The Tears of the Sun by S. M. Stirling

This book is set in a post Apocalyptic world where technology has been truncated by some unknown source.  This story focuses on the children of the initial survivors featured in the Dies the Fire, the first three books.  This book is the 5th of seven in the second series set in this world.   Rudi and Mathilda are prominent in this volume but not dominant.  Baroness Tiphaine d'Ath, Grand Constable of the PPA is featured throughout the book but many characters from the previous books have their very own chapters in this book.

This book does a lot of flash backs.  I can't decide if it would clarify or confuse if you were reading it as a stand alone.  Frankly I would not recommend it as a standalone.   It is, in many ways, a summation of much that has gone on before due to the flash backs.  

The beauty of an ongoing saga is that you can do a flash back and flesh out a minor mention in a previous book until it is several chapters in the current book.   This isn't a bad thing if you like reveling in the minutia of the characters, which I do.

Polytheism is a staple throughout the series and some explanation of such is provided in this book.   Based on the way the story jumped from one time and location to another, it often felt like a book of short stories.   In spite of what may appear to be a critical review, I still liked the book.

I highly recommend the series.

Website          http://www.smstirling.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.

The One-Eyed Man by L.E. Modesitt, jr

Modesitt is a philosopher.  His books are entertainment, for sure, but are also philosophic guides for behavior.   This book is not in the Imager Portfolio, it is a stand alone that does a fine job on standing alone.  

Paulo Verano, the main protagonist, is facing a dismal future dealing with an emotional mistake.   His salvation comes through a exceedingly long distance contract that will put his current situation behind him in both time and space. 

Modesitt provides a new environment for this book.  He suggests good behavior and responsibility should be rewarded and the converse punished.   His omnipotent character is elusive and mysterious.   The human behavior is typical and profit driven in many cases.  

Love is found in the most unlikely situations. 

I highly recommend all his books.  

Body of  work of <a type="amzn" >L.E. Modesitt</a>

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.

Trio Of Sorcery by Mercedes Lackey

I'm not fond of short stories.  They are too much akin to apple pie without ice cream or BBQ without Frank's Hot Sauce.   I don't want my appetite teased, I want it sated.  So I just avoid short stories as I am always disappointed with they are over "shortly".  However being a huge fan (after losing 20 pounds not quite as huge) of Lackey I jumped on this book.    I was not disappointed.   I have a couple of Diana Tregarde tales but have not read them.  They are now moved up in my to be read sooner pile.   The three stories in this book all involve magic and one blends magic and technology as smoothly as Kahlua and vodka. 

As in most of Lackey's books, she does a terrific job in her characterizations.  You find yourself nodding your head as if you know the people who populate the stories.  

Each tale stands alone quite nicely.  The Diana Tregarde tale, Arcanum, is placed by the author as the first tale of Diana.   Since I have not read any of the other Diana books, I am delighted to get the background first.  

Despite my dislike of short stories, I enjoyed this book.

I recommend it.

Web Site: http://www.mercedeslackey.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.

He Drank, and Saw the Spider by Alex Bledsoe

In previous reviews of Eddie  LaCrosse books I stated that he may be my new favorite character.   I would like to revise that to Eddie LaCrosse is my new favorite character.   Alex Bledsoe has crafted a thoughtful hero who is cognizant of his current foibles and past failures.   This story touches on a lighter side of Eddie and highlights his relationship with Liz.

With no fear of being repetitive as I doubt anyone is reading my reviews of Bledsoe books in consecutive order, I now repeat myself.   Foibles are what make Eddie so believable.  He gets hurt, he isn't always right and he is not invincible.   When he hits someone in the head with his hand, his hand is injured as well as the face he it.  Regardless of unlikely scenarios, a believable hero makes for a much more interesting story. 
I think the fact that Bledsoe also makes it clear that war and the ensuing mayhem are dreadful.   He doesn't glorify violence and makes sure his characters say true to form.  Eddie looks at his past with some regret, errors he made in the past haunt him and have influenced the man he has become.   You can picture yourself kicking back and having a beer with Eddie.

The settings in the stories are definitively medieval in flavor and yet the portrayal has a modern flavor.   Characters are painted with precise strokes as opposed to six inch brushes.   Tatterhead is a good example of how perceptions may change as intimate knowledge is acquired.   Bledsoe reflects life well!
The Eddie LaCrosse series is fun to read, engages you and even  makes you do some philosophic pondering.

I highly recommend both the book and the series.   The following links are to my reviews of previous Eddie LaCrosse books.
Dark Jenny
Burn Me Deadly
Wake of the Bloody Angel
The Sword-Edged Blonde

I highly recommend it too.

Body of work of <a type="amzn"> Alex Bledsoe </a>

Web Site: http://alexbledsoe.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.

Happy New Year 2014

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Runner by Patrick Lee

This is one of those books that makes you squirm when you read it.   It is entirely too believable and too plausible.   Sam Dryden finds himself protecting a child he just met against odds that defy imagination. 

The genetic aspect of the book is well researched and oh so frightening.   Sam's past losses make him predisposed to protect a child.  The poiqnant question may be, "who will protect Sam from her?"
The characterizations were quite believable.  

The action was unremitting! 

The plot was a thorough emersion in a Machiavellian pool.

Lee's depiction of corporate greed and governmental intrusion was sadly quite believable for anyone who reads a daily paper or news blog. 

I highly recommend the book but budget enough time to do quickly because you will NOT want to put it down.

Website          http://www.patrickleefiction.com/runner.php

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 High King Of Montival by S. M. Stirling

This book is set in a post Apocalyptic world where technology has been truncated by some unknown source.  This story focuses on the children of the initial survivors featured in the Dies the Fire, the first three books.  This book is the 4th of seven in the second series set in this world.   Rudi and Mathilda are the featured characters in this volume. 

Rudi  and Mathilda, the heirs to the Mackenzie lands and the Association territory are returning from Nantucket in this book.   They pick up allies on the way and face more of the treacherous "Cutters".   The idiosyncrasies established in the preceding books continue.    One of the ways they author keep each volume readable as a stand alone is how he has the characters fill in the back story when they acquire new allies.  

An interesting factor is the demonstration of fracturing society into schismatic ethnic and fantasy groups.  Fiction and religious tracts seem to carry the same weight with resulting  societal implications.  Stirling does an admirable job creating likeable characters with believable foibles. 

I highly recommend the series.

Website          http://www.smstirling.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.