Review: Fantastic Tales

Fantastic Tales by Jack London

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



A collection of fantasy/horror stories by Jack London? This was my first thought after discovering this on the shelves of the library. As I found out later, much of London's writing is in this genre. I am a classic ghost story fan, and having enjoyed [b:The Call of the Wild/White Fang|37677|The Call of the Wild/White Fang|Jack London|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1168977937s/37677.jpg|6180419] as a child I thought I'd really like these. While it turns out the book is nothing like I thought, it was still enjoyable - albeit more for historical reasons than for entertainment value.

As it turns out only the first story in the book is anything resembling a ghost story. Most of the tales are classic science fiction, reminiscent of [a:H.G. Wells|880695|H.G. Wells|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1201281795p2/880695.jpg], or horror reminiscent of [a:H.P. Lovecraft|9494|H.P. Lovecraft|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1299165714p2/9494.jpg]. (What is it with initials?) While the short stories in this collection present some amusing or terrifying situations that are good ideas for fiction, the tales tend to bore me before they are over from lack of character development. However, that's a personal preference that wouldn't bother some others. I'm sure London's science fiction inspired many writers, as the forward in this version claims.

Other stories are just completely socialist propaganda, although I have to agree with the criticism that London, despite joining the party, never really understood the real structure that makes up the idealism of socialism. The socialistic worlds he creates in his stories function like the government of Stalin; not something that would convince too many people I don't think, but still interesting to the student of history or human nature.

There are a few stories that stand out in my mind as marvelous. One of these is the last story in this collection, "The Red One". This tale alone makes the entire book worth whatever boredom you might suffer in the dryer stories. I might go so far as to add "The Red One" to a list of must-reads for any reader of English.



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Review: Lair of the Lion

Lair of the Lion by Christine Feehan

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



My very first romance book. Most of my education has been from books and I didn't feel it could be complete without at least one book from each genre. I saw a coworker of mine reading this and decided it was time. I really want to give this book two and a half stars (feature please, Goodreads?), but since I can't I did feel it deserved better than two.

This book apparently falls into the classification of "paranormal romance," a genre I didn't know existed until now. I'm thinking of blaming Twilight. This shouldn't be such a jump, however, because in the pre-Potter days classic fantasy often had lots of gratuitous sex - you only have to glance at the old Conan book covers to remember that. I enjoy Harry Potter, but it's popularity transported us back to a time when the fantasy/sc-fi genre was the simple kid stuff of "Lost in Space" or "Land of the Giants." But I digress...

I've come to the conclusion that I loved the fantasy part of the book, but not so much the romance part. I did a lot of skiming during parts of this book. Pornography has never really interested me all that much. I love art, and if there are naked bodies in photography or paintings that's fine - they're beautiful and artistic. I also appreciate the irony of sex and humour I can enjoy, too (I'm thinking Shel Silverstein's Playboy cartoons). Other than that, it's time to skim.

However, under all that - or rather, in between it - I found a really good story with well developed characters. It started to become popular a few years back to take classic fairy tales and cultivate the plot and the rather simple persons that inhabit it, turning stories like Rumplestiltskin ([b:Spinners|499485|Spinners|Donna Jo Napoli|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175275474s/499485.jpg|784720]) or Cinderella ([b:Just Ella|1536818|Just Ella|Margaret Peterson Haddix|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1184879830s/1536818.jpg|2979854]) into adult or young adult books. I adore this. This book is Beauty and the Beast, one of my favorite tales (and no get that dirty thought out of your head right now...there's nothing in there like THAT). The story may be missing a Lumiere, but there is a castle full of intrigue, deception, a dark prince, a family curse, a headstrong woman, and beasts that prowl the nights - some of them human.

I would like a more varied vocabulary; it got a little repetitive. I wanted to switch some of the sex scenes for more epic fight scenes, but I do realize that this book was written for women in the end and there was enough to keep me interested from start to finish. After all Miss, this is France - well, no actually in the book it's Spain...whatever.



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Review: Piratica: Being a Daring Tale of a Singular Girl's Adventure Upon the High Seas

Piratica: Being a Daring Tale of a Singular Girl's Adventure Upon the High Seas by Tanith Lee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Piratica - a pirate tale, a slightly fantastical voyage, a mystery, another great adventure from author [a:Tanith Lee|8694|Tanith Lee|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1218895130p2/8694.jpg]. To say more than this would be revealing some of the plot twists and mystery, and would therefore be a total spoiler.

I should explain at the beginning of this review that I am a confirmed fan of the Tanith Lee and probably wouldn't have read this book if she was not the author. The book is less of a fantasy than some of her other books - there are no unicorns or goddesses - yet it takes place in a parallel world, where England is a republic in 1802 (or Seventeen-Twelvety, by their reckoning). We are thrust into this world where pirates drink coffee and the playwright Shakespur is adored.

Lee has always treaded the fine line between adult and young-adult fiction. This novel leans towards the children's book side, but still holds plenty of mystery for the rest of us. The author never dumbs down her work...and let's face it, we're never too old for pirates. A strong heroine and well developed characters, including a dog and a parrot, lead us through a truly unique pirate story.



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