"Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card

Title: Ender's Game
Author: Orson Scott Card
Publisher: Orbit

Blurb:

The human race faces annihilation.

An alien threat is on the horizon, ready to strike. And if humanity is to be defended, the government must create the greatest military commander in history.

The brilliant young Ender Wiggin is their last hope. But first he must survive the rigours of a brutal military training program - to prove that he can be the leader of all leaders.

A saviour for mankind must be produced, through whatever means possible. But are they creating a hero or a monster?

This is the multiple award-winning classic ENDER'S GAME - a groundbreaking tale of war, strategy and survival.

Synopsis:

Ender Wiggin, "third" child in a world where the population is controlled by only having two children, is a six year old genius. He has been allowed to exist only by the governments will in wanting a new military leader to combat the threat of an alien presence which nearly wiped humanity out over 50 years previous.

The book starts with Ender in school, fitted with a monitor device that records everything he sees and hears. After a while the monitor is removed to see how he copes and a fight ensues with a bully. Ender wins and the military want to know why he fought as he did. Satisfied with his answer they package him off to battle school in space. 

Over the next three years he forms friends and enemies commanding an army of boys till the military ship him off to command school. He learns how to fight with space craft until he is eleven when the military start him fighting simulated battles...

Verdict:

I first read this book when I was a teenager, it was great then and still stands the test of time now. An absolute pleasure to read at any age. The book makes you feel the highs and lows of Ender's childhood even tho it seems as tho his childhood has been stolen by the military. If you have seen the film, then read the book, there is so much missed in the film that the book fills in and I mean lots missed. 115 mins of film does not do the book justice.

Rating: 6/5

"The Affair" by Lee Child

Title: The Affair

Author: Lee Child
Publisher: Bantam

Book Zero of the Jack Recher saga

Blurb:

March 1997. A woman has her throat cut behind a bar in Mississippi. Just down the road is a big army base. Is the murderer a local guy - or is he a soldier?

Jack Reacher, still a major in the military police, is sent in undercover. The county sheriff is a former U.S. Marine - and a stunningly beautiful woman. Her investigation is going nowhere. Is the Pentagon stonewalling her? Or doesn't she really want to find the killer?

Set just six months before the opening of Killing Floor, The Affair marks a turning point in Reacher's career. If he does what the army wants, will he be able to live with himself? And if he doesn't, will the army be able to live with him?

Synopsis:

This is the 16th book involving Jack Reacher. The clock is turned back to 1997 where Jack Reacher is a Major in the American Military Police. The book begins with Reacher's arrival at the Pentagon in his Army major's uniform, unshaven and in need of a haircut.

Reacher is sent on a mission to investigate a murder in the small town of Carter Crossing at the edge of an isolated Army Ranger base in Mississippi. What follows is a great Reacher book: a murder investigation mixed with politics and a rising body count.

We find Reacher involved with the town's attractive female sheriff and the freight train that roars through tiny Carter Crossing at 60 mph every day at midnight. This plays a leading role in the action, delivering death and destruction as well as the background for Reacher's adult activities....

Verdict:

I really enjoyed this book and at 544 pages it took me about 12 hours to finish. The writing flows easy, giving great description and really sets the scene. The adult content is kept clean with enough to let you know what is happening, but keeping the graphics to a minimum (Tom Cruise might like this one if the leading lady is right). The action kicks when you expect it to, but lets the story lead you into the investigation where the real drama is.

Rating: 5/5

"Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Title: Mockingjay

Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Press

Book Three of The Hunger Games

Blurb:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.

Synopsis:

Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen lives in the mining District of the nation of Panem. Every year, one girl and one boy from each district must compete in the televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV.

Having survived two hunger games, Katniss has been pulled from the arena by the rebel forces from district 13. Peeta, however is captured by the Capitol forces. As the face of the rebellion, Katniss assumes the mantel of the Mockingjay, appearing on television when the rebels can interfere with the Capitol broadcasts.

Peeta is forced by the Capitol to try and persuade the rebels to lay down their arms, obvious that the capitol is mistreating him. Once again, Katniss and Haymitch have to work out how to get Peeta out alive.

As is obvious before the book begins, the war comes to a climax in the Capitol.....

Verdict:

At 400 pages, this book took me about 8 hours to finish. The storytelling is rich in description, being able to visualise the areas that Katniss is in. I can see why this is going to be split into two movies and will look forward to seeing them.

On a down side, I felt that the author rushed the end of the book as it just has a feeling of "how can i finish the story?" The story of the Capitol ended too abruptly, with not everything explored. Also some parts of the book were a little disturbing, so I would not recommend for readers under 11.

Not as good as the first two books, but still an enjoyable read.

Rating: 4/5

"Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire

Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Press

Book Two of The Hunger Games

Blurb:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Synopsis:

Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen lives in the mining District of the nation of Panem. Every year, one girl and one boy from each district must compete in the televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV.

Having survived the first hunger games, Katniss and Peeta return to district 12. No sooner does the capitol believe that they are to be wed, then the Quarter Quell is anounced and two of three victors of the Hunger Games from district 12 must be sent back into the arena for another games. Haymitch and Katniss agree that they must work together to keep Peeta alive.

The rebellion is also growing, and whether they like it or not, Katniss and Peeta beome the face of the rebellion much to President Snows displeasure.

Verdict:

At 400 pages, this book took me about 8 hours to finish. You can envisage what is happening just as easy as in a movie, as the descriptions give you a rich sense of where Katniss and Peeta are. Looking forward to the movie version of the book as I think it will be really well done as there is so much to be pulled from the book.

Rating: 5/5

"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Press

Book One of The Hunger Games

Blurb:

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

Synopsis:

Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen lives in the mining District of the nation of Panem. Every year, one girl and one boy from each district must compete in the televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV.

Katniss' younger sister is picked at random and Katniss volunteers to take her place, which is an unusual event. Along with Peeta Mellark, the Baker's son, they enter the games. As the story progresses we find that Peeta is in love with Katniss, and the battle for survival of not only one but both of them begins...

Verdict:

At 384 pages, this book took me about 7 hours to finish. This is one of those books that I consider to be a Sunday afternoon read, you pick it up and before you know it Sunday afternoon has gone. From teen to Adult, this book is great! There is a level of violence, but nothing most teens have not already been subjected to in our modern age of films, there is a lot worse out there.

I loved this book so much I had to start reading book two straight away.

Rating: 5/5

"The Remaining: Refugees" by D.J. Molles

Title: The Remaining: Refugees

Author: D.J. Molles
Publisher: Orbit

Book Three of The Remaining

Blurb:

He has fought the fight, and run the race.

But the enemies never stop coming, and the race has no finish line.

It has been three months since Captain Lee Harden found the survivors at Camp Ryder. With winter looming, Lee is on the verge of establishing Camp Ryder as a hub of safety and stability in the region. But not everyone agrees with Lee’s mission…or his methods. Growing tensions between camp leadership are coming to a head, and as Lee struggles amid the dissention and controversy, new revelations about the infected threaten to destroy everything he has worked for.

Synopsis:

By the end of book two, Captain Lee Harden, one of 48 coordinators, has established he can be trusted. Book three picks up the story three months after the end of book two. Dissention is in Camp Ryder with two sub groups not wanting to accept the way the world is and challenging Captain Harden's mission.

Throughout the book, we learn more of what is happening in the United States through the arrival of various new refugees to Camp Ryder. One of these is a CDC scientist who was studying FURY, and was rescued by one of the coordinators. The coordinator dies and charges him with locating Captain Harden with vital information.

Later in the book another coordinator turns up with disturbing news of the new government, and the fact that Captain Lee Harden is now a "non-viable asset". Without wanting to give away the story, Lee's life is on the line....

Verdict:

At 375 pages, this book took me about 8 hours to finish. I am not sure I am completely happy where the story is going, (pregnant zombies being killed, hence a lower rating), but as the storytelling is great, I will see what book four brings.

Rating: 4/5

"The Remaining: Aftermath" by D.J. Molles

Title: The Remaining: Aftermath

Author: D.J. Molles
Publisher: Orbit

Book Two of The Remaining

Blurb:

Nothing has gone according to plan.

To Captain Lee Harden, Project Hometown feels like a distant dream and the completion of his mission seems unattainable.

Wounded and weaponless, he has stumbled upon a group of survivors that seems willing to help. But a tragedy in the group causes a deep rift to come to light and forces him into action. In the chaos of the world outside, Lee is pursued by a new threat: someone who will stop at nothing to get what he has.

Synopsis:

By the end of book one, Captain Lee Harden, one of 48 coordinators, has rescued a mother (Angela) and her daughter (Abby) and a young lad (Sam). They end up at Camp Ryder, a refugee camp located in a Ryder Truck compound 3 miles south west of Angier in North Carolina.

He offers the leader (Bus) of the compound help, but shortly after their arrival, a gang of criminals/miscreants cuts the wire into the compound and lets some infested in. This results in the death of a young girl, and Harden is soon blamed for being in league with 'Milo', the leader of the gang. His task then starts, not only to get the compound supplies, but also to get their trust.

Heading out to one of his supply caches, Harden finds a preacher and his flock camping outside of the bunker, he gives them aid and the directions to reach Camp Ryder. On the way back to camp, Harden and a few of the Ryder refugees detour to Smithfield in search of one of the refugee's sister. 'Milo' has his own plans for Harden, and things get interesting....

Verdict:

At 296 pages, this book took me about 6 hours to finish. Once again the story is well written and keeps you enthralled for the whole journey. I can't wait to see what is in store for Harden and the Camp Ryder refugees in book three.

Rating: 5/5

"The Remaining" by D.J. Molles

Title: The Remaining
Author: D.J. Molles
Publisher: Orbit

Book One of The Remaining

Blurb:

In a steel-and-lead-encased bunker 20 feet below the basement level of his house, a soldier waits for his final orders. On the surface, a plague ravages the planet, infecting over 90% of the populace. The bacterium burrows through the brain, destroying all signs of humanity and leaving behind little more than base, prehistoric instincts. The infected turn into hyper-aggressive predators, with an insatiable desire to kill and feed. Some day soon, the soldier will have to open the hatch to his bunker, and step out into this new wasteland, to complete his mission: TO RESCUE AND REBUILD.

Synopsis:

Captain Lee Harden, one of 48 coordinators is ordered into his bunker below his house when a plague known as FURY starts to spread within the United States on June 15th.

June 28th was the last day most news websites were last update. By July 3rd, he loses contact with his superiors.

On July 23rd, Lee finally leaves his bunker emerging into a world of destoy or be killed. He immediately learns how the living have changed into those that are the hunters and those that are the hunted. Violent people group together now that law no longer exists to commit whatever crimes they chose, leaving decent people or the meek to be preyed upon.

Lee has to resuce a boy and learns just how far people have come in just a month. Lee must become judge, jury and executioner in the eyes of the law. His mandate requires him to deliver swift justice.

The book focuses on how the character focuses on his mission and the problems he faces in trying to re-establish society.

Verdict:

This story took me a little over four hours to read (219 pages) and has that "don't want to put it down until you have finished it" feel. The story is really well written and keeps you on the edge through the whole book. The description Molles uses in his writing allow you to really picture what is happening as though you were watching a TV series. This would sit right alongside "The walking dead" as a good show.

Rating: 5/5

"A Beautiful Friendship" by David Weber (short story)

Title: More Than Honor

Author: David Weber
Publisher: Baen

This is the first short story in the book "More Than Honor" which is the first volume in the Worlds of Honor series in the Honorverse.

Synopsis:

The story takes place in the year 1518 PD (Post Diaspora) or 3620 AD, approximately 382 years before the events of "On Basilisk Station". The story centers around the first treecat/human interaction on the planet sphinx.

Climbs Quickly, a young treecat scout of the Bright Water clan, ventures to a human settlement intrigued by the plant known to the treecats as "cluster stalk", a plant unlike any known to the 'cats, with a delicious taste.

Stephanie Harrington, an eleven-year-old girl whose family has recently migrated to Sphinx from the planet Meyerdahl is determined to find out who keeps stealing celery from greenhouses and gardens all over Sphinx.

In the middle of a nightime thunderstorm, Stephanie finally catches Climbs Quickly sneaking out of the greenhouse. The two young beings experience a moment of deep psychic connection, the first bonding between a human and a treecat has just occurred.

Wanting to know more about the treecat, Stephanie sets out to track them, with consequences she could not of thought could happen....

Verdict:

This story took me a little over two hours to read and is well written. The story stands on its own merit, with no knowledge needed about David Weber's Honorverse. It was an enjoyable sunday afternoon read.

Rating: 4/5

"By The Book" by Charles E. Gannon (short story)

Title: Beginnings

Author: David Weber
Publisher: Baen

This is the first short story in the book "Beginnings" which is the sixth volume in the Worlds of Honor series in the Honorverse.

Synopsis:

The story takes place in the year 2352, (1650 years before the events of "On Basilisk Station"). It centers around Lieutenant Lee Strong of the Earth Union Customs Patrol, whose current mission as the story starts is to board a hijacked space liner on the outskirts of the Sol System's asteroid belt. The story develops into understanding the earths future history and political strifes up to 2354, the politically split Earth Union is divided between two factions, whom do not have a common agenda.

Without giving the story away, Lee Strong has to discover who is behind the hijacking and the wider implications that are behind it. He must decide where his political allegiance lies and what if anything he is going to about them.

Verdict:

This story took me a little over an hour to read and is well written. If I did not know anythng about David Weber's Honorverse, it would not make a single difference as the story stands on its own merits. What this does do is set up an area for David Weber or other authors to fill in the gap between mankind living in our own solar system and the point where we are colonising the galaxy.

Rating: 4/5