The "Chaos Walking" Trilogy by Patrick Ness is a commentary on our society, even though it's set lightyears away.
Todd is the only boy in a town of only men. All of the women died of a native plague on this new planet just after Todd was born, they died of the plague that can broadcasts all men's thoughts to everyone else. Their collective thoughts create the Noise, and through the Noise, nearly all secrets are revealed. But when Todd finds a pocket of silence in the swamps, he has to rethink what he knows of his town and himself. Because when you've been lied to all your life, there's only one way to find out the truth, and fighting back against the convention could have bigger implications than you could ever guess. Especially when your tap is all that's needed to set the dominoes cascading down.
So, a bunch of settlers come to a planet, and find that they can all hear each other's thoughts. They also find an alien species who have hardly any way to communicate with them. What's the next obvious thing that these settlers do. Oh, I don't know, maybe they ought to start a war?
Hmm. Well, you know, we're starving, we're hungry, and we're 60-something years away from any help. We're going to have to live with this alien species for the rest of our lives, and our great-great-great grandchildren are going to have to live with them too. So, heck, why not go for it and start blowing their brains out? Yeah . . . What's the worst that can happen? I love the human thought process. Especially when it's in books, and I don't have to live with the repercussions.
These books, well, about half of the time, these books are written by an illiterate boy. Todd, pretty obvious, right? It isn't as bad as "Blood Red Road," Moira Young, but he spells thing phonetically. I don't have a problem with that, I actually sort of like it, because I'm awful with the spelling part of things, but it might not be your cup'o'tea.
The characters are very strong. Very strong. Each person is unique, painfully so, and they all have their own motives. Some of them are very easy to predict, such as Todd and Viola, but others are more of a wild card. Everyone does things that are morally disgusting, such as committing murder, initiating planet-wide-war, and infecting innocent people with fatal diseases, but it's their reaction after the deed and the motives that drove them that you have to judge them on. Otherwise, you'd wind up hating everyone in the books.
The Land, and you won't know what I'm talking about until you've read the third book, confuses me. It's sort of a peaceful part of the book, except for the fact that the Return is basically baying for blood, but I can't pick out individuals. I couldn't even tell you if the Return is a male or a female. The Return seems male for the most time, but other times it seems female . . . It adds to the overall effect of the story, but it can also subtract from it a bit.
Another thing that subtracts from the story is the obvious bloodlust. It sort of repulses me how many people in this book want war. The Return can't stop begging to stick a knife in the Knife, Todd blatantly harms the captured ones in New Prentisstown, Mistress Coyle goes around blowing up things left and right and smiling while she does it, and the Mayor decides to start a war, just so he can rule. What is with these people? Most of the semi-prominent characters adore violence, and the main characters take part in it just to please the semi-prominent characters. It is repulsive, but enthralling. And it is completely rateable to today. How many bullies hurt others, just because it gives them power? It's a theme you see repeated here, but on a much grander scale.
The New World in itself is intriguing. The fact that everyone can hear the thoughts of everyone else (except for . . . but I won't ruin it), that animals can talk, and that you can hear the thoughts of the animals is really quite an interesting concept. It is said in the book that it's all about information: How much you have, how you can control it, and, of course, how often you get it. Patrick Ness said, in his biography in the back of the first book, that he got the idea from today's society, and how we're always hooked up to information. Computers, television, even radios and newspapers. You name it, we're getting information from it. Again, another theme that applies to today, and today's life.
There are three books, this being a trilogy. The first is "The Knife of Never Letting Go," followed by "The Ask and the Answer," and "Monsters of Men" (because war makes monsters of men . . . ). You might just want to check out all three at once, because both "The Knife" and "The Ask" end on major cliff hangers. Like, major. Major, as in in-your-face, you are going to die if you don't read the next book as soon as humanly possible major. I mean, "Monsters of Men," has a major cliff-hanger too, but you can't do really anything about that one.
And even though all Viola and Todd want is to be safe, they forget that when you spit into the wind you get a convoy of 40 spaceships, the arrows of an alien species, and the hostilities of your own people coming right back at you. I hope you don't.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
"Worldshaker" and "Liberator"
The "Worldshaker" and "Liberator" pair is a version of steampunk class struggle written by Richard Harland.
"Worldshaker": Colbert Porpentine is next in line to be the supreme commander of the juggernaut, the Worldshaker. But when he meets a Filthy, a girl who's supposed to be no better than an animal, he begins to rethink what it means to be human and what is the true meaning of civilized. First, though, he must survive his enemies at school, his scheming sister, marriage, and a revolution that will change the world for ever.
"Liberator": After the Filthy revolution, the Porpentines are at loss for what to do next. With rising hostilities against the "Swanks" the former Filthies have taken over the newly christen Liberator and are treating the Swanks as the Filthies used to be treated. When a new face appears on the council, Col and Riff are slowly torn apart as the Liberator falls back into the old age. The Swanks and the Filithies must put aside old difficulties, though, when their secret gets out and enemy juggernauts go on the offensive.
These are good books, in my eyes. Just to clear up some terms, "juggernauts" are gigantic ark-like metal structures that carry entire cities within them. They roll around the earth and float on the land, picking up supplies as needed. Because this is an alternate version of earth, mind you.
Colbert Porpentine is the main character. Duh. He's not a particularly genius main character, but he's not a particularly dumb one either. He's gullible, though, and he falls for the lies and stories he gets told. That allows us to sneer at him while sympathizing with him at the same time. Which is nice, because you don't often get a likable character that you're allowed to hate.
Riff, the Filthy he meets, is probably the strongest character in the first book. Since Colbert only really comes into his own in the second book, she carries the story in the first book. She is the problem as well as the solution to the problem, which is an interesting conundrum. And, of course, she provides the "romance element."
The characters each have very distinct personalities that board on absurd, but an interesting cast makes an interesting play. Though, the names of these characters are quiet annoying. Quienna, Sephalatina, Oris . . . I can't remember half of them, and I sure can't spell them. When I have to discuss the book with other people, I basically say "Col's mother" or "Col's sister." I do not use their names. Especially in the first book, when the last names are so connected to class status, so they're important . . . Urgh. Eventually you give up on trying to remember who's who, and pray that you know enough to get through the rest of the book.
The idea of the story is very interesting. An alternate earth, where Napoleon did invade England, and all of the countries of Europe had a lower class population from which they demanded forced labor. You don't really hear about Asia, either of the Americas, Africa, or Australia, but you get enough to know that they exists, and they used to be colonies of England.
Actually, you don't really get anything about the world outside the juggernaut, because that's where the people's whole lives are. It does add to the overall effect of isolation, which is an asset because it thrusts you deeper into the setting. It also adds to the overall effect of coolness when the Austrians and the Russians attack the Liberator.
So while Colbert Porpentine and his rolling city shakes the earth with their gargantuan rollers and magnificent rulers, I'll be sitting on my couch, reading. And even though it's enjoyable to watch, you can bet that my world hasn't been shaken.
"Worldshaker": Colbert Porpentine is next in line to be the supreme commander of the juggernaut, the Worldshaker. But when he meets a Filthy, a girl who's supposed to be no better than an animal, he begins to rethink what it means to be human and what is the true meaning of civilized. First, though, he must survive his enemies at school, his scheming sister, marriage, and a revolution that will change the world for ever.
"Liberator": After the Filthy revolution, the Porpentines are at loss for what to do next. With rising hostilities against the "Swanks" the former Filthies have taken over the newly christen Liberator and are treating the Swanks as the Filthies used to be treated. When a new face appears on the council, Col and Riff are slowly torn apart as the Liberator falls back into the old age. The Swanks and the Filithies must put aside old difficulties, though, when their secret gets out and enemy juggernauts go on the offensive.
These are good books, in my eyes. Just to clear up some terms, "juggernauts" are gigantic ark-like metal structures that carry entire cities within them. They roll around the earth and float on the land, picking up supplies as needed. Because this is an alternate version of earth, mind you.
Colbert Porpentine is the main character. Duh. He's not a particularly genius main character, but he's not a particularly dumb one either. He's gullible, though, and he falls for the lies and stories he gets told. That allows us to sneer at him while sympathizing with him at the same time. Which is nice, because you don't often get a likable character that you're allowed to hate.
Riff, the Filthy he meets, is probably the strongest character in the first book. Since Colbert only really comes into his own in the second book, she carries the story in the first book. She is the problem as well as the solution to the problem, which is an interesting conundrum. And, of course, she provides the "romance element."
The characters each have very distinct personalities that board on absurd, but an interesting cast makes an interesting play. Though, the names of these characters are quiet annoying. Quienna, Sephalatina, Oris . . . I can't remember half of them, and I sure can't spell them. When I have to discuss the book with other people, I basically say "Col's mother" or "Col's sister." I do not use their names. Especially in the first book, when the last names are so connected to class status, so they're important . . . Urgh. Eventually you give up on trying to remember who's who, and pray that you know enough to get through the rest of the book.
The idea of the story is very interesting. An alternate earth, where Napoleon did invade England, and all of the countries of Europe had a lower class population from which they demanded forced labor. You don't really hear about Asia, either of the Americas, Africa, or Australia, but you get enough to know that they exists, and they used to be colonies of England.
Actually, you don't really get anything about the world outside the juggernaut, because that's where the people's whole lives are. It does add to the overall effect of isolation, which is an asset because it thrusts you deeper into the setting. It also adds to the overall effect of coolness when the Austrians and the Russians attack the Liberator.
So while Colbert Porpentine and his rolling city shakes the earth with their gargantuan rollers and magnificent rulers, I'll be sitting on my couch, reading. And even though it's enjoyable to watch, you can bet that my world hasn't been shaken.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Department 19
"Department 19," Will Hills, has been published with the tag line: "Battling Vampires since 1892. Now it's time to raise the stakes."
Jamie Carpenter's father died under the bullet of a subatomic machine gun after strange things surrounded the Carpenter house. Jamie's mother was kidnapped after a strange girl tried to kill him in the park. Now Jamie's the only Carpenter left, and it's his turn to go after the biggest, baddest vampire since Count Dracula, and, of course, to rescue his mother. Luckily, he'll have the power of Department 19, Britain's top secret vampire-hunting agency, at his back -- Only if past grudges can be put aside, and Jamie makes it out to the hunting grounds alive.
If you liked "The Slayer Chronicles," featuring Joss McMillan (Vlad Todd's, like, arch-enemy/best friend) by Heather Brewer, you will love Department 19. It's crazy fast-paced action full of twists and turns that you'll never see coming.
The plot is very intricate. Trying to follow it is like trying to untie a length of fishing line that has been nested in by a bunch of animals all winter long. And then dragged through the woods. Only after someone deliberately tied knots in it. But, through all those tangles, you could never see the plot twists coming, which is a bonus. It's the first time in a long time that I've been surprised by a book. That, like, never happens. So I was duly impressed.
Of course, even the best action-thriller has it's problems. First off, there are too many people. Or maybe I just wasn't paying attention. I don't know. But I know I got the "Blacklight" operators mixed up so many times that I couldn't remember if the people who died had any significance (oops, sorry, spoiler . . . but you knew it was going to happen). Also, it jumps back and forth in time. This could be considered a plus, because it gives you back story and more information on characters, but it gets a bit confusing at times. So, the main problem with this book is that it's confusing until you get to the mid-point. After that, you're over the hump and it's smooth sailing.
Also, I just don't get the character of Jamie Carpenter. He changes from a listless boy who's still mourning his father to an angry young man who can kill vampires in the space of, like, 60 pages. And 25 of those pages are devoted to telling about a man who was in New York City in 1928. So, where's the transition for Jamie Carpenter? In a dynamic character, the change generally happens over the course of the book. In this character, this book, the change happens, nearly in the turn of a page. He watches a video on Blacklight, and boom!, he's a vampire slayer. Okay, then . . .
I do enjoy the character of Larissa, though. Plenty of books try to go against the grain by pointing out that vampires aren't bad, they're just tortured souls. She is a good-ish vampire, and she doesn't try to deny it. That's nice for a change, that a vampire can flinch while sucking down blood, but still does it anyways. Because all of these contemporary vampire types were getting me worried-- do we have to be perfectly in control of ourselves all the time? Quite frankly, do we have to be perfect all the time? If Larissa heard that question, I'm pretty sure she would say "no" too.
There are also several random characters. I won't say names (uh, Kate) but they were random. And didn't really add anything to the plot. Yeah, sure, they step in and save the main character a few times, but that wasn't really necessary.
It is advised that you have prior knowledge about the book "Dracula," Bram Stoker. The classic one, yes. This book ties into that one. In fact, it might be considered a bit of a modern day sequel. I've never read the classic book, so I wouldn't know, but . . . As one of the Blacklight operators ( I finished it two days ago, and I've already forgotten which one it was) says, "The book 'Dracula,' isn't fiction. It's a history lesson." Yeah, okay. There is a very interesting back story on Bram Stoker, though . . .
I bet that I will read the next book when it comes out. I mean, it was a very engaging story, full of blood and gore and all that good stuff. So, Jamie Carpenter, I will remember you and read you again for your vampire-slaying skills and pure adrenaline rush. Not your literary significance.
The website is department19.org The video is overly dramatic, but, whatever. It's pretty hard to make an action video for a book like this without actually injuring someone . . .
If you liked "The Slayer Chronicles," featuring Joss McMillan (Vlad Todd's, like, arch-enemy/best friend) by Heather Brewer, you will love Department 19. It's crazy fast-paced action full of twists and turns that you'll never see coming.
The plot is very intricate. Trying to follow it is like trying to untie a length of fishing line that has been nested in by a bunch of animals all winter long. And then dragged through the woods. Only after someone deliberately tied knots in it. But, through all those tangles, you could never see the plot twists coming, which is a bonus. It's the first time in a long time that I've been surprised by a book. That, like, never happens. So I was duly impressed.
Of course, even the best action-thriller has it's problems. First off, there are too many people. Or maybe I just wasn't paying attention. I don't know. But I know I got the "Blacklight" operators mixed up so many times that I couldn't remember if the people who died had any significance (oops, sorry, spoiler . . . but you knew it was going to happen). Also, it jumps back and forth in time. This could be considered a plus, because it gives you back story and more information on characters, but it gets a bit confusing at times. So, the main problem with this book is that it's confusing until you get to the mid-point. After that, you're over the hump and it's smooth sailing.
Also, I just don't get the character of Jamie Carpenter. He changes from a listless boy who's still mourning his father to an angry young man who can kill vampires in the space of, like, 60 pages. And 25 of those pages are devoted to telling about a man who was in New York City in 1928. So, where's the transition for Jamie Carpenter? In a dynamic character, the change generally happens over the course of the book. In this character, this book, the change happens, nearly in the turn of a page. He watches a video on Blacklight, and boom!, he's a vampire slayer. Okay, then . . .
I do enjoy the character of Larissa, though. Plenty of books try to go against the grain by pointing out that vampires aren't bad, they're just tortured souls. She is a good-ish vampire, and she doesn't try to deny it. That's nice for a change, that a vampire can flinch while sucking down blood, but still does it anyways. Because all of these contemporary vampire types were getting me worried-- do we have to be perfectly in control of ourselves all the time? Quite frankly, do we have to be perfect all the time? If Larissa heard that question, I'm pretty sure she would say "no" too.
There are also several random characters. I won't say names (uh, Kate) but they were random. And didn't really add anything to the plot. Yeah, sure, they step in and save the main character a few times, but that wasn't really necessary.
It is advised that you have prior knowledge about the book "Dracula," Bram Stoker. The classic one, yes. This book ties into that one. In fact, it might be considered a bit of a modern day sequel. I've never read the classic book, so I wouldn't know, but . . . As one of the Blacklight operators ( I finished it two days ago, and I've already forgotten which one it was) says, "The book 'Dracula,' isn't fiction. It's a history lesson." Yeah, okay. There is a very interesting back story on Bram Stoker, though . . .
I bet that I will read the next book when it comes out. I mean, it was a very engaging story, full of blood and gore and all that good stuff. So, Jamie Carpenter, I will remember you and read you again for your vampire-slaying skills and pure adrenaline rush. Not your literary significance.
The website is department19.org The video is overly dramatic, but, whatever. It's pretty hard to make an action video for a book like this without actually injuring someone . . .
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Spud
"Spud: a wickedly funny novel," (John van de Ruit ) says it all.
John Milton lives in South Africa as apartheid beings to dissolve, but politics may be the last thing on his mind when John, nicknamed Spud, is sent to an all boy's-boarding school. This school year will be one to remember as he gets a girlfriend, cheats on her, takes the lead in the musical Oliver, bonds with his drunken English teacher over novels, listens to the saga of the disappearing strawberry yogurt too many times, goes on a disastrous family trip to his uncle's farm in Namibia, nearly emigrates to Malta, plays on the school's rugby game,watches his family's sanity disintegrate, gets a puppy, learns a bit about life, and becomes part of a nearly unbreakable group of friends. Spud learns that when things get crazy, you just run with them -- and even though sometimes you might get stuck in a chapel window, more often than not you'll come out feeling stronger than ever.
I laughed so hard I cried when I read this. My sides shook, my stomach hurt, I stopped breathing momentarily, and people gave me strange looks (especially the part where they put Mad Dog out on the green . . . or when Mad Dog hung the dead cat over Vern's bed). It was the best time I've have had reading a book . . . since ever, I think. As far back as I can remember, I cannot remember laughing as hard as this at a book.
I love the Crazy Eight. Sure, they're loony, but they're loony in that wonderful way. Simon, Spud, Rambo, Boggo, Vern, Mad Dog, Gecko, and Fatty. To get all technical and into the literate arts, the characters are perfectly well rounded. They are real, believable, and you root for all of them, even as they commit heinous crime after heinous crime. They each have their own characteristics, too, which makes them wonderful. And, as far as I can tell, they aren't really stereotypical. Take Vern, for example. He talks to his toiletries, communicates with the drama teacher's cat, and pulls his own hair out. Or Mad Dog, who's constantly hunting anything that moves: Pigeons, guinea fowl, the drama teacher's cat. It's amazing how uniquely bonkers everyone in the dormitory is. Spud's family, too, is as wonderfully crazy as any dysfunctional family can be.
For the first hundred or so pages, the story doesn't seem very concerned with the time period, but it gets there eventually, with the release of Nelson Mandela. Spud's feelings about apartheid vs. the thoughts of some adults should be very relatable for my generation, and those generations that are a bit older than us, because it's the kids who are excited about the revolution. Well, Spud is. He's pumped up, he wants to be a Freedom Fighter, he wants to change the world, but his father wants to move to Malta before the country "goes to the dogs." As with this present generation, and every other generation, there is change in the air, and the younger people are the ones who are doing the changing of opinion, for the most part.
It is sort of confusing at first, because the book is written in diary entries. That isn't the confusing part, but the heading was "February, 24," or whatever, and there was something about autumn approaching. That gave me a pause, because I live in the northern hemisphere.
I would just warn you before you get into this book: It's about a bunch of teenage boys. Locked, for the most part, in a dormitory together. Alone. Use your imagination. This book is not for a feminine fatal nor the faint of heart.
If you truly enjoyed this book (as I'm sure you will) you will want to check out the sequel, which is called "Spud: The Madness Continues." I have not read it yet, but I'm sure that I'll enjoy it greatly.
This book was funny, sad, happy, maddening, and embarrassing, but all the same, it was perfect Everyone in Spud's world has their own channel of crazy. But, somehow, you manage to tune in each one and love them all.
John Milton lives in South Africa as apartheid beings to dissolve, but politics may be the last thing on his mind when John, nicknamed Spud, is sent to an all boy's-boarding school. This school year will be one to remember as he gets a girlfriend, cheats on her, takes the lead in the musical Oliver, bonds with his drunken English teacher over novels, listens to the saga of the disappearing strawberry yogurt too many times, goes on a disastrous family trip to his uncle's farm in Namibia, nearly emigrates to Malta, plays on the school's rugby game,watches his family's sanity disintegrate, gets a puppy, learns a bit about life, and becomes part of a nearly unbreakable group of friends. Spud learns that when things get crazy, you just run with them -- and even though sometimes you might get stuck in a chapel window, more often than not you'll come out feeling stronger than ever.
I laughed so hard I cried when I read this. My sides shook, my stomach hurt, I stopped breathing momentarily, and people gave me strange looks (especially the part where they put Mad Dog out on the green . . . or when Mad Dog hung the dead cat over Vern's bed). It was the best time I've have had reading a book . . . since ever, I think. As far back as I can remember, I cannot remember laughing as hard as this at a book.
I love the Crazy Eight. Sure, they're loony, but they're loony in that wonderful way. Simon, Spud, Rambo, Boggo, Vern, Mad Dog, Gecko, and Fatty. To get all technical and into the literate arts, the characters are perfectly well rounded. They are real, believable, and you root for all of them, even as they commit heinous crime after heinous crime. They each have their own characteristics, too, which makes them wonderful. And, as far as I can tell, they aren't really stereotypical. Take Vern, for example. He talks to his toiletries, communicates with the drama teacher's cat, and pulls his own hair out. Or Mad Dog, who's constantly hunting anything that moves: Pigeons, guinea fowl, the drama teacher's cat. It's amazing how uniquely bonkers everyone in the dormitory is. Spud's family, too, is as wonderfully crazy as any dysfunctional family can be.
For the first hundred or so pages, the story doesn't seem very concerned with the time period, but it gets there eventually, with the release of Nelson Mandela. Spud's feelings about apartheid vs. the thoughts of some adults should be very relatable for my generation, and those generations that are a bit older than us, because it's the kids who are excited about the revolution. Well, Spud is. He's pumped up, he wants to be a Freedom Fighter, he wants to change the world, but his father wants to move to Malta before the country "goes to the dogs." As with this present generation, and every other generation, there is change in the air, and the younger people are the ones who are doing the changing of opinion, for the most part.
It is sort of confusing at first, because the book is written in diary entries. That isn't the confusing part, but the heading was "February, 24," or whatever, and there was something about autumn approaching. That gave me a pause, because I live in the northern hemisphere.
I would just warn you before you get into this book: It's about a bunch of teenage boys. Locked, for the most part, in a dormitory together. Alone. Use your imagination. This book is not for a feminine fatal nor the faint of heart.
If you truly enjoyed this book (as I'm sure you will) you will want to check out the sequel, which is called "Spud: The Madness Continues." I have not read it yet, but I'm sure that I'll enjoy it greatly.
This book was funny, sad, happy, maddening, and embarrassing, but all the same, it was perfect Everyone in Spud's world has their own channel of crazy. But, somehow, you manage to tune in each one and love them all.
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