Mike C

• Rated 4 stars

“A great read. Chuck Logan is always recommended. This story involves the Witness Protection Program, Russian organized crime, crooked cops, the FBI, and all the ingredients for a page-turning read that holds your attention.”

Mike C wrote this review Sunday, December 27, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“ Haldeman is one of my favorite science-fiction authors for two reasons = 1) He has a way of taking some complex astrophysical or scientific concepts and detailing them in "everyman" understandable terms, and 2) He always puts a unique spin on events that occur in his work.
For example, the time machine in this book isn't invented by a scientist after long months of effort - - - it's discovered by accident by a research assistant down on his luck who finds that the calculator he built can disappear and reappear in time. He experiments with it and finds that everytime it disappears ti stays gone for twelve times longer.
He attaches a metal box to it and can send things in time along with the calibrator. So, eventually he builds a framework (an old sports car) around it and travels through time. What I really love about this is that even by the end of the book no one has figured out what makes the time machine work.
This research assistant gets accused of murder in the present, so he keeps traveling into the future hoping to find a place where he can stop and put down new roots. He falls in love and settles down happily ever after, but not in the way you might think.
I especially enjoyed the future society where the post-apocalyptic world is run by organized religion, complete with rampant superstition and mistrust. Of course I recommend this. ”

Mike C wrote this review Tuesday, May 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“This is Charlies first non-series/non-trilogy novel so it's a great starting point for the curious who want to read some of his work.
Initially I wasn't getting grabbed by this the same way I was when reading the Henry Thompson Trilogy (as in obsessed with finishing it!!). But once I got to within 100 pages of the ending I had to keep going. The story just takes a little longer to build, despite some very interesting young adult characters.
Huston has a way with realiistic dialogue that reveals much of the story and helps offset some of the vivid brutality and violence in his writings. This takes place in the suburbs of Oakland, California in the early '80's. I suppose that's because setting this in modern times when everyone can call you from a cell phone would ruin not just the plot but the desperate plight of some of the characters.
A band of teenagers (some finishing school, some already dropped out) break into a gang home to retreive a stolen bike and find a crack lab, steal some drugs, and you can guess the rest of it. The involvement (past and present) of two different fathers of the young men adds some complexity and flavor to the whole affair. Worth your time.”

Mike C wrote this review Tuesday, May 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“ I can remember when a book of Stephen King short stories would creep me out and make me consider sleeping with the lights on for a few nights. He has either mellowed out a little as a writer or I've just become jaded and not effected by these things as much as I used to be. I think it's a combination of both.
In fact some of the stories here are just borerline horror, or mystery, or thriller, or what have you. But they are all worth reading if you admire good writing. King is a master and deserves to be studied for no other reason than to note and admire his craft. He is so good at making the reader emphatize with the characters and then pulling you into the story. Every single story here is well-written, even the ones that didn't move me.
Of the 12 stories here - - - 5 are recommended reading that deserve a place on the very large best of King list; 3 are very interesting, and 4 are just good but average/moderate.
"N" is actually frightening and very creepy in a Lovecraftian type of tale that also depicts the cautions inherent in obsessive-compulsive disorder and the treatment for those afflicted. "Stationery Bike" is a very Twilight-Zone type of tale that shows just how far some people might go to get out of something, in this case exercise - - a man creates an entire fantasy world based around his time spent riding a stationery bike. "A Very Tight place" does an excellent job of detailing a foul entrapment (shades of Poe's "The Cask Of Amontillado") -- a man is walled inside a port-o-john! "The Gingerbread Girl" is a five-star tale of a seemingly lost in life's tragedies woman who gets new resolve and purpose when threatened by a serial killer. "The Things They Left Behind" is an effective tale of the ghosts of 9/11.
Of lesser note but still entertaining are "Mute" (good but vague), "Ayana (people with healing gifts), and "Rest Stop" a wish-fulfillment fantasy where a wife-beater gets an object lesson.
Don't bother with "Willa" (average ghost story), "Harvey's Dream Zone" (another Twiillight Zone like tale that depends and ends on a weak punch line/situation), and "NY Times At Special Bargain Rates" (what begins as a creepy phone call from a dead person is ruined by the ending and another stupid punch line).”

Mike C wrote this review Tuesday, May 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“Haldeman is one of my favorite writers and he rarely disappoints. "The Hemingway Hoax" is a masterpiece of a story - - check it out if you've never read it, likewise his novels 1968 or THE FOREVER WAR. MARSBOUND is not going to make it onto my list of his best wroks but it keeps the reader spellbound and satisfied nonetheless.
This book isn't labeled as such but it could easily be classified as a young adult novel. It's told in first person narrative and the main character is a young woman (18 at the beginning of the book) who accompanies her parents and brother as volunteers to the new colony on Mars. She has the usual concerns about leaving friends behind and starting a new life, and later hooks up with an older (by six years or more) and more mature space captain and has an affair. She rebels against the strict controls/guidelines/regimen of the Mars colony and runs into trouble with a strict, dominering matriarchal female administrator.
After one incident she wanders away from the colony (an encapsulated and air-controlled environment), has an accident and is rescued by an alien, one of the other inhabitants of Mars living undeground in their own community. It turns out that these aliens are not native to Mars either and were placed there by a thrid race, who is supremely intelligent and advanced far beyond both Earth and Mars - - and they're keeping a close eye on things in case of trouble. She bonds with one of the "Martians" and later they work together to save civilization from the Others.
Haldeman has always been good at explaining complex scientific concepts and giving the more understandaable "streets" version to us. He takes advantage of the young protagonist here to do the same and makes his points about space needles, orbiting space stations, planetary colonies, compensation for the effects of gravity, etc. There is a lot here to like.”

Mike C wrote this review Tuesday, May 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“ F. Paul Wilson is another personal favorite, especially his Repairman Jack series. I've never encountered Sprull (Lyon) before -- and can't tell or detect his influence on this book.
This reads seamlessly. It follows the life of a professional hitman for hire, how he got into the business, and how it seemingly ends during a double-cross assignment leaving him paralyzed. A doctor uses some experimental treatments on him. He regains use of his limbs and has to decide between a new and kinder life or return to the old ways in order to get his revenge.
A very fast read that keeps you turning the pages. Recommended.”

Mike C wrote this review Tuesday, May 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

2 of 2 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 5 stars

“Charlie Huston's crime fiction will capture your attention. This is the middle book of the Henry Thompson triilogy which begins with CAUGHT STEALING and concludes with A DANGEROUS MAN. It's a progression in the life of Henry Thompson after a single event changes everything and one risky decision leads to more risky decisions.
These books are so fresh that I don't wish to reveal anymore details. I just highly recommend them to you.”

Mike C wrote this review Tuesday, May 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“ One casually-used word that this deserves: awesome!!! I read both of these books from library copies. Someday I will purchase my own because this is worth reading more than just once.
Charlie Huston is very good at gritty true crime and seems to understand and develop his characters. Things happen very fast in his novels. This book forms a trilogy with SIX BAD THINGS and A DANGEROUS MAN. I don't want to spoil it for you with anymore details. Highly recommended.”

Mike C wrote this review Tuesday, May 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“ If you've never read this guy, get anything you can and check it out. he has a ton of books out there. He created Rambo, but don't hold that against him - - it was the movies that went too far with this character. FIRST BLOOD is a very good novel.
Morrell always researches his subject well and incorporates facts into the storyline without coming off instructional or too lengthy. All of his books are quick reads. He is very economical with words but tells a mean story. He knows how to build suspense and suck the reader in.
CREEPERS is about a group of explorers who choose as their sites abandoned and boarded up buildings. They explore an old hotel on the Jersey shore with a creepy history and encounter all sorts of nasty things (rats, water, mold and unsavory characters).
Morrell doesn't show all the card at once but adds layer after layer as the novel develops. You'll read this in one day. Recommended. ”

Mike C wrote this review Tuesday, May 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 5 stars

“ This is the last book in the Henry Thompson trilogy. I loved it, just like the other two.
If you like crime fiction and gutsy streets realism check this out plus the first CAUGHT STEALING and second SIX BAD THINGS in this series.
Huston doesn't just write books with the same character but actually moves the story along across three books. I was a bit dissappointed with the ending/final resolution of this one - - but I think it was appropriate for what huston was trying to depict, and in that respect seems like a logical consequence. Recommended.”

Mike C wrote this review Tuesday, May 19, 2009. ( reply | permalink )