Mount TBR 2015 discussion

I've already got 'em lined up to knock down, but you know what they say -- no plan survives first contact with the opposition.

There's always that moment of spotting something poking out of a pile and going, "Hmmmm, *that* looks interesting..." and that, of course, is where the trouble always starts.

All the best with your climb! Cheers, Zaara

Good luck with your climb....and sticking to the plan! I'm never able to plan that many books to read and stick with it.

Thanks all...I hope to pace it a bit more evenly this year, although the stack of partially-read books came in handy there.

I do wonder if the comments I leave about the books actually meet with any interest. Well, regardless, I like writing them.

Hey Steven, good luck with your challenge, you certainly do aim high! I'd love to read your comments on the books you read, so please do post them, if you like to.

Same here Steven. I always read your book comments. I much prefer reading a little about the book just read instead of only name and rating. I vote to keep them going, especially if you enjoy writing them. :-)

Good luck with your plan of reading for 2015!

Thanks! I'm already up to my old trick of cycling through several books at a time...well, that will again be useful at the end!

#1 - Crimson Empire, Volume 1 by Mike Richardson, Randy Stradley, and Paul Gulacy

An early entry in the Dark Horse series of Star Wars stories takes advantage of the expanded universe to tell the story of the last members of the Imperial Guard and various of the factions striving to replace the repeatedly late Emporer Palpatine (clones are involved.)

The nice thing about this book is that it avoids the usual trio, for the most part, although it does include appearances by Wedge Antilles and Rogue Squadron. The story itself is very much in keeping with the original films - not high art but sharply defined pulp fiction.

First one done-- You're off and running!

And two more down, and a third on the way. And another of those enormous anthologies started. I'm hoping to finish at least three of those this year.

#2 - Heir to the Empire by Mike Baron, et al
#3 - Dark Force Rising by Mike Baron, et al

It's likely that Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy helped to revive the Star Wars franchise (which was almost moribund by 1989) along with the first of the Dark Horse comics. So it's sort of appropriate that Dark Horse got around to adapting the trilogy.

Unfortunately, the novels are rather sprawling, and the comics had limited space, so the results feel highly compressed, especially when it comes to the battles and the tactical elements. Some sections are hard to follow, and the abridgement of the story leads to some events seeming to happen out of nowhere.

My advice would be to stick with the novels...I certainly plan to pull my unread copies out shortly.

Zipping right along! I'm in the midst of my third one as well.

Bev wrote: "Zipping right along! I'm in the midst of my third one as well."

Well, I did start with some easy ones there, I think...although I'm also mixing in other books as well. Curiously, I seem to have started the year on a Star Wars kick...which is, I suppose, appropriate, given that there's The Force Awakens due at the end of the year.

It's a little amusing to me, mind you, that I'm not actually that big of a Star Wars fan. Star Trek has been more my speed.

#4 - The Making of Star Wars by J. W. Rinzler

Seriously, this is a thriller...we all know what happened after Star Wars was released, of course, but this book represents the first time anything like the full story has been told of how it came about. While the book has a few errors, it's very sound, and very detailed, showing the myriad changes along the way...but also showing why the film industry tends to be its own worst enemy. Basically, that the film got made at all is a testament to persistence, insanity, and astonishing good luck (especially in casting. Things could have gone very badly with some mooted choices.)

#5 - Star Wars Omnibus: At War With the Empire, Volume 1 by divers hands

A large collection from Dark Horse's Star Wars: Empire series, mostly taking place in the months before and after the first film as the rebellion ramps up and the Empire cracks down. The stories are mostly discreet, some done in one or two issues, others taking several, but essentially remaining separate from each other. This anthology format allows the writers to move back and forth between the Empire and the Rebellion, often telling the tales from the point of view of new, more minor characters (such as the starstruck female clerk who gets swept into an emergency situation with Han, Chewbacca, and Leia.) Not all of the stories work well, but it's an entertaining enough volume of space opera.

#6 - At the Mountains of Madness: A Graphic Novel by I.N.J. Culbard

A decent graphic adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's short novel, though it does fail in providing a sense of visceral horror despite the occasional moments of grue (unfortunately John Carpenter's The Thing did the Antarctic Base Horror bit all too well in the 1980s, so the imagery here is pale in comparison.) What the adaptation *does* do is cut through the clutter of words, rendering the story less tedious (there's a reason that Weird Tales rejected this in its original version; it's mind-numbing.)

Steven wrote: "Bev wrote: "Zipping right along! I'm in the midst of my third one as well."

Well, I did start with some easy ones there, I think...although I'm also mixing in other books as well. Curiously, I see..."

I haven't read much of the Star Wars books (did read the novelizations of the original movies). But I used to read all the Star Trek books as they came out (before there were so many variations--straight Classic Trek).

Bev wrote: "But I used to read all the Star Trek books as they came out"

Me too...I read the James Blish books, and then the Star Trek Logs, while in Jamaica, and then the first couple of novels that Bantam released, which coincided with my own entry into pro writing (which in turn led to Bantam trying to get a couple of Trek novels out of me before they lost the license; the timing scotched that. I've had repeated brushes over the years.)

I actually kept up with the original series books, and then the TNG books (despite the early ones being terrible), but started flagging with the DS9 novels, and balked entirely at the Voyager books.

I still read them occasionally, however, and still have a bunch of SCE ebooks waiting to be read.

#7 - Force Storm by John Ostrander and Jan Duursema



And so we go back 35,000 years before the Battle Of Yavin to explore the origins of the Jedi, and the birth of The Force (well, sort of; apparently it's around, but nobody's figured it out yet)...and I'm not saying it's aliens, but it was aliens abducting (peacefully) other aliens and taking them off to the deep core of the galaxy to the planet Tython. Where everybody learns about the Force, doesn't learn about the actual origin of the ships that took them there, and eventually scatters the non-Force sensitive people to other planets in the system while the Force sensitives remain on Tython trying to remain in balance between dark and light, with the twin moons Ashla and Bogan as their guide.

Just as a passing note, the Ashla/Bogan thing was something George Lucas cooked up (along with the original name for the Jedi being Jed'aii Bendu) before rewrites and budget issues and more resulted in him dropping references to the Ashla and Bogan sides of the Force Of Others. I highly recommend reading J.W. Rinzler's excellent The Making of Star Wars for more on this.

All of the above, by the way, is imparted in the first ten or so pages, after which the story leaps 10,000 years ahead, introducing Force Hound Xesh and the Rakatan Infinite Empire (who seem to have discovered hyperdrive) -- apparently the big wheels of the Empire are all Force users (and call it the Force, just like the Jed'aii -- who have been cut off for 10,000 years) and have powerful Force-wielding and conscience-free slaves. We meet them on Tattooine, which is described as being a lush, warm world at the time, and quickly move to a plot to send a Rakatan ship to the deep core, in search of a hidden Force-rich world.

Hilarity then ensues. Unfortunately, because Ostrander is trying to cram so much in all at once, with very little space to do it (the story arc might have benefited from being a bit longer) it comes off as rushed and incomplete, devolving before long into running, jumping, and standing still. In addition, the impractical female costumes were very distracting. Kudos to them for giving the three main characters very distinct and non-standard looks, though.

Overall, a bit of a disappointment. I really would have liked to have had more exploration of the beginnings of the Jedi, rather than another bog-standard chunk of bad space opera dressed in fantasy rags.

#8 - Star Wars Omnibus: At War with the Empire, Volume 2 by divers hands

The second of two catch-all books compiling the stories from Star Wars: Empire and Star Wars: Rebellion that didn't get their own volumes. The anthology aspect is still there, but some stories are continuations of earlier tales -- starstruck clerk Deena Shan is back, for instance, though considerably less starstruck.

Annoyingly, there are some stories here that are connected to story arcs that aren't included. Also, if you've not kept up consistently with the Dark Horse releases, then some characters are entirely unfamiliar, such as Nera Dantels, who seems to be essentially a bodyguard for Leia. One of the last stories in the book, "Vector," ties into the novel line, which is somewhat annoying as it ends more or less on a cliffhanger.

Overall, though, a reasonably enjoyable read.

#9 - Heir to the Empireby Mike Baron, et al

The conclusion the the graphic novel adaptation of Timothy Zahn's Thrawn trilogy, this falls flat due to massive compression at the end -- I found myself flipping back and forth, trying to make sense of the action and the dialogue. I suspect the only way for me to successfully do that is to pull out the original novels.

#10 - Star Wars Omnibus: Wild Space, Vol. 1 by various

One of two catch-all volumes collecting odds and ends from various corners of the Star Wars comics universe. A large part of it is compiled from Marvel's UK publications. The art is variable throughout, with some really bad work to be seen. Mostly for curiosity, and it's likely best if the 450 pages here are taken in chunks over a period of time.

#11 - He Who Hesitates by Ed McBain

Ostensibly an 87th Precinct novel. It's actually more of a story that might be expected under the Evan Hunter name - a character study of a polite young man in town to sell family crafts. Roger Broome, however, has something he needs to tell the police. And then he hesitates...and the story unfolds.

#12 - There's Corpses Everywhere: Yet Another Liō Collection by Mark Tatulli

This was my introduction to Liō, which gallops all over the macabre humour landscape - subtle it isn't, but it is funny. There's some clever work here.

#13 - Richard Stark’s Parker: The Score by Darwyn Cooke

A solid and visually striking adaptation of a smart, sharp heist novel. Cooke manages to provide some levity via his visual portrayal of Grofield's inner life, which makes a nice ciunterpoint to the cold, enigmatic Parker and the general harsh tone of the tale of an audacious heist.

#14 - The 14-Carat Roadster by P. Howard

A graphic adaptation of A tizennégy karátos autó Albatrosz Könyvek by Jeno Rejto, in which a young French-Russian sailor wins a large sum of money, and proceeds to go on a tear in France...which leads to comic improbability, romance, robbers with hearts of gold (and pockets filled with pineapples), the Foreign Legioñ,and, of course, the Alfa-Romeo of the title.

It's extremely funny and entirely senseless. Now I want to find the original novel!

#15 - Richard Stark’s Parker: The Outfit by Darwyn Cooke

An adaptation of two Parker novels, executed in Cooke's signature late-1950s portmanteau style. While Parker himself is rendered in shadow and hard lines throughout, other elements are rendered in softer ways, including one robbery that's rendered in a very familiar cartoon style. While not precisely fun, it's compelling and fascinatin.

#16 - Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer by Trevor Pinch and Frank Trocco

A bit more lightweight than might be expected, given its origins, but still an interesting look at the history of modern synthesizers. There are a few inaccuracies, mind you, and a few missing points (in their discussion of Hawkwind the authors fail to note that not only did Del Dettmar and Dik-Mik use the EMS VCS3, but they also built their own synthesizer gear; likewise they don't mention that Kraftwek built much of their own equipment. Also absent is the connection between EMS and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.) It's an easy read that does suggest some avenues for additional exploration, although it may also leave the reader wanting more -- they tell you little about Moog after Norlin bought the company in 1973, for instance.

#17 - Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 1: The Assassin's Road by Kazuo Koike

The start of the epic tale of assassin Ogami Itto, wandering the roads of Japan pushing a baby cart with his three year old son in it, and a sign advertising his services. This first volume introduces the character, clearly delineates his nature (he's not a good guy by any means, but he does have ethics), and finally explains where he came from.

It's an exceptionally detailed depiction of Edo-period Japan, which seems to have confounded the translators a little -- it's a good thing there's a glossary in the back.

#18 - Bow Down to Nul by Brian W. Aldiss

A book of some interest, as Aldiss here takes a look at classic imperialism through a science fictional lens -- the nul are a tripedal species that have, over millennia, conquered thousands of worlds, stripping them of resources with the aid of indentured populations. The problem is that this is a vast, slow Empire, and corruption is rife -- as it is on Earth. A nul bigwig decides to investigate reports of massive graft and corruption, bringing him into conflict with the nul goernor of Earth, as well as humans who have a stake in getting the situation changed.

The nul are an interesting species, but the book itself has issues -- Aldiss did much better work at greater length later, and that's what this story needs: more room. Unfortunately, after increasing complications and the eruption of outright chaos, things get sewn up neatly in a few pages, with major events happening out of sight and simply sketched out.

#19 - Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter by Darwyn Cooke

No softness in this book -- Cooke's adaptation of Richard Stark's story of Parker's roaring rampage of revenge and its consequences gets an unwavering, hard-edged fifties noir treatment.

#20 - Small World by David Mack

Starfleet Corps of Engineers. An arachnoid flees a pursuing ship, rescued at the last second by an outpost station. The reason for the pursuit is a small pyramid with a huge secret. The Da Vinci is soon involved and the chase is on.... It's an engaging book with a nice light ending.

#21 - The Status Civilization by Robert Sheckley

A somewhat satirical novel that sees convicted murderer Will Barrent, his memory wiped, sentenced to the prison world of Omega -- where evil is the law, and survival is by the skin of your teeth (and following the right protocols.) There's more to this than Barrent knows, however, and to figure out what's really happening Barrent must find a way back to Earth.... A sharp little novel that sometimes edges into the farcical, but has some pointed questions about societal conformity of all kinds.

#22 - Star Wars Omnibus: Wild Space, Vol. 2 by various

A bit more uneven than the first volume, but it does include the quite funny Tag & Bink stories. However, the rather gross Jabba The Hutt tales are included as well. Might well be worth it for the inclusion of material from Star Wars: Visionaries, although that book was somewhat uneven.

#23 - Avengers: Under Siege by Roger Stern, John Buscema, Tom Palmer

From the 1980s, a tale of a devastating plot against the Avengers by the Masters Of Evil, who inflict extreme brutality of a number of cast members. Often noted for Captain America breaking down in tears after everything's over and done.

#24 - The Rebel Storm by Archie Goodwin, et al

The second volume of slightly revised and reorganized Star Wars newspaper comics. Dark Horse also coloured them. Overall, not bad at all, certainly an improvement over the concurrent Marvel Comics issues following the release of the first film.

After a brief pause to divert through library books and new acquisitions....

#25 - Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich

As always, lots of fun and silliness, but I'd advise anyone trying this series to put aside any hopes of seriousness or depth -- these are written to be comfort food reading, screwball comedies featuring a fairly hapless bounty hunter, her bizarre colleagues, and her ludicrous family. This is especially fun in the audio editions.

#26 - It Girl & the Atomics, Round One: Dark Streets, Snap City by Jamie Rich, at al

Fluffy but mostly enjoyable stuff.

#27 - The Black Order Brigade by Pierre Christin and Enki Bilal

1972. Europe is being wracked by enough terrorism that no-one particularly shows interest when reports come in of a Spanish village being destroyed by a group calling themselves the Black Order Brigade -- excep for English journalist Pritchard, who recognizes the Brigade members from his days fighting in the Spanish Civil War. He starts contacting various members of his old anti-fascist International Brigade, and a plan to take down the Black Order is hatched...resulting in a chase across Europe. It's a dark, bloody story of old ideologies and undying ideals.

#28 - Spadework: A Collection of "Nameless Detective" Stories by Bill Pronzini

Some of the stories here are very good, others less so, and some exist more as conceits than anything else, but overall it's an enjoyable collection of mystery stories (and the occasional non-mystery, such as the acerbic closing story.)

#29 - Ghosts by Ed McBain

Winter in Isola, and the bodies are falling like snowflakes -- best-selling author Gregory Craig has been murdered horribly, and his neighbour, a young woman, killed with a single knife thrust...the detectives of the 87th Precinct suspect the killings are connected, but they have no idea how. And then things get weirder.... Notable for mcBain stepping over the line into outright fantasy for a brief moment, although the main case itself is a bit more prosaic. We also get a look at the police department's worst Christmas ever.

#30 - Star Wars Omnibus: A Long Time Ago...., Vol. 3 by David Michelinie, Chris Claremont, and various

Ar this point the stories and artwork started to improve, although it was fairly obvious that Marvel was treading water between The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi, especially as we see more of Luke as a rebel leader and pilot than a Jedi in training. Best taken in chunks, I think, as attempting to read more than two or three stories at a time was leading to brain-lock for me...!

I really enjoy reading your short comments, Steven. Keep 'em coming!

Thank you, Iselin! Much more to come, I'm glad to say.

#31 - Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 2: The Gateless Barrier by Kazuo Koike

Igami Itto's journey continues in the expected violent fashion, but now matters take a different turn. With Itto and Daigoro established, we're offered different perspectives on the assassin -- his legend is spreading, which leads to people making assumptions (as happens in "Tragic O-Sue"), while the title story sees Itto, as always driven to complete his assignment, achieving an unusual kind of Buddhist enlightenment, a state that seems to continue affecting him afterward. The last story is a murder mystery in which Itto and Daigoro are very much side characters.

#32 - Lone Wolf and Cub, Vol. 3: The Flute of the Fallen Tiger by Kazuo Koike

The tale of Ogami Itto, assassin (and former chief executioner of the Shogunate) continues, and deepens as it goes -- and that the path of meifumado is affecting young son Daigoro is obvious, even as Itto continues to use him as a tool in his missions.

In this volume we see much more, again, from the viewpoint of others, and once again philosophical and existential questions are raised, especially in the tragic "Half-Mat, One Mat, A Fistful Of Rice." The story of how Ogami Itto came to walk this path is finally laid out clearly (and his chief enemy introduced), and one story finds Lone Wolf And Cub acting as a protector, rather than an assassin, in a story that has a couple of interesting twists.

#33 - Boobytrap by Bill Pronzini

This time around Nameless, feeling burned out after the suicide of his ex-partner in his agency, takes up the offer of a free week in a fishing cabin, only to be dragged into a vengeance plot instigated by a mad bomber. These are the mystery equivalent of comfort food, really, but I do enjoy them.

#34 - Doctor Who: Voyage to Venus by Jonathan Morris
Doctor Who: Voyage to the New World by Matthew Sweet

A bit of entertaining brass-and-bluster as the Sixth Doctor, on the heels of Jago & Litefoot: Series 4, offers Victorian spookbusters Jago and Litefoot a journey in the TARDIS. As might be expected, adventure ensues...first in the future, as they land on Venus (and we get explanations for several bits that pop up during the Third Doctor's years) and then in Roanoke, Virginia in 1590, right in the middle of the Croatoan mystery. This latter story sets up the fifth series of Jago & Litefoot as they're returned to Earth where promised...but certainly not *when.*

You're really blazing away...nearly to the top of the third peak!

Bev wrote: "You're really blazing away...nearly to the top of the third peak!"

I was actually blazing during January, but now I've settled down to a more moderate pace -- unfortunately, said pace has lately been set by medically-mandated bed rest due to a chronic leg problem. It's difficult for me to read text in bed, so I'm back to audio again...which tends to slow me down as I have a habit of falling asleep and have to keep hunting backwards for where I left the story...!