From: jon@ephor.tusc.oz.au (Jon Eaves)
Newsgroups: aus.sf
Subject: Books wot I have read
Date: 5 Jan 1993 11:52:42 +1100
Organization: TUSC Computer Systems Pty Ltd.
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: ephor.tusc.oz.au
Keywords: femto reviews, bias.

After being shipped overseas for work, it is amazing what 30hrs each
way in a plane plus 2 weeks in a non-english speaking country can do
for rapid consumption of books.

Here, in no particular order, are the books.  All were thoughtfully
provided by Justin. 

_On Stranger Tides_, Tim Powers.
It seems that you either like Powers or you don't.  I fall into the former
category.  OST deals with voodoo magic in the Caribbean and the journey
of one man to rescue his love.  Powers creates lots of really nasty bad
guys for our forever battling hero to overcome.  The story managed to 
include BlackBeard and the Fountain of Youth.
Interestingly, this story is quite close to a module that was played at
Necronomicon about 3 years ago.

Finding a skull on a beach on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

_Portraits of his Children_, George RR Martin.
A collection of his short stories.  Most were pretty good, however the 
three that I found most captivating were the title story, "With Morning 
Comes Mistfall" and "The Lonely songs of Laren Dorr"

A deck of cards covered with dust on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

_Take Back Plenty_, Colin Greenland
Well, this was very light, so light in fact that it had to be nailed down
when not reading it.  The story revolves around Tabitha Jute, a spacer
who has this beat up ship and her involvement with a group of "entertainers"
that charter her to take them on a journey.  Well written, the characters
tended to be stereotypical however.

A cold Frosty Fruit on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

_The Forever War_, Joe Haldeman
One of the classics, so I am told.  I enjoyed the story.  Story revolves
around two main characters, William Mandella, a space-grunt and his
lover, Marygay Potter and how the side effects of relativistic travel are
dealt (or not dealt with).  What happens when you leave for a "real-time"
journey of 20 years that is only 3 weeks to you ?

Calling home on a Sunday on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

_Tiger, Tiger_ aka The Stars My Destination, Alfred Bester
Another classic.  Well, I enjoyed this book heaps.  The future is upon
us and scientists have tapped the power of the brain to enable people
to "jaunte".  This is a form of teleportation where people can visualise
a place that they have seen and "jump".  Most jaunters can only jump
small distances (100km) however the most talented can jump around the world,
and interstellar/planetary distances are impossible.  Meet Gulliver Foyle.

Jelly wrestling with Elle McPherson on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

_Brain Child_, George Turner
An Australian SF author that should be given a look.  I'll certainly
give any of his other books a read.  Fairly impressive story, neat
characters however the Private Investigator "Jonesy" was just a little
too cliched for my liking.

3 prawns on a barbeque on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

_Alternate Kennedys_, Mike Resnick ed.
A number of short stories using the Kennedy clan as focal characters.
Some deal with the Kennedys as they were, politicians, but others just
used the personalities and what might have been.  My favourites :
	
	- In the stone house, Barry N Malzberg
	  Joe Jr assassinating JFK.

	- Kennedy Enterprise, David Gerrrold
	  Joe Sr marries starlet Gloria Swanson and JFK becomes an actor
	  playing Cpt Jack Logan of the starship Enterprise in "Star Track"

	- Them Old Hyannis Blues, Judith Tarr
	  Jack, Joe Jr, Bobby, and Teddy are the "Kennedy Brothers".  
	  Playing at the Ritchie Valens Concert Hall they foil an attempt
	  on President Presley by Marilyn Monroe, but Secretary Lennon gets 
	  shot by "Iron" Maggie all in the name of Mick Jagger, front man
	  for the Unified United Kingdom Front.  This was truly bizarre.

	- Til death do us part, Chuck von Rospach
	  Yup, the same Chuck.  Nice little story about JFK sleeping with
	  Marilyn Monroe.

	- The Winterberry, Nicholas A DiChario
	  The book was supposed to be invitation only, but this guy sent
	  a story anyway.  I'm very glad that Resnick included it, 
	  certainly it was as good, if not better than any of the other
	  stories in the book.   No spoiler here, you'll have to read it.

A man, a rifle and a book depository on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

_Earth_, David Brin
A microscopic black hole has escaped from a laboratory and fallen into
the centre of the earth.  It is consuming matter and will destroy the
earth.  Fairly simple plot becomes overly confused by becoming too
"environmentally correct".  The characters a fairly developed, but in
some stages a little too unbelievable.

Chocolate melting on the cloth car seats on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

_Reaper Man_, Terry Pratchett
What can I say.  More of the same Discworld stuff.  Not as good as some.
Still has some amusing parts.  Death becomes mortal and has to die.

A can of coke on the Sid and Nancy Scale.

_The Complete Swift_, Carl Van Doren ed.
Just to show where there's culture there's life, I indulged in a bit of
classical literature.  This book is well done, the introduction contains
detailed descriptions of Swifts life and the political climate of the times
which helps enormously.  The book contains the Travels of Lemure Gulliver
which was substantially more than the childrens version of Gullivers Travels.
Also are letters to "female friends" (names escape me), some parlimentarian
and discourses on various topics that Swift enjoyed.  A Modest Proposal is 
rather amusing and shows Swifts dislike ( or possible misunderstanding ) of
children.  The best part (IMHO) is when Gulliver is at the Academy of 
Projectors.  Very amusing.

Drinking a Guinness in an English Pub on the Sid and Nancy Scale.






-- 
------------------------< Jon Eaves [jon@tusc.oz] >----------------------
              Here am I, large as life and twice as ugly.
|                                                                       |
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