of in jokes.

With Penguin at point they moved down the stairs and back out into the street. They paused and as an distant explosion echoed down the streets they tensed. The area seemed clear and after a few moments the two soldiers ran to the corner. Looking around and making sure it was safe to move Penguin broke cover and ran to the far side. Ghost followed a few moments after.

“I wanted to use the strip mall, but it’s blocked and the map didn’t show that.” The Penguin nodded towards the entrance which had collapsed. Ghost looked over at the debris before he moved to the corner of the building. Looking around he saw the enemy patrol a couple of hundred yards ahead.

“Catherine. The map doesn’t show blockages. Can it be updated?” Ghost asked as he again scanned the street for signs of the aliens.

“Negative. All connections to the cities computer are down. I have limited links with command. The map I have is from records.” She almost sounded irritated. If she had an accurate map would she not already have supplied it.

“Wonderful. We have to cross the streets. Go now.” Ghost ordered and began to run across the street. The ODST armored boots were strong, but they made surprisingly little noise even on a hard surface like the pavement. He reached the far side with his fellow trooper right behind him. They paused for a couple of seconds while the Penguin studied the map again and with a nod he moved off. The Ghost took one final look behind them and then followed.

Ghost stopped. The street was quiet and appeared quite deserted. He was beginning to get nervous about the corners of buildings and what lay on the other side of them, yet this was a general uneasiness.

"I am picking up a disturbance and a dog tag signal…it is Shu.” She said in her school matron tone.

“Can you patch us through?” Ghost asked.

There was a burst of static before Jailbirds voice came over the comm.

“It’s about time.” He said and his voice was strained as if he was running.

“We have had some problems.” Alex began.

“Great I am pleased for you.” Jailbird continued.

“What’s your status?” Ghost asked.

“I must have got separated at the drop, and while I was trying to rejoin, I ran into a Cov patrol. Some Grunts and a big hairy Ape, never seen them before.”

“He is two blocks down heading North.” Catherine said. Alex brought up the holomap quickly. “Yo Jailbird, turn right at the next alley, we are coming to meet you.”

“Roger.” Jailbird replied.

Although Ghost had overall command, he was smart enough when the situation dictated it to let his soldiers make some decisions. Penguin had a good mind for navigation and choosing routes on the fly. The two hurried to reach the wayward soldier and finally they entered the main street. Ahead was a walkway connecting two buildings.

“I have over watch.” Alex said and ran up a flight of stairs to his left.

Ghost crouched behind a nearby stone planter. He peered down his SMG’s red dot sight and waited. Jailbird came around the corner at full sprint, staggered and then fell hard. The fall saved his life. The huge Ape like alien, clad in some kind of armor had chosen that moment to throw a spiked club. It flashed across the air where Jailbirds head was a moment before and slammed into the opposite wall. Jailbird got to his feet and ran again. Just as he passed the club it detonated. The wall turned to instant powder and the force of the blast sent the soldier tumbling against a shop front, the impact shattering the glass. The alien paused only long enough to let out a staggering battle cry which unnerved even the seasoned Ghost and Penguin. Jailbird fumbled for his pistol.

The beast began its charge. Penguin was shaking a little and his burst was not as true as he hoped. The first two slugs slammed into the street tearing the pavement. The third hit the alien in the shin. A flash of energy appeared as the bullet impacted upon the power shield. It did not penetrate, but it did confuse the beast just enough to put it off its charge. As it turned its head to try and locate this unexpected threat it plowed into the wall with a sicken crash. As it reeled back Jailbird started to unload his pistol as fast as he could at it. Penguin joined him in throwing as much lead as he could at the alien. The shield flared again and again under the attack and slowly began to falter.

The first of the Grunts came into view. Ghost took a breath and tried to hold steady, failing with the adrenaline surging through his blood. He squeezed the trigger of his SMG. The silencer killed most of the sound and the three round burst slapped through the leaves of the plants and then impacted into the alien. It dropped from view in a splattering of its blood. The second reacted faster than Ghost expected. Plasma bolts splashed around him. He ducked down and then lent around the side of the planter firing as he moved. His rounds impacted the alien hard in the chest and it sank to its knees and died, but not before it had thrown a plasma grenade. One thing Ghost hated was the tendency these Grunts had of throwing grenades just as they seemed to die. The glowing ball was thrown accurately and Ghost rolled back and started to run across the street and away from the impending explosion, but towards the Ape. The grenade detonated below Penguin shattering all the glass panels surrounding him.

“What the hell was that!” Penguin cried as the glass and dust fell around him like rain.

Jailbirds slide lock hammered back and he dropped the empty magazine out and started to reload. The Ape caught Ghost in the open and fired. Long slivers of solid metal flashed around him.

“What the hell is this?” Ghost yelled as he tumbled to the ground in an effort to avoid getting hit. As Jailbird slammed the new magazine into his pistol, the Ape wheeled and fired. The soldier rolled as the spikes hit the ground with a sound like the galaxies biggest nail gun. He returned fire, again emptying his magazine into the aliens shield. Penguin stood up and fired, emptying the remaining rounds into the beasts shield. It flashed and failed.

Jailbird rolled to his feet and drawing his standard issue knife he charged the beast. He leapt at it as he drew in range. His knife found a gap between the armor plates and it sank in. The beast roared and wrapped its arms around the soldier. The pain was intense in the beasts grip and he cried out, but didn’t let go. Slowly the strength ebbed from the Ape and it suddenly toppled with a crash to the ground, landing atop Jailbird who now found himself underneath the creature.

Ghost came slowly to his feet and looked around making sure the street was clear.

“Damn”

“What the hell was that all about?” Penguin came down the stairs and together they walked over to where the beast had fallen.

“gempt thish fin gob od my…” Jailbird muffled from beneath the aliens corpse.

“You now want some coffee?” Alex asked.

“That’s not what he said.” Ghost replied.

“gempt thish fin gob od my…”

“You found a limited time offer?” The Penguin tilted his head confused.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Ghost asked as he turned to look at Alex.

“Get this thing off of me.” Catherine said.

“Its not on you… Silly A.I. I want to know what he said.” Alex said. Ghost slowly shook his head.

“Get this thing off of me.” She replied again.

“Why does she keep saying that. Can A.I. suffer blows to the head?” Alex asked.

Ghost slapped Penguin on the back of the head. He turned and looked up at the sky.

“Did she do that? Hey I think he wants this off of him.” Alex snapped his fingers.

“Your powers of observation do you credit.” Catherine stated.

It took the strength of all three soldiers to finally roll the beast off of Jailbird, who came to his feet slowly.

“What is this thing? Its…I have never seen one before.” He asked as he replaced the spent clip in his pistol.

“It looks like a pack animal, but for sure it’s a primate. You know its kind of like a…Gorilla Wolf!” Alex said emphatically.

“Gorilla Wolves?” Ghost asked.

“ Yeah Gorilla’s that act like Wolves…” Jailbird just couldn’t quite picture it, Ghost was still shaking his head.

“Okay that was a fail on my part.” Alex said. “Cool idea though.”

Jailbird pondered that for a few seconds.

“No its just weird.” Jailbird said.

Ghost clapped his hands in anticipation. “ Catherine stop the clock.”

“No, no no…” Alex cried.

“What’s going on?” jailbird asked confused.

“ Three minutes and twenty one seconds. Ghost wins the bet.” Catherine replied.

“God damit” Alex said slapping his thigh.

“Awesome.” Ghost laughed.

“Bet what bet, what is going on.” Jailbird asked even more confused.

“They had a bet to see how long it would take you to say the word “weird”.” Catherine said.

“You guys are retarded. What does the loser have to do.” Jailbird shook his head.

“Nothing, shut up.” Alex says.

“You know that pretty kitty meow he likes.” Ghost said.

“The hand to hand expert, the one that always slaps him around when we have to do unarmed.” Jailbird said.

“No not Ashley.” Ghost replied.

“The pilot girl in the navy?” Jailbird asked.

“No that’s Dianne.”

“Chelsey?” Jailbird asked.

“Oh the stealthy Marine one. What’s her name?” Ghost said as he acted like he tried to remember.

“Chelsey.” Jailbird said again.

“Yeah the Marine one. In the recon section, never see her coming.” Ghost said as he dramatically scratched his head.

“Chelsey.” Catherine said.

“Chelsey.” Ghost replied.

“I’m going to kill you all.” Alex replied.

“What about her?” jailbird asked.

“Well, he was trying to get a date with her and she finally agreed. But he has to cancel now.” Ghost said.

“That’s it?” Michael asked.

“Yes, shut up.” Alex replied.

“Yeah he has to cancel, but it’s the reason that’s important.” Ghost said.

“Shut up.” Alex struggled to get anyone to pay attention to him.

“Why what’s the reason?” Michael asked.

“Shut up.” Alex said again.

“I’m going to tell if you don’t.” Catherine said, proving A.I.’s can have a sense of humor.

Penguin looked from one to other and slowly through gritted teeth finally said. “ I can’t date her because I have to tell her that I am sexually confused.” Ghost started laughing.

“Are you?” Michael Asked.

“What? No dammit I’m not.” Alex yelled at them. Ghost laughed even harder, slowly working his way to the ground.

“I…hate…you…” Penguin held his hands wide. “This…much.”

“That’s not that much really.” Michael said.

“I…hate…you…guys…” He pointed at both of the soldiers then ran over to the far wall. “From…here…to that dammed pillar.” He pointed towards the horizon.

“The one with the little birds on it?” Catherine asked

“What? No…Fine! The damn one with the little birds on it…You know what? I hate all of you, from that wall to that pillar with the little fucking birds on it.” They stood looking at him for several seconds.

“Thanks for the save.” Michael said finally.

“No problem, good to see you.” Alex replied with a smile.

“Someone help me up.” Ghost order from where his laughing had led him to the ground.

Michael helped his leader back to his feet.

Halo ODST: Recovery Part 1

2011-09-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

This is 100% a piece of fan fiction and done for fun, written because a friend asked me to. The completed work contains many in jokes between friends. I posted it because why not. ODST is a very cool game and worth a buy.

----------------------------------------------------

Part 1

Dawn was just starting to break over New Mexico’s largest city. Like its namesake on Earth, this city was New Mexico’s central Government and the city had inherited the name Rotunda, after the building of old. The city was a place of Latino culture in the star system and it used to be filled with color, motion and life. Not anymore…

The city was still, the shattered windows reflected the broken remains of the city, cars parked or crashed haphazardly like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle dropped on the floor. Dark clouds of foul smoke covers the sky above the city, the offspring of a thousand uncontrolled fires. The city was dying, but there was still life within. It was a cancer that was growing and festering…The Covenant. However the city wasn’t finished just yet, resistance remained.

The dawn’s light shined through the main glass panel of the New Mexico first National Bank. The light splintered into a million different colors as it reflected off the shattered glass, casting eerie patterns on the walls. From the shadows two armored figures moved. They almost looked like they detached, as if they had been a part of the very shadow. The armor was human in manufacture, the faces hidden behind the visors of the helmets. The larger of the two motioned towards the left hand side door and his companion gave a short curt nod, before hurrying over. He leaned against the frame and peered outside. He waited for several long seconds as he looked around the street. As he looked back to his companion a small Penguin symbol with two crossed daggers could be seen on his helmet. He nodded and they both moved quickly out of the bank and came to stop behind a large concrete garden arrangement. The larger of the two rested his hand on the side of his helmet, while his other held a silenced SMG.

“ This is Ghost Actual, we are on station.”

“ Copy Ghost, City uplink has been damaged and its taking longer to get the information we require. Hold station.” Catherine replied. Catherine was the Units Complex A.I. She was currently holed up in a Special Warthog fitted with an elaborate server somewhere outside the city.

“Copy Control.” Ghost replied as he tried to hide the irritation from his voice.

“It’s always fucking us.” The Penguin said.

“I know.” Ghost replied. “We can’t stay here. Find us a place to hole up.”

Penguin nodded and ran across the street before disappearing up a flight of stairs.

“Any word on where Jailbird is?” Ghost asked.

“I haven’t received any signal from him since you were separated at the drop.” Catherine replied.

“This is making me nervous.” The Penguins voice was a little more shaky than normal.

Ghost nodded, an automatic reaction even though he knew Penguin couldn’t see him. He walked down the pavement to the edge of the building and glanced around. Less than twenty feet away three Covenant Grunts along with a large Ape like creature who was at the rear of the patrol were moving slowly up the street. The small grunts, squat and reptilian seemed to move with an awkward gait. On their backs the methane gas canisters which held their life support. The Ape was over eight feet tall and clad in a shinning silver armor. Ghost turned and ran, He gripped the edge of the concrete garden and vaulted over it, and then ran for the building Penguin had vanished within.

“Tango’s” Ghost said.

“Got you covered.” The Penguin replied.

He entered the building and headed up the stairs two at a time. The top ended with a T-Intersection. He snapped his silenced SMG up and aimed quickly first one way then the other.

“Left.” Penguin said quietly and Ghost spun and dropping into a crouch, before he headed down the corridor on the left. He entered what looked like it used to be a florist. Racks of various flowers were neatly placed with small white price tags. The flowers like the city were starting to die. The Penguin was against the far wall, peering down into the street. Ghost dropped to one knee and aimed back down the passage towards the stairs.

“ They are in the street.” Penguins voice was barely a whisper.

Ghost gripped his SMG tighter. The passage gave a good narrow field of fire, but one of those Apes might be hard to take down and there was no where to retreat to. The room gave a commanding view of the street below and it was obvious that was the reason The Penguin had chosen it. Below the aliens moved slowly down the street. The Brute stopped abruptly and raised his nose. It started to sniff the air loud enough that the two Earthers could hear it in the room above.

“It can’t smell us can it?” The Penguin asked a little worried.

“I have no idea.” Ghost replied.

A few tense seconds later the patrol started moving again.

“The flowers?”

Ghost nodded. “Maybe”

Catherine came over the link. “Ghost the uplink has completed. I have your mission.”

As the Penguin watched the streets below, Ghost stood and placed his hand to the side of his helmet as he listened.

“Go ahead.”

“There is one Doctor Cornwell. A scientist of Biology. His research is considered high priority by command. He is to be retrieved.” Catherine replied.

“ He is alive? What is the nature of his research.” Ghost asked.

“ Yes and Unknown.” Catherine replied.

“Unknown or you don’t want to tell us.” Ghost turned to look at his companion who shrugged his shoulders.

“Unknown.” The A.I. replied.

“She doesn’t want to tell us.” Penguin said.

“Sending you the location now.” Catherine said as a map appeared on Ghosts visor. He studied the map for several long seconds.

“It’s on the other side of the city. They can’t be serious.” Ghost said with irritation.

“You are the only unit that has clearance.” The A.I. replied.

Ghost turned and kneeling down pulled a small PDA from his pack. The city map appeared.

“Target. Best way there.” He asked Penguin

His companion moved over and studied the map.

“The main route is fastest even on foot, but those subway tunnels don’t give us much room to move and if we get discovered we would be like rats in a barrel. Its longer, but I suggest the streets.” He traced the route with his finger.

“Streets it is.” Ghost replied. “Move out.”

The Spy Who Loved Me

2011-09-02T22:40:00.000-07:00

This is by far my least favourite of all the James Bond books, yet having said that I think it is only fair to say that it isn't like any of the other James Bond books. One thing about Fleming is he did like to try different things out with his writing sometimes and this book is an example of that.

It does have a lot of merit to it though, it is told in first person from a female character who gets herself by bad luck into a tricky and dangerous situation. One thing I did like about the book is its sections. Rather than a Part 1, Part 2 or Part 3 it simply does Me, Them and Him. This amazingly simple approach works remarkably well in relation to the story.

The girls story which is all of Part 1 is somewhat tedious and is a big reason why I did not enjoy this book as much as the others. It is possibly the most sexual of his books, though it is still far for being explict.

It is a very well written book and it is certainly very clever. As much as I didn't enjoy it I still think it is a good thing that he was willing to take risks and not try to just do the same book over and over again. If you are a fan of the books it is well worth picking it up, if for no other reason than to see Bond in a different light.

Doctor Who: Phantasmagoria

2011-08-25T23:37:00.000-07:00

This was the second release from Big Finish Audio and my overall impression is its quite good. Peter Davidson and Mark Strickson slip back into their roles like they never left. It sounds casual and very natural and I was impressed.

Another good point was the setting. Its a period piece in old England and it fits very well done. The language and characters are smooth and a joy to listen to.

There are a couple of downfalls. The plot is a little complex for no great reason. The worst part is the Highwayman Billy Lovemore. He serves absolutely no point and does nothing but acts as a red herring. Its a stupid red herring however and when we do finally learn who he is there was no clues leaning to it. It is spoon fed to us and makes no sense. In a otherwise good outing that element is embarrassing.

Luckily that doesn't ruin the enjoyment of the CD and as its an older release the price is now very reasonable. If your a Who fan its totally worth picking up.

Nero Wolfe: And be a Villain

2011-07-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

And be a Villain

This is your typical Nero Wolfe novel, but this isn't a bad thing. Although it might be said that there is a certain formula to his writing and considering the amount he wrote it shouldn't be a surprise. However the actual stories are themselves pretty good.

The interactions between the ones who may be the culprits follow similar lines between all the books, as it does with inspector Crammer. However with the later it is always an enjoyable experience.

The real soul of the books is the interactions of Archie Goodwin and Nero. They are clever word games and the twists always are worth the ride. If your a fan of mysteries then this one would do well to sit in your library.

Aircraft of World War 2

2011-07-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

This is a old book and might be hard to find now. I got it when I was just a kid. I had it on layby (layaway for our American friends) and on my 11th birthday a friend of my mothers (Anne thank you) gave me enough to get it out. I still have it today and it is still one of the best books of its kind.

It features a bunch of aircraft from the era and has a page of history and information. A centerfold of the plane in a realistic painting with weathering and dirt and looks awesome. Then two pages of side view alternate camo's.

The list of aircraft is impressive and its well worth picking up if you can find a copy.

Sherloch Holmes: The Horror of the Many Faces

2011-07-13T00:54:00.000-07:00

This is another short story, this time by Tim Lebbon. It features a Cthulhu themed story, which is a pretty hoopy idea for a Sherloch Holmes story, but does it work?

Yes and no. On the plus side its a drastic departure from normal Holmes fare and the characters and setting do feel very much like Holmes Victorian era. That's all good and its clever to boot as the addition of the supernatural elements are no where near as jarring as I expected them to be.

On the downside the story felt like a chapter from a book, rather than a short story and the big disappointment comes at the end...there isn't one. It just stops. Its unresolved and no where near tied up. Obviously this was the authors intent, but it comes off feeling like he created a great idea and had no way in his mind to work out the problem he created so he simply doesn't.

As its a short story and not overly long, that means the time commitment is not going to be great. With that in mind its worth a read.

Casanova

2011-07-03T23:48:00.000-07:00

Here is the first book in which I do not really know how to review it. This comes from my many mixed feelings I have about it.

On one hand it is a fascinating look at a very interesting period in human history, an era where learning was becoming in vogue and Europe was starting to look for answers outside of religion. There was a great birth of knowledge, but also struggle as people tried to balance their thirst for knowledge with their spiritual beliefs. On that level the book is very fascinating.

Another plus is that Casanova is a very complex person with a whole bunch of issues and beliefs. His philosophy is well worth the read even if you don't agree with any of it.

Here though is where I started to doubt. All the stories are his and from his point of view. He includes a great many discussions he had with others and in some cases he loses the debates, but I don't think there is much solid evidence as to the authenticity contained within. Any one of us can say we had a discussion with another and here is what we said. Maybe what he put down on paper is 100% true, or maybe it is 100% true in his eyes, or it could be partly true. He was human and we all have our faults and he puts some of his on display.

Its just hard to know where to stand when it comes to the book. Really you have to go in and just assume its all true and go for the ride. Even if it isn't the points he is making within those discussions are still very interesting. Its worth a read and is very unusual.

Invisible Man

2011-07-02T00:18:00.000-07:00

Invisible Man

H.G. Wells was an amazing individual who was far ahead of his time. His imagination for both story and science was seriously awe inspiring.

This was in the era of Science Fact rather than Science Fiction and the more modern Space Opera. For many years Sci-Fi was made up of answering questions.

In this case I wasn't going to say what I think its about. Mainly because I think that its one of those books where you can take from it different things and I didn't want to color someones view before they read it, but people kept telling me to do it so ok. For me its about just because we can do something should we? Its about human nature and in similar ways to The Picture of Dorian Grey, the more the main character steps away from humanity the more beastly he becomes. In Grey it was vanity and the picture, here its being invisible and how that would make someone inhuman.

If there is something hard about the book is that it is quite old and some of its terminology would be current and not needing explanation when it was written, but today some of its meaning can be a little harder to understand. This is however a great book and very recommended.

Iron Man Femme Fatales

2011-06-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

Femmes Fatales

Before the movie I was never much a fan of Iron Man. I am a comic geek, but no where near being a aficionado. I do not know all the ins and outs of all the characters, nor know all the histories. I would buy the comics of the characters I liked and enjoyed them a great deal growing up.

I was apprehensive about this book, mainly because comics are so visual and novels are a very different medium. A comic novel could not be written like a comic book. So this was a tall order I imagine. To create a story and keep all the things that makes the comics fun, but make it work within the confines of the novel.

Does it work? yes and no. Overall this is a very enjoyable book and if your a fan of Iron Man I really don't think you'll be disappointed. So what works and what doesn't? Funny enough what you might expect if you think about it. The novel shows Tony Stark very well. We get to see how he thinks, what drives him, what effects him. The book is one of the best portrayals of the character so far. What doesn't work is the combat parts. They feel soft and tame, like they were written with the comic imagery in mind, but lacking the KA-POW! and dramatic visual motion of the printed images the fights just don't seem to work as well as they could have.

At the end of the book though it was far more about Tony the character than the fights and the read from that perspective is a good one. It is worth the time if your a fan. Recommended.

Iron Man: Femmes Fatales (Iron Man (Del Rey))

Firefox Down

2011-06-27T08:15:00.000-07:00

Firefox Down

Firefox down is the follow on novel to the critically acclaimed Firefox. The book went on to become a major movie with Clint Eastwood in the role. The movie wasn't half bad for what it attempted to do. The book was exceedingly good.

At the end of the first book (which did really feel like a one off story) grant had escaped. The popularity of the whole thing probably put some pressure on the author to write another. So the aircraft which was being stolen from the Soviets was damaged and had to land. The race was on and Grant had to escape capture.

If the publishers wanted a follow on novel to the first then in some ways this wasn't it. The first was about stealing the Soviets newest and coolest fighter and all that would go into trying such an endeavor. It was a great piece of Cold War drama mixed with some intense air combat.

This one had the plane pretty much on the ground and fell back to the old cat and mouse of agent trying to escape. Its a good book and has all the right trappings of a gritty cold war drama, but it isn't the high flying story like the first. It does one thing very well and that is shows the throw away attitude that the spy game has towards people. This is not a happy book and its ending isn't uplifting, not that it was meant to be. Its a stalk look at how people are used in the game and many of them will get killed. Real spying would be a dirty business and the book illustrates that.

If you want something a little less fanciful than James Bond then both the Firefox books will be a welcome addition to your library.

More Upcoming Reviews

2011-06-19T20:45:00.000-07:00

The Gunslinger by Stephen King (Read)
Treasure island (Read)
Rumpold (Read)
Past Mortem by ben Elton (Planning to read)
Eye of the Needle by Ken Follot (Planning to read)
Silverfin (Reviewed)

Just some stuff in the stash.

Operation Red Jericho

2011-06-15T22:12:00.001-07:00

Operation Red Jericho

Every now and again I come across a book that is a real unexpected find. Operation Red Jericho is one such book. First off this is a very attractive hard cover book. The cover is textured and has a real nice feel to it. It comes with a elastic place mark holder which is a nice touch.

The interior is just as nice. This book has a wonderful mix of drawings (taken from one of the characters journals) to photo's. They appear old and are all interesting. I don't know whether they are recent pictures to be made to look old or if they are genuine old photo's. Either way they give the book its feel and style.

The story is a brother and sister tale in the 1920's. It should appeal to both boys and girls who like a good adventure tale. The story is pretty fast paced and interesting. It doesn't treat kids as stupid and is loaded with all kinds of info that is included in the exotic locations.

It really was a great find this one and there are three in the series. All three are now available. Very Recommended.

Might as well be Dead

2011-06-13T10:26:00.000-07:00

Nero Wolfe

Another of the massive Nero Wolfe detective series. All of them are good and have interesting ideas, but this one stands out. The story of a man waiting to be executed. Nero doesn't think he did it, but the man doesn't want to be saved. The question becomes why? Who is he protecting?

The twists are well thought out and typical of a Wolfe novel. The characters are all excellent as always and the banter and word games between Archie and Nero are worth the read.

With a series the size of the Nero Wolfe one, it is to be expected that some stories won't be as good as others. Luckily this one is very good and the great idea behind it isn't wasted.

If your a fan of mysteries then the Wolfe series should be a must. They have style, grace, interesting characters and charm all their own. Very recommended.

The Joker: Joker in the Deck

2011-06-12T01:52:00.000-07:00

The Joker

This is the start of a larger story I wrote. It was done solely for fun and came about because a friend asked me to write a Joker story. This is pure fan fiction because of my love of the Batman setting and the Joker specifically and my love of 1940's detective novels. I make no claims as to the story even being any good. It was just fun to do and I was told to post it anyway. So don't expect to much and you might have a good time :)

Chapter 1

Joker in the Deck

William Joseph Thompson was every bit the nondescript individual as you could get. He was balding, middle aged, in the middle of a mid life crisis, separated from his wife and stuck in the same job for the last twenty five years. The bar that he had found himself in was, he thought a throw back from the 1950’s. The décor was fitting for a David Lynch film and he half expected there to be a Dwarf talking to him backwards.

The barkeep was a rough looking man who had glanced at the door marked private and said to William, not unkindly, that he should find a different place to go. Something in Williams sad eyes had touched the barkeep, reminding him of why he had gotten into the business all those years ago and had given him the drink. A Whiskey on the rocks. He hoped for William that his act of kindness or weakness wasn’t going to cost either of them more than they could afford.

The walls were covered from the top half in a leaf design wall paper. It was split horizontally in the middle by a bar of some kind of polished wood. The tables were on two levels. A ground floor and booths, these were about three feet off the ground level with steps leading into them. A worn red carpet covered the floor. The room was lit by low wattage bulbs which hung in half covered shell lampshades.

The place was empty except for William and he thought this a little odd, but was so wrapped up in his misery that he really didn’t put much thought about it. When the door marked private opened he never glanced up and just sat there continuing to nurse his drink. He felt the breeze as two people moved past and he was only broken from his trance by a scent. Jasmine, the most beautiful Jasmine he had ever smelled. He raised his head from his drink and struggled with a thought, before he became aware that the pair had not moved on.

A flash of purple flopped onto the stool next to him and spun around to face him.

“Why so glum, chum?” The voice had an almost musical element to it and that, captured with the deep purple color made William look over at the individual. When he did the shock made him grip his glass tightly and he felt his heart miss a beat. A sensation which was altogether unpleasant.

The man sat there, dressed in a deep purple suit with a dark green waistcoat, though not as dark as the purple. His hair was also green and his face was a bleached white. Dark eyeliner was traced around his eyes and a ruby red lipstick trailed from the end of his lips. At least William thought it was lipstick. He wasn’t sure. The effect was staggering and there was something both welcoming and utterly frightening about the face. Behind the man there stood a woman. She was dressed in a black corset and purple mini skirt which matched the man’s suit. A pair of purple suede boots came almost to her thigh and showed about four inches of leg. Her face was painted as well. Hers was white with two black diamonds painted around her eyes. Her lips were painted a deep red that was so dark it was almost black, but every so often the red would show in the light and she smelled of sensual Jasmine.

William sat there for a few seconds trying to figure how to respond. “It’s my daughter.” He finally managed to say in a quiet voice that he only just controlled the fear he was feeling. The man, his eyes wide nodded a prompt and William was shocked to find that the man seemed genuinely interested in what he had to say. This in some ways was worse than if he was mocking him.

“She’s been getting involved with the…wrong crowd.” In all honesty William had no idea how to say it. The Joker and Harley Quinn were well known to anyone in Gotham as being completely insane and you couldn’t get much more wrong crowd than them. The Joker only nodded knowingly.

“I have tried to pay them off, to stay away from her, but it didn’t work.”

The Joker shook his head. “And it never will. They will play you for a sap, might even get their friends to try and date her so you’d pay them and split the profits. They could start their own little racket.” He drew out the word racket and rolled the r.

“The latest one is the worst. She told me to stay out of her life. That I shouldn’t meddle in things that don’t concern me. My wife walked out now she is. She is still mad at me for paying Kenner to stay away from her.” He said quickly before downing the drink in a single gulp. The Joker tapped the bar with his index finger and barman began to pour another drink.

“Kids.” Harley said behind the Joker. “What can you do?”

“Not much you can do. I on the other hand have a little more leeway.” The Joker said with a grin.

“What?” William and Harley said together.

“Well, I can take care of this guy so he won’t bother your little girl anymore, but I am not sure how it will help you. If she is crazy about these jokers then you need to do something long term with her.” He replied. Harley grinned when he called the other guys jokers. The joke seemed lost on him.

“I know…I just don’t know what else to do.” William said taking the new drink the barman pushed across.

The Joker threw his arm around William’s shoulders. “Cheer up Buttercup! We can handle this guy. Your old pal the Joker is on the case.”

Harley held up a envelope. “But what about the dastardly and brilliant plan we have been cooking up to annoy the Dark Crusader?”

The Joker leapt up as his henchmen entered the room. “That can wait." He pointed to William. "Our pal here needs some help and besides it will be fun." He snapped his fingers. "What’s the guys name?”

The henchmen looked to Harley. “Tangent.” She said and from the looks on their faces she could tell only the leader understood the word.

“Adrian French, he’s on…” William began but Joker cut him off.

“I will find him! Go home, sleep, relax. It will be taken care of.” The Joker replied and he slapped William on the back. “Don’t worry I will find you when I need to." He looked at his goons. "Boys your free for now, Harley, come with me.” The Joker and Quinn disappeared out the front of the bar. The henchmen not sure what to do they sat on the stools and ordered drinks..

William downed the second drink faster than the first, he was pretty sure The Joker wasn’t lying and that he would find him soon enough.