Hear the Wind Sing by Haruki Murakami
First published in 1979, Hear the Wind Sing is Haruki Murakami’s debut novel (or novella, depending upon where one draws the line). An unnamed narrator tells the story of what happened to him over the course of eighteen days when he was a university student. He spends most of his time either drinking beer with his friend, “The Rat,” or else in a confused relationship with a woman.
To be honest, I did not enjoy Hear the Wind Sing,
December 22nd, 2015. Ryan Skardal´s rating: 2 | Haruki Murakami | Audio, Edge | SFF Reviews | 3 comments |
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
I can’t think of any other SF book which is this incredibly funny, in that droll British way that Americans can never emulate. In 5th grade I first read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1979) and three of its sequels, but it’s this book that stays most in memory. I’ve always wanted to revisit Douglas Adams’ story, even though I was a bit worried it might not be quite as brilliant as I remembered, but I can report that the audiobook narrated by English comedian and actor Stephen Fry is the perfect comic voice to capture the spirit of the book.
June 11th, 2015. Stuart Starosta´s rating: 5 | Douglas Adams | Audio | SFF Reviews | 6 comments |
Janissaries by Jerry Pournelle
Captain Rick Galloway and the soldiers he commands were surrounded by hostile enemies when the flying saucer arrived and offered them a way out of certain death. They had to take it. Now they’re on a planet called Tran where they’re expected to oversee the growth and harvest of a marijuana-like plant which their alien “saviors” collect and distribute on the black market when it ripens every 600 years. A human woman named Gwen has also been dumped on the planet after her boyfriend, who was working for the aliens,
September 19th, 2014. Kat Hooper´s rating: 3 | Jerry Pournelle | Audio | SFF Reviews | 3 comments |
Watchtower by Elizabeth A. Lynn
Watchtower, the first book in the award-winning THE CHRONICLES OF TORNOR series by Elizabeth A. Lynn, follows the tale of a young prince — why is he called a prince when his father is a lord? I have no idea. This bothered me through the whole book — who has to fight against a usurper to regain his lands.
Watchtower is frequently included on lists of feminist and gay SFF.
May 8th, 2012. Ruth Arnell´s rating: 2.5 | Elizabeth A. Lynn | World Fantasy Award | SFF Reviews | 2 comments |
Lord Valentine’s Castle by Robert Silverberg
Valentine has been wandering the planet of Majipoor for a couple of years, but has almost no memory of where he’s been or what his life was like before. When he discovers that he has a talent for juggling and joins a troop of entertainers, he becomes more connected to his world and aware that something is wrong with him. After experiencing some “sendings” in dreams and hearing about the dreams of others, he begins to realize that he is Lord Valentine, one of the four rulers of Majipoor,
March 30th, 2011. Kat Hooper´s rating: 3.5 | Robert Silverberg | SFF Reviews | 4 comments |
The Leopard Mask by Kaoru Kurimoto
The Leopard Mask, the first installment of The Guin Saga, is a rather uninspiring tale of two twins (Remus and Rinda) whose kingdom has fallen to an evil army and who are now trying to stay alive among all of the ghouls, demons, and other nasties who live in the marches. They are saved by an amnesic warrior (Guin) who, for some unknown but intriguing reason, has an irremovable leopard mask fused to his face.
The writing style is only serviceable.
May 28th, 2010. Kat Hooper´s rating: 1.5 | Kaoru Kurimoto | SFF Reviews | no comments |
THE LEGENDS OF KING ARTHUR TRILOGY by Rosemary Sutcliff
There are countless retellings and adaptations concerning the life and times of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and I’m not even close to having read all of them. Therefore, it’s impossible for me to say that Rosemary Sutcliff’s version is the definitive Arthurian retelling. However, it’s certainly one of the best. Told in Sutcliff’s graceful prose that is both epic and intimate when need-be, and the tricky subjects like incest, adultery and bloodshed are conveyed without being either too prudish or overly graphic.
May 18th, 2009. Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 5 | Rosemary Sutcliff | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no comments |
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
The Mists of Avalon, as you’ve likely guessed, is a retake on the King Arthur legends, but what makes it different is that it’s written from the women’s perspectives (Morgaine, Guinevere, etc.). The first one was written by Marion Zimmer Bradley in 1983 and this was the first time this feminist technique was used in fantasy literature and it was very successful (I learned that when I took a Modern Scholar course in fantasy literature).
September 10th, 2008. Kat Hooper´s rating: 3 | Marion Zimmer Bradley | Audio | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Sorcerer’s Son by Phyllis Eisenstein
After the sorceress Delivev Ormoru rejects his marriage proposal, sorcerer Smada Rezhyk becomes worried that she’s out to get him. In order to reduce her powers so that he’ll have time to weave himself a protective gold shirt, Rezhyk sends his demon slave Gildrum to impregnate Delivev with Rezhyk’s own seed. Gildrum takes on the form of a handsome young knight (Mellor) and shows up injured at Delivev’s doorstep. As expected, Delivev falls in love with Mellor, but unexpectedly, Gildrum (who doesn’t even have a heart) falls in love with her,
May 16th, 2008. Kat Hooper´s rating: 3.5 | Phyllis Eisenstein | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Pretty challenging book. Cut by half, speed up the cadence. Trying to figure out the plot, the main point of…
Thanks for the kind words, Marion! Coming as they are from a professional writer, they are much appreciated!
Wonderful review, Sandy.
The "body count" bothered me a bit less because being dead seemed more like an inconvenience than anything else... unlike…
Detailed, thoughtful review, Bill. I'm going to read it for two reasons. First, Karen Russell wrote it, and second, it…