Book review November & December 2013

A little late but never-the-less the last of last year's book reviews.

The Clone Rebellion - Republic (Book 1)
ISBN: 9781781167137

The Clone Rebellion - Rogue (Book 2)  
ISBN: 9781781167168

By Steven L Kent

The first two novels in the Clone Rebellion series follow the struggles of Private first-class Wayson Harris as he climbs the ranks of the military which now uses cloned troops for most of the grunt work. 

It is the year 2508 and humans now occupy six arms of Milky Way but it is not all peace and harmony. Rebellion appears to come from many quarters and Harris has to decide which side if any he is on.

The second book takes the story in a new direction, however where as the first made me want to move straight on to the second, by the time I reached the conclusion of that I felt the need to take a break before seeking out the third part.

I felt a bit removed from the characters by the end of the second. This may have been deliberate since the story is told in the first person and Harris is very suited as a loner character that when any suggestion of a relationship might arise it feels very alien.

http://titanbooks.com/search/?search=The+Clone+Rebellion&x=40&y=5

Doctor Who: Summer Falls and Other Stories

Credited Authors: Amelia Williams, Melody Malone, Justin Richards

ISBN 9781849907231

Summer Falls by Amelia Williams

(Inspired by the Doctor Who episode 'The Bells of Saint John')

The Angel's Kiss by Melody Malone

(Inspired by the Doctor Who episode, 'The Angels Take Manhattan')

Devil in the Smoke, as recounted by Mr Justin Richards

(Inspired by the Doctor Who episode, 'The Snowmen')

  

Three very different stories, none of which explicitly feature the Doctor although that is not to say he doesn't make an appearance possibly incognito. The first two stories are stories suggested to have been written by characters in the series both 'ghost written' by two well established voices of Doctor Who literature. Here James Goss writes for Amelia Williams and Justin Richards for Melody Malone. All three give very different styled entertaining reads. The Angel's Kiss by Melody Malone is rich with innuendo that the joke might be lost on younger readers but it is impossible not to hear the great Alex Kingston's voice in your head as you read this story in voice of Riversong.

http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/editions/doctor-who-summer-falls-and-other-stories/9781849907231

Book review September & October 2013

Australian Ghost Stories

(Tales of Mystery & the Supernatural)

selected by and includes an exclusive Introduction by James Doig.

ISBN-13: 978-1840226416

A collection of short stories with an Australian connection, whether by settlers or their decedents. Across this collection there are a couple of stories that draw on mythology for Australia, like The Bunyip, but the others are very general and do not draw on what could have been offered by the history and culture of the island. . For the low cover price on these books it is worth a read.

Titan Books

Sherlock Holmes - The Stuff of Nightmares

James Lovegrove

ISBN-13: 978-1781165416

In the autumn of 1890 a strange figure haunts the streets of London, this strange figure is the scourge of the crime world, but Holmes does not believe he is all that he seems, so when he is called in by Mycroft to investigate a series of bombings in the capital Sherlock's attention is directed at the new apparent champion of the people. A story more in the steam puck nature of the Rodney Downey Jr style Holmes than the Jeremy Brett TV adaptations of the original Conan Doyle stories.

Tales of Mystery & the Supernatural 

- Wordsworth Editions Ltd

The Tangled Skein

By David Stuart Davies

ISBN-13: 978-1840225273

I usually have some doubts when there is a merging of different characters from different works come together but fortunately this does keep the voice of Dr Watson. Holmes takes a lot of convincing when Van Helsing arrives with an account that Dracular is on the prowl. Holmes's investigations return him then to Dartmoor, the setting for Hound of the Baskervilles. An enjoyable read.

Sherlock Holmes and the Hentzau Affair

By David Stuart Davies

ISBN-13: 978-1840225488

This one is the Sherlock Holmes equivalent of the Prisoner of Zenda with Holmes pulled into a story of  royal inheritance, love and betrayal in the Ruritanian court. A pacy and exciting tale one Dr Watson would have been proud of.