The Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

This is a Rain Wild book.  The story picks up with the "hatching" of a new clutch of dragons.   The dragons and the "mutants" of the Rain Wild river face daunting challenges.

There are several main protagonists in this book.  Alise Finbok who is struggling for an identity in a male dominated society.  Thymara, abandoned and recovered at birth, who is also trying to develop a firmer identity.  Leftrin has a secret that colors his captaining of a river barge.   Sedric is one more who has a secret and is also trying to figure out who he might be.

This is a character study set in a jungle setting with dragon personalities impacting the behavior of all of the characters.   The tenuous alliance between dragons and Rain Wilders is thoroughly tested in what may be a fruitless journey.

I recommend.  

Site:  http://www.robinhobb.com/

 This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Legacies by L.E. Modesitt, jr

This is book one of the Corean Chronicles. A new world and new protagonists that are separate from the world of Recluce.  This world is locked in war between states that are mere shreds of a more pervasive and powerful defunct nation state.

Alucius is a herder.  Herders are the stereo typical John Wayne character, strong, quiet and deadly.  Herders are aloof from the bulk of their society.   They work with nightsheep, a breed that makes most people tremble due to their appearance and ferocity. Herders are known or suspected to have "talent".  Talent is rumored to be magical but herders do not discuss it with any outsiders.

The Iron Valley is a small, very independent entity that is trapped between larger more powerful neighbors.   Alucius is called by the Iron Valley Militia and ends up in the thick of fighting.   How he handles his service ends up having a major impact on his society.

This is both similar and different than the Recluce series.  Similar in the personality  of the protagonist and different in the setting and the goals.

The common thread, as I stated in previous Modesitt reviews is the lone soul fighting for self identity in a harsh world.   Alucius finds himself on the begining of the path of self discovery.  Lots of action and thought!

I highly recommend.  

Site:  http://www.lemodesittjr.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Tomorrow by Philip Wylie

This is a classic that I read years ago.  It rereads quite well.  The time slot is post WWII and the Red Threat is alive and thriving.   People are reintegrating into a peace time economy.   Civil Defense is big.  I have clear memories of sitting in hall with my class and never wondering what good that would do if their was an nuclear attack.  The tortoise and the hare are aptly illustrated in this tale.

Wylie paints a bleak picture of human nature which sadly was most likely spot on.   Again the tortoise and the hair come to mind.   The woman's movement was a thing in the future and little did Wylie know that his most optimistic fantasies would be surpassed  by both civil rights and technology.

In spite of  the somewhat desperate theme, Wylie still projected optimism.

I recommend the book.

Web sites:        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Wylie

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Von Neumann's War By John Ringo

Depending on the depth of your science background, the  title may  provide more info than you expect.   The book deals a future where the Borg may exist.

Ringo's strong point is the camaraderie he illustrates and the loyalty his characters have to their peers.   I enjoy  that aspect a great deal.  The book waxed a bit pandemically but not enough to deter from the  plot or enjoyment.   Mankind faces an implacable foe  and as the world succumbs, the USA fights back.

I recommend the book.

Web sites:        http://www.johnringo.net/Home.aspx

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The Great Undead War: Book II by Joseph Nassise

This book is set in a World War I environment.   The forces of Germany have been multiplied by the addition of the undead.   The main protagonist is Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron who is a special breed of undead.   Facing off the Red Baron are "Madman" Burke and the American Ace, Major Jack Freeman.   This is the second book in the series.   This book involves Madman and Major Jack in a mission to London.

The characters are memorable in Nassie books.   He does a nice job with his action and his character development.    His explanations for the undead are "reasonable" or at least as reasonable as most of the explanations in the Zombie books seem to be.  

There is plenty of action and heroics.   

The book is part one of a series and I intend to read them all.

I recommend the book.

Here are links to other reviews I have done on Joseph Nassise books.

King of the Dead

The Heretic

Eyes to See

By The Blood of Heroes

Site:  http://josephnassise.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Escape From NetherWorld by David Kuklis

This is a young adult book that deals with a group of role playing gamers who suddenly find themselves thrust into an alternate world where there game roles are their identities.

This book has a lot of very unrealistic violence where healing potions and clerics can work wonders on deadly wounds.   The plot is simplistic and the characters are a bit superficial.   It is written as if for late elementary school but their are some situations that are a little too adult for this age group.   I am not sure that the book is well characterized as young adult.  I think with some of the "hooking up" that takes place was de-stressed that it would be a good book for elementary school kids.   Don't get me wrong, there is nothing explicit in the book but it alludes to relationships and relationship ramifications that take it out of the realm of elementary readers.   On the other hand, the action and the consequences of the action are awfully simplistic for the older reader. 

It wasn't a bad book, I just am not sure who might be the best target market.

Site:  http://www.escapefromnetherworld.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Mention My Name in Atlantis by John Jakes

This book is a parody of the Conan books with much tongue in cheek humor and amusing action.

Hoptor the Vintner peddles a  unique type of vintage.   His business practices leads to societal connections that cross the entire spectrum of the Atlantis populace.  It also runs him afoul of the entrenched bureaucracy.

Conax the Chimerical is a barbarian of massive stereotypes.   In addition to his mighty thews he is definitively the least sharp knife in the drawer.

The two main protagonists are joined by a host of unsavory characters who play a large part in the disappearance of Atlantis.   Some of the characters feel blue and are far from home seeking their own needful grail. 

I have read a lot of Jakes and as amusing as this was, I enjoyed his historic fiction and the Kent family far more.

I recommend the book though.

Web Site: http://www.johnjakes.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

A Rising Thunder by David Weber

This is number thirteen of the Honor series.  Honor Harrington plays a bit part in the continuing saga of Manticore.   Haven and Manticore, Mesa and the Solarian League are all back.    That makes is sound very similar to volume 12.   The cast of characters is pretty much the same.  

The book pretty much characterizes an entrenched bureaucratic morass that is oblivious to anything beyond their personal control.   The Mandarins are the true rulers of the Solarian League with an oblivious blind spot to anyone with honor or ethics.  Profit and power are the meat and potatoes of the Mandarins every thing else is non-existent.

Once again, the loyalty, emotion and strength of the good guys are what makes these books such and enjoyable read.  The action is just icing on the cake.

As I mentioned regarding the last book,  Mission of Honor, It is possible that Weber has always been this wordy.   I found myself powering through some chapters as the details became tedious.   I am still a fan and still enjoy the Manticore saga but the bloom may be off the rose.  Considering that this was released early in  2013 I can't move to the next one yet but as a die hard, I am sure I will order volume 14 when it is available.

Body of work of <a type="amzn"> David Weber </a>

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.