The Pharaoh Contract

While sifting through a pile of books the other day I stumbled upon "The Pharaoh Contract", a science fiction book published in 1991, and written by Ray Aldridge.  "The Pharaoh Contract"
is the first book in the Emancipator trilogy, which also includes "The Emperor of Everything" and "The Orpheus Machine".  "The Pharaoh Contract" follows the path of Ruiz Aw, the enforcer of the slave trading Art League.  Ruiz is sent to the planet of Pharaoh to investigate who is stealing some of the Art League's most valuable slave performers.  When Ruiz reaches Pharaoh he finds that not only is he mysteriously changed, but that a web of intrigue even entwines the Art League's agents on Pharaoh.  "The Pharaoh Contract" is an exciting book set in an unusual and more than slightly strange galaxy.

Fables

No matter how you feel, pictures are a way to help us express our imaginations, and give life to the words on a page. For these reasons I have come to enjoy the comic series called Fables. These comics not only have an original and imaginative story arc but they also have amazing and extremely detailed drawings by a plethora of illustrators. Even if you feel that drawings have no place in literature this series will surely change your mind. I personally laud this procession of narratives with 9 put of 10 wolves.

Rush (Coming June 2013)

Rush, by Eve Silver, tells the story of Miki Jones. After Miki is hit by a car while trying to rescue a child her life changes drastically. Miki becomes attached to a "game" against terrifying aliens, ones who are deadly and bent on Earth's destruction. But when a fellow player dies in game, Miki realizes that to die in game is to die in real life. Rush has a fast paced plot that keeps the pages turning, and heartily deserves 9 out of 10 wolves.

A Cruel Wind

I recently finished an anthology of the series A Cruel Wind, by Glen Cook, which includes the books: A Shadow of All Night Falling, October's Baby, and All Darkness Met.  This hefty 508 page tome involves the petty wars of neighboring kingdoms, high sorcery, low sorcery, and immense battles.  With a slightly slow beginning this book soon draws you in.  Though I have not given this book a full review, I truly believe that anyone will enjoy reading the novels of this series as much as I did.

Book List

Here is a list of books that I read a few years ago, some were good, some were a little bad, but I thoroughly enjoyed the vast majority of them.

Ruins of Gorlan, The Burning Bridge, The Icebound Land, The Battle for Skandia, The Sorcerer of the North, The Siege of Macindaw, Erak's Ransom, The Kings of Clonmel, Halt's Peril, Dragon Champion, Dragon Avenger, Dragon Outcast, Dragon Strike, Dragon Rule, Redwall, Lord Brocktree, Loamhedge, The Legend of Luke, Triss, The Bellmaker, Taggerung, Eulalia!, Rakkety Tam, Marlfox, High Rhulain, Salamandastron, Mossflower, Mariel of Redwall, Pearls of Lutra, Martin the Warrior, The Outcast of Redwall, The Long Patrol, Mattimeo, The Rogue Crew, The Farthest Shore, Tombs of Atuan, Dune, Paul of Dune, Cold Mountain, Thirteen Moons, Petey, Were the Red Fern Grows, American Gods, Wild Thoughts From Wild Places, The Sight, Wolf Brother, Spirit Walker, Soul Eater, Merlin's Dragon, Eragon, Eldest, Brisingir, Gauntlygrym, Homeland, Exile, The Icewind Dale Trilogy, The Legacy, Starless Night, The Thousand Orcs, The Lone Drow, The Two Swords, The Orc King, The Pirate King, The Ghost King, Servant of the Shard, Elminster in Hell, Conundrum, American Gods, The Android's Dream, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Siege of Malta, America's Forgotten Army, The Alchemist, The Magician, The Sorceress, Napoleon's Russian Campaign, Central Park Knight, Magyk, Flyte, Physik, Queste, Artemis Fowl and Associated Books,
The Hobbit, Poison Study, Magic Study, 2001: Space Odyssey, 2010: Space Odyssey, 2061: Space Odyssey, Waterstone, The Amulet of Samarkand, The Golems Eye, Ptolemy's Gate, Gods of Manhattan, Magic Thief, The Floating Island, Lightning Thief, Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse,
The Battle of the Labyrinth, The Last Olympian, Red Pyramid, Throne of Fire, Lost Hero, The Day of the Tempest, The Wee Free Men, A Hat Full of Sky, Wintersmith, The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, Going Postal, Making Money, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Three Cups of Tea, Neversfall, The Thief Lord, The Lost Gate, His Majesty's Dragon, Throne of Jade, Black Powder War, Empire of Ivory, Victory of Eagles, Tongues of Serpents, The Good Thief, Midnight for Charlie Bone, Charlie Bone and the Time Twister, Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy, The Last Charge, Virals, The Black Talon, Almanac of World History, Bridge to Terrabithia, Day of the Dragon, Lord of the Clans, Merle's Door, Black Dragon Codex, Gold Dragon Codex, Bronze Dragon Codex, Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie, Starfinder, Island in the Sea of Time, Against the Tide of Years, In the Oceans of Eternity, I Robot, The Naked Sun, The Robots of Dawn, Foundation, Foundation and Empire, Second Foundation, Foundation's Edge, The Grey King, The Naked Sun, The Robots of Dawn, The Lost Gate, Timeline, The Westing Game, The Cartoon History of the Universe, The Cartoon History of the Universe II, The Cartoon History of the Universe III, The Cartoon History of the Modern World, The Cartoon History of the Modern World Part II, The Cartoon Guide to the Enviroment, Larklight, Mister Monday, Grim Tuesday, Drowned Wednesday, Sir Thursday, Lady Friday, Guns Germs and Steel,

The Rithmatist (Not Out Yet, Coming May 2013)

The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson is an exciting new novel following the adventures of Joel. Joel has always wanted to be a rithmatist, a person who can control chalk and make it come to life, but he was never chosen to be one. Now at Armedius Academy, where Joel learns and also lives, rithmatists start to vanish. When Joel joins a group trying to save the students he enters a race against time and the killer, a race which may end up changing rithmatics as he knows it. I give this book 8 out of 10 wolves, mainly because the cliffhanging ending makes me wish the second book was out already!

Between Books

On February 22nd Greg Schauer announced the closing of his bookstore: Between Books. Greg has made his little shop a focal point of the community for almost 34 years, weathering the recession and competition. This closing not only has an impact on the field of small bookstores but also has a personal impact because Greg is a family friend and was best man at my parents wedding, who met at Between Books. Throughout the years he has been able to provide whoever walks in his door with the perfect book, whether it be sci-fi, fantasy, comedy, horror, or just the plain weird. I hope that you will take some time out of your day to visit his store at 2703 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, DE, before he is gone.

W.A.R.P. the Reluctant Assassin

I recently received an advanced readers copy of the book mentioned in the title and I must say Eoin Colfer's upcoming novel W.A.R.P the Reluctant Assassin, which comes out in May 2013, is a fun and exciting adventure that will keep you reading until the very end. The book follows the journey of Riley and 17 year-old Agent Chevron Savano who are hunted by the time-travel twisted Albert Garrick. Riley and Chevron are chased all around modern-day and Victorian England by the murderous Garrick, and are constantly on the run, despite the assurances of whoever protects or captures them. The two children know that it is only a matter of time before Garrick finds them, and by then it will be too late. Eoin Colfer's newest series will be a delight to fans if the Artemis Fowl series and will garner new fans as well. This book easily earns 9 out of 10 wolves.

Homeland

Cory Doctorow's latest book, Homeland, is the exciting and adventurous sequel to Little Brother. Homeland takes place about a year after the end of Little Brother and starts out at the Burning Man festival where Marcus meets his old ex-Department of Homeland Security friend Masha. Masha gives Marcus access to hundreds of thousands of files that could be the downfall of the DHS, and expose its darkest secrets. Marcus must make a choice whether or not to release the files, and whatever option he chooses could bring anarchy to San Francisco. Homeland is an exciting page turner that will keep you hooked until the end. I would give this great sequel to Little Brother 9 out of 10 wolves.

Little Brother

Cory Doctorow's book Little Brother takes you with Marcus Yallow on his technological adventures following a terrorist attack on San Francisco's Bay Bridge. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) kidnaps Marcus and four of his friends following the attack. After playing mental games with Marcus they let him and two of his friends free. Vowing the DHS's destruction following his kidnap and the continued captivity of one of his friends, Marcus leads a techno-rebellion against the DHS. But he knows that the DHS is only one step behind him and his capture is inevitable. Little Brother is an amazing tale of youthful anti-dystopian rebellion that keeps you on the edge of your seat right up to the end, and you don't even have to wait for the sequel, Homeland, because it just came out. I give this book a rating of 9 out of 10 wolves.

Pirate Cinema

I recently received an advanced reader's copy of Cory Doctorow's new book: Pirate Cinema.  Ever since, I have spent every second available, and quite a few more, reading this amazing book.  Pirate Cinema focuses on the dystopian, internet-restrictive, England in which Trent McCauley lives.  Trent's habit of creating short films from the cut up parts of movies is illegal and gets his family's internet blocked for a year.  The schoolwork of Trent's sister begins to suffer, while Trent's parents struggle to make ends meet without the ability of getting Mrs. McCauley's medical money and the loss of Trent's father's job.  Trent soon heads out to London where he finds like-minded people and those willing to help him survive.  Then a new bill passes in Parliament which cracks down on illegal downloading even harsher, and sends young kids to jail. Trent and his friends must find a way to repeal the bill, but nothing they do seems like it does anything good.  Pirate Cinema is an amazing, fast-paced, and well-written book that is so good I will buy it when it comes out, so that I can reread it again and again.  I would give a rating of 9 out of 10 wolves.

Gone

While perusing my local bookstore the other day I happened upon an exciting Lord of the Flies-esque book that combines elements of fantasy with a post-apocalyptic feel that sets the book in its own unique genre. Gone, by Michael Grant, focuses on Perdido Beach, California after a mysterious mass disappearance that removes everyone over 15 years old from the area.  After the disappearance the main character, Sam Temple, must decide whether he will be the hero everyone wants, or run off and leave the children to be ruled by a succession of bullies.  Despite the apparent tranquility under the rule of Caine Soren, from the nearby boarding school, things turn for the worse when Caine's government becomes harsh and people who reach 15 start disappearing.  Gone is a fast paced book that will keep you reading until the end, and then send you off searching for the sequel.  If you are looking for a rating I would give this book 7 out of 10 wolves.