June Book List
Admittedly, this one's a day late, but here's the June book list. It's a fairly long one too. There's going to be more science fiction and Andre Norton in July as well as I was at a garage sale and got about thirty books this month.
June:
I Jedi by Michael Stackpole
Science Fiction
One of the Star Wars novels using the characters Stackpole created for the X-wing novels. This is a light read with many funny moments in it. Unfortuntately it is set simultaneously with the Kevin J. Anderson novels. What is unique about this book is that it is written in first-person style.
Owlflight by Mercedes Lackey
Fantasy
The first of her "Owl" trilogy, in this book, Lackey went back to the style of her earliest books in the Arrows set and the Last Herald Mage set, writing for the young adult market. Still the books are well worth the read. In here, she ties the books together quite well, connecting the events of The Silver Gryphon to the later Valdemar books. Larry Dixon's illustrations are spectacular, especially in the hardcover.
Owlsight by Mercedes Lackey
Fantasy
The sequel to Owlflight, in Owlsight, we see more of how those who are not Heralds or Healers live, as the book is set in a small village on the northern border of Valdemar.
Again the illustrations are spectacular.
The Ship That Sailed the Time Stream by G. C. Edmondson
Science Fiction
For a book published in 1965. this one's not bad. The technology is fairly reasonably thought out. As the book is also set in the '60's it's rather laughable though considering how different things are now. The rest of the plot-line however leaves something to be desired. It's rather like a cruder variant on "1632" by Eric Flint.
Seven From the Stars by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Science Fiction
Despite the fact that this book was published in 1962, there is nothing dated about the story. The focus is on the characters rather than the technology. It is about a group of survivors from a crashed starship who landed on Earth. As usual for Bradley's books, this was well worth the read.
Owlknight by Mercedes Lackey
Fantasy
The final book in the Owl series this book resolves all the questions from the first two books and shows us more of life among the Barbarians. Unfortunately in this book Larry Dixon's illustrations are no longer full pages, but strips across the tops of the new chapters. They're still spectacular, but I prefer the other format, and I don't want to think about how they turn out in the paperbacks. Probably grey boxes.
Nimisha's Ship by Anne McCaffrey
Science Fiction
A stand-alone novel set in the same world as 'The Coleura', this is a really good book. Overall, the main focus of the story is a goup of people who have been marooned on an unknown planet. Despite the common plotline, it's a really good story and there are enough questions left unanswered that I hope she does a sequel one day.
Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein
Science Fiction
With a copyright date of 1948 this is one of the earliest pieces of science fiction that I've read. Despite the fact that it is almost sixty years old and the language is more suited to a youth book these days, it's not too dated. The technology (with a few exceptions) isn't too out there, and barring a few dates in the later half of the book and the colony on Venus, it would still work if it had been written today. I don't think it is a stand-alone, as it makes reference to one of Heinlein's short stories, not that I can remember which one. The plotline is fairly standard as well, following a group of boys as they join the Space Patrol. This book is joining my 'permanent' collection.
The Year of the Lucy by Anne McCaffrey
Romance
At least I think that's the best description of the genre of the book. This was a book I couldn't put down, finishing it at 12:30 in the morning. She's put together an interesting mix of characters and some interesting twists in the storyline. Frankly, the ending surprised me as it seemed to be leading up to something similar to the ending of her book The Lady. However, there were a couple of elements that made me uncomfortable, such as the fact that some of the actions of Steve seemed to be bordering on abuse.
Exiles of the Stars by Andre Norton
Science Fiction
The sequel to Moon of Three Rings, and another book I couldn't put down until it was finished. This book is very firmly a part of the Free Traders world though not one of the Solar Queen books. Krip Vorlund and his compatriots are well created characters. As is usual for Andre Norton's books the stories are not dated in any way.
Flight into Yiktor by Andre Norton
Science Fiction
The sequel to Exiles of the Stars, this book was a bit disappointing because instead of being from the point of view of either Maelen or Krip, the book was focussed on a new character. Still it was a good story. I'm fairly sure this one was on one of the previous months lists.
Secrets of the Lost Race by Andre Norton
Science Fiction
One of the early novels by Andre Norton, this was not in the slightest dated. Still, it followed a fairly standard plotline. There is an authors note at the end which is quite interesting as well.
June:
I Jedi by Michael Stackpole
Science Fiction
One of the Star Wars novels using the characters Stackpole created for the X-wing novels. This is a light read with many funny moments in it. Unfortuntately it is set simultaneously with the Kevin J. Anderson novels. What is unique about this book is that it is written in first-person style.
Owlflight by Mercedes Lackey
Fantasy
The first of her "Owl" trilogy, in this book, Lackey went back to the style of her earliest books in the Arrows set and the Last Herald Mage set, writing for the young adult market. Still the books are well worth the read. In here, she ties the books together quite well, connecting the events of The Silver Gryphon to the later Valdemar books. Larry Dixon's illustrations are spectacular, especially in the hardcover.
Owlsight by Mercedes Lackey
Fantasy
The sequel to Owlflight, in Owlsight, we see more of how those who are not Heralds or Healers live, as the book is set in a small village on the northern border of Valdemar.
Again the illustrations are spectacular.
The Ship That Sailed the Time Stream by G. C. Edmondson
Science Fiction
For a book published in 1965. this one's not bad. The technology is fairly reasonably thought out. As the book is also set in the '60's it's rather laughable though considering how different things are now. The rest of the plot-line however leaves something to be desired. It's rather like a cruder variant on "1632" by Eric Flint.
Seven From the Stars by Marion Zimmer Bradley
Science Fiction
Despite the fact that this book was published in 1962, there is nothing dated about the story. The focus is on the characters rather than the technology. It is about a group of survivors from a crashed starship who landed on Earth. As usual for Bradley's books, this was well worth the read.
Owlknight by Mercedes Lackey
Fantasy
The final book in the Owl series this book resolves all the questions from the first two books and shows us more of life among the Barbarians. Unfortunately in this book Larry Dixon's illustrations are no longer full pages, but strips across the tops of the new chapters. They're still spectacular, but I prefer the other format, and I don't want to think about how they turn out in the paperbacks. Probably grey boxes.
Nimisha's Ship by Anne McCaffrey
Science Fiction
A stand-alone novel set in the same world as 'The Coleura', this is a really good book. Overall, the main focus of the story is a goup of people who have been marooned on an unknown planet. Despite the common plotline, it's a really good story and there are enough questions left unanswered that I hope she does a sequel one day.
Space Cadet by Robert Heinlein
Science Fiction
With a copyright date of 1948 this is one of the earliest pieces of science fiction that I've read. Despite the fact that it is almost sixty years old and the language is more suited to a youth book these days, it's not too dated. The technology (with a few exceptions) isn't too out there, and barring a few dates in the later half of the book and the colony on Venus, it would still work if it had been written today. I don't think it is a stand-alone, as it makes reference to one of Heinlein's short stories, not that I can remember which one. The plotline is fairly standard as well, following a group of boys as they join the Space Patrol. This book is joining my 'permanent' collection.
The Year of the Lucy by Anne McCaffrey
Romance
At least I think that's the best description of the genre of the book. This was a book I couldn't put down, finishing it at 12:30 in the morning. She's put together an interesting mix of characters and some interesting twists in the storyline. Frankly, the ending surprised me as it seemed to be leading up to something similar to the ending of her book The Lady. However, there were a couple of elements that made me uncomfortable, such as the fact that some of the actions of Steve seemed to be bordering on abuse.
Exiles of the Stars by Andre Norton
Science Fiction
The sequel to Moon of Three Rings, and another book I couldn't put down until it was finished. This book is very firmly a part of the Free Traders world though not one of the Solar Queen books. Krip Vorlund and his compatriots are well created characters. As is usual for Andre Norton's books the stories are not dated in any way.
Flight into Yiktor by Andre Norton
Science Fiction
The sequel to Exiles of the Stars, this book was a bit disappointing because instead of being from the point of view of either Maelen or Krip, the book was focussed on a new character. Still it was a good story. I'm fairly sure this one was on one of the previous months lists.
Secrets of the Lost Race by Andre Norton
Science Fiction
One of the early novels by Andre Norton, this was not in the slightest dated. Still, it followed a fairly standard plotline. There is an authors note at the end which is quite interesting as well.