Genesis of Shannara - The Gypsy Morph

OK, I have really been looking forward to this, but at the same time I am sad. Where can the series go now?
Terry Brooks is one of the authors who got me into the Sci-Fi\Fantasy genre. His books about Walker Boh and the Wish Song hooked me years ago, and now i have read them all. The world is a mix of fantasy and sci-fi, but you dont really know that until you get a fair way through the series.
This is the end of the prequel, where you know the Sci-Fi is actually giving way to the Fantasy setting, and the earlier books are yet to begin.
Terry writes in such a way that you know he's adding in lifes lessons, and a fairly blatant commentary on the state of the world, but you dont really care. In fact, even if you were fine with the state of the world, you could admit that he puts our actions in stark contrast. Thats not to say this book is about preaching, but since its got a base in the USA, and the troubles of the world in the book sound particularly realistic, theres always a sense that this might be predicting some reality that will come.
The book moves along fairly quickly, and some of the charatcers end up falling as we go, but the heroes really step up. The kids act like heroes, and those with the power to make a difference, but starting to lag and lack the sense of purpose step up and make themselves count. The action is never brutal, despite the consequences, but then you'll be left in no doubt of what happened to your favourites. Terry Brooks is a master at describing the events unflding with just enough detail to let your mind fill in the rest. Its a good tactic, because the slight lack of detail from the descriptions makes the mind work a bit harder i think, and consequently nothing seems out of place. Not that the descriptions are lacking, but they are more on the side of interpretations I'd say, than outright detailed descriptions.
However he does it, Terry Brooks has done it again. This book is the last in the Genesis of Shannara trilogy and ends the prequel to the Shannara series. If you ever had the urge to pickup a well written Sci-Fi\Fantasy books then I'd suggest you start here - or with the first book actually - because they really are some of the best stories you are ever likely to read.

I am Legend... apparently...

OK, just a quick review. Haven't seen the movie, but i read the book.
Its a short story. I can see how the story would have made a good movie, especially if you add some cool action sequences, but its definitely short. And good.
I recommend the "I am Legend" short story, but the rest of the book was Richard Matheson's other short stories.... which are not good.
Despite that, its worth the price of a cheap paperback to read the story. Its not long, or deep, but gives a decent image of what post vampire infestation must be like for the last of the humans.

This is how its done!

OK Kim, listen up. Nick Harkaway uses a kinda weird style of writing, and the ordering of the book gets a bit disjointed at times, but its soo worth the effort! The changes in timeline are there to help the reader understand parts, not confuse them with a sense of artiness. This book is the polar opposite of Daughters of Moab and i absolutely loved it..... well I am loving it, i havent finished yet. Its just that good that i had to say thankyou!
Nick Harkaway - Thankyou!
Dont get me wrong, the book isnt without flaws.
The main characters are fantastic, with beautiful written stories and real character behind them. The strange touches like a collection of dolls heads that is admitted to be weird, but not explored (because that would be prying) lend a certain depth to the characters that is refreshing.
The strange tangents to the story are also excellent and help add a certain commentary to the proceedings, and to the real world, that help to put actions in perspective. Its obviously our world, and it even starts in the USA, but the events and reactions are more like a commentary of what happens in our world, despite it never happening, and some of the basis for the story enever existing.
Its so hard to not spoil the story. Since I am 90% of the way through it, I know its good till the end, but i dont want to finish it. I have plenty of books to look forward to (thankyou 2nd hand bookshop!) but this one shouldnt end. The characters are real.
Maybe i am jaded from the last book i tried to read... and the pain that Kim Westwood caused me... but this book is one of the most interesting books i have read in awhile. Its not the best i have read this year (Joe Abercrombie is taking that honour so far... until i get back to Terry Brooks!) but its one of those books that does soething different, and makes characters so beleivable... I might catch myself wondering what they have been doing lately if I'm not careful.
Its just one of those books...

Daughters of Moab.... it showed such promise...

OK, so maybe i had high hopes for this book. It sounded a bit different, a bit cool, and a bit Australian. At least it was Australian and different!
I just couldnt get into it. Theres a lot of people who persevere, but I like to agree with whoever said "Lifes too short to read crap books, " although that quote may also apply to bad coffee.
The premise of the book seemed good, with a post apocalyptic Australia, and some recognizable locations despite what had happened. It was really just let down by the writing. Put simply, it was too hard to understand, and then when you did understand what was going on the effort wasn't rewarded.
The idea of the Assasin was interesting...but too hard to understand.
The trains were interesting... but too hard to understand.
Its just kept on like this.
Wilbur Smith generally takes 50 pages to get going, so i gave Kim Westwood till page 100. I had to let her go.