Harmony (Harmony 1) by C. F. Bentley (Daw) Review

Jul 292010

Title: Harmony
Series: Harmony 1
Author: C. F. Bentley (Irene Radford)
Genre: Military Science Fiction | Fantasy
Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Daw 2008

Order from: Daw | Amazon US | UK | B&N | sfbok

The launch of a brand new series that blends the best elements of science fiction and fantasy.

The world of Harmony, along with its close-knit colony planets, long ago isolated itself from the rest of the universe. But in a universe where the human-based Confederate Star System fleet finds itself hard-pressed to stand against ever-increasing attacks by the alien Marillon Empire, the Harmonic Empire cannot be left alone. For if the CSS cannot win an alliance with Harmony, the Marils will surely find a way to invade the planet and seize control of the unique and invaluable metal, which only the Harmonites can produce.

Yet invasion is far from the only threat the people of Harmony face. The gulf between rich and poor, rulers and ruled continues to widen, threatening to destroy the very structure of their society—while the planet itself is becoming increasingly unstable. In this time of crisis, one young woman

Information

The book is dedicated to Father Richard Toll and there is an excerpt from the sequel Enigma at the end of the book.

This is a book about a historical conspiracy and the pressure of change that will rip any static society apart.

The protagonists are Jake, a spy sent by mainstream humanity to obtain the secret of the Badger Metal and Sissy born with the mark of all seven castes, soon to become High Priestess of Harmony.

The Author

C. F. Bentley is a pseudonym Irene Radford uses for her science fiction novels. Harmony is the first novel by her I ever read but I think I will read more. From what it looks like she has written a number of fantasy books. The theme seems to be dragons and Merlin. More information on Irene’s homepage www.ireneradford.com.

World building

The Confederated Star System is at war with the alien Marillon Empire and they both need Badger Metal for their starships. Harmony is the only supplier which is why Jake is sent there to find out the secret on how to make it. Harmony is a seven world pocket empire that was founded by an earth cult. It closed its borders fifty years ago and they have had no outside contact ever since including no export of Badger Metal.

Harmony with its rigid cast society is like an onion of deception where we see layer after layer being stripped off. Marriages between casts are forbidden and when you are born into a cast (carry the cast mark) you are there for life.

The world is consistent, interesting and realistic even if it borders on on the absurd at times. There is a slight resemblance in feel from some Harry Harrison novels even if the world is much more complex here.

Plot

Jake used to be a fighter pilot before he screwed up and was saved by a secret intelligence organization that takes on space opera manners. There is sex very early in the novel but not very descriptive. He is first sent to The Lost Colony of Harmony (they broke of communication with their mother world and formed a new casteless society) to try to obtain an alternative to Badger Metal but it fails so he is sent to Harmony undercover as one of the Military Cast and he eventually end up as Sissy’s bodyguard.

Harmony is going through an unstable period with freaky weather and earthquakes which the cultists see as the planet being upset. Sissy is a mutant, born and raised by Worker parents but with all seven cast markings, usually that would make her an outcast of society to be eventually exterminated in one of their concentration camps/asylum but she hides it with cosmetics. During a catastrophic earthquake she discovers that she can channel its energy and commune with Harmony saving the city from destruction. The High Priest finds her and makes her the new High Priestess against the wishes of the former’s family who have had that title for generations. The High Priest thinks she will be easy to manipulate with her simple upbringing. He couldn’t be more wrong as she starts to put things right.

What follows is political intrigue, assassination attempts, deception but also revelation of the truth about their pasts. It is fast paced with unexpected twists and a lovely love story just like I like it.

Characterization

Jake is well developed with his doubt about the mission and the moral dilemma he faces. He is also appalled by the rigid caste society and the way the high casts manipulate the lower.

Sissy grows from ignorant worker to a formidable leader of her people. She is a strong believer in family and the high castes ways disgust her. You root for her from the beginning as she is so easy to love.

My View

There is a quite a bit of social commentary in this story and the characters, which makes it more than just a good rump. I like Harmony, it mixes military with space opera and romance in a fast flowing easy to read experience. It was also a damn fun book to read. I had to laugh out loud in delight at some of the twists the story took to the amusement of my dear ones. In conclusion Harmony is not great literature but it is a fun read which should please both readers of military science fiction, space opera and romance.

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A Thousand Word for Stranger by Julie E. Czerneda – a review

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Jul 062010

In the opening chapter we meet a woman without memory on the run, driven by strange compulsions to leave the planet and trust no one. Julie E. Czerneda’s debut novel is a tale of species survival, choice and love and this is my review.

Title: A Thousand Words For Stranger
Series: Trade Pact book 1
Author: Julie E. Czerneda
Genre: Science Fiction | Romance
Cover art: Luis Royo
Paperback: 464 pages
Publisher: Daw, 2007: 10th Anniversary Edition (1997)

Order from: Daw | Amazon US | UK | B&N | sfbok

Foreword by the author: pdf

My reviews of other works by Julie E. Czerneda: Species Imperative Series: Survival | Migration | Regeneration

The tenth anniversary edition of Julie Czerneda’s debut science fiction novel, the story of a woman on the run, from the law, her own people, and an unknown pursuer. Her memory taken from her by a stasis block, Sira must stay free long enough to regain her identity and the full use of her telepathic powers-for failure may cost not only her own future but that of her entire race.

Information

I read the 10th Anniversary Edition with an introduction by the author (See link above) and a bonus story Brothers Bound (see below).

The Clan Chronicles is three trilogies about species survival. The Clan has great mental powers and they tend to breed for it. The Trade Pact trilogy takes that down to the practical level. How does one proceed when evolution produces individual power too great for any presumptive mate to survive?

A release related to this series is Rift in The Sky (Stratification Trilogy book 3) July 6, 2010. The Stratification trilogy is a prequel about the Clan’s origin. Julie is also working on a sequel, The Reunification Cycle where the Clan finds its way home.

The principal characters in this novel are Sira di Sarc, a Clan woman without memory and a blue-eyed starship captain named Morgan. And it is a story about the power of love and freedom of choice.

The Author

Julie is a Canadian science fiction and fantasy writer with, to judge by what I read by her so far some great Big Ideas, well developed and easy to love characters and some hard science beautifully and skillfully presented. Her ideas are often based in her field of expertise as a former biologist.

World Building

This is Julie’s first novel but you wouldn’t guess that from the competent writing. The setting for this tale is a future where a multitude of species has formed an interstellar trade pact regulating trade and other interspecies dealings. Humans are part of the Pact but the human-like Clan with their mental powers choose to stay outside while residing inside the Trade Pact.

Legend has it the Clan once left their home world by teleporting away. Now their population of a few thousands is declining in numbers and something has to be done.

Plot

Sira don’t even know her own name when she has to flee the scene where her escort is attacked. She is driven by compulsions to leave the planet with a blue-eyed starship captain named Morgan, but she is not sure she can trust him. She is pursued by pirates, Clansmen (different ones with different agendas) she no longer trusts or know and Trade Pact Enforcers determined to find out the truth.

We know from the beginning she is a Clans woman named Sira di Sarc with her memories and powers locked down, but she doesn’t know and none of us know who she really is. She start to call herself Sira Morgan (star traders are often families and she wants to avoid notice) and make a life as crew, while trying to avoid pursuers and learn the truth about her past. Quite unsurprisingly she starts to develop feelings for Morgan. This will lead to trouble down the road as the Clan is very contemptuous towards other species.

Before it is over she has to confront Sira di Sarc, the power within her, her spiring feelings for Morgan, The Clans restrictions on freedom of choice and maybe the survival of her specie.

Characterization

The narration shifts between Sira’s storyline told in more intimate first person and shorter interludes told in third person about Sira’s pursuers. The interludes also help the reader with the big picture that often suffers in first person (what the character sees is what you get). It is quite clever for a first novel in my opinion. Some authors go the other way and add main characters, an option that I’m not fond of because it deludes my focus.

Sira being without memory could easily have become her only reacting to what is happening. Happily here she develops a new personality Sira Morgan, and she goes her own way, surprising both the other characters and the reader. As she slowly learns more about herself it also creates an interesting dilemma, who is really the real person? She is afraid what her Clan personality could do to her and to her feelings towards Morgan.

My View

This is very much the way I like a good science fiction to be; there is a mysterious alien race, in this case with mental powers, a female protagonist that acts, grows and has to overcome obstacles, and a human interest angle with the spiring romance between Sira and Morgan. A Thousand Words for Stranger is a clever biology lesson dressed up in an entertaining character adventure. This is not nonstop action or overly romantic or opera like, this is an ordinary tale about people who feels real. This book is a good place to start with Julie E. Czerneda’s writings and it has my warm recommendation.

Brothers Bound – Bonus Story

Included in the 10th anniversary edition. Brothers Bound is an endearing tale about an alien and his dog. It is from the time humans was rather insignificant in the Trade Pact and it helps to explain how they evolved to become important as they are at the time of the Trade Pact novels.

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Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro (Saga of the Skolian Empire 1)

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May 232010

This is Catherine Asaro’s first published novel and new to me. Physicist and ballerina, hmm wonder what kind of books she writes. Read the review below to find out.

The Skolian Empire rules a third of the civilized galaxy through its mastery of faster-than-light communication. But war with the rival empire of the Traders seems imminent, a war that can only lead to slavery for the Skolians or the destruction of both sides. Destructive skirmishes have already occurred. A desperate attempt must be made to avert total disaster.

The Author

Catherine Asaro is pretty new to me; I picked up the first books the summer of 2009. She has an impressive background; she was a professor in physics until 1990; she is a member of SIGMA, a think tank of speculative writers that advises the government as to future trends affecting national security and she is a former ballerina. She is married to Kendall Cannizzo, and astrophysicist at NASA and they have one daughter

Information

This is Catherine Asaro’s first published novel, her first novella Light and Shadow was published 1994 in Analog.

The book is dedicated to her husband Kendall Cannizzo with love.

The protagonist of this book is Sauscony Lahaylia Valdoria Skolia, also called Soz or Soshoni. She is a member of the Ruby Dynasty ruling the Skolian Empire and has the empathic and telepathic abilities of a Rhon psion. She ranks Jagernaut Primary (Admiral or General) in the ISC. A Jagernaut is a biomechanically enhanced fighter and pilot.

I suspect but don’t know that Catherine is of Finnish Swedish speaking descent as many of her terms make sense for me in Swedish. Skola is the Swedish word for school and is also used to in expressions concerning knowledge. Jägare is the Swedish word for hunter or in Finland it is what they call their Special Forces soldiers.

Worldbuilding

In the universe of the Saga of the Skolian Empire there are two mayor power blocks that locked in conflict the Skolian Empire and the Eubian Concord. It seems like the Eubian Concord is the original aggressors, they have a society built on might is right, where their leaders basically are mental vampires that keep empaths as slaves to feed on. While the The Skolian Empire built on the power of faster than light communications made possible by linking the mental powers of the powerful empaths that rule it.

We get to know quite a bit about the social and political situation in both empires. Soz thinks of the Skolian Empire as the good guys, but that might not be totally true. It is not according to the people of the planets they occupy to ‘save’ them from the Concord.

You will also notice that Catherine is a physicist in the info dumps about future technology even if Psionics might take you into the land of fantasy.

Plot

The book is divided into three parts Delos, Forshire Hold, Diesha.

A romance is central to the story but it is also about two Empires on the brink of a major war our protagonist wants to avoid.

Delos tells the story of how Romeo and Julia, sorry Soz and Jaibriol Qox II meet. Like Soz, Jaibriol is also a Rhon psion, but he was also a member of the Aristo Highton caste and heir to the enemy of Skolians, the Eubian Concord.

Fordshire Hold is where Soz goes to heal after the fateful space battle that cripples her best friend and lover.

Diesha is when she realizes she have to rescue Jairiol who have been captured by Skolian forces.

Characterization

The characters are complex even if they have a romance novel feel to them at times. Soz have many inner demons and doubts to fight, she is also the only character that is well developed, which is understandable since she is the protagonist, and the story is about her.

The Fordshire Hold part of the book is where Soz grows most as a character and comes to realize the world is more than she thought it was, that was a part I liked to read.

My View

Primary Inversion is a fantastic first novel with remarkable storytelling by Catherine Asaro. It is a Romantic science fiction with space opera, military scifi and hard science influence about a formidable yet human Julia character and it avoids the usual pitfalls of that genre, it is not action packed but there is enough thrill to go around. It reads well as a standalone novel. I will read The Radiant Seas that continues Soz’s story next.

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The Ambassador’s Mission by Trudi Canavan (Traitor Spy Trilogy 1)

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May 172010

This is a straightforward enjoyable new fantasy series from Trudi Canavan. We are back in The Black Magician Universe only now Black Magician Sonea’s son Lorkin is grown up and ready to spread his wings and forces of evil are once again afoot in the city of Imardin.

Title: The Ambassador’s Mission
Series: Traitor Spy Trilogy 1
Author: Trudi Canavan
Jacket art: Steve Stone [portfolio]
Hardback: 528 pages
Publisher: Orbit
Source: Review copy from the publisher
Order:Amazon US | UK | B&N | sfbok

As the son of late High Lord Akkarin, savior of the city, and Sonea, the former street urchin turned Black Magician, Lorkin has a legacy of heroism and adventure to live up to. So when Lord Dannyl takes the position of Guild Ambassador to Sachaka, Lorkin volunteers to be his assistant in the hopes of making his mark on the world.

When news come that Lorkin is in danger, the law forbids Black Magicians leaving the city forces Sonea to trust that Dannyl will save him, and now Cery needs her as never before. Someone has been assassinating Thieves, and when his family is targeted he finds evidence that this Thief Hunter uses Magic.

Either a member of the Guild is hunting down the Thieves one by one, or there is – once again – a rogue on the streets of Imardin. But this one has full control of their powers – and is willing to kill with them.

The Author

Trudi Canavan is relatively new for me. I started reading The Black Magician Trilogy (The Magicians’ Guild, Novice, High Lord) after a slightly tippsy literary discussion on a company outing in November 2009. A colleague borrowed me the trilogy and I was hooked, thank you M. I also read Age of Five trilogy (Priestess of the White, Last of the Five, Voice of the Gods) and I liked it too.

Information

The jacket has a fine staff wielding figure in some kind of fighting stance overlaid with a tower/cityscape and some signs on it.

There is three good maps at the beginning of the book over The Magicans’ Guild of Kyralia, The City of Imardin and The Land of Kyralia. There is no maps of Sachaka where most of the ambassador’s adventures take place.

At the back of the book there is a Glossary of animals, plants/food, clothing and weaponry, countries/peoples in the region, titles/positions and other terms that you will find useful.

There is also Lord Dannyl’s Guide to Slum Slang and Acknowledgements at the end.

Background

Sonea was a street urchin, a rogue mage and then she became a black magician in the first series The Black Magician Trilogy. Her boyfriend gave his last power so she could defeat the Sachaka invaders and save the city. They fought the invaders with the help of her childhood friend Cery and the thieves guild. Some time later she gave birth to Lorkin. Now Lorkin is a young man living in the shadow of his legendary mother. This is explained well in the book

Worldbuilding

Half of the action takes place in the City of Imardin in Kyralia and the Magicians’ Guild so that is fleshed out quite well in glimpses and short backgrounds. For example every year they used to Purge poor people from the inner city before winter, that has stopped now leading to all kinds of interesting changes in the city. It was at one of those Purges Sonea discovered her magic ability. The author fills in the background and social settings into the action and suspense in a way that works well for me.

The land of Sachaka where Lorkin goes as the Ambassador’s assistant is not as well described but then its not there Lorkin end up.The Ambassadors long term job is to get Sachaka to free it’s slaves and to join the Alliance. The travel there gives a good general orientation. By the time the book ends we have a glimpse of the underground Traitor society and their hidden city. I will not ruin the surprises for you by telling you details.

Plot

There are two plot lines in this story Lorkin’s in Sachaka and Sonea’s in Imardin.

Sonea is restricted to temple grounds and the hospital as one of two Black Magicians in the Guild. If she ever leaves them she will be exiled outside the alliance never to return. Black Magic is powerful and the Guild doesn’t trust anyone wielding it. Cery, her childhood friend is a prominent thief. But someone is killing thieves in the city. They call the murderer the Thief Hunter. When Cery is at a meeting with another crime boss named Skellin his family is killed. Evidence shows that magic was involved. He turns to Sonea for help, either there is someone in the Guild doing the killings or they have a rogue mage in the city. They find some unlikely allies in the hunt that goes through a for me a changed city. Much have changed since we saw them last.

Sonea’s son Lorkin goes as an ambassador’s assistant to Sachaka. Sonea fear for his life as Sachaka is known for family blood feuds even for outcasts like the black magicians that invaded Kyralia she killed. He leaves anyway together with Ambassador Dannyl. Both he and Dannyl are really there to study the history of magic. Dannyl because he is writing a history of magic and Lorkin because he wants to find new kinds of magic like his father did. Quit soon after their arrival there is an attempt on Lorkins life but he is rescued and have to flee with the slave underground who calls themselves the Traitors.

There is also what I believe is a trilogy plot line, someone is subverting the kingdom of Kyralia with Rot a new and habit forming drug. What is their long time goal? I think you will get some of the answers at the end of this book.

I liked the narration that switches between Sonea and Lorkin, particularly when it stayed with the one where things heated up until some resolution before switching back.

Characterization

The characters are easy to love and be interested in even if I sometimes feels that there could be more challenges for them. I am a character guy, I like to like my characters, I like when it goes well for them but they have to have challenges that presses them and here Lorkin got it but Sonea never breaks a sweat.

The Black Magician Sonea we know from previous books, she feels frustrated by all the restrictions surrounding her especially when she learns her son has disappeared. She also involve herself in Guild politics when it comes to change old unfair rules that prohibit the mages from lower classes to socialize with their kin as any poor is of ‘dubious character’. Her helping Cery hunt down the Thief Hunter is in fact a small part of her story that is mostly about changing the system.

For Sonea’s son Lorkin this is a coming of age story. He is out of his legendary mother’s shadow and has to stand on his own. He gets to experience life in Sachaka from the bottom in an illuminating and character building way. I liked the clever way he handled the Ambassador’s Mission and his father’s promise.

A love interest is also nice spice to any story and Lorkin’s is just what the doctor ordered.

My View

It is great being back in the Black Magician Universe again with Sonea and her friends. The Ambassador’s Mission is enjoyable straightforward fantasy with easy to love characters and a bit of Fantasy Opera and Romance in it.

The Ambassador’s Mission works as a stand alone novel if you want to start with Trudi Canavan but you will understand more of the background and the characters if you read The Black Magician Trilogy before.

The Ambasador’s Mission is a great start for a series, I will definitely get the rest.

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Chuck 1.14 – Chuck vs The Honeymooners

TV Series No Responses »

Apr 272010

Chuck and Sarah spend a lot of time handcuffed to each other this episode and they do say ‘I do’ a lot to, and that’s not a spoiler. Chuck makes me happy, this weeks episode is also the first after the first season finale of this season. Chuck and Sarah finally got together in Paris last episode a few weeks ago. Now we meet them on a train doing the business for days, which is a little weird as they are only going to Zürick. They never leave the cabin the first days until the snarky attendant tell them that the train do have perfectly working diner cars. They decide to give up the spy game and run away together, to celebrate they go to the diner where they separately spot the same bask terrorist. They try to ignore it, but their better self get the upper hand, it’s all amusing the way they both try to back up what they think the other one wants to do.

Meanwhile back in the US, lady boss is getting impatient and tells Casey to go fetch and bring Morgan the Chuck expert with him. They have a cute scene with the CIA search engine, or was it Google? Morgan shows of his Chuck-fu and they are off to Europe. Morgan with a Backpacker bible in one hand and a self created Canadian cover story for himself. Going around being real polite to everyone, because thats what Canadians do.

Ellie and Awesome are going to Africa. Awsome tries to smuggle his weights into the luggage, again. Ellie tells everyone that it doesn’t matter that Chuck isn’t there for her going away party. Lester and Jeff invite themselves to the party and they do a pretty decent song while Ellie drinks herself into a stupor. Are they going to be gone for the rest of the season? Hope not, I love them both, Awesome because he is, well awesome, and Ellie because the way she have no clue what her brother is up to makes for so many entertaining situations and that she is kind of awesome to.

Sarah and Chuck decide to do a last mission before they quit, but it doesn’t exactly go as planned as they try to apprehend the terrorist. It’s lucky Morgan and Casey is there to save the day?

After all the trouble Chuck and Sarah have had earlier in the season it finally worked out for them, this must feel good for all the fans that rooted for them, and then some. Really splendid return on Chuck, emotional, funny, warm and a bit fuzzy.

Flash on!

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Human Target 1.07 – Salvage & Reclamation a Review

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Mar 172010

Chance reunites with a fiery former flame when he is called to South America to rescue an archeologist whose discovery of a lost treasure makes him the target of a South American army and a deadly bounty hunter.

It starts out in a military base in South America with a captured Archeologist named Dough. He is being questioned about where the treasure is ($40 million of gold in a crashed former dictator’s plane) when Chance rescues him. This whole episode reminds me of McGyver and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Chance get to play off his Spanish before they have to run for it.

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