Book Reviews
The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
This was interesting more for seeing where its effect on the survival/apocalypse and science gone bad genres came from, with the threat, in this case walking plants, merely the backdrop to human factions squabbling over survival and how to rebuild society. It’s very obviously written in the 1950s, with it’s social mores very much evident, and it’s main character rather boringly stiff-upper-lip, but his female companion is quite interesting despite relegated to the typical, love interest role, just in case we forget when this was written.
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
An example of the classic “Animals Suffering” genre of children books, and it’s sub genre “Horses Suffering,” this tells the story of the fighting of the First World War seen through the eyes of Joey , a horse who finds himself sold to the army, going from cavalry charges to pulling ambulance wagons through the mud and horror of the trenches. The genius of having a horse as the point of view shows with the ability to show the effect of war from multiple sides, with Joey coming into contact with British soldiers, French farmers who find their lands now a war zone and German soldiers. Neither side is demonised, on both sides some are kind to Joey and some are not, and the suffering of all shown.
And Another Thing ... by Eoin Colfer
It’s not Douglas Adams, but there are flashes where it seems Eoin Colfer is managing to channel him, though equally there are moments where he is obviously trying and failing. Also there is the fact that it feels like a novel with the plot and pacing of one, rather than Adams more random approach. But the very meta explanation of the Guide of how this book fits with the original trilogy of five is great.
The Order of the Scales by Stephen Deas
Having read this one having read A Song of Ice and Fire, I can see the influence of those books on this trilogy, with it’s bickering and politicking humans blind to the threat about to overcome them. The same problems with the earlier books are here, the careless way characters are built up and given point of view just to be discarded and killed off makes it hard to care, and when the most interesting thread of the relationship between rogue dragon Snow and human Kemir suffering from this I almost threw the book in disgust. Clearly, Jehal is the main human character of this, and his ultimate fate at the end of the novel works, and perhaps a more focused approach to this point of view would have tightened it up. Lacking the page count of others, this trilogy is the action movie of the fantasy novel world, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Only You Can Save Mankind by Terry Pratchett
Still some unread Pratchett left, and while it may be for kids it’s still perfectly enjoyable, especially for a 90s kid like me. With the first Gulf War going on in the background, the story follows Johnny, a perfectly normal kid living through Trying Times with parents on the brink of divorce and likes playing computer games. And the only one who can save an alien race from the hordes of computer gamers out to blow them up for a high score. It may be simplistic compared to his later stuff, but the characters are well drawn and the themes worthy while not overpowering. And of course the Pratchett sense of humour is there.