Books for January

The Gathering Storm by Brandon Sanderson (In the memory of Robert Jordan)

Review

The Wheel of Time series has been a long an interesting epic fantasy tale that has grown to an enormous length. If all goes well, it will equal fourteen books by the time the series ends! It has even managed to outlast its creator, as Brandon Sanderson is now penning the final books in the memory of Robert Jordan. Reading the series has been a lengthy process, but now that I can see all of the plot threads coming to fruition, I think it was worth it. The twelfth book in the Wheel of Time follows the journeys of Rand, Perrin and Mat, as well as other characters, as they prepare for the coming of the last battle. Rand's efforts to be as hard as stone, to avoid the hurt that feelings cause, is turning him into a dictator capable and willing to destroy cities to get what he wants. Perrin struggles with his dual nature: is he a wolf or a man? Mat journeys through a land slowly falling apart, past strange sights and places where reality itself has been torn apart. Egwene, rebel Amylrin Seat, has been taken inside the White Tower, where things will eventually come to a head between her and Elaida, the White Tower Amylrin and her enemy. The Wheel turns, and the final battle draws ever closer. Is the world ready?

Raven Rise by DJ MacHale?

Review

The battle for Halla, all that ever was, is and will be, draws ever closer. Many times and places have fallen to the power of Saint Dane, a demonic being who seeks to twist humanity to destroy themselves. Now Earth, the last bastion of hope, which Saint Dane has yet to corrupt, is beginning to fall. Already the police and the government are becoming corrupt and selling their services to a strange cult called Ravinia. Ravinia has become a world-wide religion, drawing the powerful and the intelligent into its ranks, but few comprehend the darkness behind its design. Ravinia was created for one purpose: to destroy humanity by using prejudices and greed to force the world into war. Where is Bobby Pendragon, who has defended Halla so many times? Where is he when the world needs him most?

The Soldiers of Halla by DJ MacHale?

Review

Bobby Pendragon failed. Not only did he fail to stop the Convergence, dooming the world to the oppression of Ravinia, but he murdered the man responsible, playing right into Saint Dane's hands. He also died, falling as the world exploded around him. But he cannot die. Although he doesn't truly understand what he is, he knows he is not human. His dreams for a peaceful human life have been shattered by his responsibilities, and now all he has left to drive him is the defeat of Saint Dane. But defeating the dictator will not take back the things that have occurred, and many worlds have crumbled because of him. Can he save those who are in need of a savior, and deliver the world from Saint Dane's shadow, so that it might rebuild?

Area 51 by Robert Doherty

Review

Area 51 has long been a fascination for the UFO-obsessed. It's a remote government facility in the middle of the Nevada desert where people have speculated that the United States army is keeping, even testing, alien spacecraft. Now, you can speculate all you want about alien technology and whether or not we have it, or you can read Area 51, a fun science fiction novel that takes the UFO craze and turns it into a thrilling read. In the story, the United States army is keeping spacecraft of alien origin in Area 51, and they are also trying to figure out how they work. They already have control of the bouncers, disk-like aircraft, but the mothership has long remained an enigma. Strangely, after many years on the project, everyone suddenly seems to have become incredibly driven and have figured out how to open the mothership. But did they figure it out themselves, or are they being manipulated by something that is not human?

Towers of Midnight by Brandon Sanderson (In the memory of Robert Jordan)

Review

The Towers of Midnight, the penultimate book in the Wheel of Time series, follows the events of The Gathering Storm. Rand's attempts to harden himself have ended after he realized that not only was trying to make himself hard turning him into a cruel dictator, but that he and Lews Therin, the voice in his head, are not different people. Now, changed for the better, he has returned to prepare the people for the Last Battle, where he will face the Dark One on the slopes of Shayol Ghul. But much will happen before then. The Seanchan are preparing to strike once again at the White Tower, to capture more Aes Sedai as their slaves. Mat and Thom try to find, and open, the legendary Tower of Ghenjei, where Morraine Sedai is held prisoner by the strange Eelfinn and Aelfinn. The Wheel of Time turns, and the Last Battle is coming.

The Bear by R.A. Salvatore

Review

I realized after I was about halfway into The Bear that I was actually reading the last book in the series, but I finished it anyway. The Bear is set in the shattered nation of Honce, loosely based on imperial China, torn apart by vicious civil war. In this setting, there is no good guy in the battle between Laird Ethelbert and King Yeslnik, only a greater and lesser evil. The Highwayman, Bransen, has seen too many friends die and has given up, refusing to fight anymore. Without his skill and strength, the forces opposing Yeslnik have no chance. But when he is captured by The Bear, Bannagran, the Laird of Prid, he sees in the man a darker version of himself. By running from responsibility, is Branson going down the same dark road as The Bear?

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Review

At the end of the Hunger Games (spoiler!) Katniss and Peeta are allowed to win the Hunger Games together, despite the fact that the rules state that there can only be one winner. Because neither was willing to kill the other, they prepared to kill themselves, one last defiance to the capitol. But the capitol couldn't let that happen, so now they are both returning home to District 12. They are being watched, however, and any further rebellious actions will get them and their families killed. During the next year, they are forced to make a victory tour of the other Districts, where the families of people who died in the Games are again reminded of the capitol's power. But when they accidentally begin a rebellion in one of the Districts, any chance of getting back into President Snow's good graces vanish altogether. He organizes a special Hunger Games, where all previous winners compete for Capitol audiences, as punishment. Can Katniss and Peeta survive yet another Hunger Games?

-- JackW - 04 Jan 2011