Three and a half stars? This features an opera plot within an opera plot, and it also read like an opera plot within an opera plot. I thought the bestThree and a half stars? This features an opera plot within an opera plot, and it also read like an opera plot within an opera plot. I thought the best parts were the really realistic sounding sections where Giulia and Hexel played off one another to thrash out the embedded opus--though the author doesn't make any effort to justify the result's deadly parallels to reality....just relying, I think, on her audience's familiarity with "Hamlet" to see what was going to happen. The cast is certainly operatic; I didn't think McKillip did comic characters, but Damiet definitely is--and not badly rendered either. ...more
Maybe four and a half stars---not five because O'Malley showed so much more interest in getting his protagonist into doomed, hopeless situations than Maybe four and a half stars---not five because O'Malley showed so much more interest in getting his protagonist into doomed, hopeless situations than in getting her out. In fact, he repeatedly just cheats by inventing a new power for her or something. I also thought that the reader's decision in the audio performance to have all the Belgian Bad Guys speak with Australian accents a bit strange. Still, this is great. What impressed me most was the sure way the author hit SO MANY genres, from kid magic school story to spy thriller to rivers-of-slime horror...while leaving out any hint of Romance. How refreshing! On to the sequels.........more
The heavy romantic storyline interfered too much with the action one, and I don't get why the author kept skipping ahead for years when the plot wouldThe heavy romantic storyline interfered too much with the action one, and I don't get why the author kept skipping ahead for years when the plot would have made better sense with a tightened timeline. It was silly for the reader to give one of his characters an Aussie accent too. Still, a pretty entertaining read, with enough logic running through to keep things together and humming. More sequels coming? Couldn't tell....more
The "stranger in a strange land" theme gets an absorbing workout in a postapocalyptic setting--the main character being some sort of engineered human The "stranger in a strange land" theme gets an absorbing workout in a postapocalyptic setting--the main character being some sort of engineered human who is roundly despised by many "regular" ones. But he makes a worthy hero, and he and his female counterpart are both intelligent, capable characters who deserve one another. I also liked the way my expectations were tweaked when a couple of supposed villains in the story turned out to be on the side of the angels....more
Green kittens, a haunted house, midsummer party w/fairies....a little too preachy in spots and the last black and white episode reads like a fragment.Green kittens, a haunted house, midsummer party w/fairies....a little too preachy in spots and the last black and white episode reads like a fragment. A mixed bag, not the best but generally around standard for art and stories....more
A broken statue turns into Tromatikós, a life force vampire even the Greek gods fear. Fortunately, she turns out to be no match for the lumberjanes, pA broken statue turns into Tromatikós, a life force vampire even the Greek gods fear. Fortunately, she turns out to be no match for the lumberjanes, particularly Ripley and her cats....more
Lawrence really painted himself into a corner here, as he made the bad guys so much more powerful than his protagonist he has to resort to a silly ploLawrence really painted himself into a corner here, as he made the bad guys so much more powerful than his protagonist he has to resort to a silly ploy to let the kid come out on top. Also, it’s all so dark and grim (not unexpectedly with this author, but still) that it just wasn’t … fun. Not interested in sequels....more
Sanctimonious, lecture-y, and eminently readable--but I do understand that it was intended as a Heinlein pastiche, and it has actually held up pretty Sanctimonious, lecture-y, and eminently readable--but I do understand that it was intended as a Heinlein pastiche, and it has actually held up pretty well since I first read it when it came out. The reader is properly chipper in tone....more
Tidy close, with happy endings (for all the main characters anyway--God help you if you're just an ordinary citizen...or even a spirit)--even Merecot,Tidy close, with happy endings (for all the main characters anyway--God help you if you're just an ordinary citizen...or even a spirit)--even Merecot, in a tough-love sort of way. Lots of sequel-worthy storylines left a-dangle, though. The reader is excellent with voice changes and intonations to distinguish the human and nonhuman folk....more
Well, three and a half stars. OK for general plot and tech, but I thought characters were pretty uncomplicated and definitely spent too much time apolWell, three and a half stars. OK for general plot and tech, but I thought characters were pretty uncomplicated and definitely spent too much time apologizing. Read in a clipped way, which was appropriate....more
Seemed a little slow in audio, even set at 1.5 speed. Also, the battle choreography wasn't very well charted out. Still, absent the mushy parts I thouSeemed a little slow in audio, even set at 1.5 speed. Also, the battle choreography wasn't very well charted out. Still, absent the mushy parts I thought the plotline took some interesting twists, and so too the characters. Looking forward to the finale, hoping there are fewer, y'know, mushy parts....more
Just another snippet of an incident, this one showing Sec Unit’s behavior around a traumatized character. Reads like a cut scene, which I suppose it iJust another snippet of an incident, this one showing Sec Unit’s behavior around a traumatized character. Reads like a cut scene, which I suppose it is....more
Just a really agreeable, old-style John Campbell-era Analog sort of tale about a (more or less) lone human stranded among aliens and using good old huJust a really agreeable, old-style John Campbell-era Analog sort of tale about a (more or less) lone human stranded among aliens and using good old human-style military training to stay alive. Upon close analysis there would probably be parts that wouldn't wash, but I didn't see any overt racism, sexism, or glorification of violence....and if the protagonist came off sometimes as a little more clueless than necessary, I'm thinking that the author probably did that to crank up the dramatic tension. It seemed a minor fault. I'm looking forward to sequels. The reader delivered an animated performance, well suited to the content....more
The author gets his ducks lined up for a good AI whodunit, with nuanced characters and agendas hinted at...and barely gets it under way before cuttingThe author gets his ducks lined up for a good AI whodunit, with nuanced characters and agendas hinted at...and barely gets it under way before cutting it off in a cloud of ambiguity and non-resolution. I wonder if he just lost interest in it partway through....more
Took a little too long to get going, I thought--the author just seemed too focused on establishing ALL the tropes of her retro romantic spy adventure Took a little too long to get going, I thought--the author just seemed too focused on establishing ALL the tropes of her retro romantic spy adventure genre at the expense of anything actually happening. Once the cast gets into France things really do pick up, though--and it's such a pleasure to see how all the ideas and the rescues of insufficiently appreciative men come from Eleanor. Her story does open up in this episode too...plainly there are many sequels to come. Sign me up for at least one more. The reader isn't particularly expressive, but her stately diction does reflect the kind of ruffles and high society story this aims to be....more
Thought this one was kind of uneven--hilarious in its better parts, drags through the middle, and finishes up with an OUTRAGEOUS tease involving LockhThought this one was kind of uneven--hilarious in its better parts, drags through the middle, and finishes up with an OUTRAGEOUS tease involving Lockhart and Grint. It's also pretty far from a standalone, so even though I've read all the previous episodes there was a certain amount going on that referred to events I've forgotten, or (particularly with the really truncated bits that feature Pennyroyal and Smallhope) have no context for. Also, don't expect to get any explanation or resolution for the time traveling, and apparently self driving, train. Could it be that this series is losing steam? We'll stay tuned...at least for one more episode....more