The Proteus Cure
Really enjoyed this book for what it is, a thriller set in a medical facility, the plot revolving around cancer stem-cell research and the ethical and moral issues and how far some people will go to see their dream fulfilled. I was rooting for the main characters to defeat the baddies, but also could see where the baddies were coming from, though the ends didn't justify the means. I don't know how accurate the science was but it was an entertaining read, and should be read in that light.
Hilda - Aiaia
This 9th entry in the Hilda the Wicked Witch series sees Hilda, her Wizard, and Baba Yaga, affectionately known as Babs, visiting Circe in a neighbouring kingdom to help solve a mystery of disappearing crops. While there they also discover several other strange goings on; including a king who turns everything he touches to gold, a Germanic village with missing children, and a baker baking gingerbread with a woody centre. Unravelling these mysteries was fun, and we finally got to find out what "suck an elf" Hilda's go to expletive, actually meant in practice. 3.5 stars.
Hyperdrive
Set about 300 years in the future, Hyperdrive is a rescue story, with lots of discussion of politics, how the old systems (ours) of government don't work, and how "nation states" are a failure and will eventually corrode. The story starts when Jeffrey, a Marquesan (noted for their freedom loving, anti-establishment, anti-government world views) discovers he is a hyperdrive, a human who can understand the nature of the matrix of the universe and manipulate it at will. This means, once he has learned more about his abilities and can control them, he will have almost omnipotent powers. Think Q from star trek. However, he'd only just discovered the ability while walking with his partner Peter. Jeffrey is immediately kidnapped by one of the few remaining governments; what's left of France. He is then sent to Mars for interrogation at the French colony so the French (Toulousains) can understand and ultimately gain his powers for themselves. Following right on his heels is Peter, accompanied by a sabre wielding archaeologist, David, who together, hope to rescue Jeffrey and return home. This book was very long, and I had to look up new words and concepts on almost every page, so I learned a lot of new things reading it. And realised I know very little about politics! The fact it was in Kindle form and I could use the built-in dictionary was a god-send. It's an interesting book about a possible future world, where great political change has already occurred, and even more will come as Jeffrey is now the hyperdrive and on the "right" side according to the author. I don't think you need to agree with the author to get something worthwhile out of this book.
Protector
This is my first entry in the Ringworld universe, and I did find it enjoyable. I borrowed it as an audiobook from the library so that's why I chose to begin the series here. I have read other Niven books, and it definitely felt like this was one of his. An alien race whose contact with earth could have dire consequences for the planet and the human race, not because of the aliens' personal desire for destruction or annihilation of another race, but more because their biology and physiology has shaped their psychology so much their desire is genetic programmed. The book's climax is almost like a chess game, with little action but much manoeuvring between the main character's and their foe.
Growing Up Dead
Mortimer Drake, a 14 year old junior high student is starting to have problems at school, with his strength causing accidents, having painful reactions to sunlight in the cafeteria. He's having trouble controlling his emotions. He is even sent home from school after one of these incidents. There's potential there in the story, if it'd been better written, but the parents reaction to their son's suffering - to be angry with him, berate him, declare disappointment in him as he's always been a very good student and well behaved son. What a huge betrayal by the parents who know his dad is a vampire and when Mortimer was born he was still born. There's even legends about a vampire human hybrid, which the book explains. But his parents knew all this but were still angry and confused? besides this, I wasn't the right audience, even though I've read other YA books and was very satisfied with them. Formatting of ebook file would be help, but a really good editor could also improve the story, pacing, reveal some more about the other character's motivations, remove repeating phrases. This book was not for me.
The Terminal Experiment
A murder mystery, a contemplation about immortality, life after-death, morality, and how technology will be intertwined with moral issues in the very near future. It was dated as it was written in 1995, and set in 2011. We aren't technologically ahead as the author would want us to be. I enjoyed it.
Rollback
I enjoyed the concept discussed, how a rejuvenation technology would effect a relationship, and alien first contact through radio signals sent over generations. But I didn't really get a handle on the characters, there wasn't enough plot to get to know them, and what I did learn about them I didn't like but the concepts were cool.
Rootless
Enjoyed this book even with its plot holes. As Banyan the protagonist and 1st person narrator was likable, had a very good moral compass considering the world he lived in, it was easy to like the story he told about his life building artificial trees in a world where no more natural trees exist due to GenTec's, an evil corporation, genetic engineering of pest resistant crops which resulted in super bugs that ate everything else on the planet. Banyan soon sets out on a quest to find his missing father who left him, while also trying to find a semi-mythical place where trees still grow.
Extinction Point
Concept good, execution didn't match my expectations based on ratings and reviews. Far too many 5 star reviews.
Among the Living
This was my first read of Timothy Long's books and it won't be the last. The book only spans a couple of days, but within that time we get to see how a city could be overrun, and meet the individuals trying to live their lives before and during a city wide crisis which begins as a cordon of a part of the city due to a "gas leak", turning some people violent. We are introduced to several main characters, the two that most resonated with me were Mike and Kate. Mike, a journalist still suffering from the grief of losing his son, then his wife's fall in to alcoholism, who has a deep crush on his co-worker Erin. Kate, a serial killer who leads a double life as a sweet girl next door to her neighbour Bob. How the cordon of Queen Anne, Seattle, the first place to be hit with "deader" attacks effects them is the plot of the book.The events change these characters lives forever, and reveal who they really are. Whether they are good or evil, they all share the common goal to stay among the living.
Adagio: Living & Gardening Mindfully
We've had slow food, now comes slow gardening. Trisha Dixon shares her unique garden in Australia, which requires care but can't demand too much water due to Australia's climate. She manages to convey so much of her garden within the pages of this unique, and beautifully made, book. Overflowing with photos and beautiful illustrations, Trisha expounds the virtues of taking time in the garden. She recommends gardening while listening to music, (see title) appreciating nature, and respecting the natural landscape. By doing this, we will be able to live in the moment, being more mindful and appreciative of nature and our gardens, and we'll bring this mindful way of being into our daily lives. The fonts and handwritten notes complement the images; and form a collage, a book in which no two pages are the same.
Among the Dead (Among the Living)
Though not as fresh or as good as the first book the series, it's still a solid entry to the zombie/apocalyptic genre. I wanted to find out what happened to Mike and Kate who at the end of book 1 had arrived at supposed sanctuary of the Seattle sports stadium. This book covers the week after this, with plently of action, and dealing with the consequences of the first book. The ending was pretty sad and shocking.
Melt Down
Meltdown is the second book in Robertson's Breakers series. So ensure you read Breakers first, a funny, scary, thoughtful sci-fi take on the apocalypse, and answers the question, what would ordinary people do to survive, how would they change. What really makes us happy, is it T.V, Netflix, good job; or if those were gone would we be happier with time with loved ones?Meltdown's timeline runs parallel to Breakers, so we get to meet two more characters trying to deal with their normal problems until a mysterious plague starts making people sick and everything changes.
I really enjoyed this sequel. It was't quite as funny as the first simply because the characters were more flawed, damaged and had less to laugh about, but they still did come up with some good lines.
Take what Tristan, thinks of Jack, a character from New Zealand:
"Jack may not be your skin wearing crazy but she worried he spoke a form of English only he could understand."
There needs to be a word, maybe German as they are so good at those words, for the small thrill one receives from hearing their tiny country mentioned in an American book.
Ultimately, Meltdown deals with the themes of family, specifically what would you do for your sibling during the apocalypse. How would a toxic relationship change when you don't have modern life distracting you from what's important.
Tristan, the main character must go on a long journey, both to discover how hard she can become to rescue her younger brother. Ness, the second main character in his own intertwined story, must discover his own mettle, and realize his own abilities to both save him and his older brother.
